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BRITISH SHALOM SALAAM

TRUST Crossing Borders for Peace

Annual Report 2011-12

Patrons

Sir Geoffrey Bindman

Moris Farhi MBE

Baroness Sally Greengross

Sir Nicholas Hytner

Lord Joel Joffe CBE

Miriam Karlin OBE

Professor Francesca Klug OBE

Lord Anthony Lester QC

Miriam Margolyes OBE

Rabbi Jeffery Newman

Professor Susie Orbach

Rabbi Danny Rich

Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah

Alexei Sayle

Professor Avi Shlaim FBA

Sir Antony Sher KBE

Dame Janet Suzman

Rabbi Jackie Tabick

Zoe Wanamaker CBE

Michelene Wandor

Charity No: 1103211

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From our chair

It is my pleasure to introduce the Annual Report of the British Shalom-Salaam Trust for the period 1 March 2011 to 29 February

2012, and to thank all our supporters for standing with us.

My visit to Israel/Palestine earlier this year was a wonderful

validation of all that BSST is doing. I was privileged to meet

many of our Jewish and Palestinian partners and to see a wide

range of projects in action. They are doing phenomenal work in

extremely taxing circumstances and they really make the most of

the grants that we give them. They told me of their immense

gratitude, both to BSST and to you, our supporters, and how much

they welcome our visits to sustain them in what is often a very

lonely struggle.

Requests for BSST funding continue to pour in, which during the

current economic climate we have great difficulty meeting. We

appeal to all our existing supporters, and to those who have only just

discovered us: please give us whatever you can afford, and a bit

more!

Dr Gill Yudkin

20th September 2012

Date

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BSST – who we are

The British Shalom Salaam Trust is a Jewish initiative established in 2004 to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East caused by the Israeli Occupation. We have supporters from all faiths and none. We operate both within Israel’s 1967 borders (the ‘Green Line’) and the Occupied Territories (West Bank including East Jerusalem, and Golan and Gaza). We work closely with Palestinians and Israeli Jews committed to a just resolution of the conflict in Israel/Palestine based on equality and mutual respect.

We have three key roles whereby we deliver public benefit: we provide BSST small grants to applicant groups in Israel/Palestine; we manage donations secured in Britain by Israeli/ Palestinian groups that lack a British charitable arm, and, in situations of extreme and urgent need (as in the bombing of Gaza), we may make an emergency appeal.

Our grants policy

BSST focuses on projects which are relatively small scale, community based and informal and which involve practical collaboration between the various communities living in Israel/Palestine. They address a wide range of issues, including human rights, education, health, social care, anti poverty and culture. We are particularly keen to assist new and developing projects that may be overlooked by major funders.

While many groups assisted by BSST have Israeli or Palestinian legal status similar to a British registered charity, we are equally accessible to informal associations of volunteers whose work is enormously important, but who may find it difficult or impossible to secure mainstream funder support. As the Villages Group, a handful of innovative and committed volunteers supporting Palestinian families in the South Hebron Hills, wrote:

‘We are unable to contact large funding organisations as we are not an organisation with yearly administrative and financial reports that are required by funding agencies.‘

BSST is committed to making our application process as simple as possible, so that tiny projects like the Villages Group can seek our help. We provide a very brief application form which is downloadable from our website and accept applications year-round.

BSST grants start from as little as £500 and rarely go above £5k and we expect that, as organisations become larger, our role is likely to become smaller. However, we recognise that it may be impossible for the projects we assist to achieve long term sustainability, and we frequently provide repeat funding. In addition, where we make emergency appeals, normal principles about donation or recipient organisation size may be waived.

In 2011-12 we give special thanks to

Those trustees who left office this year for their contribution and commitment, and, in particular, to Professor Miriam David who has been with BSST since its inception.

Peter and Jennie Barham, who once again have made a very generous donation through the Barham Charitable Trust

An anonymous donor, who, through the Stonehage Charitable Trust, has specifically supported the work of the Villages Group

John Sharp, our auditor, who, as always, donated his services

Miriam Karlin, Patron and passionate BSST supporter, who sadly died in June 2011

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Projects Assisted with BSST Grants during 2011-12 Afnan al Galil: Based in the Galilee, this group was founded by Arab women to improve the social and economic status of women, to promote education and cultural activity and to foster good inter-communal relations. BSST funded a part time coordinator to work on establishing a heritage centre as a meeting place for inter-ethnic, inter-cultural and inter- religious encounters.

