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2025-03-31-accounts

THE BRITISH-ITALIAN SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. 84th Annual General Meeting

The Society held its 84th Annual General Meeting at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 7 October 2024 at The Medical Society of London, Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, London W1G 9EB. 34 members attended.

The meeting was opened by the President, the Hon Olga Polizzi CBE, Lady Shawcross, and the Chair, Peter Jones CMG.

The minutes of the previous AGM were approved at the meeting and signed by the Chair.

The Chair presented the Annual Report of the Trustees for 2023-24.

The Treasurer presented the Society’s Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024, which had been circulated separately. Further copies were available on request from the Society’s Secretary.

The Meeting passed resolutions approving both the Annual Report and the Annual Accounts for 2023-24.

The Meeting approved a resolution reappointing WellTax Limited as independent examiners of the Accounts.

Roberta Faccio, having been co-opted in May 2024, was elected as Trustee for a term of three years.

Carla Passino, having been co-opted in May 2024, was elected as Trustee and Programme Director for a term of three years.

Richard Northern was re-elected as Trustee for a further term of one year.

Luca Marin was re-appointed as Treasurer of the Society until the next AGM.

The Chair noted that three Trustees, Sidney Ross, Eugenio Bosco and Tina Villarosa had come to the ends of their terms of office, and that Sidney Ross and Eugenio Bosco, both former Vice Chairs, had been appointed Honorary Directors of the Society.

2. Membership

At 31 March 2025 (and 31 March 2023 and 2024) the figures for membership of the Society were:

Category 2023 2024 2025

Ordinary (includingCountry*)Members 277 267 244
Life Members 88 87 83
Complimentary** 39 38 25
Student and Under-26 7 6 6
TOTAL 411 398 358

** Complimentary includes 12 months’ membership for recent speakers plus a number of office-holders from partner organisations or institutions.

3. Awards and Grants

The Trustees approved the following new grants during 2024-2025:

The 2024 biennial British-Italian Society Student Prizes were presented at the Society for Italian Studies’ Annual General Meeting in London on 31 January 2025:

The total committed in grants, awards and prizes in 2024-25 amounted to £6,100.

4. Rivista

The Society published the latest edition of its annual magazine Rivista in March 2025.

We are very grateful to the Editor, Mrs Philippa Leslie, who again put together an excellent edition. Digital versions of this and previous editions can be found on the Society’s website. Hard copies of the magazine can be obtained from the Secretary.

We invite members who would like to contribute material or to place an advertisement in the next edition, which will appear in early 2026, to contact the Editor or the Events and Communications Officer.

5. Events

The Society continues to offer a varied programme, including both live meetings in the London area and some virtual lectures. The online events enable us to offer access to our country and overseas members and to take advantage of expert lecturers who may be based outside the UK.

We organised the following lectures and events during the 2024-25 financial year:

April – From Galileo to Modern Astronomy , a talk by Dr Roberto Maiolino.

May – BIS Summer Drinks Reception with Guest of Honour Professor Michael Mainelli, the Lord Mayor of London, kindly hosted by the Society’s President, the Hon Olga Polizzi, Lady Shawcross.

May – Fede Galizia: a Still-Life Pioneer in Counter-Reformation Milan , a talk by Lara Veroner.

June – a tour of the Gucci store, Bond Street.

July – Charles de Chassiron Memorial Lecture - Women in the Arts of Byzantium , a talk by Dr Andrea Mattielo.

September – The Madrigal Reimagined , a launch concert illuminated by contemporary readings by the Monteverdi String Band.

October – A Man of Honour: Leonardo Sciascia and His Battles Against the Mafia , a talk by Caroline Moorehead.

November – Leconfield LectureTwo Faces of the Post-War Italian Film Industry: Dino de Laurentis and Suso Cecchi d’Amico , a talk by Professor Stephen Gundle.

December – Christmas dinner for BIS members and guests.

January – The Jews, the Medici and the Ghetto of Florence , a talk on Zoom by Dr Piergabriele Mancuso.

February – Venice and the Sea in Art and Culture , a talk by Professor Emerita Deborah Howard, in a joint event with the Venice in Peril Fund.

March – Art, Passion and Power: Italian Treasures of the Royal Collection , a talk by Dr Michael Hall.

