Welcome to our latest issue of Careline It is packed with stories and photos from across Jewish Care over the last six months. As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments on the design and content of Careline. Please send these to editor@jcare.org or call 07391 738 312.
EDITOR Naomi Creeger
Editorial enquiries: Email: editor@jcare.org
DESIGN & PRODUCTION BY
Mark Wingrove, Jewish Care’s in-house design studio to keep costs to a minimum
COVER PHOTO
Helen Savvides, member of Ronson Family Community Centre with Nick Ferrari and Natasha Kaplinsky OBE at Jewish Care’s Annual Dinner.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Daniel Carmel-Brown, Lulu Cohen
Naomi Creeger, Anna Hoffman, Marcus Sperber
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sam Churchill, Alicia Clarke, Blake Ezra Justin Grainge, Mike Stone, Yakir Zur staff and volunteers across Jewish Care
Printed by Media Group
Special thanks to everyone who helped with this issue. The views expressed in Careline are not necessarily those of Jewish Care or its employees.
No article or photo published in Careline can be reproduced in part or in full, electronically or by any other means of dissemination, without the prior permission of Jewish Care.
MIKE youth programme creates leaders of today and tomorrow in north west and
Leaving a future gift in your Will is beyond incredible, Joseph Grenfell’s legacy and Lady Naomi Lightman’s Giving in Memory 18 Jami’s new Wohl Counselling Suites will support more young people and adults receiving Talking Therapies
19 Jami’s Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service is expanding Head Room, Jami’s social enterprise café supported by The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation… the perfect vibe for simchas, events and talking about mental health as a community
Retirement living for generation joy and life-changing support from Jewish
for synagogue volunteers like Stanley and our multi-faith forum and advance care planning for Dying Matters Week
with Jewish Care A huge Mazel Tov and thank you for those who shared their simcha with us
Holocaust Survivors’ Centre Dinner with Manfred Goldberg MBE, marking 80 years since liberation 24 Ask us a question questions and answers from Jewish Care’s free and confidential helpline 26 A guide to what we do where to find our wide-ranging services for the community
Welcome from the CEO
Daniel Carmel-Brown, Chief Executive, Jewish Care
Ihope you enjoy reading about the latest news and wonderful achievements across the Jewish Care family over the past six months.
As this issue of the magazine went to print, we received fantastic news in the King’s Birthday Honours list. I’d like to congratulate some of the incredible individuals who represent the very best of Jewish Care and Jami, now part of Jewish Care.
I wish a hearty mazel tov to dedicated Trustee, Adam Dawson MBE, who has been central to the development of Jami’s vital mental health services, to the inspiring Holocaust Survivors’ Centre member and educator Manfred Goldberg MBE, to devoted volunteer Hilary Halter MBE, and to our caring Senior Housing Manager Horace Boston BEM. Their commitment, compassion, and service have rightly been recognised, as just a few of the many extraordinary people whose contributions make our work possible.
of Auschwitz – a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to honour memory, fight hatred, and foster understanding. In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever for Jewish Care, with staff made up of 54 nationalities and multiple faiths, to shine a light of unity, resilience, and care.
In this edition, you’ll read about the incredible impact of music and song – which brings joy, positivity and Jewish connection to those we support across our community dementia services and our care homes. Toes tapped and hearts were lifted when we were joined by celebrity choirmaster Gareth Malone OBE.
This year we celebrate 35 years of Jewish Care since the Jewish Welfare Board and the Jewish Blind Society merged in 1990. We recently marked this milestone at our Annual Dinner with our hosts Natasha Kaplinsky OBE and Nick Ferrari. You can watch our special 35th anniversary film from the evening using the QR code below.
“I FEEL INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THIS CARING COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS AFTER ONE ANOTHER.”
I’m excited to share an update on our new first-class Redbridge Care and Community Campus, scheduled to open in June 2026. It’s heartening to see the community rally behind the Always Essex fundraising campaign, reflecting the deep connection and support the community shares across generations. You can see the fly-through film for the development with the QR code on page five. It has been more than a year since Jami joined Jewish Care and we continue to expand our mental health services. In response to the urgent need for support among young people and adults, we have opened our new Wohl Counselling Suites and expanded the Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service into Yavneh College, supporting young people there, as well as those at JCoSS, JFS and in the wider community who are struggling with their mental health. We also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation
While there is much to celebrate, there are many challenges. Rising costs, increasing complexity of care needs with people coming to us older and frailer than ever, and at the end of life, and a growing number of people living with mental illness and distress in our community, all place more demand on our services. In addition, the recent budget alone adds £1.1 million to our annual wage bill.
But thanks to your continued support, we remain committed to growing and adapting. Together, we provide companionship for those who are isolated, dedicated care for people living with dementia and their family carers, safe spaces for Holocaust survivors to connect, compassionate nursing and end-of-life care and expanding mental health services that save and improve lives.
We couldn’t do all this without our volunteers, whose collective contribution is valued at over £9.25 million annually, transforming the lives of all involved. During Volunteers’ Week, we honoured those who give their time, skills, and warmth. Our volunteers agree that volunteering brings immense fulfillment, and most of them tell me they definitely gain more than they give.
I feel incredibly privileged to be part of this caring community that looks after one another. Whatever stage you have joined us on our 35 year journey, we are deeply proud to have you as part of the big, caring Jewish Care family, and we look forward to the next part of this journey together.
I hope you enjoy the summer ahead.
Scan the QR code to watch our celebratory 35th anniversary film.
Chair, Marcus Sperber describes his morning on the frontline
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Ifeel an even deeper sense of pride and responsibility in being Chair of Jewish Care after spending the morning at Jewish Care’s Otto Schiff care home for people living with dementia at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus. It’s a privilege to see first-hand the professionalism and compassionate care our staff provide 24/7 across our care services, ensuring that older people in our community have the dignity and respect they deserve in the later years of their life within a Jewish environment.
I picked up my uniform from Registered Manager, Kemi Ariba at 7.30am to join the team’s handover meeting. I listened as they shared essential information about each resident’s wellbeing and holistic needs with warmth and clear clinical insight, informed by decades of experience and expertise in providing professional care.
Despite the financial pressures we face this year, I’m proud that we continue to align our pay with the London Living Wage to retain and reward the exceptional people who make our work possible. Representing 54 nationalities of all faiths and none, our dedicated staff have a shared purpose, caring for those in the Jewish community alongside our dedicated volunteers.
After the meeting we moved up to the care home floor. I was surprised to see many residents already up and dressed by 8.30am, taking great pride in their appearance, some of them looking as if they could be ready for shul on Shabbat.
The staff are like family to the residents, enabling them to feel safe and cared for, with personalised preferences catered for; knowing who likes a bit more butter on their toast or a bit more jam. They bring calm, positive energy
and a sense of humour to their care along with a real passion for their work.
As I assisted with making breakfast, I was greeted by residents with warmth and curiosity. I chatted with Doreen Reindorp, 97, a great-grandma who worked in Salford as a seamstress and a shop assistant. She says she loved chatting with customers, which is evident as she‘s a wonderful conversationalist with a great sense of humour.
Betty Escane, 92, who was evacuated to Cornwall, went to school in St Austell where I often go for holidays and we compared notes. She worked in womenswear in a London department store before being a full-time mum, proudly sharing that her late husband worked in the film industry. Her son, Mark, called to say good morning and to check in with his mum. Rabbi Junik, our Pastoral and Spiritual Lead, came to make a pastoral visit to the residents, creating another ripple of positivity.
I chatted with Marjorie Don, 94, the scales of justice on her door refer to her being qualified at the Bar before raising three daughters and going on to become a lay Magistrate and full-time Chair of industrial tribunals in London. She later travelled the world with her late husband, including visits to her family in New Zealand.
I spoke to David who had been a taxi driver, who loves people and football in equal measure, and is so proud of his family, and Rita, 101, homemaker, a proud mum, and great-grandma who devoted herself to raising funds for the Jewish community.
Each resident’s life story is shared by families with staff. The recent DementiAbility programme training helps the care teams to understand a person’s past, highlighting their interests, rich histories and range of life experiences to create tailored, personalised care.
The people I meet at Jewish Care’s services rejuvenate me and my experience instills an even stronger conviction of the urgent need to continue to provide this essential Jewish care for our community.”
helps to build the future
Jewish Care’s first ever community fundraising campaign, Always Essex, raised over £1 million of additional funds to help us complete our vision for our fourth development hub to meet the needs of the local community in north east London and Essex.
Thanks to the incredible commitments and outstanding displays of generosity from our cornerstone donors, Lord Sugar and his family, together with the Ronson family via The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation, the much needed care and community campus is on track for completion in summer 2026.
The new, modern, and fully accessible care and community campus includes The Sugar Family Care Home, a 66-bed care home to replace Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House care home in Gants Hill, built in 1982, and The Ronson Community Centre to replace Redbridge Jewish Community Centre on the former site of Sinclair House which was built in 1969.
