It was a record turnout as 1,000 guests gathered at the Grosvenor House yesterday in support of Jewish Care’s Topland Group Business Lunch, raising a record-breaking amount of £440,000. The funds raised will help to support the charity’s vital services, which are a lifeline to many isolated members of the community, touching the lives of 10,000 people each week. This was Jewish Care’s 36th Business Lunch and it is now in its 15th year of partnership with the Topland Group.
The guest speaker was The Right Honourable Lord Cameron, The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who was interviewed by Lord Finkelstein OBE, former Executive Editor and current columnist for The Times newspaper. Joanne Barnet, member of the Topland Group Business Lunch Committee, introduced the guest speakers who shared fascinating insights and observations on the world today.
Talking about the work of Jewish Care, The Rt. Hon. Lord Cameron, said, “The UK must be a place that the Jewish community can feel safe, which is why the work that organisations such as Jewish Care do to support older people is so vital. Right now and always.
“It was a privilege to attend the Topland Group Business Lunch, to hear about Jewish Care’s important work and to support efforts to raise the funds needed to ensure it continues.”
Jewish Care President, Steven Lewis then gave a powerful appeal to guests to give generously: “As we know, this year has been an incredibly difficult time for the community. For our Holocaust survivors it’s been particularly devastating – never again did they think they would witness some of what we are witnessing. For them, we’ve become a safe haven – where they can proudly be Jewish. For those living in areas where they no longer feel safe because of the threat of antisemitism, with us they can proudly share their Jewishness – and above all, they can feel safe.”
Guests were also shown a short film showing the charity’s impact on just one of the thousands of families that Jewish Care supports each week. Jewish Care was there for Fiona Mendel’s family when her mother, Anne, z’l, needed specialist end-of-life care at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House care home at Sandringham. Jewish Care continues to be there, caring for Fiona’s father, Tony, who became a resident at the care home after he experienced a stroke.
Chairman of the Topland Group Business Lunch Committee, David Pollock, thanked guests for their support, highlighting some of Jewish Care’s vital services from the warm and vibrant community centres, including the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre and centres for people living with dementia, to the charity’s nine care homes for older people and people living with mental illness to the Meals on Wheels service, Jewish Care Direct helpline, Befriending service, support groups and more.
Since Jewish Care and Jami have recently announced plans to become one, the range of mental health support services will grow to support the increasing number of people living with mental illness and distress in the community.
Topland Group Business Lunch Chairman, David Pollock said: “Never has it been more important in these difficult times for the community to come together, and it is incredible to see so many of you here, attending and supporting us, and the charity’s work.
“Most of Jewish Care’s services receive no government funding, and the cost to provide care services has significantly increased. It is the support from our guests today and from the community and beyond that will really enable Jewish Care to continue to meet the needs of our community, so thank you for giving generously today.
“I would also like to thank our two special guest speakers Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, The Right Honourable Lord David Cameron and Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE. We are incredibly privileged to have them with us and I also thank all the members of the committee for their support and hard work in making this event happen as well as Sol and Eddie Zakay, for their generous sponsorship of our lunch, as well as Allsop LLP and BKL, we are truly grateful for their support.”
After the Topland Group Business Lunch, Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care CEO, added, “We are so grateful to all of our guests who have helped to raise an extraordinary amount of money for our core services. With costs rising by £1 million in the last year, we need to raise nearly £17 million each year to keep all of our vital services going and today’s support will help us to continue to support the thousands of people in our community who rely on Jewish Care every day.
“My congratulations go to Amanda Barbanel and Jacqueline Harris, winners of this year’s Philip Greenwold Award, in recognition of their incredible inspiring achievements.”
Each year, an award is given in memory of Philip Greenwold to an outstanding individual or group who has made a significant contribution to others. This year, the award was presented by Topland Group Business Lunch Committee member, Mark Kingston, to two teachers, Amanda Barbanel and Jacqueline Harris, who are co-founders of the charity, Give. Help. Share. which makes an impact on food insecurity. During lockdown, they distributed food parcels to those who needed them in school. They now supply wholesome food bags to more than 2,000 families monthly in London and Hertfordshire and provide food education workshops to primary-aged pupils. Accepting the award, Amanda and Jacqueline, said, “We are truly honoured to accept this award and we want to extend our gratitude to the Topland Committee for nominating us.”
