Difference between revisions of "Jewish Council of Scotland"

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{{short description|'''Representative body and charity for Scotland's Jewish community, formerly the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (OSCR SC029438)'''}}
 +
{{Infobox organization
 +
| name            = Jewish Council of Scotland
 +
| type            = Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
 +
| founded        = {{Start date|1999|09|30}}
 +
| registration    = Scotland (OSCR)
 +
| registration_id = SC029438 ([[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator]])
 +
| headquarters    = 222 Fenwick Rd, Glasgow, G46 6UE<ref name="OSCR_JCOS" />
 +
| area_served    = Scotland
 +
| services        = Representation of the Jewish community to government and public bodies; community events; schools work
 +
| status          = Active
 +
| website        = [https://www.jewishscotland.org/ www.jewishscotland.org]
 +
}}
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'''[[Jewish Council of Scotland]]''' ('''JCoS''') describes itself as "the democratically elected representative body for Scotland's Jewish community".<ref name="JCOS2025">Jewish Council of Scotland, [https://oscr-docs.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/jcos-signed-tara-2025-0147GKMYNGZ24RHYDAKRD2TZB46K5PY4S2.pdf Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts for the Year ended 31st December 2025], via ''Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref> It is the renamed [[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]] (SCoJeC), a charity since 30 September 1999. Under an agreement with the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] (GJRC), SCoJeC "on 19th January 2025 ... adopted a new constitution, changed its name to the Jewish Council of Scotland and assumed the responsibilities of GJRC". GJRC now sits inside JCoS as a standing committee.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
  
 +
Its two main funders are the [[Scottish Government]] and the [[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]]. In 2025 it received grants of £122,337, including £60,000 from the Scottish Government and £57,022 from the "Community Trust".<ref name="JCOS2025" /> It works with the [[Community Security Trust]], the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] and the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] "on challenging antisemitism". In March 2026 the First Minister set up a Working Group on Combatting Antisemitism and Enhancing Jewish Life "as a joint initiative between JCoS and the Scottish Government".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
Previous legal name [[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]] from 30 September 1999 to 19 February 2025; the earlier history of the council is on that page.<ref name="OSCRexport" />
  
 
The objects of the Council are:  
 
The objects of the Council are:  
Line 12: Line 29:
 
:ix. to assist in the provision and organisation of recreational activities in this community;  
 
:ix. to assist in the provision and organisation of recreational activities in this community;  
 
:x. to promote racial and religious harmony and good relations between this community and other religious, ethnic, and racial groups and organisations in Scotland and with the general public in Scotland;  
 
:x. to promote racial and religious harmony and good relations between this community and other religious, ethnic, and racial groups and organisations in Scotland and with the general public in Scotland;  
−
:xi. to advance the education of the general public about and to provide information regarding the Jewish religion and the Jewish community of Scotland.<ref>https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=sc029438</ref>
+
:xi. to advance the education of the general public about and to provide information regarding the Jewish religion and the Jewish community of Scotland.<ref>Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=sc029438 Jewish Council of Scotland (SC029438)] ''Scottish Charity Register'', accessed 21 October 2026.</ref>
 +
== Register details ==
 +
* Founded: Registered charity 30 September 1999 (as the [[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]]); SCIO from 1 December 2011<ref name="OSCR_JCOS">Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC029438 Jewish Council of Scotland (SC029438)] ''Scottish Charity Register'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref>
 +
* Income and expenditure: Income £159,594; expenditure £127,354 (year ending 31 December 2025)<ref name="OSCR_JCOS" />
 +
 
 
==People==
 
==People==
 
*Chairman: [[Timothy Lovat]]  (Chair@jewishscotland.org)
 
*Chairman: [[Timothy Lovat]]  (Chair@jewishscotland.org)
Line 18: Line 39:
 
*Administrator: [[Stacey Devlin]] (Admin@jewishscotland.org)
 
*Administrator: [[Stacey Devlin]] (Admin@jewishscotland.org)
 
