## **ANNUAL REPORT 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 - 31 AUGUST 2025**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND STATUTORY ACCOUNTS**
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **FROM THE TRUSTEES**
While 2024–25 has been another year of change, both for Alyth and the wider world, it has, most importantly, been a year of arrival. Since our last Annual Report, we have celebrated a full cycle of festivals in our completed building, including the High Holy Days, where many members experienced our new spaces for the first time, and a Purim ‘Fi-Esther’ that truly brought the carnival spirit to Alyth.
However, a synagogue is not defined by bricks and mortar, but by the ruach (spirit) that fills it. We have now fully reinhabited our home, blending our rich history with a modern, accessible, and sustainable future. Our community has shown resilience, generosity, and patience; we have emerged from the disruption of construction not just with a better building, but as a stronger kehillah (community).
These new social spaces have already become the "living room" of the community, facilitating organic connection before and after services, while providing dedicated areas for text study, Sunday Morning Galim classes, and interfaith dialogue. We are also delighted to see our diary filling up with outside hires, from B’nei Mitzvah celebrations and birthday lunches to bridge tournaments and charity conferences.
Music remains the soul of Alyth, the thread woven into the fabric of our community life. After ten years as our Head of Music, Katie Hainbach left us this year to focus on her family. We thank her for her immense contribution in enhancing the musical tradition for which Alyth is renowned. As we turn the page, we are excited to welcome Hannah Kieve, our new Head of Music, and James Slimings, our new Head of Synagogue Choir. They are already ushering in a vibrant new chapter, ensuring that music continues to help us pray, learn, and express the inexpressible.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
The Rabbinic Recruitment Group has been working tirelessly to secure a new Senior Rabbi. In the interim, our talented clergy team, Rabbis Hannah, Elliott, Colin and Nicola have worked exceptionally hard. Together with the Professional Team, they have ensured that synagogue life has not stood still, delivering high-quality prayer, learning, and care for members of all ages.
Our Chesed (care) team continues to support our most vulnerable members. The new kitchen facilities have allowed us to expand our community cooking initiatives, and our minibus, driven largely by volunteers, continue to ensure that no member is isolated from events. We have also deepened our partnerships, hosting drop-in centres and food collection drives, putting our values of Tikkun Olam into immediate local action.
Finally, the Trustees have maintained rigorous oversight of the synagogue’s finances during this transition. I am pleased to report that the building project was completed within the adjusted budget parameters. The Building Fund Campaign remains open to help to service the mortgage and maintenance required. While operational costs have naturally risen due to inflation and the expanded footprint of the new building, robust stewardship has kept our operating budget balanced.
Membership numbers remain healthy, with a noticeable uptake in young families joining since the redevelopment. We are not complacent; through our Community Forums, we continue to foster an environment of open dialogue, ensuring that every voice is heard as we shape the future of Alyth together.
**ALYTH TRUSTEES - Gary Lipman (Chair); Noemi Zell (Vice Chair); Jeremy Baum; Terry Heymann; Ian Howe; Juliet Levinson; Ben Portner; Benjamin Berelowitz; Justin Wise; Paul Rosen; Benjamin Bell**
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **OUR TRUSTEES, TEAM & ADVISORS**
## **Trustee Board**
## **Presidential Team**
Gary Lipman (Chair) Simone Silverman (Vice Chair - retired August 2025) Noemi Zell (Vice Chair - appointed August 2025) Jeremy Baum Benjamin Bell (co-opted August 2025) Ben Berelowitz (co-opted August 2025) David Bloom (retired February 2025) Ian Howe Terence Heymann Corinna Hyman (retired July 2025) Ilana Pizer-Mason (retired July 2025) Ben Portner Paul Rosen (co-opted August 2025) Justin Wise (Ex-Officio)
**PRESIDENT** Andrew Gellert
## **VICE PRESIDENTS**
Janine Gray Clements Ruth Wellin Russell Baum
## **Professional Team**
## **CLERGY**
Rabbi Hannah Kingston Rabbi Rabbi Elliott Karstadt Rabbi Rabbi Colin Eimer Rabbi Rabbi Nicola Feuchtwang Rabbi Rabbi Josh Levy Rabbi Emeritus
## **SENIOR STAFF**
Adam Martin Community Director Lynette Chazen Head of Community Care and Lifecycle Samantha Heller Head of Member Engagement Tor Alter Head of Kindergarten
## **Financial & Legal**
Auditors: Nyman Libson Paul LLP. Regina House. 124 Finchley Road. London. NW3 5JS Accounting Services: SJC Bookkeeping Services. 4 Tenterden St, London W1S 1TE Bankers: Natwest Bank PLC. 45 Tottenham Court Road. London. W11 2EA Honorary Solicitor: Lawrence Radley. Reed Smith LLP. Broadgate Tower. London. EC2A 2RS Investment Advisors: Rathbones: Incorporating Investec Wealth Management. 30 Gresham Street. London. EC2V 7QW
Legal Advisors - Building Project: Lawrence Stephens Solicitors. 50 Farringdon Road. EC1M 3HE
## 2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **A Community for every generation**
## **B'nei Mitzvah**
**53** young people became bar or bat mitzvah at Alyth in 2024-25.
## **Sunday Morning Galim, Ruach, camps & residentials**
Over **160** of our young people attend Ruach and Sunday Morning Galim (SMG) with **30** of our teens joining our Hadracha leadership programme. Nearly **150** young people have enjoyed residentials and camps, with **26** visiting Budapest in October 2024.
## **Our Seniors**
Alyth has **547** members aged 75 or over. Weekly social, prayer and learning activities bring many of our members together with friends and the Alyth team.
## **Alyth Demographic Profile - % of membership by age**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
19-29 30-39
10.1% 7.1%
40-49
11.1%
<18
23.2%
50-59
12.1%
90+
3% 60-69
12.1%
80-89
9.1% 70-79
12.1%
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Geographics**
Alyth is situated in Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet, home to the largest number of Jewish households in the UK. (Census 2021)
Marriages in 2024-25: **6**
Members come to Alyth from across North and North West London. Areas include Finchley, Barnet, Camden, Haringey, Harrow, Enfield, Radlett, Elstree and Borehamwood.
New Borns in 2024-25: **23**
Many young families start their Jewish Journey at our ‘Baby Den’ and ‘Sensory Shabbat’ services. We have **25 - 35** families attending Baby Den and **10** joining us for Sensory.
In 2024-25 we welcomed **118** new members of every age and stage into the community. That’s net, **25** new households.
**A quarter of Alyth members live within a 1 mile radius of the Synagogue with a further two thirds within 5 miles.**
**1** in every **6** of our members volunteers over the year as a leader, as part of our social activities, as drivers, deliverers, on security, and as wardens and welcomers.
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2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **ALYTH TOGETHER**
In the 92 years since it was founded, Alyth has been through many changes and on 19 October 2024, a celebration was held to commemorate the completion of the latest building project. The renewal of the Alyth building was a response to the diverse and changing needs of both Alyth and the local community. Over 350 members and local dignitaries, including Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vourou; Sarah Sackman KC MP, Solicitor General and MP for Finchley & Golders Green and Jeremiah Anderson, Bishop of Edmonton, joined the Alyth Rabbinic team and lay leaders from neighbouring synagogues, as well as from our communal institutions for an uplifting celebration.
Our upgraded spaces have enabled us to increase our offering to our members and beyond for services, learning, groups and events. We have found people want to be here as the improved facilities including kitchens and bathrooms make a very welcoming and modern space for everyone.
With new lecture series, new services and even an Alyth Whisky Society, Alyth really is open for business.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **PRAY WITH US**
Prayer and learning is at the heart of Alyth and our Jewish lives. Our multigenerational community has diverse prayer needs which we meet through a range of services on Friday nights and Shabbat morning, on festivals and over the High Holy Days. We offer most services online to ensure that those who are unable to join us in person can still participate. We have been listening to our members and observing the needs of our diverse community and as a result, we have introduced two new services - Shalem for families with children with additional needs and the Romm’mu Family Service, a space where our kids and parents can get to know one another in the lead up to B’nei Mitzvah years.
