View source for Achisomoch Aid Company Limited

{{short description|UK charity (278387) operating a donor-advised / voucher platform for Orthodox Jewish giving}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Achisomoch Aid Company Limited
| logo = [[File:AAC.png|250px]]
| other_name = AAC; Achisomoch Aid Company; Achisomoch
| type = Charitable company limited by guarantee
| founded = Incorporated 23 May 1979; registered as charity 5 September 1979
| registration_id = Company 01422574; Charity 278387
| location = [[New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU|New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London NW11 0PU]] (registered office); operational address Enterprise House, 2 The Crest, London NW4 2HN
| website = [https://achisomoch.org achisomoch.org]
}}

'''[[Achisomoch Aid Company Limited]]''' (AAC) is an English charitable company (01422574) and registered charity (278387). It operates a large-scale donor-advised fund / charity-account and voucher system that enables individuals, companies and trusts to make tax-efficient donations (including Gift Aid) to thousands of charities, predominantly in the Orthodox Jewish sector. It was incorporated on 23 May 1979 and registered as a charity on 5 September 1979. Its objects are to advance religion in accordance with the Orthodox Jewish faith and other purposes recognised as charitable under English law.<ref name="CHOverview">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01422574 ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED], Companies House 01422574.</ref><ref name="CCFull">[https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/278387/full-print Full print], Achisomoch Aid Company Limited, Charity Commission 278387.</ref>
*Charity registered: 5 September 1979 (Registered)<ref name="CCTrustees">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/278387/trustees ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED trustees] ''Charity Commission for England and Wales'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref>
*Company incorporated: 23 May 1979 (Active); SIC 94910 - Activities of religious organisations<ref name="CHCompany">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01422574 ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED overview] ''Companies House'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref>
*Registered office address: New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU<ref name="CHCompany" />

== How it works ==

AAC functions as a specialised charitable intermediary (sometimes described as a “charity bank” or donor-advised vehicle). Account holders deposit funds into a personal AAC account (by bank transfer, Open Banking or cheque). AAC claims Gift Aid on eligible deposits, adding 25p to the account for every £1 deposited. Holders then instruct donations from their balance to registered charities via:

- online portal or smartphone app (including QR-code terminal donations)
- paper charity vouchers / cheques (prepaid, pre-printed or blank)
- AAC payment cards usable on charity terminals

The organisation handles the administration, record-keeping, Gift Aid paperwork and compliance. It charges a modest administration fee (historically around 5% on voucher schemes; overall running costs have been kept below 1.5% of turnover). Any surplus after costs is donated in full to UK educational institutions, with a stated focus on North-West London Jewish schools, Torah institutions and chinuch, plus Gateshead Yeshiva.<ref name="AACSite">[https://achisomoch.org/ Achisomoch Aid Company], official website, retrieved 9 October 2026.</ref><ref name="JC2023">Simon Rocker, [https://www.thejc.com/news/community/the-50-million-income-of-the-biggest-jewish-charity-youve-never-heard-of-x676zv9b The £50 million income of ‘the biggest Jewish charity you’ve never heard of’], ''Jewish Chronicle'', 3 February 2023.</ref>

AAC states that it has facilitated more than £320 million of charitable giving since 2011 and maintains several thousand charities on its books (around 4,000 cited in 2023 reporting), processing hundreds of thousands of transactions annually for a client base of several thousand individual and organisational givers. While the bulk of activity is Orthodox Jewish causes (schools, yeshivot, poverty relief, religious services), some national charities also appear. A Gibraltar branch was launched in 2023.<ref name="AACSite"/><ref name="JC2023"/>


==Finances==
{| class="wikitable"
! Financial year end !! Total income !! Total expenditure !! Income from donations and legacies !! Expenditure on charitable activities !! Grants to institutions !! Total funds (assets less liabilities) !! Cash !! Employees !! Volunteers !! Accounts received
|-
| 31 March 2021 || £36,101,125 || £35,782,079 || £35,981,620 || £35,782,079 || £35,187,811 || £11,970,813 || £11,923,216 || 8 || 0 || 28 January 2022 (due 31 January 2022)
|-
| 31 March 2022 || £50,448,558 || £46,651,643 || £50,349,454 || £46,651,643 || £46,056,763 || £15,767,728 || £15,482,758 || 10 || 0 || 29 January 2023 (due 31 January 2023)
|-
| 31 March 2023 || £65,106,481 || £63,559,204 || £64,968,296 || £63,559,204 || £62,742,663 || £17,315,005 || £6,857,224 || 4 || 0 || 4 January 2024 (due 31 January 2024)
|-
| 31 March 2024 || £71,525,289 || £70,915,392 || £71,077,333 || £70,915,392 || £69,927,078 || £17,924,902 || £7,094,027 || 9 || 0 || 29 January 2025 (due 31 January 2025)
|-
| 31 March 2025 || £73,819,995 || £72,241,984 || £72,797,416 || £72,241,984 || £71,171,357 || £19,502,913 || £4,652,080 || 10 || 0 || 15 January 2026 (due 31 January 2026)
|}
Source: Charity Commission financial history and register data.<ref name="CCFin">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/278387/financial-history ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED financial history] ''Charity Commission for England and Wales'', accessed 13 October 2026; figures from the Commission's public register data extract dated 13 October 2026.</ref> The Commission records grant-making as the charity's main activity.<ref name="CCOverview">Charity Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/278387 ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED overview] ''Charity Commission for England and Wales'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref> Trustee payments: "No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity."<ref name="CCOverview" />

