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2021-12-31-accounts

Kingston Liberal Synagogue

KLS Annual Report 2021

KLS Annual Report 2021

Contents

Chair’s Report ................................................................................................ 3 Rabbi’s Report ................................................................................................ 5 Education ....................................................................................................... 7 Religious services ........................................................................................... 9 Social and cultural ........................................................................................ 11 Membership ................................................................................................ 13 KLS and the wider community ..................................................................... 14 Marketing .................................................................................................... 16 Premises and infrastructure......................................................................... 17 Treasurer’s Report ....................................................................................... 18 Governance .................................................................................................. 19 Council ......................................................................................................... 20

This report covers the year ending 31 December 2021, the date to which the accounts are made.

It also references later developments up to the preparation of this report in June 2022.

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Craig Simmons

Chair’s Report

Since its formation in 1967, KLS has been a vibrant, joyful community, actively celebrating Jewish tradition with a progressive, modern outlook. It is a strength of the community that we have been able to adapt to the challenging circumstances of Covid restrictions and their easing in July 2021.

We were able to maintain many of our activities with innovations to suit our online means of meeting where necessary. These included religious services, learning, social events and activities in the wider community, highlights of which you can read in the following sections of this report, and further details in the weekly e-bulletin which I prepare.

We trod a careful path through all the legal requirements to keeping the synagogue open and providing as normal an experience as allowed while ensuring the safety of members, reviewing our measures swiftly in response to changes in Government guidelines. And we adopted a flexible approach, particularly for significant occasions like the unusually large number of Bnei Mitzvot, to allow distant family members unable to travel, to participate as far as possible.

Our keeping-in-touch team do a fantastic job. The team was reconstituted after Jenny Osorio stepped down and is now led by Mary Simmons. Under the leadership of Tina Higgins, supported by Diane Snapper, enhancements were also made to our processes for responding to enquiries about membership and for welcoming those who go on to become members. This has contributed to a significant increase in the number of new members. The flow of enquiries is also helped considerably by the extensive publicity through our website, social media, local and Jewish press, enthusiastically led by Rebecca Singerman-Knight.

Council meetings were held on Zoom fortnightly in the first half of 2021, reverting to monthly in July, with changes introduced to make them run more efficiently. I am grateful to all my colleagues on Council for their commitment. Louisa Michelson has been driving an improvement in our governance, now a standing item on our agenda along with important issues such as safeguarding. Ray Stone has led the finance group which is working to improve our budgeting and financial monitoring processes.

Nicola Claire joined Council, taking over responsibility for the premises from James Sales who moved away. A premises team has been formed so that we can be more responsive to issues arising with the building. We have also been helped by the transfer of the nursery to new owners who have a desire to invest in the fabric of the areas of the building which they use.

Vince Daly and his team have ensured KLS is a force for good in the wider community. Brian Plaskow and his team have made sure the Kehillah Garden was cared for. Philip Lyons organised a beautiful new lectern and rimonim holders for the bimah.

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Stephanie Wuggenig has been leading the team that organises our many social events. She will be stepping down at the 2022 AGM after six years on Council but I’m grateful that for the time being she will continue to coordinate social events.

KLS is very fortunate to have Rabbi René as our spiritual leader. Rabbi René has worked tirelessly for the community and much of what KLS has achieved has been down to his commitment and his initiative. I am grateful to him for the support he has given me and the rest of Council.

I am grateful also to Rebecca Singerman-Knight who has provided much support in her role as Deputy Chair, and to our Administrator, Diane Snapper, as well as making sure everything runs smoothly in the office, is always coming up with useful suggestions.

And thanks to Karen Nicholas, our bookkeeper and additional office support, Carolynne Farrer and the Beiteinu teachers, and our many volunteers – you’ll see some of their names mentioned both in the following sections and from time to time in the weekly e-bulletin. They include everyone who volunteers for our various rotas from leading services, security, locking up, and maintenance of the building and garden, to preparation and clearing up in the kitchen, and towel washing.

The final mention goes to our President, Mike Barnato, z’’l. Mike was an extraordinary man, who provided me and Council with wisdom and support. During 2021 he also introduced a spirituality discussion group, jointly with Rabbi René. He is very much missed.

Challenges

2021 was a success but challenges lie ahead, the main ones being:

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Rabbi René Pfertzel

Rabbi’s Report

The past year has been a year of transition. As the Covid restrictions were gradually lifted, we had to imagine a new way to keep our members safe, and at the same time, to keep our synagogue open. We have managed to celebrate all Shabbats and festivals, to rejoice in time of simchas, and also to mourn in time of grief. Our community has come out of Covid even stronger.

It is beyond the scope of this report to describe all the things that have happened since the last AGM, and I would like to mention some of the many activities that have happened and are happening at KLS. To have a full picture, one only needs to read every week the excellent e-bulletin issued by our Chair Craig Simmons.

