CST smashes target, raising £3.9m in community fundraising campaign
Cash to be used for research and operations to protect the UK Jewish community against antisemitism
Jeremy Last is assistant web editor at the Jewish News. He lives in Israel, and is currently in his second stint at the JN, having worked for the paper back in the early 2000s!
The Community Security Trust (CST) smashed its pre-campaign fundraising target at the weekend, raising a massive £3.9 million to fund services used to protect British Jews against antisemitism .
The ‘We Protect Community Fundraising Campaign,’ held between 5-7 March, saw over 4,600 people donate cash to the CST, which is an independent communal organization that depends solely on charitable donations to survive.
When the campaign began, the target had been an ambitious £2m, which could have been particularly difficult to achieve considering the current focus on the devastating humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
But the local Jewish community proved their commitment and appreciation for the work carried out by the CST, with individual donations ranging from £100,000 to £25.
The money will be used to fund researchers who are continuously monitoring the internet and other sources to find individuals or groups planning antisemitic attacks in the UK, as well as CST security teams protecting Jewish schools, synagogues and more.
Dave Rich, Head of Policy for Community Security Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to the thousands of people across the Jewish community who supported CST’s fundraiser this weekend.
“Last year was the worst on record for antisemitism and since then we have seen a British jihadi take Jews hostage in a synagogue in Texas.
“We now face the prospect of further global instability this year and it is vital that CST is able to continue to do our work protecting our community.”
Regarding the timing of the event, the CST published a statement recognising the terrible situation in Ukraine and saying that in the end they decided to go ahead with the campaign because their services are essential for the community.
“CST is appalled by the dreadful human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and we wish every success to those charities working in the region,” the statement read.
“Nobody knows what is yet to happen, either within Ukraine or beyond its borders. After serious consideration, CST is proceeding with our Together We Protect campaign.
“This is because our own work is still very much needed. We have to deter our enemies and protect our community, at all times.”
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