Labour frontbencher praises ‘truly inspirational’ work of two communal organisations
Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth met with Work Avenue and Kisharon chiefs to learn of their achievements in meeting organised by the JLC
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A frontbench Labour politician has described the performance of the leading communal charity sector organisations Work Avenue and Kisharon as “truly inspirational” during an engaging meeting with senior staff in north London.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow work and pensions secretary, travelled to the Finchley-based headquarters of the employment and business support charity Work Avenue this week to hold talks with chief executive Debbie Lebrett and trustee Phillipa Mintz.
Also at the meeting was Richard Franklin, the CEO of Kisharon, who provide specialist educational support to those with learning difficulties in the community.
Tuesday’s meeting had been arranged by the Jewish Leadership Council, (JLC), through the highly-effective work of their parliamentary officer Marc Levy, who brings politicians from across all political parties into contact with the communal group’s member organisations.
Jewish News was invited to sit in on the talks. What was apparent was the complete absence of political point scoring during the conversations.
Ashworth showed himself to be extremely keen to listen and take away ideas from what he heard from the charity chiefs.
The communal charity sector leaders meanwhile, spelt out what they urgently required from the government, whichever political party was in power.
Besides engaging in a lively and engaging one hour long discussion with Jewish leaders, Ashworth, who had previously worked under Gordon Brown when he was prime minister, and served for a long time as shadow health minister, was also taken on a tour of the Work Avenue office.
He met with a group completing an intensive business course, and members of the community now running their own thriving operations, as a result of support they had received.
At one point, the Leicester South MP was also taken into the organisation’s call centre, at which those within the community, or outside of it, struggling to find work, and facing difficulties with areas such as universal credit, could seek advice from experts over the telephone.
In a frank conversation, Kisharon’s chief exec told Ashworth of the need for greater cooperation between the government and charitable organisations who provide vital support to those requiring help and assistance throughout society.
“What goes on at Work Avenue and Kisharon is truly inspirational in offering jobseekers, vulnerable people and disabled people real help, tailored support and the confidence to find a job or start a business,” Ashworth later said.
“These are superb examples of what the charity sector can achieve and how they change lives.”
Delighted to facilitate a visit for Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary @JonAshworth MP to our member organisation @theworkavenue and meet with @Kisharon Always fantastic to showcase the incredible work being done by these charities. pic.twitter.com/wo2Oi0KaRF
— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) July 5, 2023
Work Avenue’s chief executive also revealed her organisation had helped 2500 people, most, but not all from the community, find work, or improve their business skills over the past year.
Lebrett stressed how important it was to “provide people with a dignified approach to finding work.”
She added:”The links between business owners and people finding employment are so important and need to be nurtured.”
As an organisation Kisharon aim to provide highly specialised support to those suffering from disabilities in the community to help enable them live their lives to the full.
Their chief executive was keen to stress there was a need to dramatically improve spending by the government on social care.
“There’s much more that can be done to make social care attractive,” Franklin said. “Social care is not the answer to the NHS, it’s larger than that, but the poor relation.”
Franklin also said that, “without wearing any political party hat” there was a clear need, for whoever formed the next government in this country to “show vision” and to “get the economy moving again.”
Ashworth also spoke of his admiration for the caring approach offered by Work Avenue’s staff, and by the organisation’s overall ethos.
“My vision of a reformed DWP will see more partnership working on the ground with organisations like these as we prioritise helping people into good well paid work,” he said.
Work Avenue’s CEO spoke of her determination to look at different funding streams moving forward to fund “bigger and more ambitious projects.”
She said:”Supporting people, in business, into employment and once they secure a job, is essential to grow the economy.”
Great to meet with @theworkavenue and @Kisharon yesterday to see the incredible work they are doing to support people into quality employment.
A Labour DWP would do more to partner with voluntary sector organisations to help Britain back to work.
Thanks @jlc_uk for the visit. pic.twitter.com/PGP0zbm3oN
— Jonathan Ashworth (@JonAshworth) July 5, 2023
While there was also agreement that more needed to be done, by whoever was in government, to help those in their 50s find new employment, especially after the recent pandemic led to higher than average job losses in that age group.
Jewish News later noted that it was clear to see that Keir Starmer’s mission to root out antisemitism from Labour was proving successful, and meant meetings like this one could now take place without the issue being raised.
“It’s a breath of fresh air for us and for the Labour Party,” observed Kisharon’s Franklin. “And it’s a tribute to the hard work the JLC have done.
“There is so much more to talk about than antisemitism, although this is not to say we will ever minimise its threat.”
Ashworth agreed, saying the antisemitism crisis under former leader Jeremy Corbyn were “the darkest of days” for his party, and “we must never allow them to happen again.”
He also praised leader Starmer for his continued determination to rid the party entirely of any anti-Jewish racism.
The JLC’s Levy, the communal group’s north west, north Wales and west midlands external affairs manager, who also sat in on the meeting, told Jewish News:”The JLC are fortunate that our member organisations operate at the highest possible levels.
“One of the central components of our strategy is to showcase their achievements to MPs from across parliament.
“By discussing their agendas with ministers, shadow ministers, and chairs of all party parliamentary groups we assist with supporting their work while simultaneously amplifying their messages and concerns to key decision makers.”
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