Cambridge Jewish Residents Association (CJRA CIO) Charity Number 1187648
CJRA Trustees’ Annual Report 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2024
Reference and administrative Information
Charity Name: Cambridge Jewish Residents Association CIO
Charity Registration Number 1187648
Address of Organisation - there is no official building or office. All Trustees work from their home addresses.
Trustees: One Trustee, David Waldman, died on 10 January 2024. We gained a new Trustee, Ruth Katz, at the AGM on 7 September 2023.
1. Marilyn Fersht, Chairman
2. Sylvia Morris, Treasurer
3. Eva Simmons, Vice Chair
4. Rachel Meller, Membership Secretary
5. Robert Marks, Treasurer of Burial Society
6. Ruth Barnett, Secretary of Burial Society
7. Valerie Collis, Education Officer
8. Tirza Bleehen, Welfare Officer
9. Kathrin Peters, Minute Secretary
10. Ruth Katz, Email Circular Editor
Structure, governance and management
The CJRA became a CIO on 29 January 2020 with a constitution, after many years of being an unincorporated charity. At the Annual General Meeting on 8 September 2022, it was agreed to increase the number of Trustees from the original two to ten, following a resolution that the board of charity trustees shall comprise: the Chairman and the Treasurer, during their tenure of office; and during their time on the committee all other Committee Members who choose so to be. All are volunteers. We have held four committee meetings and one AGM during the period of this report. All were held on Zoom. We also have many other volunteers who help run our different groups, in particular, a cross-community welfare support group.
Our members are charged a small subscription of £30 per annum per person. We have a category called Associate Members, who are non-Jewish, who receive the magazine and can join in all our events and activities but have no burial rights. We had, at the end of the financial year, 143 full members and 15 associate members.
Our income is derived from subscriptions, donations, bank interest and gift aid.
Objectives and Activities
Our purpose is the advancement of the Jewish faith through the provision of religious services and burial, education to advance Jewish culture, history and knowledge and to provide social interaction and welfare for those in need. We are always open to those outside the Jewish faith, who would like to advance their knowledge of our religion, history, customs and culture. Entry to most of our talks and events is free.
We give financial support for the maintenance of the Synagogue building in Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge. The University of Cambridge Jewish Society runs the Synagogue with help from Jewish residents.
We enjoyed a community garden party on 20 August 2023 at a member’s home and held a Chanukah Party jointly with Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue on 10 December. Entertainment was provided by our locally based Kol Echad Choir. Seventy people attended.
On 6 May 2024 we commemorated the founding of the state of Israel with a solemn programme that remembered the 1200 victims, killed in the massacres of 7 October 2023 and the Israeli hostages still in Gaza.
Our Evening Talks programme: There were seven talks, which continued online and were well attended.
The monthly Monday afternoon meetings of the Cambridge Jewish Cultural Association continued in person and were well attended.
We sent out in the post three magazines, which contained information of all that is happening across the Cambridge Jewish community, as well as interesting articles and reports. We also offer an online version of the magazine. In addition, an email circular is sent out weekly to inform and remind our members and others of forthcoming activities and events.
Our Burial Society arranged 3 burials and 2 stone settings.
CJRA TREASURER’S REPORT 2023/2024
The accounts are prepared on a Cash Basis so the results show cash movements in the year. They have been independently verified by a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
| Income: Members’ subscriptions Donations Gift Aid received for 21/22 and 22/23 Chevra Kadisha Welfare CJCS transferred September 2023 |
*£5,149 £85 £930 £190 £884 £7,238 |
|---|---|
- After refunds of small overpayments subtracted Gift aid for 2023/24 of £770 has been claimed.
| ** Investment interest: Natwest Liquidity Natwest Reserve |
£257 £704 |
|---|---|
| Saffron | £4,635 |
| £5,596 | |
| £326 | |
| Expenditure: Insurance |
|
| Printing, postage, stationery | £2,476 |
| Charity donation for accountancy | £500 |
| CUJS Annual donation | £2,500 |
| Wednesday speakers | £280 £449 £589 |
| Other events | |
| Chevra Kadisha | |
| £7,119 |
Note: the MDA donation of £685 was accounted for in the 2021/22 year and does not therefore appear as expenditure in the current year,
The charity donation is being given to Crisis in recognition of the work undertaken by the pro bono independent examiner for 23/24,
| Funds Available | £3,465 £45,257 £11,341 £87,663 |
|---|---|
| Cash at Bank | |
| Natwest Liquidity | |
| NatWest Reserve Account | |
| Saffron Building Society | |
Total |
£147,726 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent èxaminer's report on the accounts Section A IndÈpendent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl MamrS Of Carnbridg8 JewL8h Residenls Assooation On a¢¢¢)unts Iixthe year nd8d 31 May 2024 Charity no (Wan 1187648 Sot outon pago8 3-4 I rewrt lo the trusle&s my examination ol the ac£ounts of thé abDve charity I the Trust"} for the year 8n¢ed 3110512024. Rosponsibilltles and As thè charity Iruslegs of Ihe Tru51. you are responsibl& for th& préparation ba81s of rrfjort of the accounts in accordance with th8 requir8menls of the Charilies Act 2011 Ilhe Acri. I r8POrt in respe¢l of my examination of the Ttusl's accounts carned oul under section 145 of th8 2011 Act and in carrwng out my examinatK)n. I have followed the applicable Directions gwen by the Charity Commission under section 14S5Kbl of the Act. I have ¢ompleied my examination. I confirm that no material matter8 have COMÈ to tny attention lother Ih3n that disclosed b8low"l in connection Trmlh the examination which gives me eAuse lo b81*ve thai in. any maierial r&swcl.' aGGounliru record5 were not kept in aldance with section 130 of the Ad or the accounts do not acwTd wlh the accfxjnting tethrds Independent examinerfs $latemtrnt I have no concems and have come across nts other rnatters in connectK)n with th& Èxamination lo which attention Should be drawn in order lo ena8 a proper understanding of the 8ccounls lo bÈ 3¢. ' Pleaso dolole Iho words in Ihe lyackÈls rfthey ¢k) not apply. Sloned- Date.. 202 Name: Mary Peam)ain Relevant professional qualrficationl81 or body lif any1= Inslilute of Chartered Accounlanls in England and Wales Addr088: 53 Elm Avenutr, RUISLIP, Middlesex HA4 8PE IER Octobor 2018