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2023-12-31-accounts

Company number: 00601207 Charity Number: 206062

The British-German Association

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

The British German Association

Contents

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Reference and administrative information ...................................................................................... 1 Trustees’ annual report .................................................................................................................. 2 Independent examiner’s report ...................................................................................................... 9 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) ................... 11 Balance sheet ............................................................................................................................... 12 Notes to the financial statements ................................................................................................. 13

The British German Association

Reference and administrative information

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Company number 00601207
Country of incorporation United Kingdom
Charity number 206062
Country of registration England & Wales
Registered office and 34 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8QB
operational address
Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served
during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Mr Peter Barnes Chairman
Mr Duncan Johnston Hon Treasurer
Dr Sybille Steiner Hon Secretary
Mr Paul Stocker
Ms Miriam Thiede
Mr Andrew Gilchrist
Mr Maurice Hirt
Ms Neelam Cartmell Resigned 10 July 2023
Company Secretary Dr Sybille Steiner
Independent Jonathan Orchard
examiner Sayer Vincent LLP
Chartered Accountants
110 Golden Lane
LONDON
EC1Y 0TG

1

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of a directors’ report as required under company law, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Aims and Objectives

The objects of the British-German Association are, for the public benefit:

Progress towards these objectives

During 2023, the Board of Trustees continued to roll out the strategy for the BGA formalised in 2022. The goal is for the BGA to become the civil-society hub for British-German issues in the UK. The Board envisages five main areas of activity around this civil-society hub. This report therefore summarises our progress during 2023 in each of these five areas:

2

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

1. Forum and Events

Events

In 2023, we organised a total of 26 events. Amongst many other events, we continued our partnership with the LSE German Society, allowing our members access to the LSE German Symposium. We conducted an in-depth interview with the German Ambassador. We held talks with the authors of two ground-breaking books: Sir Christopher Clark on his study of the 1848 revolutions; and Professor Frank Trentmann on his new analysis of post-War Germany. We hosted discussions on a number of important current affairs topics: the Windsor Framework; Germany’s new security strategy; the regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse; and the challenges to democracy posed by disinformation. We spoke to film director Edward Berger about his prizewinning remake of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” We celebrated important cultural landmarks, such as a Spargelabend, an Oktoberfest, our annual Carols and Readings with the Christuskirche. We celebrated German baking with German baker Jürgen Krauss. And we hosted the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, as our Guest of Honour at our Parliamentary Day lunch.

All our online events are now freely accessible to our Youthbridge schools. And almost all our informational events are recorded, and can be accessed via our website at no charge: - https://britishgermanassociation.org/past events/

Newsletter

We continued our monthly newsletter, in the same format as the previous year. The Word, Quote and Quiz of the Month, and the information on third-party events, continued to prove popular with members.

3

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Membership

From 520 paying members at the start of 2023, we grew to 622 by the beginning of 2024. Of these, 193 (31%) were aged 35 and under, and 204 (33%) were based outside London. We continue to attract prominent people from a wide range of professions to become members.

In the second half of the year, we set up our Patrons’ Circle, costing a suggested minimum of £1,000 a year (£200 benefits plus an £800 suggested donation). By the end of 2023, we had eight members of the Patrons’ Circle. In addition, 15 people made us donations in addition to their membership fees, totalling £1,601.86.

Social media

During 2023, we started making much more regular use of social media. In addition to using social media to advertise our events and key third-party occasions, we began regular posts on specific themes: #WhyLearnGerman, #TwinningTuesdays, #ThursdayTunes, #FunFactFriday, #OnThisDay.

As a result of this work, we increased our followers from around 1,250 on both Twitter and Facebook at the start of the year, to 1,652 on X and 1,561 on Facebook by the end of the year. We typically generated between 200 and 1,500 impressions per post, but one post gained 8,600 impressions and over 150 “likes” on X. The German Embassy in London and the British Embassy in Berlin regularly retweeted our posts.

2. Schools and Youthbridge

Youthbridge school numbers

During the year, we continued to increase the number of schools in our Youthbridge network, which grew from 535 to 565. This accounts for over a third of all secondary schools in the UK that teach German.

Collaborations

We continued our close connections with the Goethe Institut and the UK German Connection during 2023. In particular, we engaged in discussions with the Goethe Institut about whether it made sense for the BGA formally to become part of the German Promotion Project, or whether it would be better for us to continue our own work in parallel. Early in 2024, we decided on the latter.

In addition, we continued our collaboration with the Dresden Trust to offer Dresden scholarships to pupils in Youthbridge schools.

4

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Involvement with Devolved Nations

The Department for Education’s responsibility for secondary education is limited to schools in England. So we continued our conversations with the Education Departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in order to understand the situation with regards to German-language teaching in those nations, and to explore the possibility of a role for the BGA.

