2025 Hellenlc Cultural Society of Bristol "Methexis", Inc rights reserved. HELLENIC CULTURAL SOCIETY OF BRISTOL'METHEXIS" Annual report and financial statements for the first two financial years of operation: August 2023 - 6th April 2025 Charity Number: 1206301
Q2025 Hellenic Cultural Soaety of Bristol"Methexis". Inc AJI rEhts reserved. Reference and administrative infonnation Charity name". Hdlenic CuKural Socth of Bristol 'Methexis" Other name the charity uses: Methexis Registered chaiity number. 1206301 Charity's principal address. 190 Ilminstsr Avenue. Knowle. Bristol. BS4 1 BY Charlty trustees Iln alphabetkal order) Name Re nsibili Gavriela Maria Matziri Secretary Member Anastssia Mth38kakn" Ev8ng•lia Mitsiakour) loannis Panes Member Anagnostrs Samanis Maria Sifnaiou Vice President l Head Treasurer President I Chair n Reslgned on August 2024 Objectives and activities Type of governing docjjment: Consbttrtion Charity type". Charrtable InrpOrate Organization Our aim as an organlsatlon Is to advance the education of the public in Bristol and thé surrounding area in the subject of Greek arts and culture, in particular th¢wgh not Ilmited to the art of dance, through the provision of workshops. ciasses and performan$. The Hellenic Cultural Society of Bristol Melhexis undertakes the following activities in order to further its charitable objects and purposes for the public benefit.. Organisation of ts Greek daring dub at enhancirvJ the cultural imprlnt in the public of Bristol while in parallel tying to achieve financial viability.
ra Q2025 Heltenic Cultural Soaety of Btistol"Methexis", Inc ri8hts reserved. Organisation and finalisation of tegal documentation and wlictes of the organisab'on according to directions and guidance of the Charity Commission. Introduckn of other aimiffJ to nm them in similar Standards as the Greek dancing thb (i.e. Hiking dub). Organisation of bondIj actFvities orland gatherings (Greék gathering coffee. Greek nights, Special lebratiOnS of Greek historyltradition, Christmas party. National IndePerKlen Day etc.) The Twstees confinn that they are awa of the Charity Comrni8sion's guld8nce on public benefit and have complled with their duty to have due regard to that guidan, in the conduct of their activities. They are aware of no occasions in bthich they have had no depart from that guidance during Ihe financial year in review.
@2025 Hellenlc Cultural Society of Bristol 'Methexis". InG All rights reseThed. Achievements and performance 11tY8arof o rdtion ust 2023- 6th ril 2024 During the first year of operatlon. the Trustees of the Hellenlc Culknral society of Bristol °Methexis° completed the foundats.onal administratsve work required for the organisats'on's establtshment. This Inded ffinalising the Consts'tuts'on, preparing all required legal documentation and submitting necessary material to the Charity Commission, which granted approval for the society to operate as a CIO (Charitable Incoorated Organisation). In parallel. the board developed. documented and implemented intemal poliaes arKI g0Veman procedures as well as defining the roles and responsibilities of each tNstee in accordance with Charty Commission guidance. Cultural acbvlties ere centred arnd tt)e Greek dancing dub. whith began operatlng on a weekty basis and provthd an accessible introduction to Greek culture within the wider Bristol community and surround1j areas. The Tntstees successfulty coordinated the dan instrudor. venue bookings. rnemberJhips and payments, 8nsuring the financial viability of th6 dub throughout the 1•t year operational pen'od August 2023 - 6th April 2024. Preparatory work also b•gan on developing additional cultural activities, induding the initial planning for a fLrture hiking club which aims to further enhance ttle So(a8ty'8 iathral arHI community offering. Alongside these core 8Ctivits'es, the soclety organised a serfes of bondirKJ and community events, aligned with its charitsble purpose of promoting Gréèk culture and strengthening social engagement These included a Sunday noon Greek gathering coffee event in November 2023 arKI a Chrlstrnas paty In De<xnber 2023. Both events attracted partscipation from mnberS arKI nonqnemborn and contribut8d to raising awaren&88 of the Society Mthin the local communty. 2rkl Year of o ration ri12024- 8th nl 2025 Durlng Ihe secorKI year of operakn, ts Trustees of the Hellenlc Cultural Society of Bristol 'Methexls' contlnued to maintaln all admlnlstraove and 90Man¢• responsibilities established duriThJ the firnt year. The Board revieed, updated and improved the Society's policies as well as introduced new ones to reflect the growing needs of thè organisation and 8nsur8 alignment with Charity Commission expectats'ons. DLth'es and role descripts'ons asSned to each Trustee were also refined to support clearer responsibilitles and more efficient operation. Cultural and aducatlonal act1v1t exparKled considerably durlng thls period. The Greek dancsTrJ dub continued to nm Eekly lessons throughout the new seast)n {September to June), supported by a stnKiured enrolment process and updated documentatlon for all participants. For the first time. the Society introduced a feedback mechanism that allowed dan(ws to express what they enjoyed in tho dasses and suggest areas for improvement During this period, the Society also introduced private dancing lessons for individuals wfK) wished to pr8par8 specific dances for rSonal occasions such as weddings. Parts'cipab'on in the danang dub inwsed significantly compared with the first year. strengtheniTrJ the financial stsbility of the organisation
