Jewish Care’s new state-of-the-art Sugar & Ronson Campus is now open, bringing together care, community and support services for the local Jewish community for the first time under one roof. The campus builds on over 50 years of community presence. Located on the site that was previously Sinclair House, affectionately known as ‘Club’, it includes visual reminders honouring the decades of Jewish community life that came before it.
Residents have moved into The Sugar Family Care Home, members have begun attending activities at The Ronson Community Centre and The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia, while Jami’s mental health services, Meals on Wheels volunteers and Jewish Care’s Social Work and Community Support Team have all started supporting people from the new Campus.
Already alive with activity, the care and community Campus is welcoming residents, members and visitors from across Essex and north east London, creating new opportunities for connection, while continuing Jewish Care’s proud legacy in the area.
The purpose-built Campus brings together residential, nursing, dementia and end-of-life care, community services, mental health support and dementia programmes in a purpose-built environment designed to serve the community for generations to come.
Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown says:
“Seeing residents move into their new home and community members walk through the doors for the first time has been incredibly moving. Every part of the campus has been designed with Jewish life, community and connection in mind. Although the campus is new, the services are delivered by the staff and teams that people already know. This means continuity, familiarity and trusted relationships continue and this at the heart of what makes Jewish Care unique. More than a campus, it is a community, and a place where people feel part of one big family.
“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our cornerstone donors, the Sugar family and the Ronson family through The Gerald & Gail Ronson Family Foundation, alongside our other key donors and the support of the local community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped make this vision a reality and we look forward to seeing the friendships, connections and special moments that will be created here in the years ahead.”
The first residents to move into the Campus from Vi & John Rubens House care home are now settling into the 66-bed Sugar Family Care Home, which provides residential, nursing, dementia and end-of-life care, as well as respite stays. The home has been designed with comfort, dignity and wellbeing at its heart, offering compassionate, Jewish, person-centred care in a warm and welcoming bespoke dementia-friendly, accessible environment.
One of the home’s new residents, Corinne, says, “It looks like a hotel. Never in a million years did I think I’d live in a place like this” and fellow resident Michael, added, “The whole building is fabulous. There’s everything here and they’ve done a wonderful job. The garden’s gorgeous too.”
At the heart of the Campus, The Ronson Community Centre is already becoming a vibrant hub for Jewish life, offering a varied programme of activities including live entertainment, dancing, card games, exercise classes, bridge, yoga, table tennis, Jewish festivals and community events. Members have been enjoying the opportunity to meet friends, take part in activities and experience their new community home.
The Community Centre is also home to two kosher cafés, the only supervised kosher cafés in the area, providing welcoming spaces for people to meet over breakfast, coffee, lunch and conversation. From January 2027, the Centre will also be available to hire for simchas, meetings and community gatherings.
Meanwhile, The Dennis Centre for people living with dementia is providing specialist, person-centred support for people living with mild to moderate memory impairment or dementia in a calm, safe and dementia-friendly environment. Members are supported by trained staff and dedicated volunteers, helping each person feel respected, supported and empowered.
Rita, a member of the Centre, says, “It’s a huge improvement. The building is like a 5-star hotel. It’s wonderful and the staff can’t do enough for us.”
The Campus is also home to a wide range of community services, including Jami’s mental health hub for people living with mental illness and distress, Jewish Care’s Meals on Wheels service and social work support, ensuring people of all ages can access the help they need in one central location.
Young people will also play an important role in the life of the Campus, with volunteers and participants from the MIKE youth leadership programme meeting there and helping to develop the next generation of community leaders.
Staff and volunteers are already helping to create the warm and welcoming atmosphere that is becoming a hallmark of the new Campus.
Maureen Valins, who volunteers in The Ronson Community Centre and The Sugar Family Care Home, says, “I love that everybody’s together in one building now!”
Sustainable and values led, The Sugar & Ronson Campus has been built to high environmental standards and is expected to achieve an excellent BREEAM rating. Features such as solar panels and energy-efficient systems reflect the organisation’s commitment to responsible energy use, reduced carbon emissions and sustainable development.