We offer our membership a wide range of activities, from religious services to life cycle events, from Hebrew classes to joint Mussar sessions with Finchley Progressive Synagogue and a Torah study class. Thanks to a very dedicated team of service leaders, we have ensured a steady religious and spiritual presence even when the Rabbi is not available. Our conversion programme has almost thirty people registered, including some members who want to refresh their knowledge of Judaism. Our Book club the “Bookcrashers” is celebrating this year its tenth anniversary of existence. Our social events team has worked wonders, and the last event, the Big Bagel Jubilee, attracted many of our neighbours, creating links with the local community. Despite small numbers, our Cheder, Beiteinu, offers all the necessary learning for our younger members to embrace their Jewish identity. Music is an important part of KLS, with a choir that has found its unique voice, under the guidance of Rebekka Wedell, Music Director, but also Tammy Rich who brings her energy to family services, and more recently to the toddlers group that started recently. Rebecca Singerman-Knight enriches our Shabbat services at the piano, and we are now thinking of reviving Shabbat Ruchani, an evening of reflection and meditation

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to welcome Shabbat, with Vince Daly and Daniel Jurow. Mary Simmons has taken over from Jenny Osorio the task of facilitating our “Keep In Touch” team, which ensures that our more vulnerable members are well looked after.

KLS is buzzing with life and energy because we work as a team, which aim is to make our community a safe and welcoming place for whoever wishes to join us and is ready to contribute. I am so ever grateful to the many people I have the privilege to work with. I would like to name but a few: our Chair, Craig Simmons, with his quiet and highly efficient leadership; our Deputy Chair Rebecca Singerman-Knight, with her energy and enthusiasm, and who runs our social media platforms with brio and much success; our administrator Diane Snapper, always bouncing back new ideas, and so committed to the success of our community; our council members who work hard behind the scene to make things happen; our Head Teacher, Carolynne Farrer, who holds Beiteinu with strength and vision, and who is always there for our amazing team of teachers, and so many other KLS members who give their time and energy. I cannot finish this – incomplete – list of thanks without mentioning our President Mike Barnato who passed away earlier this year. We miss him, his wisdom, his Menschlichkeit. He has always been a great support and a source of inspiration to me and to us all.

It is an endless source of joy, but also pride and honour to be your Rabbi. In August, I will make the fifth anniversary of my presence among you, and I am very much looking forward to the next five, ten, fifteen years.

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Education

Beiteinu

A big thank you to Beiteinu Head Teacher Carolynne Farrer, all the teaching staff, and Steve Farrer in the kitchen.

Despite a difficult year Beiteinu has continued to operate well through the use of weekly Zoom sessions alongside once monthly faceto-face sessions at KLS for all classes to which both the teachers and children adapted incredibly well and without a pause in the learning. There was a core of regular children that attended throughout the year, alongside a small selection of children who only attended either the face-to-face sessions or the Zoom sessions.

We introduced a new way of learning and structuring of the lessons to deal with the difficulties of distance learning including shorter sessions for the younger years’ classes, one-to-one Hebrew lessons for the B'nei Mitzvah class, and latterly some of the older Kita Gimel children. While the teaching has been successful under difficult circumstances it was recognised that the children's overall learning has suffered from a reduction in teaching time and face-to-face contact. However, this started to be caught up for the younger years when face-to-face classes resumed and for the recent B'nei Mitzvah children when they joined the newly launched Kabbalat Torah class.

Adult education

We offer weekly classes in:

In September 2021 we again welcomed a Kita Aleph class, with a couple of our youngest children joining.

Highlights

Maintaining learning throughout the pandemic; monthly Zoom family services which all Beiteinu children took part in; welcoming Jurow children to Beiteinu; 11 children celebrated their B'nei Mitzvah in 2021

Challenges

To grow numbers; pick up on missed learning from previous year

All take place online, allowing those living out of area to attend.

We are grateful to Dominique Scholtes who as a volunteer teaches the Hebrew for Beginners classes (and from 2022 Biblical Hebrew).

The other classes are taught by Rabbi René.

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Religious services

KLS had already adapted very well to the constraints of government anti-Covid restrictions swiftly after their introduction in 2020. Safety measures and a booking system remained in place to allow congregants to attend most Saturday morning services, but also livestreamed to our social media channels for those preferring that option. Friday night services and the communal seder took place on Zoom.

Our creativity and expertise in the online world continued to improve, particularly in respect of choral content at festivals such as Tu Bishvat and Pesach. Specially produced choral videos were prepared in advance, the sound having been mixed by Rebekka Wedell and set to images by Rebecca SingermanKnight. Another well-planned and successful initiative was a Purim spectacular, combining blessings composed by Beitienu children, Queen Vashti interview and a mock court trial of Haman.

We were relieved when restrictions were lifted in July 2021, allowing those attending in person a more normal experience. In particular, the choir were able to return to singing as an ensemble, with congregational participation, and we were able to restart Shabbat activities such as chavurah suppers and Shabbat @ Home.

Regular Friday night service resumed in October, though the flexibility of an onlineonly ‘Sofa Shabbat’ is used when convenient.

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A full programme of in-person (with livestream option) High Holy Day services was successfully delivered within the constraints of residual safety measures. This resulted in moving HHD family services to the late afternoon prior to the main evening services.

Chanukah activities included a first night candle-lighting at the synagogue, a chavurah supper, Chanukah @ Home, and interfaith tea party. Fortunately, Chanukah was early enough to beat a new set of Covid restrictions at the end of 2021.

There were no fewer than 12 Bnei Mitzvah services in 2021 in addition to other life cycle celebrations and a ceremony of admission into Judaism.

We welcomed a number of online speakers to address the community at our services including Ruth Seagar (Liberal Judaism chair), Rabbi Lisa J. Grushcow as part of a transatlantic pulpit exchange, and KLS member Prof. Alissa Goodman, who leads research into inequality and poverty.

