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2021-12-31-accounts

The West London Synagogue of British Jews

Annual Report and Financial Statements

31 December 2021

Company Limited by Guarantee Registration Number 08578248 (England and Wales) Charity Registration Number 1155821

Contents

Reports
Reference and administrative details 1
Report of the trustees 2
Independent auditor’s report 11
Financial statements
Statement of financial activities 16
Balance sheet 17
Statement of cash flows 18
Principal accounting policies 19
Notes to the financial statements 24

The West London Synagogue of British Jews

Reference and administrative details

Trustee management board Andrew Stone (Chairman)
David Marks (Honorary Treasurer)
Bradley Altberger
Liliane Chan (resigned 30 September 2021)
David Chapman (resigned 22 June 2021)
Timothy Angel CBE
Joan Arnold
Tamara Barnett
Alison Edelshain
Vivien Feather (appointed 23 March 2021;
resigned 30 September 2021)
David Gasperow
Joseph Lennard (appointed 22 June 2021)
Lady Hannah Lowy-Mitchell
Remy Maisel (appointed 22 June 2021)
Julian Markson (appointed 11 May 2021)
Sylvia Mingay
Wendy Pollecoff (appointed 1 January 2021)
Steven Rowe (resigned 17 March 2021)
Richard Slowe
Isabelle Tarsh
Margaret Thurer
Peter Vogl
Executive Director Stewart Sether
Registered office 33 Seymour Place
London
W1H 5AU
Company registration number 08578248 (England and Wales)
Charity registration number 1155821
Auditor Buzzacott LLP
130 Wood Street
London
EC2V 6DL
Principal bankers Barclays Bank PLC
99 Hatton Garden
London
EC1N 8DN

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 1

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2021.

This annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

Objectives and activities

Public benefit

In formulating the charity’s aims and in planning the work of the members of the Community, the trustees have had regard to the general guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Strategies for achieving objectives

The objectives and activities of the Synagogue are:

In February 2020, we decided to suspend our membership of Movement for Reform Judaism. We have maintained a dialogue with the Movement and will communicate further with our congregants in due course. For the avoidance of doubt, this decision does not affect our adherence to the principles and rituals of reform Judaism.

The Synagogue sets out to stimulate the development of a thriving, welcoming Jewish community, which provides formal and informal opportunities for spiritual, religious, and communal expression built on life-long learning through all cycles of members’ lives. We aim to put the Synagogue at the heart of London Jewish life and to provide thoughtful leadership to the wider Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 2

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Objectives and activities (continued)

Strategies for achieving objectives (continued)

The Synagogue has a subscription paying membership, which sustains part of the Synagogue’s activities. The subscription income is supplemented by income derived from a funeral expenses scheme and conducting of non-member funerals together with the sale of grave plots. The Synagogue also generates income from property, the letting of room space and significant donations from members and charitable foundations. Synagogue members are encouraged to make voluntary contributions to the Board of Deputies of British Jews which are collected and paid over to the Board of Deputies. The Synagogue also acts as a resource for the wider community and continues to develop activities in the areas of education and outreach with both adults and young people.

The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the Synagogue’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. Substantial public benefit arises from the activities of The West London Synagogue. There is a strong emphasis on education and the provision of support for the elderly and infirm. Burial and cremation services are provided to the wider Jewish community. The Synagogue also works for intra community and interfaith harmony, especially with the two other Abrahamic faiths, Christianity, and Islam. The Synagogue maintains a grade 2 listed building, which it makes available to the whole Community.

Strategic report

Achievements and performance

Main achievements of the Company

During 2021, we continued to operate under difficult pandemic circumstances, attempting as best we could to adapt as the impact varied. Our aim was to retain community engagement whilst recognising that things were unlikely ever to revert to how they were, pre-pandemic. Our wonderful groups of volunteers, dedicated staff, and hard-working Board all faced new challenges to which to respond. We had a refreshed fund-raising campaign, which was rewarded by amazing generosity from many congregants, and which will provide a base for the future.

