The Council of Christians and Jews

The Council of Christians and Jews

(Registered Charity No. 238005)

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31 March 2016

Registered Office:

Collaboration House

77-79 Charlotte Street

London W1T 4PW

THE COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

CONTENTS

Page

Legal and administrative information2

Trustees’ Report3

Independent Auditor’s Report8

Statement of Financial Activities9

Balance Sheet10

Notes to the financial statements11

1

THE COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

LEGAL INFORMATION

Patron

Her Majesty The Queen

Presidents

The Archbishop of Canterbury

The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

The Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

The Free Churches Moderator

The Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth

The Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism

The Senior Rabbi of the Movement for Reform Judaism

The Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism

The Spiritual Head of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation

Vice Presidents

Lord Carey of Clifton / Revd Dr David Coffey / Mrs Elizabeth Corob
Mr Henry Grunwald QC / Lord Harries of Pentregarth / Rt. Revd Dr Christopher Herbert
Dr Lionel Kopelowitz MBE / Sir Timothy Sainsbury / Mr Clive Marks OBE FCA
Cardinal Cormac - Murphy O’Connor / The Hon. Gerald Noel FRSL / Baroness Richardson of Calow OBE
Mr R Stephen Rubin OBE

Trustees

Chair: Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE

Vice Chairs: Dr Christopher Moran, Mr Maurice Ostro OBE

Hon. Treasurers: Mr Michael Cutting FCA, Mr Andrew Mainz FCA

Hon: Secretaries: Dr Ann Conway-Jones, Mr. David Arnold MBE

Mr Zaki Cooper, Lord Michael Farmer QC (from 9th May 2016)

Dr Wendy Fidler MBE (until 9th November 2015), Rt. Revd David Gillett,Wing Cmdr Stephen Griffiths MBE (from 8th September 2015), Dr Sally Guthrie (from 8th September 2015),

Mr Michael Hockney MBE CCMI, Lord Michael Howard of LympneCHPC QC,

Most Revd Kevin Macdonald , Revd Dr David Muir (from12thJanuary 2016), Mr Vivian Wineman,

Mrs Suzanne Jacobs, Mrs Ingrid Stellmacher, Revd Malcolm Weisman OBE OCF

Advisory Board

Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE

Mr David Arnold MBE, Dr Ann Conway-Jones,

Dr Wendy Fidler MBE, Ms Francesca Frazer, Wing Cmdr Stephen Griffiths MBE, Dr Sally Guthrie,

Mrs Margaret Harrison, Sr Isabel Smyth.

Director: Dr Jane Clements

Deputy Director: Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko

Auditors:
Mazars LLP
Times House
Throwley Way
Sutton Surrey SM1 4JQ / Bankers:
Unity Trust Bank plc
Nine Brindleyplace
BIRMINGHAM
B1 2HB / Registered Office:
CCJ, Collaboration House
77-79 Charlotte Street
London W1T 4PW

1

THE COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2016

The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2016.

Reference and administrative details

The Council of Christian and Jews (“CCJ”) is an unincorporated trust, registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 238005, and governed by a constitution adopted on 31 December 1997. The constitution was reviewed and a revised version presented to the Annual General Meeting in October 2014. The original Council was formally constituted at a meeting of representatives of the Christian and Jewish communities on 20 March 1942.

The office space is located in Collaboration House, a hub for inter faith organisations. This provides a range of opportunities for cooperation with other relevant bodies.

Objectives and Activities

The stated objectives of the charity as set out in the Constitution of the Council of Christians and Jews dated 3rd December 1997 are:

1. To promote religious and cultural understanding between Christian and Jewish communities;

2. To work for the elimination of religious and racial prejudice, hatred and discrimination with particular reference to antisemitism; and

3. To promote religious and racial harmony on the basis of the ethical and social teachings common to Judaism and Christianity.

How the charity has worked to achieve these objectives

CCJ’s work is organised into 3 main categories.

1. Dialogue

The core work of dialogue is carried out by our 31 local branches, across the UK. Around 1,500 members attend activities which include hosting speakers, film nights and social events. This year saw the first residential conference for branch members in over 2 decades; it was well-attended with all placea filled.

