**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1188590** ## Trustees Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for ## Year Ended 31[ST] December 2024 for ## LOUGHTON CHIGWELL & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE |Contents:|Page| |---|---| |Chairman’s Report|2 - 3| |Trustees Report|3 - 5| |Reference and Administrative Details|5| |Photographs from community events 2024|
6 - 9| |Independent Examiners Report|See separate attachment| |Accounts for Y/E 31stDecember 2024|See separate attachment| 1 ## ’ – Chairman s report Mrs Lesley Adams ## 2023/24 was a very busy year for Loughton Shul. We welcomed our new Treasurer, Robert Dacosta to the board. Robert has done a wonderful job of getting to grips and helping to sort out our finances. Not an easy task, but a massive thank you for all you’ve done in the past year, you have all our support. **Thanks to Rabbi Yanky and Rochel -** for the incredible inspiration they bring and for their constant willingness to help with everything I ask for. Their support at both shul events, their dedication to shomering, and Rochel’s weekly checking of eggs for the Made With Love Chicken Soup Run—all speak volumes about their devotion. From creating flyers and posters to helping with IT and communications, their contributions are invaluable. They care for our members, especially staying connected with those who are unwell, reflecting their deep compassion and commitment to our community. The services, jokes, and the special way the Rabbi makes every member feel seen and valued mean more than words can say. **Wardens -** A massive heartfelt thank you to our head warden Gary Roll, together with Jeff Witzenfeld and Ray Cohen. They do a sterling job making our services run smoothly! **Fundraising - David** Galman together with Steven Goldstone, Laurence Davies and Barry Bennett have taken Fundraising by the horns, organising some really great events. Thank you so very much. They are undoubtedly one of the best fundraising teams that I have seen. **Security** - I have to thank Les Gilbert for being our one-man band Security officer for the past few years dedicating his heart and soul to the task of keeping us safe. Including installing our amazing electric gates! An absolute G-D send in our troubled times right now. Unfortunately, due to other commitments, Les is unable to continue, so Security has been struggling. My saviour has arrived in the shape of Danny Prever who has offered to organise the security as best he can, together with the help of Steven Goldstone Ryan Green and myself. I am eternally grateful. Danny, we will give you all our support. These are scary times, and security is on high alert. **Health and Safety -** Steven Goldstone has been my Health and Safety officer and has done such a dedicated and brilliant job in making sure everything is up to date, working well and we are insured. Thank you so much. Due to his many other tasks including Fundraising, membership, security and helping me, we have passed the baton back to our past Health and Safety officer Steven Gee. Thank you, Steven, so much for taking back this office **Membership -** Steven Goldstone, my deputy, took on the role of membership, which has been seriously lacking for quite a few years. With Phillip’s new special short-term joining package, Steven has managed to join up to Loughton Shul 12 new families. **Functions** Pauline Witzenfeld, Deborah Shulton and myself as a team run all the functions in the shul. Last year, we had some fabulous events, including a phenomenal music experience with Jeremy Sassoon, that Deborah and Trevor Shulton sponsored in memory of Deborah’s wonderful dear Father, Ken Turner, and raised an incredible amount for our shul. We held our annual Loughton Shul Friday Night Dinner with Anton Eriera as the cabaret and a fantastic sing along, together with lots of toffee vodka! A visit from the rotary club. Steven Selby together with his band hired the hall and delighted us with a great dinner dance of which he donated jointly the proceeds to an IDF charity and our shul. A fantastic Shabbaton with the children from IJPS. A fun evening with a magician and hypnotist. A gorgeous communal baby blessing . A few levoyers and stone settings which are becoming very popular to be held in the shul and we have a few enquiries already for this year, not only from our community. 2 Philip Leigh, celebrated his 2[nd] Barmitzvah, encouraging others to follow suit after a wonderful morning in shul with his family and friends and a spectacular kiddush. We hosted many Barmitzvahs, Batmitzvahs, baby blessings, milestone birthdays, and sponsored kiddushim. And we have many more this year! Our kiddushim are the talk of many other shuls! **The Chicken Soup Run -** The shul’s special charity, and something so very close to my heart, The Made With Love Chicken Soup Run, is still going strong I started up **“Cooking with Compliments” l** ast year and in the next few weeks we are having a community **cook-in** at the shul to prepare meals and freeze them for those that are unwell, sitting shiva and including births. Our helpline, headed up by Marlene Sugarman, Loughton Shul’s community Liaison and welfare Officer, is waiting in anticipation for calls for help from our members who are struggling, in total confidence. She will be back on birthdays very soon, plus calling the elderly on a regular basis to make sure they are ok. Thank you, Marlene, you are the only one for this job as your heart is so big! There are several more exciting projects in the pipeline for the coming year. Lastly some very important thank you’s Catherine Rawlings for making sure our accounts are in order, payments made on time, and wages sorted. Merle and Gary Lewis for their unstinting help whenever we need them. Especially during calendar time and Yomtov’s. Our new Administrator Heather Phillips, who in the very short time she has commenced her time with us, has been exceptional! I am so pleased to have you as part of our team. Thank you to Richard Cohen, our representative on the Board of Deputies. And now to the person that persuaded me to take this position as your