Fundraising activities and income generation

We hold an annual High Holy Day appeal which raised £110,000 in 2021 (2020 – £137,000). We continue to receive donations towards the cost of restoring the fabric of our beautiful Sanctuary. Our new and refreshed Patrons’ programme was launched with very satisfactory results on which we will build for the future. We will be launching our President’s Circle, a new initiative, in 2022. We also received various grants from external trusts and foundations, mainly for our Social Care and Social Action activities.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 3

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Strategic report (continued)

Achievements and performance (continued)

Fundraising activities and income generation (continued)

As a charity, the WLS aims to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with supporters. It takes care with both the tone of its communications and the accuracy of its data. The synagogue adheres to the Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice. It applies best practice to protect supporters’ data: it never sells data or swaps data with other organisations and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. WLS manages its own fundraising with administrative support by the staff team. It does not currently employ professional fundraisers. The WLS undertakes to react to and investigate any complaints regarding its fundraising activities and to learn from them and improve its service. During 2021, the charity received no complaints about its fundraising activities.

Rabbinic and Board Members

Rabbi Emily Reitsma-Jurman joined us in January 2021.

Stephen Moss was awarded the title of Honorary Life President in recognition of his wonderful service to the Synagogue over many years and Vivian Feather, Monica Jankel and Julia Markson were made Honorary Vice-Presidents in acknowledgement of their unstinting service to the Community.

We welcomed the following new Board members: Wendy Pollecoff, Joe Lennard, Remy Maisel and Julia Markson in 2021. The following Board members left the Board at the end of their terms of appointment, Liliane Chan, David Chapman and Vivian Feather. Bradley Altberger and Alison Edelshain were appointed as joint Deputy Chairmen in May 2021.

In December 2021, David Marks was reappointed as Honorary Treasurer of the Synagogue for a third (and final) term of three years.

Alison Mugunthan joined the Synagogue as Director of Finance and Operations during the year.

Financial review

Going concern

The Trustees have continued to consider the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak that has been spreading throughout the world since early 2020 on the Charity’s activities. Like many other charities, the outbreak has caused disruption to the Charity’s activities including the closure of the Synagogue building, as required by Government guidelines and an adaptation to virtual services, staff working from home, and small number of staff being furloughed, changes to funeral arrangements and postponement of life cycle events. The Trustees understand that these issues could have a detrimental effect on the finances of the Charity but, with the support of many generous donors, are satisfied that the Synagogue has managed and will continue to manage its resources carefully to mitigate the risk, particularly in the light of the removal of Government restrictions.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 4

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Financial review (continued)

Reserves policy and financial position

The Synagogue does not have any free reserves, as defined by the Charity Commission, as the reserves are tied up in the Synagogue buildings. This is not a critical issue because of the regularly paid subscription income but it is something that the Trustees will need to address if subscription income continues to decline in real terms. It is the aim of the Trustees to put the Synagogue in a position of being able to build up reserves for the future and various ways of doing so continue to be explored. This has included the establishment of a separate charity, The West London Synagogue Endowment Fund Trust which will shortly be embarking on a legacy campaign with the hope and intention of attracting legacies and other major gifts which can be invested and managed by independent trustees who will provide the Synagogue with a regular source of funding in the future.

The total funds held by the Charity at 31 December 2021 were £6,777,000 (2020: £6,408,000) of which £1,045,000 (2020: £1,115,000) represented restricted funds.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees acknowledge the management of risks faced by the Synagogue as a prime responsibility. Detailed consideration of risk is delegated to the Executive Director who maintains a risk management register.

These risks include legislative and regulatory requirements as well as third party, governance, management, financial and operational risks. We also face the continuing risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential impact on our financial position.

The principal financial risk facing the charity is maintaining income from its congregation at a sufficient level to carry out all the activities and services it wishes to offer and which we believe its Congregation wants. In line with other synagogues, this is an increasing challenge and we have adopted a strategy of seeking alternative sources of income, in addition to encouraging philanthropy from congregants, and approaching external funds and trusts, by securing revenues from our premises by leasing space and providing room hire opportunities It is also our policy to ensure that anyone who wishes to be part of a synagogue community but cannot afford to pay based on our membership fees scales is able to contribute what they can afford. If it appears that our revenue cannot cover our costs, the Trustees are prepared to reduce the services we offer to ensure that we continue our remaining activities whilst remaining solvent.

Review

For 2021, the Synagogue has not produced consolidated financial statements as its wholly owned subsidiary, WLS Seymour Place Ltd did not undertake any activity during the year and, after amounts due to the Charity have been provided against, has no material assets or liabilities.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 5

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Financial review (continued)

Review (continued)

We were able to maintain our financial performance this year by reducing our operating costs whilst the building was not fully occupied and claiming a contribution from the Government under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as we are able to furlough a few of our staff for limited periods of time. We refer in our financial statements to Restricted and Unrestricted Funds. Restricted Funds represent funds raised for a specific activity and can only be used to fund that activity. Examples are funds raised to support social action, interfaith, social care, and LGBT activities and without the generosity of our donors, these activities would have to be curtailed.