6. The Leconfeld Lecture

Stephen Gundle, Professor of Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick, delivered the annual Leconfield Lecture, the main event in the Society’s calendar, at the Italian Cultural Institute in November 2024. Professor Gundle gave us an entertaining and informative presentation on two leading figures of the post-war Italian film scene: producer Dino de Laurentis and screenwriter Suso Cecchi d’Amico. Professor Gundle explored their respective backgrounds, ways of operating and most significant achievements, including a string of classics from both the Italian film scene and Hollywood.

7. Acknowledgements

We would like to record our thanks to our Patron, His Excellency Inigo Lambertini, the Italian Ambassador, for his staunch support throughout the year. We would like to thank Dr Francesco Bongarrà, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, for his and his team’s continued support and collaboration.

We thank our President for her continued wise guidance and generous hospitality.

We thank all our speakers, who have given the Society such diverse, interesting and stimulating lectures and talks throughout the year.

We thank all our Trustees, especially those whose terms of office were completed this year, for their service in guiding and managing the Society.

The Trustees are also extremely grateful to Rhuna Barduagni, Events and Communications Officer, for her continued excellent service to the Society and its members throughout the year.

As ever, we thank our members for continuing to support and contribute to the Society’s programme and activities.

The website address for the Society is www.british-italian.org. The email address for - enquiries about membership and events is rhuna@british italian.org (tel: 020 3974 1015).

THE BRITISH-ITALIAN SOCIETY

IS VERY GRATEFUL TO THOSE KIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE REMEMBERED THE

SOCIETY IN THEIR WILL

If you would like to leave a legacy to the Society, just ask your solicitor to add the appropriate clause stating the Society’s name and Charity number: 253386

August 2025

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Registered Charity No. 253386

Index

Page
1 Significant Information
2 Trustees Report
3 Independent Examiners Report
4 Receipts and Payments
5 Statement of Assets and Liabilities

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION

The Society was founded in 1941 and operates under its constitution and rules adopted 10 July 1967 as amended 25 July 1979, 30 June 2009 and 9 June 2010, in order to increase the knowledge and understanding in the United Kingdom of Italian culture in its widest sense, in terms of history, institutions, way of life, language and contribution to civilisation. The Charity Registration Number is 253386.

PATRON

HE The Italian Ambassador Inigo Lambertini

PRESIDENT

The Hon Mrs Olga Polizzi CBE

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Mrs Susan Kikoler Miss Sidney Ross Mr Eugenio Bosco

OFFICERS

Chair: Mr Peter Jones Treasurer: Mr Luca Marin TRUSTEES Mr Peter Jones Mr Richard Northern Mrs Silvia Pieretti Malim Prof Jane Everson Ms Caroline Moorehead Mr Luca Marin Ms Roberta Faccio Mr Jon Wareing Mr Jonny Malim Ms Francesca Barra Ms Carla Passino

Events and Communications Officer: Ms Rhuna Barduagni

ADVISERS

Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc London Corporate Banking Independent Examiner: WellTax Limited 24 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EP PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 86-90 Paul Street London EC2A 4NE

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCOUNTS

Charity law requires the Trustees of the Society to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. In addition, the Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission.

Page 1

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

TRUSTEES REPORT

The Trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Aims and Objectives

The principal aims of the Society are:

The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Trustees are recruited from members of the charity and are elected by the membership at an Annual General Meeting. They serve for a term of up to 3 years. They are eligible to seek re-election when their term expires, but are expected to stand down when they have served for a maximum of nine consecutive years.

Activities during the year

The Society ran a full programme of lectures and events during the year, and funded several charitable donations, in addition to publishing the annual Rivista magazine.

The Society’s Policies

Policy on Income Reserves

The Society’s running costs usually produce an annual deficit, which is covered by reserves built up through fund-raising events, and by legacies left to the Society. It is the Society’s policy to preserve these legacies as intact as possible.

Policy on Selection of Investments

The Society aims to maintain the investments which formed the greater part of the legacies bequested as a broadly-based portfolio of high-yielding blue-chip equities.

Policy on Grant Recipients

The Society donates funds in accordance with its stated aims, namely:

  1. To increase knowledge and understanding in the United Kingdom of Italy in all its aspects, for example by giving prizes to graduates and undergraduates for essays which raise the profile of Italian studies at British and Irish universities.

