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2024-04-05-accounts

Charity Registration No. 265409

The Shoftim Charitable Trust

Annual report and financial statements

For the year ended 5 April 2024

55 Loudoun Road St John's Wood London NW8 0DL

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Mr D Cicurel
Ms A Cicurel
Mr R Cohen
Charity number 265409
Auditor MGR Weston Kay LLP
55 Loudoun Road
St John's Wood
London
NW8 0DL
Bankers Natwest
Swiss Cottage Branch
106 Finchley Road
London
NW3 5JN
Solicitors Solomon Taylor Shaw
Coach House Yard
Hampstead
London
NW3 1QF

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 2
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 3
Independent auditor's report 4 - 6
Statement of financial activities 7
Balance sheet 8
Notes to the financial statements 9 - 13

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024.

Name and Registered Office of the Charity

The full name of the Charity is The Shoftim Charitable Trust. Its registered office and principal operating address is 18 Cavendish Avenue, London, NW8 9JE.

Charity Financial Statements

In preparing the financial statements for the Charity, the Trustees have adopted the disclosures required by the "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)". The financial statements comply with the trust deeds and the Charities Act 2011.

Objectives and activities

The objectives of the Trust are to apply the capital and income of the Trust Fund for the benefit of such exclusively charitable objects and purposes as the Trustees from time to time in their absolute discretion think fit.

The trustees are aware of their obligation to follow the guidance of the Charity Commission and only support organisations that benefit the public. The present policy is to make gifts only to UK-registered charities and this has been strictly followed during the year under review. The main emphasis has been on supporting Jewish educational, social, religious and scientific charities.

The charity does not have any volunteers.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees acknowledge that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission when exercising their powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Achievements and performance

The trust received 4,000 shares in Judges Scientific Plc and £54,180 in dividends from its total holding; this has enabled the trust to contribute £63,156 to UK registered charities, in accordance with its policy and to finish the year with a cash balance in excess of its liabilities.

Judges Scientific Plc has a policy of increasing its dividend by at least 10% pa, giving the trust a good level of visibility in its cash management.

The investment in Judges Scientific Plc showed an unrealised gain of £1,133,300 during the year. Of course quoted shares can go up as well as down. It is hoped that the dividend flow will keep feeding the trust regardless of market fluctuations.

Financial review

As detailed in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 7, the Charity's reserves at the year end amounted to £6,779,084 of unrestricted funds and no restricted funds, to be used in line with the Charity's objectives.

It is the policy of The Shoftim Charitable Trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level that is likely to generate annual net income at least equivalent to between three and six months' expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.

During the year, the charity received donations of 4,000 shares in Judges Scientific Plc with a value of £400,000 from a trustee.

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

Structure, governance and management

The Charity, a Charitable Trust, was established under a Deed of Trust dated 18 July 1972. The charity registration number is 265409.

The trustees have not had specific training regarding running a charitable trust. However, given the limited activity within the charity, the experience held by the trustees is sufficient to ensure the charitable status of the trust is safeguarded and that the sources of income are stable.

Day-to-day management of the charity is handled by one of the trustees, David Cicurel, but all trustees have the authority to carry out duties should he become unable to do so.

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mr D Cicurel

Ms A Cicurel

Mr R Cohen

A trustee is appointed by recommendation of the trustees, or by proposal of a trustee entitled to a vote at a meeting of the charity.

The charity is a vehicle to set aside some of the wealth available to the Cicurel family in order to secure a continuing stream of gifts by the charity well into the future. The existing trustees and any future trustee would be expected to share the same charitable aspirations as the family.

The trustees may invest the monies or securities of the charity as they deem fit.

Risk Management

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the charitable status of the trust, and its operations and finances. The charity intends to maintain its status by continuing to raise funds to support other UK-registered charities. Commercial risk is currently believed to be managed, but looking to the future, the charity may diversify its assets in order to mitigate this risk further. The charity is satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the Charity’s exposure to the major risks.

Plans for future periods

The charity plans to continue with its current strategy as stated in the Objectives and activities paragraph above.

Auditor

A resolution to re-appoint MGR Weston Kay LLP as Auditor will be proposed at the next Annual General Meeting.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Mr D Cicurel Trustee

Dated: 28 January 2025

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of The Shoftim Charitable Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources of The Shoftim Charitable Trust for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of The Shoftim Charitable Trust and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of The Shoftim Charitable Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Shoftim Charitable Trust for the year ended 5 April 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of The Shoftim Charitable Trust in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt about the Shoftim Charitable Trust's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing The Shoftim Charitable Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the charity through discussions with the trustees and considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements. We identified the Charities SORP, FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2011 as being the most significant to these financial statements.

