# **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2022**
for presentation at the 92nd Annual General Meeting to be held online on Sunday 16 April 2023 at 10.45am Registered Charity No 236711
## **The South London Liberal Synagogue (SLLS) Annual Report**
Registered Charity No 236711
**The Council of The South London Liberal Synagogue (the Synagogue) presents its annual report together with the statement of accounts of the Synagogue in respect of the financial year ended 31 August 2022. The statement of accounts is not statutorily required to be audited and has been independently examined by Gareth Berney, whose report appears below.**
## **Origin and objectives of the charity**
The Synagogue was established in 1929 and is an unincorporated association. Under its current Constitution of 10 December 2022 (the Constitution)[1] the Synagogue has the following purpose: to advance Liberal Judaism by actions, teaching and practice, in particular (but not exclusively) by means of:
- (a) providing religious education for children and adults and providing facilities and teaching leading to Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah and Kabbalat Torah (Confirmation)
- (b) providing and maintaining a place for public religious worship and providing, arranging and conducting religious services;
- (c) providing facilities for the solemnisation of marriages and for burials and cremations.
## **Review of the activities**
A review of the main activities of the Synagogue in relation to the purpose described above is contained in the Chair’s Report and in the reports on Synagogue activities set out elsewhere in this report.
## **Governance**
The Synagogue and its property and assets are administered and managed by its Council, members of which are the charity trustees of the Synagogue. Decisions concerning day-to-day management of the Synagogue are made by the Chair together with the other officers. In accordance with the Constitution, members of Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Synagogue (or, in the event of a casual vacancy, appointed by the Council to serve until the next AGM) and serve without compensation.
The Council members who served during the past year were: Eve Samson (Chair), William Cohen (Vice Chair), Brian Jacobs (Vice Chair), Paul Infield (Hon. Secretary), Andrew Hoffman (Hon.Treasurer), Diego Giraldo Casas, Nicola Downes, Sam Infield, Maya Jaffe, Daniel Schiff and Alison Watson.
In carrying out their responsibilities the members of Council, as trustees of the Synagogue, have had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Charity Commission).
Title to the property of the Synagogue was held during the past year by property trustees Paul Infield, Eve Samson and Shai Wade.
> 1 A copy of the Constitution is available from the Synagogue office on request.
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## **Membership – all categories**
Total at 31 August 2022: 176 (2021: 184), which included 9 Honorary Members (2021: 8), and 33
Friends (2021: 32).
_Members -_ We welcomed 6 new Members; 14 Members left the community.
_Friends_ - We welcomed 6 new Friends of SLLS.
_Deaths_ - We record with sorrow the deaths of Michael Carson, Zohar Collins, Freha Pritchard,
Poppy Kudelka and Helen Raphael. May their memory be for a blessing.
## **Reserves policy**
The Charity’s principal activities are detailed above.
1. The present reserve level is considered realistic in order to maintain liquid reserves to cover the Synagogue’s day to day activities.
2. At each annual Budget meeting, a review of the current level of reserves will be undertaken against Budget predictions.
## **Risk management**
Council has decided not to prepare a formal risk review report. However, the Council has given consideration to the major risks to which the Synagogue is exposed and satisfied itself that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. The Council will continue to review areas of potential risk. The principal financial risks identified in the short to medium term are as follows:
- The possible loss of the nursery as a tenant and the resultant loss of income;
- The viability of the businesses which rent space in the Synagogue building and the consequential loss of income;
- Rising costs, including energy and staff costs;
- The limitations on the Synagogue’s ability to meet its running costs while maintaining subscriptions at a level affordable to Members and Friends;
- Loss of paying Members and Friends of the Synagogue and difficulties in attracting new paying Members and Friends;
- Declining numbers of donors and ‘donor fatigue’ among existing donors;
- The need for significant further repairs to the Synagogue building.
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## **Statement of Council’s responsibilities**
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the Regulations) require the Council to prepare a statement of accounts for each financial year which include:
- (a) a statement of financial activities showing the total incoming resources and application of the resources, together with any other movements in the total resources, of the Synagogue during the relevant financial year; and
- (b) a balance sheet showing the state of affairs of the Synagogue as at the end of the relevant financial year.
