2023-12-31-accounts - Milton Keynes And District Reform Synagogue

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Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Financial Accounts

31 December 2023

Charity Number 1058913

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Financial accounts

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Contents	Page
Legal and Administrative Information	1
Trustees Report	2 - 4
Independent Examiners Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Balance Sheet	7
Notes to the accounts	8 - 11

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Legal and Administrative Information

Status

The synagogue was registered with the Charity Commission on 23[rd] September 1996 and is governed by a constitution and rules adopted on 28[th] June 1978.

Trustees and Council Members

Mr M Neville Honorary Co-Chair Mrs Lou Tribus Honorary Co-Chair Mrs P Dorrance Honorary Treasurer Mrs S Katz Honorary Secretary (resigned 31 December 2023) Mr M Pruskin Senior Warden Mrs Frances Gordon Mr Martin Pachter Mrs Sarah Friedman

Charity Number

1058193

Principal Address

Hainault Avenue Giffard Park Milton Keynes MK14 5PQ

Independent Examiner

Mr N Boyce FCCA Hickeson Boyce 68A High Street Stony Stratford Milton Keynes MK11 1AQ

Bankers

Barclays Bank plc PO Box 170 Milton Keynes MK6 1AL

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Trustees Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2023

The Trustees present their report along with the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 8 and comply with the applicable law and the requirements of SORP (FRS 102), Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

Constitution and Objects

The Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue, known in Hebrew as Beit Echud, is constituted under a deed of trust established in 1979 and is a registered charity No 1058193.

The principal objects of the Synagogue are the promoting of Judaism in the spheres of public worship, religious, educational, social, cultural and charitable activities.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Synagogue's governing document is its constitution, which is reviewed periodically. The Trustees of the Synagogue are its Council Members, including the Honorary Officers, who are elected by the membership in open meeting. There is also provision for up to three members to be co-opted to serve on Council until the subsequent Annual General Meeting.

The Trustees normally meet eight to nine times a year and there are Sub-committees and Groups that report to the council, which then approves their activities. The main Sub-committees and Groups are:

Ritual: This committee deals with all aspects of the provision of Synagogue services including festivals;

Cheder education: This committee deals with the provision of religious schooling for children of members, through to bar/bat mitzvah age and beyond.

The Council, which takes appropriate external advice where necessary, makes all significant operational decisions except the appointment of a rabbi. The constitution requires that the appointment of a rabbi be approved by the membership in open meeting.

External Affiliations

The constitution provides that the Synagogue shall be a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism, for which benefit, affiliation fees are payable at a percentage of the previous year's subscription income. One of the benefits of membership of a synagogue is the availability of a burial plan, and a proportion of members' subscriptions are specifically levied in this respect: this is paid by the Synagogue to the Jewish Joint Burial Society.

Achievement of Objectives and Review of Activities

A full review of Synagogue activities is contained in the Synagogue's latest Annual Review which is circulated to all members prior to the Annual General Meeting. The key achievements during the year referred to in the Annual Review were:

Ritual: Service leadership was shared between visiting student rabbis and our own lay readers. This year we’ve had a mixture of online services and services in the synagogue. This has worked well and will continue.
Cheder and Education: The number of children attending Cheder has increased due to new families joining the Synagogue. We held regular adult education sessions which have proved very popular.
Social: We were able to hold parties to celebrate major Jewish holidays, including Purim, Sukkot and Chanukah. The Book Chat Group and Sewing Group have met monthly. In addition, we have held regular social events such as quiz nights, concerts and board game evenings, to name a few.

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Trustees Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2023

(continued)

Welfare: The Welfare Group is running with the aim of keeping the Synagogue in touch with all members.
Communication to Members: A weekly newsletter was sent to members via email. Printed newsletters are sent four times a year to members who do not use email.
Grants: This year the High Holy Day Appeal beneficiaries were Cancer Research UK and Tikkun Pacov.

Financial review

The Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 December 2023 is set out on page 7 of the accounts and shows a net operating surplus of £6,098 for the year. This compares with last year’s surplus of £5,981. Because of this surplus, the Synagogue's reserves now total £216,630.

Plans for the Future

Within each of our main categories, the following are the short/medium-term goals:

Rabbinic Support: We will liaise closely with Leo Baeck College and the Movement for Reform Judaism to ensure that we have sufficient visits from Student Rabbis.
Ritual: We will continue to hold weekly Shabbat services, alternating Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. We will hold services for the High Holy Days and major festivals. We will continue to hold some services in person and some online, to meet the varying needs of our members. The initiative to train new wardens and lay service leaders continues.
Cheder and Education: We will continue to encourage local families with young children to join the community. We plan to continue further integration and merging between Cheder and the remainder of the community, with more social events and occasional child-friendly services.
Programme Development: We will continue to evaluate methods of encouraging involvement by a broader range of members by offering more choices of activities.
Welfare: We will continue to deliver support to the membership, particularly the elderly and recently bereaved. To build closer relationships between the Synagogue and the wider Milton Keynes community, we will continue to encourage the use of the hall by suitable outside groups.

Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the Synagogue to maintain our unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the Synagogue, at a level that is adequate to keep the Synagogue solvent. In conjunction with the subscriptions and other incoming resources, this provides sufficient funds to cover the administrative and support costs of the Synagogue.

The restricted funds are funds donated to the Synagogue for expenditure of a specific purpose or nature and are held in an appropriate form to enable the funds to be applied for the purpose for which they were established.

The designated funds represent amounts set aside for anticipated expenditure relating to the building and for Rabbinic services. The designated Rabbinic fund amounts to £47,540. The hope is that in due course the Synagogue will be able to afford to employ a rabbi on a part-time basis.

In addition, we have £31,570 in a designated fund for the upkeep of the building and a £10,500 kitchen fund.

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Trustees Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2023

(continued)

Grant Making Policy

The Synagogue pursues its charitable giving mainly through the High Holy Day Appeal. Our policy is to make grants out of donations received and only to registered charities, whether in the UK or overseas.

Risk Management

The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the Synagogue faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to mitigate risks as appropriate.

Trustees’ Responsibilities in Relation to the Accounts

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the board of trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the period end and of its incoming resources and resources expended during that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper 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 requirements of applicable law and regulations. 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 charity has taken advantage of the exemption in IAS1 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement because it is a small charity.

This report was approved by the trustees on 16 August 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Martin Neville Co-Chair of Council

Lou Tribus

Co-Chair of Council

Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue

Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

I report on the accounts for the trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

N Boyce FCCA Hickeson Boyce 68A High Street Stony Stratford Milton Keynes MK11 1AQ

Date: 20 August 2024

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Subscriptions (Net) Income tax recoverable on subscriptions Donations and legacies Income tax recoverable on donations JJBS Interest Income from charitable activities [2] Other Incoming resources [3] TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES EXPENDITURE Expenditure on raising funds: Services and festivals [4] Education [5] JJBS MRJ affiliation Synagogue magazine Charitable donations Building: Running expenses [6] Depreciation [7] Other resources expended: Administration [8] General expenses [9] Fund raising [10] TOTAL EXPENDITURE Net gains/losses on investments NET INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2023 £ 24,962 24,962 5,293 5,293 11,843 1,200 13,043 2,023 2,023 7,272 7,272 1,126 1,126 520 - 520 6,534 6,534 52,301 8,472 60,773 15,937 15,937 2,719 2,719 7,272 7,272 1,144 1,144 739 1,200 1,939 20,539 8,472 29,011 16,248 16,248 4,439 4,439 20,687 - 20,687 1,263 1,263 3,425 3,425 264 264 4,952 - 4,952 46,178 8,472 54,650 (25) (25) 6,098 - 6,098 210,531 - 210,531 216,629 - 216,629	Total Funds 2022 £ 22,827 4,762 7,768 1,213 5,902 102 - 9,523
		52,097
		2,550 2,420 5,902 1,517 70 1,531
		13,990
		19,264 4,439
		23,703
		1,053 7,710 144
		8,907

		46,600
		484 5,981 204,550
		210,531

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

FIXED ASSETS £ £ £ Cost brought forward and carried forward Depreciation to date Net book value 2023 Tangible fixed assets: [11] Building [11] 159,952 86,974 72,978 Religious Ritual Items [11] 2,566 2,566 - Furniture & Fittings [11] 46,666 46,226 440 Leasehold Land [11] 15,000 15,000 224,184 135,766 88,418 Investments [12] 2,629 91,047 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors and Prepayments [13] 9,250 Cash at Bank and in Hand 120,951 130,201 CURRENT LIABILITIES Amounts falling due within one year [14] 4,619 NET CURRENT ASSETS 125,582 216,629 TOTAL NET ASSETS 216,629 FINANCED BY Unrestricted: General Fund [15] 216,629 216,629 Approved by the Executive of the trustees (the synagogue council) on 16 August 2024 and signed on its behalf by Priscilla Dorance Trustee and Treasurer Lou Tribus Trustee and Chair Martin Neville Trustee	£ Net book value 2022 76,977 - 880 15,000
	92,857 2,473
	95,330 7,633 111,326
	118,959 3,758
	115,201
	210,531
	210,531
	210,531
	210,531

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE NOTES TO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Accounting convention The accounts are prepared on an accruals basis and under the historic cost convention. They are in accordance with the requirements of the Statement of recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities.

b) Subscriptions Subscriptions are included on the basis of those due for the current year after making allowance for any amounts that are unlikely to be collected.

c) Income tax recoverable
Income tax recoverable has been included to the extent that it arises on gift aided donations received during the year.
d) Depreciation

The building is being depreciated at 2.5% per annum.

Religious Ritual Items and Furniture and fittings are being depreciated at 25% per annum.

e) Funds accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available at the discretion of the Trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are held for specific purposes.

f) Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties relating to going concern and the accounts have therefore been prepared on this basis.