Based on the results of our risk assessment, we designed procedures to identify non-compliance with the laws and regulations and the fraud risks identified. Our audit procedures included but were not limited to:

We assessed the risks of material misstatement in respect of fraud as follows:

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:

No significant issues were identified during our testing.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non – detection of irregularities, as these could involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https:// www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

MGR Weston Kay LLP Chartered Accountants

Statutory Auditor

55 Loudoun Road St John's Wood London NW8 0DL

Dated: 30 January 2025

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2024 2023
Notes £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 3 400,000 312,000
Investments 4 54,576 39,051
Total income 454,576 351,051
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 5 71,165 56,694
Total resources expended 71,165 56,694
Net Income 383,411 294,357
Net gains on investments 9 1,133,300 1,308,200
Net movement in funds 1,516,711 1,602,557
Fund balances at 6 April 2023 5,262,373 3,659,816
Fund balances at 5 April 2024 6,779,084 5,262,373

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 5 APRIL 2024

Notes
Fixed assets
Investments
11
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Income funds
General unrestricted funds		 2024
£
18,884
(12,300)		 £
6,772,500
6,584
6,779,084
6,779,084
6,779,084		 2023
£
31,273
(8,100)		 £
5,239,200
23,173
5,262,373
5,262,373
5,262,373

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 28 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Mr D Cicurel Trustee

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

1 Accounting policies

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and “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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The Shoftim Charitable Trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The Shoftim Charitable Trust has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include investments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

1.3 Incoming resources

Income is recognised when The Shoftim Charitable Trust is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Donations and gifts are recognised on receipt.

Investment income includes dividend income which is accrued when the shareholders right to receive payment is established.

1.4 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis and have been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities.

Charitable activities include costs of services and support costs.

Governance costs are those costs incurred for the management of the Charity's assets, organising administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

1.5 Fixed asset investments

Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

1.6 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and bank overdrafts.

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.7 Creditors

Creditors are recognised when the Charity has a present obligation resulting from past events, it is probable that this will result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount needed to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally measured at their settlement amount.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of The Shoftim Charitable Trust’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods. There were no significant estimates in the period.

3 Donations and legacies

2024 2023
£ £
Gifts 400,000 312,000

4 Investments

Income from listed investments
Interest receivable		 2024
£
54,180
396
54,576		 2023
£
38,830
221
39,051

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

5 Charitable activities

Donations
Share of governance costs		 2024
£
63,156
8,009
71,165		 2023
£
48,089
8,605
56,694

6 Support costs

Support costs
Governance
costs
£
£
Audit fee
-
7,800
Insurance
-
165
Bank charges
-
44
-
8,009		 2024
£
7,800
165
44
8,009		 2023
£
8,580
-
25
8,605

7 Trustees

The average number of Trustees during the year was 3 (2023: 3).

No Trustee or person connected by business to them, has received any remuneration or benefits in kind from the Charity during the year (2023: £nil).

During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of travel, subsistence or other expenditure (2023: £nil).

8 Employees

There were no employees during the year (2023: None).

9 Net gains on investments

Net gains on investments
2024 2023
£ £
Revaluation of investments 1,133,300 1,308,200

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

10 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

11 Fixed asset investments

Listed investments
£
Cost or valuation
At 6 April 2023 5,239,200
Additions 400,000
Valuation changes 1,133,300
At 5 April 2024 6,772,500
Carrying amount
At 05 April 2024 6,772,500
At 05 April 2023 5,239,200

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2024
£
4,200
8,100
12,300		 2023
£
-
8,100
8,100

13 Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

At 6 April 2023 Incoming Resources
Gains		 and losses At 5 April 2024 and losses At 5 April 2024
resources expended
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 5,262,373 454,576 (71,165) 1,133,300 6,779,084

THE SHOFTIM CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024

13
Unrestricted funds
Previous year:
At 6 April 2022
£
General funds
3,659,816
14
Analysis of net assets between funds
Fund balances at 5 April 2024 are represented by:
Investments
Net current assets		 Incoming
resources
£
351,051		 Resources
expended
Gains
£
(56,694)
Unrestricted
2024
£
6,772,500
6,584
6,779,084		 (Continued)
and losses At 5 April 2023
£
£
1,308,200
5,262,373
Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
6,772,500
5,239,200
6,584
23,173
6,779,084
5,262,373		 (Continued)
and losses At 5 April 2023
£
£
1,308,200
5,262,373
Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
6,772,500
5,239,200
6,584
23,173
6,779,084
5,262,373
Total
2023
£
5,239,200
23,173
5,262,373

15 Events after the reporting date

After the year end, the market price per share of the investments fell. At the date of approval of these accounts, the value of the shares held at the balance sheet date had fallen by £2,283,120. Also, following the balance sheet date the charity received a further donation of 4,000 shares in Judges Scientific Plc with a value of £470,000 from a trustee. These events occurred following the year end and as such has no impact on the value of investments at the balance sheet date.

16 Related party transactions

During the year the charity received 4,000 shares (2023: 4,000) in Judges Scientific PLC having a value of £400,000 (2023: £312,000) from a trustee, as a gift. D Cicurel, A Cicurel and members of R Cohen's family are shareholders in Judges Scientific PLC and D Cicurel is also a director of that company.

The trustees did not make any cash donation to the trust in the year (2023: £Nil).

17 Charity Information

The Shoftim Charitable Trust is a Charity incorporated in England and Wales. The principal place of operation is 18 Cavendish Avenue, London, NW8 9JE.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.