02025 Hellenic Cultural So(ietyof 8ristol "Methexts.. Inc All rfghts reseNed. and broadening engagement with trE Greek communty and the wider public in Bristol and SuOund1g areas. In addition, the Society introduced an annual m8mb8rship sch8mé. M8mb8rs réc8iv8d an official rnembership card that provided reduced prices for pa.Pa'0n in ttural events and access to discounts offered by local businesses that collaborate with the Society. This new scheme conthbuted to inixeased member commitrnent and held foster ck)ser ties ¥%ith local Greek companies and shops. The second year also marked creation of the Society's cultural danclng team. Thls group trained separately from ts regular dancing dasses and prepared to represent the Society at public performances. The team perfomied at a cultural event hosted on a Greek Navy vessel visits.ng Southampton and was invited to perfofm at hvo Greek restsurants. a wedding in January 2025 arKI a birthday lebratIon in April 2025. A wide raro6 of bonding and cultural ev w8r8 organised across year. These induded a free hiking tour in the Bath COuntr'd8 near the Avon river in May 2024 wlth around hventy-five participants, folFowed by a large summer party on 6th July 2024 attered by more than hundred people. On 5th October 2024 the Society organised a free educats'onal excursion to the British Museum in London, which attracted around fifteen parb'cipants. A cornmunity coffee gathering took place on 17th November 2024, encouraging social Intéradon among m•mb8rs and n•w parts'cipants. A Halloween paty for thildren of members and non members took place on 27th October 2024, drawing approximately fifty attendees induding accompanylng parents. Tho Chrisknas paty on 141h D•cember 2024 became one of the SocSety's largest events, attracting around one hundred and trhenty people and featuring INe music, danctng and a buffet with tradits'onal Greek dishes. In January 2025, the Society organised the traditional Greék'Kopl tls Pltas. event, wtrfire participants sharad w¢8s of tho New Yearfs cake )ntain1j a symbolic hidden coin. wilh the wnrer receiving a small gift and wishes for a prosperous year. The year concluded with a camival paty on 1 st March 2025, attended by mr• than foty people who enjoyed an evening uslng camival costumes. music and danong. Throughout the year, the Society also ensured that individuals facing financial hardship re offered free access to selected actlvltles and bonding events, supwting indusNity and enabling parbcipation regardless of finan(aal circumstances. In addition to its cultural activitbes, ts Society expand8d its charitabl8 support by providing financial contn'buts'ons to other oan1$aonS carrying out important sooal rk. During this period, donations were made to 'Moth8rs for Mother5° in the United Kingdom and "Hurnan in Gree. refleclirvJ ts So(•'s commitrnent to supporting broader charitable initiatives IworKI Its own programme3. These activities dèmonstrat8 the SOC's continued growth in cuFtural engagemenc communrty parts'dpation arKI organisaliorkgl capabilty throughout its second year of operation.
Q2025 Helienlc Cuttural Socw of Bri5tol"Methexis". Inc All rights reserved. Financial Review During the first and second yéar of opèralion, the Héllenic Cultural Society of Bristol 'Methexis° ended eath financial pericKI with a positsve balance. The main income sources and expenditure categoTi8s are summarised below. Total income: Donations Pa 10638.15 3,168 255 505 759.5 3,456.66 121 Membershi Danci erf0mWn inry)n Event refund income Purchases refund Tolal e ndiiure Dana club teachi cjub room tenial rA)St Refund to danci Refund to rivate dancin uests Danci rforman(x e itijre anisation's o rational cost Events e ndire Event Rfurnl to Mone nt to charities 1540 2462 1,575 362.25 1060.27 2.455.$5 25.49 252.51 Profit Income was generated throLKJh the follo*ing activili6s: Donations from members and non member5 of ts Helienic Cultural Society of BrFStol "Methex5S'. Payments from participants attending the Greek danang dub, eitrer throwJh monthly memberships or pay per lesson options. Payments reiVed from individuals requesb'ng private dancing lesson8. Annual membership subscfiptions to the Society. Fees re(xived for hiring our dancing team to perfomi at cultural, community and private events. Revenue from the organisabon of bonding arKI cultural events. including Christmas celebrations, camival events, surnmer parb'es and other gatherings. Refunds received from event related costs or operational expenditures.