*Companies House: last accounts made up to 31 March 2025; next accounts made up to 31 March 2026, due by 31 December 2026.<ref name="CHCompany" />
*Companies House: last confirmation statement dated 21 August 2026; next due by 4 September 2027.<ref name="CHCompany" />

==People==
===Trustees===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Role !! Date of appointment !! Other trusteeships
|-
| [[Jack Emanuel]] || Trustee || 25 January 2000 || None on record
|-
| [[Michael Akiva Hackenbroch]] || Trustee || 6 September 2019 || [[Pal Charitable Trust]] (charity number: 1110416) | [[Mesila Uk Limited]] (charity number: 1179291) | [[Veshinantom]] (charity number: 1210828)
|-
| [[Richard Mark Denton]] || Trustee || 6 September 2019 || [[Hand In Hand Support]] (charity number: 1182698)
|-
| [[Anthony Katz]] || Trustee || 6 September 2019 || [[Institute For Dayanim]] (charity number: 1123833) | [[Shema Koli]] (charity number: 1151966) | [[Chinuch 20]] (charity number: 1175074) | [[Nwlj Schools Planning Committee]] (charity number: 1197033)
|-
| [[Saul Meyer]] || Trustee || 28 July 2023 || [[M & K Family Charitable Trust]] (charity number: 1116290)
|}
Source: Charity Commission register.<ref name="CCTrustees" />

===Directors===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Correspondence address !! Role !! Position !! Date of birth !! Age !! Appointed on !! Resigned on !! Nationality !! Country of residence !! Occupation
|-
| [[Richard Mark Denton]] || New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU || Role Active || Director || August 1972 || 54 || 6 September 2019 ||  || British || United Kingdom || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Jack Emanuel]] || 37 The Ridgeway, London, NW11 8QP || Role Active || Director || February 1964 || 62 || 25 January 2000 ||  || German || United Kingdom || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Michael Akiva Hackenbroch]] || New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU || Role Active || Director || November 1973 || 52 || 6 September 2019 ||  || British || United Kingdom || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Anthony Katz]] || New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU || Role Active || Director || October 1968 || 57 or 58 || 6 September 2019 ||  || British || England || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Saul Aaron Meyer]] || New Burlington House, 1075 Finchley Road, London, NW11 0PU || Role Active || Director || March 1975 || 51 || 28 July 2023 ||  || British || England || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Isaac Mark Katz]] || 26 Hoop Lane, London, NW11 8BU || Role Resigned || Secretary Appointed before 21 August 1992 ||  ||  ||  || 3 April 2023 || British ||  || Not disclosed
|-
| [[David Chontow]] || 3 The Ridgeway, London, NW11 8TD || Role Resigned || Director || November 1941 Appointed before 21 August 1992 || 84 ||  || 25 December 2013 || British || England || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Michael Akiva Hackenbroch]] || 35 Templars Avenue, London, NW11 0NU || Role Resigned || Director || November 1973 || 52 || 1 September 2011 || 31 March 2017 || British || United Kingdom || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Isaac Mark Katz]] || 26 Hoop Lane, London, NW11 8BU || Role Resigned || Director || September 1943 Appointed before 21 August 1992 || 83 ||  || 3 April 2023 || British || United Kingdom || Not disclosed
|-
| [[Maurice Levenson]] || 22 Wentworth Road, London, United Kingdom, NW11 0RP || Role Resigned || Director || September 1962 || 64 || 7 December 2017 || 13 December 2019 || Irish || England || Not disclosed
|}
Source: Companies House officers register.<ref name="CHOfficers">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01422574/officers ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED officers] ''Companies House'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref>

===Persons with significant control===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Correspondence address !! Status !! Notified on !! Ceased on !! Date of birth !! Age !! Nationality !! Country of residence !! Nature of control
|-
| [[Jack Emanuel]] || 37 The Ridgeway, London, United Kingdom, NW11 8QP || Ceased || 6 April 2016 || 6 September 2019 || February 1964 || 62 || German || United Kingdom || Ownership of voting rights - More than 25% but not more than 50%
|-
| [[Isaac Mark Katz]] || 26 Hoop Lane, London, United Kingdom, NW11 8BU || Ceased || 6 April 2016 || 6 September 2019 || September 1943 || 83 || British || United Kingdom || Ownership of voting rights - More than 25% but not more than 50%
|-
| [[Michael Akiva Hackenbroch]] || 11 Sinclair Grove, London, United Kingdom, NW11 9JH || Ceased || 6 April 2016 || 31 March 2017 || November 1973 || 52 || British || United Kingdom || Ownership of voting rights - More than 25% but not more than 50%
|}
*PSC statement: The company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that there is no registrable person or registrable relevant legal entity in relation to the company (notified 6 September 2019)
Source: Companies House PSC register.<ref name="CHPSC">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01422574/persons-with-significant-control ACHISOMOCH AID COMPANY LIMITED persons with significant control] ''Companies House'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref>

