Jewish mental health charity opens Hackney centre for local community

A mental health charity serving the Jewish community has opened a new centre in Stoke Newington to provide for Jewish families on their doorstep.

Jami, which offers peer support and carers’ advice as well as help with benefits and employment, already had hubs in Edgware, Finchley and Redbridge. The new Hackney Hub will support the large community in or near Hackney.

Health and fitness classes will be among the new offerings, with a range of activities designed to help provide structure, routine and social engagement for those with mental health issues.

The new hub is located at the community centre of the Industrial Dwellings Society, a specialist London housing provider with strong links to the Jewish community.

Suzanne Wolfe of Industrial Dwellings Society said: “By collaborating with Jami we are helping kick-start an innovative and holistic approach to mental wellbeing for the neighbourhood, bringing together services and new opportunities for our residents.”

Laurie Rackind of Jami said: “We are very excited to have a new, permanent home in Hackney. We are building strong relationships across the local community and opening conversations about mental health, increasing referrals to the hub.”

He added that the charity’s area coordinator would “make connections to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the area and create links to other local mental health and social care organisations”.