Jewish Care’s MIKE Awards celebrate youth leadership

Jewish Care’s MIKE (Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge, and Education) youth leadership programme celebrated the outstanding contributions of seventy young Jewish people from Essex and Stanmore at a special event last week, with the organisation’s chairman heralding the dedicated volunteers as “the future leaders of our community”. 

With graduates aged between thirteen and eighteen years old, the event at the charity’s Betty and Asher Loftus Centre in Friern Barnet celebrated the new MIKE  cohort in Stanmore and South Hertfordshire at Jewish Care’s Sandringham care home, and the current group from Essex at Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre.

Georgia Mathews was the winner of the prestigious Saul Keene Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership, presented by Nettie Keene alongside her son Danny, in memory of Nettie’s son and Danny’s late brother, Saul Keene.

Saul, a dedicated community leader, died in 2008 at the age of 41. Since then, the Keene family remains committed to continuing his legacy, recognising and supporting young leaders who embody the values Saul exemplified.

Danny Keene said: “As a volunteer youth leader, Saul was inspirational and was the true model of someone dedicated to his community, which made him a truly unique and inspirational leader and figure for many of the club members. It is an honour to remember Saul’s name and legacy of great youth work by presenting a participant within the MIKE programme with this award.”

Gabrielle Adda, Jewish Care’s youth services co-ordinator, said: “Georgia is a former MIKE participant who now leads the programme in Redbridge with incredible energy, warmth and joy, always laughing, always showing up, and bringing so much positivity to MIKE each week. She steps in wherever she’s needed and has given more hours than any other staff member this year.”

Georgia Matthews described MIKE as “a huge part of my journey, first as a participant and now as a leader. Being recognised in Saul’s memory motivates me to keep giving back to the community that has given me so much.”

The Above and Beyond Award was won by Evie Rosen in recognition of her commitment to giving back and exceptional leadership.

Presenting the honour, youth volunteer co-ordinator Ellie Baum said: “Evie truly represents the kind of passionate, committed young people we want to see involved across Jewish Care. Evie is not just amazing within the MIKE programme in South Herts, but also consistently goes the extra mile by helping every half term and school holiday at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre in Golders Green. She’s loved by staff, members, and volunteers alike.”

Responding, Evie said, “Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things I do. Knowing that the members at the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre look forward to seeing me and that I can brighten up their days means so much. It means a lot to receive this award and encourages me to keep giving my time and energy wherever I can.”

Closing the evening, Jewish Care chairman Marcus Sperber said: “Days like today are not only important in their personal journeys but also for the long-term future of our Jewish community. It is comforting for me to know when I look out at this room today that you are the future leaders of our community and it is in safe hands.”

The MIKE initiative has welcomed more than 800 leaders since its establishment four decades ago, many of whom now lead Jewish communal organisations including Jewish Care chief executive Daniel Carmel Brown and director of fundraising and marketing Ellisa Estrin.