===Historic trustees===
Trustees as listed in archived snapshots of the Charity Commission register (first and last snapshot in which each name appears; not a record of actual appointment or resignation dates).
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! First seen !! Last seen !! Snapshots listing name
|-
| [[David Chontow]] || 27 January 2009 || 3 January 2014 || 6 <ref name="ARC278387_1">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20090127054340/http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=278387&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (27 January 2009)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 27 January 2009, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref><ref name="ARC278387_2">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20140103132431/http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=278387&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (3 January 2014)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 3 January 2014, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| [[Yitzchock Katz (trustee, Achisomoch Aid Company Limited)|Yitzchock Katz]] || 27 January 2009 || 3 January 2014 || 6 <ref name="ARC278387_1" /><ref name="ARC278387_2" />
|-
| [[Jack Emanuel]] || 27 January 2009 || 2 January 2019 || 9 <ref name="ARC278387_1" /><ref name="ARC278387_3">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20190102195104/http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=278387&subid=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (2 January 2019)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 2 January 2019, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| [[Michael Hackenbroch]] || 4 January 2013 || 26 July 2017 || 3 <ref name="ARC278387_4">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20130104002335/http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=278387&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (4 January 2013)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 4 January 2013, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref><ref name="ARC278387_5">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20170726192832/http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=278387&subid=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (26 July 2017)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 26 July 2017, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref>
|-
| [[Isaac Mark Katz]] || 26 July 2017 || 2 January 2019 || 3 <ref name="ARC278387_5" /><ref name="ARC278387_3" />
|-
| [[Maurice Levenson]] || 3 January 2018 || 2 January 2019 || 2 <ref name="ARC278387_6">UK Government Web Archive, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20180103232342/http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=278387&subid=0 Achisomoch Aid Company Limited – register entry (3 January 2018)], archived snapshot of the Charity Commission register dated 3 January 2018, accessed 14 October 2026.</ref><ref name="ARC278387_3" />
|}

== Charities and schools that use or receive via AAC ==

AAC does not publish a complete public list of every recipient. Reporting and its own materials indicate that thousands of charities (predominantly Orthodox Jewish) accept AAC vouchers, online payments or terminal donations. Explicit examples include:

- [[Hasmonean Schools Trust]] (largest single beneficiary in one reported year, nearly £1.3 million)
- numerous North-West London Jewish schools (annual surplus grants; Chomesh L’Chinuch partnership distributions)
- Gateshead Yeshiva
- [[Talmud Torah London]] (donations accepted via AAC / Asser Bishvil Foundation on its website)
- various yeshivot, including Yeshivas Ohr Samayach (public testimonial)
- poverty-relief and religious-service organisations in the Orthodox sector

Many independent Orthodox schools, chederim and communal charities advertise AAC as a donation method alongside other platforms. A referral / split-commission scheme allows schools to earn additional income by encouraging account holders to route donations through AAC.<ref name="JC2023"/><ref name="AACSite"/>

==Controversies and conflicts==
*'''Filing compliance:''' All 5 annual returns and accounts on the Charity Commission record were received by their due dates, and the register states "Charity reporting is up to date (on time)".<ref name="CCFin" /><ref name="CCOverview" />
*'''Overlapping trusteeships:''' [[Michael Akiva Hackenbroch]] is also a trustee of [[Pal Charitable Trust]] (1110416), [[Mesila Uk Limited]] (1179291), [[Veshinantom]] (1210828). [[Richard Mark Denton]] is also a trustee of [[Hand In Hand Support]] (1182698). [[Anthony Katz]] is also a trustee of [[Institute For Dayanim]] (1123833), [[Shema Koli]] (1151966), [[Chinuch 20]] (1175074), [[Nwlj Schools Planning Committee]] (1197033). [[Saul Meyer]] is also a trustee of [[M & K Family Charitable Trust]] (1116290).<ref name="CCTrustees" />
*'''Shared trustees/directors:''' [[Maurice Levenson]] is also connected with [[Dalaid]] (1064655), which is subject to a Charity Commission regulatory alert<ref>Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/YqXPzcF-xTdDNDYJPCEC3tmbYrg/appointments LEVENSON, Maurice appointments] ''Companies House'', accessed 13 October 2026.</ref>.

== See also ==

* [[Asser Bishvil Foundation]]
* [[Talmud Torah London]]
* [[Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust]]

== External links ==

* [https://achisomoch.org/ Official website]
* [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/278387 Charity Commission 278387]
* [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01422574 Companies House 01422574]

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Orthodox Jewish organisations]]
[[Category:Charities based in London]]
[[Category:Charities]]
[[Category:Jewish charities in the United Kingdom]]