Trustees Report - 2023
Introduction
The committee would like to present, verbally, information, relating to the centre management and its activities, in the last twelve months. Our major activity has been the older people club, Tuesday yoga and afterschool care club. In addition to these Bollywood dance class for adults and children, bhangra for young people and children and Bharat Natyam classes by Kalakunj school organised and led by Ananya Chatterjee. From time to time the centre is used by private hirers also.
Committee Member
We regret to inform you that the committee has lost its key member and office bearer Mr. Nachattar Singh Gill who was a regular visitor to the Centre and active member of the committee. His loss significantly affected our operational and planned programmes, including development of new constitution.
Activities
We are glad to inform you that the current committee has been able to consolidate and run properly and successfully two days a week older people’s club on Mondays and Fridays. It is extremely important to mention that the club runs both from social and health improvement perspective. Both these days, the exercise classes are also arranged and held during the session. Our observation and feedback are that people look forward to these classes. Our staff arranges and prepares freshly cooked meal served on both days. This activity also provides opportunity to do networking and for enjoyment of singing. wherever possible from time-to-time visitors do come to give information on healthrelated matters e.g. diabetes.
Future planning and Goal
The committee would like to expand this activity as soon as possible, three to four days a week, as before the closure of the centre due to covid 19. However, it depends on increase in income/new funding. In the last 12 months we have applied funding to various possible sources, but we have not been very successful because of intense competition from larger organisations. We are waiting to hear from national level funding source for our application made in May 2023. Some of you might
already be aware that the current low charges cannot go on for ever with very high increasing costs of utility bills, staffing costs and food prices including building maintenance, health & safety and security needs of the building. At present all activities are run on subsidised basis, particularly older peoples club.
In the year 2023-2024 we propose to do the following workshops/roadshow on the following health issues specifically relevant to Indian/ South Asian Communities:
Mental health
Dementia
Shingles
Health checks
Reintroduction of folk dance and music (Punjabi)
Set up a sub-committee to look at latest models of constitution. more
Explore further ongoing efforts for funding with a view to enhancing current activities and bring back afterschool club.
We hope to achieve all this be the end of next financial year.
Finances
Since the opening of the centre in 1983/1984 the centre had continually received support mainly from Reading Borough Council until 2016/2017. From there, onward there has been a shift in RBC’s policies towards supporting voluntary sector which saw increasingly less and less support. Currently we are receiving no financial help from Reading Borough Council, but we have received a small help from Wokingham Borough Council on previously agreed contract. The future of this small help is totally unknown and unlikely.
We hope to continue our main activity two days a week and which will help us in prolonging the running of this activity. If our current funding applications are successful, we will increase our activities soon as new funding becomes available.
You will notice from our accounts that we were able to raise in the last financial year, some money from health & wellbeing event held at the centre in partnership with Reading Voluntary Action
and from hall hire. This is the area we need to review and further enhance our income.
The presentation and approval of accounts
The progress which we were hoping to make in the constitution has not been achieved. However, we are now aiming to look at new models of constitution which we believe will serve the needs of our communities in a much better way.
We would like to thank our users, staff, committee members, volunteers and local authorities serving our areas for their support, advice, and help.
INDIAN COmMUm ASSOCIATION BAL4NCESIiEETASAf31 MARCIJ2023 2023 2022 Note TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS 136261 142,271 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Casb at bank and in Iwkl loo l12,490 97.612 97,712 112J90 CREDITORS Amoullts falling due within one year (550) (500) NET CURRENT ASSETS 97,162 112.0 NET ASSETS 233.423 254.361 FUNDS Regtrtcted Unrestricted 10 235,IXK) (1.577) 235,LKN) 19.361 233.423 254.361 Approved by the Board of Tnjstees on .................. ... gnd signed on its bch8lfby: Chairntrln The nota4 on pages 4 to 7 forni port of these accounts.
INDIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
INDIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
I report on the accounts of Indian Community Association for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 2 to 7.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner:
The charity’s trustees are responsible for preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 14 4(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures la id down in the general Direction given by the Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report:
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general direction 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 next statement.
Independent examiner's statement:
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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I. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act;
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011
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Act and
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which are consistent with methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” have not been met or
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(b) to which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Bettridge & Co Chartered Accountants
19-Xly3