2021-04-30-accounts - Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"

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Section A

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 May 2020 30 April 2021 To

From

Reference and administration details

Charity name Bulgarian British Foundation “St George” Other names charity is known by BBF “St George” Registered charity number (if any) 1164441 Charity's principal address 16 King William Drive Cheltenham Gloucestershire Postcode GL53 7RP

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Dr Malinka Vrabctheva
	Mr Ivan Kovachev
	Mr Alexander Pykov
	Mr Stanimir Adanev
	Mrs Maryia Stavreva















	Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
	Name		Dates acted if not for wholeyear

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1 February 2022

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
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Section B Structure, governance and management	Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document	Constitution
(eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted	Foundation
(eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods	Appointed by the board of trustees
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
Youmay chooseto include additional information, where	The charity’s organizational structure consists of main office with governing body the board of trustees and local branches governed by managing committee.
relevant, about:
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and	The structure of the main charity is as follows: Board of trustees (by constitution up to 12), currently 5:
training of trustees; the charity’s organisational	1.Chair 2.Secretary 3.Treasurer
structure and any wider	4.Members
network with which the charity works;	All trustees were nominated and formally appointed by the existing trustees.
relationship with any related
parties;	The Structure of the Managing committee is as follows:
trustees’ consideration of	1.Chair of the managing committee – always one of the trustees
major risks and the system	2.Members – associate members to which the board of trustees delegate the
and procedures to manage	role of member of the managing committee and delegate rights to act
them.	on behalf of the charity in on specifically specified matters.
	To govern the local branch, we have developed and accepted the
	following policies:
	1.Associate membership Terms and conditions
	2.Proposed Agreement for opening a local branch of the Bulgarian British
	Foundation “St George”

Section C

Objectives and activities

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February 2022

The objects of the CIO are:

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

□ For the public benefit to advance the education of children in the subjects of the Bulgarian language and the history, geography and culture of Bulgaria. □ To promote social inclusion for the public benefit of people in the Bulgarian community who are socially excluded on the grounds of their ethnic origin. □ To promote Bulgarian culture and heritage by providing opportunities for people to participate in traditional Bulgarian folk dance classes □ Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine.

□ For the public benefit to advance the education of children in the subjects of the Bulgarian language and the history, geography and culture of Bulgaria

1. Bulgarian schools

The children in the community are a top priority for our Foundation. It is our responsibility as parents to keep the Bulgarian language and traditions alive and to hand them over to future generations.

Currently the BBF”St George” maintains three Sunday schools (Gloucester, Bristol and Newcastle) where more than 120 children learn about Bulgarian language, history and tradition.

The Bulgarian schools were founded with lots of love and dedication more than 7 years ago. Under the guidance of the BBF”St George” the schools achieved excellent results and were recognised as a members of the Association of the Bulgarian schools abroad.

Under the guidance of BBF”St George”, the teaching teams in Bristol, Gloucester and Newcastle successfully, established contact and exchanged information with similar schools in Great Britain, Europe and around the world.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

The schools work with children divided in the following groups: 1. Preparatory group (children under the age of 5 and such whose first language is not Bulgarian) 2. Children from Year 1 to Year 4 3. Children from Year 5 to Year 8 (new group, which required provision of teacher specialists in history and geography of Bulgaria)

The children are grouped according to their knowledge and abilities, not according to age.

The children study Bulgarian language and Literature, as well as History and Geography of Bulgaria; Bulgarian folklore traditions). Specialised books for children living abroad are used in the education process from the approved curriculum of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. The annual fee is minimal, and the collected funds cover the rent of the premises, as well as the teachers’ payments. At the end of the first academic year, thanks to the activity of the Foundation, trough fundraising activities funds were raised to support the development of the school, which allowed us to reduce the annual tuition by £60 per child and to offer a discount for a second child at the same school. A third child from the same family receives free education.

The textbooks, as well as all other materials and equipment are free for the children.

2. Bulgarian School Mobile library

The mobile library was founded and is maintained by Mrs Ivelina SpasovaDimitrova, a parent at Bulgarian school ‘Hristo Botev’. The library boasts a collection of Bulgarian books for children and adults, donated by Bulgarians living in Great Britain and Bulgaria. At present the library is open only during the school working hours but we hope to have our own building in the future.

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February 2022

□ To promote social inclusion for the public benefit of people in the Bulgarian community who are socially excluded on the grounds of their ethnic origin.

