2025-04-30-accounts - Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From

Period start date Day Month Year 1 5 2024

Period end date

Day Month Year 30 4 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Bulgarian-British Foundation “St George”

Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1164441

BBF “St George”

Charity's principal address 16 King William Drive

Cheltenham

Postcode GL53 &RP

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 Vrabtcheva
	Mr Ivan Kovachev
	Mrs Iliana Akinmutande
	Mr Stanimir Adanev
	Mr NikolayHristov

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

TAR

February 2026

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B

Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution

Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Foundation How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by the board of trustees Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees.
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works.
relationship with any related parties.
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

BBF “St George” is a CIO (Foundation) governed by its constitution (registered 17 November 2015; amended 6 March 2020) . The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction, financial stewardship, compliance, and oversight of safeguarding and risk management, supported by volunteers and community members. The charity’s operating areas include Bath and Northeast Somerset, Bristol City, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Worcestershire .

The charity’s organizational structure consists of main office with governing body the board of trustees and local branches governed by managing committee.

The structure of the main charity is as follows: Board of trustees (by constitution up to 12), currently 5:

Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Members

All trustees were nominated and formally appointed by the existing trustees.

The Structure of the Managing committee is as follows:

Chair of the managing committee – always one of the trustees
Members – associate members to which the board of trustees delegate the role of member of the managing committee and delegate rights to act on behalf of the charity in on specifically specified matters.

To govern the local branch, we have developed and accepted the following policies:

TAR

February 2026

Associate membership Terms and conditions
Proposed Agreement for opening a local branch of the Bulgarian British- Foundation "St George"

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees regularly consider operational and strategic risks, including:

Funding volatility (term-to-term variation in income and event fundraising).
Volunteer capacity and burnout risk.
Safeguarding and compliance responsibilities when working with children and families.
Venue availability and cost inflation .
Reputational risk associated with public events and communications.

Mitigations include routine trustee oversight, appropriate policies and procedures (including safeguarding and financial controls as recorded on the Charity Commission register), and reliance on community engagement and planning.

Section C Objectives and activities

The charity’s objects include (for the public benefit):

advancing the education of children in Bulgarian language and the history, geography and culture of Bulgaria.

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

promoting social inclusion for members of the Bulgarian community who are socially excluded on the grounds of ethnic origin.
promoting Bulgarian culture and heritage by providing opportunities to participate in traditional Bulgarian folk-dance classes; and
other exclusively charitable purposes as trustees may determine.

TAR

February 2026

The Trustees confirm they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The charity’s activities during the year provided public benefit primarily through:

education and cultural learning for children and young people.
strengthening inclusion and community participation for Bulgarian families in the UK; and
accessible cultural events that build confidence, belonging and bilingual skills.

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)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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

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

TAR

February 2026

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	During the period 1 May 2024 – 30 April 2025, the Foundation continued to deliver and support Bulgarian language education and cultural activities across its supported schools and community hubs in Cheltenham/Gloucester, Bristol and Newcastle. The charity supported regular Sunday school provision and organised or facilitated a wide range of educational and cultural events, including: Educational Activities • Reading competitions to encourage literacy and confidence. • First day of school events. • Ongoing Bulgarian language, literature and cultural education sessions. • Learning about Bulgarian history and national figures including Hristo Botev. • Lessons on Bulgarian traditions such as Easter, Surva, Baba Marta, Lazarovden and Blagoveshtenie. • Educational sessions about traditional Bulgarian musical instruments. • Activities marking the Day of the National Awakeners and Teachers’ Day. National and Cultural Celebrations • 24 May – Day of Bulgarian Education and the Slavic Alphabet. • 2 June – Day of Botev and those fallen for Bulgaria. • 22 September – Day of Bulgarian Independence. • 1 November – Day of the National Awakeners. • 3 March – National Holiday of Bulgaria. • Day of the Christian Family. • Christmas and Koleda traditions. • Children’s Day (1 June). Major Community Event • 9 June 2024 – 8th BG Picnic (Croft Farm Water Park, GL20 7EE) A large community fundraising event supporting Bulgarian children’s education and cultural activities. Approximately£6,000was raised through food and refreshment sales, directly supporting the continuation of educational and cultural provision.
		Impact Through these activities, the Foundation: • Supported bilingual literacy development. • Strengthened children’s cultural identity and confidence. • Encouraged family engagement in education. • Fostered community cohesion among Bulgarian families in the UK. • Promoted intergenerational cultural continuity. The Trustees consider that the charity continues to deliver measurable public benefit by advancing education and preserving cultural heritage for children and families.

