Over 900 guests showed their tremendous support for Jewish Care at the charity’s Annual Dinner at the Grosvenor House last night. Celebrating the work of the organisation that has been the heartbeat of the Jewish community for over 35 years, the Dinner raised a record-breaking £5.5 million. These vital funds will help to meet the £20 million needed each year to fund Jewish Care’s wide-ranging services, touching the lives of 12,000 people in the Jewish community each week from the age of 11 upwards. Many of these services receive no government funding with pressures on the charity only increasing.
The star-studded event was presented by Nick Ferrari, host of London’s award-winning weekday breakfast show on talk radio station LBC 97.3, together with Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, the anchor for the ITV’s ITN network.
Natasha shared with guests, “I’ve spoken at many Jewish Care events and had the privilege of meeting their wonderful clients, including of course, Holocaust survivors, 250 of whom Jewish Care currently supports.”
Nick added, “I got involved with Jewish Care a few years ago and I saw for myself just how committed the staff and volunteers were, what an astonishing job they all do and just how much love, care, dedication and professionalism there was.”
Jason Isaacs, the award-winning Harry Potter and White Lotus actor whose father is supported at one of our care homes, took time out of his busy Hollywood schedule to be featured in the 35-year anniversary film shown at last night’s Annual Dinner, which featured celebrities (including Prince William, Lionel Ritchie, Gary Barlow, four UK Prime Ministers, David Baddiel and Dermot O’Leary), lay leaders, staff, volunteers, clients and supporters who have all been part of the Jewish Care family. Their collective contribution has made it possible for the community’s largest health and social care charity to be there for the thousands who have relied on its services, since the Jewish Welfare Board and the Jewish Blind Society merged in 1990, creating Jewish Care as we know it today.
Jewish Care’s Life President, The Lord Levy said, “Jewish Care is what it is because of your support—and for that, we are deeply grateful, and you should all feel immensely proud of what has been achieved.”
“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. And our expansion over the years to include a number of other charities, and most recently Jami, is a tribute to the support that we receive from you all. Jewish Care continues to be a beacon that social care providers across the world look to.”
“The organisation has adapted, grown, and innovated, responding to changing needs, while staying true to our core values of kindness, respect, and Jewish identity.
“We are proud to have staff made up of over 60 nationalities, and of multiple faiths all serving one community, the Jewish community. We are an example to others how it should be. We are also blessed to have 3,000 dedicated volunteers.
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 the organisation that sustains families and individuals in times of crisis and need, as well as showing some of the incredible compassionate and professional staff who provide care and support across the organisation.
This includes 19-year-old Ruby, whose mother Hayley, came to Jewish Care’s Stella & Harry Freedman House care home at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre with a terminal cancer diagnosis to receive end of life care. When the care team realised that who and what mattered most to Hayley were her family and their horse, Sandy, they organised with Ruby and her dad, Stuart, to bring Hayley’s horse to the care home.
Talking about life since her mum died, Ruby says, “Since then, it’s like a chunk of me is missing. The fact that everyone was so happy to do anything, because they knew how much it meant to us, was the biggest part of it all. Bringing Sandy to the home made my mum’s world glow. All Sandy wanted to do was give her cuddles and kisses, she sat there with her nose buried in her. That was about three weeks prior to her passing away, so we really did that in the nick of time. The care staff were amazing. I feel like I owe those who cared for my mum so much.”
Hayley’s mum, Frances, also in the film, says, “You never think you’re going to lose a child, no matter how old, she’s still my baby, and I’m so grateful for everything they did, and still do for people. They’ll be in my hearts for ever. The love and generosity they showed was just remarkable. I hope Jewish Care raise more than they want to. Jewish Care has got to go on for ever.”
The film also illustrated the way that Jami, the mental health service for the Jewish community that is now part of Jewish Care, supports young people from the age of 11 upwards and their families, who are struggling with mental illness and distress at a time when the country’s mental health services are overwhelmed. The mother of one young person who was diagnosed with anorexia explains the difference it made for Jami to be there for her and for her daughter, in a time of fear and crisis for her family.
She said, “When I realised there was a problem, I was on it, I thought, I’m going to look after her. But it was a battle. Everyone I spoke to said, no, we’re fully booked, there’s a waiting list. Then, in a chance meeting, a friend introduced me to somebody who worked for Jami.
