CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGL4ND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the Period From 0110412024 Period start date To 3110312025 Period end date Charity name: The Federation of Polish Student Societies in the United Kingdom Charlty reglstratlon number: 1166785 Objectives and Activities SORP referen Para 1.17 Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in ils governing document Our purpose is to advance education for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively by providing guidance, advice and other support lo polish student societies. The Fedeialion, for example, brings together members of Polish Student Societies that are active al the UK universities. We continue to be official partners of Poland 2.0, Polish Economic Forum. UCL Leaders and the Congress of the Polish Students Societies being held this year in Milan.. key partners in supporting the development of student by organising academic meet ups, including conferences and workshops. Summary ofthe main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or seNices identified in the accounts. Para l.17aThl We once again played an active role in fostering connections within the Polish student community in the UK by organi5ing and supporting several flagship events. We organised the LOC Christmas Dinner at Villa Foksal. a festive networking event that brings together Polish students and young professionals from across Europe in a celebratory setting. We also COTh organised new editions of mentoring scheme with the PCC (the Polish City Club} lo increase accessibility of professional career advice among students who are part of our community. and who seek out corporate work and need further support. FurtheTmore, we supported all associated Polish Societies from British Universities on regular basis, advising them on how lo efficiently plan events and distribute funds, helping them promote knowledge on Polish culture and educational facilities. We hel ed lo
11 organise numerous online and in-person meetings, workshops. etc. Vve also re-hosled our annual Christmas Dinner at Ognisko Restaurant in London, a long-standing tradition Ihat brings together Polish students in a warm and festive atmosphere. Finally, we collaborated with a wide range of public and private institutions such as OC&C to reate workshops helping boost the employability of members of the polish sludenl societies, and their access to employment opportunitie5 We supported the organisalion of CEECIR, the Central and Eastern European Conference for Interdisciplinary Research, an international student academi¢ conference held al Ihe University of Warwick. The conference was the charity's largest activity of the year, bringing together students and academics from across the UK around interdisciplinary research on Central and Eastern Europe. and was funded throu h lickel sales and artner s onsorshi We hereby confirm that the trijslees have had regard lo the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Statement confiTming whether the trustees have had regard lo the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on publi¢ benefit Para 1.18 Additional information loptional} You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. SORP reference Policy on grant making Para 1.36 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Par8 1.38 Other
Achievements and Performance SORP raference 1. Organisation ofthe LOC Christmas Dinner (Warsaw. Poland}- a. We again helped the organisation of the LOC Christmas Dinner at Villa Foksal, a major networking event for Polish students and young professionals. b. Impact.. Created opportunities for cross-boTder networking, mentorship. and cultural exchange. Strengthened lies between UK-based students and the wider Polish diaspora Summary ofthe main achievements of the chaiity, identifying the difference the charity's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as 8 whole. Para 1.20 2. Organisation of the PCC (Polish City Clubl Mentorship scheme We collaborated with the notable PCC organisation to help pair students with experienced staff in sectors of finance, law and consulting, lo teach them on how each field works and what is necessary to get into the field b. Impact. Many ofthe beneficiaries of this scheme have gone on to land successful job roles in the field they had aspired to work in, but didn't previously have connections in. Moreover, it has helped the funding of our charity by inspiring confidence in collaborators by showing the efficiency of our members in creating and enacting the scheme on such short notice, which has allowed us lo create more events. Additional infomiation loptionall You ma choose to include further statements where relevant 8bout: Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41
Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the financial period, the charity remained in a stable financial position. Income and expenditure during the year broadly reflected the charity’s operational model, which focuses on organising events and activities aligned with its charitable purposes. The charity held sufficient cash balances to meet its short-term obligations and ongoing operational needs at the year end. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The trustees keep the charity’s reserves policy under regular review. The charity does not aim to hold fixed long-term reserves at all times. Instead, reserves are built up on a needs-based basis, primarily in advance of major conferences, events or projects, where advance commitments and financial risk require prudent cash planning. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Total receipts for the year were £44,965 and total payments were £41,565, giving a net inflow of £3,400. The increase on prior years reflects the CEECIR conference, which generated ticket receipts of £26,086 and accounted for the majority of the charity's activity during the period. Cash funds at 31 March 2025 were £6,344, comprising £410 of unrestricted funds and £5,934 held in the restricted UCL Leaders and CEECIR conference funds. The charity had no liabilities at the year end and held sufficient cash to meet its obligations as they fell due. Gross income exceeded £25,000, and the accounts have accordingly been subject to independent examination. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
charity typically builds appropriate reserves in advance to manage financial commitments and risks. The charity did not have any funds materially in deficit al the end of Ihe financial eriod. There were no uncertainlies about the charity continuing Details of fund materially in deficit Explanalion of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern Par8 1.24 Para 1.23 Additional information loptionall You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. The charity's principal sources of funds lincluding any fundraising) Para 1.47 Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 A description of Ihe principal isks facing the charty Para 1.46 Other Structure, Governance and Management Description of charity's trusts.. Type ofgoverning document Para 1.25 Constitution How is the charity constituted? Pars 1.25 cio c SoLJcialiori. C. 111 Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled lo appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 The president, primary trustee, is elected by the members of our CIO. and then calls upon four more trustees las necessary in our constitution), which are drawn from the executive cornmittee of the organi5ation. Additional information loptionall You moy choose to include further slalements where relevant about..
