JLC and key donors pledge £3m to help social care charities

Philanthropists have teamed up with the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) to launch a new £3million initiative that will “deliver immediate and substantial support” to social care charities suffering financial hardship as a result of the national lockdown.

The group has already received a £1.5million pledge for the cause, which will go towards helping charities sustain their direct care services and provide support to more than 10,000 people across the community.

Those who will be helped include cancer patients, children with life-limiting illnesses, vulnerable children, people with physical and learning disabilities, young people with significant emotional needs, victims of domestic abuse and adults experiencing mental health problems.

According to a JLC survey of 31 charities, eight out of nine social care providers have reported a lost income this year totalling £5m.

Additionally, four have reduced staff, eight have or expect an increase in demand for services and seven are facing cash flow disruption caused by the pandemic.

JLC Chair Jonathan Goldstein will work alongside Baroness Ros Altmann CBE, Sir Mick Davis, Robert Gibber, Henry Grunwald OBE QC, Dame Gail Ronson and Hilda Worth to identify where the funds are most needed.

The group has prior to this provided support to the Jewish Homes Emergency Appeal, while the JLC additionally helped establish the Emergency Community Fund, in partnership with Work Avenue, for families whose financial situation has been impacted by COVID-19.

Following today’s announcement, Jonathan Goldstein said: “Our entire community recognises that now is the time to join forces and help one another through this crisis. I am hugely grateful that many of our community’s most generous supporters have joined the JLC in this collaborative spirit to deliver immediate and substantial support to our social care sector.”

Baroness Ros Altmann CBE said: “Our community, our country, indeed the entire world has not faced such a public health and economic crisis in any of our lifetimes. Extraordinary circumstances require creative and flexible responses.

“The Government has stepped in throughout many parts of the economy and health sector, yet gaps remain, and many vulnerable people still rely on our social care charities.

“With charities facing very difficult circumstances for raising funds, this wonderful JLC initiative aims to help the front-line services who care for some of the most vulnerable in society”.