## **BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING** ## **Charity Registration No: 1161671** **Report of the Trustees for the year ended on 31 March 2022** The Board of Trustees of the Bengali Cultural Society, Reading (‘BCS’) presents the following report for the year 2021/22 to the members. ## **Activities:** The principal aim of BCS is to facilitate activities and events appropriate for the community, to raise awareness among the public by providing them with the opportunity to participate and appreciate the nature of Indian and Bengali culture. With this objective in mind, we organised the following events in the year: - Summer Fiesta - 9[th] Reading Autumn Festival/Durga Puja - Saraswati Puja - Vasanta Utsav Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, all the events during 2020-2021 were conducted remotely. However, with gradually improving pandemic situation, BCS conducted the events during 2021-2022 in-person. There were restrictions in place and appropriate safety procedures were operationalised to ensure safety of the visitors and volunteers. The first event BCS organised was Summer Fiesta, where members and guests got together for the first time after more than a year and half. This also provided BCS boards an opportunity to assess our ability to conduct further in-person events. 9[th] edition of Sharad Utsav/Reading Autumn Festival was organised in October at Rivermead Leisure Centre. BCS chose to keep the event low key to control footfall and ensure safety of the visitors. It was a successful event with circa 3000 visitors gracing the event and over 5 days. However, this is significantly lower than the past years, owing to health and safety restrictions at the wake of pandemic. This event worked as catalyst to rebuild the community connection after a difficult lockdown period. Success of Autumn Festival led to first open event of 2022 – Saraswati Puja, where restrictions were reduced significantly in line with public health advisories issued by the government agencies. Almost 200 visitors attended the event. ## **Charitable Donations:** The Trust has a policy of actively identifying and donating appropriate financial aid to charities of worthy causes. This year we donated a total of £808 to Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Rotary Club International, Sewa UK and British Asian Trust towards the COVID-19 relief works in India. ## **Independent Examiners of the Accounts:** According to the regulations of the Charity Commission, where a charity’s annual income is in excess of £25,000 the Trustees must arrange for an Independent Person or Accountancy Firm to carry out an independent examination of its accounts. As the gross income of BCS for 2021/22 was below this © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Page 1 of 7 Annual Report 2021-2022 threshold, the Trustees decided that they are not required to arrange independent examination of BCS accounts for 2020/21. Trustees are, however, satisfied that the Report of Trustees and Annual Accounts of BCS being presented herewith give a true and fair view of affairs of BCS. ## **Financial Review:** BCS Trustees manage the finances in a way that enables the charity to carry out its charitable purposes most effectively as set out in the objective’s clause of the constitution. Our principal funding sources are individual donations, commercial sponsorships at events, ticket sales and membership fees. There was no formal fund raising in the year 2021/22. It has been a uniquely challenging year but thanks to our financial prudence and gradual return to normalcy we have ensured that there was no significant depletion to our cash reserves from the previous year. Despite several fund generating avenues drying up during and after the pandemic, we are pleased that we had been able to provide financial help for deserving causes. After allowing for a restricted reserve of £4485 for new Protima, the total accumulated income, from all sources, available for BCS future activities on 31st March 2022 stood at £38,441. This represents a net decrease of £1289 or 3.2% during the reporting year compared to the previous year’s figure of £39,730. Presently the Board has not identified the need to earmark any of the surplus funds for investment or other purposes, although the matter would be kept under review. The Board considered the risks BCS faces and identified the main risk for next year as the potential impact to fundraising income in the prevailing environment of although improving, but still volatile situation involving public gathering and movement of people. The Board continues to review practical ways of funding and delivering events. ## **Membership:** Several new members have