Following Lord Sugar and Sir Gerald Ronson’s visit to the development, Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown, said, “I want to thank the community, our cornerstone donors for their extraordinary generosity, and so many others who have supported us so far to make this dream a reality. As someone who has grown up and worked in this community, I know just how much Jewish Care in Redbridge has meant to generations of families. Now, Jewish Care is building a truly special, brand new care and community campus for the future, a place where people of all generations can be together.”
The campus will also include The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia, the Meals on Wheels service with deliveries by volunteers across Essex and north east London, the Social Work and Community Support Team, the MIKE youth leadership programme and the Jami’s Redbridge community hub.
Once the care and community campus is completed and ready, these services will come together under one roof for the first time, ensuring comprehensive care and support for the whole community.
Jonathan West, Jewish Care’s Director of Property & Legal Affairs, says, “The building and interiors are thoughtfully designed to support individuals with mobility challenges. Jewish Care has partnered with Park Grove, a specialist care home interior design company that is renowned as an industry leader for designing dementia-friendly and accessible care environments.
“These features will enhance the quality of life for residents and centre members, offering a safe, more supportive, and engaging environment. Level flooring throughout will ensure easy navigation, particularly for those with mobility challenges. To accommodate visual impairments common in dementia and conditions like macular degeneration, the colour scheme has been carefully selected to create strong contrasts between furniture, flooring, and walls, making movement between spaces clearer and more intuitive.
“The campus should achieve an excellent BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating. This reflects it’s high level of sustainability and placing it among the top 10% of environmentally responsible buildings.
“With familiar items around them that celebrate being part of one big Jewish Essex and north east London family, the community will feel at home in the new space.”
FIND OUT MORE
For more information about the new care and community campus, visit jewishcare.org/ Redbridge where you can also book to join our hard hat tours. Contact Director of Fundraising & Marketing, eestrin@jcare.org if you would like to be involved in our special project.
Redbridge care and community campus flythrough film
Around the world of Jewish Care
01 13-year-old Evie Yershon, whose late grandma was a resident at Jewish Care’s Rosetrees care home, ran 13 kilometres around Emirates Stadium to fundraise for Jewish Care in her memory.
02 Cyril who is a resident at Vi & John Rubens House care home with his wife Shirley who celebrated 64 years of marriage.
03 Over 40 enthusiastic fundraisers of all ages took part in this year’s Maccabi UK Fun Run, along with Jewish Care and Jami mascots, Chava Heart and Jamie.
04 Harry Olmer MBE with Countdown’s Rachel Riley who joined Holocaust Survivors’ Centre members for an afternoon of music and maths.
05 The Friends of Stella & Harry Freedman House hosted an inspiring evening with Lord Levy at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre to raise funds for care home activities.
06 Veterans, Jack Mann, 99, and Henny Franks, 102, were delighted to be presented to The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at The Not Forgotten Annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
07 Erica Alheit with her artwork in a fantastic exhibition of creative work by members of Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre.
08 We welcomed employees from Google and Schroders for a Corporate Volunteering Day connecting them with community centre members across The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus.
09 Minnie, a resident at Anita Dorfman House care home at Sandringham is among those who celebrated VE Day at one of the many parties across Jewish Care’s services.
10 Phyliss, 102, was delighted to celebrate her birthday with fellow guests at a Supportive Communities Tea Party hosted by volunteers.
11 Gail Elliot, DementiAbility programme founder, visited our care homes to see our programme, providing personalised, tailored support to our residents, in action.
12 Henry Glanz, a member of The Brenner Stepney Jewish Community Centre, enjoyed his 101st birthday accompanied by fellow centenarians and CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown.
13 Rachel Turek is one of six amazing runners who raised funds to support Jami’s services supporting people living with mental illness and distress.
14 Joe Klein, pictured with his parents, Gayle and Andrew Klein and his brother, Josh, is one of seven inspiring runners who ran the TCS London Marathon for Jewish Care.
Celebrating Jewish Life Across Jewish Care
01. Pupils from five schools and three nurseries came together for our annual Purim Zumba fundraising initiative to raise funds for Dance Therapy sessions at Jewish Care’s centres for people living with dementia.
02-03. Purim was celebrated by all across Jewish Care and Jami. Here are members, volunteers and staff at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, and Southend and Westcliff Jewish Community Centre.
04. The intergenerational mock seder connected pupils at Wolfson Hillel Primary School with members of Jewish Care’s Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia.
05. Jami’s Finchley hub members prepared to enjoy mock Seders together on Pesach.
06. Our new inclusive dementia-friendly Haggadah enabled those we support across Jewish Care to enjoy celebrating Pesach at our Seders together.
07-08. More than 80 people, including tenants from Wohl Court and Selig Court retirement living apartments, joined Jewish Care Families Intergenerational Challah Braiding Workshop led by Allegra Benitah.
09. We enjoyed preparing for Shavuot celebrations with cheesecake making and flowerarranging across our care homes, retirement living and community centres.
Music and song bring powerful connections
Two events filled the air with music and song at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre this spring, bringing us together as a community.
Singing for Joy is our first choir competition for people living with dementia and their family carers, who are part of our community programme. The performances were incredibly moving and we were privileged to welcome broadcaster and The Choir’s Gareth Malone to judge the competition, alongside Jewish Care’s CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown and our Director of Care & Housing Services, Rita Rousso.
Members of the Sam Beckman Centre choir in Friern Barnet, the Noé Nightingales choir at The Zalman and Ruchi Noé Centre at Sandringham in Stanmore, and The Dennis Centre’s music group in Redbridge – all of which are Jewish Care centres for people living with dementia – together with Jewish Care’s Singing for Memory groups in Redbridge, Stanmore and Southend, filled the air with song to win one of six awards.
Herzel, from the Dennis Centre group, shared, “Every one of us has such a lovely time at the Centre and every Tuesday, I can’t wait for Tuesday!”
Thomassina is part of our Singing for Memory group in Redbridge with her daughter, Nicole, who explained, “It’s a great way for us to go out, spend some time together doing something that my mum particularly enjoys, and that we both enjoy.” Thomassina adds, “It makes me happy” Gareth Malone said, “Today is a beautiful day, seeing people coming together at any age and singing together and being part of a community. We all need that. It gives us hope.
“When you are living with dementia, singing is one of the few tools we that help retain our emotions and personality. It’s the closest thing to magic. It’s so important for people to have access to fun, and singing is such a great way to do that.”
CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown, exclaimed, “Days like these make me really proud of the important and meaningful activities we offer throughout our services, which really
make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia in the community.”
Several weeks later, our care home residents came together to celebrate the Joy of Jewish Singing. Jewish Culture and Faith Manager, Ilana Greenblatt said, “Today we celebrate the power of Jewish music which has always been at the heart of our Jewish identity. It’s woven in our prayers, our celebrations, and in our history, carrying with us the voice of our ancestors and the spirit of our people.”
Residents practised at sessions led by experienced musicians with the songs in the Jewish Care Singing for Joy song book, including Hallelujah, Adon Olam, Hava Nagila, and favourites from Fiddler on the Roof.
Valerie Sheridan who lives at Anita Dorfman House care home said, “It’s been so emotional and very special to have family around and everybody together. I enjoy singing and am thankful to the music practitioners who taught us the songs.”
Judy Morgenstern, a resident at Stella & Harry Freedman House, added, “It was the best day I’ve had for years. So beautiful I could cry, I loved singing all the Jewish songs together.”
Together, through music, we celebrated memory, identity, and the joy of being part of a community.
Intergenerational programme brings meaning to all
When generations come together everyone flourishes.
Every week, residents and community centre members across our care homes and community centres enjoy visits and activities with children from nursery age to those at secondary school, building connections between the generations.
Early interactions between nursery children and care home residents are an integral part of everyday life at Jewish Care, sparking laughter and connection across all of our services. Nurseries from the local Jewish and wider communities take part in connecting old and young together.
At The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, nursery children from Gan on the Hill enjoy interactive storytelling and imaginative play sessions run by Debutots together with residents at our Kun Mor & George Kiss Home.
Children at Bright Horizons Nursery have enjoyed art sessions with members and volunteers at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre. One three-year-old Gan on the Hill nursery child commented, “I love dancing and singing at Jewish Care” whilst another from Nest Nursery, shared, “I love seeing all the grandmas and grandpas.”
“I LOVE SEEING ALL THE GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS.”
This year, we launched our first ever Intergenerational Half Term Holiday Club, for 9-11 year olds who spent a day with members at The Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia, making pizza and candles, with drumming workshops and a singing group. At the end of day one, one Holiday Club participant told our Community Hub Manager,
Tanya Miller, “I want to do your job when I’m older.”