A number of events and activities have enabled the development of dialogue between individuals and institutions, especially where the conversation has been difficult. In particular, CCJ has hosted a regular dialogue group of Jews and Christians with a range of perspectives on the Israeli/Palestinian situation. CCJ also ran programmes in Manchester and London sponsored by the Church Urban Fund’s Near Neighbours programme.

For the first time in ten years, CCJ ran a stall at the Christian arts and music festival Greenbelt.

This year also saw the inauguration of the Campus Leadership Programme, with the appointment of a Project Manager. The programme seeks to identify, train and support students on a number of campuses in the UK to be inter faith leaders, addressing faith issues and potential areas of conflict.

1. Education

The charity continued to provideinformal educationat theological colleges, centres of Jewish learning and church meetings. Two breakfast briefings and a number of seminars in London and Manchester were held. Topics addressed ranged from medieval popes, the Church and the Shoah, the situation for Jewish and Christian communities worldwide and to the issue of Islamophobia. The charity also hosted a briefing from a visiting Israeli activist. CCJ staff visited several schools and community centres, and members in different parts of the country were also active in explaining Judaism and Christianity in local schools.

In partnership with YadVashem’s International School of Holocaust Studies, the annual 10 day seminar took place in Jerusalem. CCJ staff also contributed to work in partnership with the national Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

1. Social Action

CCJ staff have continued to work with church organisations on the Stop the Traffik campaign, highlighting human trafficking, and contributed material to the Freedom Sunday project. In August, Jewish members of staff ran a campaign If Not Now When?encouraging Jewish communities to reflect on the persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria. The campaign was supported by all Jewish denominations and endorsed by the Chief Rabbi.

CCJ staff organised a collection of goods from other organisations in Collaboration House for the Manna Homeless Centre, Bermondsey, as part of Mitzvah Day activities.

Communications

Two editions of the charity’s magazine Common Ground were published during the year. An electronic newsletter is mailed to all members and stakeholders each week. Under the guidance of the new Operations Manager, the charity’s database was ‘cleaned’ and the process begun to ensure accurate records as well as identify major donors.

International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) and other Interfaith Bodies

CCJ is a member organisation of the International Council of Christians and Jews and the Inter Faith Network (IFN). Four members of staff participated in the annual ICCJ conference in Rome, held to mark the anniversary of the document Nostra Aetate.

Achievements and Performance

The organisation achieved all its targets during the reporting period with the exception of the proposed Parliamentarians’ short seminar at YadVashem; this had to be cancelled due to the security concerns at the time. Funders who awarded grants for projects all received appropriate reports.

Future objectives

In the next financial year, the organisation will continue building relationships with existing partners such as the Christian Muslim Forum, enabling to extend programmes to other faith communities.

As a whole, the organisation will seek to strengthen communication and cooperation with the branches.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that, in making decisions about activities, they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Structure, governance and membership

CCJ is governed by a Constitution and is administered by a Board of Trustees, comprising the Chair, two Vice Chairs, two Honorary Treasurers and two Honorary Secretaries. In addition, two Members of the

Advisory Board are invited by the trustees to join the Board of Trustees following the recommendation of the Advisory Board. The Board of Trustees may also appoint other trustees as they deem expedient. The Director has responsibility for the daily management of the charity, as delegated by the trustees.

The charity is a membership organisation. A person is eligible for Membership of the Council if he or she subscribes to the purposes of the Council. The property and assets of the charity are administered and managed by the Board of Trustees, with advice from the Advisory Board.

Changes in Trustees

Dr Sally Guthrie and Wg Cdr Stephen Griffiths were elected to the Board from the Advisory Board with effect from 8th September 2015. The Revd Dr David Muir joined the Board on 12th January 2016 andLord Famer on 9th May 2016. Dr Wendy Fidler concluded her period of office on 9th November 2015.

Staff

Throughout the year, the office staff comprised 5 full time staff, 1 part-time and 2 consultants, each working one day per week. A volunteer Branch Liaison Manager works two days per week.

Two members of staff left at the end of the year: the (Christian) Programme Manager and the Operations Manager. Both were replaced.

