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2024-08-31-accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 5210204 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1107768

Ashkelon Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee Unaudited Financial Statements 31 August 2024

HAFFNER HOFF LTD

Accountants 2nd Floor - Parkgates Bury New Road Prestwich Manchester M25 0TL

Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 August 2024

Page
Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report) 1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees 6
Statement of financial activities (including income and
expenditure account) 7
Statement of financial position 8
Notes to the financial statements 9

Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year ended 31 August 2024

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Ashkelon Foundation Charity registration number 1107768 Company registration number 5210204 Principal office and registered 2nd Floor Parkgates office Bury New Road Prestwich M25 0TL The trustees J Cohen Y J Hoffman M M Shein Independent examiner Mr Howard Schwalbe ACA 2nd Floor - Parkgates Bury New Road Prestwich Manchester M25 0TL

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

Structure, governance and management

Ashkelon Foundation is constituted by Memorandum and Articles of Association and is a company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 19 August 2004 as a company and the company number is 5210204. It was registered as a charity on 24 January 2005 with a charity number 1107768.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees would be in line with the Memorandum and Articles of Association and with the consent of the trustees. The criteria set for the suitable candidate would be someone who is sensitive to the needs and demands of the organisation.

There is no chief executive officer. The day to day affairs are undertaken by Mr Y Cohen on behalf of the trustees. All major decisions are taken collectively by the trustees and all the trustees give of their time freely. The trustees are unpaid and details of any related party transactions are disclosed as applicable in the notes to the accounts. The arrangements for setting the pay of the charity’s employees are the sole domain of the trustees.

There are no policies for the induction or training of new trustees.

Risk review

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Trust, and are satisfied that systems are in place to manage our exposure to the major risks.

The risks faced by the trust are principally operational risks from ineffective grant making. These risks are managed by the trustees researching potential beneficiaries before granting donations. Additionally, the risk of investments not performing appropriately.

Report back and review procedures strengthen these safeguards to ensure public benefit is achieved from all grants. With reference to investments, they are all ring fenced and even if they would lose rental income by way of losing tenants the investments are structured in a way that ensures there is no further liability on the charity to support an ailing investment.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

Objectives and activities

The objects of the charity are the relief of poverty amongst the elderly or persons in conditions of need, hardship or distress in the Jewish Community; the advancement of the Orthodox Jewish Religion; and the advancement of education according to the tenets of the Orthodox Jewish Faith.

Public benefit

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting grant making policy for the year.

Grant making policy

The charity is funded by donations and investment income. The charity gives out grants in line with the above objects.

The application of the funds by way of grants to either institutions or individuals and is almost always to institutions.

There were no grants to individuals during the year.

Grants to institutions during the year are as detailed in the accounts.

The trustees consider they have met the public benefit test and outline these achievements below.

The trustees measure the success of achieving the stated aims by the number and value of grants paid out for each object. The trustees consider they have met their aims successfully this year.

The trustees consider the shorter term aims to be similar to the longer term aims and assess the achievement of the charity in the same way.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

Achievements and performance

The charity had investment income receivable amounting to £242,057 during the year (2023: £338,590).

The charity paid out £218,344 by way of grants and support costs (2023: £395,304).

These grants were made in line with the stated objects of the charity.

Educational grants totalled £172,250 (2023: £242,903).

Relief of property grants totalled £42,500 (2023: £148,500).

Further details of grants paid are included in the notes to the accounts.

The charity has low governance costs. Other costs were kept low and were borne by a local charity. The governance costs incurred relate to professional fees incurred during the year.

The trustees would like to record their appreciation for all the financial support received from the local charity who has sponsored the office costs during the course of the year.

Investment property additions during the year mainly related to surpluses generated on investment syndicates that are accounted for by way of fixed asset additions.

There were no fundraising costs during the year.

Related party transactions are disclosed as applicable in the notes to the accounts.

There was net income and movement in funds for the year amounting to £24,808 (2023: expenditure of £112,334).

The charity had investment income receivable amounting to £242,057 during the year (2023: £338,590).

The charity paid out £218,344 by way of grants and support costs (2023: £395,304).

These grants were made in line with the stated objects of the charity.