Our sincere thanks go to Rabbi René for his spiritual leadership. Also to Rebekka Wedell for her music direction, and particularly her work with the choir, whose quality has shown remarkable improvement in recent years.

Thanks also to the many volunteers who provide support including

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Social and cultural

As 2021 dawned, the country entered another lockdown. What little KLS had been able to pursue in person gave way again to Zoom – a name now familiar to old and young alike. 2021, however, was to see things gradually improve, so that by the time summer arrived we were finally able to meet in person, to walk together, talk together and generally have hope for the future.

Out of lockdown the online ’Cook Along’ was born and, on 10 January KLS held the first of four fascinating sessions, each featuring one of our members in his or her kitchen. The demonstrations ranged from Israeli street food to a Peruvian national dish. Feedback from these events suggested that the occasional online cook along might be something worth continuing, especially in the cooler winter months.

For many, the highlight of the KLS social events’ lockdown calendar was our online show, ‘KLS Presents’. This was an eclectic mix of 20 pre-recorded acts, presented ‘live’, via zoom, by the wonderful Norman Hyman. Our own KLS artists ranged in age from 7 to 83 and provided the community with some greatly appreciated music and verse. A huge thank you to all who participated – you were brilliant!

Once we were able to meet outside in groups of up to 30 people, we took the opportunity to enjoy two walks in the Surrey countryside, led by our members Tina and Neil Higgins and followed by a picnic lunch in their lovely garden. For many, this was the first opportunity they had had to see KLS friends for many months, and the day was thoroughly enjoyed by one and all.

Following the Shabbat morning service on 24 July, a New Members lunch was held to celebrate all the new members we have welcomed to KLS during the past year or so.

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Food was plentiful and provided by existing members, as well as many of our new members. It was probably the first social event to be held in our building since the beginning of the pandemic, and it was a lovely gathering.

In mid-August KLS held its first summer garden party for two years. Emotions heightened by months of lockdown and uncertainty, it could not have been a happier occasion, and it certainly lived up to its reputation for good food, great company and terrific hosts – a huge thank you to Tina and Neil for opening their garden to over 40 KLS members.

In early September we were able to hold our annual picnic and rounders event on the green opposite our building in Long Ditton. The weather was kind and members, and in some cases extended families, enjoyed their picnics and another opportunity to meet up with friends in a lovely informal setting. Well done to the Deputy Chair’s team who won on this occasion. Commiserations to the Chair’s team!

Chanukah fell early in 2021, and to celebrate the final evening KLS held an Interfaith Chanukah party to which members of The Dialogue Society were invited. A sumptuous tea was provided by KLS members and complemented by equally delicious contributions from our visitors. As with previous Interfaith events, this was highly successful and will hopefully be followed by more!

In October the Table Tennis club restarted in the NFJ hall. Whilst numbers have been relatively low to date, this is a great opportunity for members to enjoy a few hours of competitive leisure and, as such, well worth considering.

We hosted two online author talks during the year: Sandra Webber interviewed Debra Barnes and Rabbi René interviewed Elizabeth Arif-Fear.

Finally, I can report that our highly successful book group – Bookcrashers – has not only thrived, but has continued to attract new members. Regular monthly meetings took place, via Zoom, through the lockdown and summer months, but in the autumn we were delighted to be able to return to the synagogue library for in-person meetings. Appreciating that not all members were ready or able to return to our building, we maintained the online option and ran a hybrid book club. A heartfelt thank you to Sara Alston for coordinating this popular KLS group.

Its success inspired the birth of a film discussion group – Filmcrashers – which met monthly during the first half of the year.

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Membership

New members

The membership of KLS continues to grow, thanks in no small part to the continued improvement of online access to many aspects of shul life. There is a steady stream of people seeking to reconnect with their Jewish roots, join classes, convert or mark important life cycle events.

We pride ourselves on our warm welcome whether in person or virtually; some newer members would perhaps like to experience the reality of a life led ‘Jewishly’ so there’s a suggestion that some of our ‘older’ congregants might offer some valued KLS hospitality to our new friends.

Keeping in touch – caring at KLS

There have been a few personnel changes and additions to the KIT team; ensuring the continued caring ethos of our shul.

Phone calls and personal visits notwithstanding KIT was at last able to host a wonderful Channukah tea party. This was a joyous occasion; finally being able to catch up with old friends, enjoy an abundance of food, sing together, light the candles and share our Rabbi’s pleasure in being with community.

We look forward to further social events at the Synagogue and offers of lifts are always welcome.

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KLS and the wider community

2021 began with a national anti-covid lockdown, including school closures. With schools closed we were unable to offer the Holocaust Memorial workshops that we have previously provided each year in collaboration with the local orthodox synagogue. Kingston Borough’s annual Civic Holocaust Memorial event moved online and KLS hosted it on our social media channels.

KLS itself was closed for the early part of 2021, following which there were limits on the number of people / households who could gather in the building. Consequently, there were no school parties visiting KLS. When schools reopened the team of KLS visitors, coordinated by Tina Higgins, resumed visits to local schools though the number of such visits was smaller than in previous years.