3. Town Twinning

Expanded Regional Representative Network

During 2023, we continued to expand our network of voluntary Regional Representatives, which grew from nine to seventeen representatives. Two of our new representatives were people with long-standing involvement in British-German issues: Robin Hart OBE, who had led the British-German Forum at Wilton Park for several decades; and Rafe Courage, formerly HM Consul-General in Düsseldorf. We started regular online discussions with our regional representatives, to enable them to compare notes and support each other.

4. Regional Partnerships

In 2023, we continued to work on the educational pillar of the strategic partnership between the Government of Greater Manchester and the Regionalverband Ruhr, which we had initiated in 2021.

In addition, following a visit to Hamburg by the BGA Chairman and the British Deputy Head of Mission in Germany, the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, made an official visit to Hamburg to explore the possibilities for closer ties between the two regions.

5. Government and Parliament

In 2023, the UK-German Cultural Commission was revived for the first time in several decades. The Commission brings together policy-makers from both countries to address bilateral issues, including those concerning schools, language teaching, and municipal and regional links. The BGA was the only non-Governmental British organisation invited to the relaunch of the Commission in Berlin in April 2023. We have continued to be involved in subsequent discussions.

5

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Governance and Personnel

There were no changes to the BGA’s Board of Trustees during 2023. However, both of our executive staff resigned. Antonia Wunnerlich decided, with our support, to pursue a postgraduate degree. Oliver St. John took a fast-stream post within the Civil Service. In their place, we were pleased to recruit Dr Tamara Aberle, a former professional translator, as our Membership and Events Lead, and Arne Muus, a former music publishing executive, as our Regions and Schools Lead. Both Dr Aberle and Mr Muus are bilingual dual-nationals.

Peter Barnes Chairman British-German Association Date: 16 April 2024

Risk management

The Trustees have identified the major risk to which the charity is exposed as being the need to raise sufficient income to cover management costs, including salaries incurred to meet the charitable activities. These risks have been addressed partly by a membership drive, partly by aiming to more than cover direct costs on most events, partly by raising corporate sponsorship and significantly with a major donation. The Association has detailed management accounts during the year.

Financial Review and Reserves Policy

A substantial individual donation received in FY20 (£186,000) has underpinned the finances of the BGA since it was received. This donation allowed the Trustees to extend the range of the BGA’s activities to increase the charity’s social impact and public benefit. This resulted in an increase in expenditure. Total expenditure increased from £132,156 in 2022 to £135,922 in 2023. Expenditure exceeded revenue by £17,828. As a result, total funds decreased from £331,106 at December 2022 to £313,278 at December 2023.

In 2023, the BGA benefited from generous donations from the Schroder Foundation, William H Salomon as well as smaller donations and membership income.

The Trustees policy is to increase reserves as the activities of the charity grow. The Trustees aim to hold sufficient reserves to ensure business continuity and to provide a contingency for unforeseen developments.

The Trustees are working to increase engagement with potential donors with a view to broadening the base of donors. In 2023 we launched our Patron’s Circle as described above.

6

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Plans for future periods

The Trustees aim to maintain the scope of the charity’s activities in 2024. The Trustees will look for suitable opportunities to expand activities. The Trustees aim to maintain reserves at a level consistent with the scope of activities.

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 25 March 1958 and registered as a charity on 11 August 1970.

The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 6 to the accounts.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of The British-German Association for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom

7

The British German Association

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 December 2023

governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 for Individual Members and £5 for Corporate Members to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 13 May 2024 signed on their behalf by

Duncan Johnston Honorary Treasurer

8

Independent examiner’s report

To the trustees of

The British German Association

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The British-German Association for the year ended 31 December 2023.

This report is made solely to the trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the 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 trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Company you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’)/Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company’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 Charities Act 2011 (‘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:

9

Independent examiner’s report

To the trustees of

The British German Association

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.

Name: Jonathan Orchard FCA

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Address: Sayer Vincent LLP, 110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG

Date: 30 May 2024

10

The British-German Association

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Unrestricted
£
54,548
50,703
1,635
930		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
-		 Endowment
£
-
-
-
-		 2023
Total
£
54,548
50,703
1,635
930		 Unrestricted
£
49,331
46,732
270
433		 Restricted
£
15,000
-
-
-		 Endowment
£
-
-
-
-		 2022
Total
£
64,331
46,732
270
433
107,816 - - 107,816 96,766 15,000 - 111,766
-
125,568		 -
10,354		 -
-		 -
135,922		 -
112,400		 -
19,756		 -
-		 -
132,156
125,568 10,354 - 135,922 112,400 19,756 - 132,156
10,278
(17,752)		 -
(10,354)		 -
-		 10,278
(28,106)		 2,410
(15,634)		 -
(4,756)		 -
-		 2,410
(20,390)
(7,474) (10,354) - (17,828) (13,224) (4,756) - (17,980)
(7,474)
280,983		 (10,354)
38,123		 -
12,000		 (17,828)
331,106		 (13,224)
294,207		 (4,756)
42,879		 -
12,000		 (17,980)
349,086

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 17a to the financial statements.