Educational grants totalled £172,250 (2023: £242,903).

Relief of property grants totalled £42,500 (2023: £148,500).

Further details of grants paid are included in the notes to the accounts.

The charity has low governance costs. Other costs were kept low and were borne by a local charity. The governance costs incurred relate to professional fees incurred during the year.

The trustees would like to record their appreciation for all the financial support received from the local charity who has sponsored the office costs during the course of the year.

Investment property additions during the year mainly related to surpluses generated on investment syndicates that are accounted for by way of fixed asset additions.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

There were no fundraising costs during the year.

Related party transactions are disclosed as applicable in the notes to the accounts.

There was net income and movement in funds for the year amounting to £24,808 (2023: expenditure of £112,334).

Financial review

Investment performance

The investments of the charity have provided a return of over 7.5% in the year.

The trustees consider this acceptable when compared with returns available on deposits in any of the banking institutions. These investment returns are not at the expense of any exposure of loan to value covenants that would put these investments at risk.

Reserves policy

The unrestricted fund represents the unrestricted funds arising from past operating results.

The trustees are satisfied that the balance of the fund is an acceptable level of reserves given the nature of revenue receipts against grants payable.

In considering the limited financial obligations of the charity, the trustees have resolved to maintain a minimum reserve roughly equal to the net current assets of the charity.

The trustees have considered the fair value of the investment property taking into account the loan to value of the properties as well as the nature and exposure of the syndicate properties. The trustees consider the holding value to be the fair value.

The trustees are delighted to have made many valuable contributions to the community as a result of this income and hope to be able to do so for many years to come.

The free reserves, being the net current assets of the charity, stand at £6,820 (2023: £20,275) all of which are unrestricted.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 25 March 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

M M Shein Trustee

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Ashkelon Foundation

Year ended 31 August 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Ashkelon Foundation ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  3. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

  4. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.

Mr Howard Schwalbe ACA

Independent Examiner

2nd Floor - Parkgates Bury New Road Prestwich Manchester M25 0TL

25 March 2025

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 August 2024

2024 2024 2023
Unrestricted
funds Total funds Total funds
Note £ £ £
Income and endowments
Investment income 5 242,057 242,057 338,590
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total income 242,057 242,057 338,590
================================ ================================ ================================
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities 6,7 218,344 218,344 395,304
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total expenditure 218,344 218,344 395,304
================================ ================================ ================================
Net gains/(losses) on investments 10 1,095 1,095 (65,398)
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net income/(expenditure) 24,808 24,808 (122,112)
================================ ================================ ================================
Other recognised gains and losses
Gains from revaluation of fixed assets 9,778
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net movement in funds 24,808 24,808 (112,334)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 3,143,541 3,143,541 3,255,875
----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Total funds carried forward 3,168,349 3,168,349 3,143,541
========================================= ========================================= =========================================

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 9 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Position

31 August 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £ £
Fixed assets
Investments 14 3,161,529 3,123,266
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand 10,120 23,575
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 15 3,300 3,300
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Net current assets 6,820 20,275
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Total assets less current liabilities 3,168,349 3,143,541
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Net assets 3,168,349 3,143,541
========================================= =========================================
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds:
Revaluation reserve (137,740) (137,740)
Other unrestricted income funds 3,306,089 3,281,281
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Total unrestricted funds 3,168,349 3,143,541
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Total charity funds 16 3,168,349 3,143,541
========================================= =========================================

For the year ending 31 August 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 25 March 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

M M Shein Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 16 form part of these financial statements.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 August 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 2nd Floor Parkgates, Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 0TL.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements did not require management to make judgements, estimates or assumptions that affect the amounts reported besides the valuation of fixed asset investments at the year end.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Investments

Unlisted equity investments are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently measured at fair value. If fair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at cost less impairment.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Investments (continued)

Listed investments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value being recognised in income or expenditure.

Investment property

Investment property is initially recorded at cost, which includes purchase price and any directly attributable expenditure.

Investment property is revalued to its fair value at each reporting date and any changes in fair value are recognised in income or expenditure.

If a reliable measure of fair value is no longer available for an item of investment property, it shall be transferred to tangible assets and treated as such until it is expected that fair value will be reliably measurable on an on-going basis.