Meanwhile, 10 and 11-year-old Sacks Morasha Primary School pupils volunteered on another day at the centre, engaging in conversations, games, and storytelling with members.
Our long-standing partnership with JCoSS sees 12 and 13-year-old students visit the Centre members every other week, engaging with members and learning what it means to live in a dementia-friendly community, a fundamental part of JCoSS students’ informal education and communal journey for more than a decade.
Tanya explains, “The impact of all these programmes goes both ways and are invaluable to supporting social interaction across the generations, while creating fun, uplifting experiences for everyone involved which enhances wellbeing.
“These opportunities act as moments of personal growth for our young volunteers and allow them to understand how important it is to give back to those in our community.”
Teaming up with JC Explore at our Sandringham campus, MIKE youth leadership programme participants are part of an innovative technology project. The tech savvy teenagers volunteer to share their skills, supporting older, independent tenants at Pears Court
retirement living apartments at Sandringham to navigate smartphones, tablets, and more.
As part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, students from Yavneh College enjoyed volunteering at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre in Golders Green at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus, and at our Sandringham care campus.
Ilana Greenblatt, Jewish Care’s Jewish Culture and Faith Manager, shares, “Through these programmes, we not only honour the residents’ personal histories and rich lived experiences but also strengthen our collective Jewish identity. These intergenerational moments, especially around Shabbat and the festivals, offer a unique opportunity to connect through the familiar smells, tastes, and melodies of Jewish life. For those living with dementia, these sensory experiences can stir deep, meaningful memories of family, home, and Yiddishkeit. It is a powerful reminder that Jewish continuity is not only about the past, but also about bringing light and joy into the present.”
“THESE OPPORTUNITIES ACT AS MOMENTS OF PERSONAL GROWTH FOR OUR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS AND ALLOW THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.”
We could see this in action when Wolfson Hillel Primary School 6 and 7-year-olds joined members of The Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia, at their uplifting mock seder, sharing traditions and songs.. Children from Wolfson Hillel Primary School joined care home residents at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre at our Purim party, bringing music, joy and colourful costumes for the residents to enjoy, whilst staff went to town with inflatable costumes to keep everyone entertained. MIKE participants at Sandringham also joined the Pears Court tenants to pack mishloach manot for the local community, embracing the Purim spirit together.
To find out more about young volunteering with Jewish Care visit jewishcare.org/volunteer or contact us on ellie.baum@jcare.org or 07425 532 462.
Thank you to our volunteers
This Volunteers Week our volunteers, staff, and trustees gathered together to connect and share experiences, and to recognise the incredible commitment of our volunteers. It was also an opportunity for Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO and Richard Shone, Director of Community Services, Volunteering & Social Work to present long-service badges and ‘Proud to Volunteer’ badges, recognising the time that volunteers have devoted to Jewish Care across our services.
Jo Selwyn, Department Manager for Volunteering shared her heartfelt gratitude, “I want to say a huge thank you to all our exceptional volunteers. Your dedication, care and support are greatly appreciated by us all. Our lives, and the lives of all those people we support, are more enriched because of you.
“Volunteers are the heartbeat of Jewish Care, providing immense support to us all. The impact our volunteers have on all those we support, and on the organisation, allows us to continue our vital work. We simply couldn’t do it without them.”
To find out more about Volunteering with Jewish Care visit jewishcare.org/volunteering or contact us on 020 8922 2405 or volunteering@jcare.org
Scan the QR code to watch our special 35th anniversary film.
Celebrating 35 years of Jewish Care as the heartbeat of the community
Over 900 guests showed their tremendous support during a star-studded evening at our Annual Dinner, raising a record-breaking £5.5 million to help fund Jewish Care’s vital and wide-ranging services for the community.
The Dinner celebrated the love and care given by all those involved with the charity over the past 35 years since the Jewish Welfare Board and the Jewish Blind Society merged in 1990, creating Jewish Care as we know it today.
Hosted by London’s award-winning weekday breakfast show LBC 97.3 presenter, Nick Ferrari, together with Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, the anchor for ITV’s ITN network, the evening focussed on the incredible impact of Jewish Care since it’s inception.
Award-winning Harry Potter and White Lotus actor, Jason Isaacs, whose father is supported by one of our services, featured in a 35-year anniversary film shown to guests. The film also included Prince William, Prime Ministers, Lionel Ritchie, Dermot O’Leary, lay leaders, staff, volunteers, clients and supporters. They have all been part of the Jewish Care family, collectively making it possible for Jewish Care to be there for the community.
Jewish Care’s Life President, The Lord Levy said, “For over three decades, Jewish Care has been a pillar of strength, compassion, and community. What began as our vision to support the Jewish community with dignity and respect, has grown into a lifeline for 12,000 people each week, providing care, comfort, and connection to those who need it most. The organisation has adapted and grown, responding to changing needs, while staying true to our core values of kindness, respect, and Jewish identity.”
Guests also saw an appeal film sharing the emotional stories of just some of those who have relied on the love, care and support of Jewish Care and Jami that sustains families and individuals in times of crisis and need. The film shared moments between those we support and some of the compassionate and professional staff across the
organisation, who are there to provide end-of-life care, support for those living with mental illness and distress, and for those living with dementia as well as their family carers.
Speaking at the Dinner, Chair Marcus Sperber, said, “Thank you for your unwavering support and generosity that makes it possible for Jewish Care to give care and compassion to the whole community, young and old, both today and into the future, especially at a time when we as a community are struggling. The need for Jewish Care has never been greater. Our resources are under intense pressure as a result of increasing inflation, a rapidly ageing population, rising loneliness, a mental health crisis, and the recent employers’ National Insurance changes, costing us an additional £1.1 million per annum.
“Demand is growing, but government funding is shrinking. Many of our most essential services receive no government funding at all and rely entirely on your generosity, so that we can continue to provide the very highest quality support and care, with a deep connection to Jewish traditions and values.”
Concluding the evening, one of opera’s most exciting rising stars, 29-year-old global award-winning, Aigul Akhmetshina, gave a show-stopping rendition of Habanera from Carmen and Somewhere from West Side Story.
After the dinner, Jewish Care CEO, Daniel CarmelBrown, added, “We are so grateful to all of our guests., We simply could not continue to do what we do without our supporters, and it means a lot to know that they are there for Jewish Care, so we can continue be there at the heart of the community.
“Our thanks too, go to our incredible hosts Natasha Kaplinsky OBE and Nick Ferrari, together with Aigul Akhmetshina, who all generously donated their time.”
Celebrating excellence
Our outstanding achievements have been recognised in national and communal awards ceremonies.
Jewish Care received the prestigious Legacy Fundraising Team of the Year award at the industry Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards 2024. Judges praised Jewish Care as “truly punching above its weight with a bright future in legacy fundraising. “
Ellisa Estrin, Director of Fundraising & Marketing, responded; “We are proud that our hard work, passion, and dedication to our cause and community has been recognised amongst huge well-known national charities.”
Horace Boston, Senior Housing Manager received the top national award of Care Employee of the Year 2024
“We work with truly amazing people across our retirement living apartments,” says Horace, “who make our jobs rewarding, empowering us to create the best environment possible for our tenants to live independently with support.”
We are the only Jewish charity in the UK to hold the prestigious Investing in Volunteers accreditation, from the UK Volunteering Forum (UKVF)and NCVO. Recognising
excellence in volunteer management, assessors praised our commitment to support for volunteers and for volunteer inclusion and development.
Shortlisted with We Love 9am in The RAD Awards for Single Use of Video for our Love: Everyday film, judges acknowledged innovation in our employer branding, recruitment marketing, talent acquisition and retention.
The JVN 2024 Awards showered Jewish Care and Jami volunteers with seven awards. Richard Shone, our Director of Community Services, Volunteering & Social Work, says, “These remarkable volunteers go above and beyond, ensuring lasting connections are made, creating genuinely welcoming spaces for those in need so no one feels isolated.”
The Mitzvah Day 2024 Stronger Together Award went to Jewish Care and The Cross Community Zone. 120 Bnei Mitzvah-aged children from 11 United Synagogue shuls volunteered with residents at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre care campus.
RECORD-BREAKING TOPLAND GROUP BUSINESS LUNCH
1
,000 guests raised £485,000 to help support Jewish Care’s vital services at the 37th Business Lunch which is now in its 16th year of partnership with the Topland Group. Jewish Care President, Steven Lewis, said, “The need for our services is growing. Our community is ageing, mental health issues are becoming more prevalent, especially among younger people, and we have seen the increased demand for Jami’s mental health services, with the pressure on the NHS mounting. We are also seeing an increase in the need for end-of-life care, as people are coming to us older and frailer, with more complex medical needs. In addition, we have an additional £1.1m in our wage bill in the coming year and we receive no government funding for many of the services I have described.”