Our Unrestricted Funds represent income generated from membership fees, funeral income and commercial income, such as letting space to Halcyon International School, general donations from members and limited event income. It is used to fund the expenses such as the day-to-day operations of the Synagogue including staff salaries, building overheads etc.

In 2021, the Unrestricted Funds generated a surplus of £439,000 (2020 – £112,000). Restricted Funds incurred a deficit of £70,000 for the year (2020 – surplus of £153,000).

The deficit in restricted funds was due to two main factors. The first was the lower amount raised in our High Holy Day appeal in 2021 than forecast. This may have been due to our success in fundraising for general projects in the months leading up to that time. The second reason is that one generous family regularly make a significant annual donation to fund some of our restricted activities and the donation we had hoped for in 2021 was delayed to the early part of 2022. Accounting principles require that a charity recognises restricted income at the time it is received but only recognised an expense when an unconditional commitment to incur it is made. Accordingly, because we invariably raise funds for restricted activities before we undertake those activities timing differences result in surpluses in an earlier year and deficits when we spend the funds in a later period. This results in swings between surpluses and deficits on restricted income and expenditure from year to year. We have placed an emphasis on generating a surplus on unrestricted funds to eliminate our indebtedness so that we can contemplate building up free reserves. In aggregate, the Synagogue generated a surplus in 2021 of £369,000 (2020 – £265,000).

We continue to repay longer term debts and within five years would hope to be largely free of such indebtedness, other than the remaining part of the twenty-year bank loan taken out to fund the replacement of the Synagogue boilers.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 6

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Financial review (continued)

Review (continued)

We present the statement of activities (charity only) for the last five years:

----- Start of picture text -----
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income
Membership 1,240 1,201 1,339 1,329 1,273
Funeral 584 581 796 585 794
Voluntary-general 253 258 398 220 128
Voluntary-restricted 378 823 611 901 572
Other 604 540 590 586 626
3,059 3,403 3,734 3,621 3,393
Expenditure
Salaries 1,155 1,271 1,377 1,356 1,270
Choir 80 79 100 100 100
Funeral 299 309 309 340 375
Other 708 809 941 771 871
Restricted funds 448 670 625 860 682
2,690 3,138 3,352 3,427 3,298
Operating income 369 265 382 194 95
Non-recurring items — — (358) — —
Net income 369 265 24 194 95
----- End of picture text -----

This table illustrates the that our membership income does not generally cover our staff costs and we are reliant on funeral income, commercial income from letting part of our premises and philanthropy to allow us to provide the range of activities that our Community desires. There has been an increasing trend over recent years for philanthropy to be directed to specific projects and we are in real need of members to consider supporting the operations of the Synagogue on an unrestricted basis if we are to maintain our level of activities. We have sought to transfer 10% of each restricted donation, with donor consent, to cover our infrastructure and support costs on the basis that we could not undertake those restricted activities if the fabric of the Synagogue organisation and administration is not properly funded.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 7

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Governance, structure and management

Constitution

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee. Its governing documents are its Memorandum and Articles of Association together with detailed Rules. The Charity is run by its Directors who are also the Trustees of the Charity. The Trustees are elected by the congregation of the Synagogue.

We maintain trustees’ indemnity insurance and will continue to do so.

Methods of appointment or election of Trustees

The management of the Company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected from and by the congregation of the Synagogue. Appointment as a Trustee is normally for a three-year term, with the possibility of a second and third term, up to a maximum of three terms. In addition, the Chairman can recommend to the Board the appointment of Vice Chairs, to assist in certain specified areas, who sit on the Board during their period of appointment. We provide training for new Board members and maintain adequate procedures so as to ensure appropriate adherence to corporate governance.