Building life in a new culture brings about a variety of challenges for immigrants. Like many other recent immigrants, Bulgarians face language and cultural adjustment challenges and struggle with the dilemma of total assimilation and preservation of their own cultural heritage which is too often the root cause of tensions between family and or other community members. Bulgarian children and particularly those who are second generation Immigrants face additional challenges due to the absence of or presence of fragmented memories about Bulgarian culture. Identity confusion and a disconnection from Bulgarian cultural heritage present risks for the development of these children. We address these challenges by creating opportunities for generations of Bulgarian immigrants and their families to socialize and reconnect with their cultural heritage. The gatherings also help younger members of the Bulgarian community to fill the gaps that may already exist in their memories of Bulgarian language, culture and tradition. The encouragement of stable identity facilitates the integration in the UK society and culture. We organise and govern a Sunday school where young children learn Bulgarian language and history. We have a mobile library with collection of books in Bulgarian language to help them learn about Bulgarian literature. We run Bulgarian Folk dance classes for children and adults in several different places throughout South West of England.

□ To promote Bulgarian culture and heritage by providing opportunities for people to participate in traditional Bulgarian folk dance classes

Bulgarian school for folklore dance

1. Bulgarian group for folklore dances ‘Bulgarka’ in Gloucester The group is founded and led by Mrs. Gergana Ivanova – an experienced dancer and choreographer. This group was the result of the interest of lots of people to learn Bulgarian folklore dances in their free time. The aim of the group is to preserve and popularise our folklore dance and songs through teaching people of all ages. It is Mrs. Ivanova’s love for the Bulgarian national dance and folklore treasure that drives her in her desire to hand over her knowledge to those ones who enter the hall and succumb to the magic of dancing. Depending on their abilities the dancers can attend classes in different levels (beginners and advanced). The first performance of Folklore group ‘Bulgarian Lady’ was at the concert for the first anniversary of the founding of the Foundation.

2. Children’s Dance School at Bulgarian school ‘Hristo Botev’, Gloucester

The future dancers of Folklore group ‘Bulgarka’ are being taught at the Children’s Dance School. The dancing curriculum covers a set of dances, songs, games, as well as familiarising the children with different national customs and traditions. The methodology of teaching in the different groups is adapted to the age and abilities of the children.

We have been granted a single grant by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the project ‘Mother tongue and culture abroad to buy national folkloure costumes for the dancers.

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February 2022

□ Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine.

Charitable causes

1. Fundraising in support of group of volunteers helping elderly people during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

We have raised £220to support the team of volunteers. Team of volunteers of the Municipality of Burgas, have regularly delivered food and prescription medicines to the elderly and people in need during lockdown. Hot lines were active for orders of food and regular prescription medications. The service was set up in support of elderly, lonely and sick people who did not have family to help them. The team helped by delivering food and medications to those people.

2. Fundraising for hospital in Bulgaria to buy COVID-19 Tests.

We have raised £200 for buying COVID-19 tests.

Testing people for corona virus is important to help both diagnose individuals and understand how widely the virus is spread. Knowing who is infected and where, can allow the Bulgarian Health Service to plan and more effectively cope with intensive care demands. Testing can also help inform decisions to tighten or ese social distancing measures.

3. Fundraising in support of the Bulgarian Food Bank

We have raised £120for this cause.

The Food bank needs volunteers who have several hours a week to distribute food, creating database, providing administrative support as well as sorting and organizing donated food.

4. PIittville School Coronavirus Crisis food

We have raised £500 for the Pittvile school Coronavirus Crisis food parcels. Pittville school in Cheltenham was delivering packed lunches to pupils amid the Coronavirus lockdown. The staff, from Pittville Secondary School, in Cheltenham,started helping those on free school meals "in the interim”. About 30 l lunches have been delivered a day. Staff started preparing packed lunches and delivering on Day one of the crisis, the Headteacher and many other teachers are involvedin this charitable process.

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February 2022

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Contribution made by volunteers

A major driving force of the BBF” St George” are our volunteers who give up their free time for popularising Bulgarian heritage culture and keeping the Bulgarian spirit alive. They organise theme events around every holiday – Christmas, Easter, Baba Marta, Bulgarian Liberation Day. All members give the best they can.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

We have 25 regular volunteers.

policy on grantmaking; policy programme related investment; contribution made by volunteers.

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February 2022

Achievements and performance

Section D

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

We have created opportunities for generations of Bulgarian immigrants and their families:

We have organised several social gatherings for generations of Bulgarian immigrants and their families to socialize and reconnect with their cultural heritage. This also helped younger members of the Bulgarian community to fill the gaps that may already exist in their memories of Bulgarian language, culture and tradition. The encouragement of stable identity facilitates the integration in the UK society and culture.
We organise and govern a Sunday schools where young children learn Bulgarian language and history.
We have a mobile library with collection of books in Bulgarian language to help them learn about Bulgarian literature.
We run Bulgarian Folk dance classes for children and adults in many different places throughout South West of England.