The guest speaker at the lunch
held at the Grosvenor House was The Rt. Hon. George Osborne CH, partner at Robey Warshaw LLP, Former First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and previously Editor-in-chief of London’s Evening Standard newspaper who was interviewed by Lord Finkelstein OBE, former Executive Editor and current columnist for The Times newspaper. Sharing his gratitude for those supporting the lunch, Chairman of the Topland Group Business Lunch
Committee, David Pollock, said, “I would like to thank our two special guest speakers The Right Honourable George Osborne and Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE. We are incredibly privileged to have them with us, and I also thank all the members of the committee for their support and hard work in making this event happen as well as Sol and Eddie Zakay, for their generous sponsorship of our lunch, as well as Allsop LLP and BKL, we are truly grateful for their support which goes above and beyond.”
The Philip Greenwold Award was presented to Trevor Avery, Director of Another Space, in recognition of Trevor’s inspiring achievements at the Lake District Holocaust Project in Windermere. He was accompanied by Holocaust Survivors’ Centre member, Harry Olmer MBE, who was one of ‘The Boys’ who went to Windermere after arriving as a refugee in the UK in 1945.
Record-breaking Bridge Extravaganza reaches £2.5m
Bridge Extravaganza has reached a phenomenal milestone raising an incredible £2.5 million for Jewish Care in the 27 years since the tournament began.
Patsy Bloom, Founder and Co-Chair, says, “We are so pleased to have reached this important milestone. Raising funds for Jewish Care has never been more important, especially when the charity faces the extra financial burden of £1.1million this year.”
Over the years, thousands of supporters have gathered to play bridge whilst raising vital funds for Jewish Care. Guests include seasoned players and social pairs of friends, couples and families with competitive and friendly tournaments, followed by lunch and a raffle of exceptional prizes, before trophy presentations. One year the Bridge Extravaganza went on location to the South of France.
In 2012, Bridge Extravaganza became the record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most money raised by an annual bridge tournament (cumulatively between 1997-2011).
The money raised has funded Jewish Care’s care buses, supporting older, isolated people to travel to day centres, relieving loneliness and isolation. The funds now go to our dementia day centres, which provide specialist support and dementia-friendly activities for people living with dementia and their relatives in a Jewish environment.
Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising & Marketing, Ellisa Estrin, said, “I would like to thank our Co-Chairs, Patsy Bloom and Susan James, and the Bridge Committee for their amazing commitment and dedication. We are so grateful for everything you have done so far and we look forward to many more successful years of Bridge Extravaganza. I’d also like to thank our generous trophy and event sponsors.
“Bridge Extravaganza has become an established annual event in the fundraising calendar, raising an incredible £2.5 million over the last three decades in support of vital services, which receive no government funding and are completely reliant on the generosity of our community.”
In 2024, the Bridge Extravaganza lunch was dedicated to the late Shirley Young, a dynamic founder member whose legacy continues to inspire the Committee.
Founder members of the Committee, Patsy Bloom (Co-Chair), Adele Goldstein, Arlette Shamash, Ghita Tarn, Jenifer Rosenberg OBE, Loretta Burns, Rosalyn Springer, Susan James (Co-Chair) continue to dedicate their time to the event’s success, alongside new members who have joined them over the years.
We are very excited that the next Bridge Extravaganza tournament will be held on 17 November 2025 and is moving to Nobu Hotel London Portman Square. If you would like to attend, please contact Harriet on harriet.broome@jcare.org or 020 8922 2756.
Mazel tov and welcome
Welcome to Dr Abigail Swerdlow MRCPsych, Dr Charles Daniels MBChB, BSc (Hons), MSc, MRCGP and Tessa Arnold who have joined Jewish Care’s Board of Trustees.
Congratulations to our new Honorary President, Jonathan Zenios who joins Dame Gail Ronson DBE and Stephen Zimmerman, and welcome to our new Senior Vice Presidents, Debra Fox and Nicola Loftus and our new Vice Presidents.
Their expertise and experience will help us to continue to respond to the changing needs the Jewish community, touching the lives of over 12,000 people from the age of 11 upwards, each week.
Tessa Arnold
Nicola Loftus
Dr Abigail Swerdlow
Jonathan Zenios
Dr Charles Daniels
Debra Fox
Creating leaders for generations to come
Jewish Care’s MIKE Youth Leadership Awards ceremonies have been held for the first time across both north west and north east London.
After over 40 years of success in Essex, the MIKE programme’s expansion has seen Jewish Care’s Sandringham MIKE programme welcoming the second cohort of young people to participate in the programme in Stanmore and South Hertfordshire. The graduation ceremonies celebrated 65 young leaders and reflected MIKE’s values: Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education, recognising the achievements of the Jewish youth as they pick up the gauntlet of community leadership.
The prestigious Saul Keene Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership was awarded to Taliyah Buskin, presented by Saul’s mother, Nettie Keene, and brother, Danny. A dedicated community leader, Saul tragically passed away in 2008 aged just 41, and his family continues to honour his memory through this award that recognises those who embody his values.
Taliyah shares, “I love the community MIKE has created; it has been such a rewarding experience from starting the programme in year 9 to now being able to give back as a staff member.”
Maor Aharon winner of the Above and Beyond Award, says, “My journey has been fun and educational, contributing to my personal growth and leadership skills… an incredible way to complete my MIKE experience!”
We are thankful to The Doris and Sidney Gold Community Trust Fund for all they have done to enhance the MIKE programme. Dr Sidney Gold was the first ever president of Sinclair House, which became Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre in Redbridge. After Sidney passed away, his children Alan and June honoured his legacy, establishing The Sidney Gold Community Trust in 1988, later renamed The Doris and Sidney Gold Community Trust Fund after Doris passed away. The Trust has supported young participants of the Redbridge youth leadership programme to take part in a leadership gap year in Israel and return as leaders in the Jewish community.
Alan explains, “Dad had three core values: young people, community and Israel. He passionately believed that young people should be involved in the community.”
For almost 30 years, the Trust has supported young people from the Essex community on their gap years in Israel and has also funded the Jewish Heritage trips for MIKE participants, a highlight for many young leaders, which still run today.
With MIKE continuing to grow, Alan and June have made the heartfelt decision to conclude the Trust and make a final, generous donation directly to Jewish Care to continue supporting our youth programmes. The Gold family’s generosity will be recognised at the new Redbridge Care and Community Campus.
Jewish Care’s Director of Community Services, Volunteering & Social Work, Richard Shone, says, “I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Alan and June for their generosity. The impact of The Doris and Sidney Gold Community Trust on the lives of so many people in Essex has been invaluable. The fund has enabled us to empower local young people in Essex through our youth and leadership training programmes over many decades, as well as funding leadership training courses in Israel. It has been instrumental in creating the leaders of today and tomorrow, who are building our communities. This recent generous donation will deeply enhance the MIKE programme, helping us to create continued leaders for generations to come.”
For more information about joining the MIKE youth leadership programme contact Gabrielle on 07931 738 281 or gabrielle.adda@jcare.org
Joseph Grenfell’s life was marked by unimaginable loss and extraordinary resilience. Born in 1926, he was 13 when World War II began. When the Germans invaded Hungary in 1944, Joseph was conscripted into a Jewish forced labour battalion at 17 years old.
“I said goodbye to my mother and father and sister. Unfortunately, that was the last I saw of my father.”
Joseph’s father was murdered and his wider family perished in the camps whilst his mother and sister survived under Swiss diplomatic protection in Budapest.
“My battalion was sent to Bor in Serbia where we worked to build the railway line. Out of 4,000 [sent to Bor], only about 250 survived. We were lucky,” said Joseph.
After the war, Joseph studied law in Budapest, attempting to flee when the Communists took over Hungary. He was imprisoned for a year and forbidden to practise law - on release he worked in factories.
In 1956 he took part in the uprising against the Communist regime, before escaping to Vienna. He reached the UK at age 30. There, he began again.
Two generations are beyond incredible
Joseph married, raised a family, and became a successful accountant. When the Communist regime fell in Hungary in 1990, he returned to his old university in Budapest for a formal graduation – 40 years later.
Joseph never forgot what he had endured, or the responsibility he felt to give back after surviving. For 28 years, he donated annually to Jewish Care and left a future gift in his Will. Today, that legacy lives on through his son, who says, “I knew my parents supported Jewish Care and I was
Honouring our loved ones
After Daphne Claff z’l passed away at the age of 104, her daughter, Lady Naomi Lightman, decided to give a gift to Jewish Care in memory of her mother. Naomi also inscribed a message on a leaf on Jewish Care’s Tree of Life at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus.
Daphne volunteered for Jewish Care for 15 years. Her daughter, Lady Naomi Lightman, says, “I have realised more about her amazing qualities later in life. When you’re young, you don’t really appreciate your parents.”