AMOUNT GIVEN £2,600

African Refugee Day Centre (www.ardc.israel.org)

BSST gave a small grant to assist work with African refugee communities within Israel, in particular, helping Ethiopian asylum seekers obtain social services.

AMOUNT GIVEN £500

Al-Bir is a Palestinian women’s cultural centre in Wadi Ara within Israel run by six Palestinians and one Jewish woman with skills in urban planning, social services,

education, languages, art and community work. It aims to help local Palestinian women achieve more control over their lives, providing advice and activities relating to motherhood and cultural skills. BSST contributed funding towards a health and sexuality project.

AMOUNT GIVEN £5000

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Bustan Qaraaqa (www.bustanqaraaqa.org) This environmental group tackles water shortages, agroforestry, eco building and aquaculture and is developing links between partner organisations in Israel and the West Bank. It supports Palestinian farmers in resisting land confiscation and educates local schoolchildren and young people in permaculture and other environmental techniques which are being tested and developed at their base in Beit Sahour. They also raise funds through their guest house/volunteer project.

AMOUNT GIVEN £5000

Combatants for Peace (cfpeace.org) is a grass-roots movement comprising Palestinians and Israelis who have participated in violent conflict, and now work together to end it. BSST enabled the group to increase its public presence, run workshops, training and community activities, conduct tours for journalists, policy makers and the public generally.

AMOUNT GIVEN £2500

‘Only by joining forces will we be able to end the cycle of violence.’ Dirasat - Arab Centre for Law and Policy

(www.dirasat-aclp.org) is a ‘think-and-do-tank’ founded by young Arab policy leaders, academics and social activists, to achieve equality for Palestinians within Israel.

BSST helped fund an applied research project on ‘Training Arab and Jewish Teachers in Teacher Training Colleges: a Basis for Intercultural Dialogue’. The research will form a section of its Yearbook, to be distributed to all teacher-training organisations, Arab and Jewish, in Israel.

AMOUNT GIVEN £1000

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Emek Shaveh (www.alt-arch.org), a group of archaeologists, local residents and human rights activists based in Silwan, East Jerusalem, is working to change the role of archaeology in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are seeking to stop the misuse of archaeology to ‘prove’ (Israeli) ownership of land, and return the discipline to being a tool for understanding culture and society.

For the third year running BSST has helped fund Emek Shaveh‘s educational activity and practical support to communities who are threatened by Israeli development of archaeological sites. Emek Shaveh works closely with the Madaa Silwan Centre to which BSST has also provided repeat funding this year.

AMOUNT GIVEN £3000

HILA - for Equality in Education (www.hila-equal-edu-org.il) This grassroots training and advocacy organization assists parents from marginalised communities, especially immigrants, Israeli Arabs and Israelis of north African and Asian origin, to enforce their children’s educational rights. BSST helped fund a seminar explaining to parents how to ensure their children achieve high school diplomas, so they can go on to further education.

AMOUNT GIVEN £3000

Seminar participants

Hope Sew (http://hopesew.org/home) This small sewing initiative helps Palestinian women in Bethlehem improve their clothing production skills, so their products are marketable to tourists and the many overseas personnel in the country. The project reported back to BSST:

‘Your funding enabled five women to extend their sewing skills (and) paid the trainer’s wages. The project's coordinator has developed management skills and extended her knowledge of sales/marketing. The quality and range of the clothing (pyjamas) has increased. The increase in production speed and reduction in waste has meant items …can be sold at a higher profit. The women developed team working skills, and appreciated the

opportunity to spend time together. ‘

AMOUNT GIVEN £1800

Wearing the new pyjamas!

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Israel Social TV (tv.social.org.il) With BSST support, ISTV produced a series of video news segments covering current events, exposing human rights violations and supporting grass-root activist groups and vulnerable communities threatened by the Israeli Occupation. Each news programme covered events ignored by the mainstream media, giving voice to Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel involved in peace campaigning.

