The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The primary objectives of the charity remain focused on promoting education among the general public, especially university students and young people, in ways determined appropriate by the trustees. This includes countering antisemitism, increasing awareness and education about Israel, and empowering individuals and communities to hold reasoned, informed conversations about Israel’s history, humanitarian contributions, and current challenges.
Our short-term aim has been to consolidate and strengthen our presence across UK campuses and schools, while our long-term goal is to continue our steady growth, increasing reach and deepening impact among pupils and students nationwide. The activities carried out during the reporting period directly support this longer-term aim, with a focus on expanding educational programming, outreach, and infrastructure.
We implement our mission through a combination of workshops, conferences, school-based programmes, social media outreach, and leadership development initiatives. The charity evaluates its effectiveness by measuring personal and digital reach and continually investing in professional staff and resources to scale our efforts.
The Trustees confirm compliance with section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 and have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
This year has seen notable expansion in the charity’s reach, programming, and professional capacity. Our strategic plan prioritised enhancing both our in-person and digital engagement, and we successfully reached over 10,000 individuals through face-to-face programmes while expanding digital reach through social platforms and online campaigns.
Key achievements include:
Growth in our Young Professionals programming, fostering connections around themes such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Doubling participation in our Secondary School Leadership Programme for Year 10 students, which now includes a mission to Israel.
Expansion of our "Explore" workshops to both Jewish and non-Jewish schools, engaging Sixth Formers through seminars, guest speakers, and interactive content.
Continued success of our annual Sixth Form antisemitism conference, drawing students from a growing number of schools and featuring a communal Expo.
Strengthening of our university Campus Network and Emerson Fellowship, providing students with training in critical thinking, research, public speaking, and digital engagement.
Rapid expansion of our young professionals Club, now numbering hundreds of members engaged in dialogue on Israel, tech, and entrepreneurship.
Growth of our presence in schools through bespoke assemblies and workshops promoting critical analysis and challenging misinformation.
Deepening our partnerships with schools, youth organisations, synagogues, and communities throughout the UK.
To support these developments, we invested materially in expanding our team, hiring an additional Campus Coordinator and a dedicated Data Officer. We also implemented a new CRM system to enhance efficiency, improve communications, and better track our impact.
Two significant events shaped our financial performance this year: our annual fundraising in May and our winter appeal in December. Both generated strong support, contributing to the year’s operational capacity and programme delivery. However, potential underperformance in future fundraising cycles remains a risk due to economic uncertainties.
Some of the charities’ funding continues to come from grants provided by charitable trusts and foundations, aligned with our strategic educational objectives.
While the charity does not currently hold complex financial instruments, its strategic financial investments this year, particularly in staffing and CRM infrastructure, are considered mixed-motive and programme-related, as they serve both operational and impact-driven goals.
The charity held free reserves at the year end of £598,518 (2023: £458,828) following the annual raising events.
The trustees are of the opinion that this will enable StandWithUs to fund its expanded operations over the coming year.
Looking ahead, StandWithUs UK plans to build on this year’s achievements by:
Hiring additional educators and Campus Coordinators to meet the growing demand from schools and universities.
Continuing to expand our digital and physical outreach.
Investing further in educational content and training resources.
Enhancing monitoring and evaluation processes to track reach and improve impact measurement.
Through these efforts, we will continue to ensure that impartial, credible information shapes public understanding of Israel, antisemitism, and Jewish identity in schools, on campuses, and across UK communities.
The company is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association on 17th September 2012, as amended by a Written Resolution of the Members on 27th December 2013.
The management of the company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association.
All trustees give of their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity.
The trustees in office during the year were:
Induction is carried out by discussion with existing trustees and training will depend on their previous knowledge and experience.
The charity utilised the assistance of 10 volunteers throughout the year to provide support for events and educational activities.
Day-to-day operational decisions within the charity are delegated to the Executive Director. However, determinations related to the establishment of compensation and remuneration for key management personnel rest with the Trustees, who consider factors such as the prevailing economic conditions and the charity's performance in achieving its objectives.
While the charity maintains an affiliation with the global organisation StandWithUs, it functions as an autonomous entity. Collaboration between the charity and StandWithUs Global primarily revolves around educational content and programmes.
In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of StandWithUs UK (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
StandWithUs UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0FX.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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 £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
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.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Government grants
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
Raising funds
Events, advertising and travel
Consultancy fees
Office expenses
Bank charges
Legal and Professional fees
Accountancy fees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £91,203 (2023: £109,117).
The Independent Examiner's Remuneration amounts to an Independent Examination fee of £1,790 (2023: £1,790) and other services of £2,610 (2023: £2,610).
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
During the year, the charity received donations totalling £17,700 (2023: £10,000) from the Trustees.
The charity had no material debt during the year.