Our Articles of Association have detailed provisions requiring any dealings with Trustees to be on an arm’s length basis, but any such dealings are actively discouraged as a matter of corporate governance (zero in 2021). Although Trustees are entitled to recover expenses incurred, generally they do not recover any petty amount and, in 2021, none were recovered

Organisational structure and decision-making policies

The Company has a wholly owned subsidiary, WLS Seymour Place Limited, the principal activity of which was to develop the air space rights above the Seymour Place building. This subsidiary was dormant during 2021, incurring minor amounts of expenditure and has not been consolidated with these accounts. As the subsidiary company is and is likely to remain dormant, the Trustees’ intention is to strike it off the Company Register in 2022.

The Key Management Personnel comprise the Trustees and the senior staff responsible for the management and operations of the Synagogue. During 2021 our senior staff were the rabbinic team led by our co-senior Rabbis, Rabbi Helen Freeman and Rabbi David Mitchell and the other staff and operations led by the Executive Director, Stewart Sether. The professional teams who run the charitable activities listed in the Objectives and Activities section of this report are managed by and report to the senior staff. The Executive Group, which is a subcommittee of the Board, consider remuneration proposals for all staff taking into account, performance, market rates and affordability

The Directors meet at least six times each year and if important decisions are required and a Board meeting is not scheduled to occur in sufficient time, the Trustees are consulted by email. An Executive Group comprising the co-senior Rabbis, Executive Director, Chairman, Treasurer, Board members Alison Edelshain and Brad Altberger, and our President, Mark Fox met regularly.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 8

Report of the trustees 31 December 2021

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Organisational structure and decision-making policies (continued)

Other committees are established to consider other areas of importance such as a Rabbinic Appointments Committee (on this occasion to select our new rabbinic team to work with our co-senior rabbis, education, religious ritual, membership and social care). These committees report on their deliberations to the Board.

Financial risk management

The Trustee have assessed the major risks to which the Company is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Company and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks Our approach to risk is set out under Financial Review above.

Plans for future periods

In the challenging environment for membership fees, the Trustees intend to continue and enhance their fundraising activities, both internally from congregants and supporters, and externally from third party trusts and foundations. In addition, where there are opportunities to make savings in overhead and other costs, they will always be considered, in the context of the provision of appropriate services to our community.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Each of the persons who are Trustee at the time when this Trustees’ report is approved has confirmed that:

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustee and signed on their behalf by:

Date:

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 9

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities 31 December 2021

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustee's report including the Strategic Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 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.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Andrew Stone (Chairman)

Date:

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 10

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2021

Independent auditor’s report to the members of The West London Synagogue of British Jews

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The West London Synagogue (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and the notes to the financial statements. 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).

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. 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 auditor's 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 the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

In our opinion, the financial statements:

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 auditor’s 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 UK, including the FRC’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 trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 11

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2021

Conclusions relating to going concern (continued)

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 charity’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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and Financial Statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 12

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2021

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the 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 trustees’ 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:

Trustees’ responsibilities

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) 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 trustees 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 trustees 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 trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s 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 auditor’s report 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.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 13

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2021

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued) Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 14

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2021

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued) There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

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 auditor’s report.

Use of this report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s trustees those matters that we are required to state to them in an auditor’s 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’s and the company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, or the opinions we have formed.

15 September 2022

Edward Finch (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Buzzacott LLP, Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 15

Statement of financial activities (including and income and expenditure account) Year to 31 December 2021

Notes Unrestricted
general
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2021
£’000		 Unrestricted
general
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Income from:
Donations and legacies
1
Income from charitable
activities
2
Investment income
3
Other income
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward at
1 January 2021
Total funds carried forward at
31 December 2021		 1,622
700
309
50		 378
—
—
—		 2,000
700
309
50		 1,459
684
315
122		 823
—
—
—		 2,282
684
315
122
2,681 378 3,059 2,580 823 3,403
71
2,171		 —
448		 71
2,619		 122
2,346		 —
670		 122
3,016
2,242 448 2,690 2,468 670 3,138
439
5,293		 (70)
1,115		 369
6,408		 112
5,181		 153
962		 265
6,143
5,732 1,045 6,777 5,293 1,115 6,408

There were no recognised gains and losses other than those set out in the statement of financial activities above.

