JNF UK 2014 Annual Report

DAVID BEN-GURION ANDTHEODOR HERZL PRESENT JNF UK: A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

2

CHAIRMAN’S Samuel HayekREVIEW 2014 was another successful year for JNF UK. As our accounts demonstrate, JNF UK is in robust health. JNF UK has been at the forefront of Zionist activism for over a century. In the past decade our focus has turned to the Negev, the vast desert region in Israel’s south that forms 60% of the country’s landmass, yet is home to a mere 10% of its population. Our projects are carefully chosen to maximise our impact on Negev communities. From digital media centres in small desert towns, to facilities for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; from programmes facilitating the successful integration of youth at-risk into the army to clubs for Holocaust survivors; if JNF UK believes that a project has the potential to transform Israeli lives then we will endeavour to supply the material and logistical assistance it needs. Our portfolio includes many projects that simply could not exist without our support. The assistance we provide is not merely monetary. We are proud of our added value - the support we bring to projects in the form of financial and strategic advice, raw materials and teams of enthusiastic volunteers. It is an honour for me personally to serve as Chairman of this wonderful organisation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both our staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and our donors for their generosity and support. Samuel Hayek Chairman, JNF UK 3

CEO’S Alan AzizSTATEMENT After many years of working in the Jewish community, I have been appointed CEO of JNF UK. It is an honour for me toCEO’S play a leading role in this historic organisation.REVIEW Since its foundation in 1901 JNF has planted more than 240 million trees, built more than 210 reservoirs and dams, developed over 250,000 acres of land and created more than 100 parks. JNF UK is building new infrastructure throughout southern Israel, transforming thousands of lives in the process. JNF UK projects are making the desert bloom and drawing new life to Israel’s peripheries. The disproportionate media emphasis on the Jewish state and the difficulties it faces discourages some British Jews from taking pride in Israel and its achievements. The Jewish community is at its strongest when we are united and working together. In my new role as CEO of JNF UK, I will do everything in my power to ensure that this happens even more. Israel is the realisation of a dream. Zionist pioneers revitalised a land that was largely uninhabitable 150 years ago - reviving an ancient language and transforming a barren landscape of swamps and desert into a land of high-tech and start-ups. JNF UK has been there at every step of Israel’s journey – we are still there and with our help the land of Israel will continue to flourish. There is still much to do - it is the job of our generation to complete the work begun by the pioneers of an earlier age. JNF UK is at the forefront of these efforts. Thank you for continuing to help us build this dream. Alan Aziz Chief Executive Officer, JNF UK4

5

6

7

EMPLOYMENT BRINGING HIGH-PAYING JOBS TO THE DESERT AND TRANSFORMING THE SOCIOECONOMIC LANDSCAPE JNF UK is constructing a state-of-the-art business hub – the Business Valley - in the development town of Mitzpe Ramon. The Valley will provide office space for firms active in digital marketing and new media. The lower costs of setting up in the Negev will make the location attractive both to start-ups who would struggle to secure office space in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem; and to employees who stand to benefit from reduced rents and a lower cost of living. Bringing high-paying jobs to Mitzpe Ramon is expected to have a tangible impact on the local economy, and improve living standards in the town as a consequence. JNF UK supported employment projects are creating new opportunities for people throughout the Negev. Visit jnf.co.uk/projects to find out more. 8

9

HEALTH DEVELOPING THE NEGEV’S FIRST REHABILITATION CENTRE AND REBUILDING LIVES Since its establishment in 1979 Ezra LeMarpeh has helped hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens obtain the medical care they need, never charging for its services. JNF UK is working with Ezra LeMarpeh to build a new rehabilitation centre in Sderot; providing life-changing care to tens of thousands of people in southern Israel. In addition the Centre will offer specialised treatment for Negev residents suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being attacked by thousands of rockets since 2000. This is just one of the many life-changing healthcare projects JNF UK supports in the Negev. Find out more at jnf.co.uk/projects.10

11

EDUCATION TEACHING NEGEV KIDS THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND PROMOTING SOCIAL MOBILITY Shiur Acher teaches students from underprivileged backgrounds about the high-flying careers they could pursue with the right advice and encouragement – providing inspiration to children who might otherwise never consider that they could become lawyers, economists, engineers or journalists. Thanks to the assistance of JNF UK, Shiur Acher has expanded this life-changing programme into the Negev. For over a year now hundreds of volunteers have been providing high-quality supplemental education at schools throughout southern Israel. Shiur Acher is just one of many JNF UK supported educational projects changing young lives in the south of Israel. To learn more, see jnf.co.uk/projects.12

