**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
|**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**|**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**|
|---|---|
|**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**|**READING HEBREW CONGREGATION**
**31 DECEMBER 2022**
**Charity no**
**(if any) 220098**
**1 to 3**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2022.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).
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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.|
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**|**Date:**|11th July 2023|
|---|---|---|
||||
||Mr M Cooper-Smith||
||||
||||
||||
||C/o Reading Synagogue||
||Goldsmid Road||
||Reading RG1 7YB||
1
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
## **Reading Hebrew Congregation - Statement of Financial Activities**
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Income & Expenditure 2022 Comparison 2021
RHC RHC RHC RHC RHC RHC
Community Burial Consolidated Community Burial Consolidated
Income Funds Society Total Funds Society Total
Income from Membership & Assets
Membership Contributions 21,249 5,703 26,952 21,687 6,057 27,744
Donations Received to RHC 3,249 3,249 3,341 3,341
Koll Nidre Donations Received 1,680 1,680 1,071 1,071
BOD, CRT & Other Donations Received 922 922
Gift Aid Membership & Dons to RHC 5,283 5,283 5,934 5,934
Gift Aid On all Other Donations 0 0
Investment Income 8,352 6,038 14,390 7,533 5,784 13,317
Interest Income 771 845 1,616 455 52 507
Total from Membership & Assets 41,506 12,586 54,092 40,021 11,893 51,914
Income from Activities Gross Costs
Food/Judaica Shop 3,484 (3,262) 222 222 372 372
Golden Mazel 2,040 (1,650) 390 390 570 570
Fund Raising & Events 0 0 5 5
Welcome Days 0 0 0 0
Luach Fax® 850 (294) 556 556 630 630
Gollancz Hall Receipts 500 500 500 602 602
Sabbath & Festivals 530 530 530 (545) (545)
Miscellaneous 469 469 469 455 455
Total Income from Activities 7,873 (5,206) 2,667 2,667 2,089 2,089
Total Income 44,173 12,586 56,759 42,110 11,893 54,003
Expenditure
Judaica
Donations to Other Charities Note 4 (2,752) (2,752) (210) (210)
Legal Fees 0 0
Cleaning (3,902) (3,902) (4,055) (4,055)
Maintenance - General (1,721) (1,721) (4,743) (4,743)
Light, Heat, Water (4,110) (4,110) (3,368) (3,368)
Buildings Insurance (6,236) (6,236) (5,180) (5,180)
Admin Expenses (1,157) (1,157) (511) (511)
Telephone (173) (173) (206) (206)
Newsletter (72) (72) (39) (39)
Publicity (55) (55) (57) (57)
Board of Deputies Affiliation (150) (150) (150) (150)
Security (3,346) (3,346) (1,728) (1,728)
Miscellaneous Expenses (1,797) (1,797) (674) (674)
Service Assistance & Expenses (4,786) (4,786) (3,000) (3,000)
Welfare (273) (273) (400) (400)
Burial Society Expenses
Funerals (3,390) (3,390) (12,870) (12,870)
US Affiliation Fees (1,007) (1,007) (1,054) (1,054)
Total Expenditure (30,530) (4,397) (34,927) (24,321) (13,924) (38,245)
Surplus/(deficit) 13,643 8,189 21,832 17,789 (2,031) 15,758
Gain or (Decline) on Investment Assets (10,405) (14,166) (24,571) 17,017 6,528 23,545
Net Surplus or (Deficit) for the Year 3,238 (5,977) (2,739) 34,806 4,497 39,303
Page 1 of 3
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## **Reading Hebrew Congregation - Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2022**
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Balance Sheet - 2022 Comparison - 2021
RHC Burial RHC Investment Asset RHC Burial RHC
ASSETS Community Society Total Movements 21-22 Community Society Total
Tangible Fixed Assets
Land and Buildings Note 2 525,000 525,000
Investments Note 3
Charibond 20,000 90,389 110,389 20,000 90,389 110,389
Unrealised Gain (Decline) on Asset (2,755) (9,785) (12,540) (11,618) (707) (215) (922)
Charibond Net Value 17,245 80,604 97,849 19,293 90,174 109,467
Charifund 60,000 70,000 130,000 60,000 70,000 130,000
Unrealised Gain on Asset 81,679 7,910 89,589 (12,953) 90,036 12,506 102,542
Charifund Net Value 141,679 77,910 219,589 150,036 82,506 232,542
