Eastwood Jewish Community Centres
Giffnock charity that holds the property of the merged Giffnock and Newton Mearns synagogues (OSCR SC048957)
| Eastwood Jewish Community Centres
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) |
| Founded | 15 January 2019 |
| Registration ID | SC048957 (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) |
| Status | Active |
| Headquarters | 222 Fenwick Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6UE[1] |
| Area served | East Renfrewshire |
| Services | Provides and maintains premises for Jewish community organisations |
| Registration | Scotland (OSCR) |
Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (EJCC) is a Scottish charity that holds the buildings of the merged Giffnock and Newton Mearns synagogues. It was set up "to hold assets transferred from unincorporated charity number SC016029 (Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation)", and it was later agreed to transfer the assets of Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation (SC009979) as well. "The property assets were transferred on 1 September 2022."[2] Its sister charity Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue runs the congregation, and the two share three trustees (Michael Goodman, Ephraim Borowski and Brian Fox); a fourth, W Karpf, served on both until May 2025.[1][3]
EJCC owes the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust £200,000: "The loan is from the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust is interest free and repayable on demand."[4] The Trust lent the money to Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation between 2015 and 2020; its own accounts say the loan "is now held by Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, a connected charity" and is "repayable when the Synagogue sells the site at Larchfield Court, Glasgow".[5] In the year to 31 August 2025, EJCC's first year with reported figures, it received £114,602 in rent and a £40,000 donation from an unnamed donor.[4]
Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, (SC048957 Registered charity from 15 January 2019)
- To contribute to public benefit by providing and maintaining premises for the use of organisations within the Jewish Community whose own objectives and activities promote any of the charitable purposes prescribed in statute or regulations, and in particular, but not limited to, the advancement of education, religion, community development, heritage and culture, recreation, the promotion of equality, diversity, and religious or racial harmony; and secondarily to make these premises available to other organisations and individuals for those or analogous purposes.[6]
- The SCIO was established to hold assets transferred from unincorporated charity number SC016029 (Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation), and it was subsequently agreed also to transfer the assets of Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation (charity no. SC009979). The property assets were transferred on 1 September 2022.[6]
Policy on reserves:
- To hold sufficient funds to enable us to operate for 3 months, to meet likely maintenance costs, and to pay redundancy compensation to staff in the event of winding up.[6]
Resources
- Buildings £570,464
- Loan £200,000[6]
Timeline
- 2008 - JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE Tel: 0141-577 8222 Fax: 0141-577 8202 e-mail: j-scot@j-scot.org. The Jewish Community Centre is managed by the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and houses the offices of the Representative Council, UJIA, the Jewish Learning Centre, the Israel Information Office, the Chaim Bermant Library , the UJIA Makor Resource Centre, the Student Chaplain, the Shaliach and the Youth Worker. It provides support facilities for all Jewish organisations and has meeting rooms available for hire. Centre Convener Kalman Bookman/David Strang Centre Administrator Mrs Beverley Taylor.[7]
Registration
- Founded: Registered charity 15 January 2019 (as Giffnock Jewish Community Complex)[1]
- Income and expenditure: Income £163,072; expenditure £72,435 (year ending 31 August 2025)[1]
EJCC registered as a SCIO on 15 January 2019. It was called "Giffnock Jewish Community Complex" until 27 January 2022.[8] The 2019 accounts of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation explain that "the 2018 AGM agreed that two new SCIOs should be established and the assets of the unincorporated organisation transferred to them": "Giffnock Jewish Community Centre", which would "hold title to the Synagogue's property", and "Giffnock Synagogue" (now Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue), which would "run the day-to-day activities of the Synagogue".[9] The register describes its work as "The charity provides premises to deliver religious services and events for the Jewish Community", gives its website as the Giffnock synagogue's (giffnockshul.co.uk), and records no staff or volunteers.[1] Both congregations whose property it took over, Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation (registered 23 July 1943) and Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation (13 July 1955), were removed from the register on 6 March 2025 ("Charity has been wound up/dissolved").[8] Companies House lists EJCC as CS003778, "registered externally as SC048957".[10]
Its address, 222 Fenwick Road, Giffnock, is also the registered address of the Jewish Council of Scotland, The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust (JNF KKL Scotland), the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland and Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue.[8] The accounts do not name the tenants who pay rent (see Property and tenants).
