Community news roundup: 7th-12th May

This week’s community news roundup. Got a story to share? Email your news and photos to community@thejngroup.com

• Charity car wash

Kisharon’s new bar and batmitzvah programme saw four girls – Yavneh College pupils Poppy Taylor, 12, Ella Klein, 11, Sophie Horne, 11 and Lucy Grant, 12 – wash cars to raise money to provide iPads for adults with learning difficulties. Volunteer co-ordinator Lara Domjan said: “It’s a fantastic scheme because it raises awareness of people with special needs while helping the people we support to communicate better.”

• Make believe award

Joel Kern, founder and managing director of Make Believe – one of the UK’s fastest growing performing arts companies – has won the Federation of Small Business Regional Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the south-east. He will now compete against 11 others to be crowned the national winner of Young Entrepreneur of the Year on 21 May, at a ceremony hosted by businesswoman Karren Brady.

• Bagging relief

One hundred female supporters of World Jewish Relief attended an ‘Old Bags Brunch’ at The Pillar Hotel in Hendon, which raised more than £25,000 for WJR’s crisis appeal in Ukraine. Hosted by Jewish Princess Georgie Tarn, guests included Professor Karen Pine PhD, Joy Desmond, wife of media magnate Richard Desmond, ex-Liberty X band member Michelle Heaton and star of Celebrity Big Brother, Lizzie Cundy. Tarn said: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our community supporting this event, not only by digging deep into their pockets to raise more than £25,000, but by digging deep into their wardrobes as well!”

• Shoah testimony

Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg will be speaking at a Young UJIA event, where he will give first-hand accounts of those who survived the Holocaust. The 87-year-old, who will make a rare appearance in London, spent time in concentration camps, including Stolp in Germany and Precu in Latvia. For more information, email Victoria Romain at: victoria.romain @ujia.org

• Shul’s open day

Sha’arei Tsedek north London Reform Synagogue is holding an open day on 18 May, throwing open its doors for anyone looking for a synagogue to join, interested in rediscovering their Jewish roots, or even getting their child into a community school. Principal Rabbi Colin Eimer said: “We’re inviting people and families of all ages from the wider community to our special celebratory open day. You’ll find us a warm and welcoming bunch!” For more details, email: info@shaarei tsedek.org.uk

• Norwood trainees clean up with skills

Norwood has successfully re-launched Future Clean, its environmentally friendly car wash. Operating across north London and East Sussex, Future Clean uses an innovative, virtually waterless handwashing technique, giving people the chance to gain new skills, helping them to lead a more independent life, become more confident and play a more active part in their

community. Trainee Shalev Nymark said: “Norwood Future Clean is absolutely fantastic. By coming to the car wash every day and getting support, it helps me focus and, in the future, I hope to get a job.”

• It’s all blue and white on the night

Ilford Jewish Primary School was awash with blue and white in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut. The school’s Israeli Dance Group performed, before being treated to a display by the Shiluvim Koli’im Group from Israel. Elsewhere, children at the toddlers’ playgroup in Edgware (main picture) danced and sang with their Israeli flags.