Most of all we have achieved the respect and support from our Bulgarian community which can be seen from some of the comments about our work from our supporters:

“The Bulgarian-British Foundation is a wonderful charity that works very hard to keep the Bulgarian spirit alive in the young community as well as bringing together and supporting the Bulgarian community as a whole” Iva Vrabtcheva

“BBF creates wonderful opportunities for the community to socialise and learn with special care for children and their parents and strives to deliver high standards to all activities that it organises.” Raia Androvska

“They are very kind, nice and reliable foundation.” Daniela Petkova

“So proud of St George foundation! Well done!” Zornica Miladinova

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February 2022

Section E

Fi ancial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about: the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F

Other optional information

Section G D claration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Vrabtcheva Full name(s) Dr Malinka Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 22/02/22

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February 2022

	Charity Name Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"	Charity Name Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"	Charity Name Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"	No (if any) 1164441	CC16a
	For the period from	Period start date 01/05/2020	To	Period end date 30/04/2021

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 18,266 15,241 - - 20 - - 33,527	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ - 18,266 15,241 - - 20 - - 33,527 - 33,527	Last year to the nearest £
Event Receipts	-				1,641
Donations	18,266				6,623
School Fees	15,241				65,117
Project Income	-				-
Gift Aid	-				-
Other Income	20				170
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*	33,527				73,551
A2 Asset and investment sales, etc. *Total receipts* A3 Payments
	-	-	-	-	-
	33,527.00 - - 41,063 1,910 2,146 - - 1,254 - 46,373	- - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - - -
					73,551

Event Expenses	-			-	4,321
Donations	-			-	-
School Expenses	41,063			41,063	42,999
Premises Costs	1,910			1,910	8,580
Equipment Expenses	2,146			2,146	2,562
Travel Expenses	-			-	484
Governance Expenses	-			-	-
Other Expenses	1,254			1,254	2,337
	-			-	-
**Sub total **	46,373			46,373	61,283
A4 Asset and investment purchases, etc. *Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
	-	-	-	-	-
	46,373 - 12,846 - - - 12,846	- - - - -	- - - - -
					61,283

	- 12,846	-	-	- 12,846	12,268
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	- 12,846	-	-	- 12,846	12,268

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

24/02/2022

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Barclays Bank Details Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 24,960 - - 24,960 Agreement Error Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates	Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) - - - - -	Endowment funds to nearest £
				-
				-
				-
				-
				OK
				Endowment funds to nearest £
				-
				-
				-
				-
				-
				-
				Current value (optional)
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				-
				-
				-
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				Current value (optional)
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				When due (optional)
			-
			-
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Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature

Print Name

Date of approval

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

24/02/2022

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Report to the trustees/ members of Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"
On accounts for the year ril 2021 Charity no (if any) 1164441
ended[30][th][ A] [p]
Set out on pages 1 to 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Respective The c h arity's trustees consider that an audit is not r equired for this year
responsibilities of (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the A ct)) and that an
trustees and examiner indep e ndent examination is needed. It is m y responsibility to • ex a mine the accounts (under section 43 of the A ct), • to f ollow the procedures laid down in the Gene r al Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of t he Act), and
• to s tate whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My ex a mination was carried out in accordance wit h General Directions given examiner’s statement by the Charity Commissioners. An examination in c ludes a review of the accou n ting records kept by the charity and a comp a rison of the accounts prese n ted with those records. It also includes con s ideration of any unusual items o r disclosures in the accounts and seeking e x planations from the truste e s concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provid e all the evidence that would be required in a n audit, and conse q uently I do not express an audit opinion on t he accounts.
Independent In the c ourse of my examination, no matter has co m e to my attention (other
examiner's statement than t h at disclosed below ) 1. whi c h gives me reasonable cause to believe th a t in, any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to e n sure that: • proper accounting records are kept (in acco r* dance with section 41 of the Act); and
• accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of t he Act; or
1. to w hich, in my opinion, attention should be dra w n in order to enable a pro p er understanding of the accounts to be rea c hed.
- Plea s e delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Date: 24/02/2022
Signed: Name: Antho n y Smith
Relevant professional AFA
qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address: 2 Tyle a Close, The Reddings Cheltenham Glouc e stershire GL51 6 RB

IER

December 2005

Disclosure section

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

IER

December 2005