Land and ownership
222 Fenwick Road
Eastwood Jewish Community Centres has owned the synagogue site and community centre at 222 Fenwick Road (Land Register title REN156620) since 20 October 2022. The trustees of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Michael Goodman, Evelyn (Evy) Yedd, Ephraim Joseph Borowski and Bernard Louis Cohen, disponed it to EJCC for a price of "ZERO POUNDS (£0)". The property was "sold WITH ENTRY and VACANT POSSESSION on the Date of Entry". The deed was prepared by Mitchells Roberton and does not mention any leases or occupiers.[11] According to the Registers of Scotland Sasine search sheet, the congregation's trustees bought the main plot of 2 acres 2 roods 8½ poles, with the house called The Glen at 222 Fenwick Road, from Roy Sinclair. The disposition is dated 13 February 1961, with a price of £7,250. It excluded 1.331 acres that John Macfarlane had disponed to Renfrew County Council in 1942. No lease is noted on the search sheet.[12] The 2022 disposition conveys both pieces. Among its burden writs is a feu disposition by the council to the congregation's trustees, dated 11 April and recorded 17 May 1967; the disposition does not say which ground it covered.[11] EJCC's 2025 accounts give 20 October 2022 as the date when title to the property of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation and Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation passed to EJCC. Its receipts and payments returns say "The property assets were transferred on 1 September 2022".[4][2] The Registers of Scotland summary records the last purchase as 20 October 2022 with "No price available".[13] The application for first registration of the title (22REN21468) was made on 17 November 2022. It names Eastwood Jewish Community Centres as applicant and the trustees of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation as granters, gives the consideration as "No Consideration", and was still pending when searched on 24 January 2025.[14] By 27 October 2026 the ScotLIS summary listed REN156620 as registered, with no pending applications.[13]
Larchfield Court, Newton Mearns
EJCC also owns the former Newton Mearns Synagogue at 14 Larchfield Court, Newton Mearns (title REN156640). It has been registered proprietor since 23 November 2022, with a date of entry of 20 October 2022 and a consideration of £200,000.[15] The title carries two standard securities:[15]
- one recorded on 18 March 2016 by Bradley Kay, Brian Fox and Jason Fisher, as trustees for Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, to the members of the Finance Committee of the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust: Malcolm Livingstone, Adam Berkley, David Walton, Adam Lewis, Delia Berkley, Samuel Kingsley, Abigail Peters, Melville Robinson and Lawrence Sellyn;
- one by EJCC to Mother Earth Hindu Temple, Glasgow (SC051614), registered on 16 January 2025, with no amount shown.
The Glasgow Jewish Community Trust lent Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation £100,000 in 2015 and £50,000 in each of 2017 and 2020. It says the £200,000 loan "is now held by Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, a connected charity" and is "repayable when the Synagogue sells the site at Larchfield Court".[5] EJCC's own accounts describe the loan as "interest free and repayable on demand".[4] The accounts of Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation show a "GJCT Loan" of £100,000 at 31 August 2016, £150,000 from 2017 to 2019, £170,000 in 2020 and £200,000 in 2021 and 2022, with no repayments. They describe it as "interest free and secured by standard securities over the Synagogue and grounds at 14 Larchfield Court, Newton Mearns". The congregation carried the property at its cost of £321,795 (land £5,523, buildings £316,272), without depreciation.[16][17][18][19][20][21] Its final return to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, for the year to 31 August 2023, lists "Buildings" of £321,795 and liabilities of £200,000. It says the congregation "transferred [its] members and assets to a merged charity Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue SC049806 with effect from 1 September 2022" and that "All assets and liabilities of the charity were transferred".[22]
In January 2025 Mother Earth Hindu Temple, Glasgow agreed to lease and buy the Larchfield building. The Jewish Telegraph reported "the completion of the agreement for the lease/purchase of the former Newton Mearns Synagogue site". It quoted Michael Goodman on the "initial £60,000 payment".[23] The temple's accounts for the year to 31 March 2025 give its address as 14 Larchfield Court and list "rent and utilities" among its spending.[24]
Property and tenants
Occupiers of 222 Fenwick Road