Having been a journalist writing for publications like Women’s Own magazine, Daphne used her skills and experience to bring the joy of writing to others.
Naomi says, “Her weekly creative writing group was very successful. My mum encouraged so many people to write and would publish their work in the magazine, Emet, meaning truth in Hebrew, so that they could see themselves in print. This also gave my mum a chance to continue doing in her 70s what she was perfectly capable of doing.”
“I was very grateful for the relationship that my mum had with Jewish Care and appreciate all that the charity does for
delighted to discover that this was a commitment for many years, I know they thought it had an important role in the community. My wife and I are pleased to continue that tradition by donating to Jewish Care ourselves.”
Sarit Simon, Legacy & Giving in Memory Lead, shares, “Joseph was incredible in his lifetime and beyond. He planned for the future and shared what was important to him with his family. We are incredibly grateful to Joseph for his generosity and for his kindness in choosing to leave a gift to Jewish Care in his Will ensuring our vital services will be there for others in the future.”
To read Joseph’s full story visit: jewishcare.org/two-generations-arebeyond-incredible
To find out more about our Free Will Writing Service and Legacies visit jewishcare.org/futuregiving, contact Sarit on 020 8922 2819 or legacyteam@jcare.org
older people in our community.”
Sarit Simon, Jewish Care’s Legacy & Giving in Memory Lead, says, “We are so grateful for the dedication shown by Daphne Claff z’l through her volunteering, and we thank Lady Naomi Lightman for adding a leaf to the Tree of Life in memory of her amazing mother.
“Making a donation in memory of a loved one is a special way to celebrate their life, and to show appreciation and connection with Jewish Care, or to express gratitude for kindness received by relatives in our care homes or community centres.”
To find out more about our Giving in Memory programme, call Sarit on 020 8922 2819, or email sarit. simon@jcare.org or visit jewishcare.org/give-in-memory
Wohl Counselling Suites at Jami
Young people and adults receiving talking therapies support through Jami, part of Jewish Care, will now benefit from four new counselling suites, generously funded by The Wohl Legacy.
The new Wohl Counselling Suites, together with the waiting area at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus, have been designed for one-to-one counselling and themed to connect to nature and the four seasons of the year.
“This generous commitment from The Wohl Legacy has allowed us to create a bespoke, welcoming and safe space to conduct talking therapy sessions for Jami clients of all ages,” says Jewish Care CEO Daniel CarmelBrown. “It has also enabled us to recruit extra practitioners to help support the growing number of young people and adults who are living with mental illness and distress in our community, at a time when there is a lack of mental
health services available more widely.” Talking therapies help to prevent emotional issues from worsening and having a significant impact on a person’s life, as well as supporting the recovery of a person whose mental health is affecting their ability to function in their day-to-day life, and in their relationships. Jami’s nonjudgemental, one-to-one counselling service has now expanded from providing one-to-one talking therapy sessions for adults to now include young people aged 11–18, who are already accessing Jami’s support through The Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service.
Professor David Latchman CBE, Chairman of The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, says, “We are pleased that the new Wohl Counselling Suites will help to enhance the specialist mental health support available through Jami’s Talking Therapies service for young
Raising awareness about mental health
The ninth Jami Mental Health Shabbat in January brought together hundreds of people of all ages from communities across the UK to mark Shabbat (Parashat Bo) together, raising awareness of mental health challenges and encouraging open conversations.
At a joint Friday night dinner for members of Woodford Forest United Synagogue and Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, guests heard from Jami ambassador and qualified counsellor Andrew Marcovitch, who said, “Mental health is paramount and should have parity with physical health. Through education and support, we need to make it clear that it’s okay not to be okay.”
At South Hertfordshire and Edgware Masorti Synagogue, Jay Dor, Jami Ambassador, said, “There are many reasons why people experiencing mental illness and distress may not attend services and we discussed ways to be more inclusive as a community.”
At Western Marble Arch Synagogue, Jasmine El-Gamal, a staunch mental health advocate who has served three US Secretaries of Defence, talked abouther efforts to humanise policy discussions and advocate for mental health and wellbeing in high-stress environments.
people and adults in the Jewish community who depend upon it.”
Louise Kermode, Director of Community Mental Health Services (Jami), adds, “It can be challenging to talk about how we feel when we are finding it difficult to cope, so being able to provide our clients with an appropriate, warm and welcoming environment to express emotions is so important.”
Information
For more information contact jamiuk.org/ talkingtherapies or call 020 8458 2223.
Ilford Federation Synagogue held a kiddush featuring stories from Jami’s Redbridge hub service users. Richard shared, “people can talk about mental health openly and receive support at the hub. It has made a difference in my life and hopefully this will be ongoing. I always feel better after going along.”
Jami collaborated with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), delivering a mental health awareness webinar exploring how to support friends at university experiencing stress or distress.
Jami ambassador, Joey Kolirin, adds, “People are struggling, and the NHS is overloaded. So, being an ambassador helps to spread the word about how Jami can help.”
Save the date for the next Jami Mental Health Shabbat on 23-24 Jan 2026. You could host a meal and fundraise for Jami, become a mental health ambassador or organise an event to raise awareness of mental health in your community.
Find out more about how to get involved at jamiuk.org/jmhs.
Head Room –the best vibe for hire!
This venue is perfect for simchas, meetings, parties and community events.
Astylish and flexible venue, Head Room, supported by the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, can accommodate up to 100 guests, and has a late-night alcohol and music licence, ideal for bar/bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, business events or family get-togethers.
Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service expands to Yavneh College
PHosting your event at Head Room, Jami’s social enterprise café in Golders Green, supports Jami’s vital mental health services in the community. At a recent bar mitzvah hosted at Head Room, the bar mitzvah boy shared, “It’s been such a good time,” while another guest added, “It’s been the best vibe. The food’s been amazing, and the venue is fab! A five-minute walk from Golders Green station, Head Room is ideal for meetings and community events. The café provides great kosher food, a community space that brings awareness, education and access to mental health support to the high street, and offers activities, workshops and groups inspiring open conversations and mutual support. Find out more at headroomcafe.org or headroomcafe@jamiuk.org or call 020 3301 0274. Open Sun-Fri, 8am-4pm.
Young professionals support Jami
Over 350 guests gathered at The Londoner Hotel for the annual Young Professionals Dinner hosted by the Young Jami Jewish Care Committee (YJJC).
Victoria Stepsky, Assistant Mental Health Practitioner at Jami’s Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service, gave a speech describing living with anxiety from a young age, which worsened after the sudden death of her father, when she was 13 years old. As a student she received support from Jami, she says, “It could have changed my life sooner had this service existed when I was teenager.”
Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising & Marketing, Ellisa Estrin, said, “Thanks to the amazing hard work of our YJJC Committee, led by Nicole Ashton, and the generosity of our guests and supporters, this dinner has raised £100,000. These crucial funds help Jami to continue to provide essential mental health
services to those who need them most in our community at a time when Jami, part of Jewish Care, faces increased pressures in the new financial year.”
To find out more about YJJC events or to get involved with the YJJC Committee, contact Lily at lily.elleswei@jcare.org or call 020 8922 2813.
upils aged 11-18 at Yavneh College will benefit from the latest expansion of Jami’s Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service as it has become the the third Jewish secondary school, after JCoSS and JFS, to benefit from Jami’s specialist mental health support. Students will have access to regular, tailored support and one-to-one sessions with trained mental health professionals. This latest expansion of the service has been made possible thanks to the generous commitment of the Dangoor family through The Exilarch’s Foundation.
For many students, these sessions are a lifeline, offering a safe, confidential space to explore their feelings, as well as coping strategies to manage them.
As mental health challenges among young people continue to grow exponentially, one in five children and young people have a probable mental health disorder.
Louise Kermode, Director of Community Mental Health Services, Jami, says, “Joining forces with Yavneh College means we can support even more 11–18-year-olds and have a positive impact on a greater number of young lives in the Jewish community. It is more important than ever to provide this specialist service to as many secondaryschool-aged children as possible in our community, filling a vital gap between rising needs and limited services.”
Spencer Lewis, Executive Headteacher, Yavneh College, adds: “With mental health services so stretched and underfunded, there is an ever-increasing need. Jami’s input allows us to help more young people and families, and I look forward to the flourishing of this partnership.”
For more information, visit jamiuk.org/dangoor-cyp/ or call Jami on 020 8458 2223.
LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT
Robert’s life changed forever when he suffered a major brain injury. He survived a 12-day coma, leaving hospital six months later.
Robert and his partner, Fabiana, together with his mum, Avril and his pet dog, Lulu, came to our World Social Work Day Conference, where Robert shared his experience, as part of his journey to recovery.
Robert says, “Thank goodness for my family, together with Jewish Care and Jami’s support, which helped me to pinpoint what I needed and reminded me that I wasn’t alone.”