Total Investment Assets 158,924 158,514 317,438 (24,571) 169,329 172,680 342,009
Cash
HSBC Current account 45,061 45,061 24,831 24,831
HSBC Golden Mazel Club 35 35 96 96
Nationwide Building Society 85,721 85,721 84,943 84,943
Teachers Building Society 84,750 84,750 84,162 84,162
Virgin Money 35,882 48,596 84,478 43,850 40,407 84,257
Total Cash 251,449 48,596 300,045 237,882 40,407 278,289
Debtors
Debtors 4,784 4,784 4,802 4,802
Total Debtors 4,784 0 4,784 4,802 0 4,802
TOTAL ASSETS 940,157 207,110 1,147,267 412,013 213,087 625,100
Less: Current LIABILITIES (2,783) (2,783) (2,877) (2,877)
Provision for Extraordinary Cost (4,855) (4,855) (4,855) (4,855)
NET ASSETS 932,519 207,110 1,139,629 404,281 213,087 617,368
MEMBERS EQUITY
Land and Buildings Valuation Reserve 525,000 525,000
Accumulated Reserves b/f 404,281 213,087 617,368 369,475 208,590 578,065
Current Year Surplus 13,643 8,189 21,832 17,789 (2,031) 15,758
Gain or (Decline) on Inv Assets (10,405) (14,166) (24,571) 17,017 6,528 23,545
Accumulated Reserves c/f 932,519 207,110 1,139,629 404,281 213,087 617,368
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**Page 2 of 3**
**Reading Hebrew Congregation Notes to 2022 Accounts**
## **NOTE 1**
**The Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.**
## **NOTE 2**
**The Synagogue was valued in 2022, and is held at its open market value. Land and Buildings is now shown on the Balance Sheet for the first time. No depreciation is provided in respect of freehold land and buildings.**
## **NOTE 3**
**Financial investments are valued based on their quoted market prices as at the 31st December 2022.**
|**NOTE 4**
**Donations to Other Charities**
**JNF UK**
**World Jewish Relief**
**Board of Deputies**
**Chief Rabbi Trust**
**Other**
**Total**|**£**
**840**
**Collected in 2022 and paid after year end**
**840**
**Collected in 2022 and paid after year end**
**662**
**Collected and paid in 2022**
**260**
**Collected and paid in 2022**
**150**
**Collected and paid in 2022**
**2,752**|
|---|---|
**The donations to JNF UK and WJR were held as part of Current Liabilities in the RHC Balance Sheet, as at 31st December 2022.**
**NOTE 5 The Burial Society is a restricted fund of RHC.**
**Page 3 of 3**
**Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date **From 01 01 2022 To 31 12 2022**
Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Reading Hebrew Congregation **Other names charity is known by** Reading Synagogue **Registered charity number (if any)** 220098 **Charity's principal address** 7 Goldsmid Road Reading **Postcode RG1 7YB**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Susan Clarke Honorary Officer
2 Martin Myers Board Member 01/01/22 to 16/08/22
3 Mark Drukker Honorary Officer
4 Alan Benn Honorary Officer
5 Michael Fuhr Board Member
6 Sarah Firsht Honorary Officer
7 Maurice Lawson Board Member
8 Anthony Woolf Honorary Officer
9 David Clarke Board Member
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
Gerald Cowan
Jack Album
Richard Collings
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**April 2009**
**TAR**
1
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
## **Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
Type of governing document
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
Trust Deed
How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trust
Trustee selection methods Elected at AGM
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
- relationship with any related parties;
- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
## **Section C Objectives and activities**
**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document**
To conduct the affairs of the Society, to provide religious services conducted in the manner authorised by the Very Reverend the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. To maintain a Minister insofar as reasonably prudent financial management permits and to advance the interest of the Jewish community of Reading and the surrounding areas.