Volunteers

CCJ’s 31 local branches are each organised by a committee of volunteers.

The Branch Liaison Manager, based in the London office, supports and coordinates the branch committees and is herself a volunteer. Two former members of staff are available on a voluntary basis to help with Christian-led programmes. In addition, other members assist both with occasional administrative tasks in the office and at special events.

Senior management staff

The trustees delegate the directing and controlling, running and operating the Trust to the senior management staff on a day to day basis. The remuneration of the senior staff is reviewed annually and may be increased in accordance with average earnings for similar positions.

How the charity is supported

1. Membership: Individual Membership costs £20 a year; joint Membership £30 and Corporate Membership (e.g. church or synagogue) £60. There is also a ‘Friends’ category for donors giving £100.
2. Donations:The charity benefits from enhanced regular giving or one-off donations by some supporters, usually for core costs but occasionally for specific projects. Tax on donations is reclaimed under Gift Aid where appropriate.

The trustees are particularly grateful to the following who have donated substantial funds during

the year: Mrs Trixie Brennikmeijer, Mr Keith Breslauer, Mr David Dangoor, Mr Graham Edwards, Mr Andrew Mainz and Mr Maurice Ostro.

Appeals to members and readers were made through both editions of Common Ground.

1. Grants: The charity makes applications to grant-giving bodies, trusts and foundations in support of strategic project work. These include The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, The Westhill

Endowment, the Pears Foundation, the Javon Family Foundation, The Bridging Trust, The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, and the Near Neighbours programme, administered by

the Church Urban Fund. Many Trusts/Foundations support the work of CCJ and the Trustees record their deep appreciation to them.

1. Fund raising activities: During this period, the organisation held a dinner event at the Tower of London, which was organised by trustee Mr Michael Hockney and hosted by the Constable of the Tower General The Lord Dannatt CBE.
2. Legacies: The organisation benefitted from several legacies during the reporting period and inaugurated its own Legacy Campaign.

Financial Review

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies and comply with the charity’s trust deed and applicable law. Whilst there has been a loss for the year, this was lower than budgeted. The charity continues to aim to operate within its overall level of income. However, the trustees are keen to maintain the current level of programmes and are satisfied that the charity has sufficient reserves to cover any shortfall required.

Pages 9 and 10 of this document identify the financial activities of the charity for the year. There has again been a deficit which is covered by funds in reserves.

Reserves Policy

The policy of the trustees is to maintain sufficient reserves to enable the charity to continue running for at least 12 months. The trustees consider the levels of reserves to be both prudent and responsible.

Investment Policy

The investment policy is to use professional investment managers to invest part of the funds of the charity. The performance of these investments is monitored regularly by the trustees.

Risk Assessment

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:

• an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;
• the establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review; and
• the implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.

This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is the maintenance of an effective fundraising strategy which identifies sustainable funding sources, together with increasing interest and commitment from potential members and donors.

Attention has also been focussed on non-financial risks arising from loss of data and reputational damage. These risks are managed by:

• ensuring back-up and retrieval procedures are in place, including by the database providers, Donor Strategy, together with training for appropriate members of staff, and
• robust policies and procedures for staff working in potentially controversial operational areas.

Statement of Disclosure to Auditors

So far as Trustees are aware:

a)There is no relevant audit information of which charity’s auditors are unaware; and

b)They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information.

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees are required by charity law to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity at the end of the financial year.

In preparing the accounts, the Trustees are required to:

-Confirm that suitable accounting policies have been used and applied consistently;

-Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

-Confirm that applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and

-That the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.

The Trustees are also responsible for:

-Keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011; and

-Safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Trustees and signed this 26th day of October2016 on their behalf by:

+Michael Lichfield

The Rt. Revd Dr Michael IpgraveOBE

Chairman

1

THE COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

We have audited the financial statements of The Council of Christians and Jews for the year ended 31 March 2016 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 “the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.”

Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditor

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities set out on page 7, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view.

We have been appointed as auditor under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors. This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees as a body. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s web-site

Opinion on the financial statements

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2016 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception