The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005.
The Objectives of the Charity, Chabad Golders Green (Chabad GG), are as follows: to promote the advancement of the Orthodox Jewish Faith through Jewish education; to provide social welfare and conduct services, meetings, and educational facilities following the principles of Orthodox Jewish laws and practices; to pursue other charitable purposes recognised by English law and to collaborate with similar bodies.
The Trustees have considered the guidance issued by the Charity Commission when deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Public Benefit
The trustees and officers consider Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when carrying out the charity’s activities. They believe that the charity's "open door" approach to reaching out to beneficiaries across the community reflects and fulfils its legal obligation to ensure public benefit in everything it aims to do.
Safeguarding
Chabad GG places great importance on safeguarding young people and other vulnerable individuals. Since 2015, they have worked closely with the Chabad UK Head Office and NSPCC to create and enforce a comprehensive safeguarding policy. This policy ensures that all relevant individuals receive regular training appropriate for their roles.
The policy was last reviewed in September 2024 in consultation with the NSPCC, and procedures are already in place to ensure everyone is fully aware of it and understands their responsibilities.
With Gratitude and Thanks
Chabad GG is extremely thankful to everyone who has devoted their time and effort to advance the Charity's mission. The team members, including volunteers, have consistently shown selflessness by prioritising the charity's goals and collaborating to achieve its main objectives. Their commitment and dedication have been critical in supporting the charity's mission.
Chabad of GG offers Jewish educational classes, cultural resources, welfare resources, and religious services in and around Golders Green. Our events and programs, including large Friday night dinners, have experienced significant growth in popularity and attendance. We are proud to have hosted over 6,000 people from various backgrounds at our diverse programs and events.
Summary of key activities
The Charity provides a variety of community services, including hospital visitations, mezuzah checking, koshering of the kitchen, and most importantly, unwavering support for the community during significant life events including baby naming, circumcision ceremonies, pidyon haben, bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, birthdays, weddings (including education on Jewish marriage laws), funerals, stone settings, Shiva services, and Yizkor remembrance services.
All of our activities are guided by our commitment to promoting kindness, a non-judgmental open-door policy, respect for one another, family unity, Charity, and peace. We strive to create a secure and welcoming environment for all.
Adult Education
The Charity’s mission is to make Jewish knowledge accessible and personally meaningful to everyone regardless of background or affiliation. Chabad GG’s ongoing Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) courses is one of their varied Adult education programmes. JLI’s insightful curriculum is ground-breaking. It uses scholastic techniques, embraces a “multiple intelligence” model, and uses multimedia in various approaches to captivate, educate, and emotionally stimulate all kinds of minds in a vibrant Jewish learning experience.
This year's JLI courses were titled JLI World of Kabbalah (Nov/Dec 23), JLI Advice for Life (Feb/Mar 24), and JLI Decisions of Fate (May/June 24).
Welfare Support
Chabad GG thoughtfully and discreetly provides welfare assistance in line with our objective of poverty relief. Our assistance includes providing food weekly to many families, distributed via several volunteers, organising temporary accommodations when required, and occasionally providing direct grants. The Charity offers a supportive ear and, when needed, connects individuals with the appropriate professionals.
Friday Night Dinners
The Charity runs weekly communal dinners every Friday evening throughout the year. The dinners bring together a cross-section of the community, including many who are lonely and vulnerable.
Highlights Throughout the Year:
October 2023
Chabad GG offered an explanatory and easy-to-follow Yom Kippur service, which concluded with a break-the-fast gathering. It was a comfort zone for everyone and a place for personal reflection.
During Sukkot, Chabad GG set up a Sukkah where participants could connect with nature and the Divine. The Charity offered delicious meals and kiddushim, allowing those without a sukkah to participate in the traditions with a sense of belonging and unity. There were also Lulav shaking and home visits for those who could not attend the centre.