chairman!! Philip Leigh. Thank you for your guidance, help and your confidence in me. Lastly, thank you to my incredible and amazing Board! Not forgetting my wonderful husband, who has become my other partner in the chicken soup run, part time Gardner in the shul, general handyman, part time caretaker! He spends more time in shul than at home but can’t thank you enough for everything you do for our community! and me! **Let’s all of us, members of Loughton shul, work together, in making this, the best Jewish community in the County! ‘** ## **LOUGHTON CHIGWELL & DISTRICT SYNAGOGUE Trustees Annual Report for Year Ended 31[ST] December 2024** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 . The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 Jan 2019). ## **Public Benefit Statement** All charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties. 3 ## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES ## Objectives and Aims The object of Loughton and Chigwell District Synagogue is the advancement for the public benefit of the Jewish religion according to the precepts of traditional Orthodox Judaism by the maintenance of regular Sabbath and other religious services, Hebrew and religion classes and of such other activities as may promote the religious, spiritual and general welfare of people of the Jewish faith in, but not limited to, Loughton, Essex, and its environs. ## Main Activities We continued to run our weekly meal delivery service for the elderly, sick and vulnerable as well as engage regularly with our members through religious, social, and educational events that are now all held in person and are well attended. We also continue to run our Hebrew classes for 5–13-year-olds as well as various social groups and member services. ## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ## Main achievements _Learning continues to be at the heart of our mission. We launched our Lunch & Learn program, which has been well received, and we look forward to the next session this June. We’ve also been active in outreach and education - School visits have brought Jewish life and learning to students of all backgrounds, Old age home visits before Yom Tovim and Shabbat have brought comfort, joy, and spiritual connection to our elders._ _We aim to welcome even more visiting groups to our shul to learn about Judaism, strengthening mutual understanding and community relationships._ This year our cheder saw 7 girls graduating from our Bat Mitzvah club. Our meal delivery service, the “Made with Love Chicken Soup Run” – continues to reach approximately 200 recipients each week. This service continues to be funded through the receipts of donations from the community as well as grants that were successfully applied for and awarded as well as an annual sponsored walk that was again organised by the volunteers raising over £10000. ## FINANCIAL REVIEW Loughton Chigwell and District Synagogue are financially independent, with income being generated through membership subscriptions, donations, and fundraising events. Since the Charity started at the beginning of 2020 the accounts represent the charity’s fourth year. Our policy is to hold reserves for future investment in the community when required. ## **Key Messages** ## _Income:_ _Membership contributions are up to £102k from £94k in 2023 due to increase membership numbers._ _Of the 46k donations, the Kol Nidre appeal raised £27k_ _The income from rent has increased to £18k from £8k to reflect the full occupancy of the property in the year_ ## _**Expenses:**_ _Administration costs have increased to £46k from £38k largely reflecting being under resourced in 2023._ _The increase in soup run costs is reflective of an increase in customer base and also inflationary increases in ingredient prices_ 4 _The management team have analysed the outstanding unpaid subscriptions over the last 4 years and deemed it necessary to accrue a doubtful debt provision at £18,000_ _**Liabilities:**_ _A portion of outstanding loans have been realigned as accruals but the overall liability balance has decreased by £6k_ _**Net Assets:**_ _Overall the Net Assets are up by £1,500 to just under £150k’_ ## **Summary** - For y/e 31/12/2024 we made a net profit of £1444 vs £16935 last year ## STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT ## Governing Document The charity was constituted as a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 17[th] March 2020 and is controlled by its governing document, a constitution dated 5[th] January 2020, managed by trustees but with voting members other than its charity trustees – who’s respective powers are set out in the constitution. ## Board of Trustees There should be a minimum of 3 trustees at any time. New trustees can be appointed in place of a trustee who has retired or as an additional trustee up to a maximum of 9. New trustees are nominated, voted for, and appointed at the AGM. The Life President of the Synagogue automatically, by virtue of holding that office (“ex officio”), be a charity trustee. ## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Charity Registration Number: 1188590 Principal Address: 102 Borders Lane, Loughton, IG10 1TE, England Current Trustees at time of submitting report: Mr P Leigh - Chair Mrs D Shulton Mr J Witzenfeld Mr L Gilbert Accounts independently examined by ## Steven Bracey F.C.C.A Approved by order of the Trustees on 30/09/25 and signed on its behalf by _____________________________________________ Mrs D Shulton – Trustee 5 PHOTOGRAPHS FROM COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD IN 2024 Jv. rf) Il, 1.11 *r i i I'IALKING IOK TO WALKING IOKTO RAISE IOK **Loughton Chigwell & District Synagogue Accounts For The Year To 31st December 2024** ## **Loughton Chigwell & District Synagogue** ## **31st December 2024 Accounts** ## **Independent Examiners Report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024. As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I have not carried out an audit. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have found no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Steven Bracey F.C.C.A 21[st] May 2025