To mark Volunteers Week in June, Jewish Care celebrated the inspiring dedication and hard work of its 3000 volunteers with a series of events across the charity’s services. Jewish Care and Jami volunteers contribute to what would equate to more than an estimated £9 million each year to the charity.
Jewish Care showed appreciation for volunteers who support staff across the organisation’s wide-ranging services and activities every day, from care homes, community centres and retirement living to Befriending, Meals on Wheels and Jami’s hubs.
Events included lunches, parties and a presentation of official ‘Proud to Volunteer’ badges to attendees, recognising long-service standing at milestones from under five years to over 25 years. Volunteers were also gifted hand-decorated vases, crafted and presented by members of the community centres as a personal token of appreciation.
A celebratory tea was served at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, led by Richard Shone and Centre Coordinator Timea Kerekgyartone, where volunteer, 91-year-old Nettie Keene, received two special 25+ badge in recognition of her exceptional 53 years of volunteering. Nettie grew up in Ilford and lives in Clayhall, where she, and her late husband, Leslie, brought up their two sons, Danny and Saul. Saul was a dedicated youth worker and volunteer. He sadly passed away in 2008 at the age of 40.
Since then, Nettie has been tirelessly fundraising for the centre activities in his memory. Nettie established The Saul Keene Award for Excellence at Jewish Care’s annual MIKE youth leadership awards in Redbridge annually, which she has presented, along with her son Danny, in recognition of the achievements of future young leaders in the community. Nettie is also a much-loved member of Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre where she also still runs the Knit, Stitch and Natter Club.
Nettie shares, “Volunteering is so satisfying, and it really is the greatest thing I’ve ever done. You give so much but you get so much out of it too. I would encourage everyone to do volunteering.”
The tea included recognition of volunteers from local Supportive Communities groups and The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia in Redbridge. A special 
moment included celebrating a 90th birthday for one of Jewish Care’s long-standing Supportive Communities tea parties volunteer coordinators, who organises for isolated members of the community to attend teas kindly hosted in the homes of local volunteers.
At Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre, Richard Shone, Director of Community Services & Volunteering, thanked volunteers at awards ceremonies, while Michael Radbil, Chair of the Michael Sobell Advisory Group Committee and member of the Jewish in Jewish Care Committee, presented each of the badges to volunteers, recognising their incredible contribution. This
included volunteers from a wide range of services, including Selig Court retirement living, the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Meals on Wheels, Befriending, Supportive Communities, Women’s Hour, Chatty Café, Memory Way Café, and Elevenses.
Volunteers were also celebrated for their service at awards ceremonies at Sandringham care campus as well as Southend and Westcliff Jewish Community Centre.
In the East End, Daniel Carmel-Brown, Chief Executive of Jewish Care and Sharon Moss, Centre Coordinator, honoured volunteers from The Brenner Stepney Jewish Community Centre, Connect@Stamford Hill and the Befriending service, recognising a combined total of over 200 years of service.
Celebrations at Vi & John Rubens House care home in Redbridge and three care homes at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre were held simultaneously, continuing the week of heartfelt appreciation.
Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care CEO, said, “Each of you represents the very best of our community – your kindness, creativity and your willingness to give of your time so selflessly.
“We are delighted to have achieved a significant milestone this year as the only Jewish charity in the UK to receive the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation for volunteering good practice. This prestigious award recognises the dedication of our volunteers and of Jewish Care’s commitment to excellence in volunteer management and support.”
Richard Shone, Director of Community Services & Volunteering, added “Volunteers Week is dedicated to recognising the outstanding contribution volunteers make across all of our services. Thank you all for donating so much of your time to Jewish Care. We simply couldn’t run our services without you.”
Volunteer events extended to Jami, part of Jewish Care, with celebrations to honour the commitment and compassion of its volunteers, who play an essential role in supporting those living with mental illness or distress across the community.
Gatherings were also held to celebrate the incredible work of Jami volunteers at Head Room café, supported by The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, and at Jami’s Finchley Hub, a safe space for members to go to, to meet and socialise with other people, and the opportunity to. The Hubs could not run without support from volunteers, who welcome members, serve lunch, and support or run daily activities, including arts and crafts, creative writing or simply having a coffee and chat. Volunteers, whether at the Hubs, or through Jami’s one-to-one befriending programme, reduce isolation and loneliness for members, making meaningful connections that can truly change a life.
Zoe, Jami volunteer, shared, “I am really grateful Jami and Head Room café, recognise the important work of volunteers. I love being a Jami volunteer because I am helping to make a positive difference to the lives of people living with mental illness, while being part of such an incredible team and community. Thank you to Jami for putting on such a lovely event and for your heartfelt words to the volunteers.”
Jo Selwyn, Jewish Care Department Manager for Volunteering shared her heartfelt thanks, “I want to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers. Your dedication and care are greatly appreciated by us all. You all play a huge part in enriching the lives of our service users, enabling Jewish Care to fulfil its commitment to the community., we couldn’t do it without them.”