Fabi agrees, “It’s been a difficult journey, and we have learned so much. After Robert came out of hospital, we had eight weeks of support from the NHS, and then we were on our own.
“We needed to find the professionals who listened to and supported us –Jewish Care and Jami’s social workers, therapeutic practitioners, family carers team and Jami’s Head Room café community programme made a huge difference by listening and supporting us to plan with care and empathy, and to embrace disability.”
Robert continues, “ I learned to find the best ways for recovery, to see what I could do to improve and to move, and to celebrate our achievements as a team. Movement, physical activities, meditation, my amazing pet dog Lulu, and connecting with nature are all incredibly therapeutic and help me to stay present. The Head Room café community programme has helped me to find other people who have gone through similar experiences.”
Fabi adds, “ Our advice is don’t give up, find someone to listen to you and speak up, find your solutions, and tell yourself it’s going to be ok.”
For, advice or signposting, contact Jewish Care Direct helpline on 020 8922 2222 or helpline@jcare.org
Welcome to independence with generation joy
Pam Stone, who has lived at Pears Court retirement living at Sandringham for four years, is appearing in the national Generation Joy campaign launched this summer to celebrate Integrated Retirement Communities – active, vibrant communities, designed for independence, wellbeing, and connection with support, for older people in later life.
Discussing being par t of a Jewish Care retirement living community, Pam says, “I love our Friday morning coffees and get-togethers. We welcome new tenants and it’s a good time for us all to stay connected. Over time, strong friendships have grown, and it feels wonderful to be part of a such a warm Jewish community. We are independent, but we also look out for each other, so there’s always someone to chat with when you’d like to, and support from the staff whenever it’s needed.”
This campaign follows a recent visit by the CEO of ARCO (Association of Retirement Community Operators) Michael Voges, who joined a tour of our facilities by Housing and Care for Older People, All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) co-chairs Lord Best and Anna Dixon MP, facilitated by the JLC (Jewish Leadership Council). The APPG highlights the importance of the role of retirement living housing in providing greater choice and more effective support in later life.
Our Director of Housing and Care Services, Rita Rousso says, “Jewish Care is proud to be a member of ARCO, the leading organisation representing the integrated retirement community sector. Three of our retirement living schemes are ARCO-approved, reflecting our commitment to exceeding legal requirements and upholding the highest standards – particularly around transparency, resident wellbeing, and satisfaction. We take great pride in the warm, vibrant, and active Jewish retirement communities we have built.”
ARCO CEO, Michael Voges, adds, “Jewish Care is a real exemplar when it comes to creating innovative solutions that meet the housing and care needs of our ageing population. To see the buzz and the energy of the Jewish community come together in places like Sandringham simply proves the point that we need to create many more communities like it.”
To arrange a visit and for more information go to jewishcare.org/ retirementliving or contact us at 020 8922 2222 or helpline@jcare.org
Seeking shul volunteers like Stanley
After over 35 years as a synagogue volunteer, Stanley Cohen is passing the baton, inviting new volunteers to support residents at our synagogue services.
He explains, “It’s a wonderful team. From the start, we wanted to create a sense of community for residents accustomed to all types of observance. Together with John de Lange and Michael Bayer, I started services for the residents at Lady Sarah Cohen House (now Stella & Harry Freedman House) in the late 1990s.
“We build warm connections with residents, supporting them to lead and take part in their services at The Wohl Synagogue at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre.
“We all enjoy celebrating festivals together, including our lively explanatory Megillah reading on Purim and Seders. There are bar and bat mitzvahs with relatives of residents who bring their simchas to the care home, second bar mitzvahs for
residents with their families and celebrations for the birth or new members of the family. We also mark yarzheits and hold services for Remembrance Sunday and Yom HaShoah.
“These are all meaningful experiences, and we warmly welcome new volunteers to help residents participate in Jewish life.”
Jewish Care’s new siddur is a clear and accessible addition to services, helping everyone participate.
Jewish Care CEO, Daniel Carmel-Brown, says, “I want to thank Stanley for his many years of dedicated service, supporting residents at Shabbat and Yom Tov services, marking moments of celebration and sadness. We are extremely grateful for all Stanley has done in our shul services and continues to do, leading the discussion group.”
If you would like to volunteer at our care home synagogues, or are interested in other volunteering opportunities, please contact us at volunteering@jcare.org or call us on 020 8922 2405.
SHARING WHAT MATTERS MOST
“
One of the most compassionate things we can do is to speak with our family and friends about what truly matters to them at the end of their life,” says Ilana Greenblatt, Jewish Culture and Faith Manager.
The focus For Dying Matters Week in May was on communities creating compassionate conversations to talk openly about living life, death, and end of life care and what really matters to us.
Ilana continues, “In Judaism, these are not taboo subjects, but transitions marked by tradition, spirituality, and communal care. Across our care homes and community services, we support people and their families when they experience frailty, decline and end of life.”
Paula Plaskow, Jewish Care’s End of Life/Palliative Care Lead has given evidence to the Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care
in sessions and roundtables. Paula led our multi-faith forum for Dying Matters Week, in collaboration with Hammerson House, attended by representatives from wide ranging organisations.
“An Advance Care Plan helps ensure your choices and preferences are known if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself,” says Paula. “It’s about having control and peace of mind, at any age – for you and the people you trust. As a care organisation, it’s important to raise awareness of how beneficial it is to have an Advance Care Plan, to know what matters most about the people we support.”
We shared tips on our social media channels about end-oflife care, including writing a Will, Lasting Powers of Attorney, digital footprints, planning care of dependents, and talking
about your funeral plans with people who will be involved. Michelle Cohen, Pastoral Support Co-ordinator, said, “We want to encourage people of all ages to begin a supportive, compassionate conversation because talking, and reviewing, preferences and choices with family and friends is essential for peace of mind.”
To find out more about advance care plans visit jewishcare.org/ resource/advanced-care-plan
Turn your celebration into a Mitzvah for Jewish Care or Jami
JEWISH CARE CELEBRANTS
65TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Brenda & Stanley Lopata
60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Vivienne & Alan Bellau
Reva & Michael Boekman
Rosalind & Clive Boxer
Carol & Ronnie Pearl
Linda & Donald Sharpe
Barbara & Johnny Zucker
50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Elaine & Richard Jankel
Vivienne & David Kennedy
Carroll & Rochelle Raphael
Jackie & Colin Taylor
25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Barbara & Andrew Sherling
Natalie & David Spurling
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Ira & Philip Lassman
WEDDING
Esther Schneider & Howard Lewis
2ND BAR MITZVAH
Phillip Leigh
BIRTHDAY
Michael Bibring
Martin Binysh
Betty Bleehen
Bonnie Brooks
Sandra Brown
Daniel Carmel-Brown
Steve Charkin
Harold Charles
Barbara & Steven Cohen
Maxine Cohen
Lionel Curtis
Jack Cynamon
Lesley Daniels
Harvey Davies
Hillary De Friend
Maureen Diamond
Esther Donoff
Jeffrey Fine
Sarah Firsht
Debbie Fox
Rita Freed
Jocelyn Geffner
Harvey Goldberg
Cheryl Goldsmith
Adèle Goldstein
Patricia Goodman
Cynthia Green
Doreen Havardi
Stephen Humphreys
Jon Jacobs
Robin Jacobs
Shirley Jacobs
Jac Jerrard
Mark Kingston
Jocelyn Kuper
Myrna Lazarus
Simon Lebor
Robert Lever
Frank Levine
Simon Levy
Anne Marks
Valerie Marks
Mick (Monty) Marlowe
Selwyn Mindel
Michael Mordsley
Claire Morland
Paul Morland
Carol Morrow
Joel Pearl
Craig Pollack
Sam Reuben
Jeff Roberts
Hilary Roodyn
Rosalind Rosenblatt
Jane Roth
Lyddon Simon
Gill Sion
Sandra Sorsky
Shirley Stein
Sylvia Sugar
Moishe Summerfield
Ian Westbrook
Paul Wilder
IN CELEBRATION
Kelvin Zane on the engagement of his daughter IN HONOUR
Shelley Jacobson IN THANKS
Roger Marcuson
Family van Messel
JAMI CELEBRANTS
BIRTHDAY
Frieda Bier
Janice Engel
Joey Engel
Debbie Fox
Jason Marantz
Jaime Marks
Anne Nacamuli
Michael Schraer
Helen Sorrell
Alicette Valik IN HONOUR
Michael Francies on his retirement IN THANKS
Debra & Ian Coupland
Celebrate with Jewish Care donations are a vital source of fund for the services we offer the community. In this way we raise over £80,000 per year. Please think about asking people to donation to Jewish Care or Jami to mark your happy occasion.
