Alliance Française d'Oxford Annual Trustees’ Report for 2022
The Mission
The mission of the Alliance française d'Oxford continues to be the promotion of the enjoyment of French language and francophone cultures in Oxford, for all ages and abilities. Despite the favourable socio-economic context of Oxford, many challenges remain, to do with the decline of French and modern languages as a choice for A levels and economic uncertainty.
TEACHING ACTIVITES
We were delighted to see so many students attend the classes and benefit from the activities of the Alliance. We continue to have very good satisfaction rates on the quality of the classes with comments such as “The Alliance Francaise d’Oxford keeps your brain active...Fun. Enjoyable. Rewarding. Welcoming!”, or “I like the friendly people, relaxed atmosphere, small classes. I always look forward to coming even after a long day at work”
Credit is been given to Louise Richard, the new course director, for the general improvement in level quality of teaching.
It was a record year for number of registrations , even in relation to pre-pandemic levels, with 456 different students registering for classes or private tuition in the year. Teaching activities in 2022 were marked by a return to onsite classes, the choice of tuition favoured by our students. Students are generally still more willing to trust the quality of online lessons for private tuition rather than for group classes.
We offered a French Summer Camp for the first time for 10 lucky children, with activities such as plant-hunting, patisserie-making, museum treasure hunts, and sports day, all in French.
We are the Alliance française d'Oxford
the charity whose mission is to promote French language and culture in Oxford
30 Polstead Rd, 1[st] Floor, Oxford, OX2 6TN www.af-oxford.org Charity Registration No. 1163206
Overall, 8000 hours of French were taught with an average of 6,1 students per class. All levels of French were taught, in group classes and in a private tuition setting, with classes for children remaining one of the most popular classes. Again in 2022, we were able to offer 9 levels of French for adults, making us the only language centre in Oxford offering such focused tuition. The toddler class made a brief return but had to be stopped due to the departure of our specialised teacher.
The most important project of the year was the website overhaul . The aim was to provide our visitors with an attractive modern interface and a more efficient enrolment process. The website now incorporates the cultural activities’ sign-up platform, which helps promotion of cultural events.
HUMAN RESOURCES
2022 was, again, a challenging year from the human resources point of view due to the consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in January 2020 and the subsequent immigration barriers to hiring teachers. Most Alliances Françaises in the UK face a similar issue: it is much more difficult to recruit qualified French language teachers in the UK, with large organisations monopolising the existing pool of language teachers. In 2022, several teachers’ departures, the association was forced to look for a new French teacher to meet the demand for classes, and after advertising nationally without results, it was agreed that despite the costs, it was necessary to recruit a new skilled worker teacher from abroad through the UKIV Sponsorship process. This recruitment proved challenging due to delays in obtaining the skilledworker visa, which in turn threatened our capacity to provide the classes that had already been scheduled. Thankfully the new teacher was able to start teaching in the Autumn Term. The staff is now comprised of 4 employees , with one manager, one course director and two full-time teachers (22 hours a week). Several self-employed teachers continue to work to be able to work for the Alliance Française for a few hours a week and mostly online.
We are the Alliance française d'Oxford
the charity whose mission is to promote French language and culture in Oxford
30 Polstead Rd, 1[st] Floor, Oxford, OX2 6TN www.af-oxford.org Charity Registration No. 1163206
The size of the team seems adequate to meet the minimum demand but is already showing signs of limitation. Private tuition demand cannot yet be met.
The association continues to put a great emphasis on the quality of the teaching with 7 professional developments sessions offered in 2022 to our teachers, thanks in part to the French government’s training provision via the French Embassy.
EXAMS
The centre organised DELF exam sessions for 34 candidates, up from 27 the previous year.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
It was a new record for the number of people (739) who participated in our 34 events, 10 of which were free. The Alliance offers a regular highquality book club, free online conferences & workshops for adults, children and teens. A highlight was the hosting of French author Leila Slimani in partnership with the Maison Francaise d’Oxford (MFO). Partnerships were also developed with the rest of the Alliances of the UK to offer free conferences, free online meet-ups and free competitive events with great success. A popular wine tasting was also offered.
OUTREACH AND GOVERNANCE
Perhaps the most important achievement of the year was the Trustee’s A Level French Scholarship, which generated the most interest and participation since it was introduced in 2020. 17 students, up from 8 in 2021applied from applying from for 8 different schools to the scheme. This outreach programme strengthens our relationship with schools, in particular state schools.
The Trustees were delighted to receive an anonymous donation of £1200 to fund an additional scholarship for an A level We are the Alliance française d'Oxford the charity whose mission is to promote French language and culture in Oxford
30 Polstead Rd, 1[st] Floor, Oxford, OX2 6TN www.af-oxford.org Charity Registration No. 1163206
student. As a result, 3 students in Year 12 were selected for the scholarship in December 2022. They have been receiving free tuition and will do so until their A levels exams in May 2023.