## **LEARN WITH US**
There are many opportunities to learn at Alyth, whatever your age or interests. Over the course of the year, alongside our Kindergarten, Ruach, Sunday Morning Galim, Ruach and Judaism: The Essentials programmes, we have offered Torah study through Pardes and The Alyth Chavruta Project. We have enjoyed guest speakers and welcomed visiting Rabbis, including Rabbi Galit Cohen-Kedem; Cantor Sarah Grabiner; Rabbi Ofek Meir; Dr Moshe Lavee; Student Rabbi Mati Boulakia-Bortnick and Ittay Flescher.
## **ISRAEL**
Since the October 7 atrocities and subsequent war, many members have turned to us for support and a space to discuss concerns and learn more from both sides of the conflict. We held a series of talks Israel: Navigating The Conversation where we heard from peace activist, Magen Inon and representatives from Yachad, Yesh Din and Ir Amim over a number of weeks in June & July. We also joined up with MRJ to inform members on the elections for the World Zionist Congress (WZC) which represents a platform for Diaspora Jews to engage in Israel's actions and values and we worked with the group, Solutions Not Sides, offering workshops for our adult members and Ruach students.
## **WEEKEND AWAY**
The last weekend in March saw over 200 members of Alyth make the journey out to the Hertfordshire countryside for the Weekend Away. The sun shone and the full and varied programme ensured everyone from the youngest (two months old) to those in their 80s were both entertained and fulfilled. Everyone had their particular highlights, including: an impromptu viewing of the partial solar eclipse on Shabbat morning; Book Club; sessions with Rabbi Galit Cohen-Kedem from Holon; the camp style service; Havdalah (which featured many guitars and a bassoon); the Living Torah; Saturday night’s pub quiz and the Shabbat Morning Service which showcased the best of our services including Choral, Sensory, Big Bang and Kollot, followed by an intergenerational Chevruta Torah Service and Karaoke on Friday night which just would not stop!
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **YOUTH & EDUCATION**
Responsible for the Jewish learning and engagement of our 4 to 18 year olds, our team of dedicated professionals, educators and young leaders devise and provide a varied programme of activities, B’nei mitzvah preparation and Hadracha (leadership) for our teens. At the start of the 2024 academic year, our Ruach programme underwent a makeover and along with Sunday Morning Galim (SMG), they set the standard for our youth education provision. Holidays are for having fun and the Jolly July, Feb Fun, SpringWAYS, SWAYAway and SWAYDays camps were filled with over 130 young people, making memories and lifelong friendships. Our B’nei Mitzvah teens travelled to Budapest once again, and to more local venues for weekend residentials. Our Academy of Performing Arts group performed an excellent Bugsy Malone, turning the Beit Tefillah into a speakeasy for one night in May and in June, the Alyth Children’s Theatre (ACT) entertained us with Annie Jr. During every festival, the Youth & Education team work closely with the Clergy to ensure that there are services and spaces for all the younger members and teens to attend, either with parents or as individuals.
## **SHOFAR**
Shofar Daycare nursery was established to provide a full daycare provision to the children of Jewish Reform families. Located at the Sternberg Centre in Finchley, it is a collaboration between Alyth and FRS. Alyth members sit on the board of Trustees, as do members of FRS and MRJ. Our wonderful purpose-built nursery is on a fabulous site, with a shared field, woodlands and two playgrounds. Shofar has up to 80 young children and babies from six months to five years old. Rabbis Elliott and Hannah regularly visit the Shofar children for Shabbat and festival celebrations, thus starting the lifelong relationship with their synagogue, Rabbis and community. We are pleased to report that Shofar Daycare Nursery continues to be a successful and outstanding provision, promoting Reform Jewish values and giving the young children a great start to their education, whilst also contributing part of its profit to Alyth each year.
## **ALYTH KINDERGARTEN**
Alyth Kindergarten continues to flourish as an outstanding early years setting, where children are nurtured in an environment rich with warmth, curiosity and joy. Each day, the classrooms sparkle with kindness and a genuine love of learning, allowing every child to feel confident, supported and inspired to reach their potential.
The autumn term concluded on a truly magnificent note with a Chanukah concert which reflected the care, dedication and high standards which define the nursery. Parents were blown away by how polished and joyful the performance was, praising both the children’s confidence and the meaningful sense of community on display. One parent beautifully captured the sentiment, saying: “Thank you for creating a place where we are proud and safe to stand tall and teach our children to love being Jewish.”
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **THE ALYTH SOCIAL**
Members of the Alyth Social have enjoyed a varied and most interesting programme this year. A wonderful team of volunteers arrange sandwiches and cake for tea and another team drive our new minibus and host those who otherwise would not be able to attend. We have been fortunate to have great speakers who have come to talk on subjects such as: The Titanic; My Journey Through India and My Life In The Music Industry. We have enjoyed a trip to the JW3 Pantomime and our summer outing to The Old Guinea for a delicious lunch. For some years now we have formed a relationship with students from The Guildhall School Of Music & Drama and we have been overawed by these musicians who have come to play for us, both on a Monday and our Wednesday afternoon recitals. The quality and standard is as high as any professional musician playing for the big concert halls in London.
## **SHABBAT B’YACHAD**
Our popular once a month Shabbat lunches continue. A team of volunteers cook a three course delicious meal for anyone who would like to share good food, good company and togetherness following the Shabbat Morning Service. A good time is had by all and people make new friendships over the Shabbat table. The meal is open to anyone in the community.
## **BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT**
The Bereavement Call Group consists of seven volunteers who meet every six to eight weeks. The remit is to give every member who has been bereaved a call to offer support and enquire about their well being. These calls help both the Clergy and Head of Community Care to offer any appropriate care should it be needed and to direct those bereaved to find further support in the wider community from relevant organisations. In addition to this work, prior to each High Holy Days, we ask those who have been bereaved in the past year to submit a short piece about the person who has died for the Yom Kippur Memorial Book and ensure that anyone on their own has someone to sit next to during the Yizkor service should they wish to be accompanied.
## **PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM**
The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have been moving towards combining and forming a new movement: Progressive Judaism. Alyth was proud to be a part of the history of Progressive Judaism, holding several events for our own and other communities to ask questions about the process at Reform Judaism. In April members met to put their questions to Rabbi Josh, Alyth’s Emeritus Rabbi and CoLead of Progressive Judaism, about the combination. Following an interesting and informative Q&A session, the Trustees voted unanimously in favour and our Chair later cast the Alyth vote at the EGM.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **COMMUNICATIONS**
Over the past year, we having spent time reviewing the current communications, speaking to members and groups to gain an insight into what our community want to see and know about from our emails, website, social media and professional team. As a result, we have begun the process of rebranding as a reflection of our new spaces and rebuilding the website so we can deliver what is needed. The updated website is due to go live in April 2026. Rabbi Elliott launched Alyth’s new podcast - All Else Is Commentary where he and guests explore Jewish ideas (from the Bible to the present day) from a curious, progressive and critical perspective. The clergy team has appeared regularly in the media, including Sky Breakfast; national newspapers, radio and Jewish press.
