2021-03-31-accounts - Hamakom

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Charity Number 1183019 CIO No CE017238

A Space for Wellbeing, Wisdom & Awakening

A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Report and Unaudited Receipts and Payments Accounts Year ended 31 March 2021

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From

Year start date Year end date 1 April 2020 31 March 2021 To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name HAMAKOM

Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1183019

red charity number (if any)	1183019	1183019
Charity's principal address	5 Frith Manor Cottages
	Partingdale Lane
	London
	Postcode	NW7 1NT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
Sara Gina Bensusan			FoundingTrustee
Roland Oliver Brandman	Chair		Founding Trustee
Zachary Ellis Newman		Resigned on 17 December 2020	Founding Trustee
Edward John Gold	Treasurer		FoundingTrustee
Suzanne Emilia Freed			FoundingTrustee

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers

Names and addresses of advisers	Names and addresses of advisers	Names and addresses of advisers
Type of adviser Name Address
Independent Examiner	Monika Hazelton, Winston Hazelton & Co Ltd	34 Arlington Road, NW1 7HU, London

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members

Zac H. Newman – Operations Manager Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Constitution adopted on 21 March 2019 How the charity is constituted A Charitable Incorporated Organisation – Foundation

Trustee selection methods Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at properly convened meeting of the charity Trustees.

Additional governance issues

HAMAKOM is under the overall control of the Trustees, who conduct the affairs of the charity. The Trustees meet regularly to set the policies and overall direction of the charity, to review its plans and to discuss the management of the charity. The number of Trustees shall not be less than three but there is no maximum number of the trustees that may be appointed.

The Trustees consider the board of Trustees to be the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity.

The Charity has an open recruitment procedure for new Trustees who have the appropriate skills and experience to meet the needs of the organisation, and has procedures for the induction of new Trustees.

If the charity is wound up, the members of the charity have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

Each trustee is also automatically a charity member.

All Trustees give their time freely and no trustee received remuneration during the period.

During the year the Charity’s operations, administration, marketing and development was looked after by its Founder, Rabbi Danny Newman who was contracted to devote an average of at least 77 hours per calendar month to the day-to-day running and operating of the Charity. The yearly fees paid to Rabbi Danny Newman amounted to £24,750 (2020: £22,500).

The fees have been benchmarked against similar positions in other nonprofit organisations. This is kept under review.

Rabbi Danny Newman took an active part in supporting Charity’s members and participants of the retreats, meetings and courses, in their quest to spiritual wellbeing.

From 1 March 2021 Zac H. Newman took over the running and operating of the Charity on day-to-day basis from Rabbi Danny Newman. Zak H Newman is contracted by the Charity to devote 69 hours per calendar month on average to these duties. From this point onwards Rabbi Danny Newman was contracted for a half-day per week.

All duties are carried out in pursuance of HAMAKOM charitable objectives.

Section C Objectives and activities

To advance the Jewish religion in England and Wales for the benefit of the public mainly but not exclusively by:

Providing Meditation retreats, contemplative groups, religious workshops, sacred spaces and worship services, seminars, meetings, conferences, sermons and prayer meetings, all within a Jewish setting and context;

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

Contributing to good mental and physical health and spiritual wellbeing; and
Promoting the study of spiritual and religious teachings, scriptures, practices, meditation and mindfulness.

https://www.hamakom.community/

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (including the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

The Trustees have had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission regarding public benefit. They consider the work done by HAMAKOM to be for the public benefit as the services supplied are promoting mental and spiritual well-being, creating a community and connection between participants and offering alternative modes of prayer and religious practice which participants can take into their everyday lives. Such services are bringing people together from of all parts of the Jewish Community and beyond.

The flowing main activities are undertaken by HAMAKOM for the public benefit:

Long and short-stay Meditation retreats;
Sermons and prayer meetings;
Workshops, seminars, talks, meetings;
Provision of religious instruction and supervision;
Provision of religious material via the internet and email.
.

The Trustees are also satisfied that the objectives of the CIO will be met through the various activities being undertaken.

Additional details of objectives and activities

HAMAKOM receives general donations which are used for general purposes of the Charity, and specifically restricted donations (Dana) for teachers who lead the meditation during the retreats.

When applicable, the participants are required to cover the external costs of the retreats, such as food and accommodation costs.

The Trustees would also like to thank the following important volunteers:

Bev Miriam Cohen, Gidon Fineman, Rabbi Lisa Barrett, Mika Hadar, Dr Matthew Rosen Marsh, Rabbi Daniel Silverstein, Zac H. Newman, Ruth Keller, Rachel Rose Reid, Daniel Eisenberg, Yael Roberts, Philip Brodie, Beverley Crowne.

Furthering the Charity objectives and providing of the activities would not be possible without the charity’s benefactors. The Trustees wish to record their gratitude to all the individuals and organisations who donated their money and time to support HAMAKOM.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

HAMAKOM adapted quickly and creatively to cope with Covid-19. From March to May 2020 the Charity offered a daily programme of events to support its community through the uncertainty of the early lockdown. This extensive provision included morning prayer, yoga and meditation, healing circles, breath and relaxation exercises, contemplative chanting, and text study. In May the Charity’s annual Spring residential retreat took place online instead, taught by one of the world’s foremost teachers of Jewish mindfulness and meditation. In June the Charity offered a half-day online retreat led by its faculty members. In July the Charity offered another half-day online retreat led by its faculty members. In August and September, the Charity offered a 6-week online class with one of its partner organisations, Applied Jewish Spirituality.

In September the Charity held a 4-day online retreat with another of its partner organisations, Or HaLev, in preparation for the most important day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

The Charity's annual December retreat took place online too, with 58 people in attendance from across the world, including Europe, Israel and South Africa, led by another of the world’s foremost teachers of Jewish mindfulness and meditation. Feedback was excellent.

