Norwood supporters honour outgoing co-presidents Lord and Lady Mendelsohn
Couple describe their 11-year tenure with learning disability and autism charity as 'one of the greatest honours of our lives'
Norwood trustees, senior leaders from the charity and guests gathered on Sunday 5 July to mark the end of Lord and Lady Mendelsohn’s 11 years of service as the charity’s co-presidents, at the dedication of a room hosting the new ‘We Connect Families’ service at the Kennedy Leigh Centre in Hendon.
Paying tribute to their contribution, Norwood chair Miles Webber said: “With their support and guidance, Norwood has gone from strength to strength, building ever closer links with our supporters and the wider community. We are deeply grateful for their dedicated service and look forward to the next chapter in Norwood’s long and distinguished history.”
The charity’s chief executive Naomi Dickson added: “It couldn’t be more fitting than that our newest initiative, the ‘We Connect Families service’, a community initiative led by Norwood, should honour Lord and Lady Mendelsohn’s significant presidency.
“Over 11 years of extraordinary service, their commitment to building closer links with our community inspired the partnership and collaboration that lies at the heart of ‘We Connect Families’, facilitating this essential service for Jewish children and families in need.”
Norwood’s vice chair of trustees Justine Harris said the couple would be remembered for “their interest in people and community”. Recalling Nicola Mendelsohn opening the organisation’s first smart home for adults with learning disabilities, Harris added: “I would like to thank you both for your vision for a Norwood where love, care and empathy are embedded into everything we do.”
At the event in their honour, Lord and Lady Mendelsohn heard from service users whose families have benefitted from the charity’s support for neurodivergent children and their families and people with learning disabilities, across a range of different life stages.
Speaking of their decision to step down from their honorary roles, the couple said: “It has been one of the greatest honours of our lives to serve together as Norwood’s co-presidents.
“For almost 230 years, Norwood has embodied the very best of our community — a legacy built on compassion, service, and an unwavering commitment to supporting others. We have been deeply proud to play a small part in that remarkable story and to champion a charity that places kindness, respect, belonging and empowerment at the heart of everything it does.
“Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Norwood’s extraordinary donors, volunteers and supporters, whose generosity, dedication and selflessness make this work possible every single day. Their commitment is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together to care for one another.
“Above all, we will forever treasure the privilege of spending time with the people Norwood serves and their families. Their strength, resilience, warmth and spirit have inspired us beyond words. They have welcomed us into their lives, shared their journeys with us, and taught us more than we could ever have imagined.
“We leave this role with immense gratitude, profound admiration, and memories that will stay with us always. It has been a privilege to walk alongside the people of Norwood, and we will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this extraordinary community.”
‘We Connect Families’ brings together 11 Jewish charities in the children and family support space, accessible through a single point of enquiry for Jewish families seeking support.