  2. To assist organisations or persons in need of support for worthwhile cultural initiatives, or in need of help following major natural disasters or other calamities in Great Britain or Italy, by donating funds for relief or recovery.

Peter Jones

..........................................

Trustee

01/10/2025

Page 2

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

I report on the accounts of the British Italian Society (Charity no. 253386) for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 5.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner

The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

.......................................... WellTax Limited 24 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EP

01/10/2025

Page 3

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted Unrestricted Total Last
Funds funds Year
(General) (Legacies)
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Subscriptions 8,482 -- 8,482 9,360
Activities 11,484 -- 11,484 6,428
Rivista advertising 650 -- 650 1,425
Donations received 1,092 -- 1,092 1,775
Gift aid 1,594 -- 1,594 1,817
COIF fixed interest fund 14 -- 14 814
JM Finn dividends & interests -- 5,246 5,246 5,752
Barclays deposit interests -- 210 210 18
_ _ _ _
Sub total 23,316 5,456 28,772 27,389
ASSET AND INVESTMENT SALES 46,781 46,781 59,907
_ _ _ _
Total Receipts 23,316 52,237 75,553 87,296
_ _ _ _
PAYMENTS
Activities 9,644 -- 9,644 9,242
Annual dinner (net of receipts) 4 -- 4 19
Rivista 5,625 -- 5,625 5,499
Secretarial services 12,000 -- 12,000 12,000
General admin expenses 1,954 -- 1,954 1,785
Payment processing fees 313 -- 313 230
Donations & grants 6,550 -- 6,550 1,250
Investment management fee -- 1,825 1,825 1,733
_ _ _ _
Sub total 36,090 1,825 37,915 31,758
ASSET AND INVESTMENT PURCHASES -- 46,329 46,329 41,813
_ _ _ _
Total Payments 30,090 48,154 84,244 73,571
_ _ _ _
Net Receipts (Payments) (12,774) 4,083 (8,691) 13,725
Transfers between funds 6,000 (6,000) -- --
Cash funds last year end 11,156 13,709 24,865 11,140
_ _ _ _
Cash funds this year end 4,382 11,792 16,174 24,865

Page 4

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Cash funds

Investment assets

Total Funds and Assets

Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds
(General) (Legacies)
£ £
PayPal account 667 --
Barclays current account 5,388 --
Barclays deposit account -- 5,208
JM Finn client current account -- 501
JM Finn client deposit account -- 6,083
Cash on hand 30 --
Creditors (1,703) --
_ _
Total cash funds 4,382 11,792
_ _
Current
Value
£
Value as at 1 April 2024 239,526
Investment additions 46,329
Sale proceeds (46,781)
Profit on disposal 790
Revaluation loss (13,235)
_
Value as at 31 March 2025 226,629
_
Current
Value
£
242,803
_

Peter Jones

.......................................... Trustee .......................................... Trustee

01/10/2025 Date: ______

Page 5

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Registered Charity No. 253386

Index

Page
1 Significant Information
2 Trustees Report
3 Independent Examiners Report
4 Receipts and Payments
5 Statement of Assets and Liabilities

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION

The Society was founded in 1941 and operates under its constitution and rules adopted 10 July 1967 as amended 25 July 1979, 30 June 2009 and 9 June 2010, in order to increase the knowledge and understanding in the United Kingdom of Italian culture in its widest sense, in terms of history, institutions, way of life, language and contribution to civilisation. The Charity Registration Number is 253386.

PATRON

HE The Italian Ambassador Inigo Lambertini

PRESIDENT

The Hon Mrs Olga Polizzi CBE

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Mrs Susan Kikoler Miss Sidney Ross Mr Eugenio Bosco

OFFICERS

Chair: Mr Peter Jones Treasurer: Mr Luca Marin TRUSTEES Mr Peter Jones Mr Richard Northern Mrs Silvia Pieretti Malim Prof Jane Everson Ms Caroline Moorehead Mr Luca Marin Ms Roberta Faccio Mr Jon Wareing Mr Jonny Malim Ms Francesca Barra Ms Carla Passino

Events and Communications Officer: Ms Rhuna Barduagni

ADVISERS

Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc London Corporate Banking Independent Examiner: WellTax Limited 24 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EP PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 86-90 Paul Street London EC2A 4NE

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCOUNTS

Charity law requires the Trustees of the Society to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. In addition, the Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission.

