Charity No: 1148088
Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 for Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation Company Number 08091243
BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL INFORMATION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
HON. LIFE PRESIDENT: Mr. L. Firth PRESIDENT: Miss. R. Tax VICE PRESIDENT: Miss. S. Tax IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Miss. S. Tax TREASURER: Mr. A. Cantor CUSTODIAL TRUSTEES: Mr. A. Cantor Mrs. E. Tax Mr. M. Block
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Mrs. G. Cantor Mrs. A. Mannino Mr. D. Whippman Mr. M. Tax Mr. J Hardman
ADDRESS: The Synagogue 40 Raikes Parade Blackpool FY1 4EX BANKERS: H.S.B.C. Oxford Square 1 Newhouse Road Blackpool AUDITORS: David Williamson Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Unit 12B Darwin Court Hawking Place Blackpool FY2 0JN HON. SOLICITOR: Martin D Block Homestead 21 Blackburn Road Rishton Lancashire BB1 4EU
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REPORT OF THE AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF
BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
We have audited the attached Financial Statements in accordance with Auditing Standards.
In our opinion the Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Congregation's affairs at 31[st] December 2024.
Unit 12B Darwin Court Hawking Place BLACKPOOL FY2 0JN
David Williamson Limited CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS
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Trustees' Report for the year ending 31 December 2024
This is the report on the activities of the Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation (BRJC) in 2024 by the Trustees of this Congregation, who are the members of its Council, which includes its Executive Officers and Custodial Trustees. The Trustees have complied with the duty under the Charities Acts to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission, which is illustrated in this report.
Members of the Congregation come primarily from the local area of Blackpool and the Fylde and to an extent from other parts of Lancashire but there is no geographical restriction on membership and members can reside elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
All members of Council, including the Executive, who were elected at the 2023 Annual General Meeting were re-elected at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. During 2024, we were very pleased to welcome a new member to BRJC, namely Stephen Jacobs.
The Congregation continues to be most appreciative of the lay readers from its membership, who continue to take by far the major number of services, including special Festival services and funerals. In addition to in-person services in BRJC's Synagogue, regular services have been held using Zoom. These are also open to non-members both Jewish and non-Jewish, who may wish to attend. Attendance in person or on Zoom depending on availability is encouraged. Rabbi Barrett continues to take a number of such services. Also, she is available to carry out a variety of teaching to the Congregation and to non-members.
BRJC arranges joint services with other congregations and encouraged its congregants to participate in these events. BRJC arranges funerals for its members and for non-members who are Jewish. Sadly, during 2024, BRJC undertook one burial, that of a non-member.
BRJC hosts parties of school children from local schools and scout groups to learn about the Jewish religion and its traditions, as have visits to schools by members of the Congregation to talk about various aspects of Judaism. BRJC has also hosted a local youth theatre group, who have previously performed for us and the wider community, performing The Diary of Anne Frank, for their annual showcase.
The Congregation continues to contribute to cross communal activities. It is a member of the Blackpool Faith Forum, which hosts some of its meetings in its Synagogue. This Forum, which has representatives from all the major faiths, shares views on matters such as youth and adult education and security and emergency assistance. The Congregation is also a contributor to both local (Blackpool) and National Heritage.
BRJC encourages members to be charitable towards it and other charitable causes and has an annual appeal for selected local, national and international causes. Members of the Congregation give pastoral support to other members.
The Congregation aims to keep its membership contributions as low as possible. Such contributions are generally payable in advance; where this presents difficulties for a member, it will allow payment monthly without penalty and, where that too presents problems, it will allow a significantly reduced contribution.
The Congregation's policy on financial reserves is to aim to put aside sufficient funds to cover (a) Burial Assistance Scheme liabilities, (b) The proportion for the balance of the subscription year of fees payable in advance, (c) Liabilities in general, (d) The coming 12 months' likely expenditure and (e) Any funds which can only be used for specific purposes.
January 2025
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Congregation has adopted the following Accounting Policies which should be read in conjunction with the attached Accounts and which have been prepared under the Historical Cost Convention.
INCOME
Income represents the monies receivable in the year from Subscriptions, Donations, Rental Income, Fees, Interest and Fund Raising activities of the Congregation.
FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION
Fixed Assets are stated at Cost or Valuation, less Depreciation.