13

LEADERSHIP HELPING AT-RISK YOUTH DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL AND FOSTERING SOCIAL INTEGRATION Derech Eretz was established in 2011 to give marginalised youth aged 17–21 the opportunity for life-changing growth and development throughout all three stages of service in the Israel Defense Forces - including pre-army support and preparation, ongoing mentorship during service, and post-army guardianship. The aim of the programme is not merely to develop participants’ life and leadership skills; but further, to drive social mobility for the betterment of Israeli society. JNF UK projects are equipping young people of all backgrounds with the skills they need to become tomorrow’s leaders. Take a look at jnf.co.uk/projects to find out more. 14

15

SOCIALWELFARE SUPPORTING FOSTER HOMES FOR NEGLECTED KIDS AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL WELFARE JNF UK is renovating three foster homes in Be’er Sheva, run by the Orr Shalom organisation. The foster homes provide a stable environment for children aged six to eighteen who have been removed from their birth families owing to neglect, abuse or tragedy. Each foster home is run by a married couple who raise the children entrusted to them alongside their own biological families. Find out about the other welfare projects JNF UK supports at jnf.co.uk/projects.16

17

CULTURE BUILDING A MUSIC SCHOOL AND TRANSFORMING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE NEGEV Located in Eshkol, a region which has suffered decades of conflict and neglect, Bikurim Music School provides residential music training to 150 gifted young Negev musicians. JNF UK is transforming a derelict kibbutz dormitory into a 21st century educational campus, complete with rehearsal rooms, specialist equipment and software systems. In the past, gifted young musicians in the south were forced to choose between relocating to Israel’s centre or abandoning their passion. This project enhances the cultural life in the Negev, and creates new and exciting opportunities for young talent. To find out more about how JNF UK is improving the cultural life of southern Israel, visit jnf.co.uk/projects.18

19

COMMUNITY DEFENDING FARMS FROM THEFT AND VANDALISM AND SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE HaShomer HaChadash (The New Guardians) helps farmers in the Negev and Galilee protect their land and livestock from the theft and vandalism that plague rural communities in Israel’s periphery. The organisation educates youth, empowers volunteers, protects land and inspires mutual responsibility. JNF UK has provided essential support to HaShomer HaChadash – helping the organisation expand from the Galilee into the south. JNF UK has provided fully-equipped caravans for the use of volunteers; enabling the organisation to maintain a presence in remote areas; and purchased all-terrain vehicles to help Guardians negotiate the rugged Negev landscape. This is just one of the many ways in which JNF UK is transforming communities throughout the Negev. To find out more visit jnf.co.uk/projects. 20

21

YOUTH GIVING KIDS A PLACE TO MEET AND BOOSTING SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ISRAEL’S SOUTH Arad, like many cities in the Negev, lacks the facilities teenagers require for a positive transition into adulthood. JNF UK is dedicated to promoting leadership in Israel’s youth by encouraging them to fill their time with positive experiences. To this end JNF UK have built a youth centre in the heart of the city. As well as providing an entertainment venue, and giving young residents of Arad a convenient space to socialise, the new centre will feature a guidance and training area - providing a home for the city’s Youth Council and a venue for IDF Orientation classes. Young people in the Negev are benefitting from a host of JNF UK supported projects. Learn more at jnf.co.uk/projects.22

23

JNF UK – JNF UK has remained resolute in its support of Israel from the days of the second Aliyah, through the ALWAYS BY War of Independence and to the present day, supporting the Jewish state through good times and bad. ISRAEL’S SIDE When terrorists launched a series of indiscriminate missile attacks against southern Israel in the summer of 2014, JNF UK responded with an emergency appeal, providing care to children and families affected by the violence. In total, JNF UK raised £136,000 within a few weeks to assist the people of the Negev. Throughout the crisis JNF UK worked closely with Reut Sderot and other organisations active in the frontline towns; helping the organisation set up a command centre from which it provided 24 hour care to those requiring emergency support and assistance. JNF UK provided funds for a series of day-trips, providing respite for those who had spent the better part of the summer sheltering from rocket fire beneath ground. JNF UK also funded Community Emergency Teams, whose members maintained shelters and organised morale-boosting visits to soldiers manning the Iron Dome.24