The Glasgow Jewish Representative Council's website says: "The JCC is managed by the Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue and houses the offices of the GJRC, JNF KKL Scotland (Ltd), JCoS and the Queens Park Charitable Trust. It provides support facilities for all Jewish organisations and has meeting rooms available for hire."[25] In 2008 the centre was "managed by the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council".[26] According to Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, the upper floor is "used by various organisations including the JCC, JIA, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, SCoJeC, Queens Park Charitable Trust, JNF KKL Scotland and others". The building also has "a restaurant run by Glasgow Lubavitch" and "a flat which is currently occupied by one of our members".[27] The synagogue lists L'Chaim's Restaurant at 222 Fenwick Road.[28]
Who receives the rent
EJCC is the registered owner. Its receipts and payments returns for the years to 31 August 2023 and 2024 show no receipts at all; the line "Rents from land & buildings" is blank.[6][2] In the year to 31 August 2025 it recorded rental income of £114,602 for the first time, plus £3,849 of insurance and £3,000 of utilities in other income. The accounts say "The charity receives its funding from Rental income and donations" but do not name the tenants or say which building the rent comes from. EJCC reports no related-party transactions.[4]
Before the transfer the building belonged to the trustees of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation. Its accounts for the years to 31 August 2017 to 2022 contain no rent or lettings line. Its trading income included £14,400 a year from the telephone mast and "utilities recharged" of between £6,218 (2021) and £13,597 (2019). In the year to 31 August 2022 it also recorded £1,650 under "The Glen" and £17,273 under "NMHC".[29][30][9][31][32][33]
Over the same years Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, which runs the congregation but does not own the building, recorded letting and occupancy income in its own accounts:[34][35]
| Year to 31 August | Rental income (£) | Telephone mast (£) | Utilities recharged (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14,550 | 59,000 | 6,116 |
| 2024 | 12,200 | 18,900 | 12,882 |
| 2025 | 17,350 | 18,900 | 11,452 |
The synagogue's accounts show no rent paid to EJCC.[35] Its first accounts, for the year to 31 August 2023, record that its trustees "pay for rental of their seat in the Synagogue, the rental amount is not discounted for Trustees". They also show that the synagogue took over plant, equipment, fixtures and fittings costing £111,159 as a "merger transfer", while title to the buildings went to EJCC.[36] Its hall-hire form is headed "Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue" with its charity number and "Letting terms and conditions", and asks for payment to "the Shul".[37]
Tenants' accounts
None of the occupiers' accounts names the body to which it pays rent.
- Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (principal address the Jewish Community Centre, 222 Fenwick Road): "Property charges" of £6,655 in 2024 (2023: £6,143).[38]
- The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust (JNF KKL Scotland; registered and operating address 222 Fenwick Road): "Rent repairs, printing, stationery" of £1,983 in the year to 31 March 2026 (2025: £1,972). Its operating-lease note covers office equipment only.[39]
- Jewish Council of Scotland: no rent line; "Office and Telephone" was £4,245 in 2025 (2024: £5,921).[40]
- Queens Park Charitable Trust (principal office the Jewish Community Centre): operating-lease commitments of £622 due within one year at 30 November 2025, lessor not named.[41]
Finances
| Year ending | Income (£) | Expenditure (£) | Annual return received |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2022 | 0 | 0 | 21 June 2023 |
| 31 August 2023 | 0 | 0 | 31 May 2024 |
| 31 August 2024 | 0 | 0 | 26 May 2025 |
| 31 August 2025 | 163,072 | 72,435 | 29 May 2026 |
The 2024 return is a receipts and payments form with no receipts or payments. Its statement of balances shows "Buildings" of £570,464 and "Loans" of £200,000.[2] The figure of £570,464 is the sum of the cost of land and buildings in the last accounts of the two congregations: £248,669 for 222 Fenwick Road (Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation) and £321,795 for Larchfield Court (Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation).[33][21] The Giffnock congregation's accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 still include the land and buildings at £248,669, and record the transfer of title on 20 October 2022 as a post-balance-sheet event.[33]
Year to 31 August 2025
- Income: £163,072: "Donations and legacies" £40,000, rental income £114,602 and other income £8,470 (insurance £3,849, utilities £3,000, other £1,621). "The charity receives its funding from Rental income and donations."[4] The donor of the £40,000 is not named.
