2025-03-31-accounts - Alliance Francaise De York

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ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK

Registered Charity Number: 1171386 Company Number: CE008958

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

AND

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

HPH Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham YORK YO30 7XZ

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

AND

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Contents	Page
Trustees' Annual Report	1 to 4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Receipts and Payments Account	6
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	7
Notes to the Accounts	8

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Annual Report together with the Receipts and Payments Account, and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis and comply with the charity's governing document and the Charities Act 2011.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Charity name: Alliance Française de York Registered charity number: 1171386 Company number: CE008958 Charity’s principal address: HPH Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham YORK YO30 7XZ Charity’s contact and Mark Egan address: Chair 15 Church Lane Strensall, YORK YO32 5XU

Names of the Charity Trustees who managed the Charity during the year:

Mark Egan Chair Appointed 17 June 2022 Stephen Curran Hon. Treasurer Appointed 18 June 2021 Anne Harley Secretary Appointed 18 June 2021 Mat Watson Trustee Appointed 11 August 2023 Andrew Harley Trustee Appointed 11 August 2023

The names and addresses of the Charity’s advisers:

Independent Examiner: Sarah Wearing FCA, DChA HPH, Chartered Accountants, 54 Bootham, YORK, YO30 7XZ Bankers: CAF Bank. Kings Hill, West Malling, KENT, ME19 4JQ

Solicitors: Grays Solicitors Duncombe Place YORK YO1 7DY

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Association model) (CIO) and was registered with the Charity Commission on 31 January 2017. Prior to this it had been an unincorporated charitable association for over 20 years.

Our constitution allows for a maximum of 8 Trustees and we currently have 5 in post. Trustees are selected at the AGM. Members are invited to apply before the AGM. Existing Trustees may also coopt members to become Trustees if vacancies remain after the AGM.

The administration of the Charity is normally carried out by a Director and 2 part-time Administrators. Agathe Cintrat was appointed interim Director in January 2024 and confirmed as permanent Director in April 2024. At the year end, there were four part-time teachers, who did not undertake administrative duties in addition to the Director who undertakes the bulk of in-person teaching.

Wherever possible and in accordance with Government guidelines, Trustees have continued to attend training seminars for small charities. We have been fortunate to have had Trustees with legal, human resources and safeguarding expertise, but we continue to take outside legal, accounting and human resource advice as needed.

We continue to belong to a wider UK network of Alliance Française organisations, working closely with the Institut Français. Our Chair and Director have attended meetings which brought together UK Alliance Française branches to discuss current issues and challenges.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Alliance Française de York is an educational Charity whose aims are: -

To advance the education of the public of York and the surrounding region in French language and culture, in particular but not exclusively by:

Organising courses in French language, civilisation and literature;
Promoting social and cultural activities relating to France and for French speakers in York and the surrounding area (such as lectures, musical concerts, drama, exhibitions, film, shows);
Collaborating with the cultural service of the French Embassy in London;
Supporting French language teaching and the diffusion of French culture in schools, colleges, and universities.

The Trustees believe they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission in respect of public benefit.

Volunteers play a significant role in delivering the objectives and activities of the Charity. In addition, members volunteer to organise and assist at many of the activities listed further below.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The main mission of the Alliance Française de York is to provide French language and culture courses over 30 weeks, as well as individual and small group courses throughout the year. We help prepare learners to take the DELF/DALF examinations, which cover all abilities from beginners to fluent French speakers.

Our members may also take part in facilitated conversational meetings which this year are face-toface. In addition, we organise a number of cultural activities throughout the year, including, for example, celebrating la Chandeleur and France’s national day on 14 July. We use a monthly email newsletter and website, as well as social media, to communicate with members and prospective students. With improved resources in this area, we have seen engagement increase, both online and at our regular face-to-face social events.

Although some members expressed a preference for in-person events after lockdown, online meetings continue, including some classes, and meetings of Trustees. Online meetings have also helped us connect with members who live at a distance from York and retain staff who prefer to work online.

We continue to adjust our processes as appropriate and thinking creatively about how we can deliver our services in new ways. The Kids' Club, started this year at The Mount, aims to attract a younger age group to the French language in a fun way.