We were able to continue our interfaith activities, initially online and in-person when anti-covid restrictions were relaxed. For example:

Our services were also an opportunity to connect with issues of concern in the wider community. We held a Mental Health Awareness Shabbat, an Eco-Shabbat, and Andrée Frieze gave a talk about climate change. Being online made it easy to include external speakers and even to stream a KLS service from the Golden Cross - an historic Cardiff LGBTQ+ venue, during Cardiff Pride week.

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Our Rabbi continued to develop our connection with Citizens UK – an advocacy and campaigning charity, by working with them to organise an online meeting to explore the impact of Covid on mental health. Rabbi René also developed his online presence in the wider community, for example a discussion on Jewish-Muslim relations with Muslim writer and campaigner Elizabeth Arif-Fear. In the national arena KLS member Rabbi Janet Darley appeared on BBC2’s “Sunday Morning Live” to give a Jewish perspective on welcoming refugees.

Our presence in the local community was enhanced by decorative additions to our security fence – first Linda Stone’s banner thanking the NHS and then our contribution to Long Ditton’s “yarn bombing” when knitted and crocheted items popped up everywhere in the neighbourhood.

High Holy Day appeal

KLS members donated around £9,800 following our 2020 High Holy Day appeal. Half was used to support KLS, in particular its activities in the wider community, and half was distributed to the following charities selected by KLS Council during the course of 2021,

many of them nominated by KLS members:

Donations to our 2021 High Holy Day appeal rose to £16,000. One-third of this will be split between G2G and the JCORE Unaccompanied Minors Project. The remainder which will be split between KLS and charities selected by KLS Council in 2022.

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Marketing

As normality slowly started to return throughout 2021, we saw the tangible results of the vibrant online presence we had turbocharged during 2020. The growth in membership we saw in 2020 continued into 2021 and we have been able to welcome our new members in person to our community. The New Members’ Shabbat held shortly after the release of the lockdown restrictions was a joyous occasion attended by 20 of those who had joined in the previous 18 months.

The New Members’ Shabbat was featured in the Jewish News – just one of the many pieces of press coverage we received in 2021 in both local and Jewish press. The year was a busy one for Bnei Mitzvot and we had a number of them featured in both the Jewish News and Jewish Chronicle – including the Adult Bat Mitzvah of our Deputy Chair, Rebecca Singerman-Knight. The local news website, Surrey Live, featured a live video interview with Rabbi René and a tour of our building which received over 5,000 views. Surrey Live also ran a special feature on our member Bronia Snow as part of their coverage of Holocaust Memorial Day. Mention should also be made of the special feature on KLS in the Jewish Chronicle in February.

Our social media presence remains strong, with well over 2,000 followers across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Following the success of our video series Our Lockdown Stories in 2020, we ran another video series in the run-up to Pesach 2021 Our Seder Plates in which KLS members were interviewed about the story behind their seder plates and their thoughts on the importance of the Passover story at the current time. KLS members also contributed to other social media campaigns such as our New Years’ Greeting video and our Chanukah photo competition.

We also expanded our video content on the web-site – our Contact Page features an interview with our Administrator, Diane Snapper – who is the first point of call for many new prospective members. And Rabbi René and Craig Simmons were interviewed as we approached the New Year, looking back on 5781 and forward to 5782.

We are looking for volunteers to help run these social media accounts and keep them active. Training will be provided – if you are interested, please contact Rebecca Singerman-Knight.

Our website is kept up to date with regular blogs – articles about community events and festivals – as well as guest blogs from our members on various areas of interest. In early 2021 we republished a series of articles by Howard Webber All Our Yesterdays originally published in 2014 in which he had looked back over the history of our community by looking through copies of our old magazines from the late sixties and seventies and sharing selected highlights. We also featured guest blogs from members Natalia Martén about her experience volunteering in a vaccine clinic, Tina Higgins about our role as a Police Chaplain during the lockdown and Hilary Cohen about her ride in an MDA ambulance which had been bequeathed to the charity by her late uncle.

We’re always interested in receiving articles from our members for our online blog so do get in touch if you’d like to contribute something.

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Premises and infrastructure

KLS building

There was a significant reduction in use of the building while Covid restrictions were in force. James Sales, who had responsibility on Council for the premises also moved away from the area during 2021. As a result, activity on the KLS premises over the year has been relatively low.

However, this will change in 2022 for several reasons. Firstly, the creation of a new premises team led by Nicola Claire and comprising Jamie Acton-Bond, Jayson Scheib and Diane Snapper.

Secondly, the transfer, at the start of 2022, of ownership of the nursery, to which we rent out part of the premises for agreed periods. The new owners have a long-term vision for the nursery and a wish to upgrade the part of the building that they use. At the time of preparing this report, many of these changes have taken place. The most obvious changes are a new floor and blinds in the NFJ hall, a new floor in the back hallway, and a security door in the hallway by the disabled toilet. These changes benefit the KLS community as well of course.

We will also be working in 2022 on actions recommended in our annual fire risk assessment. A fire training event for Council members, staff and other keyholders will ensure that there is always a trained fire ‘warden’ onsite at public events and services. The fire sensors are being renewed throughout the building, as well as the door fire guards and seals where necessary. The emergency lighting system is being overhauled and put on an annual contract. The curtains in the sanctuary will be fireproofed, for immediate protection, and then replaced with firesafe blinds in due course.

Maintenance will be carried out in other areas as necessary such as servicing the automatic gates into the carparking area.

The project to enhance the sanctuary was paused as Council reassessed priorities in changed circumstances arising from the Covid pandemic. However, we were blessed with the donation of a new lectern for the bimah and wall-mounted holders for the scroll rimonim.

Kehillah Garden

Our Kehillah Garden is becoming more entrenched in the hearts of our community as time marches on. Activities involving Beiteinu to Bnei Mitzvot and various viewings have benefitted from the beautiful floral setting. Yet again, a devoted but somewhat aging and aching Garden Group have ensured it is in good health. We are grateful to them but we need more volunteers to avoid the need to employ external help in the future. The garden is a wonderful asset and the effort volunteers put into maintaining it is rewarded by it being used to the full.

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Treasurer’s Report

2021 was a good year as we were coming out of the pandemic and starting the long process of getting back to some form of normality. We budgeted for £153.2k income against expenditure of £161.5k yielding an expected deficit of -£8.3k. As it turned out we achieved an income of £165.7k in 2021. However, an extended independent examination of our accounts which we commissioned in June 2022 revealed a number of older accounting issues which needed to be corrected and resulted in an overall surplus of £4.4k.

The major reasons behind the better-than-expected income for 2021 was that in spite of reduced subscription income we had better-than-expected donations.

So even with the accounting corrections, we still improved on our budgeted deficit.

During 2021 the overall restricted funds position ended slightly higher at £171.4k compared to £162.9k at the start of the year.

The number of members went from 319 at the end of 2020 to 327 at the end of 2021.

Council would also like to thank Karen Nicholas for her great work on our finances and bookkeeping as without her diligence and hard work our lives would all be much more difficult.

Fundraising for more specific causes is always important and a list of our targeted areas is below:

Fund Uses
KLS Funds for providing charitable grants
Mavis Robinson Fund for children to attend LJ Summer Camp
Alison Morland Fund helping young people of recognised merit
Kader-Alfred Memorial Fund helping young people learn about Israel
Liselotte Hirschfield Fund helping any person in need
Pam Fletcher Jones Fund for children to attend LJ Spring Camp
KLS charity fund charitable grants generally
KLS Funds for providing charitable grants and also other purposes
Rabbi’s discretionary fund furthering KLS aims, as the Rabbi may determine
KLS Discretionary Donations furthering the aims of KLS as Council may determine
Eastern Europe Fund developing progressive Judaism in E. Europe
KLS Funds for purposes other than charitable grants
KLS Development Fund projects delivering long-term value to KLS
Library fund developing KLS library
National Holocaust Memorial Fund annual HMD educational events
Religion School Fund cheder development projects
Synagogue fund enhancement of the sanctuary
Hornfeld Flower Fund flowers for the synagogue for High Holidays
Mosaic Fund maintenance of and addition to the mosaic
Scroll Repair Fund scroll repairs
100 Club Furthering the aims of KLS as Council may determine

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Governance

To ensure the ability of KLS trustees to demonstrate their awareness and understanding of their duties as trustees, the Council created and honoured a standing Council meeting agenda item on the subject of Charity Trustees’ legal duties.

We continue to review the Constitution both end-to-end and responsively to queries as they arise, with a view to ensuring its fitness for KLS today and tomorrow, not only in the current form of KLS but after its planned conversion to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This review is also with a view to ensuring that any adjustments needed for purposes of the conversion are made and includes the matter of the suite of policies which KLS should have for day-to-day operational purposes and to meet the requirements of the Charities Commission. At the AGM held in August 2021, the members agreed to amend the Constitution to allow a President to serve a third consecutive three-year term.

During 2021, title to the KLS property, which had been held in the names of two Holding Trustees, now deceased, was transferred to the Official Custodian. This will facilitate the planned conversion to a CIO.

With respect to legal compliance, measures were taken by the Council to ensure appropriate licensing for the streaming of our services via the multiple platforms we use for this and generally with respect to the many uses we have made of technology during the year for meetings and occasions of various forms. As part of this we secured a registration for KLS with JLicence and put measures in place to ensure that all reporting requirements

for this are completed on a timely basis. Further, in line with our commitment to ‘baking’ privacy into all activities of KLS which involve or potentially involve the processing of the personal information of any individual, we gave consideration to the data privacy implications of all activities during the year including with respect to KLS’s social media presence.

Notably, responsive to the changeable laws and guidance for the safe use of places of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council created and timely revisited and revised a comprehensive, appropriate and auditable risk assessment and the creation of sound, responsive policies intended to meet the needs of our KLS membership and our broader community of all levels of vulnerability. As restrictions were lifted, this included the Council’s agreement of a COVID policy and procedures for management over the services for the High Holy Days.

On the important subject of safeguarding, a Council sub-group was created to give consideration to the KLS Safeguarding policy and safeguarding at KLS more generally including the matters of soliciting one or more Deputies to Sara Alston, who is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (“DSL”), and/or to splitting the role of DSL between the safeguarding of children and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, for resilience, and soliciting volunteers for each position. This sub-group then embarked on the process of attending to each of these matters. Additionally, members attended LJ safeguarding training delivered to the Council.

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Council

A council of synagogue members, elected by the congregation at its Annual General Meeting, manages the synagogue’s activities and are formally its trustees for conducting its business as a charity. In usual circumstances, the council meets for a couple of hours most months to plan the development of KLS and to manage its general operation.

The offices of Chair, Deputy Chair, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary are also elected at this meeting and other council members take responsibility for specific areas of operation.

Council members in 2021

Craig Simmons – Chair (and operations and communications) Rebecca Singerman-Knight – Deputy Chair (and marketing) Ray Stone – Hon. Treasurer Louisa Michelson – Hon. Secretary (and governance) Vince Daly – wider community Stephanie Wuggenig – social events Philip Lyons – special projects James Sales – premises (until 5 September) Brain Plaskow – garden Bess Joffe – education Tina Higgins – membership Nicola Claire – premises (from 5 September)

Outside of Council

Mike Barnato – President (died 15 March 2022) Tony Spevack – Holding Trustee (died 9 May)

Senior personnel

Rabbi René Pfertzel – Rabbi Diane Snapper – Administrator Rebekka Wedell – Director of Music Karen Nicholas – Bookkeeper and office support Carolynne Farrer – Beiteinu Headteacher

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Charity No: 270792

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and Administrative Information 1
Report of the Trustees 2 - 3
Report of the Independent Examiner 4
Statement of Financial Activities 5
Balance Sheet 6
Notes forming part of the Financial Statements 7 - 15

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Legal and Administrative Information

Trustees as at 31 December 2021

Chair Person: Craig Simmons Deputy Chair Person: Rebecca Singerman Knight Secretary: Louisa Michelson Treasurer: Ray Stone Others: Vince Daly Philip Lyons James Sales (resigned 5[th] September 2021) Brian Plaskow Stephanie Wuggenig Bess Joffe Tina Higgins Nicola Claire (joined 5[th] September 2021)

Principal Office Rushett Road Long Ditton Surrey KT7 0UX

Independent Examiner

Jason Foxwell independent-examiner.net 39 Enfield Way Poole Dorset, BH15 3LJ

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Page 1

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31[st ] December 2021

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2021. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s constitution, 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 published on 16[th] July 2015.

Objects of the Charity

Structure, governance and management

The Synagogue is an unincorporated association governed by an amended written Constitution adopted at the annual General Meeting on 12 November 1967 and amended 10 October 1975, 26 June 2003 and 5 September 2020. A further amendment to amend clause 19b was adopted at the annual General Meeting on 5 September 2021. The Synagogue is registered with the Charity Commission – No. 270792.

The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year-end are set out on page 1. Trustees are elected by the members of the congregation and serve for two years, after which period they shall be eligible for re-election. The trustees meet no fewer than six times a year.

Activities undertaken for the public benefit

The trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the public benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011. The main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects are contained within the attached supplement, in particular on pages 14 and 15.

Financial Review

The charity’s work is primarily reliant on income from members’ subscriptions.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have established a policy of holding reserves sufficient to enable the charity to continue in the event of unforeseen expenditure.

Restricted Fund Policy

The Trustees have established a policy whereby restricted reserves consist of donations or endowments received, less gifts, for specific purposes.

Investment Policy

The Trustees have considered the most appropriate policy for investing funds that are not required in the short term and have found that specialised unit trusts or equities meet the requirements to generate both income and capital growth commensurate with an acceptable level of risk.

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 (cont/d)

Risk Management

The major strategic financial risk is that income from membership subscriptions and hire charges does not cover our annual outgoings. We minimise this risk by encouraging additional donations from members, running fundraising activities and events and, if required, transferring funds from the reserves. Day-to-day financial risks are managed by having a policy requiring Council approval for any unusual or large items of expenditure. All expenditure is supported by documentation.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and 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 charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

………………………………………………………. Craig Simmons – Chairman

Dated:

Page 3

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Council of the Kingston Liberal Synagogue

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Kingston Liberal Synagogue (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the Charity, 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 Charity’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 Examiner’s Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do 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.

Jason Foxwell

independent-examiner.net

39 Enfield Road, Poole, BH15 3LJ

Date: 28 October 2022

Page 4

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Statement of Financial Activities For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

Note
Income from:
Donations
Donations and gifts
3
Subscriptions
4
Building appeal fund
Investment income
Other income
5
6
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
7
Total expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
18/19
Total funds carried forward
18/19		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
Funds
2021
£
Total
Funds
2020
£
27,421
13,613
41,034
39,030
102,622
-
102,622
119,973
-
-
-
-
228
21,837
1
-
229
21,837
588
21,356
152,108
13,614
165,722
180,947
156,246
8,121
164,367
151,800
156,246
8,121
164,367
151,800
-
3,014
3,014
(1,672)
(4,138)
8,507
4,369
27,475
211,383
162,949
374,332
346,857
207,245
171,456
378,701
374,332

The notes on pages 7 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 5

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
11
Current Assets
Stocks
12
Debtors
13
Investments
14
Cash at bank
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
15
Net current assets
Net assets
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
18
Restricted income funds
19		 2021
2020
£
£
82,195
87,778
6,159
10,110
71,800
58,101
35,008
31,994
208,838
217,021
321,805
317,226
(25,299)
(30,672)
296,506
286,554
378,701
374,332
207,245
211,383
171,456
162,949
378,701
374,332

The notes on pages 7 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on ……………………………

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

…………………………………………… …………………………………………… Craig Simmons Rebecca Singerman-Knight Chairman Deputy Chair

Page 6

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2021

1 Accounting policies

(a) Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16[th] July 2015 and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

(b)Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at their purchase price, together costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:

Freehold buildings over 50 years Equipment over 10 years Scrolls over 10 years Computer equipment over 3 years

(c) Fixed Asset Investments

Investments are included at closing mid-market value at the balance sheet date. Any gain or loss on re-valuation is taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.

