This was the Esperanto Association of Britain's site from 2005 to 2018. You will find its current site at esperanto.org.uk.
ESPERANTO-ASOCIO DE BRITIO Registered Charity no: 272676
(also known as Esperanto Association of Britain, EAB, Springboard, Esperanto-GB.)
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st October 2006.
[This report was published in EAB Update No. 37 (April-June 2007)]
Those who served from 1st November 2005 to 31st October 2006 were:
Education: postal and residential courses to teach Esperanto at various levels leading on to examinations; internet studies; language awareness course for primary schools (Springboard); new teaching materials; education website; bookshop.
Butler Library: research and study facility for Esperanto history and culture.
Publicity: media coverage of British Congress and other events; press releases on important issues, particularly educational; occasional advertisements in national journals; comprehensive website with information for enquirers and links to other Esperanto organisations.
Members: encouragement to attend at national & international congresses, to correspond internationally and read Esperanto literature; stimulate group activity; newsletters in English and Esperanto.
Springboard was presented at language shows in London and Manchester, where it was well received by primary school teachers. In Florence, at the Universala Kongreso, it aroused interest from Esperanto associations in several countries, who wish to copy it.
The Buchanan Lectureship was revived after lengthy negotiations with Liverpool University.
At Scarborough in April 2006, the local congress committee organized a successful British Esperanto Congress. It featured in local newspapers and media interviews.
Womens' Institute magazine published an article about Esperanto. An advert was placed in the same issue, leading to requests for speakers.
The Butler Library was connected to Broadband via a new computer, enabling online access to the catalogue. Sorting and conservation continued. The library was used for research and study throughout the year, by appointment, and became central to Somera Festivalo residential course.
Publishing: Conversational Esperanto by Don Lord produced; La Graveco de la Fideliĝo made into DVD with subtitles; cassettes transferred to CD - e.g. Londono Kantas, with new accompanying text booklet.
Secure debit and credit online shopping & payments system was inaugurated in January 2006.
Website www.esperanto.org.uk further expanded and link made to JEB's new website (youth group).
Teach primary school teachers and secure independent evaluation of the course.
Language Show presence in November 2006 with theme: 'Language Awareness'.
Improve publicity in prestigious media, especially regarding the Springboard project and Buchanan lectures.
British Congress in Letchworth where the first new-style Buchanan lecture is planned.
Employ extra permanent part-time staff for office.
Finish library minor catalogue and continue major catalogue. Sort two donated book collections.
Transfer songs by W. Auld & Mary Davies to CD.
New two-way dictionary
Presence at Scouts World Jamboree, supporting International Scout League.
The modest subscriptions have not increased for several years. Members and supporters receive EAB Update four times a year. Full members receive in addition La Brita Esperantisto - an all-Esperanto journal - twice a year. Full members are automatically affiliated to UEA.
Membership
At the end of October 2006: life members 27, full members 338, family members 25, supporters 64. Sadly, several faithful members have died during the year. The Association is pleased to welcome new members and supporters, and a few who have returned, inspired by the latest initiatives.
Related Parties
The charity has relations with several other Esperanto organisations, both in Britain and abroad. These include UEA (Universala Esperanto Asocio), JEB (Junularo Esperantista Brita) for young people which was relaunched in May 2003, NoJEF (Norwich Jubilee Esperanto Foundation) which makes grants to encourage young people to attend Esperanto courses and congresses, and the Scottish Esperanto Association.
Income is derived from voluntary membership subscriptions, investment income, sales, bequests and donations. The value of investments improved again, increasing the apparent wealth by £80,222. Investment value can go down as well as up.
Reserves. The Association is in the happy position of having substantial financial reserves, due to investment returns on the capital released from the sale of the London premises, and generous legacies. This enables the trustees to plan ahead for 5 years or more, and embark on activity which once started must be continued to bring results. So the trustees have designated to:
Springboard project £100,000 from 2005 to 2010; The Buchanan lectures £2,500 from 2007 to 2012; Butler Library (now the original fund is exhausted) £30,000 from 2006 to 2011; Publicity/promotion (once the Houghton Fund has run out) £42,500 from 2007 to 2012;General Education (courses etc) say £100,000, from 2006 to 2011.
Designated funds can be re-directed to other projects at the discretion of the trustees.
'Free reserves', or uncommitted funds, are required to meet any emergency or shortfall in income. £150,000 is considered by the trustees sufficient cover for 18-24 months.
Donations are gratefully received and acknowledged for the Butler Library, Publicity, Education, the Esperanto Garden or Afrika Agado. The Education Support Fund was started in 2005. The aim is to subsidise specific initiatives in Esperanto education.
Legacies were received for general funds from Miss E.E. Mallett £1,000; Roy Hoather £9,000; Sybil Violet Sly £59,893; William Howard £11,608; Cyril George Love £100.
Scout Esperanto League of Britain entrusted funds to EAB four years ago. The centenary World Scout Jamboree occurs in Britain in July-August 2007, and finance might be available from this source.
Investment policy: Under the Constitution, the charity has power to make investments as the trustees see fit. Whilst security of investments is important, the trustees have a duty to seek both adequate income and capital growth. Capital is invested in a deposit account and unit trusts specifically designed for the charity sector, and is invested fairly cautiously, but diversely thus: Cash (32%), Fixed Interest (bonds) (19%), Equity (shares) (32%), Property units (17%). Total value of cash and investments at 31st October 2006: £1.54m.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which 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 Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf on 10th February 2007 by:
Prof. J.C.Wells, president, E. Grimley Evans, vice president