2024-08-31-accounts

FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE COMPANY NUMBER 7321494 CHARITY NUMBER 1137557

DIRECTORS REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 AUGUST 2024

NYMAN LIBSON PAUL LLP CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS 124 FINCHLEY ROAD LONDON NW3 5JS

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

DATE OF INCORPORATION 21 July 2010 COMPANY NUMBER 7321494 CHARITY NUMBER 1137557 DIRECTORS

	Melanie Bruck	Resigned	21-Mar-24
	Nicole Hay-Carter	Resigned	21-Mar-24
	David Evans	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Andrew Fetterman	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Michael Gabbay	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Robert Humphreys	Resigned	18-Jul-24
	Abigail Jacobi
	Deborah Mowbray	Appointed	21-Mar-24
Chair of Ritual	Joseph Nathan
Secretary	Ben Noah
Chair	Jennifer Nuni
	Gary Philip	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Phil Phillips
Vice Chair	Richard Reuben
	David Reinhardt	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Lisa Rousseau-	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Bedouch
	Raymond Simonson	Appointed	21-Mar-24
Treasurer	Jeremy Summerfield	Appointed	21-Mar-24
	Keith Sussman	Resigned	21-Mar-24
	Emma Wohl	Resigned	24-Jul-24
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	Laura Crespi
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS	101 Fallow Court Avenue, London, N12 0BE
BANKERS	NatWest Bank, 30 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1GQ
AUDITORS	Nyman Libson Paul LLP,	124 Finchley Road,	London
	NW3 5JS

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The Directors have pleasure in presenting their report together with the audited financial statements of the Charity for the year to 31 August 2024. The financial statements are in accordance with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Charity and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. This directors' report consolidates within it the strategic report and the trustees' report.

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES AND INCORPORATION

Finchley Reform Synagogue, known in Hebrew as Kehillah Kadosha Etz Chaim, was constituted under a deed of trust established in 1960 and is a registered charity No. 1137557. The principal objects of the Synagogue remain the practice, promotion, development and advancement of Judaism in the spheres of public worship, religious, educational, social, cultural and charitable activities.

The Synagogue was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee on 21 July 2010 when new Memorandum and Articles of Association were adopted. The assets and liabilities, contracts and ongoing operations of the predecessor unincorporated charity, of the same name, registered number 1057053, were transferred to the new charitable company on 1 October 2010. The unincorporated charity accordingly became inactive from that date.

In furthering the charity’s purpose for the public benefit, the directors as trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011

AUDITORS

A resolution will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to re-appoint Nyman Libson Paul LLP as auditors.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Synagogue's governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which are reviewed periodically. The Directors of the Synagogue are its Council Members - including the Honorary Officers - who are elected by the membership in open meeting. The Directors are also Trustees of the Charity. Nominations for new Directors are invited from the Community and candidates are taken forward for election on the basis of their background and experience.

New Directors go through an induction process, which includes being briefed on relevant governance and financial documents, key organisational policies, and strategic priorities.

There is also provision for up to five members to be co-opted to serve on Council until the subsequent Annual General Meeting. No person may serve as just an ordinary Member of Council for more than six consecutive years. No Honorary Officer may serve in the same office for more than four consecutive years and no person (other than a retiring chairperson) may be a member of Council in any capacity for more than ten consecutive years. Council will normally seek nominations for new Directors from those members who have specific relevant skills (for example financial, educational or spiritual), who are already active in the community or who represent particular interest groups from within the membership.

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The Directors normally meet eleven times a year (a minimum of eight meetings is specified by the Memorandum and Articles of Association) 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 : the committee, comprising wardens, regular congregants, and clergy, develops ideas to further enrich engagement in religious services and related activities. The committee meets at least twice a year, to review major religious festivals, initiatives, and ritual issues raised by the community.

Youth and Education: this committee deals with the provision of religious schooling and youth activities for children of members, through to B’nei Mitzvah age and beyond.

Kindergarten Management Committee: oversees the operational and strategic development of the kindergarten

Chesed (Community Services ): this encompasses other community-based activities including co-ordinating the community’s response to members in need.

Finance: this meets to review the financial affairs of the Synagogue.

Building Committee: this group meets regularly during the year, primarily to oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the new synagogue building, and its running costs. It also has responsibility for operational and Health & Safety matters and looking for ways to improve building efficiencies.

The Synagogue also employs an administrative team who, under the direction of the Synagogue’s Executive Director, are responsible for the day-to-day management of the building, financial control and recordkeeping, the co-ordination of activities between the various groups and the management and administration on behalf of the clergy team. The Executive Director and the office staff are available to respond to queries which are often of a sensitive nature, including life cycle events and bereavements. Council, taking appropriate external advice where necessary, makes all significant operational and strategic decisions.

The remuneration of the Executive Director, and the senior clergy, is set by the Honorary Officers, taking into account relevant benchmarks (including the guidance issued by the Movement for Reform Judaism), and the individual’s experience and performance.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Synagogue require certain key decisions to be approved by the membership in general meeting, including the appointment and/or termination of the employment of the Principal Rabbi, the purchase or sale of freehold property and the taking out of large loans. The articles have been amended to permit meetings to be held and voting to be carried out virtually.

The Synagogue Council undertakes periodic reviews of its governance arrangements with reference to the Charities Governance Code. We are fully in compliance with most areas of the Code; those where we recognise more work needs to be done are in formalising terms of reference and delegation authority for some of our groups and committees. In addition we recognise that, as a faith-based community, it is difficult to deliver a governing body which is fully diverse in all respects. We continue to focus on those aspects of diversity which are available within our constitutional restrictions.

