Community leader ‘chuffed’ to receive BBC honour for outreach
Charedi pioneer Joel Friedman recognised for building bridges in Essex community of Canvey Island.
The BBC has honoured a Canvey Island pioneer for “breaking down barriers and bringing communities together”.
Charedi leader Joel Friedman said he was “well chuffed” to have received the BBC’s ‘Make a Difference’ award.
The honour recognised Friedman’s efforts in building bridges and extending outreach to the wider Essex community in Canvey Island.
His family was one of the first to establish a Charedi community in Canvey back in 2016. He said he now considers himself the ‘go-to person” in the area. “There’s a lot we can’t do, but there’s so much more we can do; we started this community in Canvey with six families and have now expanded to 105.”
The Jewish Council of Gateshead tweeted: “Well done @MrJoelFriedman
Your outstanding community activism and @PinterTrust
work is bridging gaps and bringing people closer together.”
Friedman is director of public affairs for Charedi outreach organisation Pinter Trust, which is backed by rabbis and leaders from the Charedi communities in London, Manchester, Gateshead and Essex.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
