## Chabad Lubavitch of Pinner Trustees’ ## Annual Report and Accounts ## Year ending 31 December 2024 _Chanukah Celebration: Image from our Chanukah celebration event on Pinner High Street_ Registered Charity Number: 1196650 B”H ## **Trustees:** - Dov Yitzchak Katzel - Bracha Brenda Chantal Benchemhoun Fcca Bsc - Levi Issac Weinman The Trustees named on this page have served throughout the year unless indicated otherwise. Appointment of Trustees is governed by the Constitution of the charity. The Board of Trustees is authorised to appoint new Trustees to fill vacancies arising from resignation or death of an existing Trustee. The Constitution authorises the Trustees to make or hold investments in the general funds of the charity. ## **Description of Organisation:** Chabad Lubavitch of Pinner was founded and registered independently with the Charity Commission as a CIO on 18th November 2021 under registration number 1196650. ## **Constitution, objectives, policies and public benefit:** The Charity is governed by a constitution and its objectives are: (a) The advancement the Jewish religion for the benefit of the public, including through communal prayers, lectures, and celebration of festivals. (b) Provision of education to adults and children in the heritage, culture and language of Judaism. (c) Provision of welfare and social support for Jewish people, especially those who are socially excluded. We have an open-door policy for all our activities welcoming both members and people with no affiliation. Further details of our activities for the benefit of the 2 B”H public particularly in the area of community cohesion can be found later in this report. The policy of the Charity continues to be to seek additional finance and support in order to enable it to continue and expand its objectives and activities. The Charity’s main sources of income are from members’ donations and grants received from charitable trusts. ## **Fund Raising** The charities fundraising is primarily carried out by the Rabbi, through direct approaches to individuals and other charitable trust. No complaints were received about the nature of fundraising carried out on behalf of the Charity. The Trustees are grateful to all the benefactors whose generous contributions remain an important element in the ability of the charity to continue its work. ## **Changes in policy:** The Charity’s policies have remained the same throughout the year. ## **Organisational structure and Management of the Charity:** The Management of the Charity is vested in the trustees, comprised of three members elected for a period of nine years. The trustees have experience in a wide variety of fields and possess a broad range of knowledge and expertise that is of great help in the management of our affairs. The Trustees and the Rabbi meet regularly to discuss any relevant matters. The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to staff. ## **Charity Governance Code** The third edition of the code for charities was published in July 2017. The code lays out seven key areas of governance together with recommended practice for each principle. The Trustees have considered each principle to satisfy themselves that the Charity’s current governance structure explained below satisfactorily addresses each of these principles and, where appropriate, what enhancements might be made. ## **Risk Management and Child Protection Policies:** 3 B”H The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks that the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reviews to be carried out so that the necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks. In particular, insurance cover is in place and the finances of the charity are kept under review. Appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, supported by regularly reviewed policies, are made for all those who work with children or other vulnerable groups. All volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults undergo training and hold certificates confirming that they have received the level of training appropriate to their work. The charity has appointed a suitably trained member of staff to act as Senior Safeguarding Officer for both children and vulnerable adults. All new employees and volunteers are given an induction into the charities policies and procedures and existing employees and volunteers all undertake an annual review of all policies that are applicable to them. Copies of all are policies are available on request. ## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities:** The Trustees are required under the Charities Act 1993 and the constitution of the charity to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its results for the period. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to: (a) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. (b) Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. (c) Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in business. (d) Prepare the financial statements in accordance with all applicable financial reporting standards, statements of standard accounting practice and charity statements of recommended practice. ## **Finances:** 4 B”H Our accounts are prepared on an income and a receipts and payments basis in line with the Charities Commission guidelines for small charities (income below £250,000). As our main work is with an unaffiliated population, we do not rely on a membership for income, but on voluntary contributions and grants. ## **Area of Operation:** Chabad Lubavitch of Pinner focuses on the Jewish populations Pinner, Ruislip and Northwood. We open our activities to all-comers irrespective of whether or not they are formally affiliated with the community. ## **Review of Activities:** Through the dedicated work of our staff and volunteers we were able to put in place a completely new set of activities and succeeded in engaging with more people than ever before. The excellence of our work was recognised by funders and we were successful in securing the additional funding needed to allow us to carry out the work. We have continued to work in accordance with the stated aims of the charity, which are promoting Jewish worship, education, community welfare and social support. Our activities can broadly be divided into two categories. (1) Those that service the religious and spiritual needs of our members and (2) those of a cultural and social nature which on the whole are non-denominational and open to all-comers. Our community welfare and social support activities are nondenominational and are kept separate from the religious side of our activities. The trustees have reviewed the objectives and activities of the charity to ensure they continue to reflect our aims. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular its supplementary public guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit. ## **Main activities:** Our main activities through the year of 2024 were: 5 B”H 1. Care Packages: We offer those in our community, both families and individuals, that may be isolated or struggling financially, regular care packages with hot, nourishing meals. These have been very well received and the demand is always increasing. The packages are also offered in the case of a bereavement, birth or the like. _Delivery of one of the many care packages distributed throughout the year_ 2. We host a range of engaging communal activities for both men and women, including bread making, candle making, book club, to provide just a few examples. Events are interactive, in a relaxed setting and welcoming. They provide an opportunity to the community to socialise and widen their circle of friends. 6 B”H _Examples of events hosted during the year_ _3._ We host multiple community dinners and parties throughout the year. These provide an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate good, joyous times, spreading cheer and goodwill and wishing each other good tidings 7 B”H ## _Example of food served at communal festive meal_ 4. One of the focal points of the year is the annual public menorah (candelabra) lighting, to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukah. This takes place on Pinner High Street and attracts a crowd of approximately 150 people. We hire an entertainer for the children (and adults!). The event is attended by the mayor and other dignitaries. It is a community wide event which attracts people from all walks of life, communities and affiliations. 8 B”H ## _Picture of the public menorah (candelabra) lighting_ 5. We offer a range of classes and lectures in person and online via Zoom. There is a wide range of topics to interest anyone and everyone, including medical ethics, business ethics, how ancient traditions interact with a modern world and text-based classes. 9 B”H The classes provide an opportunity for people to come together and enter into a productive discussion with others. Hearings other’s viewpoints and debating and discussing various ideas. Signed on behalf of all trustees by: Date: 12-09-2025 Bracha Brenda Chantal Benchemhoun Date: 12-09-2025 Levi Issac Weinman 10