Depreciation is calculated to write off Fixed Assets over their estimated useful lives at the following annual rates:
Freehold Land and Buildings Nil Chairs 5% of written down value Holy Scrolls and Silverware Nil Fixture and Fittings 10% of written down value
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31st December 2024
| INCOME | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| 6927 | Subscriptions | 8469 | |
| 663 | General Donations | 439 | |
| 84 | Board of Deputies of British Jews | 95 | |
| 1100 | Yom Kippur Appeal | 815 | |
| 1505 | Memorial Donations | 540 | |
| 1852 | Interest Received | 2250 | |
| 226 | MRJ | 196 | |
| 99 | Leo Baeck College | 101 | |
| 38 | Sale of Prayer Books, Judaica etc. | 1290 | |
| 251 | Migdal Advertising | 203 | |
| 1561 | Income Tax Reclaimable | 1692 | |
| 5408 | Maisonette Rent | 6593 | |
| 874 | Maisonette Electric & Water | 807 | |
| 410 | Classes and Conferences | - | |
| 370 | Passover 2023 | - | |
| 240 | Celeb Tea | - | |
| - | Passover 2024 | 100 | |
| - | Building Fund | 1040 | |
| 21608 | 24630 |
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
st 31 December 2024
EXPENDITURE
| 2023 | NOTE | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| 3334 | Fees and Expenses of Teachers and visiting Ministers | 2436 | ||
| 650 | Charitable Donations including Kol Nidre Donations | 510 | ||
| 40 | Purchase of Prayer Books, Judaica etc. | 1702 | ||
| 84 | Board of Deputies of British Jews | -84 | ||
| 300 | MRJ | - | ||
| 99 | Leo Baeck College | -99 | ||
| 1426 | Water | 2209 | ||
| 7425 | Light & Heating | 3337 | ||
| 2052 | Insurance | 2291 | ||
| 110 | Telephone | 113 | ||
| 478 | Caretaking & Cleaning Costs | 27 | ||
| 690 | Accountancy Charges | 696 | ||
| 1143 | Printing, Postage and Office Supplies | 545 | ||
| 108 | Sundry including Migdal Expenses | 117 | ||
| 7558 | Repairs & Renewals | 1 | 20047 | |
| 95 | Depreciation | 91 | ||
| 1043 | Maisonette Expenses | 1784 | ||
| 71 | Bank Charges | 70 | ||
| 1146 | Classes and Conferences | - | ||
| 153 | Passover 2023 | - | ||
| 184 | Celeb Tea | - | ||
| Passover 2024 | 115 | |||
| 28189 | 35907 |
| SUMMARY | ||
|---|---|---|
| 21608 | Total Income | 24630 |
| 28189 | Total Expenditure | 35907 |
| -6581 | DEFICIT OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE | -11277 |
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
SUBSIDIARY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
st 31 DECEMBER 2024
| BURIAL ACCOUNT 2023 £ £ 14450 Subscriptions, Initial Fees & Contributions 8325 LESS: Burial Expenses 6125 SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR |
2024 |
|---|---|
| 7848 4998 |
|
| 2850 |
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
2023
2024
£
st BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
£
| 70941 70941 5685 5685 - 3709 1898 1811 10000 300 83052 |
FIXED ASSETS Synagogue, Raikes Parade, Blackpool 70941 Additions for the Year 70941 Furniture and Fittings at Cost 5685 LESS: Depreciation to date 5685 - Chairs 3709 LESS: Depreciation to date 1989 1720 Three Holy Scrolls (two donated) 10000 as valued by the Trustees Two megillot and silverware (donated) 300 as valued by the Trustees 82961 |
|---|---|
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BLACKPOOL REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
CURRENT ASSETS
| 2023 £ 68 44574 16935 200 2202 318 147349 1751 145598 Represented by: 2023 £ 114554 -6581 - 6125 |
Cash in Hand COIF H.S.B.C Stock Debtors Prepayments LESS: Sundry Creditors General Reserve Account Balance Brought Forward Surplus/Deficit for the year Revaluation of Holy Scrolls Transfer from Burial Account Burial Account Balance Brought Forward ADD: Surplus for the year LESS: Transfer to General Reserve PRESIDENT |
NOTE 2024 £ 68 31824 17482 200 2 10844 3 352 143731 4 6560 137171 2024 £ 114098 -11277 - 2850 105671 31500 2850 34350 2850 31500 137171 |
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114098 31500 6125 37625 6125 31500 145598 |
TREASURER
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NOTES
| 1 Repairs & Renewals consist of: Alarm maintenance Service extinguishers Building works Misc repairs 2 Debtors Funeral Subscriptions Gift Aid Tax Reclaimable Subscriptions 3 Prepayments Rakefet 1 year 4 Sundry Creditors These were as follows: Funeral Expenses Subscriptions in advance Accountancy Kol Nidre Donations |
£ 161 183 19690 13 |
|---|---|
| 20047 6219 2494 2131 |
|
| 10844 352 4770 494 696 600 |
|
| 6560 |
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