STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The Directors of the Jewish Cultural Centre Wales oversees the Company’s operations and programme of work, and they are to be thanked for the time and effort that they provide. Risk management policy The Directors have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the Company is exposed. Checks are regularly invoked, particularly those relating to the operations and finance. The Directors are satisfied that these systems and procedures mitigate any perceived risks. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The Company's objects are restricted specifically, in each case only for the public benefit.1) To advance education for the public benefit in Welsh Jewish heritage and culture and Jewish heritage and culture more broadly by the restoration and preservation of the former synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil for the establishment of a heritage centre which will provide permanent, temporary and touring exhibitions and artefacts and facilities and opportunities for artistic and cultural events and activities aligned to associated themes of migration and integration, social cohesion and tolerance. 2) The promotion and appreciation of the arts, including music and drama, in particular but not exclusively, through the display of art in public exhibitions, concerts/recitals and performances, art installations and other arts events. 3) To further or benefit the residents of Merthyr Tydfil and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents by the provision of premises for use by the community. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE The Jewish Cultural Centre Wales was established in 2025 as a company and registered charity to take forward the special project seeking to preserve the historic former synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales and create a national Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre at the site. Merthyr Tydfil was the industrial powerhouse of Wales in the 19th century and its largest town. There has been a Jewish presence in Merthyr since the 1830s and the construction of a synagogue in the 1870s reflected a community that was growing and prospering. Merthyr Tydfil synagogue is a stone structure designed in Gothic Revival style, and the oldest purpose-built synagogue still standing in Wales. Today it is considered architecturally one of the most important synagogues in the UK, and it was awarded grade II listed status. The Jewish community of Merthyr came to an end in 1983 when the synagogue was sold. Since that time, the building was used for several purposes. However, from 2006 onwards it has been lying empty, its condition deteriorating, the fabric of the building seriously compromised with a gaping hole in the roof and broken windows. It was eventually added to the ‘heritage at risk’ register by the Welsh Government. The synagogue was put up for sale creating an opportunity to consider its future. The Foundation for Jewish Heritage (FJH), which is a UK registered charity that works on preserving Jewish heritage in danger, began seeking views on the idea of creating a national ‘Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre’ based at the synagogue that would present the 250+ year history of the Welsh Jewish community and provide a new social, educational and cultural venue for Merthyr, and for Wales as a whole. A Feasibility Study funded by the Muriel and Gershon Coren Charitable Foundation was undertaken to consider the Cultural Centre proposal which concluded that the idea was viable. FJH proceeded to raise the funds which enabled it to buy the synagogue in 2019. It then carried out immediate repairs to stabilise the building with financial support from Cadw and other charitable trusts. FJH also established a project Steering Committee as a sub-committee of the FJH Board chaired by Trustee Stephen Goldman. The project advanced and a Business Plan was undertaken funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund. The synagogue was visited by HRH the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and the Welsh First Minister. Funding was then secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Welsh Government and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in order to undertake a Development (planning) Phase. A professional team was recruited for this led by Project Manager Neil Richardson. This phase was completed in autumn 2025 and included (a) purchasing the next door building, the grade II Primrose Hill House, to give the project the full physical capacity to deliver what is a national project and (b) creating the Jewish Cultural Centre Wales (JCCW) as a company and charity establishing a legal entity fully dedicated to the project chaired by FJH Trustee David Bearman. The next stage is securing Delivery (capital works) Phase funding and joint JCCW FJH applications have been submitted to the National Lottery, Welsh Government and a number of private Trusts and Foundations. It is planned that the Cultural Centre once open will convey the life and contribution of the Welsh Jewish community covering its history and traditions, social, religious, and cultural activities, the Jewish calendar and life cycle, relations with wider society, and the impact of world events. It will also provide a context for discussing contemporary issues regarding religious and ethnic diversity, fostering inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue, promoting understanding while combating ignorance, racism and antisemitism. FINANCIAL REVIEW The Company's expenditure is closely monitored. Reserves policy It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserve of the charity, at a level which the Trustees think appropriate in order to meet the current and foreseeable future commitments of the charity. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE In the 25/26 financial year, the Jewish Cultural Centre Wales will learn if it has been successful in securing funding for the Delivery Phase of the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre project. Assuming the funding is secured, the project to carry out the capital works will begin, and ensuring the success of the Delivery Phase will be the central focus of JCCW’s activities. This stage will first involve the procurement process to secure the professional team who will carry out the works. The Directors will guide this next stage of the project, overseeing the work of the Steering Committee and several Working Groups that will be established to address specific aspects of the project. The Directors will also provide close oversight of the management of the funding. The Directors will also liaise closely with the Foundation for Jewish Heritage which will remain involved in the project as a formal partner. A service agreement has been established by the two bodies. There are also a number of other community/cultural/educational organisations that JCCW will be collaborating with as the programming aspect of the new Cultural Centre is fully refined and resolved. Assuming that the funding is secured, the opening of the Centre is expected to be Autum 2028.

The directors who served the company during the period were as follows:

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