The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Purposes and Aims
The SCE’s main purpose, as set out in the Objects and Powers in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, is to promote on the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
The SCE understands the importance of raising awareness and extending the public space for civil society activists and representatives of NGOs, educational, scientific and cultural communities and the media, and of engaging with the international expert community on topics critical to the development of civil society.
SCE realises it objects by carrying activities which aim to:
increase the level of knowledge and understanding of the principles which form the basis of a state which is subject to the rule-of-law and the work of modern governments and societies among citizens of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and post Soviet states;
to provide a discussion platform for the exchange of opinions and information on topical global issues and civil society development, and to share experience between theorists, practitioners and SCE participants;
to strengthen networking between socially active representatives of various professional spheres and political views;
to encourage civic responsibility and engagement at local, national and international levels, including reaching and educating a wider Russian-speaking audience through free online educational and informational resources
To meet the objectives SCE annually develops and implements a comprehensive educational programme consisting of the following activities:
1. A cycle of seminars for new participants;
2. Advanced Programme for alumni;
3. Thematic work-shops in partnership with and hosted by SCE’s academic partners;
4. International forum on the role of civil society in the international context;
5. Law and Democracy Programme for lawyers and human rights context ;
6. Sapere Audio media projects;
During 2023, despite financing delays, SCE was able to implement most of the planned activities and achieve its objectives through the following seminars: two five-day-long Sapere Aude seminars for new recruits; four five-day-long seminars for the Advanced Programme for alumni; one five-day-long seminar for the Media and Society Programme for journalists. Additionally, two seminars were conducted for lawyers and human rights defenders in the form of Law and Democracy workshops. SCE’s annual International Forum In Search of Lost Universalism was held in Berlin in December, along with Sapere Aude media projects.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Activities Delivered During the Reporting Period
1. A cycle of seminars for new participants
During the reporting period, two 5-day face-to-face seminars on the programme Fundamentals of Democracy and Civic Engagement were successfully conducted for new participants, demonstrating SCE’s commitment to promoting civic engagement despite challenging circumstances due to funding delays. About 100 civically active young people from the CIS and Eastern Europe took part in these events.
After the outbreak of the war, SCE has adapted its seminars to include topics such as the role of human rights defenders, war and international law, culture and empire, international justice, and the role of Russian citizens in exile. SCE continued to recruit prominent experts and public figures to speak at the seminars.
SCE’s activities have helped empower Russian volunteer networks and other civic initiatives that support Ukrainians and oppose Putin’s war. SCE has also made special efforts to ensure the continued participation of Ukrainians in its seminars, both as participants and experts.
SCE can report that the plan has been exceeded according to some indicators. For example, more than 80% of Sapere Aude programme participants reported improved understanding of the main topics of the seminars and active engagement in civic life.
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2. Advanced Programme for alumni
The Advanced Program seminars were completed with a regular cycle of the Advanced Programme. A no-cost extension ensured the start of cohort 6 in February 2023, which included 25 alumni. However, subsequently, funding interruptions required a change in the initially announced location and dates of the next seminars. Despite these adjustments, overall effectiveness of the programme remained unchanged, with four 5 day face-to-face seminars for the Civic Leadership Advanced Programme for alumni held in 2023.
The workshop programme included traditional AP formats: specially designed expert courses, panel discussions, workshops for project work and interviews with experts. The theme of war and peace became the background of the seminars’ programme. Considerable attention was also devoted to understanding the processes facing Russian society, including dealing with mass atrocities and violations of human rights, post-war reconciliation, overcoming Russia’s history of imperialism and colonialism, historical memory, building democracy in post-authoritarian state, consolidating society, as well as the role of civil society in a redesigned international architecture of global security and peace. Such a programme has contributed to the aim of SCE - to change the public mindset to guarantee non-repetition of violence and move towards an enlightened society by creating broad expert, legal, public and media communities that are fit for this job.
The workshops placed an important emphasis on the development of practical skills and competencies of participants, particularly in supporting project activities and initiatives of the participants. SCE recorded 11 social projects/ initiatives developed and launched by alumni and 27 by new seminar participants during the reporting period, for a total of 38 social projects/initiatives. The projects are designed for a wide range of target groups, including projects focused on anti-war efforts and anti-propaganda.
3. Thematic seminar on Freedom of Speech, Media, and Society for journalists and media professionals
The seminar titled "Media, Freedom, and Responsibility" was held from October 30 to November 3, 2023. The seminar was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, and Sciences Po, Paris. The event was attended by 10 journalists. The event addressed the critical challenges confronting independent journalists, especially those operating in Russia and the CIS countries, amidst times of conflict and increased censorship.
The programme of the seminar aimed to provide support, foster a more robust journalistic community, and empower professionals in the field by enhancing their comprehension of global processes and international architecture. The discussions centred around a range of themes including the responsibility of a journalist and a citizen; the role of journalism in opposing tyranny; information wars and fake news; the safety of journalists and the cooperation of journalists without borders for a just peace. Eminent figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France, and the Provost Sciences Po shared valuable insights. The participants were assured of France’s commitment to supporting Russian civil society and independent journalists.
The group held sessions with organisations such as CFI and IRSEM (Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l'Ecole Militaire and Reporters Without Borders) to establish potential cooperation and future initiatives in the region (Russia and Belarus). Visits to Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration and the club/gallery The Dissident provided valuable perspectives on colonial narratives and exile experiences. The seminar resulted in the publication of texts by several participants. Additionally, two seminar participants organised a diaspora meeting at Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris, which was attended by 400 people.
4. International Forum on global civics
The 8th In Search of Lost Universalism Forum was held in Berlin, on December 6 – 7, 2023. The Forum brought together experts from different countries with various professional and cultural backgrounds: politicians, journalists, historians, representatives of European, American and British academic and intellectual circles. Notably, the Forum welcomed SCE alumni and partners, providing an opportunity for intellectual exchange and collaboration across borders.
The forum brings together participants from many countries, supporting their connection within the community. The project has already become well-known in educational and expert circles; its significance was emphasised by a website (http://berlinforum.online/), offering detailed information about the programme, goals and other details.
The topics - political repression and the brutal criminal war were keystones of the Forum, providing a context for discussions on other issues. It is important to note that this became the basis on which the dialogue with representatives of Ukraine was built. Other important themes of the Forum included decolonization, transitional justice, AI and human freedom, all falling under the overarching theme "Beyond War and Repression - Creating Momentum for Change and Cooperation".
The highlight of the Forum was presentations by SCE graduates and creators of anti-war civic initiatives, demonstrating the impact of SCE programmes. These presentations also provided the speakers with the opportunity to expand their networks and explore new areas of collaboration.
5. Law and Democracy Programme for lawyers and human rights defenders
Two workshops on Human Rights Defenders for Peace and Justice were held in Vilnius. These workshops were organised by SCE and the Law and Democracy Center (Justice Hub) in cooperation with the European Humanities University, the Center for Constitutionalism and Human Rights all based in Vilnius.
A total of 60 participants attended both workshops, representing citizens from the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Ukraine, most of whom operated outside the countries of their origin. Their activities focused on various human rights issues in the context of war and conflict, especially in Russia and Belarus. The workshop brought together a diverse group of legal experts from the Law and Democracy Centre along with other renowned speakers from various countries including Ukraine, who worked with participants to address their professional issues and develop further practical steps in implementing their human advocacy and rights initiatives.
The programme included plenary sessions and small group discussions on topics such as the rule of law during wartime, propaganda, transitional justice, universal jurisdiction, documenting regime crimes, political prisoners, as well as new ways, and innovative practices to continue human rights work.
Moreover, the programme offered practical workshops that addressed the most pressing needs of human rights defenders, facilitating their advocacy, including mapping, and providing professional workshops on relevant issues and practical steps to adapt to the new situation including digital security, visa issues, fundraising.
6. Sapere Aude media projects
Maintaining links within the target group (civil society inside Russia) is essential. To reach this audience, SCE has been developing its online presence on several platforms: launching a new website, producing podcasts and developing a YouTube channel. Building an online community takes time. With results slightly above the target indicators, SCE can report a steady growth in the number of unique users and number of monthly visits.