One of our principal challenges is still the absence of an office to store books and equipment and to offer a base to our administrative staff. We now use commercial storage but would still prefer to find our own office, co-located with a teaching room, when resources permit. We are grateful to the Friargate Centre for hosting face-to-face classes this year.

We had a small deficit in 2024-2025 which reflected the difficulties we have experienced in recruiting additional students whilst also dealing with increasing costs. Widening our in-person course offering is complicated by the limited number of teachers in the York area who have French as their mother tongue.

POLICY ON RESERVES

The Charity’s policy is to ensure that there are sufficient funds to cover liabilities in the event of closure. Our annual accounts include the storage of property and costs for meeting rooms for in person classes. For the year ended 31 March 2025 £37,480 is held in reserves (in 2024 - £39,345).

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The main source of income for the Charity is course fees paid by individuals for the French language courses. The Charity also raises funds from membership subscriptions (currently £30 per year) and payment by individuals for various activities.

Total receipts in the year amounted to £32,176 (2024 - £34,204) and total payments amounted to £34,041 (2024 – £33,809) giving rise to a net excess of payments over receipts of £1,865 (2024 excess of receipts over payments of £395).

The deficit for 2024/2025 was £1,865, compared with the previous year surplus of £395. We continue to work to reach a breakeven position, which will principally depend on minimising costs associated with storage and in-person classes and maximising the number of students enrolled in our classes.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE YORK TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW (CONTINUED)

All money raised for the Charity is used to provide the activities and for administrative costs. We do not invest money but keep our reserves in a bank savings account, moving money between the current account and the savings account to maximise return on our funds, while ensuring the smooth running of the Charity.

Approved on behalf of the board by

Mark Egan Trustee and Chair

25 June 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE YORK

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Alliance Francaise De York (“the Charity”) for the year ended 31 March 2025.

This report is made solely to the Charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examiner’s work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s trustees as a body for my independent examiner’s work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

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

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns 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.

Sarah Wearing FCA, DChA HPH, Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham YORK YO30 7XZ

25 June 2025

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE YORK

Registered Charity Number: 1171386 Company Number: CE008958

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Receipts Course fees Membership fees Events and social activities Other receipts Grants from Institut Francais Donations Bank interest received Payments Tutors' salaries and pensions Course materials Activities and events Rent and service charges Administration salary and pensions Insurance IT equipment and website costs Stationery, postage and photocopying Office expenses Office relocation DBS check Legal and professional fees: Accountancy and payroll fees Independent examination fees Bank charges Total payments Net of receipts over payments/(payments over receipts) Cash funds brought forward Cash funds carried forward Total receipts	Unrestricted Funds Year to 31/03/2025 £ 29,796 900 294 353 - - 833 32,176 13,248 124 200 6,488 11,241 634 232 12 338 - - 1,104 360 60 34,041 34,041 (1,865) 39,345 37,480 £	Unrestricted Funds Year to 31/03/2024 £ 24,769 993 480 225 1,937 5,158 642
		34,204
		10,036 - 880 6,364 14,063 658 313 - - 90 18 1,042 345 -
		33,809
		33,809
		395 38,950
		39,345 £

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE YORK

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Note Cash funds Bank current account Bank savings account Assets retained for the Charity's own use Computer equipment 3 Liabilities Creditors and accruals for expenses	31 March 31 March 2025 2024 £ £ 10,052 12,724 27,428 26,621 37,480 £ 39,345 £ 423 529 423 £ 529 £ 2,145 1,520 2,145 £ 1,520 £ Unrestricted Funds	31 March 31 March 2025 2024 £ £ 10,052 12,724 27,428 26,621 37,480 £ 39,345 £ 423 529 423 £ 529 £ 2,145 1,520 2,145 £ 1,520 £ Unrestricted Funds
		39,345 £
		529
		529 £
		1,520
		1,520 £

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the board on 25 June 2025 and signed on its

behalf by:

Mark Egan Trustee and Chair

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE YORK

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICY

a) Basis of Preparation

The accounts are prepared on the receipts and payments basis.

b) Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate Computer equipment 20% reducing balance

2. FUNDS

The Charity only has unrestricted funds.

3. FIXED ASSETS

Cost or valuation At 1 April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Carrying amounts At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024	Computer Equipment £ 1,034 -
	1,034
	505 106
	611
	423
	529