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 The charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relationship wrth ar¢y related parties Para 1.51 Other Reference and Administrative details Charty name The Federation of Polish Student Societies in the United Kin dom FOPSS Federation Federac 1166785 Other name the chari uses Registered charity number Charity's principal addre55 Polski oarodek Spoleczno-Kulturalny IPOSKI, 238-246 King 5t, London W6 ORF Names of the eharity trustees who manage Ihe charity N*me of ppr50n lor body) efithled to appoint trustee Ilf Tlustee name Offlee Ilf any) Dates a¢ted If not for whole year Jan Romanowski Jakub Babuska Jagna Schmude President Vice-Presidenl Legal Officer and Treasurer Chief IT Officer London Executive Maksymilian Sekula Helena Kluzniak Cor orale trustees- names of the directors at the date the re Dlrector name ortwasa roved
Name of trustees holding lille to property belonging to the charity Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole ear Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets held in this capacity None Name and objects ofthe charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity's objecls None Details of arrangements for Safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets None Additional inforniation loptionall Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members {Optional infomiationl Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other o tional information Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signaturels Full namelsl Marek Swiatek, Szymon Kwidzinski Position leg Secrotary, Chair, etcl Treasurer and Trustee ChaiT and Trustee Date 3110112026 3110112026
Accounts CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES The FeaeYaii¢n of Poisa studertt ehP ued nda 1IE6785 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a ForthÈ perlod from To OfI04130?4 3110312025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrictod funds Rostricte nds Endowrllent lunds Totsl funds List yoar lo the nearesl lo t ne1rt£ ttrthe Tr?re5t£ lo IbB Deare51 E to Ihe nearestE .A1 R•colpts .DOnan8. Sponsorships and gran15 Conference aThJ ewent ket receyt (Evtnibnle and siryi E1 tonlnbutw re¢eryefj dire¢Uyfr participants BaLae trfeffe& fr¢ma closed ¢haty nk I¢¢OW (note 3 390 6.670 7.080 34.D34 3,T18 153 Sub totgifGross Income for AR) 44A 44.ws .A2 A55et and invesiment S81es, see table . Sub total 22 A3 Payments Venue. cateiity and eveht c4gt% Conferéntt8 progranhi ¢05ts Pa In loreh tenCY Inoie 41 P4ymenls lo member Poltsh SO¢*1# Participant fundS and rthinbutsements v0Eeerld Irustee èxpense eimbvtsements Inute 51 M8rnberSp sub5cMows INUSI Bank ¢haryes 6,739 30.If• 24 125 125 18 Sub toial A4 Asset and investrftent urchases, tsble Sub total 41.565 Net of re¢eipts/(payfnentsJ AS Transfers bett¥een funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 713 113 00 410
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted lunds nearel £ Restricted lunds nearest£ Categories Endowrnent funds tD ne4rqsl É B1 Cash funds nuThrty trs Y mmnrt 524è Total cash funds 410 5,034 PJymÈThts Unre$trided lunds to llEire¥t È R¢stricted lunds lo neir•llt£ EndoThent fun#5 to •ar1 E Detsils Non B2 Other monetary assets Fnd tothi¢h sset Details None CoitlpplvJTrill ¢untntvalu• IDwlHch ¢ostloptiunl Cuirentval (Opt11) B4 Assets retsine(I lor the harlty'5 own use None Fund tothlEh Ik4Jility re DetBIIs ovnt due lowionall 85 Llabllltlès SigbY ore(Ktwo behal alltt*lrLSteÈs Signare Prith Natne Do10 of gpprov81 tAREK NW<SYMILNN SWL4TEK 31012026
CHARITY alMIsSIoN FOR ENfuND tho WAIES Ind•p•ndont •xamln•rf8 r•port on the accounts 3110312025 Charlty no (11 any) 1166785 I report to tho truste88 on my oxamlnatson of th• amnts oftho ab ¢h8rfty I'th8 Trusfi for the yoar ended 3110Y2025 As the ch8rlly's tru8t888, you ar8 re8Fx)n81ble lor the proparauon ol tho accounts In acGordan¢e wlth the requlrnments of the Charftkn Act 2011 (Ihe Acri. R••pon•lbllttl•• •nd l rnport In respect of my examinabon of the Trusvs ao>)unts earried out under sectton 145 of Ihg 2011 A¢t and In canying out my examinatkn. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charrty Commlssw)n under wtion 145{5)Ibl ofthe Act Ind•pondant •umln•e8 Statam•nt I have corn8ted my examinatton. I confirm ihat no material matters have Como lo my attention in connecllon with Ihe examinatton whkh gives m8 cause to bolleve that in. any materlal respect: th6 accountlng re¢ord8 w¢r8 not kept In accudance wllh Secllon 130 of the Charfues Act; or the 8cryJunts dld not a¢cord with the accounng records. the accounts did not ¢ompty wilh tho appll¢able rffjutrw1ts conc8ming the fom and Content of accgwnts $8t (Mji tho Charilles (Accounts and Reports) Reguktlons 28 other Ihan any requlrem8nt that the a¢cjnts give a and fair. view whlch18 rvjt a mattor consldered as part of an lTrJoperxlont •xamlnakn. I have concems and have rne across no othèr matters In connectlon wtth the examlnaum to whlch attentlon slwld drawn in thi8 rewt In order lo 8natle a pn¥)er urKlerslanding of kn acCntS to b8 reached. ' Ple880 delelg Iho Arrds in the brnckets Mlfvfjy ¢*) nol appfy. Oim2r2028 quth•drf•) or body (W any):
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. direction5 and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose.