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|---|---|
|HIGHLIGHTS AND WORK DONE|3|
|POLISH ABROAD SATURDAY SCHOOL|3|
|OTHER INITIATIVES|3|
|MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER GROUPS|4|
|ONLINE PRESENCE|4|
|FINANCIAL REVIEW|5|
|FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE|5|
|INCOME|5|
|EXPENDITURE|6|
|ASSETS|6|
|MAJOR RISKS|6|
|ACCOUNTS|7|
|ADDITIONAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS|10|
|INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY|10|
|INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE CHARITY TRUSTEES OF POLISH ABROAD|11|
|REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS|12|
|STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT|13|
|OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES|14|
|CHARITABLE PURPOSES|14|
|PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT|14|
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Polish Abroad is a registered charity in Northern Ireland Charity Registration number NIC102361
|
POLISH ABROAD ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED STH APRIL 2025
The trustees of Polish Abroad are pleased to submit their report and accounts for the period 6th April 2024 to Sth April 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS AND WORK DONE
The 2024-2025 financial year marked the |7th year of operation for Polish Abroad, during which we delivered a range of initiatives and projects aligned with our charitable aims, objectives, and public benefit.
This was also our eighth full year as a registered charity in Northern Ireland. As always, we remained committed to developing our policies and procedures, and to strengthening governance and quality assurance within the organisation.
POLISH ABROAD SATURDAY SCHOOL.—“(i‘CO.t;!”~~™
The Polish Abroad Saturday School has remained our largest and longest-running project since its foundation in 2008.
Mrs Paulina Zalewska-Oriola continued in her role as Principal, with Ms Agnieszka Cyrulska serving as VicePrincipal. The continued success of the school would not have been possible without the dedication of our teachers, teaching assistants, volunteers, parents and pupils.
During the year, Polish Abroad secured funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Executive Office, Migrant Centre NI, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, and Stowarzyszenie “Wspolnota Polska” (KPRM). We continued to operate from the premises of Rosemount Primary School on Helen Street.
We also maintained and expanded our School Library. We are particularly grateful to the parents who managed the library on a voluntary basis. Funding enabled us to significantly expand our book collection, supporting literacy development and access to Polish language resources.
The school operated five age groups for children aged 3 to 15. Classes were delivered across 32 Saturdays, from 10:05am to 1:25pm, followed by five extracurricular clubs until 2:15pm. These clubs were extremely popular and successful, and we hope to continue them in future subject to available funding.
Throughout the school year, we organised a range of cultural and educational celebrations, including Polish National Education Day (Teachers’ Day), Polish Independence Day—combined with a nationwide “Reading Break” initiative—Christmas, Easter, and a drumming workshop for pupils.
OTHER INITIATIVES
We delivered three information sessions covering the EU Settlement Scheme, joining family members and their rights, welfare benefits, and support for victims of race hate crime. A total of 70 people attended. Feedback was very positive, and additional sessions are planned.
In addition, we delivered a project titled “Polish Women’s Cooperation Network.” The aim of the initiative was to create a cooperation and support network for Polish women in the Derry/Londonderry area. The project was implemented through regular meetings and sports activities for women of different ages, encouraging intergenerational participation. All activities were delivered in Polish by a qualified Polish trainer.
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
Alongside the physical activity sessions, we organised meetings focusing on local sources of support and assistance available in our Council area, as well as the promotion of physical and mental health. The project encouraged participants to build lasting connections and, in the longer term, aims to establish a women's support structure within Polish Abroad,
To promote active citizenship within the Polish community, we encouraged participation in local events on topics including voting rights, political debates, cultural tourism and peace, and community planning.
MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER GROUPS
Polish Abroad remains highly involved in work both ona local and regional level. We were one of the founding members of Foyle BME Voluntary Collective and Foyle Race Equality Forum.
On a regional level we cooperate with other Polish organisations in Northern Ireland.
We also have a member representing the BAME community on the Derry City and Strabane District Council PEACE IV Board.
Oe
ONLINE PRESENCE
We continue to run our website www.polishabroad.co.uk including a separate page for the Polish Abroad Saturday School. We continue to post on Facebook and Twitter @PolishAbroadNI. Our Facebook account has over 1300 followers with our posts reaching over 50,000 people over the year.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Polish Abroad accounts are kept and prepared in accordance with The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. This legislation applies to all registered charities and sets out:
-
e the form and content of charity accounts (receipts and payments or accruals accounts)
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e the form and content of the trustees’ annual report e the level of external scrutiny required, i.e. independent examination or audit.
As per the regulations Polish Abroad has prepared receipts and payments accounts with unqualified report for a charity that is not a company and has an income of £250,000 or less.
—_
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE _ OS
Financial performance in the year to 5th April 2025 has been broadly consistent with the trustees’ forecasts and expectations.
The year ended with fund balance of £42,965 (compared to £48,659 for the same date last year) although this is based on the receipts and payments accounting basis. Detailed accounts can be found on pages 7-10.
INCOME
Income receipts for the year totalled £25,613.
Polish Abroad income is generally healthy and remains consistent with previous performance.
The income shows £7973 of unrestricted funds.
From funding applications made for 2024/2025 financial year we have been paid the following:
| Stowarzyszenie “Wspdlnota Polska” | £1690 |
|---|---|
| The Executive Office-MEDF | £9750 |
| Consulate General ofthe Republic of Poland | £1490 |
| MigrantCentreNI | £4010 |
| Business Services Organisation | £400 |
| PECA | £300 |
Out of restricted grants £9,750 was still to be paid by the funders as the payments were not received by Sth April 2025.
The fees from parents relating to the Polish Abroad Saturday School (monthly fees, clubs and other fees) totalled £7,973.
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_
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure for the year totalled £31,308 — a slight decrease on the previous year (£38,548). Again, the category-by-category analysis which follows in the full accounts will demonstrate that expenditure is well managed and controlled. There are no outstanding liabilities.
CHEQUES NOT CLEARED AT BANK ON 5TH APRIL 2025 AND OTHER LIABILITIES
On 5* April 2025 there were cheques not cleared at the bank totalling £610.
7
ASSETS
Apart from monetary assets Polish Abroad also has other assets as listed on page 8, The value of the assets is difficult to estimate because of the age of the items listed; however, purchase prices are listed in the accounts.
BS
MAJORRISKS
In our Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year ended 5% April 2025 we have not identified any major risks.
Approved and adopted by the Board and Members at Annual General Meeting on 17% January 2026 and signed:
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|im|Polish|CharityPolishName: Abroad||ICharityNo.|[NICtO2361]|
|‘||Receipts|and|payments|accounts|
||fib|road|For|the|period|
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|Section|A|Receipts|and|payments|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Last|year|
|funds|finde|Total|funds|stye|
|to|the|nearest£|
|Ai|Receipts|
|Grants|—“‘“‘CSC*rSCC“‘(COd|Tar|[42,953|[|]|
|PASS|project fees|2) ||7,973|
|Other charitable|receipts|es|||-|ee|
|A1|Total receipts|(Gross|income|for the Annual|7,973|47,640|25,613|50,574|
|Return)|
|A2|Payments|
|Polish Abroad Saturday School|-|Facilitators’ Fees|[0|PET|||[20,560][|]|
|PASS Venue|Hire|Pi.t05|Pere)|||[5.440]|||
|PASS|Resources|530|
|PASS Cultural Celebrations & Events|||ga|||2,732|||«6,635 ||
|De||ry|||[394]|
|(OficerentC“‘;CMCCdT UU|||14,740||
|eee ian|ram|||[242]||||
|Women Group|Project|ee |eee|1,440|||
|Transport|/ Mileage|ee|ee|146|
|Other|project costs|pao|te||||ses|
|A2|Total payments|1,901|29,407|31,308|38,548|
|Net of receipts(payments)|6,072]|-|11,7679|-|5,694|12,026|
|A3 Transfers between accounts|ee||a)|7;|
|A4 Cash funds|last year end|||7);|
|Cash funds|this year end|54,731}|-|11,767|42,965|48,659|
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
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Polish Abroad - NIC102361 Period end date: till 05/04/2025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Funds In account Total funds Last year
arty Details
to nearest £
B1 Cash P88 580 | em 6 [25,520] |
funds _| Saturday Schoo! 7,408 me | [23,130][|]
of mm |:
Total cash funds 42,965 42,965 48,659
Unrestricted Restricted
funds junds Total funds Last year
to nearest £
Details
monetary
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
Polish Abroad - NIC 102361
Analysis of receipts and payments
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||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|1|Grants|
|Grants awarded|for the given|financial year (grant payments|in|Total|Hast|
|accounts may relate to different financial years depending|on the|hetue|—|current|ete|
|payment date of backdated|claims)|period|
|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest|£|to nearest £|
|Ninoy Erie|Development Fund|9750]|70,750]|[9030|
|Konsulat Generainy RP|w Belfascie|||4,490}|1,490)|||520|
|The National|Lottery|Community|Fund|es se|
|Alstate|NI|7|Fp}|[2.000||
|Stowarzyszenie Wspolnota Polska|y|[«4,483,]|
|Migrant Centre NI|4010]|P4010}|||
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|Total|17,640|17,640|42,953|
|2|Gross|receipts from|other|sources|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|roel|Total last|
|funds|funds|aperiod|period|
|to|nearest|£|to nearest|£|to|nearest £|to|nearest £|
|Parental fees|relating to Polish Abroad Saturday School|7973]|[||7,973|7,621|
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
_
| ADDITIONAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
“TRUSTEES’ EXPENSES
No expenses were paid to any of the Trustees during the year except to reimburse them for purchases made on behalf of Polish Abroad or to cover fees for professional delivery.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 as well as The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 permit a charity to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities where gross income in the financial year does not exceed £250,000, therefore receipts and payments accounts and a statement of assets and liabilities has been prepared and presented for the year ended 5‘ April 20285.
All Income, including grants is recorded when received.
All Expenditure is recorded when paid.
All outstanding grant payments and liabilities (cheques not cleared) are also included for clarity.
No valuations have been provided for assets held all prices are either estimates or price at purchase date.
INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY—s—CSsti‘SSS
The accounts have been independently examined as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and the examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act by Mrs Gabrielle Doherty.
Approved and adopted by the Board and Members at Annual General Meeting on |7* January 2026 and signed:
)
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
ane
Lo
| report on the accounts of Polish Abroad for the year ended 05 April 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
It is my responsibility to:
-
@ examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act
-
e state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
| have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
-
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: |. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act
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That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Independent examiner’s statement | have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, | have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
Gabrielle Doherty
clo BCDA
283 Ormeau Road Belfast BT7 3GG
Date: ...15/1/26......csccoccscssceecesensenons
abroles Usp Signature: .......Nuscrsesceveeehaseesenens
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
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REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
CHARITY NAME
Polish Abroad
CHARITY NUMBER
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland, Ne. NIC102361
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
HOLYWELL - DiverseCity Community Partnership
10-14 Bishop Street
Derry~Londonderry
BT48 6PW
CHARITY TRUSTEES AS OF STH APRIL 20250” _ _
Mrs Anna Stefanska-McEwlee Chairperson
Mrs Kamila Parkinson Treasurer Mrs Paulina Callan Secretary Dr Adam Lapicki Officer Mrs Anna Szynkaruk Officer
Banking HSBC UK Bank plc Belfast Royal Avenue 25-29 Royal Avenue BTI IFB
Insurance Broker Towergate Dawson Whyte Ansvar Insurance and Underwriter 17-21 Bishop Street Ansvar House Derry~Londonderry St Leonards Road BT48 6PR Eastbourne East Sussex BN2! 3UR
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
Polish Abroad is an unincorporated association and is governed by a constitution adopted and last amended 26" January 2019 which is available from our website at www.polishabroad.co.uk.
TRUSTEE SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Polish Abroad is managed by a Committee also called a Board which consists of all the appointed trustees. The number of Board members is in line with the governing document which is from 4 to 8. The Committee meets typically once every two months and holds a minimum of 6 meetings per year.
Apart from the Trustees, the Board appoints a Coordinator who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. Since 2011, Miss Agnieszka Luczak has been the Coordinator of Polish Abroad.