## **FUNDRAISING**
Fundraising has continued to be a core essential. Through generous support from within the community, grants and fundraising, we have successfully financed just under 50% of the cost of the redevelopment of our building. The remaining £3.5 million has been financed via a loan from The CAF Bank and continued fundraising is an essential part of financing this loan. We have active Fundraising and Legacy groups and continue to raise funds from regular donors to the building project. We raise funds in many ways, including: donations for life cycle events (births, deaths, marriages and yahrzeits); legacies and grants for specific clubs and roles. We held another successful Tu Bishvat Supper Quiz with 14 tables battling it, a raffle and an auction of Coldplay tickets. Room hire has increased significantly following the rebuild, becoming an important strand of income. New regulars include: U3A Line Dancing and Opera Appreciation; ballet and yoga classes; antenatal classes; local choir rehearsals. We have also hosted wedding, Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties; Friday night dinners and Shabbat lunches; numerous children’s and adult birthday parties, and conferences, increasing the income considerably.
## **BOOK CLUB**
Alyth Book Club meets on Zoom, on the first Monday of the month. Books chosen are fiction and not overly-long, but all have a Jewish connection – be it the author or the subject. We usually have six to seven people: not so big that we can’t have a decent discussion, but large enough to ensure a variety of responses to the book. Wherever possible, we try and get the author join us, physically or online. Memorably we beat the Booker announcement by having Damon Galgut talk about The Promise and Yael Van der Wouden from Holland joining us to discuss The SafeKeep. We are fortunate to have a few authors amongst our membership and we always endeavour to champion their books.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **INTERFAITH**
As a community, Alyth values its relationships with its members and its neighbours of all faiths. Alyth’s twelfth annual Iftar was held on Sunday 9 March and the building was filled with over 200 Jews, Muslims and Christians, coming together to study, pray and share a meal. During the Iftar, Rabbi Hannah was interviewed for BBC News London, talking about the importance of interfaith relationships. Rabbi Hannah spoke on a panel at Neasden Temple for International Women’s Day. The Temple was filled with over 1,500 women, with Rabbi Hannah and the panel discussing religious/cultural values and how to fit in while maintaining cultural and spiritual roots and drawing strength from heritage to balance multiple facets of identity.
## **ALYTH NIGHT SHELTER**
There are 32 communities involved across the borough, including churches, synagogues and mosques, providing shelter to people experiencing homelessness. Overall, over the course of the year, 34 guests were found housing, a total of 166 nights were covered providing 2156 bed spaces and 5060 meals. At Alyth, we provided a hot meal, company, breakfast and a warm safe place to sleep for up to 16 people every week for 10 weeks, together with Golders Green Parish Church and then a further eight weeks at Alyth. The Leo Baeck Hall was the most popular space – warm, friendly and super comfortable - and as a result of the new building, we were delighted to be able to use Alyth itself as a venue for the first time. To run the Alyth Night Shelter it takes around 50 volunteers in a variety of roles – coordinators, evening hosts, overnight, breakfast providers and drivers. Thank you to Alyth, the professional team, the caretaking team and most importantly our amazing volunteers for supporting this important community project every year.
## **ALYTH REFUGEE PROJECT**
Our purpose is to help refugees who have come from 20 countries, to adjust and thrive in London. We help people to socialise with different cultures, get to know London, learn things, have fun, make friends and make small changes to their own lives. It is run by volunteers and we meet twice a month. In the past year we had nine choir rehearsals and a concert. Each rehearsal starts with a catch up over a sit-down lunch before Viv Bellos encourages us to sing out with a smile. Our outings on Tuesdays included a Landmark Tour, Games in Golders Hill Park, London Zoo, clay working in the V&A Museum and a Queen tribute concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Our events at Alyth included Bingo, self care, knitting, crafts and delicious lunches and lots of chat. Our emphasis this year has been on connection and involvement.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **ALYTH MONDAY CLUB**
It has been a full and varied year for Alyth’s Monday Club. Thanks to our supporters and funders, we have been able to provide three full terms and a varied and memberinfluenced programme. We have new members and new volunteers and one of the highlights for the club was to have a school-age volunteer (14) who chose Alyth’s Monday Club for the community action part of his bronze Duke of Edinburgh’ Award (DoE). The cross-generational component had a very positive effect on the members and volunteers alike. The most popular sessions continue to be those which involve music, art and drama of varying forms and the members work hard in the exercise sessions which, for many, may be the only physical activity they do. The facilitators delight in organising fully accessible sessions with the volunteers (aged 19-84) enabling involvement for everyone, applying different styles of learning for all. Our volunteers were honoured at the Jewish Volunteers’ Network for the work they do and we also received an award at the Barnet Civic Awards, presented by the Mayor of Barnet in recognition of the Club’s work outside of funded local provision, with and for adults with learning and other disabilities.
## **ALYTH CHORAL SOCIETY**
This has been a year of change and challenge, but under the excellent guidance of our Music Director, Alison Smart-Fisher and accompanist Tim Hooper supported by the ACS committee we have enjoyed rehearsing and performing concerts at Alyth and St Mary-at-Finchley. We performed an Autumn, Spring and Summer concerts, showcasing a broad spectrum of works, including Haydn's Seasons; Psalms from Salamone Rossi through to Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and English Madrigals. We also participated in a Sunday afternoon music showcase at Alyth and contributed to the Yom HaShoah service in April including Enosh Kechatsir and Eli Eli. We sang Psalm 118 by Julian Dawes, our composer in residence (a world premiere) and a complete performance of ‘A Season to Sing’ by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, reimagining Vivaldis’s iconic work. ACS was proud to be part of this project, co-commissioned with choirs from around the world. Members of our choir excelled in various solo roles and Tamara Hinson enhanced the experience with her dancing.
## **SINGING FOR PLEASURE**
Singing for Pleasure continues to do just that for its members and for the many groups they entertain. Not originally set up as a concert choir, they have become one of the most popular choirs, mainly because they bring so much joy with their enthusiasm, commitment and voices. They have given six concerts this year at Alyth’s Monday Club and Social Club and at Hammerson House. This is a group which loves to sing. There is no audition, anyone can join and there’s cake or cookies after every rehearsal.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **WALK WITH US**
The Alyth Ramblers continue to walk the footpaths of England, enjoying the exercise, companionship and delicious food during our trips away. Sadly, we are still unable to walk in Israel, but we keep hopeful that a lasting peace will be found and that we can resume our week-long Israel ramble with our exceptional guide Yaron.
In 2025 we walked seven and a half miles of spectacular countryside around Stonor Park in Oxfordshire and spent four days in the Cotswolds, walking a total of nearly 30 miles through the picturesque villages and stunning landscapes and eating in some very fine restaurants. Our Bank Holiday ramble took us to Henley and Hambledon. For those who prefer a stroll to a ramble, we have continued with our regular Sunday morning Dog Walks across the Heath Extension. Held on a Sunday morning, everyone gathers at Alyth for a coffee and a bagel, before a leisurely walk through the Suburb to the Heath where are four legged friends (and some two legged) can run freely before heading back.
## **JEWISH MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION**
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation continued to offer a warm and steady space for contemplative Jewish practice. Although we shifted from weekly meetings to monthly sessions, our dedicated community remained consistent, engaged and deeply committed. Throughout the year, we explored Shabbat consciousness, Jewish mindfulness, breath and meditation, supporting participants in transitioning from the busyness of the week into a quieter, more spacious state. Some of the year’s highlights included our Shavuot morning gathering on the Heath, “Heath-Bodedut,” where many joined for meditation, chanting and joyful contemplation in nature. We also offered meaningful sessions on Rosh Hashanah morning, welcoming the New Year with presence, intention and a deeply moving Yom Kippur Mincha, practicing vocal meditation and Kabbalistic movement.
## **ALYTH WHISKY SOCIETY**
The Alyth Whisky Society launched alongside the opening of the new building and has been going from strength to strength ever since. Once a quarter, 20–30 participants, young (18+!), nearly young and some more seasoned, come together for guided whisky tastings, lively conversation and of course, good food.
