Jami Volunteer Newsletter Pesach 2022

Pesach 2022

jamiuk.org

volunteers

Celebrating Jami’s dedicated volunteers 1

Three cheers for our volunteers!

Hello

and welcome to our new volunteers Compeer · Becca Parker · Claire Rosen · Jacqui Guderly · Simon Midgen

Data Support · Efenwengbe Nicholas Aminaho · Jennifer Carmo

Trustees · Abigail Swerdlow · Alan Cohen

Social Enterprise · Louise Hainey

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We just wanted to say a massive thank you and a huge well done to all our volunteers who helped to make a substantial contribution to our online match-funded campaign in January, raising vital funds to support our existing mental health services and new developments.

Thanks to you getting on board in many different ways, our ‘See Me, See Mental Health’ campaign raised over £1.2m in just 36 hours and attracted more than 5,000 donors, whose generosity was matched by new grants. Many of you led, or were among, the 250 fundraising teams who spread the word and encouraged friends and family to lend their support – and for this we are truly grateful.

The success of this campaign means we are now better placed to meet the increasing mental health needs of our community, which has seen three times more people requiring support since the start of the pandemic. Our Chief Executive, Laurie Rackind, said: “Mental health problems are on the increase and as a community we need to get better at recognising when people are struggling, understand what support is available, and for us at Jami to make sure that treatment and support are accessible to all who need us.”

Despite one in six schoolchildren now struggling with mental health problems, local authority services for them remain extremely under-resourced. Therefore, children and young people will be among those to benefit from the proceeds of the campaign, as we develop Jami’s new Children and Young Person’s (CYP) service, providing tailored one-to-one support based on the young person’s individual needs.

The rest of the funds will be used to support the increasing demand for help within our existing services, increase access to mental health support on the high street via Head Room Cafés and grow suicide prevention and education. All these developments will ensure that Jami can continue to see, hear and help everyone needing support with their mental health.

Become a Jami Ambassador Jami works with a variety of communities across the UK and is looking for more ambassadors to help engage others and to raise awareness about mental health in their community.

Join Jami’s team of amazing ambassador volunteers and become an advocate for Jami by providing a vital link to your synagogue or community.

With our specialised training and support, you can help your synagogue or community to take the next steps to better mental health.

If you are proactive, enthusiastic, looking for an exciting challenge and have a good understanding of your community, we would love to hear from you.

“I became an Ambassador for Jami because I am passionate about mental health, and I believe it should be treated akin to physical health. We all have it!

Being a Jami Ambassador has enabled me to let my community know that I am there for anything related to mental health. I have spoken at Mental Health Awareness

Shabbat, liaised with members of the community to signpost relevant support services and organised a mental health speaker for my shul. We now have a steering group within our shul to keep mental health on the agenda for our community.”

Sarah, Jami Ambassador

For more information, to download the job description and apply to be a Jami Ambassador please go to: jamiuk.org/ambassador

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Welcome to the team Sophie and Bethany!

A little about me…

Hi everyone! My name is Bethany Chinery, and I am one of the Compeer Officers at Jami. I am very excited to be a part of the Jami family and getting to work with some of you.

I have worked in a variety of different roles in different sectors, but this is my first one in mental health, which I am very passionate about.

Hello from Sophie…

Hi everyone!

Over the last six months, you might have heard my voice or seen my face as I undertook the role of Volunteer Coordinator here at Jami.

I have worked across the charity sector over the last six years and have always wanted to work within mental health specifically, having my

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I am always up for a laugh or a meaningful chat. I enjoy playing pool/snooker, watching terrible predictable movies and just hanging out with friends. I have a lowve for all things little and animals, feel free to show me all your pet pics!

The reason I applied for this role, was because I wanted to be able to help someone every day and this is what Jami does.

The staff here are incredible in their level of kindness and their compassion is off the scales.

own firsthand experience of its effects. Being welcomed to Jami so wholeheartedly and seeing the amazing work that we do has been incredible, but I will say that working alongside our dedicated team of volunteers (that is you) has been my favourite part so far!

When I am not working, I am usually watching films (at the cinema as often as I can), walking or watching reality television with my housemate’s dog, a cocker spaniel named Cosmo, who loves all kinds of

attention, but is less keen on the terrible TV show choices.

If my next six months are as good as my first here at Jami then I will be extremely happy, and I hope to meet even more of you as soon as possible.

Pesach

My family’s Sephardic practice by Bethany Chinery For all those who celebrate Pesach (Passover), you probably know that there are different traditions to do with the seder (order).

Coming from a Sephardic (Mizrachi) background, my family have our own traditions that I thought I would share with you.

The first difference in the seder is the karpas (dipping of a vegetable). My family’s tradition is to dip a piece of celery into lemon juice – the lemon juice is meant to represent the bitter times the Jews experienced.

Secondly, we make chalaek (charoset). Ours is made primarily from date juice (which is a thick and sweet liquid, made by boiling dates for hours and sieving them). There are also ground almonds and walnuts to add thickness to the date juice (just like the mortar it is meant to resemble).

Thirdly, when it comes to breaking the middle matza into two pieces and hiding one away for the afikoman, the remaining one is put in a napkin and is passed around the table while everyone sings “Ha Lachma Anya”

of using a turnip (most likely because my grandma could not face touching the head of any animal). My cousins, however, use a lamb’s head.