joined the Society during the year as well as some previous members moving away from Reading leaving our membership strength at 149. ## **Trustees:** Consequent to the registration of BCS as a Charity, the management and administration of its affairs rest with the Board of Trustees. At the AGM held on 7th August 2021, the following were elected to the Board of Trustees and the Charity Commission had been notified accordingly. They were – _Abhijit Chakrabarti (Chairperson), Sanjoy Paul (Joint Treasurer), Arijitkamal Manna (Joint Treasurer), Aniruddha Bandyopadhyay (General Secretary), Ratna Ghosh, Chandan Kanti Bhowmik, Himangshu Dey and Hrishik Bose._ In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the current Trustees will retire at the end of the AGM to be held on or before the maximum frame of 15 months from the last AGM conducted on 7th August 2021. The retiring Trustees are eligible to seek re-election. **Abhijit Chakrabarti** _Chairperson_ **Sanjoy Paul** , **Arijitkamal Manna** _Joint Treasurers_ **Aniruddha Bandyopadhyay** _General Secretary_ ## **Dated: 20[th] May 2022** © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Page 2 of 7 Annual Report 2021-2022 ## **BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING** **----- Start of picture text -----**
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR
01 APRIL 2021 TO 31 MARCH 2022
Note 2021-2022 2020-2021
INCOMING RESOURCES £ £
Members' Subscription 1 1,089 907
BCS Activities 2 21,293 4,384
Interest Received 3 12
Gift Aid 5,679
Others 3 14 12
Total 22,399 10,994
RESOURCES EXPENDED £ £
BCS Activities 2 20,465 2,378
ICA Subscription 85 50
Charitable Donations 808 547
Others 3 2,330 1,347
Total 23,688 4,322
NET INCOMING RESOURCES for the Year 6,672
NET OUTGOING RESOURCES for the Year 1,289
Brought Forward Balance on 01 April 39,730 33,058
Carry Forward Balance on 31 March 38,441 39,730
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BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING
BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31 MARCH 2022
Note 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at Bank 4 42,830 43,905
Cash in Hand 21 140
Debtors & Prepayments 5 225 405
CREDITORS
Payment Due 6 150 235
PROVISIONS
New Idols (Protima) 4,485 4,485
NET ASSETS 38,441 39,730
Members' Fund 7 38,441 39,730
MEMBERS' FUND 38,441 39,730
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BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 01 APRIL 2021 TO 31 MARCH 2022
1 Member's Subscription 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
Received during the period 1,089 907
Total 1,089 907
2 BCS Activities 2021-2022 2020-2021
Income £ £
Summer Fiesta 819
Sharad Utsav - Autumn Festival 19,734 2,957
Tollywood Fundraisers 1,291
Saraswati Puja 489 136
Vasanta Utsav 251
Total Income 21,293 4,384
Expenses £ £
Summer Fiesta 1,315
Sharad Utsav - Autumn Festival 17,566 372
Tollywood Fundraisers 1,966
Saraswati Puja 957 40
Vasanta Utsav 627
Total Expense 20,465 2,378
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3 Others 2021-2022 2020-2021
Income £ £
Miscellaneous 12
HMRC Gift Aid 5,679
Amazon Smile Cashback 14
Total Income 14 5,691
Expense £ £
Miscellaneous 598
Storage Unit 445 749
Insurance 1,184
Bank Fees 16
Digital Resources (Website/Zoom) 685
Total Expense 2,330 1,347
4 Cash at Bank 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
HSBC Plc 42,830 43,905
Total 42,830 43,905
5 Debtors & Prepayments 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
Other Debtors 100 200
Pre-payments 125 205
Total 225 405
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6 Creditors: Due within 1 Year 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
ICA - Hall Hire 155
Other Creditors 150 80
Total 150 235
7 Members' Fund 2021-2022 2020-2021
£ £
Opening Balance 35,245 28,573
Net Incoming Resources 6,672
Net Outgoing Resources 1,289
Closing Balance 33,956 35,245
Shown as:
Restricted Fund (New Idol/Protima) 4,485 4,485
Unrestricted Fund 33,956 35,245
Total 38,441 39,730
8 Accounting Policies
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The following accounting policies are used consistently with items that are considered material in relation to the accounts: _(a) Basis of accounting:_ The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention _(b) Income & Expenses:_ The income and expenses are stated using the "accruals" concept ## **Annual Report and Financial Statement Signed By:** **Abhijit Chakrabarti** _Chairperson_ **Dated: 20[th] May 2022** **Sanjoy Paul** _Joint Treasurer_ **Arijitkamal Manna** _Joint Treasurer_ **Aniruddha Bandyopadhyay** _General Secretary_ © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Page 7 of 7 Annual Report 2021-2022