Our attendees range from complete newcomers to the amber nectar to those who can share years of experience and insight. Past themes have included Around The World, Scotch in Six Glasses; Bring Your Own and Sherry Bomb Madness. We warmly welcome all members of our community.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT FINANCE & STATUTORY
# **The Numbers, Risk, Reserves, Investments & Statutory Information**
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT Financial Performance
## **The Numbers - Financial Review**
_The Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 reflect the activities of the Synagogue over a year in which the work to redevelop our building was completed. The past 12 months have been a time of considered and collaborative leadership by the Trustees, Finance Advisory Group, and Senior Professionals, managing the ongoing operation of the Synagogue and the finished redevelopment of the building which began in April 2023._
## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE**
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 August 2025 reflects income of £2.307m (2024: £1,864m) brought in by subscription income and Gift Aid, and donations made primarily for the development of the building. Additional income of £539k (2024: £436k) was received from members to cover operating costs in relation to trips, events and activities that are not covered by member subscriptions.
Repayment of the CAF Loan: In 2024-25, repayments of the loan are interest only and is represented by £248k of borrowing costs.
Operating costs of £1.69m (2023-24: £1.45m) remained within budget expectations, despite the economic uncertainty of 2025 and global pressure on utilities.
2024-25 was the year of “settling in”. The Professional Team worked hard to maintain the same level of efficiency and service delivery. Alongside the build costs which were funded by donations and the CAF loan, the Synagogue absorbed additional costs in relation to moving into the redeveloped part of the building.
## **Factors impacting on this year’s results are:**
The year-on-year increase in member subscriptions reflects increases in inflation/CPI. Efforts are focussed on efficient collection of subscriptions, with a particular emphasis on members maximising the number of members paying by direct debit, on collecting outstanding subscriptions towards the end of the financial year, and on retention of members through relationships and assessment of affordability for our membership.
When setting the budget and level of member subscriptions, the Finance Advisory Group and Trustees aim to achieve a balanced budget. In doing this, they considered the impact of prevailing economic pressures, and the core operating costs required to run the Synagogue. On this basis, the Trustees agreed an increase in member subscriptions in 2024-25 of 5%.
As well as increased insurance, maintenance and storage costs relating to the building work, security costs increased in response to the need for Jewish places of worship to increase the level of security provision in the wake of the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Act
1%
Office Exp Pray with us20.4%
18.4%
RJ levy
11.2%
Premises
21.4% Be with us
2%
Learn with us
3.1%
Kindergarten Youth and Ed.
13.3%
8.2%
**----- End of picture text -----**
Staff salaries and on-costs of £1.161m account for 69% of the support costs of the Synagogue. This reflects the Synagogues’ investment in people, enabling us to deliver outstanding services and support to meet the breadth of needs of our multigenerational community.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **Reserves. Risk. Investments**
## **RESERVES**
The Trustees adopt an integrated approach to setting the level of reserves, taking into account current and future financial needs of the organisation and regular monitoring of KPI’s to meet and address changing circumstances.
Particular attention is given to setting a budget that is strategically aligned and based on accurate assumptions of operating costs and repayment of loan interest in 2024-25.
Total unrestricted funds at 31 August 2025 amount to £1.346m (2024: £861k). The total unrestricted expenditure on charitable activities, excluding JJBS contributions and inclusive of total staff costs, was £2.45m (2024: £1.93m).
Unrestricted funds include free reserves as defined by the Charity’s SORP of £624k (2024: £117k). In addition £400k (2024: £400k) is held in a Contingency Fund and may be undesignated if required to increase the free reserves balance, together with £297k (2024: £308k) that has been designated to various projects and worthy causes which are regarded as part of normal charitable activities. These allocations are internal and can be amended by the Trustees if required.
The charity maintains sufficient reserves to represent between 3-6 months’ cover of Alyth’s normal charitable activity expenditure. The Trustees continue to monitor this KPI and note that the Synagogue is currently operating within the agreed range.
The Restricted Funds of £5.49m (2024: £5.83m) predominantly comprise the value of the land and buildings, £4.35m (2024 £4.41m). There are funds of £1.13m (2024: £1.42m), the use of which is mandated by trust deeds. Of these, the largest fund is £691k (2024: £824k) set aside for the redevelopment of the building.
## **INVESTMENTS**
## _**Investment Policy:**_
The Synagogue invests funds so as to generate reasonable long-term capital and income growth commensurate with the need to finance its long-term expenditure requirements and to protect the Synagogue’s capital against the risk of inflation.
The investment manager is responsible for asset allocation and for making investments through a carefully selected group of both internal and external fund managers, in accordance with the policy and any restrictions set out in the policy.
_Like many people,, we are feeling the financial pinch and with a young, growing family, despite wanting to do everything, we have to make difficult decisions. However, thanks to the Clergy Jewish Participation Fund, we have been able to attend a couple of special community activities, which would otherwise have been impossible._
_Alyth Members with three children_
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## _**Investment Performance:**_
The investment portfolio held by Rathbones, who merged with Investec Wealth Management, on Alyth’s behalf was valued at £1.08m on 31 August 2025 (2024: £1.04m). It was a challenging year for investments with the portfolio bouncing back from the low of a few years ago, but still performing below expectation. In the year, investments generated income of £50k, with net gains of £32k. The below expected performance was largely due to global market downturns, fluctuating bond yields, and challenges at home in the UK marked by currency devaluation and inflationary pressure, and ongoing geo-political instability.
The annual review of the investment portfolio was undertaken by the Investment Managers with members of Alyth’s Finance Advisory Group (FAG). The purpose of the review is to assess the performance of the portfolio and the Synagogue’s circumstances, to ensure that Investment Manager’s mandate remains appropriate. This was confirmed by the Finance Advisory Group to the Trustees.
## **RISK MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees of the Synagogue are responsible for financial oversight and the management of risk. They regularly consider and review the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Synagogue.
The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the Synagogue faces and confirm that appropriated systems and processes have been established to ensure regular review of risks and the production of reports; so that the necessary steps can be taken to mitigate risks as appropriate. It is recognised that systems can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately identified.
|and
the
production
of
reports;
so
that
the
recognised
that
systems
can
only
provide
adequately
identified.|necessary
steps
can
be
taken
to
mitigate
risks
as
appropriate.
It
is
reasonable
but
not
absolute
assurance
that
major
risks
have
been|
|---|---|
|**Risk**|**Mitigation**|
|Financial: Risk of not being able to fully
service the repayments on the loan from
CAF Bank|Prioritising the generation of non-subscription income through
fundraising from members, contribution from the building levy, and
hiring out the newly created spaces for events, parties and local
conferences.|
|Financial: Risk of a reduction income from
subscription income due to economic
pressures and an increase in the number of
members on reduced subscriptions or
through a drop in the number of members.|Continued efforts by the Professional Team to manage subscription
income and follow up non-payers.
Tracking membership data to identify downward trends and reasons
members may leave the synagogue.
Regular monitoring of individual members on reduced subscriptions
and focus on moving people back up to full membership when their
circumstances can support this.
Focus on strategic priorities, meeting the diverse needs of our
members, through quality, innovative and engaging prayer and
programme offerings.|
|Financial: The final account with the
contractor has yet to be settled. Whilst this is
considered to be “low risk” it is key to identify
as an area of financial focus.|Ongoing monitoring of outstanding items after Practical Completion.
The Project Management Group are working with the Contractor to
complete all outstanding work within the agreed contract.
Maintaining tight control over finalisation and settlement of the
Contractor’s final account within the available funds.|
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **Looking Ahead: 2025-26 & Beyond**
## **FILLING & FUNDING THE BUILDING**
As we continue forward and the redevelopment of the building moves on to being the spiritual home of Alyth, filled with our multigenerational community coming together to pray, learn, sing and to welcome visitors and friends. Our modern, multi-use spaces provide an opportunity to generate new income streams through hiring out these spaces for events, celebrations and conferences. Fundraising will continue to be a key focus for the Community in 2026 to ensure that we meet our financial obligations to CAF Bank. We must also ensure that Alyth continues to be resourced to deliver excellence in our prayer and programming.
