Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 4.10.19 To 31.12.20
Charity name: Leytonstone and Wanstead Synagogue
Charity registration number: 1185624
Objectives and Activities
According to our constitution, the synagogue’s objectives and activities are as follows:
To advance the Jewish religion for the benefit of the public in particular but not exclusively by:
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maintaining and upholding the faith and observance of Traditional Judaism;
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the holding of prayer meetings;
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conducting marriage ceremonies for persons of the Jewish faith;
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providing facilities and accommodation for Hebrew and religious instructions for children of the Jewish faith
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providing public celebration of religious festivals;
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any such other activities charitable in law which the trustees consider will generally foster the spirit and practice of Traditional Judaism
The main activities undertaken by the synagogue in relation to the above purposes, during the period of 4.10.19 – 31.12.20, have been:
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Conducting prayer services for Shabbat and all Jewish festivals, apart from the periods during which government restrictions dictated the closure of all Places of Worship.
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Educational activities including classes and talks in the synagogue as well as online.
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Distribution of kosher food (through the ‘Ko-op’); items needed for the observance of Shabbat, Jewish festivals (such as Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, Pesach and Shavuot); and other aspects of Jewish life; in particular to those who are more vulnerable and therefore have been unable to attend the synagogue in person.
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Constructing and installing a large-scale Menorah on the public highway opposite Leytonstone tube station for Chanukah in December 2019 and December 2020, as well as organising an accompanying menorah-lighting and music event open to all members of the public.
The trustees have ensured the above has been carried out in accordance with guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Additional information (optional)
The synagogue is entirely volunteer-run apart from a nominal fee paid to the Rabbi for preparing Torah readings for prayer services. During this period, volunteers have carried out the majority of tasks including building maintenance and repairs, cleaning, cooking, distribution and deliveries, administration, fundraising and accounts.
Achievements and Performance
The main achievements during this period are as follows:
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In advance of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which had a highly significant effect on the activities of the synagogue, the community was growing in numbers and this was reflected in an unprecedented borough-wide Leytonstone Menorah event in December 2019 which over 200 people attended, both Jewish and non-Jewish, raising awareness of and sharing with the wider community the Jewish festival of Chanukah.
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We prioritised keeping our congregants safe by implementing robust Health & Safety protocols following the periods of government restrictions which dictated the closure of all Places of Worship.
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We made efforts to ensure continuation of educational activities by adapting our talks and classes so that they could take place online
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In March 2019 we set up initial distribution of kosher food for shielding and isolating households, in particular through creation of a ‘Seder Night Kit’ for Pesach (April 2019), the first major Jewish festival for which the synagogue had to be closed during the UK lockdown. This has now become a regular weekly activity for the Shul with four volunteers regular delivering Kosher food and other needed Jewish items.
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We opened a volunteer-led Community Covid Test Centre in the synagogue.
Financial Review
During this period, the charity has made a loss of £2,832.15. Due to the unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, certain costs were accrued which our reduced income did not manage to cover. These included:
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Utilities (gas, electricity and water)
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Cleaning (in accordance with Covid-19 Risk Assessments)
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Building repair costs (re the fundraiser ‘Shul Fix-up’)
In addition, anticipated sources of income were significantly reduced, including:
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Communal Friday Night service and meals
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Communal Seder Night service and meal
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General fundraising events
The synagogue does not have a specific Reserve Fund as our modest income and resources mean we do not currently have the ability to accrue reserves. We keep a regular operating amount in the Current Account of approximately £15,000 to ensure sufficient funds are available for our ongoing costs. The balance in the Current account at 31.12.20 was £16,706.74. Our principle source of funds is through membership fees and donations from our regular congregants. Our principle annual fundraiser is the Kol Nidre Appeal, from which we raised £2,349.42 during this period.
Structure, Governance and Management
Our governing document is a Constitution which may only be amended at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary Meeting, duly convened and by a majority of members present and voting. The charity is constituted as a CIO.
Appointment of charity trustees:
(1) Elected charity trustees
(a) At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the elected charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of elected charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire;
(b) The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot;
(c) The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting; any vacancies not filled at the annual general meeting may be filled as provided in sub-clause (d) of this clause;
(d) The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with clause 15 (Retirement and removal of charity trustees), or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit specified in clause 12(3) on the number of charity trustees would not as a result be exceeded;
- (e) A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (a) and (b) of this clause. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting next following the date of his appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Leytonstone and Wanstead Synagogue |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | LAWS |
| Registered charity number | 1185624 |
| Charity’s principal address | 2 Fillebrook Road Leytonstone E11 4AT |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhilipSchryber | Chairman | |||
| Ruth Solomons | Secretary & Treasurer |
|||
| Isar Rosenberg | ||||
| JeffreyWilson |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
Ruth Louise Dvorah Solomons | |
|---|---|---|
Secretary & Treasurer |
||
| 31.10.21 | ||
| 31.10.21 |
Leytonstone & Wanstead Synagogue Profit and Loss 4.10.19 - 31.12.20
| RECEIPTS Balance of membership fee received Donations - General Donations Donations - yahrzeit Donations - Sammy's 60th Donations - Purim Donations - Seder Night Donations - Lag B'Omer Donations - Tu B'Shvat Donations - Simchat Torah Donations - Friday Night Donations - Kol Nidre Appeal Donations - Kabbalah/ Halacha Donations - Shema club Donations - Sifrei Torah Appeal Donations - Parking Space Donations - Day of Learning Donations - Stained glass window Donations - Compensation Donations - CST Grant Donations - Council Grant Balance of Donations Received TOTAL RECEIPTS |
£5,598.08 £1,310.28 £248.40 £55.85 £0.51 £394.51 £8.31 £30.00 £59.75 £402.07 £2,349.42 £270.32 £56.81 £313.73 £2,846.01 £20.73 £75.84 £939.43 £6,521.88 £3,000.00 £18,903.84 |
|---|---|
| £24,501.93 | |
| PAYMENTS Minister's fee Secretary's fee Security Accounts Balance of professional fees |
£8,670.21 £0.00 £7,903.20 £0.00 £16,573.41 |
| Utilities (water, gas, electricity) Insurance Kiddush Kitchen Cleaning Facilities Printing, paper, stationery Computer costs Balance of running costs Events - Ko-op Events - Shabbat UK Events - Shavuot Events - Arts Trail Events - Rosh Hashanah Events - Sukkot Events - Chanukah Events - Shema Club Events- Wedding Balance of Events Sefer Torah Repair Shul Fix-up TOTAL PAYMENTS |
£2,633.78 £0.00 £113.20 £41.12 £654.91 £37.74 £183.71 £0.00 £3,664.46 £25.68 £38.55 £286.39 £13.61 £124.33 £90.00 £2,038.72 £7.55 £115.00 £2,739.83 £146.29 £4,210.09 |
|---|---|
| £27,334.07 |
| SUMMARY | |
|---|---|
| 4.10.19 - 31.12.20 | |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £24,501.93 |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | £27,334.07 |
| PROFIT | -£2,832.15 |
| Bank balance at 31/12/20 | £16,706.74 |
| Prepared by Ruth Solomons 31/10/21 |