Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From Period start date 24 February 2020 To Period end date 31 December 2020
Charity name: Polish Studies Foundation
Charity registration number: 1188129
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the Charity are to advance education of the public in, and support the academic study of, the history, literature, language, religion, philosophy and culture of Poland. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The Polish Studies Foundation was not formally active over the period of this annual return period, although the Trustees were involved in putting in place some of the foundations that has allowed the organization to begin activity in Q4 2021, having received its first funds in April of this year. This preparatory work has involved interacting with potential donors, scoping out future activity and making informal contact with prospective partners and other stakeholders. The foundation would probably have launched in Q4 2020 were it not for the onset of COVID-19. A pivotal meeting with a group of major donors, planned for the end of March 2020, in Warsaw, was postponed, due to the emerging pandemic. From this meeting we expected to secure short-term funds to support the appointment of a project manager, but COVID-19 forestalled those plans. Nonetheless, over the period of the pandemic, the Trustees met virtually regularly and exchanged communications which have allowed it to proceed with its proposed mission in 2021; moreover, there is a strong conviction that this mission is more important now than ever. The charity’s main purpose is to (i) Make grants to individuals and organisation to strengthen the academic foundation for |
| Polish Studies. (ii) To develop new programming and to create services to help coordinate and resource the field of Polish Studies. (iii) Provide Advocacy to promote Polish Studies. Although the interest in historical and modern Poland may seem like a niche subject, we are growingly convinced of the breadth and depth of the interest in the country among a wide group of interested stakeholders, At the same time, academic activities, research and teaching are seriously underfunded and too many initiatives that would benefit from a collaborative approach operate in silos and never fulfil their potential. The pandemic has slowed down the implementation of our mission, but the initial period of the charity’s existence was not wasted and the additional preparation time it inadvertently allowed, may prove to be valuable to fulfilling our vision in the medium and long-term |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making N/A Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment N/A Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers N/A Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
N/A Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set N/A Performance of Para 1.41 fundraising activities against objectives set N/A 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 | Charity was dormant. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: N/A The charity’s principal Para 1.47 sources of funds (including any fundraising) N/A Investment policy and Para 1.46 objectives including any social investment policy adopted N/A A description of the Para 1.46 principal risks facing the charity Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Foundation |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustee selection has been based on hand-picking key influencers in the field of Polish Studies as well as key non- academic board members to offer an independent and practical perspective. |
of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees of Polish Studies as well as key non- academic board members to offer an independent and practical perspective. |
of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees of Polish Studies as well as key non- academic board members to offer an independent and practical perspective. |
of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees of Polish Studies as well as key non- academic board members to offer an independent and practical perspective. |
|---|---|---|
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements 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 with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name Polish Studies Foundation Other name the charity uses Registered charity number 1188129
| Charity’s principal address | Farrer & Co 65-66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields London WC2A 3LH |
|---|---|
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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Davies | ||||
| Ranjit Majumdar | ||||
| StanleyBill | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements N/A for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Ranjit Majumdar Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc) Date 22 October 2021
| POLISH STUDIES FOUNDATION | POLISH STUDIES FOUNDATION | POLISH STUDIES FOUNDATION | POLISH STUDIES FOUNDATION | POLISH STUDIES FOUNDATION | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
24-Feb-20 | To | ||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
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| - | - - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
- | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| - | - | |||||
| - | - - - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - - |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | - - - |
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| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
- | |||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - |
- |
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| - | - | - | - - |
- - |
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| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/10/2021
1
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 Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - 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 Ranjit Majumdar |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| Ranjit Majumdar | 20-Oct-21 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/10/2021
2