EXTERNAL AFFILIATIONS

The Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that the Synagogue shall be a member of Reform Judaism (previously the Movement for Reform Judaism), for which membership affiliation fees are payable which are calculated according to a formula related to a percentage of the previous year's subscription income.

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One of the benefits of membership of a synagogue is the availability of a burial plan. A fee based on the number of adult members is paid by the Synagogue to the Jewish Joint Burial Society, which in most cases is then solely responsible for the provision of such burial services.

The Synagogue is also entitled to representation at the Board of Deputies of British Jews, for which a charge is levied based on the number of those members who opt to contribute to the Board’s activities.

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Chair’s review of the year

Clergy Team Recruitment

Just before Rosh Hashana in 2023, we announced that Rabbi Miriam would be stepping down from her position as Principal Rabbi of FRS after 18 years of dedicated service at the end of June 2024. She will undertake a new project, developing the Wellspring initiative. Consequently, much of the year was devoted to restructuring the clergy team and recruiting a new Rabbi. During October and November 2023, we conducted a series of consultations with members both in person and online. These consultations were instrumental in defining the strengths of FRS and identifying the qualities needed in our clergy team. A Steering Committee and a Recruitment Process Group were established, comprising a diverse cross-section of community members, to oversee and manage the recruitment process. The senior Rabbi position was subsequently advertised both within the UK and internationally.

Throughout the interview process, it became clear that our current clergy team is exceptionally wellsuited to meet the needs and expectations of FRS. Consequently, the Council confirmed Cantor Zӧe Jacobs would be our principal clergy following Miriam’s departure. Following her ordination from Leo Baeck College, Rabbi Eleanor Davis joined our team in August 2024. Additionally, Rabbi Miriam was honoured with the title of Rabbi Emerita for FRS.

FRS has a history of bold decisions, and choosing Zӧe to lead our clergy team highlights our leadership in the Jewish world. This decision reflects FRS's commitment to spirituality, creativity, and progressive thinking.

Cantor Zӧe spent 6 years studying abroad in Jerusalem and New York as part of Hebrew Union College’s Cantorial Ordination program. This ordination allows a Cantor to officiate like a Rabbi. The main difference between rabbinical and cantorial studies lies in their focus. While 60% of the curriculum is similar, rabbinical students delve into rabbinic texts and homiletics, whereas cantorial students focus on liturgy, prayer, service styles, and music.

Professional Team Recruitment

Sam Clifford, our Executive Director, departed after Pesach to assume the position of CEO at Jewish Women’s Aid.

In April, Laura Crespi joined us as our new Synagogue Director, bringing with her two decades of experience in education within Jewish schools.

Karen Bloom was appointed Deputy Synagogue Director, in addition to her responsibilities as Director of Education.

7[th] October & Israel

The horrific events of 7 October in Israel shaped a lot of the year 23/24.

In the immediate aftermath attendance numbers at services rose as the community felt the need to come together, to mourn and to process the unfolding events in Israel. FRS quickly pivoted and created spaces within services for memory, and to hold each other through moments of uncertainty as families waited for news.

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Israel is in the minds and hearts of our community, and as a community we have supported the work of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and Project Benji over the past year.

FRS also opened its door and supported the Israelis who found themselves stranded in the UK – and for several weeks we provided a drop-in for Israeli families who were in London – with activities for children. Many Israeli children also joined the half term October camp that was held in the building.

New security measures were implemented including additional security guards during Shabbat services. New security volunteers were recruited including new team leaders, and a fundraiser raised £15,000 to support the additional security costs,

New Trustees

In January 2024, a campaign was launched to invite community members to nominate themselves for council trustee positions, specifying required skills. This resulted in numerous applications from highly qualified individuals with valuable skills. At the March AGM, the community elected 9 new trustees. The council now has diverse expertise and high-calibre members, whilst still representing a cross-section of our community.

Membership

Membership in September 2024 was at a similar level to September 2023 with 982 households (984 in September 2023). The number of children was up by just under 4% at 793 vs 763 in the prior year.

Priorities announced at the AGM in March 2024

At the March 2023 AGM the following priorities were highlighted to the community:

1. Onboarding the new Council and building a high performing council team.

2. Developing a three-year strategy.

3. Growing our membership, especially to help ensure that our finances can support our spiritual and creative ambitions.

4. Reinvigoration of our adult education provision.

Progress to date against these priorities:

1. The new council has received trusteeship training from Sue Pearlman, a Charity governance consultant. The Council is working together well and most of the trustees have clearly defined portfolio responsibilities.

2. The three-year strategy is a priority, and we have appointed a small team to develop a financial strategy for FRS.

3. Council has analysed historical membership trends and identified a working group to focus on defining the membership groups that we want to target. Non-members show case event is planned for March 2025.

4. Rabbi Eleanor Davis is focusing on our adult education provision, which started with some Talmud sessions with Rabbi Greg Alexander in the summer of 2024. The clergy team as a whole are making progress with taking this forward.

Highlights of the year

High Holy Days (HHD) 2023

Due to the unavailability of StoneX Stadium for Rosh Hashanah, FRS organised the Rosh Hashanah services at Vue, North Finchley. This venue allowed us to provide smaller, tailored services for different groups. While there were some technological challenges and it did not work for everyone, the overall response was positive. The event was beneficial for our Rhythm 'n' Jews community and enabled us to promote community volunteering in collaboration with Food Bank Aid.

The creativity for Rosh Hashanah was appreciated, aiding FRS's innovative journey. The sensory spaces on Rosh Hashanah and Erev Simchat Torah were beneficial, with feedback to improve further. The

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cinema elements, like parody posters and popcorn, created a lively atmosphere, and we maintained the kiddush hall/community vibe in the cinema atrium. Smaller groups for Rhythm n Jews on Rosh Hashanah meant a more engaged community. The services at FRS on Erev RH1 and RH2 were well attended for the ‘home’ community.

