Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Charity Reg. No : 1161671
Accounts For the period ended 31 March 2024
Payslip Accountants Accountants & Tax Advisers
© Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## Bengali Cultural Society, Reading
## Independent examiner's report on accounts
For the period ended 31 March 2024
## **Independent examiner's report to trustees of Bengali Cultural Society, Reading**
The trustees of the charity are responsible for preparing the financial statements and ensuring compliance with applicable accounting regulations. In accordance with Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011, the trustees have determined that an audit is not required for this financial period and that an independent examination is sufficient.
As an independent examiner, my responsibilities include:
- Conducting an examination of the charity’s accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011
- Following the procedures set out in the general Directions issued by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act.
- Reporting on any matters of concern identified during the examination.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination has been carried out in accordance with the general Directions prescribed by the Charity Commission. The scope of the examination included:
- Reviewing the accounting records maintained by the charity.
- Comparing the financial statements with the underlying records.
- Assessing any unusual items or disclosures within the accounts and obtaining necessary explanations from the trustees.
It is important to note that an independent examination does not provide the same level of assurance as an audit. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an audit and therefore do not enable me to express an opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view. My report is limited to the findings outlined in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sumon Roy, MAAT(Licensed Accountant) Payslip Accountants 141 Victoria Road Swindon SN1 3BU
pg. 2 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING Charity Registration No: 1161671
## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended on 31 March 2024 (Unaudited)**
## **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:
## **Amit Kumar Live show @Hexagon**
**Independence Day Celebration**
**Mahalaya with Arunangshu Roy Live show Dandiya**
**11[th] Reading Autumn Festival/Durga Puja**
**Bijaya Sammeloni Pous Parbon Saraswati Puja Dol Utsab**
## **Website revamp:**
We spent **£350** during the month of June’23 to revamp our organization’s website htps://bcsreading.co.uk . We have consolidated all our websites to a single website for easy access for the viewers
## **Capital investment:**
We organise social gatherings & events frequently. Keeping in mind the requirement
## **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 2023/24 was above this threshold, the Trustees decided to arrange independent examination of BCS accounts for 2023/24. 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.
pg. 3 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## **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 2023/24. It has been a uniquely challenging year due to high cost of commodities & unavailability of our regular venue for organizing Durga Puja but thanks to our financial prudence 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 maintain financial help of the organization.
## **Amit Kumar Live show@Hexagon**
BCS Organized ever-exuberant Bollywood playback singer and composer, Amit Kumar Live show on 21[st] May 2023 at Rivermead Leasure Centre, Reading. The show was attended by 1200+ people
## **Mahalaya with Arunangshu Roy Live show**
BCS organised Mahalaya at Coronation Hall, Woodley where 200+ people attended the function followed by dinner
## **Dandiya:**
This is the very first time BCS organised Dandiya to engage people from all parts of India. This was a huge success where 700+ people from in and around Reading actively participated at the same venue where we organised Durga Puja.
## **11th Reading Autumn Festival/Durga Puja:**
This was a very special event as we celebrated 11[th] year of Durga puja. This also provided BCS Trustee Board an opportunity to assess our ability to conduct further in-person events. 10[th] edition of Sharad Utsav/Reading Autumn Festival was organised in October at Emmbrook School. It was a successful event with circa 10000 visitors gracing the event over 5 days. Durga Puja was special last year as this was our 11[th] year of Celebration, and we had for the first time a “Panch Chala” Pratima. This event worked as catalyst to rebuild the community connection after a difficult lockdown period.
## **Bijoya Sammeloni:**
We organised Bijoya Sammeloni immediately after Durga Puja to have a get together as per our tradition. This was a day long cultural program by BCS members and renowned local singers which was followed by snacks and late lunch.
pg. 4 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## **Poush Parbon:**
Poush Parbon is one big example of culinary diversity among Bengalis. In this we had the BCS ladies provide us the opportunity to have different varieties of ‘Pithe’ an essential part of Poush Parbon. The ladies also prepared different street food and snacks from Kolkata.