## **CONNECTION & ENGAGEMENT**
Ours is a diverse community with a breadth of needs and hopes. At Alyth, we believe that nothing is more important than the relationships which we build and the welcome which we give one another. A key focus for 2025-26 will be continuing our series of focus groups where we spend time with members who are at different stages of their Jewish journey to help us deepen our connection and ensure we meet the needs of all our members. We must continue to be a community of care and support for one another and in a fast-paced, often divided world, we will still practice our values of inclusion and welcome and open our doors to our neighbours and the wider community.
## **OUR VOLUNTEERS**
Volunteers and volunteering is at the heart of all that we do at Alyth. Our members volunteer through lay leadership and joining Advisory and Working Groups. Young members are leaders in the Youth & Education Hub and dedicated volunteers are at the heart of the weekly Alyth Social and Monday Club gatherings, of the Bereavement Group and driving our refugee and homeless shelter projects. The focus on volunteers and volunteering will continue in 2025-26. We must continue to identify and develop lay leaders, build relationships and strengthen our volunteer base.
## **OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY & EFFECTIVENESS**
The Trustees and Professional Team continue to focus on delivering a high level of efficiency in the day-to-day operation of the Synagogue. In 2025-26 the Trustees will complete the expansion and development of the Rabbinic Team and following the unveiling of the new branding, on communications. Sustainability is also a priority with all aspects of operations under review to ensure this is at the forefront. The Trustees will prioritise finance. This means a focus on funding the annual repayments to CAF Bank through fundraising and hiring out our spaces, on maintaining the building and on collection of subscription income that covers operating expenditure and delivery of prayer and programming.
2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
## **TRUSTEE STATEMENTS**
## **Basis of Preparation of Accounts:**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of North Western Reform Synagogue (the charity) for the period 1 September 2024 - 31 August 2025. The Trustees confirm that the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Fundraising Compliance:**
The charity is committed to best practice, as outlined by the Fundraising Regulator, in its approach to fundraising and closely monitors its activities in this area, ensuring that vulnerable members are protected. No professional fundraisers are used by the charity. Fundraising for the building project was ongoing during 2024-25 and will continue into 2026 and for the foreseeable future.
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities:**
The trustees (who are also directors of North Western Reform Synagogue for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual 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, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information
## Small company exemptions:
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
**This report was approved by the Trustees on 5 February 2026 and signed on their behalf by:**
**Gary Lipman (Chair)**
**Statutory Accounts for the period: 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025**
North Western Reform Synagogue Company Number: 12336110 Alyth Gardens Charity Number: 1186738 London NW11 7EN
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of North Western Reform Synagogue (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 August 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Page 20
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (CONTINUED)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. 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. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Trustees' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' Report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.
Page 21
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (CONTINUED)**
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company 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 have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements., whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risk, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide as basis for our opinion.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, we have:
- considered the nature of the industry and sectors, control environment and business performance;
- made enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risk and irregularities;
- performed audit work over the risk of management override on controls, involving testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness and reviewing accounting estimates for bias;
- undertaken appropriate sample- based testing of bank transactions
- identified and evaluated compliance with relevant laws and regulations and made enquiries of any instances of non-compliance
- discussed matters among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and potential indictors of fraud.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
Page 22
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (CONTINUED)**
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Andrew Thomas (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
for and on behalf of **Nyman Libson Paul LLP**
Chartered Accountants Registered Auditors
124 Finchley Road
London
NW3 5JS
Date: 10 March 2026
Page 23
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Note
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
4
Charitable activities
5
Investments
6
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
7
Charitable activities
8
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure) before net**
**gains on investments**
Net gains on investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Transfers between funds
19
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|Restricted
funds
2025
£
632,581
-
17,890
650,471
5,017
196,606
201,623
448,848
11,455
460,303
(798,640)
(338,337)
5,825,177
(338,337)
5,486,840|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
1,674,029
539,116
32,120
2,245,265
5,016
2,575,117
2,580,133
(334,868)
20,563
(314,305)
798,640
484,335
861,276
484,335
1,345,611|Total
funds
2025
£
2,306,610
539,116
50,010
2,895,736
10,033
2,771,723
2,781,756
113,980
32,018
145,998
-
145,998
6,686,453
145,998
6,832,451|Total
funds
2024
£
1,864,352
436,730
83,584|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||2,384,666|
|||||9,072
2,136,646|
|||||2,145,718|
|||||238,948
73,824|
|||||312,772
-|
|||||312,772|
|||||6,373,681
312,772|
|||||6,686,453|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 28 to 51 form part of these financial statements.
Page 24
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 12336110**
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
|Note
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
**Current assets**
Stocks
14
Debtors
15
Investments: Short term liquidity fund
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
16
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year
17
Provisions for liabilities
**Net assets excluding pension liability**
Defined benefit pension scheme liability
24
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
19
Unrestricted funds
19
**Total funds**|-
163,664
853,490
608,603
1,625,757
(482,517)|2025
£
7,879,787
1,075,070
8,954,857
1,143,240
10,098,097
(3,218,427)
(42,150)
6,837,520
(5,069)
6,832,451
5,486,840
1,345,611
6,832,451|18,031
382,234
940,000
472,267
1,812,532
(566,775)|2024
£
7,945,516
1,038,323
8,983,839
1,245,757
10,229,596
(3,500,000)
(42,150)
6,687,446
(993)
6,686,453
5,825,177
861,276
6,686,453|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 25
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 12336110**
## **BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## Gary Lipman (Chair)
## Date: 5 February 2026
The notes on pages 28 to 51 form part of these financial statements.
Page 26
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash generated/(used) in operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
Investment management fees deducted
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Cash flows from other activities**
Cash inflows from new borrowing
**Net cash provided by other activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
The notes on pages 28 to 51 form part of these financial statements|2025
£
157,894
50,010
(143,316)
1,221,955
(1,135,904)
(10,033)
(17,288)
-
-
140,606
482,288
622,894|2024
£
179,128
83,584
(4,650,834)
1,821,835
(1,199,179)
(9,072)
(3,953,666)
3,500,000
3,500,000
(274,538)
756,826
482,288|
|---|---|---|
Page 27
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **1. General information**
North Western Reform Synagogue is private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The address of its registered office is listed on page 1 of these financial statements. The charity's purpose is the pursuance of Reform Judaism in the spheres of public worship, and religious, educational, cultural, social and charitable activities.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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 Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
North Western Reform Synagogue meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **2.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving these financial statements, and after reviewing the charity’s financial forecasts and projections, the trustees are confident that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of at least the next 12 months and subsequently. The trustees therefore consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the charity’s financial statements.
Page 28
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.3 Income**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the charity, can be reliably measured.
Donations are included in the financial year to which they relate. Donations in respect of the building project are recognised as income when the relevant conditions are met.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Subscription income is recognised over the membership year, starting from the date of receipt.
Kindergarten fees and education income are deferred as necessary to recognise them over the period to which they relate.
## **2.4 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **2.5 Government grants**
Government grants are credited to the Statement of financial activities as the related expenditure is incurred. Income from government grants are from the London Borough of Barnet to support 2 year olds in Early Years settings.
Page 29
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.6 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit 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 institution with whom the funds are deposited.
## **2.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Assets in the course of construction are included at costs incurred to date. Depreciation on these assets is not charged until they are brought into use.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
|Freehold property|-|2%|
|---|---|---|
|Kitchen equipment|-|10%|
|Fixtures and fittings|-|15%|
|Computer equipment|-|25%|
|New Bimah|-|4%|
## **2.8 Heritage assets**
The charity holds various heritage assets; these include items used in religious services and decorative art which is permanently displayed in the charity premises and has been donated over many years.
