Jewish Care

“Jewish Care sets the lead in volunteering,” Baroness Neuberger tells award winners

Sixteen individual and volunteers groups were honoured at Jewish Care's Betty and Aubrey Lynes ceremony, held on Tuesday 17th June at redbridge JCC.  The awards were presented by Jewish Care's chairman Stephen Zimmerman and guest speaker Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE.  The recipients had been chosen by a panel from 61 nominations received.

Addressing the 150-strong audience, Baroness Neuberger, who has a wealth of knowledge about volunteering and social care, said: “Jewish Care really sets the lead in volunteering – they are trendsetters. The Muslim community is looking at what we do and so are many Christian communities. We must recognise the efforts and the energy that goes into training volunteers, supporting them and thanking them. It is amazing and wonderful and no other organisation can match it.”

Presented for the first time, Service User Awards went to Stanford Carr, the Mental Health Education and Development Team’s volunteer outreach worker and Simon Davies, a head office fundraising volunteer. The latter also runs a greetings card business supporting Rela Goldhill Lodge.

Unsung Hero Awards went to benefits advisor Philippa Ackerman; loans advisor Richard Fisher; Colin Livingston, a Holocaust Survivors’ Centre committee chair; Ruth Ross of Edgware and Harrow Jewish Day Centre; voluntary visitor Robert Salmon and driver Harold Shepherd.

Sixteen-year-olds Andy Alexander and Lauren Jackson scooped Young Volunteer Awards having achieved a grant for Redbridge JCC through the Youth Opportunities Fund and will be putting on a show. Innovative and Creative Project Awards went to reminiscence volunteers Jeanie Rosefield and Pat Stanton and the 12 Calendar Boyz who bared ‘nearly all’ to raise funds for Redbridge JCC.

Guardee Committee president Anne Katz and Friends of Ella & Ridley Jacobs chair Cecil Landsman got Fundraising Achievement Awards, while HSC volunteer Norman Bar and Rela Goldhill Lodge’s Jenny Zetter received Creating Outstanding Relationship Awards. Volunteers relocated from Michael Sobell Community Centre were honoured with Outstanding Achievement Awards – these included day centre, Shalom Centre, Karten CTEC, Supper Club and support group volunteers.

Praising the winners, Jewish Care’s chairman Stephen Zimmerman said: “Much is written about volunteering; it is high on the political agenda and one of the great strengths of Jewish Care. I feel great pleasure and an enormous sense of pride when I hear about your work. Without exception you are caring and compassionate and your volunteering makes a real difference to people’s lives.”

Talking of his excitement about Jewish Care’s future and the £40m care campus that is being built, he added: “Jewish Care is a remarkable organisation and our volunteers are remarkable people.”