11

The British-German Association

Balance sheet

Balance sheet Balance sheet
As at 31 December 2023 Company no. 00601207
Note
£
Fixed assets:
10
11
Current assets:
12
984
13
6,024
73,893
80,901
Liabilities:
14
(14,291)
17a
273,509
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible assets
The funds of the charity:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total net assets
Stock
Debtors
Total assets less current liabilities
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Endowment funds
General funds		 2023
£
278
246,390		 £
1,043
11,269
80,724		 2022
£
586
247,783
246,668
66,610		 248,369
82,737
80,901
(14,291)		 93,036
(10,299)
273,509 280,983
313,278 331,106
313,278 331,106
12,000
27,769
273,509		 12,000
38,123
280,983
313,278 331,106

The opinion of the directors is that the company is entitled to the exemptions conferred by Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The directors acknowledge the following responsibilities:

Approved by the trustees on 13 May 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Duncan Johnston Honorary Treasurer

12

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

The British-German Association is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales.

The registered office address is 34 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8QB.

b) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Public benefit entity

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

e) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the date on which a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

f) Donations of gifts, services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

13

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

g) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

h) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

j) Tangible fixed assets

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £250. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.

Where fixed assets have been revalued, any excess between the revalued amount and the historic cost of the asset will be shown as a revaluation reserve in the balance sheet.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

 Computer equipment 3 years

k) Listed investments

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading “Net gains/(losses) on investments” in the statement of financial activities. The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.

l) Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. In general, cost is determined on a first in first out basis and includes transport and handling costs. Net realisable value is the price at which stocks can be sold in the normal course of business after allowing for the costs of realisation. Provision is made where necessary for obsolete, slow moving and defective stocks. Donated items of stock, held for distribution or resale, are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.

m) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

14

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies (continued)

o) Creditors and provisions

p) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

2 Income from donations and legacies

Income from donations and legacies
Donations - cash
Donations - in kind*
Legacies		 Unrestricted
£
30,548
24,000
-		 £
-
-
-
Restricted		 2023
Total
£
30,548
24,000
-		 Unrestricted
£
25,331
24,000
-		 £
15,000
-
-
Restricted		 2022
Total
£
40,331
24,000
-
54,548 - 54,548 49,331 15,000 64,331

3 Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities
Corporate subscriptions
Individual subscriptions
Gift aid
Events activities		 Unrestricted
£
10,000
21,607
5,572
13,524		 £
-
-
-
-
Restricted		 2023
Total
£
10,000
21,607
5,572
13,524		 Unrestricted
£
10,500
16,607
7,161
12,464		 £
-
-
-
-
Restricted		 2022
Total
£
10,500
16,607
7,161
12,464
50,703 - 50,703 46,732 - 46,732

15

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

4a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Analysis of expenditure (current year)
the year ended 31 December 2023
Staff costs (Note 6)
Other staff costs
Premises*
Other office costs
Website costs
Youthbridge
Events activities
Independent Examiner fees
Legal fees
Depreciation and amortisation
Other
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2023
Total expenditure 2022		 Raising funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Charitable
activities
£
83,466
876
24,000
3,484
2,522
2,599
11,824
-
-
308
1,741
Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,400
1,200
-
1,502
5,102
(5,102)
-
-		 2023
Total
£
83,466
876
24,000
3,484
2,522
2,599
11,824
2,400
1,200
308
3,243
2022
Total
£
73,955
507
24,000
2,750
2,180
2,301
10,261
2,400
13
640
13,149
-
-		 130,820
5,102		 135,922
-		 132,156
-
- 135,922 135,922 132,156
- 132,156

16

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

4b Analysis of expenditure (previous year)

Analysis of expenditure (previous year)
the year ended 31 December 2023
Staff costs (Note 6)
Other staff costs
Premises*
Other office costs
Website costs
Youthbridge
Events activities
Independent Examiner fees
Legal fees
Irrecoverable VAT
Depreciation and amortisation
Other
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2022		 Raising funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Charitable
activities
£
73,955
507
24,000
2,750
2,180
2,301
10,261
-
-
-
640
12,642
Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,400
13
-
-
507
2,920
(2,920)
-		 2022
Total
£
73,955
507
24,000
2,750
2,180
2,301
10,261
2,400
13
-
640
13,149
-
-		 129,236
2,920		 132,156
-
- 132,156 132,156

17

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

This is stated after charging / (crediting):

This is stated after charging / (crediting):
2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation 308 640
Independent Examiner's Fee (excluding VAT) 2,000 2,000

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Salaries and wages		 2023
£
79,303
2,636
1,527		 2022
£
70,499
2,119
1,337
83,466 73,955

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2022: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: £nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £220 (2022: £199) incurred by 1 (2022: 1) member relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees.