*Senior Community Worker – Jewish Education and Young Adult Engagement: [[Sydney Switzer]] (Sydney@jewishscotland.org)
 
*Senior Community Worker – Jewish Education and Young Adult Engagement: [[Sydney Switzer]] (Sydney@jewishscotland.org)
−
*Research & Publications: [[Leah Rivka]] (Research@jewishscotland.org)<ref>https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-council-of-jewish-communities/</ref>
+
*Research & Publications: [[Leah Rivka]] (Research@jewishscotland.org)<ref>[https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-council-of-jewish-communities/ Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS)] ''Glasgow Jewish'' (jewishglasgow.org), accessed 21 October 2026.</ref>
  
  
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|  || [[Barry Berlow-Jackson]]
 
|  || [[Barry Berlow-Jackson]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
|  || [[Micheline Brannan]]
+
|  || [[Micheline Hadassah Brannan|Micheline Brannan]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  || [[Henry Lovat]]
 
|  || [[Henry Lovat]]
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| Tayside and Fife representative: || [[Bill Shackman]]
 
| Tayside and Fife representative: || [[Bill Shackman]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Student Chaplaincy representative: || [[Nicola Livingston]]
+
| Student Chaplaincy representative: || [[Nicola Louise Livingston|Nicola Livingston]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Students || [[vacant]]
 
| Students || [[vacant]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Scottish Jewish Archives Centre representative: || [[Fiona Brodie]]
+
| [[Scottish Jewish Archives Centre]] representative: || [[Fiona Brodie]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Co-optees: || [[John Danzig]]
 
| Co-optees: || [[John Danzig]]
Line 66: Line 87:
 
|  || [[Jackie Sevitt]]
 
|  || [[Jackie Sevitt]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Interfaith Scotland: || [[Susan Siegel]]
+
| [[Interfaith Scotland]]: || [[Susan Siegel]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Ex Officio (BEMIS): || [[Ephraim Borowski]]
 
| Ex Officio (BEMIS): || [[Ephraim Borowski]]
Line 74: Line 95:
 
|  || [[Kenneth Collins]]
 
|  || [[Kenneth Collins]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
|  || [[John Cosgrove]]
+
|  || [[John A. Cosgrove|John Cosgrove]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Hon Solicitor: || [[Joel Conn]]
 