Charities are not required to recognise heritage assets on the balance sheet if information on their cost or valuation is not available and such information cannot be obtained at a cost commensurate with the benefit to the users of the accounts and to the charity. Where reliable information on cost or value is not available, charities will need to consider if the cost of obtaining a valuation is justified by the usefulness of the information to the users of the accounts and to the charity for its own stewardship purposes.
It is intended that these assets will be retained indefinitely and not sold. The trustees have concluded that, due to the lack of open market information for these assets, accurate information on cost or valution is not available. Accordingly, they are not capitalised in the financial statements.
## **2.9 Current asset investments**
Current asset investments are intially measured at cost and are subsequently re-measured at fair value. The charity intends to hold cash on deposits as part of on-going investment activities for more than one year.
Page 30
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.10 Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **2.11 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.12 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.13 Liabilities**
Liabilities and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as a finance cost.
## **2.14 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 with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.15 Operating leases**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Page 31
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.16 Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
The charity operates a defined benefits pension scheme and the pension charge is based on a full actuarial valuation dated 30 September 2020.
The charity is a member of a multi-employer plan. Where it is not possible for the charity to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the plan as a defined benefit plan, it accounts for the plan as a defined contribution plan.
## **2.17 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
## **3. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgment**
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The charity had no critical estimates and judgments in the financial year.
Page 32
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **4. Voluntary income**
|Subscriptions
Donations and Legacies
Income tax recoverable
Government grants
Burial Society fees
Total 2024|Restricted
funds
2025
£
-
582,217
50,364
-
-
632,581
299,582|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
1,032,949
176,656
238,579
122,056
103,789
1,674,029
1,564,770|Total
funds
2025
£
1,032,949
758,873
288,943
122,056
103,789
2,306,610
1,864,352|Total
funds
2024
£
969,823
480,958
240,449
94,338
78,784|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,864,352|
||||||
## **5. Income from charitable activities**
|Pray with us
Live with us
Be with us
Youth & education
Kindergarten
Rental income
Office Income|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
42,381
1,263
6,004
127,271
337,558
19,975
4,664
539,116|Total
funds
2025
£
42,381
1,263
6,004
127,271
337,558
19,975
4,664
539,116|Total
funds
2024
£
27,108
2,200
23,747
88,778
286,249
1,020
7,628|
|---|---|---|---|
||||436,730|
Page 33
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **5. Income from charitable activities (continued)**
## **Pray with us**
We believe that prayer is central to a meaningful Jewish life. We aim to create opportunities for worship that are intellectually rich, grounded in Jewish tradition and inspiring for all. To meet the prayer needs of the greatest possible number of our members, we hold a diverse range of services on Shabbat mornings, on festivals and on the High Holy Days. Because we believe that prayer matters to all, children are welcome in our adult services, and we also run regular innovative family services.
## **Live with us**
Alyth is built on a foundation of mutual care in which we share one another’s joys and sorrows and accompany one another through our life journeys. One of the greatest joys of Jewish life is to live as part of a caring community - one that supports us when we are falling, and shares our joys in happy times. Alyth is a place of care: led by a dedicated Head of Community Care and Life Cycle, ours is a community in which we care for one another through illness, bereavement, and the many challenges of life – providing practical and emotional support – meals, tansport, company, and a listening ear for those who need. To care is built into the fabric of everything we do. Alyth is also a place of great joy: home to over 50 B’nei Mitzvah a year, baby blessings, weddings, anniversaries, special birthdays. Our celebrations are more special for being shared with community.
## **Be with us**
We believe that nothing is more important in the life of a Jewish community than the relationships that we build and the welcome that we can give to one another. Prayer and learning are a central part of Jewish life, but they are not enough. To be a community is to share a wider range of interests and activities with one another – to be a genuine Jewish community centre. At Alyth we ramble, sing, act, cycle, play, paint, cook, eat, meditate, go on outings – all with people who know your name and care about your story! **Act with us**
We believe in a Judaism that is utterly engaged with the world around us, both within the Jewish people and our wider community. To be Jewish is to care about the world around us and to take responsibility for it. Alyth is home to the social awareness and activism that Judaism demands of us. Alyth is a community engaged in the world around us including our willingness to have difficult conversations about Israel, our volunteer-led monthly refugee drop-in and winter homeless shelter, our work to enable those with mental illness to enjoy Jewish life.
## **Youth & Education**
The Youth and Education Hub provides a learning and Jewish engagement programmes for ages 4 – 18, led by a dedicated and ambitious team of educators. Our desire is for our children to love coming to learn at Alyth and for them to benefit from the knowledge and skills they acquire and to inspire a journey of learning and living for each of them.
## **Kindergarten**
Alyth Kindergarten was established in 1970 to provide pre-school progressive Jewish education for Jewish children. The kindergarten’s outstanding reputation has grown over the years and continues to maintain its unique position in the area for its child-centred and caring approach which is why we cap our K1 and K2 group sizes to 24 in each class. Alyth Kindergarten is an important part of our Early Years provision and has strong links to the other areas of Alyth life.
## **Office**
We work as a respectful, collaborative partnership of professionals and lay leaders, working together for the good of our community and the individuals within it. Alyth is blessed with a dedicated team of professional staff who aim to always be available: when you want to find out about a Synagogue programme, when something significant has happened in your life, or when you have an idea for how our community can develop.
Page 34
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **6. Investment income**
|Dividends receivable
Interest receivable
Total 2024|Restricted
funds
2025
£
17,890
-
17,890
39,068|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
30,698
1,422
32,120
44,516|Total
funds
2025
£
48,588
1,422
50,010
83,584|Total
funds
2024
£
82,733
851|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||83,584|
||||||
## **7. Investment management costs**
|Investment management fees
Total 2024|Restricted
funds
2025
£
5,017
4,536|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
5,016
4,536|Total
funds
2025
£
10,033
9,072|Total
funds
2024
£
9,072|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
Page 35
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **8. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Pray with us
Live with us
Be with us
Act with us
Youth & Education
Kindergarten
Premises
Learn with us
Burial Scheme
Office & miscellaneous
Reform movement affiliation
Total 2024|Activities
undertaken
directly
2025
£
234,616
14,592
24,556
16,562
149,836
92,923
248,164
31,389
134,143
-
132,000
1,078,781
682,637|Support
costs
2025
£
480,057
29,858
50,246
33,889
306,590
190,137
327,905
64,227
-
210,033
-
1,692,942
1,454,009|Total
funds
2025
£
714,673
44,450
74,802
50,451
456,426
283,060
576,069
95,616
134,143
210,033
132,000
2,771,723
2,136,646|Total
funds
2024
£
671,076
33,162
91,865
72,829
299,751
265,384
168,023
99,874
95,988
206,694
132,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||2,136,646|
||||||
Page 36
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **8. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Staff costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Cleaning and maintenance
Lighting, heating and rates
Repairs and maintenance
Insurances
Security
Computer and IT costs
Depreciation and amortisation
Bank charges
Operating lease rentals
Audit and Accountancy fees
Legal and professional
Sundry costs
Increase in provisions|Total
funds
2025
£
1,161,295
23,269
13,490
35,214
17,238
42,338
3,253
37,367
209,045
13,619
55,170
39,180
2,150
34,382
5,932
1,692,942|Total
funds
2024
£
1,083,786
12,853
9,772
29,367
3,431
37,033
20,958
28,095
61,724
13,593
36,130
48,235
2,066
24,816
42,150|
|---|---|---|
|||1,454,009|
Support costs are allocated to activities based on estimated resource consumption by each activity. Primarily, this is dictated by the amount of income each activity generates.