AMOUNT GIVEN £3000

Itach Maaki - Women Lawyers for Social Justice (www.itach.org.il) This Arab-Jewish feminist organisation works to improve the lives of disenfranchised women in Israel. BSST helped fund a legal advice, education and training project focusing on domestic violence and poiygamy, based at its Bedouin women’s centre in Beersheva. AMOUNT GIVEN £3,500

Jama’ah Youth Theatre (www.al-jamaah.org/eng/programs.html) Part of the Jama’ah Leadership Development and Community Empowerment Project based in the Triangle (22 Palestinian villages near Green Line in northern Israel), the Youth Theatre develops performance skills and social awareness and understanding among participants, as well as providing much needed entertainment for the local communities. AMOUNT GIVEN £4,450

Jenin Cultural Centre (jenincreativeculturalcenter.wordpress.com) Located in one of the West Bank’s most traumatised communities, this centre provides vital cultural and educational services to young Palestinians. BSST purchased a bread oven for a training

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project building self reliance and employment opportunities for Jenin residents, and funded a development course for a new generation of community leaders. AMOUNT GIVEN £4800

Mural painting around Jenin

La Escuelita (laescualitaisrael.wordpress.com)

Israel is now home to migrant workers from many countries, who are often isolated and very poor. Based in Tel Aviv, La Escuelita works with all migrant worker communities, but focuses on strengthening Latin American culture and identity in the Israeli Latino community. It aims to foster critical integration into Israeli society, and to further awareness in Israeli society of the cultures of its migrant workers.

AMOUNT GIVEN £500

Maarag (Association for the Advancement of Education in a Multicultural Society) is located near Haifa and promotes intercultural understanding between northern Israel's Jewish and Arab schools, community centres, hospitals and police. BSST made a small grant to a joint Arab-Jewish schools project enabling children from the different communities to study together.

AMOUNT GIVEN £1000

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Madaa Silwan Centre (www.madaasilwan.org) This East Jerusalem community centre provides year-round art, music, drama, sports, books and computers for around 400 local youngsters. It also holds an annual Summer Games for 250 six to twelve-year-olds who live in a hugely contested part of Jerusalem and endure constant conflict with settlers and the Israeli Defence Forces. For the seventh consecutive summer, BSST has been the games’ main funder, bringing a brief

period of fun and normality to the locality.

AMOUNT GIVEN £4000

‘The Summer Games have become a tradition that children in Silwan talk about year-long’.

Min El Bahar - Seaside Holidays for Palestinian children (www.minelbahar.com) Though living just a few miles from the Mediterranean, Palestinian families are unable to reach the coast because of Israeli restrictions. Since 2004 a group of Israeli Jewish women volunteers has organised annual seaside visits for Palestinian children. In 2011 the group brought around 1000 children and 400 accompanying adults from the West Bank for day trips to the beach, where they could swim, enjoy theatre, dance and arts activities and have a short boat trip. This project gives great pleasure to a very deprived community, represents a protest against the restrictions on movement imposed on the Palestinians and enables Palestinians and Jews to meet together.

‘This project has created a human

net of ‘doers’ for peace, enabling

supporters to leave their armchairs

and translate their opinions into

action. This net now consists of a

couple of hundred people from all

over the country, including Israeli

Palestinians, who stay in touch and

identify deeply with the project. We

meet year after year on the beach

bringing friends and family and new

acquaintances, spreading the word

and inviting people to join’.

AMOUNT GIVEN £5540

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Sadaka Reut (www.reutsadaka.org) was founded in 1983 by Palestinian and Israeli students to address injustice within Israeli society through collaborative action and education. The organisation runs workshops training young people to become agents of social change. For a second time, BSST was happy to fund a Sadaka Reut project, this time to assist with capacity building and practical engagement in social justice and human rights issues.

AMOUNT GIVEN £3000

Shiraa Association for Development (shiraa.org) works with women, young people and workers in the Bethlehem district, challenging discrimination, protecting human rights and providing services and activities ranging as widely as health education, conflict resolution, an embroidery finishing project, a computer centre and a circus skills summer camp

BSST contributed to two projects: a media and communications course to help Palestinians present their situation more effectively to the outside world and a management skills course to enhance the employability of Palestinian women who may be highly educated but lack practical workplace experience.