| Hon Solicitor: || [[Joel Conn]]
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
==History and structure==
 +
The 2025 report gives this history: "The origins of JCoS go back to 1999 when the charity the [[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]] (SCoJeC) was formed on 30th September. On 1st December 2011 SCoJeC was reformulated as a SCIO. Following an agreement between SCoJeC and the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] (GJRC, also a SCIO, registered number SC047108) on 19th January 2025 SCoJeC adopted a new constitution, changed its name to the Jewish Council of Scotland and assumed the responsibilities of GJRC."<ref name="JCOS2025" /> The OSCR register gives the previous legal name "Scottish Council Of Jewish Communities from 30 September 1999 to 19 February 2025".<ref name="OSCRexport">Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/download-the-scottish-charity-register/ Scottish Charity Register download] (current register, 14 October 2026, and former charities, 20 October 2026), accessed 20 October 2026.</ref> The 2025 accounts give 19 January 2025 for the change of name, while the OSCR register gives 19 February 2025.<ref name="JCOS2025" /><ref name="OSCRexport" /> GJRC's own final accounts say that on 19 January 2025 "all assets and liabilities were transferred to the new organisation", and [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator|OSCR]] removed GJRC from the register on 6 May 2026 ("SCIO dissolved").<ref name="GJRC2024">Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, [https://oscr-docs.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/2025-09-29-accounts-017-sc047108-redacted-ff921910-349d-f011-bbd2-7ced8d392aab.pdf Report of the Trustees and Draft Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2024 to 18 January 2025] (redacted copy), note 10, via ''Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref><ref name="OSCRexport" /> JCoS's 2025 receipts include "Opening balances from GJRC" of £8,449.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
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 +
The Council has up to 29 places: six for Glasgow, three for Edinburgh, one each for Aberdeen, Tayside & Fife and the Regional Communities, one each for Scotland-wide Jewish organisations (eight at present), up to eight co-optees and the immediate past chair. It has two standing committees, the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] and the [[Edinburgh Jewish Organisations Group]]. The Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer, with the President of GJRC, the Chair of EHC and the Regional Communities representative, form the Executive; "currently there are joint treasurers".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
On 16 October 2025 [[Carmen McPherson]] became the charity's "first salaried director". At the end of 2025 a staffing review "due to unforeseen circumstances relating to funding and sponsorship criteria" ended the Senior Community Worker post in January 2026, and the Research Officer retired at the end of January 2026. A grant from the [[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]] is to fund a part-time Public Affairs Officer in 2026.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
[[Companies House]] lists the charity as CS000125, "registered externally as SC029438".<ref>[[Companies House]], [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/CS000125 JEWISH COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND (CS000125)], accessed 20 October 2026.</ref>
 +
 +
==Finances==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+ Annual returns to [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator|OSCR]]<ref name="OSCR_JCOS" />
 +
! Year ending !! Income (£) !! Expenditure (£) !! Annual return received
 +
|-
 +
| 31 December 2021 || 95,840 || 94,565 || 29 July 2022
 +
|-
 +
| 31 December 2022 || 114,470 || 80,834 || 4 July 2023
 +
|-
 +
| 31 December 2023 || 84,402 || 96,944 || 11 September 2024
 +
|-
 +
| 31 December 2024 || 123,339 || 109,769 || 30 September 2025
 +
|-
 +
| 31 December 2025 || 159,594 || 127,354 || 30 September 2026
 +
|}
 +
The 2025 accounts give 2024 payments as £109,109 in the receipts and payments account, but as £109,769 in the financial review; the register also gives £109,769.<ref name="JCOS2025" /><ref name="OSCR_JCOS" />
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+ Grants received (note 7 of the 2025 accounts)<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
! Funder !! 2025 (£) !! 2024 (£)
 +
|-
 +
| [[Scottish Government]] || 60,000 || 50,000
 +
|-
 +
| [[Corra Foundation]] || - || 10,000
 +
|-
 +
| "Clarkston Trust" ([[Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust]]) || 3,315 || 4,526
 +
|-
 +
| "Community Trust" ([[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]]) || 57,022 || 42,500
 +
|-
 +
| "CST Funding" ([[Community Security Trust]]) || 2,000 || 2,000
 +
|-
 +
| '''Total''' || '''122,337''' || '''109,026'''
 +
|}
 +
The report says the Scottish Government grant "remains at a level of £50,000, now from the Connected Communities Fund", plus "an additional one-off grant of £10,000 to reflect the significant costs we incurred supporting the community in the wake of the October 7th 2023 massacre". The CST grant "was to help support our joint working with them in relation to community security and in dealing with antisemitism, including liaison with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland".<ref name="JCOS2025" /> The [[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]]'s own accounts show grants to the Jewish Council of Scotland of £40,000 (unrestricted) and £16,000 (restricted) in 2025, and £40,000 to the [[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]] in 2024.<ref name="GJCT2025">Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, [https://oscr-docs.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/gjct-signed-2025-accounts-0147GKMYOZLANGQOY73VFY6OLJT44DJC4E.pdf Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025], note 5, pp. 18-19, via ''Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref><ref name="GJCT2024">Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, [https://oscr-docs.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/gjct-script-signed-2024-accounts-1-redacted-ebee155e-f899-f011-b41b-7ced8d6b6449.pdf Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024] (redacted copy), note 5, via ''Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref> The trust's own accounts give its grants to JCoS as £56,000 in 2025 and £40,000 in 2024 (plus £2,750 to the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]]), which differ from the £57,022 and £42,500 in note 7 of the JCoS accounts.<ref name="GJCT2024" /><ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