2 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Quiz social events Event 1 concert TOTAL 3 OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES PACOV Trip Hall hire Judaica Rituals festivals Non cash asset donation TOTAL 4 SERVICES AND FESTIVALS Kiddush and catering Lay Readers, visiting rabbis Ritual, festivals, choir TOTAL 5 EDUCATION Cheder materials Cheder teachers Adult education Conference bursaries TOTAL	Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ 200 200 - 94 94 - 226 226 -
	520 - 520 -
	- - 4,479 5,856 5,856 4,505 68 68 27 429 429 372 181 181 140
	6,534 - 6,534 9,523
	618 618 421 3,587 3,587 1,273 11,732 11,732 856
	15,937 - 15,937 2,550
	176 176 96 2,133 2,133 1,724 410 410 - - - 600
	2,719 - 2,719 2,420

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE NOTES TO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

6 BUILDING Electricity Water Garden Cleaning/ hygiene consumables Repairs and maintenance Security: keyholding Furniture & fittings <£1,000 TOTAL 7 DEPRECIATION Depreciation on furniture & fittings Depreciation on ritual assets Depreciation on building TOTAL 8 ADMINISTRATION Postage Telephone Data protection TOTAL 9 GENERAL EXPENSES Insurance Professional fees Council member travel expenses Non trustee expenses Website Welfare PACOV Trip Conference bursary 10 FUND RAISING Quiz Social events Judaica TOTAL 11 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Cost At 1 January 2023 Additions Disposals At 31 DECEMBER 2023 Depreciation At 1January 2023 Charge for the year On disposals At 31 DECEMBER 2023 Net book value At 31 DECEMBER 2023 At 31 December 2022	Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2023 £ 3,139 3,139 385 385 690 690 3,110 3,110 8,011 8,011 255 255 658 658	Total Funds 2022 £ 2,050 383 2,355 3,305 9,068 499 1,604
	16,248 - 16,248	19,264
	440 440 - - 3,999 3,999	440 - 3,999
	4,439 - 4,439	4,439
	150 150 1,078 1,078 35 35	94 924 35
	1,263 - 1,263	1,053
	1,881 1,881 9 9 84 84 730 730 - - 721 721 - - - -	1,255 636 234 48 162 318 5,057 -
	3,425 - 3,425	7,710
	- - 144 144 120 120	- 144 -
	264 - 264	144
	Leasehold Land and Building Religious Ritual items Furniture and Fittings £ £ £ 174,952 2,566 46,666 174,952 2,566 46,666 82,975 2,566 45,786 3,999 440 86,974 2,566 46,226 87,978 - 440 91,977 - 880	Total £ 224,184 - -
		224,184
		131,327 4,439 -
		135,766
		88,418
		92,857

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE NOTES TO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

12 INVESTMENTS COST At 1 January 2023 Additions Disposals Revaluation At 31 December 2023 Amortisation At January 2023 Charge for year On disposals At 31 December 2023 Net Book Value At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022 13 DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS CST Grant Tax Refund on Gift Aid subscriptions Tax Refund on Gift Aid donations Insurance (prepayment) Pacov Trip Late subs Hall hire MRJ levy Website TOTAL 14 CREDITORS Cheder consultant Kiddush Outreach Rep Student Rabbi Cleaner Garden work Telephone Cheder materials Pacov expense Key deposits Accountancy fee Fire maintenance JJBS Refundable travel JJBS Over age on account Electricity Subscriptions paid in advance TOTAL	Other investments £ 2,473 181 - (25) 2,629 - - - - 2,629 2,473 Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ 575 575 528 5,292 5,292 4,762 2,023 2,023 1,213 181 181 100 - 200 179 179 22 838 838 646 - - 162 162 162
	9,250 - 9,250 7,633
	- - - 5 - - 214 214 348 57 57 176 260 51 51 - - 79 - 346 95 95 95 - 630 360 360 - 1,450 1,450 1,450 - 117 - - 2,392 2,392 252
	3,074 1,545 4,619 3,758

16 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

MILTON KEYNES AND DISTRICT REFORM SYNAGOGUE NOTES TO ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS At 1st January 2022 Adjustment - see below As at 1st January 2022 - as restated Net incoming resources/(resources expended) for the year Appropriations in the year At 31st December 2023 DESIGNATED FUNDS At 1st January 2023 Adjustment - see below As at 1st January 2022 - as restated Appropriations in the year At 31st December 2023	Designated Funds Undesignated Funds Total Unrestricted Funds £ £ £ 210,531 210,531 59,610 (59,610) - 59,610 150,921 210,531 6,098 6,098 30,000 (30,000) - 89,610 127,019 216,629 Rabbinic Fund Building Fund Kitchen Fund Total Designated Funds - - - 0 27,540 21,570 10,500 59,610
	27,540 21,570 10,500 59,610 20,000 10,000 - 30,000
	47,540 31,570 10,500 89,610

The designated funds represent amounts set aside for anticipated expenses relating to the building and for Rabbinic Services. The opening balance adjustment relates to designated funds that the trustees consider should have been reflected in previous years accounts.

There was no related party transactions that require disclosure.

17 TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

During the year no trustees received any remuneration. Charitable, education, building, administartion and fundraising expenses totalling £5055 were reimbursed (2022 £8314).

18 STAFF COSTS

During the year there were no members of staff employed by the charity.