**April 2009**
**TAR**
2
The Trustees have given consideration to the matter of Public Benefit at meetings of the Board of Management.
In order to fulfill these requirements, we continue our objectives of outreach into the wider community and we contribute to many local interfaith activities and have representation on many groups, as this assists in the advancement of the interests of the Jewish Community.
**Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)**
Additionally, to advance the interest of the Jewish community in Reading we expect to be able to continue to offer open days for schools at the synagogue, which links with national curriculum requirements. Our members of the community also go out to schools to give talks on a variety of subjects.
To provide a place for religious services we maintain a purpose-built Grade 2 listed building, which is mentioned in the Jewish Heritage document entitled “Synagogues at Risk”. These activities have only taken place when safe to do so under Covid guidance.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
- policy on grantmaking;
- policy programme related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
**April 2009**
**TAR**
3
## Section D Achievements and performance
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
We continued to provide religious services conducted in the manner authorised by the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Following the successful roof repair project on the Synagogue completed in a previous year, we continue to monitor the condition of the roof, and we continue to monitor the building generally, to take care that its condition is maintained appropriately. We ensure that the building continues to serve its purpose as a centre for the Jewish community of the area, and in connection with our charitable purposes. We continued to promote education for adults.
The Welcome Days for schools in support of community cohesion has had to be suspended although we do have visits from schools, youth groups and other organisations. Members visit schools to speak about Judaism.
These activities have only taken place when safe to do so under Covid guidance. We were unable to open to the public for the Heritage Open Day.
**April 2009**
**TAR**
4
## **Section E Financial review**
The trustees are mindful of the need to protect and maintain the primary **Brief statement of the** objects of the charity, namely to provide religious services and to advance **charity’s policy on reserves** the interest of the Jewish community of Reading and surrounding areas, as well as to generally conduct the affairs of RHC in accordance with reasonably prudent financial management for the benefit of its wide community of members. However, in response to its significantly reduced, and still declining, size of community the charity takes care to mitigate its ongoing annual operating costs, in order to ensure that it can responsibly continue to promote those objects into the foreseeable future and ultimately for as long as the need exists for its charitable services. Having regard to the longer term need to maintain its central synagogue premises, which is a listed building in excess of one hundred years old, the Trustees are mindful of potentially substantial maintenance and renewal expenditures which may be required at short notice and of unknown amounts. This circumstance creates a substantial additional risk which the Trustees are vigilant to ensure that they can cover from reserves when and if the need should arise. As at the end of 2022 reserves measured £404k. As well as the need to hold substantial protection for unknown and unquantifiable synagogue building issues, RHC ultimately may have the need to contribute a sum to finalise burial arrangements. Again, the actual amount required and the timing of that cannot be known with accuracy at this time. Reserves may also be used to support religious services and modestly improve the infrastructure of the synagogue, subject to continual review of the reasonable needs of the declining community. The reserves will be held partly as cash deposits generating interest income, and partly invested in suitable professionally managed funds generating investment income. The relative mix of these reserves will be reviewed and adjusted by the Managing Trustees as they judge most suitable from time to time, but always subject to the need to maintain adequate cash resources to deal with unpredictable short-term needs, as well as maintaining adequate total reserves to deal generally with longer term plans and requirements. The overall level of reserves will be kept under review each year, having regard to the factors mentioned, and also having regard to the continually rising level of maintenance and renewal costs as impacted further by levels of inflation generally. **Details of any funds materially in deficit**
## **Section F Other optional information**
**April 2009**
**TAR**
5
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Anthony Larry Woolf **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)**[Hon Treasurer ] **Date** 17th July 2023
**April 2009**
**TAR**
6