The statement of activities must give a true and fair view of the incoming resources and application of the resources of the charity in the relevant financial year. The balance sheet must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the end of the relevant financial year. The statement of accounts must be prepared in accordance with the methods and principles set out in the “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)” issued by the Charity Commission (the Charities SORP).
In preparing the statement of accounts, Council is required to:
- (i) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- (ii) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- (iii) prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
Council is responsible for ensuring that accounting records are kept in respect of the Synagogue which are sufficient to show and explain all the charity’s transactions, and which are such as to (a) disclose with reasonable accuracy at that time the financial position of the Synagogue and (b) enable the Council to ensure that the statements of accounts comply with the requirements of the Regulations.
## _**Andrew Hoffman, Hon. Treasurer**_
**PLEASE REMEMBER US IN YOUR WILL You have supported the SLLS during your lifetime; why not also in your Will for future generations?**
**LEGACIES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE By leaving a bequest to SLLS you will support the future of Liberal Judaism in South London.**
_**For further information please contact office@southlondon.org or 020 8769 4787**_
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## **South London Liberal Synagogue Independent Examiner’s Report to the Synagogue Council**
I report on the accounts of the South London Liberal Synagogue for the year ended 31 August 2022, which are set out herein.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting equirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Gareth Berney 2 Gibson Gardens Saffron Walden**
20 March 2023
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**South London Liberal Synagogue Statement of Financial Activities FY2021-22**
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Unrestricted Restricted
Funds Funds Total 2022 Total 2021
£ £ £ £
Incoming Resources
Subscriptions 66,060 66,060 65,114
Donations/Legacies 7,703 12,776 20,478 95,655
Grants 4,858 4,858
Gift Aid repayment 32,607 32,607 19,586
Appeals income 23,575 23,575 1,385
Property letting 58,124 58,124 46,504
Fundraising and other income 5,149 5,149 822
Burial and cremation fees 7,013 7,013 597
Bank interest 47 47 6
Total Incoming Resources 176,703 41,209 217,911 229,669
Resources Expended
Rabbinic costs 47,363 12,000 59,363 61,476
Staff costs (not inc. Rabbi or
Gesher) 17,839 17,839 14,128
Building renewal, maintenance and
security 22,593 104,581 127,174 3,876
Affiliation fees 14,400 14,400 10,000
Education (Gesher) 4,852 4,852 3,828
Insurance 8,559 8,559 8,482
Utilities 3,967 3,967 5,421
Management and administration 3,826 3,826 1,915
Burial and cremation costs 999 999 1,443
Charitable donations 1,070 1,070 1,910
Costs related to property,
fundraising and other synagogue
activities 158 158 1,612
Depreciation 6,521 6,521 3,501
Sundry write-off [*] 3,974 3,974
Total Resources Expended 135,051 117,651 252,702 117,592
Net Movement in Funds 41,651 -76,442 -34,791 112,077
Funds brought forward at 1st
September 2021 174,330 103,675 278,004 165,928
Funds carried forward at 31st
August 2022 215,981 27,233 243,213 278,004
Please note that sums may not add up exactly due to rounding.
**----- End of picture text -----**
* The sundry write-off represents a technical accounting correction to deal with past errors in bookkeeping, such as unintentionally occurred in connection with the introduction of a new payroll system by our accounting software, QuickBooks, that have accumulated over the years. Through this one-time write-off, we are bringing the published accounts and our bookkeeping records into alignment. We do not anticipate having to repeat this exercise in future years.
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**South London Liberal Synagogue Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2022**
|**Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed
assets
**Current**
**assets**
Debtors
Undeposited
Funds
(GoCardless)
Cash at bank
and in hand
**Total assets**
**Current**
**liabilities**
Creditors:
amounts
falling due
within one
year
**Total assets**
**less current**
**liabilities**
**Income**
**Funds**
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds
**Total Funds**|**£**|**2022**
**£**
**£**
139,003|**2021**
**£**
133,057|
|---|---|---|---|
||-
-
801
-
125,471
150,914
126,272
150,914|||
||265,275
283,971
(22,061)
(5,966)|||
||243,213
278,005|||
||27,233
103,675
215,981
174,330|||
||243,214
278,005|||
Of the unrestricted funds, £1,613 (2021: £943) were designated for specific purposes as set out in note 5 to the accounts.