All of the charity’s activities derived from continuing operations during the above two financial periods.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 16

Balance sheet 31 December 2021

Notes 2021
£’000		 2021
£’000		 2020
£’000		 2020
£’000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
13
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
16
Net current assets
Total net assets less current
liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
17
Net assets
Funds
Restricted funds
18
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
19
General funds		 601
1,031		 6,220
1,007
7,227
(450)		 657
849		 6,206
807
7,013
(605)
1,632
(625)
226
5,506		 1,506
(699)
226
5,067
6,777 6,408
1,045
5,732		 1,115
5,293
6,777 6,408

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Trustee

Approved on: The West London Synagogue for British Jews Company Registration Number: 08578248 (England and Wales)

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 17

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 December 2021

Notes 2021
£		 2020
£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
A
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
Net cash provided by investing activities
Financing activities
Repayment of bank loans
Net cash used in financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2021
B
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2021
B		 (34) (196)
(77)
309		 (49)
315
232 266
(16) (16)
(16) (16)
182
849		 54
795
1,031 849

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 December 2021.

A Cash flows from operating activities

----- Start of picture text -----
2021 2020
£ £
Net income as shown on the statement of financial activities 369 265
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statements of financial activities (309) (315)
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 63 67
Decrease (increase) in debtors 55 (37)
Increase in creditors (212) (176)
Net cash used in operating activities (34) (196)
----- End of picture text -----

B Analysis of changes in net debt

Analysis of changes in net debt
At 1
January
2021
£’000		 Cash flows
£’000		 At 31
December
2021
£’000
Cash at bank and in hand
Bank loans falling due within one year
Bank loans falling due after more than one year		 849
(16)
(330)
503		 182
(1)
17
198		 1,031
(17)
(313)
701

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 18

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2021

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are laid out below.

Charity information

The charity is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. In the event of the company being wound up, the maximum amount which each member is liable to pay is £1. The registered office is 33 Seymour Place, London, United Kingdom, W1H 5AU.

Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £'000.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Consolidated financial statements have not been prepared as the inclusion of the charity's sole subsidiary in a set of financial statements would not be material for the purpose of giving a true and fair view.

Assessment of going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial statements. The trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these financial statements.

The Trustees have considered the continuing effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Trustees accept that the pandemic has and will continue to cause some disruption in the way the Synagogue operates. The financial position of the Synagogue is under continual review and where necessary, cost saving actions will continue to be considered in order to mitigate any possible financial damage. The Trustees have prepared cash flow forecasts which demonstrate that the Synagogue can continue to operate within its current bank facilities for at least the next twelve months following the date of approval of these financial statements. The Trustees consider that they have adequate resources to meet all obligations as they fall due.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 19

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2021

Assessment of going concern (continued)

In the unlikely event that this is not the case, the Trustees are confident that financing options would be available along with cost cutting measures which would allow the Synagogue to continue in operation The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Synagogue has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Income

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) in the period when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably, and is probable that income will be received.

For donations, entitlement is taken as the date that the Synagogue receives the donation.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate.

Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Members do not derive benefits of a material financial value as a result of their membership fees. These fees are also non-refundable. As such the trustee consider that membership fees are, in substance, donations towards the general activities of the Synagogue. They are therefore accounted for when invoiced.

Income from charitable activities relates mainly fees received for cemetery and funerals, educational and synagogue activities.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 20

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2021

Income (continued)

Investment income relates to rental income which is recognised when it comes due, and interest on funds held at the bank on deposit, which is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Wherever possible costs are directly attributed to these headings. Costs common to more than one area are apportioned on the basis of staff time spent on each area.

The cost of generating funds are those costs incurred in trading activities and those incurred in support of the activities of the charity. These have been allocated to the charitable activities on a basis that fairly reflects the true use of those resources within the organisation.

Governance costs are those incurred in the governance of the charity and are primarily associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

Heritage assets have not been recognised in the financial statements, as significant costs are involved in the reconstruction or analysis of past accounting records, which are onerous compared with any additional benefit derived from recognising these items in the balance sheet.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 21

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2021

Tangible fixed assets (continued)

Heritage assets are assets that are of historical or religious importance that are held to further the preservation, conservation and educational objectives of the Synagogue and contribute to culture and education. These assets are integral to the activities of the Synagogue and are unique in terms of their religious and historic significance.

Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, and bank overdrafts.

Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its 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.

Employee benefits

The Synagogue operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of certain of its employees. Contributions payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year they are payable.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Leases

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

Burial Grounds

As in previous years, no depletion provision is considered necessary by the Trustees in respect of land used for burial

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 22

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2021

Government grants

Government grants are accounted for under the accrual model and are recognised at the fair value of the amount received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

Government grants were received under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme designed to compensate for staff costs, when the staff concerned were unable to work.