Trustees also have been involved in helping the directrice on marketing, teacher recruitment, accounting, quality control and networking in 2022.
Finances
Finances
2022 was a record year in terms of sales of French tuition, at £197,000. This was an increase of 9% on sales for the year ended 31st December 2021 The trustees attribute the increase in difficult international market conditions to the favourable economic context of Oxford, the dynamism of the team and the new streamline website sign-up process. The type of French language courses sold were similar to the previous year in terms of proportion of children, teens and adult classes. While the main focus of the activities of the Alliance is delivering group courses in line with its charitable status, a significant source of income entirely consistent with the Alliance’s charitable objectives comes from providing private tuition, representing 32% of the revenue. The shortage of teachers for part of the year meant that we were unable to satisfy the level of demand for private tuition classes.
A grant of £2,885 was given by the French government towards cultural projects, and a donation of £1,200 was generously and anonymously awarded to the Trustee’s A level Scholarship scheme to sponsor one student to attend A Level Classes for 5 terms.
There was an increase in expenses aligned with the increase in revenue. The payroll costs (the number of employees having gone from 3 to 4) and an incremental increase in rent resulted in an operating surplus of £340. The website overhaul represented an investment of £4,500.
The financial challenges ahead include the planned increase in rent and an increase in general costs, as well as likely salary increases to compensate
We are the Alliance française d'Oxford
the charity whose mission is to promote French language and culture in Oxford
30 Polstead Rd, 1[st] Floor, Oxford, OX2 6TN www.af-oxford.org Charity Registration No. 1163206
for higher cost of living demands. Given the premises limitation on our potential to increase the volume of students in classes , our strategy is to increase revenue by providing more private tuition during the day to businesses and to increase the offer to local schools.
The charity is in a position to meet its forward obligations in the event of any significant market disruption, with the reserves account at £35,087.35 at Dec 31[st] 2022, but £40 000 at 3[rd] January 2023).
The charity remains in a good financial position.
We are the Alliance française d'Oxford
the charity whose mission is to promote French language and culture in Oxford
30 Polstead Rd, 1[st] Floor, Oxford, OX2 6TN www.af-oxford.org Charity Registration No. 1163206
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Alllab)ce fr•npl8• d'oxlord 11632C Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 01101r2022 3111212022 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to tho n10#1 Rostrlcted Endowment funds Total funds La8tye?r toth• n•zNtÈ lo th• n•aY•t£ to th• nMr••t£ toth• n•ar••t£ A1 R•celpts SALES INCLUDING CHARIT+ieiE ACTIVITIES BANK INTEREST RECEIVED Grant FrerK (¥)verrwnont DonAtion- A Level Studi¢s Grant IT- Web roLtssw Gr8nl Brèxtt Spomotr L•nf 197.013 179.7•3 197.013 18B5 1.200 1.200 2,160 s00 Sub tota ross income AR) 201.152 A2 Asset and Invè8lment sak8, (see table)- 197.067 4.085 201,1S2 184,946 A3 Pawnonts COST OF SALES LOYEE PAYR LL RENTAL EXPENSES WEBSITE AND IT COSTS TrAVEL ADVERTISIN PAYROLL SERVICESI LEfjAU PROFESSIOMALAND OTHER SERMCES MEALS EERTAINMENT AND STAFF GIFrs OFFICE GENERALADMINISTR4TIVE EXPENSES PRINTING, PHOTOCOPIER, POSTAGE ID STATrONARY OTHER Offlce r&fiJEnt8XPerI$oS Brexit Spor{&hIP Icnse $0 application f*s COVID relatèd 6xp8r 51285 92.690 51285 •2.690 20.990 9,667 3.952 1.6511 1950 2.1S6 1,796 4.578 4578 2,189 2.012 1.537 1,387 1,eos 1,2U8 301 783 Sub total 191949 2M8fj 196.834 182.284 A4 Asset and Invo8tm•nt purchases. {soe tabk) Audlvlsual ul ment furnltur• IT and other fvmltur• 810 Sub total 810 194.8J4 2.885 197.Tlg 183.094 2510512023 CCXX A1 8¢xounts (SSI