Page 1

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

TRUSTEES REPORT

The Trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Aims and Objectives

The principal aims of the Society are:

The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Trustees are recruited from members of the charity and are elected by the membership at an Annual General Meeting. They serve for a term of up to 3 years. They are eligible to seek re-election when their term expires, but are expected to stand down when they have served for a maximum of nine consecutive years.

Activities during the year

The Society ran a full programme of lectures and events during the year, and funded several charitable donations, in addition to publishing the annual Rivista magazine.

The Society’s Policies

Policy on Income Reserves

The Society’s running costs usually produce an annual deficit, which is covered by reserves built up through fund-raising events, and by legacies left to the Society. It is the Society’s policy to preserve these legacies as intact as possible.

Policy on Selection of Investments

The Society aims to maintain the investments which formed the greater part of the legacies bequested as a broadly-based portfolio of high-yielding blue-chip equities.

Policy on Grant Recipients

The Society donates funds in accordance with its stated aims, namely:

  1. To increase knowledge and understanding in the United Kingdom of Italy in all its aspects, for example by giving prizes to graduates and undergraduates for essays which raise the profile of Italian studies at British and Irish universities.

  2. To assist organisations or persons in need of support for worthwhile cultural initiatives, or in need of help following major natural disasters or other calamities in Great Britain or Italy, by donating funds for relief or recovery.

Peter Jones

..........................................

Trustee

01/10/2025

Page 2

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY

I report on the accounts of the British Italian Society (Charity no. 253386) for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 5.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner

The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

.......................................... WellTax Limited 24 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EP

01/10/2025

Page 3

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted Unrestricted Total Last
Funds funds Year
(General) (Legacies)
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Subscriptions 8,482 -- 8,482 9,360
Activities 11,484 -- 11,484 6,428
Rivista advertising 650 -- 650 1,425
Donations received 1,092 -- 1,092 1,775
Gift aid 1,594 -- 1,594 1,817
COIF fixed interest fund 14 -- 14 814
JM Finn dividends & interests -- 5,246 5,246 5,752
Barclays deposit interests -- 210 210 18
_ _ _ _
Sub total 23,316 5,456 28,772 27,389
ASSET AND INVESTMENT SALES 46,781 46,781 59,907
_ _ _ _
Total Receipts 23,316 52,237 75,553 87,296
_ _ _ _
PAYMENTS
Activities 9,644 -- 9,644 9,242
Annual dinner (net of receipts) 4 -- 4 19
Rivista 5,625 -- 5,625 5,499
Secretarial services 12,000 -- 12,000 12,000
General admin expenses 1,954 -- 1,954 1,785
Payment processing fees 313 -- 313 230
Donations & grants 6,550 -- 6,550 1,250
Investment management fee -- 1,825 1,825 1,733
_ _ _ _
Sub total 36,090 1,825 37,915 31,758
ASSET AND INVESTMENT PURCHASES -- 46,329 46,329 41,813
_ _ _ _
Total Payments 30,090 48,154 84,244 73,571
_ _ _ _
Net Receipts (Payments) (12,774) 4,083 (8,691) 13,725
Transfers between funds 6,000 (6,000) -- --
Cash funds last year end 11,156 13,709 24,865 11,140
_ _ _ _
Cash funds this year end 4,382 11,792 16,174 24,865

Page 4

THE BRITISH ITALIAN SOCIETY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Cash funds

Investment assets

Total Funds and Assets

Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds
(General) (Legacies)
£ £
PayPal account 667 --
Barclays current account 5,388 --
Barclays deposit account -- 5,208
JM Finn client current account -- 501
JM Finn client deposit account -- 6,083
Cash on hand 30 --
Creditors (1,703) --
_ _
Total cash funds 4,382 11,792
_ _
Current
Value
£
Value as at 1 April 2024 239,526
Investment additions 46,329
Sale proceeds (46,781)
Profit on disposal 790
Revaluation loss (13,235)
_
Value as at 31 March 2025 226,629
_
Current
Value
£
242,803
_

Peter Jones

.......................................... Trustee .......................................... Trustee

01/10/2025 Date: ______

Page 5