7 Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 3 (2022: 3).

No employee received employee benefits, except for contributions to pensions.

8 Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for this financial year. Aggregate donations from related parties were £0 (2022: £4,000).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

9 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

18

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

10 Tangible fixed assets

The British-German Association
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements
10
Tangible fixed assets
11
Charge for the year
Cost
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
At the start of the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
Net book value
At the start of the year
At the end of the year
At the end of the year
Additions in year
Disposals in year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Listed investments
Fair value at the start of the year
Net gain / (loss) on change in fair value
Disposal proceeds
Fair value at the end of the year
Additions at cost		 Computer
equipment
£
2,101
-
-
Total
£
2,101
-
-
2,101 2,101
1,515
308
-		 1,515
308
-
1,823 1,823
278 278
586 586
2023
£
247,783
488,329
(500,000)
10,278		 2022
£
250,148
496,725
(501,500)
2,410
246,390 247,783

The Trustees invest the funds of the charity in short-dated government securities. When each security matures, the proceeds are reinvested.

Investments comprise:

Investments comprise:
UK Government Treasury Bills
12
Stock
Finished goods		 2023
£
246,390		 2022
£
247,783
2023
£
984		 2022
£
1,043
984 1,043

19

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

The British-German Association
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements
13
14
Other creditors - Pension
Deferred income (note 15)
Accruals
Prepayments and accrued income
Debtors
Taxation and social security
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year		 2023
£
6,024		 2022
£
11,269
6,024 11,269
2023
£
-
-
5,276
9,015		 2022
£
1,342
357
3,304
5,296
14,291 10,299

15 Deferred income Deferred income comprises membership income relating to 2024, received in advance in 2023.

Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year		 2023
£
5,296
(5,296)
9,015		 2022
£
4,021
(4,021)
5,296
9,015 5,296

16a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)

Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 December 2023		 General
unrestricted
£
278
246,390
26,841
Restricted
£
-
-
27,769		 Endowment
funds
£
-
-
12,000
Total funds
£
278
246,390
66,610
273,509 27,769 12,000 313,278

16b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)

Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)
Net assets at 31 December 2022
Investments
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets		 General
unrestricted
£
586
247,783
32,614
Restricted
£
-
-
38,123		 Endowment
funds
£
-
-
12,000
Total funds
£
586
247,783
82,737
280,983 38,123 12,000 331,106

20

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

17a Movements in funds (current year)

ritish-German Association
e year ended 31 December 2023
to the financial statements
Movements in funds (current year)
Total restricted funds
General funds
Restricted funds:
Youthbridge Funds
Endowment funds
Sir Frank Roberts Memorial Fund
Prince Friedrich Lecture Fund
Total funds
Total unrestricted funds
British-German Officers' Association
Unrestricted funds:		 At 1 January
2023
£
10,000
2,000
Income &
gains
£
-
-
Expenditure
& losses
£
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-		 At 31
December
2023
£
10,000
2,000
12,000 - - - 12,000
36,595
1,528
-		 -
-		 (10,354)
-		 -
-		 26,241
1,528
38,123 - (10,354) - 27,769
280,983 118,094 (125,568) - 273,509
280,983 118,094 (125,568) - 273,509
331,106 118,094 (135,922) - 313,278

The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below.

17b Movements in funds (prior year)

Movements in funds (prior year)
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total funds
Restricted funds:
New Age - New Skills
Youthbridge Funds
Endowment funds
Sir Frank Roberts Memorial Fund
Prince Friedrich Lecture Fund
British-German Officers' Association
Unrestricted funds:
FCDO
Total unrestricted funds		 At 1 January
2022
£
10,000
2,000
Income &
gains
£
-
-
Expenditure
& losses
£
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-		 At 31
December
2022
£
10,000
2,000
12,000 - - - 12,000
34,732
6,619
1,528
-		 10,000
-
-
5,000		 (8,137)
(6,619)
-
(5,000)		 -
-
-
-		 36,595
-
1,528
-
42,879 15,000 (19,756) - 38,123
294,207 99,176 (112,400) - 280,983
294,207 99,176 (112,400) - 280,983
349,086 114,176 (132,156) - 331,106

21

The British-German Association

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

17b Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of endowment funds

The Sir Frank Roberts Memorial and Prince Friedrich Lecture funds were endowed to provide income for the funding for annual memorial lectures.

Purposes of restricted funds

The Youthbridge Fund is to support the charity's German language promotion programme.

18 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of winding up the liability of each member is limited to:

22