For more information call the Celebrate with Jewish Care Team on 020 8922 2600 or email celebrate@jcare.org
Tracy-Ann Oberman and Ivor Baddiel support the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre
Actress and scriptwriter, TracyAnn Oberman spoke to 250 guests at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre fundraising dinner in the year marking the 80th anniversary since the liberation of Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau and BergenBelsen Concentration Camps.
The fundraising evening at Kinloss Synagogue, was compèred by Ivor Baddiel who interviewed Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg BEM and his wife, Shary. The dinner raised an incredible £150,000 for Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre which receives no government funding and is the only place of its kind in the UK, designed specifically to support Holocaust survivors all year round. The Centre is based at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre and part of the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus.
95-year-old Manfred, arrived in the UK in 1946, having survived three and a half years in five Nazi labour and concentration camps during the Holocaust. Talking with Ivor Baddiel in interview, Manfred told guests, “The friendships that develop at the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre are as precious as family, and the staff and volunteers are so caring, they cannot do enough for us. The therapeutic effect of the quality of support for
MARKING 80 YEARS SINCE LIBERATION
“
80 years since liberation, the numbers of Holocaust survivors able to share firsthand testimony is decreasing,” says Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care’s CEO. “It is vital that their voices continue to be heard in our communities, sharing their experiences and preserving the memory of those who perished. This is their legacy, spreading a message of tolerance, respect and love for others in our society, now and in the future.”
Holocaust Survivors’ Centre staff and volunteers supported survivors to attend the moving ceremony organised by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust at London’s Guildhall. Survivors met The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the event was attended by The Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Kier Starmer MP. Together, they lit candles of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. Holocaust survivor, Rachel Levy BEM, was one of the candle-lighters whilst Ella Havas and Freddie Spiller, young volunteers at the Centre, were lamp-bearers in the procession.
Great-grandson of Lily Ebert z’l and campaigner, Dov Forman and actress, Louisa Clein, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, joined us at memorial services. In partnership with Holocaust education charity, Generation 2 Generation (G2G), the descendants and survivors lit candles of remembrance and shared messages of hope.
Holocaust Survivors’ Centre members also attended the
survivors is truly unique. It has made the Centre into what I can only describe as a haven.”
Linda Bogod, Chair of the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre dinner committee, spoke at the dinner, saying, “As time passes and living memory of the Holocaust fades the importance of firsthand testimony becomes even more crucial. Thank you for being here tonight to support and honour these extraordinary individuals.”
After the dinner, Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, added, “We would like to thank Tracy-Ann Oberman, Ivor Baddiel, and Manfred and Shary Goldberg and all of our guests for their generous support, as well as our dedicated Committee and our generous sponsor, for helping us raise an incredible £150,000 to ensure we can continue to run this vital service.”
national memorial event next to the Houses of Parliament. Educators and survivors, Ivor Perl BEM and Harry Olmer MBE lit candles of remembrance and Susan Pollack OBE spoke to the audience, with thousands of people joining the ceremony online.
Born in Hungary, Susan was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944 and was liberated from Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in May 1945. More than 50 members of her family had been killed. Only she and her brother survived. Susan shared, “It is so important that we tell everyone what happened, and we remember the Holocaust – to inform, to teach, and perhaps to eliminate antisemitism.”
To donate to the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, or to find out more about the services for Holocaust survivors, call 020 8922 2222 or visit jewishcare.org/hsc
Ask us a question
Jewish Care’s free confidential helpline provides advice and information about support on offer either from Jewish Care or other local service providers. Call 020 8922 2222, email helpline@jcare.org or visit jewishcare.org
Q : How do I access Jami’s mental health services and who is it for?
A: We know that living with mental illness and distress can make everyday life a struggle and finding support can be extremely challenging. But please know you are not alone and that we will try to support you.
You can contact us over the phone or via our website. However, Jami isn’t a crisis service. So, if you need emergency support, we will encourage you to contact statutory services. If we feel that Jami doesn’t have the right services to support you, we will signpost to other communal organisations or relevant agencies.
If we do accept a referral, within 7–10 working days of a referral, our Duty team will contact you by phone or email to discuss your situation and see which Jami services best meet your needs. Because Jami provides one-toone, group, family and carer, and sibling support too, we can help you and if relevant, your family to manage more easily and feel less isolated.
Jami, our mental health service as part of Jewish Care, supports young people from the age of 11 through the The Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service. This offers vital support for young people in schools and in the community, who are struggling with their mental health. It provides access to regular, one-to-one sessions with trained mental health professionals, offering tailored guidance, such as talking therapies, and where necessary, referrals to external services. They offer a safe, confidential space to explore feelings and tailored support.
In additions, Jami’s Head Room café and community hub supports with wellbeing, and social interaction. There are also activities for younger people like Open Mic nights. We also have a community befriending programme for those age 18 upwards. The community programme is available to everyone in the community and provides free mental health support. Other than Talking Therapies, the rest of Jami’s mental health services are free, thanks to the generosity of the community whose donations help fund them.
To find out more about the vital services Jami offers, please call 020 8458 2223, email info@jamiuk. org or visit jamiuk.org/get–support
Q: My wife received a dementia diagnosis last year and it’s becoming harder for me to care for her at home. We both have mobility issues and even with daily care visits and changes to living downstairs, it is a struggle. She recently fell and we go from crisis to crisis and in and out of hospital. I think we need more support and possibly residential care. Do you have any suggestions?
A: It is good to plan and recognising that you and your wife may need more support in the future is very positive.
The adjustments you have made to improve your quality of life in your home sound like they’ve been helpful to maintain your independence safely up until now. The next step could be to contact the Jewish Care Direct Helpline to discuss your needs. They may refer you to our Social Work and Community Support Team, to provide some emotional and practical advice and support, as you navigate the path to find the right care for you.
Our Admissions Team can also support you both to explore residential care options, helping to maintain wellbeing and independence with the reassurance of dedicated, caring staff on hand. By listening to and understanding what your needs are, we can recommend the most suitable options. If you’d like we can arrange a visit to look around care homes to help you with your future or immediate care planning decisions with the support of one of our dedicated Advisers. Our homes have fantastic facilities, and enriching, meaningful activities that help you to live life to the full as part of a warm Jewish Care community.
To find out more, call our Jewish Care Direct Helpline on 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org
Q:What is there for people who can’t physically attend Jewish Care and Jami services?
A:There is so much on offer at Jewish Care and Jami, and we believe that being physically distant should never mean feeling disconnected. We offer a rich variety of online services and support, designed to keep you engaged, informed, and part of the community from the comfort of your own home.
Jewish Care Presents is a free online programme of events hosted on Zoom. There are activities each morning and afternoon Monday-Thursday; that’s nearly 400 sessions each year to choose from. With talks on art and history to cookery, quizzes, virtual tours, and even sessions like Strictly Chair Yoga, there’s truly something for everyone.
Missed a session? Our JC Presents Catch-up library allows you to watch past events at your own convenience. Discover fascinating presentations including the History of the V&A Library with Richard Espley, new architecture of London, and Royal Collections from around the world by Aaron from the Royal Museums Greenwich. This library is constantly growing, ensuring that whatever your interest is, there is always something new to discover or revisit.
To support digital confidence, JC Explore provides technology assistance and support with assistive technology for individuals with mild to moderate physical and mental disabilities. Our services are available to all older adults (65+) and any adults with a disability in the community. Help and advice is available remotely and we have two dedicated centres based in Golders Green and Stanmore.
Our Meals on Wheels volunteers can deliver nutritious, kosher meals straight to your doorstep for those unable to cook.
Jami also offers a range of online services. Their weekly Zoom community sessions include peer support groups, guided meditation, and creative art workshops. Jami also provides one-to-one online counselling. Additionally, education and training available, online courses, seminars, and events to increase mental health literacy.
Wherever you are, you are not alone. With Jewish Care and Jami, connection, support, and community are always within reach.
Q:What is there for younger people?
A: Jewish Care offers many opportunities for younger people to get involved and give back, which has huge benefits for wellbeing and growing confidence.
Our Bnei Mitzvah Programme is perfect for year 7 and 8 students looking to volunteer, learn about Jewish Care’s values, and understand the social responsibility that comes with becoming a Jewish adult.
JC Families hosts intergenerational events where children, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles and children can connect with care home residents and retirement living tenants.
Over 30 schools, youth groups and nurseries are already working with Jewish Care. From fundraising to volunteering, schools can get involved in many ways by volunteering, running a fundraising event, or choosing us as your school’s charity.
For teens, MIKE (Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge, Education) is a youth leadership course for those in north east London as well as those in Stanmore and Hertfordshire, for Year 9 and above, empowering and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Each academic year, we also run a year-long work placement for year 13 students, designed for those seeking careers in health and social care.
Additionally, we offer a one-week work experience placement for year 10 and Year 12 students, offering insight into various areas across the organisation, from dementia care to legal work and more.
There’s something for everyone, get involved and make a difference.