On 1 March 2021, Zac H. Newman began in post as the Charity’s Operations Manager, fulfilling a plan from last year to retain another member of staff to support the Charity’s growth and development.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the In order to provide sufficient funds to cover on going management and charity’s policy on reserves administration costs the Trustees have decided that the charity’s unrestricted reserves should be kept equal to a total of no less than six months of management costs, general office costs and bank charges. During the year this amount was calculated to be circa £14,900. Post year end, taking into consideration all available information about future costs and expenses, this was estimated as circa £9,000. At 31 March 2021 the unrestricted reserves stand at a surplus of £6,097. Post year end, the unrestricted reserves increased and on average, were in line with the Charity’s funding policy. The Trustees are committed to reviewing the major risks which the Charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining reserves no lower than the levels set in the board's policy, combined with a regular review of the controls over the key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the event of unforeseen and/or adverse circumstances arising.

Details of any funds materially None in deficit Further financial review details

The Charity’s principal sources of funds are public donations, donations received from trusts and foundations, members’ donations and fees charged to participants for events to cover the costs of running the events. During the year, Institutional donations included in the total donations of £10,997 amounted to £8,000. The Trustees are aware of a legal duty to act only in the best interests of the Charity. The Trustees expect to consider any conditions attached to donations to ensure that they meet the aims and objectives of HAMAKOM and do not conflict with these.

The Trustees take a prudent view regarding the investment of surplus funds. The Trustees have considered the most appropriate policy for investing funds and have decided funds invested in CAF bank accounts currently meet their requirements.

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that cast significant doubt upon the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The Trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the accounts. In particular the trustees considered the Charity's budget projection. The Trustees made enquires and have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

COVID-19 Pandemic:

The Trustees considered the issue of the Charity's sustainability in the light of COVID-19 and concluded that it had adequate reserves at present and that the principal sources of core cost funding were not under threat.

Since early March 2020 the Charity has been affected by COVID-19. The retreats and other gatherings moved on-line. It was noted that this has not affected the Charity’s work but offered new opportunities and definitely strengthen HAMAKOM’s position in its path to wellbeing, wisdom and awakening.

Section F Other optional information

Plans for the future:

HAMAKOM short- and long-term plans are:

to hold hybrid meditation retreats where people will join either in-person or online;
to run a family spirituality retreat with activities suitable for children;
to begin offering services to schools in order to support the wellbeing of children;
to begin working with the Jewish Association for Mental Illness to provide meditation sessions to their community
to begin offering retreats and classes in individual Jewish communities;
to increase our reach across the world, especially in Europe and South Africa;
continue to develop our relationships with similar organisations around the world, including: The Institute for Jewish Spirituality (based in the US); Or HaLev (based in Israel); Applied Jewish Spirituality (based in Israel) and The Awakened Heart Project.
to build and open a residential meditation/spirituality retreat centre, intentional community and organic farm in the countryside, within an hour's drive of London.

Section G

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s) Roland Oliver Brandman Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chairman Date 31.01.2022

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ HAMAKOM members of On accounts for the 31 March 2021 Charity 1183019 year ended no Set out on pages 9 and 10

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

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

Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:	Date:
		31 January2022

	Monika Hazelton FCCA

	Winston Hazelton & Co Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants

	34 Arlington Road
	London
	NW1 7HU

Section B

Disclosure

None

Receipts and Payments Accounts

Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts
For the year from	01 April 2020	To	31 March 2021
Charity name		HAMAKOM
Registered Charity No		1183019

Section A Receipts and payments

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £

A1 Receipts

A1 Receipts
Dana	-	7,074	-	7,074	8,073
Retreats	7,640	-	-	7,640	19,060
Donations	10,997	-	-	10,997	36,673
Online courses	115	-	-	115	315
Interest received	5	-	-	5	13
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	18,757	7,074	-	25,831	64,134

A2 Asset and investment sales

	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-	-	-
*Total receipts*
	18,757			25,831	64,134

A3 Payments

A3 Payments
Dana including related faculty fees	-	5,975	-	5,975	8,049
Cost of retreats	5,824	-	-	5,824	7,160
Management costs	27,000	-	-	27,000	22,500
Facultyfees	1,603	-	-	1,603	550
General office expenses	1,200	-	-	1,200	1,289
Bank charges	75	69	-	144	45
Insurance	499	-	-	499	-
**Sub total **	36,201	6,044	-	42,245	39,593

A4 Asset and investment purchases

	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-	-	-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts* */(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this* *year end*
					39,593

	(17,444)			- 16,414	24,541
	-			-	-
	23,541			24,541	-
	6,097			8,127	24,541

Receipts and Payments Accounts

Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts	Receipts and Payments Accounts
For the year from	01 April 2020	To	31 March 2021
Charity name		HAMAKOM
Registered Charity No		1183019

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Details Details *Total cash funds* Bank current account Gold deposit account Teachers current account Details Details Winston Hazelton & Co - Independent Examination Details Zac H. Newman - April fee	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 3,907 2,190 - 6,097 Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Unrestricted Unrestricted	Restricted funds to nearest £ 2,025 - 5 2,030 Restricted funds to nearest £ - Cost (optional) - Cost (optional) - Amount due (optional) 2,400 1,400	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-

			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			When due (optional)
Winston Hazelton & Co - Independent Examination	Unrestricted	2,400	-
Zac H. Newman - April fee	Unrestricted	1,400	-

Signed on behalf of all the trustees

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Roland Oliver Brandman
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Print Name

31.01.22

Date of approval

Signature