Community charities spring forward with a fresh approach

Across the community, this year charities are responding to rising need with ambition, compassion and innovation. From care for our ageing population and expanded mental health support for young people, to inclusive employment services, disability provision and crisis response, organisations are not only meeting today’s challenges but planning for the future.

New buildings are opening, services are growing and fresh approaches are being shaped by lived experience – all with a shared commitment to dignity, connection and ensuring that no one in our community faces life’s toughest moments alone.

Getting into action

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Having just launched a new five-year strategy, Altogether Stronger, Jewish Care will be putting its goals into action over the coming year and beyond. The Jewish community are living longer, and many older people are also living with illness, dementia, loneliness and isolation – so the pressure on carers is growing. To enable people to live independently in their own homes for as long as they choose, Jewish Care is expanding its community services and will continue to provide compassionate care to those who need it at the very end of their lives, too.

The increasing demand for mental health support within the community, especially among the younger generation, means that Jami will continue to respond to people’s needs with understanding and expertise. It will be able to reach more young people from the age of 11 through the Talking Therapies service. The community generously supported this during a fundraising campaign in February, meaning those who need it will be able to access this service, which provides a non-judgemental, safe space to talk about our challenges with expert therapists who can help us find clarity and move forward with confidence.

Other services will be expanded or delivered in new ways, including those for people living with dementia. And many other vital services, such as the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, residential care homes, retirement living schemes, community centres, Helpline and social work, will remain core to Jewish Care’s work.

This summer sees the opening of The Sugar & Ronson Campus, the newest landmark hub, which will transform the way Jewish Care supports our community across north-east London and Essex. By bringing all Jewish Care and Jami’s services in this area under one roof, the organisation will be able to offer a truly inclusive space, welcoming people of all ages to find connection, support and community.

Fresh new look

Nightingale Hammerson is dedicated to providing outstanding care for older members of our community and continuously seeks opportunities to enhance residents’ quality of life by creating inspiring spaces that foster social interaction, intellectual engagement and relaxation. Nightingale House in Clapham is undergoing a major redevelopment of the historic building that has served the Jewish community for over 185 years. The stunning new Activity Hub is a welcome and cosy area where residents can enjoy a plethora of activities, including cookery in the new accessible kitchen, art therapy and talks with guest speakers. The renovated Café is a light, airy, modern space where residents and the local community can enjoy a cup of coffee and a tasty snack whilst overlooking the beautiful gardens.

Expand and develop

Demand for Jewish Blind & Disabled’s services continues to increase, and the charity’s goal for 2026 is to keep expanding support. More than 140 households are currently waiting for safe, accessible homes  – all vulnerable Jewish people living with physical disabilities or vision impairments who rely on JBD’s unique combination of housing and life-changing support. Works will start this year on the redevelopment and expansion of Fairacres, JBD’s oldest building in East Finchley, which will take some pressure off the waiting list. Demand is also rising for community services, which provide emotional and practical help to ensure people feel seen, supported and connected. JBD will continue to develop programmes such as the Independent Living Advisory Service and Sight Loss Support Groups and launch new programmes to expand its community-based services.

Making it work

A key focus at Work Avenue, the community’s leading employment and business support organisation, is helping more people into work than ever before so it is expanding its employment recruitment services. There was record attendance at the New Year New Career event in January. CEO Debbie Lebrett says: “Work Avenue’s approach is always client-led. We meet individuals where they are, help them define their career goals, identify opportunities, guide them through every step of the job search, and continue to support them once in work. This year, as we expand our services, we aim to place even more clients into meaningful and fulfilling roles – giving them the financial stability, confidence, and the dignity that comes with a job they love.”

Sharing stories

Many people have a deeply personal connection to Shaare Zedek hospital in Israel. For some, it is where a child or grandchild was born. For others, it is where they themselves received unexpected, lifesaving care while visiting Israel. These personal experiences have quietly shaped decades of support. This year Shaare Zedek UK is inviting supporters to share what the hospital means to them and their families, why they choose to give, and how their connection to the hospital has been passed from one generation to the next. Sharing real voices and lived experiences will strengthen a sense of purpose and help ensure that support for Jerusalem’s hospital with a heart continues for generations to come.

Co-creation

From fundraising events to national training roles, people supported by Kisharon Langdon are equal contributors. Co-creation sits at the heart of the charity’s approach, defining how it works and ensuring that people it supports are active partners in shaping everything it does. Their voices help to guide programmes, services and priorities, because meaningful support is always built with people, not for them. This approach is central to the community programme, where monthly town-hall-style meetings allow people to design and refine a wide range of daily activities reflecting their interests, talents and aspirations. Individuals also have the chance to volunteer, supporting other Jewish charities and strengthening community connections. The Enterprise Team exemplifies co-creation in action, delivering commissioned projects, volunteering for community initiatives and producing work that is valued and relied upon. Members also influence change beyond our community as certified co-trainers for the NHS Oliver McGowan programme, shaping better care through lived experience. In the year ahead, Kisharon Langdon remains committed to co-creation, shared ownership and amplifying every voice.