AMOUNT GIVEN £5600

Villages Group (www.villagesgroup.wordpress.com) The inhabitants of the villages in the South Hebron Hills, including the cave dwellers around Susya, live under harsh climatic and geographical conditions, and are constantly under threat of demolition orders and attacks

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from the encroaching Israeli settlements. They receive no protection (rather the reverse) from the Israeli Defence Forces, and little support either from the Palestinian Authority.

A Palestinian tent home

A tent-dwelling child’s drawing of ‘My Dream Home’, showing

uncanny resemblance to the settler houses perched above the

Palestinians’ village.

BSST has supported many initiatives in these villages, carried out by the local people with the help and advice of the Villages Group, a loose association of Jewish and Palestinian volunteers.

These initiatives include a long-running school transportation scheme and, pictured to the left, the kindergarten created from an existing empty building in the village of Umm al Kheir.

Much BSST assistance has been possible thanks to donations from the Stonehage Charitable Trust. In addition, the Villages Group itself has built a large British donor network via regular British speaking tours, using BSST’s Post Box service to manage the ensuing funds.

This year BSST donated emergency aid following one of the IDF demolitions of Palestinian housing in the area. AMOUNT GIVEN £1000

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Projects Assisted by our Post Box Service

BSST manages income receipts for organisations in Israel/Palestine which have secured donations in this country but lack a British charitable arm. BSST receives and transfers the funds they have raised and enables them to secure Gift Aid. During 2011/12 BSST ‘s Post Box transferred to

Gilboa Theatre, Haifa Performances in memory of Juliano Mer Khamis, assassinated Director of Jenin Freedom Theatre

£32,000

Isha L’Isha, Haifa

www.isha.org.il

The oldest grassroots feminist organisation in Israel £1,650

Sindyanna, Galilee www.sindyanna.com

Women-led Palestinian organisation operating in northern Israel and Occupied Territories. Produces award-winning fair trade organic olive oil, za’atar spice mixes, carob syrup, honey, olive oil soaps and traditional baskets.

£11,500

St John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem www.stjohneyehospital,org

Specialist Palestinian Eye Hospital £300

Villages Group

villagesgroup.wordpress.com

Jewish/Palestinian support group working in villages in the South Hebron Hills and in Salem near Nablus

£10,250

Trapped at a checkpoint

Free in the sea

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Finance & Administration

In 2011-12 BSST’s income was almost £90k, nearly all from individual donations and Gift Aid. Over £117k of charitable expenditure was made. Administration and other non-charitable costs amounted to £2k. All labour was provided on a voluntary basis.

Accounts for the year ending 29 February 2012

Income and Expenditure

2011-12

2010-11

Note £

£

Income

Donations received (1) 89,697

94,850

Bank interest

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Total income

89,710

94,863

Expenditure

Charitable Activities (2) 117,288

89,078

Publicity/fundraising (3) 900

1,012

Governance (4) 0

0

Administration (5) 1,147

2,037

Total expenditure

119,335

92,127

Surplus / Deficit

-29,625

2,736

Balance Sheet

Note £

£

Assets

Cash at bank

35,269

54,158

Debtors (8) 3,328

14,064

38,597

68,222

Reserves (9)

Reserves b/fwd

68,222

65,486

Current year surplus / deficit

-29,625

2,736

Reserves c/fwd

38,597

68,222

Notes to the accounts

Basis of accounting These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with applicable accounting

standards, the Charities SORP 2005 (Accounting and Reporting by Charities) and comply with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 issued under the Charities Act 1993

(1) Donations received 2011-12

2010-11

Donations for unrestricted funds 44,516

58,342

Gift Aid on donations for unrestricted funds 2,141

1,201

Donations for restricted funds 40,502

30,252

Gift Aid on donations for restricted funds 2,538

5,055

£89,697

£94,850

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(2) Charitable Activities 2011-12