## **9. Auditors' remuneration**
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Fees payable to the charity's auditor for the audit of the charity's annual|||
|accounts|11,000|11,000|
|Fees payable to the charity's auditor in respect of:|||
|All taxation advisory services not included above|500|500|
|All non-audit services not included above|3,000|3,000|
Page 37
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **10. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to pension schemes|2025
£
1,012,881
95,635
52,779
1,161,295|2024
£
942,107
85,876
55,803|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||1,083,786|
Termination payments and payments in lieu of notice totalling £53,167 were paid during the year, and are included in wages and salaries above.
The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
|Clergy
Kindergarten
Music
Welfare
Office
Caretaking
Youth and Education|2025
No.
3
10
1
1
8
3
5
31|2024
No.
3
9
1
1
5
3
5|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||27|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||No.|No.|
|In the band £60,001|- £70,000|1|2|
The core management of the Community (also known as the key management personnel for this disclosure) is carried out by senior professionals, including Clergy and members of the Professional Team. The total amount payable to key management for employee services during the period was £204,039 (2024: £230,836).
## **11. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL).
During the year ended 31 August 2025, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2024 - £NIL).
Page 38
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **12. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 September 2024
Additions
Disposals
Transfers between classes
At 31 August 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 September 2024
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 August 2025|Freehold
property
£
2,402,902
-
(58,871)
6,512,089
8,856,120
1,016,952
179,933
(58,871)
1,138,014|Freehold
property
under
construction
£
6,523,563
61,100
-
(6,584,663)
-
-
-
-
-|Kitchen
£
-
-
-
72,574
72,574
-
7,257
-
7,257|Fixtures and
fittings
£
122,466
62,187
-
-
184,653
100,792
12,405
-
113,197|Computer
equipment
£
98,776
20,029
-
-
118,805
84,447
9,450
-
93,897|Total
£
9,147,707
143,316
(58,871)
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||9,232,152|
|||||||1,202,191
209,045
(58,871)|
|||||||1,352,365|
Page 39
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **12. Tangible fixed assets (continued)**
|**Net book value**
At 31 August 2025
At 31 August 2024
**Fixed assets held as security**|Freehold
property
£
7,718,106
1,385,950|Freehold
property
under
construction
£
-
6,523,563|Kitchen
£
65,317
-|Fixtures and
fittings
£
71,456
21,674|Computer
equipment
£
24,908
14,329|Total
£
7,879,787|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||7,945,516|
||||||||
In order to obtain the loan, the Synagogue building, which is represented by the net book value of £7,789,229 in the financial statements, has been pledged as security.
Page 40
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **13. Fixed asset investments**
|Market value at start of the year
Acquisitions at cost
Sale proceeds of disposals
Revaluations
Dividend income
Management fees
Withdrawals from investment platform|Listed
investments
2025
£
1,028,302
1,135,904
(1,161,955)
58,528
-
-
-
1,060,779|Cash
account
2025
£
10,021
(1,135,904)
1,221,955
-
48,588
(10,033)
(120,336)
14,291|Total
funds
2025
£
1,038,323
-
60,000
58,528
48,588
(10,033)
(120,336)
1,075,070|Total
funds
2024
£
1,053,053
-
-
73,824
82,733
(9,072)
(162,215)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,038,323|
The acquisitions row represents the total value of investments purchased during the financial year, inclusive of reinvested income or funds transferred to investments. The sales row reflects the total amount received from the disposal of investments during the financial year, including any capital gains or losses realised on the transactions.
## **Current asset investments**
|Market value|2025
£
853,490
853,490|2024
£
940,000|
|---|---|---|
|||940,000|
Current asset investments and fixed asset investments are all managed by one investment management company, Rathbones. The allocation between current and fixed investments is based on the type of investment and intended purpose of the investment.
## **14. Stocks**
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Books for resale (Machzorim)|-|18,031|
Page 41
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **15. Debtors**
|**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|2025
£
14,984
306
148,374
163,664|2024
£
36,269
3,000
342,965|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||382,234|
## **16. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Bank loans
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|2025
£
281,573
143,550
-
16,181
41,213
482,517|2024
£
-
290,435
22,193
33,341
220,806|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||566,775|
## **17. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year**
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Bank loans|3,218,427|3,500,000|
The aggregate amount of liabilities payable or repayable wholly or in part more than five years after the reporting date is:
|Payable or repayable by instalments|2025
£
1,987,731
1,987,731|2024
£
2,295,222|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||2,295,222|
As mentioned in note 12 to these financial statements, the loan is secured by the charity's freehold property assets.
Page 42
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **18. Provisions**
|At 1 September 2024|Provision
against
assets
£
42,150|
|---|---|
|||
||42,150|
The above provision represents the value of assets that the charity is entitled to but has not been able to access or realise due to administrative issues.
Page 43
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **19. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|||Balance at 1|||||Balance at|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||September|||Transfers|Gains/|31 August|
|||2024|Income|Expenditure|in/out|(Losses)|2025|
|||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted**||||||||
|**funds**||||||||
|**Designated**||||||||
|**funds**||||||||
|Access fund||3,580|-|-|-|-|3,580|
|Kindergarten||||||||
|Maint Fund||13,364|13,499|(6,914)|-|-|19,949|
|HHD||5,955|10,428|(6,674)|(9,709)|-|-|
|Jack Petchey||||||||
|(BS)||11,098|3,700|(4,047)|-|-|10,751|
|Burial|fund|13,284|-|-|-|-|13,284|
|Community||||||||
|Welfare Fund||39,801|-|-|-|-|39,801|
|Contingency||||||||
|Fund||400,000|-|-|-|-|400,000|
|Music||||||||
|Programme||2,404|-|-|-|-|2,404|
|Education Fund||47,923|-|-|-|-|47,923|
|Kerch|Funds|12,204|-|-|-|-|12,204|
|Legacy Fund||27,146|-|-|-|-|27,146|
|Monday Club||8,332|4,748|(15,611)|2,531|-|-|
|Outreach Fund||6,186|-|-|-|-|6,186|
|Refugee project||2,540|-|(8,537)|5,997|-|-|
|Social|Action|||||||
|Fund||9,882|554|(2,381)|-|-|8,055|
|Social|Justice|||||||
|Development||||||||
|Fund||38,712|1,460|(3,248)|(3,673)|-|33,251|
|Welfare Fund||8,798|12,665|(7,767)|-|-|13,696|
|Youth|Schemes|||||||
|and Events||19,730|-|-|-|-|19,730|
|Interfaith||||||||
|programme||8,850|-|(1,401)|-|-|7,449|
|Other||||||||
|designated||||||||
|funds||28,068|3,334|-|-|-|31,402|
Page 44
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **19. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - current year (continued)**
|**General funds**
Reserves
**Restricted**
**funds**
Gladys Gebbie
Fund
Jubilee Fund
NWRS
Charitable Fund
Alyth Youth
Fund
Clergy Jewish
Participation
Fund
Freehold land
and buildings
Other restricted
funds
Tekiyah
Building Fund
Summers Fund
Member
Support Fund
**Total of funds**|Balance at 1
September
2024
£
707,857
153,419
16,988
87,540
27,089
60,801
31,405
4,409,513
7,543
823,642
300,000
60,656
5,825,177
6,686,453|Income
£
50,388
2,194,877
429
2,213
-
-
9,134
-
-
638,195
-
500
650,471
2,895,736|Expenditure
£
(56,580)
(2,523,553)
(120)
(621)
-
-
(9,185)
(187,190)
-
(4,276)
-
(231)
(201,623)
(2,781,756)|Transfers
in/out
£
(4,854)
803,494
-
(73,960)
-
(60,801)
4,854
132,556
-
(776,338)
-
(24,951)
(798,640)
-|Gains/
(Losses)
£
-
20,563
275
1,417
-
-
-
-
-
9,763
-
-
11,455
32,018|Balance at
31 August
2025
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||696,811|
|||||||648,800|
|||||||17,572
16,589
27,089
-
36,208
4,354,879
7,543
690,986
300,000