===Year to 31 December 2025===
 +
*'''Income''': £159,594. Donations and events income £26,750 (general donations £19,954, events £4,471, affiliation dues £2,309), grants £122,337, opening balances from GJRC £8,449, investment income £2,059, and GJRC cash and debtors brought forward of £58 and £1,091.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''Donation from Langside''': "A donation of £15,000 was received from the trustees of [[Langside Hebrew Congregation]] on the dissolution of the charity."<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''Spending''': £127,354, including staff salaries of £67,305, sessional staff and contractors £29,270, and hospitality and events £9,667. The surplus was £32,240.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''Funds''': £80,748 at 31 December 2025. Restricted funds include a Photography Project (£6,817), a Pilgrimage Project (£3,575), "Jewish Youth" (£1,444), "Ajex" (£368), "Chanukah" (£1,345) and "Lev Echad" (£2,521).<ref name="JCOS2025" /> The reserves policy says "We currently have assets of £80,874", while the statement of balances gives £80,748. The accounts do not say what the Lev Echad fund is for.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''2024 comparatives''': "Donations and Events Income" included a "G'Hill Hostages Event" of £750, and payments included "Payments to / from GJRC" of £6,590.<ref name="JCOS2025" /> The accounts do not explain the event.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''Independent examiner''': Kenneth C Livingstone BA, CA, AIPFM, Stewart Gilmour & Co, 24 Beresford Terrace, Ayr, KA7 2EG. His report, dated 30 September 2026, is addressed "To the trustees of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*'''Solicitor''': [[Joel Conn]], LLB, Mitchel Roberton LLP, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD.<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
==Trustees==
 +
Since 9 March 2026 [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator|OSCR]] has published trustee names. In October 2026 the register listed eight trustees.<ref name="OSCR_JCOS" /> The 2025 report does not list trustees ("Details of trustees can be found on our web site ... or on the OSCR website"). It was approved on 22 September 2026 and signed by "Susan Siegal, Chair".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+ Trustees on the OSCR register (October 2026)<ref name="OSCR_JCOS" />
 +
! Name (as on register) !! Other OSCR trusteeships (shortlist charities) !! Notes
 +
|-
 +
| [[Andrea Torres]] || ||
 +
|-
 +
| [[Timothy Lovat]] || [[Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust]]<ref name="OSCR_NCCT">Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC042072 Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust (SC042072)] ''Scottish Charity Register'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref> || President of the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] in 2024<ref name="GJRCweb2025">Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, [https://web.archive.org/web/20250204232912/https://www.jewishglasgow.org/ jewishglasgow.org], archived 4 February 2025.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Philip Mendelsohn]] || [[Eastwood Jewish Community Centres]] (vice-chairman); [[Queens Park Charitable Trust]]<ref name="OSCR_EJCC">Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC048957 Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SC048957)] ''Scottish Charity Register'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref><ref name="OSCR_QPCT">Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, [https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC033701 Queens Park Charitable Trust (SC033701)] ''Scottish Charity Register'', accessed 20 October 2026.</ref> ||
 +
|-
 +
| [[Susan Diamond Siegel|Susan Siegal]] || || Chair (signed the 2025 report)<ref name="JCOS2025" /> (the register and the accounts spell the name "Siegal")
 +
|-
 +
| [[Paul Spicker]] || ||
 +
|-
 +
| [[Barry Berlow-Jackson|Barry Berlow - Jackson]] || || Treasurer of the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] in 2024<ref name="GJRCweb2025" />
 +
|-
 +
| [[Matthew Shaps]] || ||
 +
|-
 +
| [[Daniel Clapham]] || || Trustee of the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] in 2024<ref name="GJRCweb2025" />
 +
|}
 +
 +
==Israel and Zionist links==
 +
*The JCoS council structure listed on this page includes an "Israelis in Scotland representative".<ref>[https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-council-of-jewish-communities/ jewishglasgow.org: Scottish Council of Jewish Communities].</ref>
 +
*The [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]], now a standing committee of JCoS, published a "Position on Israel" on 10 October 2024 saying the Glasgow community "has long been and continues to be strongly Zionist" (see that page).<ref name="GJRCweb2025" />
 +
*In 2025 JCoS received £10,000 extra from the [[Scottish Government]] for costs "supporting the community in the wake of the October 7th 2023 massacre"; and its 2024 income included a "G'Hill Hostages Event".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
 +
*Its largest private funder, the [[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]], also funds [[United Jewish Israel Appeal|UJIA]] programmes through the Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance ("SJYA/UJIA" £32,200 in 2024; "SJYA" £31,800 in 2025).<ref name="GJCT2025" /><ref name="GJCT2024" /> JCoS says schools in Glasgow "have benefited from provision by the [[Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance]], with whom we retain a close partnership".<ref name="JCOS2025" />
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
 