(d)Current Asset Investments

Investments are included at market value. Realised and unrealised gains and losses are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

(e) Stock

Stock is included in the accounts at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

(f) Income

Amounts due from members and other non-trading income are brought into the accounts in the year of receipt. Trading income is recognised when it falls due.

Page 7

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

(g)Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.

2 Related party transactions and trustees’ expenses and remuneration

The trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (2020: £nil). Trustees are not remunerated for their expenses (2020: £nil).

The charity made £5,192.28 of contributions to the pension plan operated by Aviva on behalf of the employees.

There are no related party transactions.

3 Donations and Gifts

General donations
Kol Nidre appeal (see note 3a)
Gift Aid reclamation– (Kol Nidre Appeal)
Gift Aid – Donations
Eastern Europe fund
Czech Scroll Fund
Henry Rollin Fund
KLS Development Fund
Morris Hornfeld Fund
Building Appeal Fund
Holocaust Memorial Fund
Garden Fund
Tree of Life Fund
Library Fund
Board of Deputies Charity Fund
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2021
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2020
£
25,300
-
25,300
14,645
8,722
7,263
15,985
9,778
2,781
-
2,781
5,586
(9,382)
-
(9,382)
3,363
1,013
1,013
900
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
193
193
120
-
-
1,250
-
-
-
125
125
-
100
100
-
-
-
-
2,075
2,075
2,075
2,844
2,844
1,313
27,421
13,613
41,034
39,030

Page 8

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

3a Kol Nidre Appeal

KLS HHD Appeal
KLS Nominated HHD Appeal		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2021
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2020
£
8,722
-
8,722
4,889
-
7,263
7,263
4,889
8,722
7,263
15,985
9,778

4 Subscriptions

Subscriptions received
Gift aid reclaimed
Total subscriptions received
5 Investment Income
Interest on bank accounts
Dividends from UK equities		 31 December 2021
31 December 2020
£
£
81,924
99,757
20,698
20,216
102,622
119,973
Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2021
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2020
£
228
1
229
588
-
-
-
-
228
1
229
588

6 Other Income

Note
Hire charges
Shop
Social
Advertising
Miscellaneous
Seder
6a
Income – 100 Club		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2021
£
Total
funds 31
Dec 2020
£
23,399
-
23,399
18,582
(3,187)
-
(3,187)
197
376
-
376
1,021
-
-
-
-
565
-
565
573
30
-
30
375
654
-
654 608
21,837
-
21,837 21,356

Page 9

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

6a Seder Income (unrestricted)

Seder direct fund raising 30 - 30 547
Seder expenses - - - (172)
30 - 30 375
**7 ** Expenditure on charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds 31 funds 31
Dec 2021 Dec 2020
Note £ £ £ £
Rabbinic salary 53,371 - 53,371 53,448
Other rabbinic costs 7a 7,419 - 7,419 17,168
Religion school salaries 3,900 - 3,900 4,185
Religion school expenses 190 - 190 22
Service expenses 460 - 460 495
Music 5,677 - 5,677 5,666
Funeral costs 7b (317) (317) (10,194)
Liberal Judaism Levy 20,427 - 20,427 19,359
Board of Deputies - - - -
Donations and gifts - 8,438 8,438 5,179
KLS Dev. Building Expense - - - -
Adult education - - - -
Administrative expenditure 8 64,802 - 64,802 56,472
156,246 8,121 164,367 151,800

7a Other Rabbinic Costs

Social security costs
Pension contributions
Rabbi’s health and life insurance
Rabbi’s expenses and travel
Second Rabbi		 2021
£
2020
£
(2,644)
5,957
5,192
1,452
3,295
124
5,192
656
2,767
2,596
7,419
17,168

7b Funeral Costs

Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020
funds funds
£ £ £ £
Funeral expenses - 12,198 12,198 8,646
Less: Recoveries and late (12,515) (12,515)
entrants fees - - - (9,126)
Less: Membership Contribution - - - (9,714)
- (317) (317) (10,194)

Page 10

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

8 Administration Expenditure – (unrestricted)

Administration salaries
Caretaking and cleaning
Utilities
Telephone
Insurance
Kingston News
Printing, postage and stationery
Website
Depreciation
Repairs and maintenance – building
Repairs and maintenance – other
Sundries
Subscriptions
Accountancy (Book Keeper)
Audit & Examination Fees
Bank charges
Library
Conferences and trips
Total Administration Expenditure
Administration Expenditure –(restricted)
Website Development Expenses – Restricted
Building Repairs – Restricted
Total Administration Expenditure - Restricted		 2021
£
2020
£
17,076
17,087
4,731
5,196
9,123
5,667
1,126
1,003
6,897
5,857
-
-
2,523
2,846
369
1,000
5,583
822
2,870
3,507
3,928
379
159
4,438
633
778
8,218
6,614
775
710
764
568
27
-
-
-
64,802
56,472
-
-
-
-
-
-

9 Rabbinic Salary and Staff Costs

Rabbinic Salary and Staff Costs
Rabbinic salary
Religious school salaries
Administration staff
Rabbinic staff
Religious school staff
Administration staff
The total number of employees was		 2021
£
2020
£
57,371
3,900
65,253
4,185
17,076
17,087
78,347
86,525
2021
2020
1
2
1
2
1
1
4
4

The number of employees during the year was 4 (2020: 4) with all employees time involved in providing either support to the governance of the charity or support services to charitable activities.