- Spending: £72,435: professional fees £23,689, establishment costs £46,391, administration £1,855 and independent examination £500. The surplus was £90,637.[4]
- Assets: freehold property at cost of £570,464 (not depreciated) and £91,137 in the bank, against the £200,000 loan and £500 of accruals. Total funds were £461,101 (2024: £370,464).[4]
- Independent examiner: Colin G Macdonald CA, Macdonald Associates, 14 Agamemnon Street, Clydebank, Glasgow, G81 4DY. He also examines the accounts of Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue.[4][35]
Trustees
| Name | Role (2025 accounts) | Other OSCR trusteeships (shortlist charities) |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Goodman | Chairman from 25 May 2025 (previously vice-chairman) | Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (chairman)[3] |
| Philip Mendelsohn | Vice-chairman from 25 May 2025 | Jewish Council of Scotland; Queens Park Charitable Trust[42][43] |
| Ephraim Borowski | Hon Secretary | Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (secretary)[3] |
| Brian Fox | Hon Treasurer | Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (treasurer); Glasgow Maccabi; Jewish Care Scotland[3][44] |
| W Karpf | Chairman, resigned 25 May 2025 | Building convener of Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, resigned 22 May 2025[35] |
Ephraim Borowski was also a long-serving officer of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (now the Jewish Council of Scotland).[45]
Contact
- Address: 222 Fenwick Road, Glasgow, G46 6UE
See also
- Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
- Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation
- Glasgow Jewish Community Trust
- Jewish Council of Scotland
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SC048957) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, Trustees' annual report and receipts and payments accounts, year ended 31 August 2024 (OSCR form, redacted copy), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (SC049806) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, note 12, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, Annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (redacted) (PDF), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, archived 25 January 2025, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ General Orgs glasgowjewishrepcouncil.org, archived 19 November 2008, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Scottish Charity Register download (current register, 14 October 2026, and former charities, 20 October 2026), accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2019.
- ↑ Companies House, EASTWOOD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRES (CS003778), accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Disposition by the Trustees of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation to Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, date of entry 20 October 2022, prepared by Mitchells Roberton Ltd, Glasgow (presented for first registration in the Land Register of Scotland as title REN156620).
- ↑ Registers of Scotland, Sasine search sheet Renfrew 4519 (222 Fenwick Road), printed 29 January 2025.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Registers of Scotland, ScotLIS, "Property summary for REN156620", accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Registers of Scotland, ScotLIS application record 22REN21468, searched 24 January 2025.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Registers of Scotland, title sheet REN156640 (Newton Mearns Synagogue, 14 Larchfield Court, Newton Mearns), updated to 16 January 2025.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2017.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2019.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2020.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2021.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2022.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, Appendix 1 and 2 (receipts and payments return to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) for the period 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023.
- ↑ "Glasgow shul uses sale funds to renovate", Jewish Telegraph, 30 May 2025, as posted on the paper's Facebook page, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Mother Earth Hindu Temple, Glasgow, Annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (redacted), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ "Jewish Community Centre", jewishglasgow.org (Glasgow Jewish Representative Council), accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ General Orgs glasgowjewishrepcouncil.org, archived 19 November 2008, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, "About us", gnms.org.uk, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, "Kosher food", gnms.org.uk, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2017.
- ↑ Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018.
- ↑ Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2020.
- ↑ Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2021.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2022.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 (redacted), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023, notes 3 and 12.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, "Hall hire booking form" (updated March 2023), gnms.org.uk, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (redacted), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust, Trustees' report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Jewish Council of Scotland, Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Queens Park Charitable Trust, Accounts for the year ended 30 November 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 27 October 2026.
- ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Jewish Council of Scotland (SC029438) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Queens Park Charitable Trust (SC033701) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Glasgow Maccabi (SC019965) and Jewish Care Scotland (SC005267) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ jewishglasgow.org: Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.