To find out more about our services visit jewishcare.org
CAMPUSES
s The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, Friern Barnet
SERVICES ON SITE INCLUDE: Kun Mor and George Kiss Home, Stella & Harry Freedman House and Rosetrees care homes, The Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia and Connect@Friern Barnet
s Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus, Golders Green
SERVICES ON SITE INCLUDE:
Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Jewish Care Explore, Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre, Otto Schiff, Selig Court and Amélie House
s Sandringham, Stanmore/ Hertfordshire
SERVICES ON SITE INCLUDE:
Anita Dorfman House, Wolfson Assisted Living, Pears Court, Jewish Care Explore, The Ronson Family Community Centre and The Zalman and Ruchi Noé Centre for people living with dementia
CARE HOMES
Offering high-quality residential, nursing, dementia, mental health and end of life care in an environment that promotes meaningful lives.
s Anita Dorfman House, Sandringham, Stanmore/Hertfordshire, residential, dementia and nursing care
s Jack Gardner House, Golders Green, residential and mental health care
s Kun Mor and George Kiss Home, Friern Barnet, residential and dementia care
s Otto Schiff, Golders Green, residential and dementia care
s Rosetrees, Friern Barnet, residential and dementia care
s Sidney Corob House, West Hampstead, residential and mental health care
s Stella & Harry Freedman House, Friern Barnet, residential, dementia and nursing care
s Sunridge Court, Golders Green, residential care
s Vi & John Rubens House, Ilford, residential, dementia and nursing care
s Wolfson Assisted Living, Sandringham, Stanmore/ Hertfordshire, residential care
A guide to what we do
RETIREMENT LIVING
Offering independent living within a supportive setting.
s Pears Court, Sandringham Stanmore/ Hertfordshire
s Wohl Court, Hendon
s Selig Court, Golders Green
s Shebson Lodge, Southend
CARE HOME RELATIVE SUPPORT GROUPS
s Vi & John Rubens House Relatives & Friends Support Group, online, email taward@jcare.org
CENTRES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
Provide stimulation and therapeutic activities in a safe and fun environment.
s The Dennis Centre, Ilford
s The Zalman and Ruchi Noé Centre, Sandringham, Stanmore/Hertfordshire
s The Sam Beckman Centre, Friern Barnet
COMMUNITY CENTRES
Our community centres provide stimulating social and leisure activities and delicious meals.
s The Brenner Stepney Jewish Community Centre
s Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre, Golders Green
s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, currently located at Woodford Forest United Synagogue
s Southend and Westcliff Jewish Community Centre
s The Ronson Family Community Centre, Sandringham, Stanmore/Hertfordshire
CONNECT@ CENTRES
Offering a choice of cultural, social and leisure pursuits for the young at heart.
s Connect@Friern Barnet
s Connect@Kenton
s Connect@Stamford Hill*
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS’ AND REFUGEE SERVICES
The Holocaust Survivors’ Centre is a place for survivors to meet, with specially designed activities. Shalvata provides for the therapeutic needs of survivors and their families.
s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Golders Green, within the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre
s Shalvata, Golders Green, within the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre
s Tea parties for Holocaust Survivors in volunteers’ homes
s Monthly support sessions, Redbridge
JC PRESENTS
Online programme of activities and events with a wide range of stimulating virtual activities and events including speakers, discussion and exercise. To find out more, email jcpresents@jcare.org
SOCIAL WORK AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICE
Supporting individuals, families, family carers and communities. Enabling people to make a meaningful difference to their lives, with dignity and choice, by planning for the care, support, or services you need, advocating for you with local authorities, navigating dementia and end of life care, and signposting you to other helpful services.
MEALS-ON-WHEELS
We offer a wide variety of Kosher and nutritious meals delivered to your door by our friendly volunteers. Service available in Redbridge, Southend, Stamford Hill and across NW London. For more details, contact us at mealsonwheels@jcare.org
BEFRIENDING
Companionship and friendship in person or on the phone to relieve loneliness and isolation across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
DIGITAL SERVICES
JEWISH CARE EXPLORE
Offers digital skills for everyday life and support with technology for all adults within the Jewish community and on assistive technology for a disability or medical condition (subject to assessment).
s Maurice & Vivienne Wohl Campus, Golders Green
s The Ronson Family Community Centre, Sandringham, Stanmore/Hertfordshire
For more information, contact explore@jcare.org or 020 8922 2400.
*in association with Industrial Dwelling Society
SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY GROUPS
Informal social groups to bring communities together, build friendships, in person and on Zoom. Call 020 8922 2273 or scjewishcare@jcare.org
s Chaps That Chat, monthly at Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre, contact ronit.bennooncarol@jcare.org
s Chaps that Chat, monthly social discussion group with speaker, Redbridge
s Chaps that Chat, weekly social discussion group on Zoom
s Chatty Café meet for coffee and chat at Rowans Cafe, Barkingside; Costa Coffee, Temple Fortune; Sababa, Borehamwood and The Garrison, Southend
s Community Cafés, informal social groups to build friendships at Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre and Sandringham
s Knit, Stitch and Natter, wellbeing group for beginners or experts, on Zoom
s Men’s Talk – discussion groups in Stanmore, Borehamwood and Redbridge
s Tea Parties, Borehamwood, Essex, NE London, NW London, Middlesex and Hertfordshire
s Tea parties for Holocaust survivors in volunteers’ homes
s Revisit Revival, weekly Zoom, enjoy a themed presentation followed by a quiz
s Ukulele Club, weekly, Redbridge Jewish Community Centre
s Women’s Hour, monthly group for ladies with a guest speaker and lunch
SUPPORT AND SOCIAL GROUPS
CARER SUPPORT GROUPS
s Caring For You, online, second Thursday of each month, email caringforyou@jcare.org
s Dementia Carers Tea, for family carers supporting someone living with dementia, meet others in a similar situation within a supportive space, Friern Barnet and Stanmore/ Hertforsdshire, call 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org
COMMUNITY DEMENTIA GROUPS
s Art for the Mind, Golders Green
s Elevenses, Golders Green
s Memory Way Café, Golders Green, Edgware, Stanmore/Hertfordshire, Kingston
s Movement for Memory, Golders Green
s Professional Gentleman’s Club, Golders Green
s Singing for Memory, Finchley,** St Albans, Southend, Stanmore/ Hertfordshire, Redbridge
SUPPORT GROUPS
Call 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org
s JEMS, in partnership with JBD - Jewish Blind and Disabled. A social and support group for people living with Multiple Sclerosis and their carers.
s Parkinson’s Wellbeing Group, online, meet others at this supportive community group
SOCIAL GROUPS
s JCS for singles, Sandringham, Golders Green
s New Faces for people with visual impairment or physical disability, Edgware
s Sunday Socials, Redbridge
s Wednesday Night Social Club, Redbridge
s Parkinson’s Social Group, Golders Green
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS
s Peace of Mind @ Sandringham
A safe, friendly support group for those experiencing grief or bereavement of any kind. First Monday of every month. Contact 020 8418 2107 or oliver.danes@jcare.org
JEWISH BEREAVEMENT
COUNSELLING SERVICE (JBCS) support groups meet in Golders Green. For further information, contact JBCS on 020 8951 3881or email enquiries@jbcs.org.uk
s AfterShock, for young adults (18-30) who have lost a parent
s Bereaved Parents, for people bereaved of an adult child
s Butterflies, for mums and dads (of young children) who have lost a parent
s Stepping Stones, for people (40-60) who have lost a partner
s Stronger Together, for people (60+) who have lost a partner
JAMI MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Jami is here for when mental illness, distress and trauma makes everyday life a struggle. Expert support provided by people with lived experience. Jami guides young people and adults through their mental health recovery, supports families and carers, and educates community leaders. Contact Jami on 020 8458 2223 or visit jamiuk.org
ADULT ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT
Tailored support helping individuals to reach meaningful goals.
s Hubs, a safe space providing a programme of activities and group support in Finchley, Redbridge, Hackney and online
s Befriending, in-person/telephone befriending and hospital visiting from volunteers
s Carer and family support, group and one-to-one practical and emotional support for parents and siblings. We also offer a carers’ drop-in and specific carers’ groups for mums of adults, mums of people aged 11–25, carers of adults 25+, young adult siblings, and groups for those caring for someone with neurodiversity, addiction, an eating disorder, and intrusive thoughts/hearing voices, email carersfamilysupport@jamiuk.org
s The Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service at JCoSS, JFS, Yavneh College and in the community for 11-25 years.
s Education, specialist training and consultation for community leaders including Mental Health First Aid Training
s Head Room, Jami’s social enterprise café supported by The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, provides free community programme and onsite befriending. Available to hire.
s One-to-one/group support, delivered by occupational therapists, social workers, mental health practitioners and peer support workers
s Talking Therapies, a non-judgemental, safe space
s Vocational support, help to access volunteering, training and maintain paid employment