Page 11

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

The charity considers it key management personnel comprise the Rabbi and Office Co-Ordinator and Religion School teachers/assistants. The total employment benefits including employer pension and employer healthcare contributions of the key management personnel were £6,644 (2020: 5,848). No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2020: none).

10 Independent Examiner’s Remuneration

The independent examiner’s remuneration constituted an examination fee of £720 (2020: £710).

11 Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
At 1 January 2021
Additions
At 31 December 2021
Depreciation
At 1 January 2021
Charge for year
At 31 December 2021
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2021
At 31 December 2020		 Freehold
Buildings
Scrolls
Equipment
Computer
Equipment
Total
94,263
-
11,694
-
54,816
-
14,424
-
175,197
-
94,263
11,694
54,816
14,424
175,197
12,234
603
11,694
51,489
3,327
12,002
1,653
87,419
5,583
12,837
11,694
54,816
13,655
93,002
81,426
-
-
769
82,195
82,029
-
3,327
2,422
87,778

Included in freehold buildings is freehold land valued at £64,000, which is not depreciated.

Page 12

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

12 Stocks

Shop stock
Prayer books		 Total
funds
2021
£
Total
funds
2020
£
1,513
4,646
4,211
5,899
6,159
10,110

13 Debtors

Debtors
Trade Debtors
Prepayments
Other debtors		 Total
funds
2021
£
Total
funds
2020
£
14,745
2,500
54,555
22,265
2,500
33,336
71,800
58,101

All prepayments related to unrestricted funds in both 2021 and 2020. Other debtors relates to Gift Aid in both 2021 and 2020.

14 Current Asset Investments

Market value as at 1 January 2021
Additions
Disposal in the year
Gain/(Loss) in the year
Market value at 31 December 2021
Investments at market value comprised:
UK equities
Historical costs as at 31 December 2021
All investments are listed UK securities.		 Total
funds
2021
£
Total
funds
2020
£
31,994
-
-
3,014
37,787
-
(4,121)
(1,672)
35,008
31,994
35,008
31,994
21,700
21,700

Page 13

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Taxation and social security
Accruals
Wages & Other Creditors
 Total
funds
2021
£
2,936
19,049
3,314


25,299
 Total
funds
2020
£
11,216
18,445
1,011

30,672

All creditors in 2021 and 2020 relate to unrestricted funds.

16 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
82,195
150,349
(25,299)
-
171,456
-


207,245
171,456
 Total
funds
£
82,195
321,805
(25,299)

378,701

17 Funds

Unrestricted funds comprise those funds, which the trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objects.

Restricted funds are funds which have been given for particular purposes and projects.

18 Unrestricted Funds

Legacy fund
General fund		 Total funds
2021
£
Movement in
year
£
Total funds
2020
£
16,000
191,245
-
(4,138)
16,000
195,383
207,245
(4,138)
211,383

Page 14

KINGSTON LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE

19 Restricted Funds
Funds (see note 19a)
KLS charity fund
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Funeral reserve
Eastern Europe fund
Scroll repair fund
Building Appeal
KLS High Holyday Appeal
Doroteinu Fund
National Holocaust Memorial Fund
Pam Fletcher Jones Fund
Mavis Robinson Fund
Morris Hornfeld Fund
Henry Rollin Fund
Tree of Life
Religion School Fund
Czech Scroll Fund
Mosaic Fund
Library Fund
Garden Fund
Security Fund
Synagogue Fund
KLS Development Fund
Building Fund
Legacy Fund		 Total funds
2021
£
Movement
in year
£
Total
funds 2020
£
35,008
3,014
31,994
1,140
-
1,140
16,141
1,320
14,821
42,243
317
41,926
13,750
1,013
12,737
202
-
202
211
-
211
10,284
2,603
7,681
512
-
512
669
-
669
197
-
197
4,046
-
4,046
313
193
120
221
-
221
1,180
88
1,092
951
-
951
6,250
-
6,250
1,166
-
1,166
3,204
-
3,204
1,224
(41)
1,265
250
-
250
11,161
-
11,161
16,883
-
16,883
1,250
-
1,250
3,000
3,000
171,456
8,507 162,949

19a Funds

a Funds
Alison Morland Fund
Kader Memorial Fund
Liselotte Hirschfield Fund		 As at 1
January
2021
£
Income
£
Gain/Loss
£
Donations
and Awards
£
As at 31
December
2021
£
6,406
-
284
-
6,690
2,497
-
1,465
-
3,962
23,091
-
1,265
-
24,356
31,994
-
3,014
-
35,008

The Mavis Robinson fund is for children to attend Kadimah. The Alison Morland fund is for helping young people for recognised merits. The Kader Memorial fund is for helping young people re Israel or Israel studies. The Liselotte Hirschfeld fund is for helping any person in need, irrespective of age. The Hornfeld Flower Fund is for flowers for the synagogue for High Holydays. The Pam Fletcher Jones Fund is to assist youths to attend “Summer Camp” The Henry Rollin Fund – helping the less fortunate child to attend Kadimah

20 Controlling Party

There is no ultimate controlling party.

Page 15