Net of rncelpts/(payments) A5 Transfers botwe•n lunds A6 Cash funds last year •nd Cash fund$ thls year end 2.172 1200 3.372 1,852 64,063 66,235 V2.211 64.063 1,200 67A35 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrictod funds Categories Restrlctgd funds Deta115 Endowment funds to n•Jr•¥t £ to noarst£ B1 Cash funds to n•aro8t£ 83- Curr•nt AccoLmt 30.190 35.087 PettyCa¥h Undeposited FuTrJ8 I Strf pawn8nts) Total cash funds 6.235 1.200 (4b¥eebgl•nrVAth rBwptsarf acwJntl$ll Unre8tricted lunds Rostrlthd funds to n•4r•8t Endowm•nt fund8 to n•fn8te Details B2 Olher monelary a8$ots Details Fund ¢0 whkh Cost loptknwl) Cuwront valu• B3 Invostment assots Details AUDIOVIsUL EQUIPEMENT Fund to wthl¢h •8•at b•lon Unreslricted Co2t1OPllonal) 9.74• ¢uThent Yalu• onal B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use 150 FURNITURE lJnr•81rtrt 7,164 IT and ou Lknrtistricted l171 120 Details Fund to whlch lillbilll rolal• Amoum rfuo lon81 BS Li•bllltios loMI CCXX R2 actnts ISS)
gn by or tNStees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of pEL Pffv4JEIISop4 2•13 CCXX R3 8¢tounts (SSI 25105r2023
ALLIANCE FRANGAISE D'OXFORD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Alliance Fran¢aise d'oxford {'the charity'l for the year ended 31 December 2022. Responsibilities and basls of report A$ the trustee of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in a¢cordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the Act'i. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial stslements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable D1ctionS given by the Charity Commission under gection 14515)Ibl of the Act. Independent examinerfs $tatornent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in conne¢tion with the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respecL' accounting records were not kept in respect ol the charity as reguld by section 130 of the Act.. or the financial statements do not accord with those re¢ords', or the financial ststements do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter conSided as part of an independent examination. I have no ¢on¢erns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mer¢er Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford OX13HA 301h May 2023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES AllIan franGal•• doxford 11632L Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For thÈ p•rlod from 0110112022 31112r2022 Section A Receipts and payments Unrostricted fvThJs RestrS¢ttd Endowrn8nt nds Total funds L•sty•ar tolhb nMr••t£ tr4 the A1 Receipts SALES INCLUDING CHAFUTABLÉ ACTIVITIES BANK IWFRESTREceivED (>ant FrerKth Governement Oonthn-A Lovd SI8 Grant IT- W8b rwJè5i Gront Br8pm80TP LIc8nc8 197.013 19713 17¥.7JJ 1.200 1,200 2.1 3.oo ub total(Gros$ Income ftir AR) 197A67 I.152 184916 A2 A8s•t and inv•stment sal•s. (see tabl•l. Sub total f97.087 4.085 2Q1.152 184.946 A3Pa COST OF SALES EMPLOYEE PAYROLL RENTAL EXPENSES WEBSITE AND IT Gosrs TRAVEL ADVERTISING PAYROLL SERMCESI LEGA PROFESSIOAND OTHER SER)llCES MEALS ENTeRTA114MENT AND STAFF GIFTS OFFICE GENEFALADMINISTRAMVE EXPENses PRIING. PHOTOCOPIER. POSTAGE AND STATIONARY OTHER 512BS 12.8bO 20.990 10249 19,050 gJ61 11S6 056 1.796 105 4878 1189 1.232 2,306 2.012 1,537 301 BTrt gpons(KghtyiOcTh aNI f888 COVID r¢latsd éxpen8e8 5J58 4763 1.862 Sub total 194949 196.834 1¥2384 A4 Asset and Inv88tmont purGhag9s, I& tablo? Audlvlsual furnltur• IT and alhèrfvmltur 810 Sub total 810 188S 1gY.m 183,D94 2510512023 CCXX R1 8co)unts {SSl
Net of ro¢9ipW(paymentsJ AS Tr•nsfern bthi••n lund• A6 Cash funds last y•ar •rKI Cash lunds thls year gnd 2.172 120 3A72 152 62.211 6623S 1,200 67.435 Section B Statement of assels and liabilities at the end of the period Catogorles Unr•stricted fijnds to Mar•8t£ Details R•striGl•d funds Endowment B1 Cash fvnds nk- CuThwntA¢covrt 1200 Bank. Ac¢tyJnl 35.087 Pety&ih d&pD¥W FuTrJ8 I stripè &t5) Total 5h fvnds 6Q235 1200 14W•O F•b7n¢ni¥ roLrf$ll Unr•strict•d R••trlct•d Ethm•nt fund$ funds fund to fft•ar4¥1£ D•lail$ B2 Other monotary a8$0ts Oètails Fund to whkh asset bqlon Currarrt 4lu Co¥t{opdonAII B3 Investment wets DÈtails AUDKJwSU EQUIPEMENT Ifund ¢11 fftl¢h 8•t Unre8tddwJ eurTontWu• onal B4 Assets retained for Iho Gharlty's own use Co•tlopiion•ll 9.749 150 FURNITURE Unf8thctsd 7.154 IT 8nd other unr08tsie 4171 120 Detalls FurLd lo whl¢h liBbll Alnt onal B5 Llabllltlo8 CCXX R2 0)UniS ISS}
sgned by¢)ne orts4D trust89S C behaff of all tstrust stgnature Prlnt Ngme Date ol roval PETEL A£$5*1 IJ CCXX R3 aru18 (SSI 25ffj5r2tr23