The United Synagogue is to invest an extra £123,000 into its educational programmes, including the organisation's youth movement Tribe.

Stephen Fenton, the US honorary treasurer, told council representatives on Monday night: "We must look after the future of our children."

The extra money will be used to strengthen the United Synagogue's new Living and Learning department, an initiative by chief executive Jeremy Jacobs. The new department consolidates all the US education programmes, including Tribe, under one banner.

But David Kaplan, the community services director who leads the department, said he was also looking to offer educational and social programmes to older synagogue members.

He said: "Groups to be targeting in 2011 include singles over 40. It's not just about young people. And nearly 35 per cent of our members are single, widowed or divorced."

‘Groups to be targeting in 2011 include singles over 40’

An additional £116,000 will also be spent on the community development division which supports local synagogues.

The new budget for 2011 means the US will make an £82,000 profit, if no contingency money is used. But some members of the council questioned Mr Fenton why the communal fees to the US could not be reduced if a surplus had been budgeted for.

Mr Fenton told members that the fees could not be reduced because it would leave the organisation with no contingency. He added: "We need to continue the high level of service from the executive."

Last year the synagogue made £2.3 million from general income, including membership fees.

The other main sources of income were £1.3 million from burial fees and £561,000 from kashrut certification.