The French Caribbean Heritage and Preservation Foundation
Charity number: 1210134
Constitution: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 20 September 2024 to 5 April 2025
1. Reference and administration details
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Charity name: The French Caribbean Heritage and Preservation Foundation
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Other names: FCHPF; Noula
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Charity number: 1210134
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Principal office: 102 Brockley Grove, London, SE4 1EB
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Country of registration: England and Wales
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Trustees during the period:
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Valerie Magunar (appointed 20 September 2024)
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Fabrice Troudart
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Patricia Robinson
2. Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 20 September 2024 and governed by its foundation model constitution. The trustees are also the only members of the CIO and are responsible for its overall governance, strategy and finances.
3. Objectives and activities
The objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit, to promote the culture and heritage of the French Caribbean community in the United Kingdom and to advance the education of the public in this culture and heritage. The charity aims to achieve this by documenting, disseminating, educating and celebrating French Caribbean traditions, including arts, crafts, music, dance, language, cuisine and historic carnival practices.
Activities and achievements during the period
During the reporting period, the charity focused primarily on establishing the organisation and preparing for future charitable activities. Key activities included:
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Completion of the charity’s initial organisational set-up, including governance arrangements, allocation of trustee roles, and agreement of internal processes.
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Opening of a charity bank account and implementation of basic financial management and record-keeping systems.
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Development of the charity’s strategic direction, including defining priority themes, target communities, and planned cultural and educational activities.
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Research and preparation of funding and grant applications to support future charitable programmes.
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Establishment of partnerships and relationships with French Caribbean artists, cultural practitioners, community organisations, and event partners in the UK.
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Development of communication tools and digital infrastructure, including email systems, shared document storage, and early work on branding and public presence.
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Organisation and delivery of a French Caribbean Christmas (Chanté Nwel) cultural event in December 2024, celebrating French Caribbean Christmas traditions through music, food and community gathering, open to the wider public. This event promoted cultural awareness, community connection and intergenerational participation.
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Initial planning and preparation of future cultural workshops and events, including activities linked to French Caribbean music, dance, costume-making and heritage education.
These activities directly support the charity’s aims to promote French Caribbean culture and heritage and to provide educational and cultural experiences for the wider public.
4. Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning the charity’s activities. The work undertaken during this first period has laid the foundations for delivering cultural and educational activities which will increase public understanding and appreciation of French Caribbean heritage in the UK.
5. Financial review
For the period 20 September 2024 to 5 April 2025 the charity had total receipts of £650.00 and payments of £46.76 . Receipts consisted entirely of interest-free loans from trustees: £500 from trustee Fabrice Troudart and £150 from trustee Patricia Robinson, to provide initial working capital. Payments related to the purchase of a domain name for the charity’s website (£46.76), supporting future communications and fundraising.
At 5 April 2025, cash at bank was £603.24 , represented by these trustee loans less expenditure. The trustees consider this level of reserves reasonable at this early stage and expect future income to come mainly from donations, grants and fundraising activities rather than further loans.
The charity had no grant commitments, no fixed assets and no employees during the period.
6. Reserves policy
Given the current small scale of operations, the trustees’ policy is to maintain modest free reserves sufficient to meet basic running costs and planned small-scale activities for several months. This policy will be reviewed as the charity begins to deliver regular programmes and events.
7. Risk management
Key risks identified are low income in the early years, dependence on trustees and volunteers, and compliance with regulatory requirements. These are managed through close monitoring of finances, regular trustee meetings, and adherence to the CIO’s constitution and relevant guidance.
8. Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, preparing receipts and payments accounts in accordance with charity law and applicable guidance for smaller charities, and submitting the annual report and accounts to the Charity Commission within 10 months of the financial year end. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and ensuring they are used solely to further the charity’s objects.
Signed on behalf of the trustees,
………………………………………
Name: Valerie Magunar Date: ……………………………
Receipts and Payments Accounts
The French Caribbean Heritage and Preservation Foundation
Charity number: 1210134
Receipts and Payments Account for the period 20 September 2024 to 5 April 2025
Receipts (cash received) £
Loans from trustee – F. Troudart 500.00
Loans from trustee – P. Robinson 150.00
Total receipts 650.00 Payments (cash paid out) £ Domain and website costs (GoDaddy) 46.76
| Total payments | 46.76 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash reconciliation | £ | |
| Opening cash balance | 0.00 | |
| Plus total receipts | 650.00 | |
| Less total payments | 46.76 |
Closing cash balance (bank) 603.24
Statement of assets and liabilities at 5 April 2025
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Cash at bank: £603.24
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Liabilities:
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Loan due to trustee F. Troudart: £500.00
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Loan due to trustee P. Robinson: £150.00
Net liabilities at 5 April 2025: £46.76 .
Accounts prepared on a receipts and payments basis, appropriate for a CIO with small gross income.