Eleven leading Jewish charities came together to launch We Connect Families, a new community-wide service providing a single access point for Jewish families seeking support for children, young people and family life.
Created in response to growing demand for support and the increasingly complex challenges families face, We Connect Families makes it easier to find the right help at the right time. Led by Norwood and delivered in partnership with ten other trusted community organisations, the service brings together expertise from across the community, creating one clear route into support.
Rather than navigating multiple organisations to identify where to turn, parents or carers can access a pathway to support with just one call. We Connect Families advisors will listen, understand their circumstances and connect them to the most appropriate support.
The service supports families seeking guidance on a wide range of issues, including parenting challenges, emotional wellbeing, school or SEND concerns, serious childhood illness, family relationships, and difficult life events such as illness or bereavement.
The We Connect Families partnership includes Norwood, Kisharon Langdon, Camp Simcha, Jami, Jewish Care’s mental health service, Jewish Women’s Aid, Jewish Family Centre, KEF Kids, Hand in Hand, Arts Therapies for Children, GIFT and Noa. Together, these organisations bring expertise across health, welfare, social care and community support. The service has extensive knowledge of a wide range of support providers across the public and voluntary sectors and will advise and guide people to the most appropriate source of support.
The initiative represents a significant step forward in collaboration between Jewish charities, creating a more joined-up approach to family support. By working together, partner organisations are making the support landscape clearer and more accessible at a time when families’ needs are becoming increasingly complex.
Naomi Dickson, Chief Executive of Norwood, said:
“We Connect Families was developed by community charities, for the community, in direct response to what families told us. Many shared how confusing and overwhelming it can be to find the right support, particularly when they are already dealing with challenging circumstances.
“Our community is fortunate to have a wide range of outstanding organisations, but families told us they wanted a simpler way to access them. We Connect Families means families only need to reach out for support once. From there, we can help them find the right support quickly, confidently and with the benefit of a joined-up approach from across the community.”
Daniel Gillis, Chief Executive of Camp Simcha added:
“We Connect Families is people-focused and driven by a shared purpose – serving the community’s needs. By working in partnership and combining our expertise, our community organisations can offer a much better experience for families and stronger outcomes for the community as a whole.
“We Connect Families is a powerful example of what can happen when the community works together – ensuring families can access the help they need when they need it.”
With just one call, families can share their story and be guided to the most appropriate support. We Connect Families advisors provide a listening ear, practical guidance and tailored signposting, helping families navigate challenges without having to work out for themselves which organisation to approach.
By creating one clear front door to a network of trusted charities, We Connect Families makes it easier for Jewish families to access support, reduces the burden of navigating multiple services and helps ensure they receive the right help at the right time.
Families can reach out by phone on 020 8264 6222, send an email to info@weconnectfamilies.org.uk, or visit weconnectfamilies.org.uk for more information about the service and our partners, and to complete a web enquiry form.