25

26

ADDED JNF UK does not merely provide funding. We are proud of our ‘added value’ – the support we bring to projects in the form of financialVALUE and strategic advice, raw materials and teams of enthusiastic volunteers that make a pound donated to JNF UK go further than a pound donated to other charities. JNF UK works hard to ensure that every penny is accounted for, and that our partner projects manage their funds as efficiently as possible. Many of the initiatives we assist could not hope to survive without the advice and assistance of JNF UK. If JNF UK believes that a project has the potential to change lives and boost the infrastructure of Israel’s south we will work to supply it with whatever support it needs. Why not volunteer to help out on one of our projects, and see first-hand the life-changing work JNF UK is doing in the Negev? For more information email [email protected]. 27

SUPPORT JNF UK LIKE MARIE, YOU CAN PLAY A PART IN SECURING ISRAEL’S FUTURE Marie Sherrett was born in Prague in 1913, and fled to Paris before the war. She was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust. Marie eventually settled in England, where she lived until her death in 2012, aged 99. She left no children. In her later years, JNF UK’s Legacy Department provided pastoral services to Marie, taking the role of the close family she lost years before. Marie wanted to benefit Israel after her death, and in particular made a request in her Will to support children with learning difficulties. Marie’s generosity was instrumental in helping JNF UK renovate a centre for children with autism in Kiryat Gat, the first facility of its kind in the area. Thanks to Marie, kids like Tomer – who might otherwise have to travel hours to obtain the care they need - can now access a range of personalised treatments without having to leave their home town. To find out more about leaving a legacy to support JNF UK’s vital work in the Negev visit jnf.co.uk/legacy.28

29

SUPPORT JNF UK SMARTGIVING: ANOTHER SMART WAY TO SUPPORT JNF UK SmartGiving is an online charitable platform enabling users to manage all aspects of their charitable donations and fundraising from one convenient site. The site allows you to donate to any UK registered charity including JNF UK. As SmartGiving is a registered charity and fully non-profit, all surplus fees are donated straight to JNF UK’s life-changing projects in the Negev. In 2014 £250k in surplus fees were raised for JNF UK. Whereas other charity account platforms take the admin fees as profit, SmartGiving donates its fees directly to JNF UK, ensuring that no matter who you give to, you also give to Israel. To find out more or to sign up for free, please visit smartgiving.org.uk.30

31

FINANCIAL SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2014 HIGHLIGHTS Total 2014 Total 201332 £’000 £’000 INCOMING RESOURCES 1,739 1,410 1,176 4,491 Donations 396 Legacies 10,120 307 Investment Income and Interest Receivable 7,647 KKL Charity Accounts Income 13,431 13,855 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED 697 692 Fundraising Costs of Donations and Legacies 4,978 4,978 8,918 7,721 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 68 29 Remittances to Israel 93 65 Remittances to UK Charities Legal Expenses 14,754 13,485 Governance Costs TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED SUMMARYSCUOMNMSAORLYIDCAOTNESDOBLAIDLATNECDEBSAHLEAENTSCEASHAETE3T1SDAESCEAMTB3E1 DRE2C0E14MBER 2014 Net Incoming /(Outgoing) Resources (1,323) 370 Impairment Credit/(Charge) on Assets for Charity’s own use 335 150 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (988) 520 FUND BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD 14,236 13,716 FUND BALANCES AT YEAR END 13,248 14,236

£13.42014 INCOME £52014 PROJECT MILLION COMMITMENT70IN 2014 MILLIONACTIVE PROJECTS 33

34

35

REGISTERED OFFICEJNF House, Spring Villa Park,Spring Villa Road, Edgware,Middlesex HA8 7EDDIRECTORS AND TRUSTEESSamuel Hayek - ChairmanDr Michael Sinclair - Vice ChairmanDavid Berens – Company SecretarySalamon AaronGuy AvshalomPaul CharneyElan GorjiRabbi Alan KimcheMurray LeeMorris MansourGary MondBenjamin Perl MBEDaniel SealMandi WaismanCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERAlan AzizCompany No. 355248Registered Charity No. 225910 020 8732 6100 [email protected] www. jnf.co.uk