We also had the benefit of returning to StoneX for a smooth, inspiring and meaningful Yom Kippur. Our Erev Simchat Torah – Simcha in the Shul was a wonderful, uplifting carnival for the community, allowing us to safely engage 700 people over the course of the evening, before the world changed on 7th October 2023.

HHD Appeal

In 2023, we began a new 3-year partnership cycle through FRS's Eighth Rung Group to improve our charitable giving approach. Long-term relationships with charities allow them to use our funds more effectively for future development, and our partnership approach means we not only provide funding but contribute through volunteering and providing the use of our building for some of their activities. This cycle, we are partnering with Kisharon Langdon and New Citizens Gateway. The High Holy Day Appeal in 2023 raised approximately £28,000 (before gift aid). The funds were allocated to support the charities partnered with the 8th Rung group (Kisharon Langdon and New Citizens Gateway), the FRS Tzedakah Fund—which considers applications for smaller grants generally up to £500 from charities in the UK and overseas—and the Together Plan. This amount was about one-third lower than the previous year, potentially due to the impact of the cost of living and individuals choosing to personally support Israel-related causes.

Shirei Chagigah meets Reform Judaism Conference

The FRS delegation was by far the largest at March’s Shirei meets Chagigah Reform Judaism conference. Cantor Zӧe designed and led the incredible music strand of the conference that was the standout element for everyone.

RMB Celebration Activities and Weekend

To mark Rabbi Miriam Berger's 18 years of service at FRS, a series of events was organised over a weekend in June 2024. Each event targeted different segments of the community. The itinerary included:

• Kindergarten Shabbat and Lunch for Kindergarten families, current or former staff, and Alumni, focusing on Rabbi Miriam's relationship with FRS Kindergarten.

• A Shacharit to Remember - Rabbi Miriam's second-to-last Shacharit as principal Rabbi, featuring morning prayers and blessings followed by a celebratory Kiddush.

• A Celebratory Seudah for Reception - Year 8 students and their families, including activities and food.

• Young Adults Pub Night - an event for individuals aged 18-30 to honour their connection with Rabbi Miriam.

• Zero Waste Gala Dinner – an elegant zero-waste fundraising dinner coupled with a screening of "Rabbiting On" featuring interviews with Rabbi Miriam by Rabbis Robyn Ashworth Steen and Debbie Young Somers.

• Kuddle Up Shabbat Friday Night Dinner.

• Special Kochavim assembly.

Visiting Rabbi – Greg Alexander

Rabbi Greg Alexander joined us for 10 weeks between June and August as a visiting Rabbi from the Temple Israel community South Africa. Rabbi Greg was a wonderful addition to the clergy team over the summer and connected with many people in our community. He brought us the Biking Beit Midrash, a new way to mark Tisha B’Av, his stories during Kuddle-Up Shabbat, and general support to our professional team during this summer of transition – particularly helping us with new curriculum material for our teenagers. Greg has brought a wealth of knowledge, warmth, and spiritual guidance to our community.

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Summary of Key Events and Activities

• Defending Israeli Democracy Meeting with guest speakers, a Q&A, and a music performance.

• ‘ To treat or not to treat? ’ A session with Rabbi Miriam Berger, Robert Tobin, health care law solicitor, and Dr Mike Brunner, consultant in ICU and anaesthetist.

• Singing for Memory Fundraiser Tea

• Shabbat of Solidarity - Shabbat around the World of Hope and Solidarity with Israel

• Israeli Friends in Concert - a recital of beautiful Israeli music to raise money for the ongoing situation in Israel via the IMPJ & IRAC Emergency Campaign

• ‘ Comfort Among Community ’ session

• Community Self-Defence Awareness training

• Lunch and Learn Chavurah sessions with Janet Berenson

• ‘ Reform Judaism, this is your life: prayer books as the diary of the Jewish people ’: The fascinating story of how Jews invented prayer, how the prayer book innovated change, and where we are today. Rabbi Larry Hoffman

• Music in the Atrium , part of our Shabbat Shira weekend of music - featuring Horse to Water and friends

• The Together Plan annual supper quiz

• An evening with Yaakov Zada Daniel from Fauda - Israeli actor Yaakov Zada Daniel in conversation with journalist Shirit Gal Kedar - raising funds for Jewish Child’s Day and the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.

• A Balanced View on Assisted Dying - with guest speakers: Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain, Dame Joan Ruddock, and Rabbi Mark Goldsmith.

• ‘ The Torah Service – what’s it about? ’ With Rabbi Howard Cooper. A three-part explanatory deep dive into liturgy

• Point Me to the Mic: An Evening of Music and Entertainment with Deborah Berenson - a writer and performer (who grew up at FRS) whose work has been showcased in London, New York and Chicago.

• World Refugee Day Celebration , organised by our partner New Citizens' Gateway: a vibrant event honouring diversity, unity, and human resilience.

• 2024 General Election Hustings – for the Finchley and Golders Green constituency. A joint event with the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association and Finchley Progressive Synagogue. Hosted by Jack Kessler, Chief Leader Writer, Evening Standard.

• A Taste of Talmud with Rabbi Greg, using the original page layout & text.

• Tea in the Garden - a relaxed afternoon in the beautiful Finchley garden of Margaret and Gerald.

• The Biking Beit Midrash with Rabbi Greg and Rhiannon – cycling to the park to study and eat before cycling back.

Festivals

The Simcha in the Shul celebrations on Friday 6[th] Oct was an outstanding example of FRS at it’s best. There was a true carnival atmosphere, the building was buzzing and lively with many families and individuals attending the range of activities, the services, the food trucks throughout the afternoon and evening.

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In March Erev Purim was celebrated with a Pizza & Prosecco event; dinner and a spirited Spiel, with FRS as the butt of the joke!

FRS Community Seder 5784 - a musical, conversational Community Seder, to mark the 2nd night of Pesach together.

Yom HaShoah | Y’mei Hazikaron & Ha’atzma’ut

• Israel with all our Heart - A conversation with inspirational educator Jeremy Leigh to help us grapple with how this Y’mei Hazikaron & Ha’atzma’ut will be different from all others.

• Israel with all our Soul - Ruth Nieman, Author of The Galilean Kitchen gave a SOUL FOOD demonstration.

• Israel with all our Might - a range of active challenges to raise money in memory of Major Benji Trakeniski z”l.

Yom HaShoah Film Screening of award-winning Holocaust documentary: “Chaos Dragon and the Light” to mark Yom HaShoah followed by a Q&A with the film’s Director, Sal Anderson, and Producer, Tracey Gardiner.

Erev Shavuot + Tikkun Leil: Erev Shavuot service followed by a chavurah dinner and an evening of learning:

• Ritual and mental health - Rabbi Miriam Berger with Consultant Psychiatrist Mark Berelowitz and Consultant Clinical Psychologist Stuart Linke to explore the place that ritual can play in our mental health.

• Ritual and decision making - Reform Judaism is not "Judaism Lite". So how do we make decisions about our ritual practices as a synagogue?

• Ritual and storytelling - Our late-night session interspersed singing and music with stories of our tradition which explain and highlight how certain ritual practices have come into our lives.

Tisha B’Av For Our Times - Cantor Zӧe, Rabbi Greg and Rhiannon led a service to reflect on destruction and loss, through study, prayer and music, in a world that has changed since 7th Oct.

Chanukah – from cosy candle lightings in members' homes, to whole-community gatherings where we had the opportunity to celebrate together. Two highlights were 'Songs for Light and Hope' havdallah and our Chanukah 'Funukah' celebration. Rabbi Howard Cooper also led a session entitled 'Finding Light in the Darkness', an opportunity to take stock and reflect on the symbolism of light as we seek to discover what sources of illumination we have in our lives.

“Six Inches of Soil” film screening at FRS to mark Tu B’shevat with a screening of “Six Inches of Soil”, featuring a Q&A with the director, Colin Ramsay. Six Inches of Soil follows the inspiring story of British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, benefit our health and provide for local communities.

Ritual

Gateway

The Gateway programme is an access and conversion programme held every Tuesday evening. Our clergy team together with other speakers. teach participants about the Jewish life cycle, festivals, services, Hebrew reading from the siddur, and how to understand some of the prayers. Those who want to convert then attend a Rabbinic Court (Beit Din) with the support of an FRS Rabbi, once they are ready after the end of the course. We usually mark that milestone with an Affirmation of Faith within a Shabbat service.

Expertly taught by Hagit Tal, the Hebrew curriculum includes a custom Alef bet text with prayers and meanings.

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After many dedicated years leading the programme, Irene Kay has stepped down. FRS deeply appreciates Irene’s stewardship and support of Gateway participants, often accompanying them to the Beit Din with their sponsoring Rabbi.

Each year we have a new cohort of participants, many of whom go on to become hugely active and valued members of our community.

Wardens

Over the past year we have focused on rejuvenating the team of Wardens and training the new members. We now have a dedicated team who are regularly Wardening services. We are currently seeking a new Senior Warden to take over the responsibility of supporting the team and organising the rota.

New HHD Machzor

In early 2024, the Movement for Reform Judaism published the long awaited new High Holy Day Machzor. We suggested to our membership that they might like to donate the Machzorim to the synagogue in celebration of Miriam tenure as our principal Rabbi.

In total FRS has been able to build a supply of 250 of the new Machzorim. Although we had enough to use at some of our services, we need at 500 more before we will be able to use them for all of our High Holy Day services.

Youth & Education

The Youth and Education team provide a wide range educational and social programming to families with children under 18 years of age.

The overarching priority within the Youth and Education department remains the building of relationships. This underpins our other long term strategic themes of amplifying engagement and enhancing integration. Our commitment to developing overt inclusivity within both our programming and our support systems is integral to the realisation of our goals.

Year on year, we have seen an increase in the number of children in the community, a high percentage of children attending events (both ad hoc and regular), and an increase in the amount of programming on offer.

The numbers of children in our membership continues to grow, which does put some pressure on finding Shabbatot for Bnei Mitzvah, as well as space in the building at certain times.

Particular achievements this year include:-

• Increased participation of young people in key community moments

• In-depth review and revamp of Massuot programme, including hugely successful extended launch day off-site for year 5 in June; we are already seeing increased service attendance and general participation on the back of this, for the current year 6 cohort

• Consistently high numbers of participants at Sunday Fundays (20-40 each month)

• Enhanced engagement for social events, such as sleepovers

• Excellence in festival programming for pre-school and primary-school-aged children, attracting continually high numbers for the HHDs, and both Purim and Shavuot

• A strong committed parent body, who are willing to plan and execute social activities (with minimal youth team involvement) for various year groups, to enable further bonding between their children

• • Improving processes internally to find ways to manage increasing numbers of children

Our education programme is thriving with 44 more children and 9 additional active madrichimot compared to last year. Youth participation remains high at events, supported by a strong and stable Youth & Ed team.