*https://web.archive.org/web/20250225113319/https://www.scojec.org/scojec/annual_reports/reports.html
 
*https://web.archive.org/web/20250225113319/https://www.scojec.org/scojec/annual_reports/reports.html
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
*[[Scottish Council of Jewish Communities]]
 +
*[[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]]
 +
*[[Glasgow Jewish Community Trust]]
 +
*[[Eastwood Jewish Community Centres]]
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
 +
[[Category:Charities in Scotland]]
 +
[[Category:Jewish organisations in Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 05:06, 30 October 2026

Representative body and charity for Scotland's Jewish community, formerly the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (OSCR SC029438)

Jewish Council of Scotland

Type Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
Founded 30 September 1999
Registration ID SC029438 (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)
Status Active
Headquarters 222 Fenwick Rd, Glasgow, G46 6UE[1]
Area served Scotland
Services Representation of the Jewish community to government and public bodies; community events; schools work
Registration Scotland (OSCR)
Website www.jewishscotland.org

Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS) describes itself as "the democratically elected representative body for Scotland's Jewish community".[2] It is the renamed Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC), a charity since 30 September 1999. Under an agreement with the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (GJRC), SCoJeC "on 19th January 2025 ... adopted a new constitution, changed its name to the Jewish Council of Scotland and assumed the responsibilities of GJRC". GJRC now sits inside JCoS as a standing committee.[2]

Its two main funders are the Scottish Government and the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust. In 2025 it received grants of £122,337, including £60,000 from the Scottish Government and £57,022 from the "Community Trust".[2] It works with the Community Security Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council "on challenging antisemitism". In March 2026 the First Minister set up a Working Group on Combatting Antisemitism and Enhancing Jewish Life "as a joint initiative between JCoS and the Scottish Government".[2]

Previous legal name Scottish Council of Jewish Communities from 30 September 1999 to 19 February 2025; the earlier history of the council is on that page.[3]

The objects of the Council are:

i. to represent and work to advance the welfare of the Jewish community of Scotland and to promote its participation in the civic life of Scotland and the United Kingdom;
ii. to advance citizenship and community development in the Jewish community of Scotland;
iii. to work to relieve poverty and to provide relief to those in need in this community;
iv. to advance the education of this community;
v. to advance the health of this community;
vi. to promote equality and diversity in this community;
vii. to advance Jewish heritage, culture and arts in this community;
viii. to advance the Jewish religion in this community;
ix. to assist in the provision and organisation of recreational activities in this community;
x. to promote racial and religious harmony and good relations between this community and other religious, ethnic, and racial groups and organisations in Scotland and with the general public in Scotland;
xi. to advance the education of the general public about and to provide information regarding the Jewish religion and the Jewish community of Scotland.[4]

Register details

  • Founded: Registered charity 30 September 1999 (as the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities); SCIO from 1 December 2011[1]
  • Income and expenditure: Income £159,594; expenditure £127,354 (year ending 31 December 2025)[1]