TAR

February 2026

Section E

Financial review

The Trustees’ approach is to maintain reserves at a level sufficient to:

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

ensure continuity of educational and cultural provision.
manage cashflow across school terms and event cycles; and
• respond to unexpected costs (venue changes, safeguarding requirements, essential resources).

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.

Total income: £97,123 Total expenditure: £83,207

Net of receipts/payments:13,916 Income during the year comprised a combination of

(i) educational income streams,
(ii) grants/support (including Ministry of Education support (iii) community fundraising and donations(including the BG Picnic).
Expenditure reflected delivery costs associated with educational provision (teachers, venues/rent and related operating costs), and costs required to run events and maintain charity operations. The Trustees confirm that no trustee remuneration was paid during the year.

Section F

Other optional information

Plans for the next period

In the next reporting year, the Trustees intend to:

continue supporting Bulgarian language, literacy and cultural teaching across the charity’s operating areas.
build on the success of community fundraising events to strengthen sustainability.
broaden participation in cultural activities and celebrations; and
strengthen governance capacity through trustee development and planned trustee additions (including the post-year-end appointment noted above).

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. They are required to ensure that the charity keeps adequate accounting records, safeguards assets, and takes reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Section G

Declaration

TAR

February 2026

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Malinka Vrabtcheva Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 26/2/2026

TAR

February 2026

Charity Name	No (if any)
1164441 Bulgarian-British Foundation "St George"
Receipts andpayments accounts		CC16a
01/05/2024 Period start date For the period from	30/04/2025 Period end date To

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 12 226 4 486 32 235 - - 48 176 - - 97 123 - - - 97 123 5 468 - 65 636 6 138 280 446 - 5 239 - 83 207 - - - 83 207 13 916 - 42 867 56 783	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 12 226 4 486 32 235 - - 48 176 - - 97 123 - - - 97 123 5 468 - 65 636 6 138 280 446 - 5 239 - 83 207 - - - 83 207 13 916	Last year to the nearest £
Event Receipts	12 226				11 041
Donations	4 486				2 580
School Fees	32 235				31 878
Project Income	-				-
Gift Aid	-				-
Other Income	48 176				50 977
Prioryear income adjustment	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	97 123				96 476

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					96 476

Event Expenses	5 468				5 568
Donations	-				-
School Expenses	65 636				73 618
Premises Costs	6 138				18 182
Equipment Expenses	280				-
Travel Expenses	446				-
Governance Expenses	-				-
Other Expenses	5 239				5 141
	-				-
**Sub total **	83 207				102 509

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					102 509

	13 916	-	-	13 916	- 6 033
	-	-	-	-	-
	42 867	-	-	42 867	-
	56 783	-	-	56 783	- 6 033

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

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

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Details Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 56 783 - - - - - 56 783 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Dr Malinka Vrabtcheva	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Dr Malinka Vrabtcheva	28/2/2026

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Bulgarian – British Foundation “St George” On accounts for the year 30[th] April 2025 Charity no 1164441 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 to 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/04/2025 .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 28/02/2026 Name: Vasil Vasilev Relevant professional ACCA member 1449835 qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 32 Priory Gardens Horfield Bristol BS7 0XE

IER

February 2026

Section B

Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

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

February 2026

IER