New year heralds fresh lay leadership for Young Jami Jewish Care

Three new young lay leaders are stepping up to take Young Jami Jewish Care into 2026.

As current chair Nicole Ashton moves on after three years, long time supporter Clark Norton takes on the main role, supported by vice chairs Emilia Isaacs and Louis Zenios.

Norton, who served on the young patrons dinner committee for five years and participated in the charity’s lay leadership programme, said: “My parents instilled in me the importance of Jewish Care’s role in our community. Whilst our generation tend to face rising living costs, I believe if we can find it within ourselves to give tzedakah, we demonstrate the true strength of our community and age group.

“You never know who may one day need to use the myriad of incredible services that Jewish Care and Jami provide—where the ‘Jewish’ in Jewish Care truly shines through.”

Excited “to make a real difference in the community and connect with like-minded people”, Emilia Isaacs, who has been involved with YJJC for several years, added: “Volunteering showed me firsthand the life-changing impact of Jewish Care and Jami – from giving dignity to older people to supporting those facing mental health challenges which can take a huge toll on individuals and their families.

“Fundraising is vital to ensure this work continues, and it’s so important for young people to get involved, support one another, and help build a compassionate, thriving community for the future.”

Fellow vice-chair Louis Zenios said: “I’m excited to think creatively about engaging young Jewish people through new events and initiatives. I’ve always been involved with Jewish Care – it has taught me what it means to give back to the community and Jami is doing amazing work for young people’s mental health.

“We know that the cost of care is increasing almost as fast as the demand for it, so young people need to give as much as we can as often as possible to maintain the crucial services for our community. For many young Jews, this a dark moment. but simply showing how the community unites under Jewish Care can bring light.”

Talking about her time as YJJC Chair, Nicole Ashton said she was “incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. It’s been inspiring and rewarding to help relaunch Super Sundays volunteering, welcoming new and familiar faces, and to strengthen the conversation around mental health as Jami and Jewish Care came together under YJJC, helping to ensure that support, understanding, and connection remain at the heart of all we do.”

Thanking Ashton for her “dedication and commitment”, Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and marketing, Ellisa Estrin, noted: “The YJJC events and the involvement of the next generation of young leaders and supporters is vital for Jewish Care now and in the future, to continue to respond to the increasing needs of individuals and families in the Jewish community. Jewish Care must raise nearly £20 million this year and many of the life-changing services we provide receive no government funding and are entirely dependent on the community’s support.”

“Jami’s life-changing mental health support is becoming ever more crucial for the community as the prevalence of mental health issues grows. There is also an increased need for dementia and end-of-life care as many people in the community are coming to Jewish Care older and frailer, and with more complex medical needs.”