Examples of Y&Ed provision include:

• Sunday Fundays continued to grow in popularity

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• 'Israel and Gaza in our social lives and on social media: a session for sixth formers and students' with Rabbi Deborah Blausten

• Multi Sports October Camp

• London teen outing for years 10-13 Puttshack mini golf followed by lunch at Borough Market

• Thinking Big About Your Future – FRS Youth Careers Fair for years 11-13

• Donut Sleepover for years 5 and 6

• Yom Kehilla Day with RSY-Netzer

• Multi-Sports Passover Camp in the Passover holidays with Galaxy Fitness

• Lag B'Omer Sleepover

• FRS Summer Scheme 5784 for children from Reception-Year 6

• Shavuot youth activities at FRS, including a giant indoor bouldering wall (suitable for all ages), an ice cream van, Shavuot baking, crafts and more.

Our team has expanded this year. Rhiannon Humphreys has joined the Y&Ed team as a permanent member of staff and continues the excellent work of coordinating Bnei Mitzvah duties previously overseen by Rabbi Deborah.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten enrolment is growing slightly, bucking the trend of other settings driven by the low UK birthrate. By summer 2024, there were 30 children, with a higher proportion of part-time attendees than usual. Several children need additional support, so the headteacher spends significant time acting as SENCO for the setting.

Attendance patterns have shifted over the past few years, with more two-year-olds attending afternoon sessions. Hot lunch uptake remains strong, averaging 12 meals daily, and most children stay for lunch, with few parents choosing packed lunches.

Recruitment remains difficult, with a national crisis in Early Years recruitment potentially worsened in Jewish settings due to the war.

To ensure more comprehensive year-round coverage, the Kindergarten has implemented regular Early Years camps during holidays, administered by Galaxy Fitness.

FRS and the wider community

Homeless Shelters

FRS hosted the Christmas and Winter Shelters to support the homeless in Barnet over the coldest months in collaboration with Homeless Action in Barnet. Tens of volunteers played a crucial role in supporting the Christmas shelter, whether through financial contributions, preparing meals, organising activities, or being on-site to assist our guests. The Christmas shelter looked after 16 guests and an amazing set of activities put on for the guests including Yoga, arts and crafts, a cinema trip. A special thank you goes to Suzi Philip for her dedication in running the Christmas Shelter in 2023, and to Alison Bacall and Leila Carter for running the Winter Shelter every Wednesday between January and February 2024.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD)

HMD Workshops for schools took place over a two-week period with over 1,000 young people attending. For over 20 years the FRS HMD team have delivered Holocaust education sessions for students in the London Borough of Barnet.

Over 250 local primary school children visited FRS across a number of visits to explain to them about Judaism and show them the Synagogue.

Eighth Rung

Our focus on social action, and seeing our place in the world as an obligation to help others, is core to FRS.

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Through our High Holy Day Appeal we support Eighth Rung, an FRS initiative that works on the principle of building a longer-term relationship with a charity to enable them to do something different with the money that we can raise for them. In 2023, the 8th Rung group launched a new three-year programme with two charities: New Citizens Gateway and Kisharon Langdon.

New Citizens Gateway (NCG) works with refugees and asylum seekers. It helps over 2,000 people a year in Barnet to integrate into British life, and supports their physical, social and mental wellbeing. FRS supports the provision of English language education, as well as a range of activities for asylum seekers and refugees - especially those accommodated in the OYO hotel in Finchley.

Kisharon Langdon (KL) provides education and support for over 450 people within the Jewish learning disability and autism community. FRS provides funding to support a specialist work and learning coach.

The Building and Infrastructure

Usage

The building has continued to be highly utilised by all sections of the community. It is clear that the new building allows us to do a huge range of activities in a way that was simply not possible in the old building. The space that the Atrium affords makes a real difference to creating a space for community to get together for Kiddush or event receptions. There have been several occasions where the Ohel has been full to the max for a number of Shabbat services and festivals.

Venue hire has continued to grow for both Simcha hire and charity events and we now have a comprehensive set of trusted partner suppliers who we work with for catering, cleaning and caretaking.

Costs

The building costs, including the mortgage, means that we have uplifted our overall running costs of the synagogue by almost £300,000 per year. This puts significant pressure on our budget and means that we will need to continue to raise funds especially to bring the mortgage costs down to a more affordable level.

AV / Tech

With increased use of the building, comes the challenge of the need for a lot more tech and audiovisual support. We have a very small team of volunteers who provide AV for Shabbat and some festival services. We are especially grateful to Laura Tobias who manages this for us and who commits a huge amount of her personal time and energy to enabling our services to be accessed remotely and providing in room sound and visuals.

AV for High Holy Days is delivered by our partner provider, Wildings, under our supervision.

Additional volunteers are still needed to support AV for both FRS purposes and venue hire.

Challenges

In July 2024, we completed our negotiations with M&H - our contractor for the new build - and reached agreement on the final cost of the building. Many of the open issues have been resolved however there are a few remaining difficult issues which still need to be attended to. M&H confirmed that their obligations under the contract will continue, especially relating to the leaks for example.

Key items to be dealt with now are the fence re-positioning and the car park gate – the amount we will gain from the settlement effectively pays for these with a small amount remaining to cover other items. The new building itself is more difficult and costly to maintain than our old building because it’s more sophisticated, and we need to find a way to set budget aside for replacement as well as maintenance.

We have a facilities management contract – although we are now relooking at that as it’s turning out a little expensive for us. It runs through until next October at which point we might bring it back in house.

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Many thanks to Alan Brill, who for the past two years has tirelessly investigated and documented our building related processes.

Supporting our Membership

Chesed

The role of Chesed is to offer support to members when they cannot manage themselves, from shopping, lifts to hospital appointments and prescription collection. Autism support, SFM, wellbeing and ADD are also covered in other parts of the FRS community.

Much of what the Chesed team is doing is filling in the gaps caused by the crisis in social care and the health service. In terms of the provision, Chesed has changed its leadership structure and has been debating whether it is suitable for our volunteers to pick up requests which in previous years would have been resolved by the health service or social care. We currently have a reduced number of active volunteers. Many of them are now elderly or have responsibilities towards their own families and parents.

In terms of membership needs, Chesed seems to have also taken a change in its path with fewer members coming forward asking for help, possibly not knowing the shul can help or not wanting to ask. We currently have only 10 active member files - but these are mostly recent, and they have been signposted to relevant charities. Some are intensive, for example, dog-visiting for one of our members in a care home, new members who were nervous to attend events – I met them in shul for services and helped the transition.

Members increasingly need support for their elderly parents and grandparents, especially those with dementia. Since we are not equipped or qualified to provide this assistance, we direct them to mobility, financial, wellbeing services, and befriending programs for those living alone.

Finally, it is worth noting that Café Culture has been a great success with “meet and make”, “Jews views on the news” and “weekly games” a much-valued addition to the activities available to support our members. In all cases members are so grateful for some help or just a friendly call now and again.

Singing for Memory

Singing for Memory at FRS began just over 5 years ago and has grown from strength to strength, so much so there is always a waiting list. We welcome up to 20 members each Monday morning in the Ohel. Not only do Singing for Memory sessions benefit those whilst attending the sessions by being part of a joyful communal and nonjudgmental activity it also reduces isolation. Family carers make connections with one another, and as volunteers we can signpost on to other activities and services that can be beneficial. The sessions are led by a professional who is skilled in therapeutic techniques.

Betty’s Bike

Betty’s Bike café is a major success. Open Mon-Thurs mornings and Friday afternoons during term time, it features Café Culture programs such as Meet & Make (arts and crafts), Jews’ Views of the News, Board Games, and the Babies and Toddlers Group. For many members, visiting Betty’s is the highlight of their week, helping some maintain cognitive abilities and others to socialise.

Through Betty’s Bike, the team makes approximately one referral per week to the clergy for pastoral care. They serve as a key triage point, identifying individuals who require support from FRS.

Betty’s Bike is run by volunteers and profits are donated back to the shul. We are truly grateful to Suzi Philip and Lucy Weiner for their dedicate, talent and enthusiasm for Betty’s Bike. They have created a unique space at FRS, which is now integral to the welcome people get when they come into the building – as well as of course amazing coffee and cakes. We are really proud of Betty’s Bike which has become so important and central to FRS.

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New groups and initiatives

A number of new initiatives were established this year:

• Security Training led by the Community Security Trust (CST)

• Let‘s speak Hebrew! FRS partnered with Leo Baeck College to provide stimulating and enjoyable Ivrit classes.

• ‘FRS in the Media’ page on the website https://www.frs.org.uk/media coverage.html showing the breadth of coverage FRS has received in both the Jewish and non-Jewish press.

• New Connexions aims to bring community members together outside of synagogue events, offering opportunities to visit museums or attend the theatre, through a self-running system.

Security

In October 2023, Avi Marco became the Security Officer for FRS (a voluntary role). His contribution over the past year has been exceptional, and we are very grateful for his leadership.

Since October 7th, we've improved both physical and human security measures. Despite progress, challenges remain, including finding regular, trained security volunteers for Shabbat services, festivals, and major events.

FRS experienced low-level antisemitic incidents in the past year. However, it has not faced the more severe incidents and attacks that are becoming more common in the local area and against Jewish organisations.

The new Shul building was designed with security in mind, in consultation with CST. The previous SO, Carolyn Spinks, developed a comprehensive set of protocols and procedures, which, along with the efforts of the professional and security Team Lead teams, enhanced the quality of FRS security.

Our professional security team knows the community well and is dedicated to providing good security. Over the past year, we added 5 new CST-trained Team Leads. Our small team of committed volunteer security leads is experienced, especially in Shabbat operations. Kochavim security has improved under the leadership of Jim Harrison, our Deputy Security Officer.

Over the past year, we have upgraded our on-site security equipment, including medical tools for treating severe wounds, as well as additional stab vests and waterproof jackets.

We have conducted extensive on-the-job training and organised several training sessions both online and in person. There is a strong awareness of security within the professional team, protocols are being followed, and risk assessments are systematically performed.

Chair’s Thanks

There are many diverse groups of people who contribute to making FRS what it is. Our Clergy team, Youth & Education team, and Professional team all bring an exceptional amount of talent, commitment, and innovation to FRS. Their passion for our mission and their dedication to supporting our members are crucial in fostering such a thriving community. In a year marked by significant change, we are deeply grateful for their hard work, resilience, and positivity. Delivering the extensive range of activities we do is no small feat, and this is in addition to the compassionate pastoral care and individual interactions with our members and families that occur ‘behind the scenes’.

We are immensely thankful to the countless members who generously give their time and energy in so many wonderful ways. Of particular significance this year are those members who have assisted with security on Shabbat and during the High Holy Days, alongside service and site stewards. Giving up their time to keep us safe on cold, rainy days truly exemplifies the concept of caring for our community. I would also like to mention our volunteer receptionists, welcomers and kiddush volunteers, who ensure that everyone is welcomed and cared for when they enter our building. Of course, there are many other situations where members assist us, and although I can't mention each individual, we recognise and are very grateful for your valuable contributions.

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I would also like to thank my fellow trustees, who bring rigour, discipline, and challenge to ensure that we properly meet our regulatory obligations, and that the synagogue is well managed.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2024 is set out on page 23 of the accounts and shows a net operating deficit from operations of £23,292 an improvement of £11,859 vs. prior year deficit (2023: £35,151). This was also an improvement vs. our 2023/2024 budgeted deficit, which was a planned deficit of £31,154. To avoid our general reserves reducing below our target range, it was agreed to transfer £48,000 from the Designated Loan Interest Fund, bringing our general reserves to £89,347.

Total Unrestricted Income increased by 11% to £1,658,633 (2023: £1,490,965). This is primarily driven by increases in:

• Membership donations principally from the annual subscription increases as well as a moderate membership numbers increase through the year.

• Kindergarten fees from additional enrolment of pupils vs. prior year.

• Betty’s Bike income, as well as creating a valuable social space is also contributing valuable income for FRS.

Total Unrestricted Expenses increased by 10% to £1,681,925 (2003: £1,526,116). This is primarily driven by increases in:

• Office staff expenses due to annual inflationary increases and additional headcount.

• Kindergarten staff expenses to support additional children as well as cost pressures experienced across the Early Years sector.

• Repairs and maintenance of the building.

• Security expenses following the aftermath of October 7, this was offset by successful fundraising within the community.

• Interest expense on the building loan, following changes to the Bank of England base rate throughout both 2023 and 2024.

• Joint Jewish Burial Society fees following the recommencement of fees following the contribution holiday.

At the year end, the Designated Loan Interest Fund stood at £112,000, after transferring out £48,000 to our general reserve.

Our Designated Fixed Asset Fund is intended to maintain the same value as our fixed assets, less the value of the building loan – during the year we capitalised a further £12,812 of fixed asset additions and recorded depreciation of £92,453.

The balance of other restricted funds increased by £103,074 during the year to £229,135, primarily from donations received for the Building Fund and our 2023 High Holy Day Appeal. Movements on these funds are shown in note 10 to the accounts.

For 2024/25, Council has adopted a revised budget showing a deficit of £29,005, which will be wholly offset by making an equivalent transfer out of our designated Loan Interest Fund.

INVESTMENT POLICY

There are no restrictions on the Synagogue's powers to invest. The Trustees operate a low-risk strategy with respect to investments, limited to time deposits with major banks, which necessarily results in modest levels of interest income. The unrestricted and restricted funds may be invested in any type of investment.

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RESERVES POLICY

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

As disclosed in note 13, the unrestricted general funds are £89,347, an increase of £11,896 from £77,451 in the previous year, reflecting the deficit of £23,292, a transfer of £12,812 to the Designated Fixed Asset Fund regarding fixed asset additions and a transfer of £48,000 from the Designated Loan Interest Fund. Council believes that the current level of general reserves is sufficient at this time, however we believe that a more desirable level of free reserves is £140,000, representing approximately one month’s operating costs, and we will continue to seek ways to achieve this target in the medium term.

It is also our policy to hold a designated fixed asset reserve to equal the net book value of tangible fixed assets, and thus to provide for future depreciation. The balance on this reserve has been set at an amount equal to the net book value of fixed assets, after deducting the amount financed through the loan and the amount which relates to our freehold land (which is not depreciated).

Following the completion of the new Synagogue building, and the related fundraising campaign, we created a designated Loan Interest Fund, in order to reserve funds to assist with servicing future loan interest payments. Movements on designated funds are shown in note 13 of the accounts.

This year we created a Designated Building Maintenance Fund with the residual money following the settlement with the contractor for the new building. This is to be provisioned for significant maintenance work for the building in the future.

The restricted funds are funds donated to the Synagogue for expenditure of a specific purpose or nature and are described in detail in note 10 of the accounts. Sufficient funds are held in an appropriate form to enable the funds to be applied for the purpose for which they were established. Having completed the construction of the new synagogue, the previous restricted Building Fund is no longer required.

GRANT MAKING POLICY

The Synagogue pursues its charitable giving through a number of programmes but mainly through the High Holy Day Appeal and the Charity Committee, which disburses the net income generated by a number of fund-raising activities during the year. With the exception of minor disbursements in the case of need, our policy is to make grants only out of donations received and only to registered charities, whether in the UK or overseas.

After three years of focusing our High Holy Day Appeal on raising funds for the Eighth Rung Project, the Synagogue has returned to its traditional strategy of supporting a small number of charities over a three-year period, allowing FRS to build up a better understanding of each charity’s needs than would otherwise be the case when one-off donations are made. A significant balance of £83,004 remains available for use by the Eighth Rung team to cover future project work.

Additionally, the Synagogue continues to support other charities and individuals with smaller donations managed by a dedicated group of members, who consider applications and make awards based on the level of need, and the alignment with the Synagogue’s values.

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Monitoring of the grants, once made, is proportionate to their size – for larger grants we require periodic progress reports against agreed objectives, while for smaller grants, especially those addressing urgent needs, we do not typically require detailed follow-up reports.

Details of all grants made during the year are shown in note 16 of the accounts.

FUNDRAISING POLICY

The charity is committed to best practice, as outlined by the Fundraising Regulator, in its approach to fundraising and closely monitors its activities in this area, ensuring that vulnerable members are protected. No professional fundraisers are used to approach members or other individuals for donations.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The directors 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.

The principal risks identified in our risk register include:

	Risk		Mitigation
	Financial: The risk of failing to retain sufficient reserves to maintain our financial sustainability, especially as we begin to service the loan relating to the Synagogue rebuilding project.		A 3-year plan has been created and delivered and approved by Council as part of the 24/25 Budget. The plan for FRS is to reduce deficits and generate surpluses from 25/26. Separately a working group has been established to develop a medium- and long-term financial strategyfor FRS.
	Financial: the risk of being unable to fully service the interest on our building loan.		A loan interest reserve exists as well as a successful building fund raise in advance of the first capital loan repayment in 2025.
	Financial: the risk of a reduction in subscription income either through lower membership numbers and / or due to a higher proportion of members paying reduced fees.		Regular tracking of membership data to identify early signs of a new downward trend. Strategic planning to ensure that the Synagogue continues to offer what our community needs and values. Annual review of reduced membership subscriptions to move people back to full membership if their circumstances can support this.

POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

Other than described above, there are no post balance sheet events to disclose.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE ACCOUNTS

The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The law applicable in England & Wales requires the Board of Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards, which give a true and fair view of the company’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the financial year. In preparing those financial statements to give a true and fair view, the Board of Directors should follow best practice and:

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• 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 accounts; and

• Prepare the accounts on a going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate.

The Directors are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the company. These should enable them to ascertain the financial position of the company and to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of applicable law and regulations. The Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

As far as the Directors are aware, at the time this report is approved, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware and the Directors have taken all steps that they ought reasonably to have taken as directors, in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

The directors report, including the strategic report were approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:

Jenny Nuni, Chair

10 February 2025

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Finchley Reform Synagogue (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 August 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Cash Flows, and the related notes, including a summary of 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:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 August 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

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 Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ 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 charitable company’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 Directors 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 Auditors' Report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information contained

within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and,

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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.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• the information given in the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

• the Directors' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors' 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

• certain disclosures of Directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

• • the Directors 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 Directors' Report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Directors' Responsibilities Statement, the Directors (who are also the trustees of the charitable company) 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 Directors 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 Directors are responsible for assessing the charitable company'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 Directors either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 Auditors' Report

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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.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the charitable company and the industry in which it operates and considered the risk of acts by the charitable company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

We focused on laws and regulations which could give rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements. Our tests included agreeing the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and enquiries with management. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. We did not identify any key audit matters relating to irregularities, including fraud. As in all our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.

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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, and to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 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 Auditors' 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 its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Andrew Thomas (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of

Nyman Libson Paul LLP

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors 124 Finchley Road London NW3 5JS

Date: 10/03/2025

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The notes on pages 26 to 35 form part of these financial statements

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors (The Synagogue Council) on 10 February 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

……………………………………………………..

Jenny Nuni – Chair

The notes on pages 26 to 35 form part of these financial statements

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

General information

Finchley Reform Synagogue is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England. The address of the registered office and its place of business is: 101 Fallow Court Avenue, London N12 0BE.

1.1 Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (second edition effective 1 January 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Finchley Reform Synagogue meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

1.2 Preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis

The directors have reviewed the circumstances of the charity, taking account of the ongoing cost of living challenges faced by many of our members, as well as our commitments to the Charity Bank relating to the outstanding building loan, both in terms of the increased interest cost and the need to begin making repayments of capital. Our cash resources remain adequate to be available both to fund the activities of the charity and to service the interest cost of the debt incurred for the foreseeable future, based on our 3-year financial plan. Accordingly the directors are confident of the charity's ability to continue as a going concern and the accounts have been prepared on this basis.

1.3 Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Membership donations are included in the financial year to which they relate. Donation pledges in respect of the building project are recognised as income when the relevant conditions are met and in advance of receipt.

Kindergarten fees are recognised in the term to which they relate.

Gift Aid claimable in relation to qualifying donations received is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacy income is recognised on written confirmation from executors that the amounts are receivable.

Other income, including rental of the Synagogue Hall, is accounted for on an accruals basis.

1.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. The charity is not registered for VAT and accordingly

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expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be recovered and is included in the relevant costs in the statement of financial activities. Direct synagogue expenditure comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, the costs of trading for fundraising purposes and those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Certain costs, primarily the cost of the rabbinic team, are allocated on the basis of an estimate of the time spent on each activity.

Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. These costs are allocated to the various activities based on the number of staff employed in each area.

Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

1.5 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are those that can be applied at the discretion of the Trustees for any of the charitable purposes permitted by the Constitution.

Unrestricted funds include the designated fixed assets fund, and the designated loan interest fund as described in the Trustees' Report and shown in note 15.

Restricted funds represent donations or income for which the respective donors have imposed restrictions as to their use.

1.6 Pensions

The Synagogue operates a defined contribution pension scheme and also contributes to the personal pension schemes of certain employees. The pension charge in the financial statements represents the total contributions payable in respect of both types of scheme made by the Synagogue in respect of the period.

1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives taking into account residual values where appropriate. The actual lives of the assets and residual values are assessed annually and may vary depending upon a number of factors. In re-assessing the assets' lives, factors such as technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programs are taken into account.

Fixed assets are included at cost less accumulated depreciation. Individual capital additions below £1,500 are written off in the year.

The following principal annual rates of depreciation are employed:

Depreciation charged against

Freehold land - None Freehold buildings - 1% on cost See note below

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Computer and audiovisual equipment - 25% on cost Designated Fund - Fixed Assets Furniture, fittings and other equipment - 10% on cost Designated Fund - Fixed Assets

As at 31 August 2022 the building under construction expenditure of £5,378,200 was transferred into freehold building, equipment and fixtures and fittings costs as appropriate. The new building was effectively brought into use at that date.

1.8 Taxation

The Synagogue is registered as a charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income or corporation tax on its income from charitable activities as they are applied wholly to charitable objectives.

1.9 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

1.10 Loan costs and interest

Loan issue costs (including associated legal costs) have been capitalised within the freehold building costs. The cost of interest incurred between the first loan drawdown and the end of the construction project have also been capitalised.

1.11 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

1.12 Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

1.13 Financial Instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

1.14 Judgments in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the reporting date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. However, the nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates.

1.15 Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty

There are currently no critical judgements that will have a material impact in the following financial years.

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUENOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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FINCHLEY REFORM SYNAGOGUE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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