35,974|
|||||||5,486,840|
|||||||6,832,451|
Page 45
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **19. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|||Balance at|||||Balance at|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||1 September|||Transfers|Gains/|31 August|
|||2023|Income|Expenditure|in/out|(Losses)|2024|
|||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted**||||||||
|**funds**||||||||
|**Designated**||||||||
|**funds**||||||||
|Access fund||3,580|-|-|-|-|3,580|
|Kindergarten||||||||
|Maint Fund||3,865|9,666|(167)|-|-|13,364|
|HHD||-|5,970|(15)|-|-|5,955|
|Jack Petchey||||||||
|(BS)||8,228|2,900|(30)|-|-|11,098|
|Burial|fund|13,259|25|-|-|-|13,284|
|Community||||||||
|Welfare Fund||39,801|-|-|-|-|39,801|
|Contingency||||||||
|Fund||400,000|-|-|-|-|400,000|
|Music||||||||
|Programme||16,473|-|(14,069)|-|-|2,404|
|Education Fund||47,923|-|-|-|-|47,923|
|Kerch|Funds|12,204|-|-|-|-|12,204|
|Legacy Fund||7,000|20,146|-|-|-|27,146|
|Monday Club||2,680|18,031|(12,379)|-|-|8,332|
|Outreach Fund||6,186|-|-|-|-|6,186|
|Refugee project||-|15,077|(12,537)|-|-|2,540|
|Social|Action|||||||
|Fund||10,651|174|(943)|-|-|9,882|
|Social|Justice|||||||
|Development||||||||
|Fund||31,606|8,811|(1,705)|-|-|38,712|
|Welfare Fund||-|15,080|(6,282)|-|-|8,798|
|Youth|Schemes|||||||
|and Events||19,730|-|-|-|-|19,730|
|Interfaith||||||||
|programme||8,850|-|-|-|-|8,850|
|Other||||||||
|designated||||||||
|funds||12,573|15,495|-|-|-|28,068|
Page 46
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **19. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year (continued)**
|**General funds**
Reserves
**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
Gladys Gebbie
Fund
Jubilee Fund
NWRS
Charitable Fund
Alyth Youth
Fund
Clergy Jewish
Participation
Fund
Freehold land
and buildings
Other restricted
funds
Tekiyah
Building Fund
Summers Fund
Member
Support Fund|Balance at
1 September
2023
£
644,609
444,619
1,089,228
16,113
83,031
26,939
60,801
78,555
3,346,914
7,543
1,293,208
300,000
71,349
5,284,453|Income
£
111,375
1,934,641
2,046,016
464
2,391
150
-
2,151
-
-
329,764
-
3,730
338,650|Expenditure
£
(48,127)
(1,978,462)
(2,026,589)
(54)
(278)
-
-
(49,301)
(50,869)
-
(4,204)
-
(14,423)
(119,129)|Transfers
in/out
£
-
(282,049)
(282,049)
-
-
-
-
-
1,113,468
-
(831,419)
-
-
282,049|Gains/
(Losses)
£
-
34,670
34,670
465
2,396
-
-
-
-
-
36,293
-
-
39,154|Balance at
31 August
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||707,857|
|||||||153,419|
|||||||861,276|
|||||||16,988
87,540
27,089
60,801
31,405
4,409,513
7,543
823,642
300,000
60,656|
|||||||5,825,177|
Page 47
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **19. Statement of funds (continued)**
- **Total of funds** 6,373,681 2,384,666 (2,145,718) 73,824 6,686,453
Gladys Gebbie fund represents investments of the late Gladys Gebbie.
Jubilee fund relates to a fund set up to provide grants out of capital for major work to the Synagogue and grants out of income to fund education activities. It originally had its own trustees and constitution.
Alyth Youth fund provides grants to the youth department and direct to individuals to assist with specific activities and purchases. It originally had its own trustees and constitution.
Clergy Jewish Participation Fund is an account set up by the Rabbinic Team, which is now part of the Synagogues restricted funds. Income is obtained from donations from members and confidential payments are made to members of the Synagogue in extreme financial need at the discretion of the Clergy Team who are trustees of this account.
The High Holyday Appeal fund represents amounts collected by the High Holyday Appeal of the Synagogue and other collections which have been or will be paid to earmarked charities or to designated funds held by the synagogue used for specified charitable purposes.
The Tekiyah Building Fund represents monies allocated to be spent in the future by the Synagogue in relation to the development of the building.
The Summers Fund is kept to support the welfare needs of the community.
The Members Support Fund was set up specifically to support members who were having financial difficulties and were unable to pay their normal level of subscription in a given year.
## **20. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges
**Total**|Restricted
funds
2025
£
7,854,879
605,286
568,825
-
(3,500,000)
(42,150)
5,486,840|Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
24,908
469,784
1,056,932
(302,393)
101,449
(5,069)
1,345,611|Total
funds
2025
£
7,879,787
1,075,070
1,625,757
(302,393)
(3,398,551)
(47,219)
6,832,451|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 48
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **20. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges
**Total**|Restricted
funds
2024
£
7,909,513
707,732
750,082
-
(3,500,000)
(42,150)
5,825,177|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
36,003
330,591
1,062,450
(566,775)
-
(993)
861,276|Total
funds
2024
£
7,945,516
1,038,323
1,812,532
(566,775)
(3,500,000)
(43,143)
6,686,453|
|---|---|---|---|
## **21. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
|Net income for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
(Gains)/losses on investments
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Investment management fees paid from portfolio
Decease/(increase) in stocks
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Increase/(decrease) in provisions
**Net cash provided by operating activities**|2025
£
145,998
209,045
(32,018)
(50,010)
10,033
18,031
218,570
(365,831)
4,076
157,894|2024
£
312,772
61,724
(73,824)
(83,584)
9,072
(18,031)
(189,634)
124,680
35,953
179,128|
|---|---|---|
Page 49
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **22. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
|Cash at bank and in hand
Cash held by investment managers (note 13)
**Total cash and cash equivalents**|2025
£
608,603
14,291
622,894|2024
£
472,267
10,021|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||482,288|
## **23. Analysis of changes in net debt**
||At 1||Other non-||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||September||cash|At 31 August|
||2024|Cash flows|changes|2025|
||£|£|£|£|
|Cash at bank and in hand|472,267|136,336|-|608,603|
|Debt due within 1 year|-|-|(281,573)|(281,573)|
|Debt due after 1 year|(3,500,000)|-|281,573|(3,218,427)|
|Liquid investments|940,000|(86,510)|-|853,490|
## **24. Pension commitments**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the group to the fund and amounted to £54,642 (2024: £52,629). £13,611 (2024: £28,581) were payable to the fund at the reporting date and are included in creditors.
The charity also operates a defined benefit pension scheme. The assets and liabilities of the scheme are held seperately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. However, the scheme is a multiple employer scheme and the charity is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities.
The pension contributions paid into the scheme during the year amounted to £5,491 (2024: £9,492). Of this, £3,628 (2024: £3,174) related to current year obligations and were included in expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities. £1,863 (2024: £6,386) related to payments against the deficit provided for in previous years. Actuarial adjustments and remeasurements increased the provision by £5,939 (2024: £189). The present value of the provision for the funding deficit at the year end amounted to £5,069 (2024: £993).
Page 50
**NORTH WESTERN REFORM SYNAGOGUE (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **25. Operating lease commitments**
At 31 August 2025 the charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:
|Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years|2025
£
35,784
93,024
128,808|2024
£
16,704
33,408|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||50,112|
## **26. Other financial commitments**
During the year, the Synagogue completed major refurbishment works. Practical Completion was granted on 6 September 2024. The completed work included £65.6k of retention monies conditionally due to the Contractor by 6 September 2025 after consideration of the defect report. Negotiations to settle on a final amount payable were still underway as at the approval date of these financial statements, and no amount had been accrued for as a liability at the reporting date.
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