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## **Notes forming part of the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022**
## **1. The principal accounting policies adopted by the charity are described below. They have been applied consistently throughout the period.**
## BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the 2011 Act, the Charities SORP and the applicable Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102).
## INCOMING RESOURCES
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the monies are received.
## RESOURCES EXPENDED
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis when the liability is incurred.
## **2. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation**
Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost of assets to their estimated residual values over their expected useful lives as follows:
- Freehold building & improvements - 2% on cost
- Furniture - 25% on net book value
- A/V Equipment - 20% on cost
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Tangible fixed assets Freehold Organ Furniture Equipment Total
property &
improvements
£ £ £ £
Cost at 31 August 2021 200,471 6,995 16,820 0 224,286
Additions in the year 0 0 0 12,468 12,468
Total cost 200,471 6,995 16,820 12,468 236,754
Depreciation at 31 August -67,433 -6,995 -16,801 0 -91,229
2021
Charge for the year -4,009 0 -19 -2,494 -6,522
Total depreciation -71,442 -6,995 -16,820 -2,494 -97,751
Net book value at 31 August 129,029 0 0 9,975 139,003
2022
Net book value at 31 August 133,038 0 19 0 133,057
2021
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## **3. Cash at bank and in hand**
|**As at 31 August 2022**|**As at 31 August 2022**|
|---|---|
|CAF Gold Account|70,418|
|CAF Gold BC Scheme|25,879|
|CafCash Account General|21,776|
|Cash|0|
|HSBC General|7,099|
|PayPal Wallet|299|
|||
|**Total Cash at bank and in hand**|**£125,471**|
## **4. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
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Account Amount
Board of Deputies levy 3,540
Liberal Judaism Community Affiliation Fee 12,059
sub-total: Accounts Payable 15,599
Open wage, pension, tax and NIC liabilities 3,496
Abraham’s Tent Project Fund 1,613
Rabbi Discretionary Fund 1,354
sub-total: Other open liabilities 6,462
Total £22,061
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
5. Restricted and designated funds
at 31.08.2022 at 31.08.2021
Restricted Funds
Burial and cremation fund 25,879 24,730
Rabbi’s discretionary fund 1,354 3,064
Building Fund 0 77,321
sub-total: restricted funds 27,233 103,675
Designated Funds
Abraham’s Tent Fund 1,613 943
sub-total: designated funds 1,613 943
Total: Restricted and Designated Funds £28,846 £104,618
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## **South London Liberal Synagogue Financial Projection FY2022-23**
|**Income**|**£**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|Subscriptions|66,000|||
|Donations/Legacies|6,000|||
|Gift Aid repayment|15,000|||
|Appeals income|5,000|||
|Grants|2,000|||
|Property lettings|55,000|||
|Fundraising and activity|1,000||**£**|
|income||||
|||Etz Chayim (Leaf Sales)|100|
|||Chevra|900|
||||1,000|
|Burial & Cremation Fees|1,000|||
|Bank Interest|320|||
|**Total Income**|**151,320**|||
|**Expenses**||||
|Rabbinic costs|70,000|||
|Other staff costs|20,000|(Administrator & Cleaners' Wages + NI)||
|Building maintenance|8,500|||
|Building renewal|70,000|||
|Affiliation fees|17,000||**£**|
|||Board of Deputies|500|
|||Liberal Judaism|16,500|
||||17,000|
|Education (Gesher)|3,500|(Teachers' Wages + NI + costs)||
|Charitable donations|1,000|||
|Insurance|9,000|||
|Utilities|8,000|||
|Management & administration|3,000|||
|(excl. staff)||||
|Depreciation|6,500|||
|Burial and cremation costs|1,000|||
|Costs related to property,|1,000|||
|fundraising and other||||
|synagogue activities||||
|**Total Expenditure**|**218,500**|||
|**Net Surplus/Deficit**|**(67,180)**|||
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