The Charity hosted a Chabad Young Professional (CYP) event, bringing together like-minded young professionals from across NW London for an extraordinary social evening. Several young couples who met at Chabad GG have since married. The Charity has been involved in helping them with wedding preparations.
Chabad GG hosted a culturally appropriate Family Circus event during Sukkos, which was very well attended, with a fun time for all. The event enabled many less privileged families to experience a circus for the first time and enjoy wholesome, family-oriented entertainment.
The Charity organised a Simchas Torah celebration, followed by a Hakafos dinner and dance for the participants and their families.
The Charity hosted an Aleeza Shalom Dating Event for young professionals.
November 2023
Chabad GG ran the Rosh Chodesh Society (RCS) Women’s Monthly Circle, a 7-part course on self-help and self-development, titled “Women of Worth”. The first session discussed Two Views of You - Overcoming Inclination via an External Perspective and was followed by an enjoyable Candle Art activity.
The charity led a 6-week educational course titled: The World of Kabbalah: Exploring the ancient world of Mystical Secrets, discovering the core mystical and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah and their relevance to everyday life. Learning how to gain powerful insights to fuel deeper self-understanding and personal growth.
The Annual Fundraiser took place on November 5th and 6th respectively. The Trustees would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the fundraising drive and those who donated so generously.
The Charity ran a Tzitzit knot-tying and wool-spinning workshop in Primary Schools as part of our array of hands-on, educational workshops.
The Charity joined the international Shabbat Peace Project with motivational speakers and special programmes.
December 2023
The Charity travelled around with its Olive Press workshops to schools and community centres across the UK. Using fresh olives, participants help to squeeze, distil, and spin the olive juice in a centrifuge. Once the pure olive oil is extracted, participants fashion wicks out of cotton wool, and the Chanukah Menorah is lit traditionally.
The Charity hosted another successful Young Professional Social event.
During the Chanukah Festival of Lights, the Charity installed menorahs in town centres, hospitals, and public spaces to spread the message of freedom of expression. The Kids Night Family Extravaganza, a highlight of Chanukah, featured an international singer and local artists showcasing their talent and engaging the local community.
The RCS Ladies Monthly Circle part 2, titled Desirable Duplicity
Being Jewish in All of Life’s Roles was followed by jewellery box pyrography.
January 2024
The Charity organised a Kumszit Social at their centre for the local community.
The RCS Ladies Monthly Circle, Part 3 - Mother of Devotion: The Limits of Sacrifice, was enjoyed by all. The participants then designed and strung bracelets with inspiring messages.
February 2024
The RCS Ladies Monthly Circle part 4 was delivered. The participants discussed Affection in Direction - Rebuking with Love and Respect, followed by Shadow Art craft.
JLI Advice for Life – a five-week course, began. The Rebbe's spiritual leadership is the force behind the modern Chabad movement. Participants travelled on a multimedia journey, gaining the Rebbe's practical wisdom on work, family, health, and well-being. Discovering how the Rebbe applied Jewish values to serve as a guide for finding deeper meaning in everyday life.
The Charity organised a group of teenage community members to join International C- Teen Weekend in New York, where they joined up with 3000 like-minded teens from around the world for a rewarding and uplifting weekend. Many new friendships were cemented.
March 2024
Chabad GG hosted an exciting Purim bash event featuring a Live DJ, a hot buffet, and entertainment for both children and adults. The Charity posted food packages throughout the UK and delivered them locally by our dedicated volunteers.
The Charity's volunteers brought the spirit of the local senior homes to life as the Rabbi and volunteers read the Megillah over Purim.
The regular cohort well attended the RCS Ladies' Monthly Circle, Part 5. The topic was Resource-fullness - Using Every Resource for G-d’s Purpose, and was followed by Tambourine Art.
April 2024
The Charity’s famous educational Matzah Bakery workshops travelled to schools and youth groups around the country. Teaching the art of Winnowing, threshing, grinding the grain in a hand-driven wheat mill, sifting the flour, and finally making a dough and then baking their matzos, all under the pressure of an 18-minute time limit!