People


Council Members Names
Edinburgh representatives: Hilary Rifkind
Gillian Raab
Matthew Shaps
Glasgow representatives: Timothy Lovat
Barry Berlow-Jackson
Micheline Brannan
Henry Lovat
Susan Siegel
Israelis in Scotland representative: Danielle Bett
Jewish Network of the Highlands and Islands representative: vacant
Tayside and Fife representative: Bill Shackman
Student Chaplaincy representative: Nicola Livingston
Students vacant
Scottish Jewish Archives Centre representative: Fiona Brodie
Co-optees: John Danzig
Simon Dover
Alan Kay
Carol Levstein
Jonathan Manevitch
Philip Mendelsohn
Jackie Sevitt
Interfaith Scotland: Susan Siegel
Ex Officio (BEMIS): Ephraim Borowski
Consultants: Ephraim Borowski
Kenneth Collins
John Cosgrove
Hon Solicitor: Joel Conn

History and structure

The 2025 report gives this history: "The origins of JCoS go back to 1999 when the charity the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) was formed on 30th September. On 1st December 2011 SCoJeC was reformulated as a SCIO. Following an agreement between SCoJeC and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (GJRC, also a SCIO, registered number SC047108) on 19th January 2025 SCoJeC adopted a new constitution, changed its name to the Jewish Council of Scotland and assumed the responsibilities of GJRC."[2] The OSCR register gives the previous legal name "Scottish Council Of Jewish Communities from 30 September 1999 to 19 February 2025".[3] The 2025 accounts give 19 January 2025 for the change of name, while the OSCR register gives 19 February 2025.[2][3] GJRC's own final accounts say that on 19 January 2025 "all assets and liabilities were transferred to the new organisation", and OSCR removed GJRC from the register on 6 May 2026 ("SCIO dissolved").[6][3] JCoS's 2025 receipts include "Opening balances from GJRC" of £8,449.[2]

The Council has up to 29 places: six for Glasgow, three for Edinburgh, one each for Aberdeen, Tayside & Fife and the Regional Communities, one each for Scotland-wide Jewish organisations (eight at present), up to eight co-optees and the immediate past chair. It has two standing committees, the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and the Edinburgh Jewish Organisations Group. The Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer, with the President of GJRC, the Chair of EHC and the Regional Communities representative, form the Executive; "currently there are joint treasurers".[2]

On 16 October 2025 Carmen McPherson became the charity's "first salaried director". At the end of 2025 a staffing review "due to unforeseen circumstances relating to funding and sponsorship criteria" ended the Senior Community Worker post in January 2026, and the Research Officer retired at the end of January 2026. A grant from the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust is to fund a part-time Public Affairs Officer in 2026.[2]

Companies House lists the charity as CS000125, "registered externally as SC029438".[7]

Finances

Annual returns to OSCR[1]
Year ending Income (£) Expenditure (£) Annual return received
31 December 2021 95,840 94,565 29 July 2022
31 December 2022 114,470 80,834 4 July 2023
31 December 2023 84,402 96,944 11 September 2024
31 December 2024 123,339 109,769 30 September 2025
31 December 2025 159,594 127,354 30 September 2026

The 2025 accounts give 2024 payments as £109,109 in the receipts and payments account, but as £109,769 in the financial review; the register also gives £109,769.[2][1]

Grants received (note 7 of the 2025 accounts)[2]
Funder 2025 (£) 2024 (£)
Scottish Government 60,000 50,000
Corra Foundation - 10,000
"Clarkston Trust" (Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust) 3,315 4,526
"Community Trust" (Glasgow Jewish Community Trust) 57,022 42,500
"CST Funding" (Community Security Trust) 2,000 2,000
Total 122,337 109,026

The report says the Scottish Government grant "remains at a level of £50,000, now from the Connected Communities Fund", plus "an additional one-off grant of £10,000 to reflect the significant costs we incurred supporting the community in the wake of the October 7th 2023 massacre". The CST grant "was to help support our joint working with them in relation to community security and in dealing with antisemitism, including liaison with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland".[2] The Glasgow Jewish Community Trust's own accounts show grants to the Jewish Council of Scotland of £40,000 (unrestricted) and £16,000 (restricted) in 2025, and £40,000 to the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities in 2024.[8][9] The trust's own accounts give its grants to JCoS as £56,000 in 2025 and £40,000 in 2024 (plus £2,750 to the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council), which differ from the £57,022 and £42,500 in note 7 of the JCoS accounts.[9][2]

