Orthodox primary reaches out to community with 36-hour fundraising drive

A Willesden primary school is launching a 36-hour matched-funding campaign to redress its income shortfall.

North West London Jewish Day School needs to raise at least £300,000 in an appeal starting on Sunday 29 January. Half the required funds have already been secured thanks to the support of a pool of generous donors, with the remaining amount to be secured through donations made during the timed campaign.

Funds raised will go towards staff costs, to facilitate the higher-than-average staff-to-pupil ratio to ensure the school continues to provide high educational standards for all children.

It will also fund SEN staff and welfare costs, regarded as one of the school’s significant strengths in recent years, with achievements in this area including becoming the first Jewish school to be awarded the ADHD friendly school award by the ADHD Foundation.

The money raised will also go towards funding a reduction in voluntary contributions. Like other state-funded Jewish schools, North West receives no funding for Kodesh (Jewish studies) from local government and so relies entirely on voluntary contributions. However, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis, the school is experiencing an income shortfall and is therefore reaching out to the wider community for support.

The campaign comes after North West received an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ in its most recent Kodesh Studies inspection, an upgrade on the school’s previous rating of ‘Good’.

Sara Elias, Chair of Governors said: “As a state school, North West relies on the support of our parents, grandparents, alumni and the wider community who care so much about giving our children the best possible Jewish and secular education. We are asking the community to help us to continue to deliver this important legacy and enable us to reach our fundraising goal.”

To make a donation visit: www.charityextra.com/nwljds