Lastly, instead of soaking our eggs in salt water, we cut our eggs in half and sprinkle salt on each of the halves and eat them separately, whilst saying “Zecher Lekorban Chagigah” - ‫ – הגיגח ןברקל רכז‬which means to remember the chagigah offering that was made in the Beit Hamikdash.

These are some of my family traditions that I love doing every year. They span generations and I feel honoured to be a part of something much greater than myself. What are some traditions that you have that may be different from others?

Fourthly, for some Sephardim, they use a head of a lamb to represent the korban (Passover sacrifice) that was given to G-d in Egypt. However, my family have a very different tradition

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What’s new at Headroom café?

Art4All

Coffee & Connect

Community Conversations

87 Golders Green Rd (next door to the cafe)

IN PERSON

IN PERSON

Head Room Cafe

Join us for an hour exploring our art expression together! This is a weekly Art Club following on from our popular one-off session. You don’t need to bring any materials. Everyone is welcome, whatever your experience, however you are feeling. You can join in as much or as little as you like; the emphasis is on connection, peer support and process.

This is a warm, welcome, open space for everyone to join us around the big table in the cafe for a friendly chat – to come and connect with others or simply to hang out in company.

It’s all completely informal with no structure as such – just come and enjoy the time together.

87 Golders Green Rd (next door to the cafe)

Mondays 2:00–3:00 pm

Tuesdays 2:00–3:30 pm

IN PERSON

Walking Group Thursdays New time!

4:00–5:00 pm

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Our regular community walks continue as usual every Thursday (only with a change of time). We will be gathering at the cafe or on the pavement outside the cafe from 3:30pm.

Thursdays 6:30–7:30 pm

This is a friendly discussion group that is inspired by the French café-débat. At the beginning of the session, each participant is invited to suggest a topic and then the group votes, followed by an open conversation about the chosen topic. We welcome diverse views and experiences and treat each other with respect and kindness.

And of course, all of our online sessions continue as usual. For more info check our website headroomcafe.org/ whats-on

Save the date!

Mental Health Awareness Week at Head Room Café and online - 8–13 May 2022.

The theme of this year’s national event is loneliness.

MHFA Champion

There are some exciting new courses coming up from Jami’s education team If you are a Mental Health First Aider or MHFA Champion, you have skills for life that support you and the people around you. We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health – and just like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid training should be kept up to date.

The four-hour MHFA Refresher course will empower you to: • Keep your awareness of mental health support current • Update your knowledge of mental health and what influences it • Practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan

Please note that the MHFA Refresher is only for people who have completed an Adult Mental Health First Aider, MHFA Champion, or Armed Forces Mental Health First Aider course.

If you are interested in attending, please get in touch with the education team at education@jamiuk.org or sophie.chappell@jamiuk.org for more information.

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The following Jami Education courses are free for volunteers Bystander training 23 May 6:00–7:00 pm ZOOM email education@jamiuk.org to book

LGBT+, My Mental Health and Me 18, 25 May and 1, 8, 15 June 6:00–7:30 pm

This training will provide you with an understanding of bystander theory and enable volunteers to boost their confidence and understanding in how to respond to discriminatory or offensive behaviour in a way that is consistent with Jami’s values and ideals.

We will also consider how we look after the mental health of ourselves and others within this framework and how to report any experiences of discrimination within Jami.

We know that people belonging to minority communities which face discrimination are at a higher risk of experiencing poor mental health: the LGBT community is no exception. Come and join us for a multi-week course for those of us identifying as LGBT with lived experience of mental health issues. Explore how we as LGBT Jews can support our mental health and wellbeing.

ZOOM

The Flawed Hero 7 June 4:00–7:30 pm ZOOM

Stress and Mental Health 11 April 7:00–8:30 pm ZOOM

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A chance to discuss, create and motivate each other. Ancient myths are full of heroes who struggle on their mission due to their flaws. We have our own flawed heroes in the Jewish tradition like the prophet Jonah. These flaws make heroes spring to life and so relatable to us.

Join us for an afternoon workshop to discover what flawed heroes teach us about ourselves and how they can inspire us to take on the challenges ahead. Bring a pen and paper as we’ll be using writing as well as discussion to explore.

What’s the difference between a ‘stressor’ and psychological stress? How do you know whether your stress levels are sustainable?

Do you feel frequently ‘on edge’, as if you are waiting for the next piece of bad news to arrive in your inbox? Stress is unavoidable. We all experience it at some point or other. Sometimes we have more resources available to deal with stress than others. If we are already living with mental ill health, we may find that our stress levels feel unbearable at times. Join us to discuss this bugbear, learn new coping mechanisms and get mutual support.

Boundaries (deep dive)

An additional course for those of you who have learned alongside us either this year or last year on the topic of boundaries. Why are boundaries so tricky for us to define and maintain? They go to the heart of human relationships and are often the reason why they can come unstuck. Boundaries are an important factor in mental health support, so come along and hear more about holding them with passion and authenticity.

23 May 5:15–7:15 pm ZOOM

Supporting Others 13 June 7:00–9:00 pm ZOOM

Supporting each other is more important than ever. Having a peer, who has lived through similar experiences, can make all the difference. It may help us feel less alone and understood. Join us to consider the powerful role of a peer and pick up skills to provide appropriate support to those around you.

To book any of the courses visit jamiuk.org/education or email education@jamiuk.org

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For help and support, visit jamiuk.org Telephone: 020 8458 2223 Email: info@jamiuk.org

Registered Charity 1003345. A Company Limited by Guarantee 2618170

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