## **Saraswati Puja:**
BCS organised a bigger place this year to accommodate more people to attend Saraswati Puja. The event was attended by almost 400+ visitors. Almost 20 kids were given **“Hate Khori”** during this year’s Saraswati Puja. We have served bhog to all attendees towards the end of 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 **£50** to Local Charity
## **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 165.
## **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 May 2023, the following were elected to the Board of Trustees and the Charity Commission had been notified accordingly. They were –
Abhijit Chakrabarti (Chairperson), Sanjoy Paul (Treasurer), Aniruddha Bandopadhyay & Archana Das (Jt. General Secretary), Ratna Ghosh, Chandan Kanti Bhowmik, Himanshu Dey, Rana Ray, Surajit Biswas, Arpita Talukder & Priyanandini Sarkar,
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. The retiring Trustees are eligible to seek re-election.
pg. 5 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Members' Subscripton
BCS Actvites
Interest Received
Gif Aid
Others (Water fest)
**Total**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
BCS Actvites
ICA Subscripton
Charitable Donatons
Others
**Total**
NET INCOMING RESOURCES for the Year
Brought Forward Balance on 01 April
Provision - Aastha Gill/Amit Kumar
Cash in Hand
PayPal
Amount in Bank (Charity Account)
Amount in Bank (BMM Account)
Carry Forward Balance on 31 March||
**2023-24**
£
1795
58313.51
446.55
2875.25
350
63,780.31
49523.4
232.5
50
2135.76
44,162
15000
1615
55
14430.01
25636.39
51,941.66
11,838.65
56736.4||**2022-23**
£
1370
44209.3
87.3
NIL
0
45,666.60
36560.23
250
900
2235.73
38,441
5624
1411.5
55
11881.74
25189.84
39,945.96
5,720.64|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||||||
|||||44162.08|
pg. 6 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
## BENGALI CULTURAL SOCIETY, READING BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31 MARCH 2024
||**2023-24**|**2022-23**|
|---|---|---|
|**Member's Subscripton**|
£|£|
|Received during the period|
1795
|1370|
|**BCS Actvites**|
||
|**Income**|
£|£|
|Badminton Tournament|198|___|
|Football Tournament|105|105|
|15th August Celebraton|
420|___|
|Mahalaya|1335|50|
|Dandya|
2600|1812|
|Reading Autumn Festval|
36396.31|37632|
|Bijoya Sammeloni|___|304|
|Poush Parbon Festval|30|711.27|
|Saraswat Puja|1508|1095.03|
|Basanta Utsab|
213|___|
|Amit Kumar Program|15459.1|___|
|Reading Borough Council Grant|___|2500|
|Children's Festval|
49.1
|___|
|**Total**|**58313.51**|**44209.3**|
pg. 7 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24
|**Expenses**|||
|---|---|---|
|Badminton Tournament|245.5|___|
|15th August Celebraton|
486.09|___|
|Football Tournament|100|199.78|
|Mahalaya|1169.96|115|
|Dandya|
234.49|1805.99|
|Reading Autumn Festval (Durga Puja)|
24530.14|30083.8|
|Bijoya Sammeloni|825.00|1035.09|
|Poush Parbon Festval|654.70|904.24|
|Saraswat Puja|1183.78|1124.33|
|Basanta Utsab|317.42|___|
|Protma + Transport|___|3028|
|AGM|
1862|___|
|Bank charge and other exp|
2268.4|60|
|Amit Kumar Program|
15364|___|
|Children's Festval|
281.92
|___|
|**Total**|
**49523.4**|**38356.23**|
Accounting Policies
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
Report and Financial Statement Signed By:
Abhijit Chakraborty Archana Das Sanjoy Paul Chairperson Joint Secretary Treasurer
pg. 8 © Bengali Cultural Society, Reading Annual Report 2023-24