2025 Hellenic Cultural Soaety of Bristol "Methexi5", InG All rights reserved. Expenditure for the tharitsble organisatr'on is categorised as follows: Payments to the dancing instructor. calculated on an hourfy basis according to the tenns of the service agreemenL Rental costs for the venue used for weekty dancing lessons arKI other ojltural activities. Refunds issued in cases re payments needed to be Trned to the danang dub participants. Costs associated wrth organising and delivering dancing performances when the dancirvJ team is hired. Operational costs related to essential running expenses and consumables reqiiired for the funcb'oning of the Soctety. Expenses related to the costs incurred to organise bonding events. Refijnds issued to event partscipants in accordance wilh the society's cancellation policy. Financial contributions made to charilable organisations to support their Social wor JI&uoiou
Q2025 Hellenic Ojlturnl Soaety of Bristol"Methexis". Inc All ryhts resen1. Future plans The Soclaty's priorit8 for comirvJ year focus on str•ngthening its cultural. educational and communty a]'tieS while maintsining financial sustainabilty. A key objeclive is to preserve and further enhance the financial viabilty of the Greek dancing dub by expandlng participab'on, updating dass structures vknèn n88d8d and ensuring that the dub continues to operate to a high standard. The Society also aims to broaden its cultural offering through the development of additional clubs and activities, including othèr danc8 styles. amateur theatrical lessons hikirKJ initiatives. Fundraising actiwties will also be fvrther developed to support key programmes and ensure that future cultural initiats'ves can be delivered to a hh standard. In addibon, the Society plans to introduc recreational sports activitss, Including the creat'on of basketball and football teams, with the intention of partiapats'ng in or hosting community toumaments in collaborats'on wrth other cultural groups and societies. The Society also intends to estsblish a mentonng programme aimed at supporting young people with guidance on professional devek)pmenC CV preparation and other career related skills. Bulkllng on the Successfvl organisalion of bonding events during the past two years, the Society intends to continue delivering 11 structured culturnl gathenngs designed to strengthen community ties and attract parb'cipants from diverse backgrounds. As part of this expansion. the Sodèty plans to organis8 danclng workshops for childron aged five to Iwglve. with the long-temi aim of establishing a year-round children's dancing dub operating on a regular basls. The Society also alms to expand Its éducaiional provision by organlslrKJ IFMed workshop8, guost talks and book presentsts'on events deSned to promote cuttural leamir¥J and Intelkctual engagement wlthin the communty. Looking ahead, the Hellenic Cullural So• of Bristol 'Plethexis' alms to athieve the following objectives: Ensure ongoing financial 3UStainabih'ty thrgh dtver8e fvndraistng acbvltles and tsrgeted grant apicatiOns. Regularly revsew and improve governance. polv documents and operational pro(dures to suppcyt effective and respsIble management Expand outreach instiatives to Prnote Greek cultural hentage across Brfstol and Ihe surrounding areas. Increase member engagement through a WKYer programme of cultural events, workshops and educational 8eminars, including traditional crafts, cooklng aclivFlies and dance workshops. Estsblish new cultural arKI educational groups within the SOC to provide additional opportunits'es for participation. Strengthen the Soaety's digrtal presen to broaden public visibility and support community erYJagement Build cotlaborations wrth cultural organisations and charsties to develop joint projects and shared acrtiv1ts. Develop partrrshbpS with local Greek businesses arKI shops to support community involvement arKI sponsorship initiatives. (UOJ
02025 Hellenic Cultural Society of Bristol "Meth5., Inc. All lights reserved. Grow the scale and qualty of annual lIural events, induding seasonal lebrations, festivals arKI communrty gatherings. Acquire necessary equipment and materials, such as darKe access8 and branded rtems, to support organiSatial activil*s arml fundraising. Expa1 structured fundraising efftjrts to support future cultura5 projects, educab'onal inits'ats'ves and community events, ensuring that the Society's activit$ continue to refiect ts cultural and ttk2ritable purpose. Develop sports reLited and educational initi'atrves. suth as rec¥eational team acb'vib'es and tsmatic workshops. that provKle addrtional avenues for cultural expression and communty participation. Implement mentoring and youth developme initiatives that offer guldancè on career progression, empbyabilty and key professional skills. supports'ng young people within the communrty. These obiecb'ves refiect our dedicalion 10 preserving. celebrab"tvJ and shariNd Greek culture, striving for meaningful growth and impact in the years ahead. Declarations The board of trustees dedare that tsy have approved this current annual reporL Anagnostls Samanis Maria Sifna 12101r2026