2010-11

Grants from unrestricted funds 65,651

66,199

Grants from restricted funds 50,800

22,879

Bank charges 837

0

£117,288

£89,078

(3) Publicity/fundraising

Events 0

0

Printing, postage & stationery 450

1,012

Website and leaflets 450

0

Miscellaneous £0

0

£900

£1,012

(4) Governance

Travel 0

0

Miscellaneous 0

0

£0

£0

(5) Administration

Bank charges 6

829

Printing, postage & stationery 0

135

Travel 0

0

Miscellaneous 1,141

1,073

£1,147

£2,037

(6) Trustee expenses

Number of trustees who were paid expenses 4

0

Travel £0

£0

(7) Fees for examination or audit of the accounts

Independent examiner’s or auditors’ fees 0

0

for reporting on the accounts

Other fees (for example: advice, consultancy, 0

0

accountancy services) paid to the independent

examiner or auditor

(8) Debtors Amounts falling due

Amounts falling due

within one year

after more one year

2011-12

2010-11

2011-12

2010-11

Charities Aid Foundation 0

0

0

0

HMRC (Gift Aid) 3,328

14,064

0

0

Total £3,328

£14,064

£0

£0

(9) Reserves b/fwd

2011-12

c/fwd

Unrestricted funds 45,503

-21,154

24,349

Restricted funds 22,719

-8,471

14,248

£68,222

£29,625

£38,597

The Accounts and Annual Report have been approved by the Board of the British Shalom Salaam Trust and signed on their behalf by

Dr Gill Yudkin, Chair Colin Wainwright, Treasurer

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the British Shalom Salaam Trust (BSST) Trustees

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 29th February 2012, which are set out on pages 13 and 14.

Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner: The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under s43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to

examine the accounts under s43 of the Act

follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under s43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act, and

state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report: My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement: In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John Sharp

36 Longlands Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7LT

11 October 2012

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Trustees

BSST has no paid staff and relies almost entirely on its Board of trustees to review grant applications, communicate with projects, generate income and manage finance. Trustees have extensive voluntary sector experience and in-depth expertise on the situation in Israel/ Palestine. New Board members are appointed, trained and inducted by existing trustees.

During 2011-12 the Board comprised

CHAIR: Dr Gillian Yudkin, retired GP

SECRETARY: Naomi Wayne, charity chief executive

TREASURER: Colin Wainwright, IT specialist (from November 2011)

Izzi Azgad, retired homeopath and psychiatric social worker (till January 2012)

Professor Rebecca Boden, specialist in critical management (till April 2011)

Sylvia Cohen, retired psychotherapist (till January 2012)

Professor Miriam David, feminist social scientist (till January 2012)

Asher Eisen, university teacher (till January 2012)

Jan Newman, retired social worker (from April 2011 to September 2011)

Dr Simon Sandberg, health policy consultant

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BRITISH SHALOM SALAAM TRUST Donations, Standing Order Form and Gift Aid Declaration

ALL DONORS

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SINGLE DONATION

Please find enclosed my cheque for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

STANDING ORDER FORM

Bank Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bank Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Account Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sort Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Account Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please pay £15 £25 £35 £50 £100 OTHER £ . . . . . . . .per month (circle one)

To the British Shalom Salaam Trust. HSBC Account 11576585 Sort Code 40-04-15

Quoting Reference (BSST use only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Signature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PROJECT

Donations will be used at the trustees’ discretion unless you specify a purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GIFT AID DECLARATION If you are a UK taxpayer, BSST can claim back tax that you have paid. It costs you nothing, but BSST recovers 25 pence for every £1 you give. You must pay income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that BSST reclaims. If your future circumstances change, you can cancel this declaration by notifying us.

(please tick) I want BSST (Charity No 1103211) to treat all donations that I have made in the last four years, and all future donations, to be Gift Aided until I notify you otherwise.

Signature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Note: donors may only sign this declaration if they pay UK income or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount of tax recoverable by the British Shalom Salaam Trust)

Please complete and post this form to: British Shalom Salaam Trust, PO Box 39378, London SE13 5SW. Alternatively, you can scan the signed form and e-mail it to bsst@bsst.org.uk

WEBSITE: www.bsst.org.uk EMAIL: bsst@bsst.org,uk