Amounts received or receivable are recognised in the statement of financial activities over the same period as the costs to which they relate.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant.

Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The calculation of the bad debt provision is a critical accounting estimate. This is based on an assessment of how many members will be unable to pay their annual subscriptions.

A portion of the freehold property owned by the charity is let out for rental income. The charity has not treated this separately from the freehold property as the investment property component cannot be reliably measured.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 23

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

1 Income from: Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2021
£’000		 Unrestricted
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Donations
Legacies
Membership fees		 253
129
1,240
1,622		 378
—
—
378		 631
129
1,240
2,000		 258
—
1,201
1,459		 823
—
—
823		 1,081
—
1,201
2,282

2 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2021
£’000		 Unrestricted
funds
£’000		 Restricted
funds
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000

34

581

69

684
Rabbinic and Synagogue
Funeral and cemetery
Education		 53
584
63
700		 —
—
—
—		 53
584
63
700		 34
581
69
684		 —
—
—
—

3 Investment income

Investment income
Total
2021
£’000
309		 Total
2020
£’000
Rental income 315

4 Other income

4 Other income
5 Total
2021
£’000
50		 Total
2020
£’000
Other income 122
Raising funds Total
2021
£’000
71		 Total
2020
£’000
Staff fundraising costs 122

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 24

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

6 Charitable activities
Rabbinic
and
Synagogue
£’000
Staff costs
649
Direct costs
311
Legal and
professional
—
960
Grant funding
(note 7)
59
Share of support
costs (note 10)
498
Share of
governance
costs (note 10)
271
1,788		 Charitable activities
Rabbinic
and
Synagogue
£’000
Staff costs
649
Direct costs
311
Legal and
professional
—
960
Grant funding
(note 7)
59
Share of support
costs (note 10)
498
Share of
governance
costs (note 10)
271
1,788		 Funeral
and
cemetery
£’000		 Education
£’000		 Total
2021
£’000		 Rabbinic
and
Synagogue
£’000		 Funeral
and
cemetery
£’000		 Education
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Staff costs
Direct costs
Legal and
professional
Grant funding
(note 7)
Share of support
costs (note 10)
Share of
governance
costs (note 10)		 649
311
—		 —
301
—		 163
111
—		 812
723
—		 —
309
—		 162
165
—		 778
1,011
78
960
59
498
271
1,788		 301
—
—
—
301		 274
—
166
90
530		 1,535
59
664
361
2,619		 327
—
198
90
615		 1,867
77
790
282
3,016

7 Grants payable

Grants payable
Rabbinic
and
Synagogue
Total
2021
£’000		 Rabbinic
and
Synagogue
Total
2020
£’000
Grants to institutions:
Movement for Reform Judaism
Board of Deputies		 59
—
59		 74
3
77

8 Support costs

----- Start of picture text -----
Support Total Support Total
Costs Governance 2021 Costs Governance 2020
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Staff costs 278 211 489 389 169 558
Depreciation 62 — 62 68 — 68
Premises, administration,
finance and other costs 324 — 324 333 — 333
Audit fees — 29 29 — 26 26
Accountancy — — — — 22 22
Legal and profession — 121 121 — 65 65
664 361 1,025 790 282 1,072
----- End of picture text -----

9 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration, reimbursement for expenses, or benefits from the charity during the year.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 25

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

10 Staff costs

Staff costs
Total
2021
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 1,268
132
68
1,468		 1,251
136
79
1,466

The average monthly number of employees during the year was 65 (2020: 64).

The number of employees whose remuneration was £60,000 or more were:

----- Start of picture text -----
2021 2020
----- End of picture text -----

2021 2020
£60,001 – £70,000 1 1
£70,001 – £80,000 — —
£80,001 – £90,000 — 2
£90,001 – £100,000 2 —
£100,001 – £110,00 1 —
£110,001 – £120,000 — 1

11 Tangible fixed assets

----- Start of picture text -----
Furniture Cemetery
Freehold and capital Total
Property Roof Costs Equipment costs 2021
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Costs
At 1 January 2021 5,337 143 1,170 286 6,936
Additions 59 — 18 — 77
Disposals — — — — —
At 31 December 2021 5,396 143 1,188 286 7,013
Depreciation
At 1 January 2021 — 143 526 61 730
Charge for the year — — 57 6 63
Disposals — — — — —
At 31 December 2021 — 143 583 67 793
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2020 5,337 — 644 225 6,206
At 31 December 2021 5,396 — 605 219 6,220
----- End of picture text -----

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 26

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

12 Heritage assets

The charity for many years held assets of historical and cultural importance.