Boxes of Hand-baked matzah were distributed in person and were also available for shipping.
Rabbi Yossi Simon and his family graciously and diligently led the Annual Communal Pesach Seder, which 75 people attended—focusing on our history in ancient Egypt 3300 years ago.
Pesach/ Passover programmes were engaging for both adults and children, followed by Kiddushim. The Charity arranged meals for those in need.
May 2024
The Charity organised a Pirkei Avot Ethics class for ladies, in the lead up to Shavuot which was well attended.
The RCS Ladies Monthly Circle part 6 - Against the Tide - Acting Morally in an Immoral Society, was followed by the participants creating Sugar Scrubs
June 2024
The Charity took part in the Macabee Fun Run – promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive wellbeing. The Charity hosted an enlightened Shavuot Dinner, followed by a late-night study programme.
Children and adults enjoyed a Shavuos Dairy Ice Cream Party
JLI Adult Education Course: Decision of Fate was well received. This course applied Jewish values to four common dilemmas: risky treatments, end-of-life care, abortion, and care of the deceased.
The RCS Ladies Monthly Circle part 7 was delivered. The participants explored the concept “Stepping Up the Tide - Opting for Tough but True” and then enjoyed making cheesecake in a jar.
The Charity took part in the Macabee Fun Run – promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive wellbeing.
July and August 2024
The Charity ran a Summer Day Camp programme for children during the school holidays, providing activities, field trips, nutritious meals, and a secure environment to nurture lasting friendships. The camp offered a wide range of fun and educational experiences — from arts and crafts to sports, day trips, and engaging sessions led by external providers, including Mad Science experiments, magic shows, team-based puzzles and game challenges, drum circles, and more. The Charity selected each activity very carefully to encourage and promote creativity, learning, collaboration, and self-confidence in children.
On Tisha B’Av, the Charity hosted a talk by Holocaust survivor Mrs Barbara Frankiss, educating the next generation.
The Charity prepared the data for the upcoming Calendar for the New Year as it plans and strategies for the coming year.
September 2024
As a lead-up to the Jewish New Year, the Charity ran Shofar-making workshops in schools and community centres around London.
The craftsman demonstrates the process of transforming a raw ram’s horn through skilled shaping and polishing into an authentic kosher-sounding horn. The Rabbi encouraged participants to help complete an actual horn. Each group keeps the Shofar fashioned there as a memento of the craftsman’s visit. The participants then learned to sound the Shofar and practised blowing different notes on a variety of shofrots.
The statement of Financial Activities shows a net deficit of £14,961 (2023 - £53,626) for the year, which has been deducted from the fund balances. The trustees expect an increase in donations and activities in the coming year.
At present, the Trustees do not consider it necessary to have a specific reserve policy. They are however taking concerted steps to develop a series of initiatives so as to further improve the Charity’s financial position.
All Donations received so far are Unrestricted Funds
The charity is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles incorporated on 27 November 2014 as amended by special resolution registered at companies House on 23 September 2015.
The Charity Appointed Mr Dovid Katzel as a Trustee on the 10th June 2020.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Appointment of the trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of company.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute a sum (not exceeding £10) in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Tzivos Hashem UK (the charity) for the year ended 30 September 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 th, 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.
Tzivos Hashem UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2 Western Avenue, London, NW11 9HH.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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 charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
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. 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.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
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. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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.
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.
In the application of the charity’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.
Charitable activities
Charitable Activities
Governance costs
Support costs
Event costs
Supplies for programmes
Trips and activities
Website, IT software and consumables
Advertising and marketing
Insurance
Light, heat, repairs & maintenance
Motor vehicle expenses
Postage, printing and stationery
Rent
Telephone and internet
Travelling expenses
Accountancy
Charitable Activities
Charitable Activities
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year (2023 - nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).