At each meeting the Coordinator reports to the Board, the Treasurer presents the latest accounts and these are reviewed against budgets and forecasts; spending is discussed and approved. Officers may authorise some spending, between meetings, within set limits but must ensure such spending is reported at the next meeting.
The meetings also offer a forum to review recent activities on all the Polish Abroad projects and to plan forthcoming events. Further ad hoc meetings are called if required, for example to plan and manage special events or projects.
The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are prepared by the Coordinator, approved by the trustees and then presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting for approval.
We would like to express our gratitude for the support of Polish Abroad to our funders:
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COMMUNITY e! Executive Office
|29 STOWARZYSZEME . NWL
,WsPOLNota POLska’ TO MIGRANT CENTRE WI
Consulate General ®
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extend the thanks for ongoing support to:
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We extend the thanks for ongoing support to:
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Polish Abroad Annual Report
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
CHARITABLE PURPOSES
The aims and objectives of Polish Abroad are set out in our Constitution.
The aims of the Polish Abroad are to:
|, Contribute to the advancement of citizenship and community development through social, cultural and educational projects undertaken either independently or together with organisations sharing the same objectives.
-
Work in partnership with other community and charity organisations, their representatives and officials as well as other relevant organisations and agencies to formulate and implement constructive strategies to encourage the promotion of the Polish Community in Northern Ireland.
-
Raise awareness among the wider community of the needs and rights and the contribution of the Polish Community in the interest of community relations in the North West.
-
Bring together members of the Polish community to develop and advance their arts, culture and heritage.
-
Advance the education of the Polish Community in the North West by providing educational opportunities.
-
Advance the amateur sport among the Polish Community in the North West and its environs.
Contribute to the advancement of citizenship and community development through social, cultural and educational projects undertaken either independently or together with organisations sharing the same objectives. Work in partnership with other community and charity organisations, their representatives and officials as well as other relevant organisations and agencies to formulate and implement constructive strategies to encourage the promotion of the Polish Community in the North West of Northern Ireland. Raise awareness among the wider community of the needs and rights and the contribution of the Polish Community in the interest of community relations in the North West.
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include encouraging and extending the participation in the voluntary sector of the Polish Community. The benefits will be demonstrated through records of participation | as well as formal and informal evaluation of events and projects.
This purpose of our charity does not lead to any harm.
The charity's beneficiaries are members of the Polish community in the North West and its environs. It could also benefit the majority community who will improve their understanding about the minority communities living in the North West.
The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the training that will be available to the members of Polish Abroad and this is incidental and necessary to carry out the functions of the organisation.
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Bring together members of the Polish community to develop and advance their arts, culture and heritage. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the preservation of Polish traditions and customs, Polish traditional crafts and the Polish culture and language. These benefits will be demonstrated through records of participation in the cultural events as well as formal and Informal evaluation.
This purpose of our charity does not lead to any harm.
The charity's beneficiaries are the Polish community living in the North West and its environs as well as the local community.
The private benefit flowing from this purpose is remuneration for the project facilitators as well as the training provided and this is incidental and necessary to effectively carry out the purpose.
Advance the education of the Polish Community in the North West by providing educational opportunities.
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the better knowledge of the Polish language and culture among the Polish community in the North West and its environs. This benefit will be demonstrated through attendance records of our projects as well as project evaluation.
This purpose of our charity does not lead to any harm.
The charity's beneficiaries are young people participating in our educational projects as well as their families and extended families living in the North West and its environs.
The private benefit flowing from this purpose is remuneration for the project facilitators as well as the training provided and this is incidental and necessary to effectively carry out the purpose.
Advance the amateur sport among the Polish Community in the North West and its environs. The direct benefit which flows from purpose involves the advancement of angling and the promotion of health among the Polish community.
These benefits will be demonstrated through participation records in amateur angling events.
This purpose of our charity may lead to accidental physical harm, however, this risk will be carefully assessed and managed so potential benefits will outweigh the harm.
The charity's beneficiaries are Polish community in the North West and its environs as well as the local community.
The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is any training available and this is incidental and necessary to carry out the purpose safely. Annual Report prepared by: Coordinator — Miss Agnieszka Luczak le eSosaccevalaaewa NORA Approved and adopted by the Board and Members at Annual General Meeting on |7* January 2026 .and signed:
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