These assets are considered to be heritage assets. Due to the nature of these heritage assets, it was previously not possible to place a reliable value on them, and the trustees followed the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) which allows heritage assets to be excluded from the financial statements if there is no reliable estimate of value and it would be reasonably costly to obtain such a valuation.

Two of the cemeteries are integral to the activities of the Synagogue and are unique in terms of their religious and historic significance. They consist of:

13 Debtors

Debtors
Total
2021
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 445
—
156
601		 528
5
124
657

Included within trade debtors is a provision of £71,397 (2020: £80,078) against potential bad debts relating to subscription income.

14 Contingent Assets

During 2020, West London Synagogue were notified of a bequest from the estate of a former Trustee who died in June 2019. The Synagogue is a residuary beneficiary of the estate, and the estimated value of the portion bequeathed is approximately £784,000, based on the most recent estate accounts for inheritance tax purposes. There is uncertainty regarding both the amount and timing of the legacy owing to two assets with highly uncertain value held in the estate. The assets with uncertain value are a foreign property in a remote part of the countryside in Europe and a shareholding in an unlisted company.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 27

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

15 Loans and overdrafts

Loans and overdrafts
Total
2021
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Bank loans
Payable within one year
Payable after one year		 330
17
313
330		 346
16
330
346

The bank loans are secured by fixed charges over freehold property.

The long term bank loans are for a term of 20 years from the draw down date of 21/12/2015. The rate of interest for the variable rate loan is the bank's base rate plus a margin of 2.75%. The rate of interest for the fixed rate loan is 4.65%. All interest rates are subject to review after 10 years. The loans are repayable in monthly instalments.

16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Total
2021
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Bank loans
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 17
37
52
210
309
625		 16
35
57
193
398
699

17 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Total
2021
£’000		 Total
2020
£’000
Bank loans
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 313
137
—
450		 330
250
25
605
18 Restricted funds At 1
January
2021
£’000		 Income
£’000		 Expenditure
£’000		 Transfers
£’000		 At 31
December
2021
£’000
Care and education
Cemetery maintenance
Activities of the Synagogue		 260
80
775
1,115		 103
—
275
410		 (101)
(4)
(343)
(448)		 6
—
(6)
—		 268
76
701
1,045

Care and Education Fund

These funds are to provide education for the whole community, including the libraries, educational holidays and training.

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 28

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

18 Restricted funds (continued)

Cemetery Maintenance Fund

These funds are brought about from the previous sale of land and monies given for individual grave maintenance, to be used solely for the upkeep of tombstones and grounds in Balls Pond Road and Hoop Lane Cemeteries.

Activities of the Synagogue Fund

These funds are to further the programmes of the Synagogue, including individual funds for maintaining the buildings for security and for other projects and programmes.

19 Designated funds

The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:

At 1
January
2021
£’000		 Income
£’000		 Expenditure
£’000		 Transfers
£’000		 At 31
December
2021
£’000
Social care
Building fund		 100
126
226		 —
—
—		 —
(2)
(2)		 —
2
2		 100
126
226

These funds were received from a charitable trust and have been designated upon receipt to further the programmes of the Synagogue, details of which can be seen above.

20 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted
Funds
2021
£’000		 Designated
Funds
2021
£’000
Restricted
Funds
2021
£’000
Total
2021
£’000
Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
Current
Long term liabilities		 6,220
(264)
(450)
5,506		 —
226
—
226		 —
1,045
—
1,045		 6,220
1,007
(450)
6,777

21 Operating lease commitments

At the reporting date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

2021
£’000		 2020
£’000
Within one year
Between two and five years
Greater than five years		 37
147
5
189		 13
2
—
15

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 29

Notes to the financial statements Year to 31 December 2021

22 Related party transactions

During the year, the trustees made aggregate donations of £89,216.

The West London Synagogue received a donation of £15,000 from The Apax Foundation. David Marks, a trustee of the Synagogue, is a director of The Apax Foundation.

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration, reimbursement for expenses, or benefits from the charity during the year.

23 Subsidiaries

Details of the charity’s subsidiaries at 31 December 2021 are as follows:

The West London Synagogue of British Jews 30