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Date:  13 November 2007

Jewish Care's chief executive endorses Jewish Social Action Month volunteering for head office staff

Around 150 members of Jewish Care’s head office staff were invited to leave their desks and spend a few hours volunteering during Jewish Social Action Month (13 October - 18 November). This was the first time the health and social care charity has taken part in the global initiative.

Trisha Ward, of Jewish Care’s volunteer department, said: “I have been sending participants to care homes, community centres, special day care centres and mental health resources. We are equally happy if staff want to help a charity outside of Jewish Care - it’s about promoting the concept of volunteering and encouraging them to take an active role in the communities where they work or live.”

Mrs Ward said the participants were shadowing or assisting professional staff and volunteers at the charity’s centres, giving them a chance to appreciate each other’s roles and their professionalism.

The scheme was endorsed by Jewish Care’s chief executive, Simon Morris, who took part in a different initiative earlier this year during which the charity’s directors took on frontline roles. He said: “I am very much in favour of Jewish Social Action Month, as it will encourage people to have a look at the wide range of work that goes on in the community.”

One of the participants was Carole Cohen, who is Mr Morris’s PA. She spent an afternoon at Kay Court in Hampstead, where she befriended residents, served tea and ran a word game session. She said: “Most days I barely leave my desk, so I think it’s a wonderful idea and I appreciated the opportunity to see the good work that is done. What I enjoyed most was speaking to the residents and hearing their stories.”

Matthew Lawrence, Jewish Care’s business development manager, volunteered at the Karten KTEC Centre, based at the London Jewish Cultural Centre, helping people with physical disabilities to brush up their computer skills using specially modified computers. He said: “It was quite a challenge for me, as I had to do things in the way they wanted, not the way I would have done things. It requires a lot of patience and was surprisingly intensive – but very rewarding.”

Elsewhere, Sharron Grant, employee relations manager, volunteered in the hairdressing salon at The Princess Alexandra Home in Stanmore and Robin Jacobs, service manager for community centres and day services, helped Jewish Care’s home care team, hoovering and dusting at the home of an elderly couple who live in sheltered accommodation.

Mr Morris added: “Our participation shows that it is not only businesses but charities themselves who should take on board the concept of corporate social responsibility and provide staff with opportunities for volunteering.”