Support community

With a 20 percent increase in referrals last year, Camp Simcha will continue to work towards its mission that no family with a seriously ill child has to cope practical, therapeutic and emotional support. In 2026, the charity will continue to grow its parent and sibling peer-support networks, alongside condition-specific Communities of Support – currently running for parents who have premature babies or a child with type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s or colitis, epilepsy, eating disorders or serious allergies. These communities ensure families can access expert advice – and learn from others who truly understand their journey.  Camp Simcha is also very proud to have recently taken responsibility for managing the Shabbat Room at Great Ormond Street Hospital, working alongside the hospital chaplaincy. The room is open 24/7 and includes dry food cupboards, a fridge-freezer stocked with food, a dining table, a hot cupboard for Shabbat and many essential items that allow families to feel supported and cared for at an incredibly difficult time.

First and fast response

United Hatzalah of Israel has a world-leading response time of just three minutes, a speed that can literally mean the difference between life and death. The organisation is now working to achieve its ambitious goal of a 90-second response time. Meeting this goal means recruiting and training more volunteer medics, from every walk of life and in every location. Young and old, male and female, Jewish and non-Jewish, every demographic is represented within this generation of medics and those yet to come. United Hatzalah has provided free emergency medical first-response across the country for 20 years. In that time it has grown to 8,000 community-based, trained and certified volunteer medics who respond to medical emergencies in their immediate vicinity, providing initial lifesaving care until an ambulance arrives.

You’re not alone

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service (JBCS) has a simple aim: no one should have to face bereavement without accessible, high‑quality support. NHS services continue to face significant pressure, demand for counselling is rising quickly, and too many people are left waiting at a time when timely care is essential. To meet this growing need, JBCS is expanding the team and recruiting additional counsellors so it can offer more one‑to‑one sessions and reduce waiting times. The network of support groups is widening to provide safe, understanding spaces where people can share their experiences and feel less alone. These groups are a vital source of comfort, helping individuals navigate grief alongside others who truly understand.

 

Remembrance and engagement

This year, at a time of rising antisemitism and growing misunderstanding of Jewish history and service, AJEX’s vital work in welfare, education and remembrance is more important than. Alongside the charity’s commemorative activities, AJEX will deliver a wide programme of events to bring generations together, share stories and strengthen community connections, ensuring that remembrance is a living, shared experience  – not a distant memory. Combatting antisemitism through education and awareness will be key, as well as supporting the welfare of Jewish veterans, their families and those currently serving. As the WW2 and National Service Veteran generation sadly continues to get smaller, AJEX is committed to keeping their voices, values and experiences at the heart of communal life, while encouraging broader engagement across the community so their legacy continues to be understood, respected and carried forward by the next generations.

First port of call

For the past 35 years, Chai Cancer Care has been inspired by a simple but powerful mission statement, expressed by one of its earliest clients: “You (Chai) cannot rest until you are the first port of call and not the last resort.” That principle continues to shape everything the charity does. The key goal for the year ahead is to ensure that anyone in the community affected by cancer a cancer diagnosis is aware of Chai and contacts it at any stage, from diagnosis onwards, to find out how they can be supported. As (thankfully) more people are living longer with cancer, many need specialised support for extended periods, while at the same time more people are being newly diagnosed and reaching out.

Creating change

This year, British Emunah is focused, as ever, on rebuilding lives and restoring stability for Israel’s most vulnerable children and families after a period of profound challenge and uncertainty. Across its homes, schools and therapeutic centres, the charity is strengthening the care, education and emotional support that children urgently need to heal and move forward. The priority is to ensure that every child in its care feels safe, supported and able to learn, grow and hope again. This year British Emunah is focusing on trauma therapy, educational recovery and essential welfare, including the provision of hundreds of thousands of hot meals for children whose families are struggling to cope. Rebuilding routine, trust and confidence can help break cycles of distress and create lasting change in Israel. In the UK, the charity is looking to recruit volunteers to help bring new events to life, raise awareness of its work and strengthen the community that supports Emunah’s children.

Paper trail

This year Paperweight will extend its reach and deepen its impact at a time when more people than ever are struggling to navigate lives that have unravelled. More volunteer caseworkers are being recruited to meet the ever-increasing demand for services, expanding the capacity of offices in London, Manchester, Leeds and Gateshead, while building capacity through other regional hubs. By embedding skilled support within communities, Paperweight can respond earlier, locally and more effectively. The charity will also launch new initiatives shaped by real need: a new regional office, practical digital support, programmes for young adults and students, plus outreach work within schools and their parent bodies. Each initiative shares the same purpose -reducing isolation, supporting independence and empowering people to regain their dignity and resilience and move forward in their lives with confidence.