How The SCE’s activities deliver public benefit
SCE has operated successfully since 2016 to promote the principles of democracy, rule of law, civic education, and civic engagement in the Russian context. SCE is a unique organisation due to its extensive network of Russian civil society actors and academic experts. In very demanding circumstances, SCE has managed to find innovative ways to maintain and expand its activities. Demonstrating remarkable flexibility in adapting to increasingly repressive politics in Russia and the full-scale war in Ukraine, SCE continues to support its commitment to promote civic education and empower socially active citizens through the implementation of its seminars and online development.
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Programme Management and Evaluation
SCE programmes are supervised and directed by the Board of Directors on a regular basis, and in accordance with the practices and procedures set out in UK legislation applicable to companies with charitable status.
Checks and balances are ensured by a clear division of responsibilities between: the Finance Committee, the Finance Director and independent accountants. The general audit of SCE’s accounts is conducted annually by external auditors. This ensures internal control of the SCE administration and eliminates the risk of potential conflict of interest or corruption.
With regard to measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the Objects, SCE monitored and evaluated programme deliverables in accordance with set targets, collected relevant data, prepared reports and organised evaluation meetings. The evaluation process included the collection of data, feedback from participants and the development of relevant questionnaires/templates, along with the collection of information on local projects/ initiatives implemented by programme participants.
The Statement of financial activities and the balance sheet are presented on pages 12 and 13, respectively.
Principal Funding Sources
SCE works to strengthen its financial sustainability and diversify its sources of core and project-related funding.
Aside from the minor income generated by donations by individuals, the principal funding sources for the charity are grants and voluntary contributions made by governmental institutions and private foundations in different countries. The donor institutions which supported SCE’s activities in the reporting period were the following: The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE); Stockholm School of Economics in Riga; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France ;The Council of Europe; Supporters of Civil Society (USA); and Open Society Foundation (OSF) and other donors.
SCE will continue to fulfil its mission of building a network of civic actors open to dialogue and ways of strengthening the fundamental principles that support civil society. These principles include the rule of law, sound legal frameworks, well-functioning civic institutions, and the support for human rights, all of which are crucial to the sustainable prosperity and success of modern states and democratic institutions.
With this in mind, SCE works to search for new donors and establish new partnerships with leading think tanks and academic institutions in order to benefit from additional funding and sound expertise. SCE continues to engage current and potential donors through accurate, targeted, and timely communication, taking into account the specific interests and requirements of individual donors
Governing Documents
SCE is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 19th January 2016 and registered as a charity on 29th June 2017. It was established under a Memorandum of Association which sets out its Objects and Powers, and is governed by its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up, each member is required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Under the requirements of the Memorandum of Articles of Association the members of the Board of Directors are elected to serve for a period of three years , after which they may be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Risk Management
Risk assessment and management is an important priority for the SCE Board of Trustees and management in order to identify and address risks or factors that may threaten the achievement of SCE objectives. In 2023, the SCE Board of Trustees observed a systematic approach to risk assessment and management
Organisational Structure
The SCE’s Board of Directors meets a minimum of three times a year to decide on the strategic direction SCE should follow, and to assess the effectiveness of its risk management and policy. Led by two co-chairpersons, the SCE Board of Trustees consists of 10 members from different countries and with various professional backgrounds.
The Finance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its functions in terms of internal control and financial reporting, and also with respect to monitoring compliance with the Charity Commission’s legal and regulatory requirements and assessing the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The trustees, who are also the directors of School of Civic Education for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity 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 charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Gravita Audit II Limited were appointed as auditor to the company and a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of School of Civic Education (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The laws and regulations applicable to the company were identified through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of charitable organisations. Of these laws and regulations, we focused on those that we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including Charity Law, Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, anti-money-laundering, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation. The extent of compliance with these laws and regulations identified above was assessed through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence. The identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations; and
understanding the design of the company’s remuneration policies.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 2 were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
reviewing correspondence with HMRC, relevant regulators including the Charity Commission and the company’s legal advisors.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
School of Civic Education is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2 Leman Street, London, E1W 9US, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Management do not consider there to be any material judgements or estimation and uncertainty requiring disclosure.
Grants
Accommodation & meals
Conference Facilities
Conference Facilities
Expert Fee & Travel
Interpreter & translation fee
Project consultants
Web Project maintenance
Printing Material
Publishing
Project assistant
Photo & Video
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Other debtors include grants receivable of £128,313 (2022: £107,019).
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.