Jewish Care receives ‘game-changing’ pledges from Lord Sugar and Ronsons

Jewish Care has received “game changing pledges” from major Jewish community philanthropists to fund a new development in Redbridge, Essex.

The families of Lord Alan Sugar and Gerald and Gail Ronson,have promised Jewish Care they will help support the Redbridge Care and Community Campus development.

The exact pledges have not been revealed, but are significant enough to ensure the outstanding amount to complete the project is reduced to £5million.

Jewish Care is now launching a campaign to raise that shortfall from the local community.

It will be the only Jewish care and community hub servicing the Essex and east London Jewish community and will comprise a community space to house a centre for people living with dementia, alongside a 66-bed care home, replacing Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Gants Hill.

Lord Sugar said: “Our family have had a long and deep association with Jewish Care’s services in Redbridge, where my late mother was a resident at Vi & John Rubens House.

We are absolutely delighted to be helping our older community live with dignity and compassion in facilities that deliver high quality care on a state-of-the-art campus.”

Dame Gail Ronson, who has been involved with Jewish Care for over years as a trustee and is now an honorary president, said:  “Our connection with the Redbridge community goes back many decades now from when I first became involved in the organisation in 1983. We are delighted to play our role in establishing a new facility for the next generation in a community which we know is so very special.”

Thanking the generosity of both families, which will have a “far-reaching impact on the older Jewish community in Redbridge and Essex”, Lord Levy, life president of Jewish Care said meeting “the increasing and changing needs of our ageing community is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges we face”.

Pending planning permission, the development is due to open in the summer of 2025.