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.)

Trustees' Report
for the year ended 31st October 2007

The trustees are pleased to present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st October 2007. A full copy of the report and financial statements may be had from Esperanto House.

[This report was published in EAB Update No. 41 (April-June 2008)]

Trustees

The Management Committee of the Association are the trustees of the charity. Those who served from 1st November 2006 to 31st October 2007 were:

Staff and appointees

The objects of the Esperanto Association

To advance the education of the public in the international language Esperanto in the furtherance of international communication without discrimination, and of the natural right of all people and peoples, their languages and cultures to be treated equally.

Activities undertaken to achieve the objects

The trustees appoint staff, team leaders and individuals to carry out specific activities. Many are volunteers, without whose staunch support little would be achieved, whilst the trustees undertake many jobs in a voluntary capacity. The Association depends on such people for the following activities.

Education: postal and residential courses to teach Esperanto at various levels leading on to examinations; internet studies; language awareness course for primary schools (Springboard to Languages); modern teaching materials; education website; bookshop.
Butler Library: research and study facility for Esperanto history and culture.
Publicity: language shows; media coverage of events; press releases particularly educational; occasional advertisements in national journals; comprehensive website with information for enquirers and links to other Esperanto organisations.
Members: newsletters in English and Esperanto; encouragement to attend national & international congresses, to correspond internationally and read Esperanto literature; stimulate group activity. Advise and help with British Congress when required.

Summary of main achievements during the year 2006/7

Springboard to Languages course has been enhanced, thanks to inspired work from staff and volunteers. A state primary school in Cambridgeshire started the course in September 2006. A second school in Lancashire started one term later whilst a third introduced it during summer term, and a fourth in September 2007. All four schools have an Esperantist teacher at present, although two share the teaching with school staff. Staff and pupils are enjoying the course and are finding it beneficial. All schools are to carry on with teaching next year and there are plans for the first two pilots to become self-sustaining and take over all teaching as they complete their initial two years. The first pilot has set up successful partner links with Benin, Hungary, Germany and France and partners are now being sought for all schools; we are making applications under the Comenius scheme for funding for reciprocal visits. Times Educational Supplement, 'The Independent' newspaper, Revuo-Esperanto and several overseas Esperanto magazines carried reports about the Springboard pilot. There is wide interest in the progress of the course and it has spawned an international group 'Lingvolanĉilo'.

Manchester University is undertaking an independent evaluation of the Springboard programme as a means of introducing language awareness to young children. The publication of their report at the end of the first year is awaited, and the final report after five years should have scientific value worldwide.

European Day of Languages, a Council of Europe initiative, was marked by Esperanto volunteers talking to quite large groups of young people ('Parrot Talk!') and one adult group.

Butler Library: several book collections, received as bequests or donations, were sorted and incorporated into the library where appropriate. Cataloguing, binding and conservation continued. The library was used for research and study throughout the year, especially during Somera Festivalo residential course.

British Esperanto Congress 2007 was held in Letchworth Garden City in May, where the international singer Jomo was a star attraction. He sang in a public square in a bid to beat the Guinness Record for number of different languages used in a concert. Dr. Renato Corsetti, president of UEA, gave the first in the new series of Buchanan Lectures during the Congress.

Publishing: Mil Unuaj Vortoj en Esperanto was reprinted. Wilf Atkinson published Relativeco per Bildoj with the help of expert volunteers. He donated the whole edition to EAB and a second printing is anticipated soon. 'Elementary,..!' course has been adapted to book format and awaits printing. New Compact Disks Verdaj Voĉoj 2 and Jen Nia Mondo-la dialogoj were added to the educational stock and 'A Taste of Esperanto' CD compiled for publicity purposes

Publicity: Springboard was presented for the second year running at CILT's educational Language Show in Manchester, for two days. A stand was manned at the Language Show in London November 2006, for three days. During Scout World Jamboree at the Chelmsford camp, July/August 2007, EAB supplied a volunteer team and materials to assist Scout Esperanto League (SEL) for several days. A film crew headed by Selena Scott visited Somera Festivalo - results awaited.

Plans for 2007/2008 and further

Future of Wedgwood Memorial College

Jill Ward, Principal of the college for the last three years, moved to another post within Staffordshire adult education in May 2007. A new Principal has not been appointed. Meanwhile the college is being evaluated by Stoke and Stafford City Councils in consultation with users, including EAB - results awaited.

Incorporating the Trustees as a body

The trustees applied to the Charity Commission for incorporation as a body which was granted on 5th October 2007. This will avoid the need to change signatures on contracts when trustees retire or are newly appointed. It did not change the legal status of EAB.

Membership

Life members 26, full members 346, family members 19, supporters 60. Sadly, several aged members died during the year. The Association welcomes new members and supporters. The modest subscriptions have not increased for several years. Members and supporters receive EAB Update newsletter (English and Esperanto) quarterly. Full members receive in addition La Brita Esperantisto - an all-Esperanto journal - twice a year and are automatically affiliated to UEA. Full members are entitled to vote at the AGM. Services include transfer of payment for international Esperanto events via the UEA credit system.

Financial Review of the year

Income is derived from membership subscriptions, investment income, sales, bequests and donations and spent on the charitable objects. Value of investments improved by £35,573 in spite of a fluctuating stock market. Grants were made to the Springboardpilot school and to NoJEF (youth support). Grants were received from the Esperantic Studies Foundation to fund the Manchester University evaluation of Springboard.

Reserves. The Association has good financial reserves, due to investment returns on the capital released from the sale of the London premises, and legacies. This enables the trustees to plan ahead for 5 years or more and they have designated funds for specific activities.
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 sufficient cover for 18-24 months.

Donations are gratefully received and acknowledged for the Butler Library, Publicity, Education, or Afrika Agado..

Legacies were received for general funds from: Margaret Tressider, £500; Annette Sandford Timewell, £19,698; and for education from Eric McCanlis £3,500. £245 tax was reclaimed on legacies.

Scout Esperanto League of Britain entrusted money to EAB in 2002. Costs for manning the tent at the centenary World Scout Jamboree were paid from the fund.

Investment policy. The Constitution states that 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:

Responsibilities of the trustees in relation to the financial statements

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements at the end of each financial year which give a true and fair view of its financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In doing so the trustees are required to: 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 9th February 2008 by:
Prof. J.C.Wells, president         E. Grimley Evans, vice president


[Return to EAB reports list]
[EAB Homepage]