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Financial instruments (continued)

Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.

Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.

Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.

For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.

Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.

4. Limited by guarantee

Ashkelon Foundation is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

5. Investment income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Income from investment properties 242,057 242,057 338,590 338,590
================================ ================================ ================================ ================================

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

6. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type

Unrestricted
Total Funds
Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds
2024
Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Charitable grants 214,750
214,750
391,403 391,403
Support costs 3,594
3,594
3,901 3,901
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
218,344
218,344
395,304 395,304
================================ ================================ ================================ ================================
7. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type
Grant funding
Support
Total funds Total fund
of activities
costs
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Charitable grants 214,750
294
215,044 392,003
Governance costs
3,300
3,300 3,301
-------------------------------- ----------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
214,750
3,594
218,344 395,304
================================ ======================= ================================ ================================
8. Analysis of support costs
Analysis of
support costs Total 2024 Total 2023
£ £ £
General office 294 294 600
Governance costs 3,300 3,300 3,301
----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
3,594 3,594 3,901
======================= ======================= =======================
9. Analysis of grants
2024 2023
£ £
Grants to institutions
Brongate Ltd 42,500 148,500
CFAR 15,000
Keren Trust 162,750 227,903
Other educational grants 9,500
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
214,750 391,403
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total grants 214,750 391,403
================================ ================================
10. Net gains/(losses) on investments
Unrestricted
Total Funds
Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds
2024
Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Gains/(losses) on investment property
1,095

1,095
(65,398) (65,398)
======================= ======================= ============================ ============================

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

11. Independent examination fees

2024 2023
£ £
Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements 3,300 3,301
======================= =======================

12. Staff costs

The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2023: Nil).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).

13. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.

14. Investments

Investment
properties
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 September 2023 3,123,266
Additions 272,152
Disposals (233,889)
-----------------------------------------
At 31 August 2024 3,161,529
=========================================
Impairment
At 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024
Carrying amount
At 31 August 2024 3,161,529
=========================================
At 31 August 2023 3,123,266
=========================================

All investments shown above are held at valuation.

Investment properties

Investments in UK investment property represents capital introduced by the charity into the syndicate plus accrued surpluses less deficiencies. The syndicates in which the charity is a participator have borrowings that are secured on the syndicate property. The charity accounts for its syndicate investments under the equity accounting basis and thus the charity's share of the borrowings is not included in these financial statements.

Valuation of the syndicate property is at fair value of the syndicate property in the opinion of the trustees. The percentage holding ranges from 1% to 10%. The trustees consider that they do not have significant influence over the operating and financial policy of the undertaking.

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2024 2023
£ £
Accruals and deferred income 3,300 3,300
======================= =======================
Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
At 01 At 31
September Gains and August
2023 Income Expenditure losses 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 3,281,281 242,057 (218,344) 1,095 3,306,089
Revaluation reserve (137,740) (137,740)
----------------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------------------------
3,143,541 242,057 (218,344) 1,095 3,168,349
========================================= ================================ ================================ ======================= =========================================
At 01 At 31
September Gains and August
2022 Income Expenditure losses 2023
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 3,403,393 338,590 (395,304) (65,398) 3,281,281
Revaluation reserve (147,518) 9,778 (137,740)
----------------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------------------------
3,255,875 338,590 (395,304) (55,620) 3,143,541
========================================= ================================ ================================ ============================ =========================================

16. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

17. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024
£ £
Investments 3,161,529 3,161,529
Current assets 10,120 10,120
Creditors less than 1 year (3,300)
(3,300)
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Net assets 3,168,349 3,168,349
========================================= =========================================
Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2023
£ £
Investments 3,123,266 3,123,266
Current assets 23,575 23,575
Creditors less than 1 year (3,300)
(3,300)
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Net assets 3,143,541 3,143,541
========================================= =========================================

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Ashkelon Foundation

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 August 2024

18. Related parties

Keren Trust is a related party by virtue of having a trustee in common with this charity. Grants totalling £227,903, including £212,903 worth of property, were awarded to Keren Trust. These grants are in line with the objects of the charity.

19. Taxation

Ashkelon Foundation is a registered charity and therefore is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

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