“Jami is the organisation that has made the biggest difference to my daughter. She has made the most incredible recovery. The difference in her has been absolutely monumental, and I’m just so incredibly grateful.”
In the film, Victoria Stepsky, who works for Jami’s Dangoor Children & Young Person’s Service, explains how Jami also gave her tools to help her to cope after living with anxiety through her teenage years. This inspired her to become a mental health practitioner so that she could support others.
The film showed the often heart-breaking effects of dementia on family carers and the impact that Jewish Care’s dementia services make, bringing support and respite from the emotional and practical strain of caring. It also highlighted the positive benefits of these specialist centres and groups, where connections are formed with professional, caring staff and dedicated volunteers, enhancing the lives of many people living with dementia in the community.
“To see that he’s happy there, that’s what it’s about,” says one member’s wife in the film.
Marcus Sperber marked his first year as Chair and said, “Thank you for being here – and 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. Your generosity has allowed us to achieve some remarkable things in this past year, including the expansion of our community services including day centres, Meals on Wheels, and befriending services.
He continued, “We have increased efficiency, reducing agency staff use, digitising processes, and staying true to our mission of excellence and care.
“Since Jami integrated with Jewish Care over a year ago, we’ve continued to expand our mental health services to meet the needs of a community in crisis. One in four people now needs mental health support. More than 55% of under-25s in our community are now affected by mental illness, distress or trauma. But the system is quite simply overwhelmed. Thanks to The Exilarch’s Foundation, our Dangoor Children and Young People’s Service, is now expanding to reach more young people in our community who need our support.
“We’re also scaling Jami’s Talking Therapies and in January, thanks to the generosity of The Wohl Foundation, we have opened our new space The Wohl Counselling Suite at our Maurice & Vivienne Wohl Campus, supporting more young people and adults in the Jewish community.”
“We are also deeply grateful to the Sugar and Ronson families for their cornerstone gifts and ongoing support, enabling the construction of our fourth care and community campus, in Redbridge, which is set to open next summer to serve East London and Essex with exceptional facilities.”
This includes The Sugar Family Care Home, The Ronson Community Centre, and The Dennis Centre to provide vital support to people living with dementia and their families.
”However, the need for Jewish Care in 2025 has never been greater. This is one of the most challenging periods in our history, our resources are under intense pressure as a result of increasing inflation, a rapidly ageing population, rising loneliness, a mental health crisis unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and the recent employers’ National Insurance changes which will now cost 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 including our community centres, our Helpline, Jami’s mental health support, Meals on Wheels, dementia care, our social work teams and our very special Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.
“These services rely entirely on your generosity and this year, to ensure that we can continue caring for those who need us most, we need to raise £20 million so that Jewish Care can continue to provide the very highest quality support and care with dignity, respect, and a deep connection to Jewish traditions and values. Whether it’s celebrating Shabbat, marking the festivals, or simply offering a warm smile and a listening ear – our care is powered by love, culture, and deep belonging.
“We look forward as we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those we love and cherish. Your support funds services, provides connection, offers comfort and ensures continuity, strengthening our community’s future, standing with our Jewish parents and grandparents and creating a legacy for our children.”
Concluding the evening, global award-winning opera singer, Aigul Akhmetshina, acclaimed as one of opera’s most exciting rising stars, flew in from performing at The Met in New York to give a show-stopping rendition with four songs, including Habanera from Carmen, Somewhere from West Side Story, and Bésame Mucho. Aigul has won numerous awards, including 2023 Female Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards, 2024. Now 29, she is the youngest ever mezzo-soprano to professionally sing as Carmen in her breakout debut in Covent Garden at just 21.
Speaking after the Dinner, Jewish Care CEO, Daniel Carmel-Brown, added, “Over the next decade, the number of people in the Jewish community who will need dementia care will increase by 25%, more people will need end of life care than ever before, and the number of young people and adults who are living with mental illness and distress is sadly rising as well.
“At this time when the challenges to Jewish Care are, in many ways, greater than ever before, we are so grateful to all of our guests for supporting us. 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 inspiring opera singer, Aigul Akhmetshina, who all generously donated their time, to our members and volunteers for being with us this evening, and to all those who appeared in our films. I would also like to thank our wonderful lay leaders for making the evening such a huge success and for enabling our professional, dedicated staff and inspiring volunteers at Jewish Care to keep on supporting thousands of amazing people each week across our community.”