Year to 31 December 2025

  • Income: £159,594. Donations and events income £26,750 (general donations £19,954, events £4,471, affiliation dues £2,309), grants £122,337, opening balances from GJRC £8,449, investment income £2,059, and GJRC cash and debtors brought forward of £58 and £1,091.[2]
  • Donation from Langside: "A donation of £15,000 was received from the trustees of Langside Hebrew Congregation on the dissolution of the charity."[2]
  • Spending: £127,354, including staff salaries of £67,305, sessional staff and contractors £29,270, and hospitality and events £9,667. The surplus was £32,240.[2]
  • Funds: £80,748 at 31 December 2025. Restricted funds include a Photography Project (£6,817), a Pilgrimage Project (£3,575), "Jewish Youth" (£1,444), "Ajex" (£368), "Chanukah" (£1,345) and "Lev Echad" (£2,521).[2] The reserves policy says "We currently have assets of £80,874", while the statement of balances gives £80,748. The accounts do not say what the Lev Echad fund is for.[2]
  • 2024 comparatives: "Donations and Events Income" included a "G'Hill Hostages Event" of £750, and payments included "Payments to / from GJRC" of £6,590.[2] The accounts do not explain the event.[2]
  • Independent examiner: Kenneth C Livingstone BA, CA, AIPFM, Stewart Gilmour & Co, 24 Beresford Terrace, Ayr, KA7 2EG. His report, dated 30 September 2026, is addressed "To the trustees of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities".[2]
  • Solicitor: Joel Conn, LLB, Mitchel Roberton LLP, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD.[2]

Trustees

Since 9 March 2026 OSCR has published trustee names. In October 2026 the register listed eight trustees.[1] The 2025 report does not list trustees ("Details of trustees can be found on our web site ... or on the OSCR website"). It was approved on 22 September 2026 and signed by "Susan Siegal, Chair".[2]

Trustees on the OSCR register (October 2026)[1]
Name (as on register) Other OSCR trusteeships (shortlist charities) Notes
Andrea Torres
Timothy Lovat Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust[10] President of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council in 2024[11]
Philip Mendelsohn Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (vice-chairman); Queens Park Charitable Trust[12][13]
Susan Siegal Chair (signed the 2025 report)[2] (the register and the accounts spell the name "Siegal")
Paul Spicker
Barry Berlow - Jackson Treasurer of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council in 2024[11]
Matthew Shaps
Daniel Clapham Trustee of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council in 2024[11]

Israel and Zionist links

  • The JCoS council structure listed on this page includes an "Israelis in Scotland representative".[14]
  • The Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, now a standing committee of JCoS, published a "Position on Israel" on 10 October 2024 saying the Glasgow community "has long been and continues to be strongly Zionist" (see that page).[11]
  • In 2025 JCoS received £10,000 extra from the Scottish Government for costs "supporting the community in the wake of the October 7th 2023 massacre"; and its 2024 income included a "G'Hill Hostages Event".[2]
  • Its largest private funder, the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, also funds UJIA programmes through the Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance ("SJYA/UJIA" £32,200 in 2024; "SJYA" £31,800 in 2025).[8][9] JCoS says schools in Glasgow "have benefited from provision by the Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance, with whom we retain a close partnership".[2]

Resources

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Jewish Council of Scotland (SC029438) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 Jewish Council of Scotland, Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts for the Year ended 31st December 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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.
  4. ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Jewish Council of Scotland (SC029438) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 21 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS) Glasgow Jewish (jewishglasgow.org), accessed 21 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, Report of the Trustees and Draft Financial Statements for the period 1 January 2024 to 18 January 2025 (redacted copy), note 10, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
  7. ↑ Companies House, JEWISH COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND (CS000125), accessed 20 October 2026.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, note 5, pp. 18-19, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (redacted copy), note 5, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust (SC042072) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, jewishglasgow.org, archived 4 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SC048957) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
  13. ↑ Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Queens Park Charitable Trust (SC033701) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
  14. ↑ jewishglasgow.org: Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.
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