The standout moments for community charities in 2025

From acts of courage and compassion to life-changing innovation and community care, 2025 has been a year that truly demonstrates what can be achieved when we support the incredible work of our charities. Across the UK and beyond, organisations have come together to uplift lives and turn challenge into hope.

Emergency response under fire

When the Iran War broke out, Shaare Zedek Medical Center demonstrated unparalleled readiness and resilience. Within moments, the hospital shifted into emergency mode — moving patients to safety, fortifying secure areas, and maintaining full operation even as bombs fell. Babies were born, lives were saved, and compassion never wavered. Jerusalem’s Mayor Moshe Lion says: “Jerusalem remains strong and secure thanks to these exceptional individuals.”

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Joy and Connection

The Jewish values of joy, connection and belonging have guided every moment of Kisharon Langdon’s work this year. The year began with its first-ever fundraising dinner — an unforgettable night where the people supported by the charity took centre stage, from running behind-the-scenes to proudly serving as toastmaster. From there, the energy rolled on to the annual Velo cycle ride, a lively Speed Monopoly event and the first Young Kisharon Langdon Padel fundraiser, organised by an enthusiastic new committee. A highlight was when Channi, supported by Kisharon Langdon, quite literally took a leap of faith — skydiving alongside her support worker and friend Georgia. Her daring act was not only courageous but a heartfelt symbol of giving back to the community that empowers her.

Hope and healing

No one who attended British Emunah’s remarkable evening with Iris Haim will ever forget it. In conversation with historian Trudy Gold, Iris — the mother of Yotam Haim z”l, taken hostage on October 7 and tragically killed while escaping captivity on October 7 — spoke with extraordinary courage about her grief and her unbreakable connection to Jewish identity. She reminded us: “Each one of us has a lot of trauma, but more than that, we have a lot of power.” Her words encapsulate Emunah’s mission — helping children and families heal from trauma, and rediscover strength, hope and resilience.

Hair-raising generosity

In Manchester, Melanie Williams, a non-Jewish hair stylist, found a creative way to give back to her loyal Jewish clients — by cutting her own hair to raise over £1,300 for Beit Halochem UK, supporting the rehabilitation of wounded IDF veterans. With the help of her friend Angeline from Lupatom Hairdressing Salon, Melanie donated her hair to Zichron Menachem, helping children and young adults with cancer, while the funds raised will provide essential support to over 15,000 veterans injured since October 7. “It means so much,” she said, “to know my hair and money raised will help to rebuild lives.”

A year to remember

AJEX led a moving 180-strong delegation to Bergen-Belsen, bringing survivors, veterans, descendants and young supporters together to commemorate the camp’s liberation by British Troops 80 years ago. In this 80th anniversary of WWII, there were many special events including a moving VE Day ceremony and a VJ Service of Thanksgiving. The charity launched a podcast series focusing on WWII veterans and continued its successful campaign helping veterans and families reclaim their medals. The annual AJEX Remembrance Parade & Ceremony was more meaningful than ever given the rise in antisemitism, following on from Remembrance ceremonies at the National Memorial Arboretum and Willesden.

Transformative testing

A defining milestone for Chai Cancer Care came through its partnership with Jnetics and the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme — a pioneering three-year pilot enabling at-home genetic testing. Thanks to Chai’s tireless awareness campaign, nearly 44,000 people registered for this simple saliva test — a breakthrough with the power to save countless lives and transform genetic health within the community.

Experience that works

For Resource, 2025 was the year of championing experience. With generous new funding, the organisation launched Experience That Works — a free, empowering career programme for jobseekers aged 55 and over. The initiative proves that career ambition has no age limit, offering workshops, one-to-one coaching and practical support to help older jobseekers challenge stereotypes, demonstrate the value of their experience and skills, rediscover confidence, and re-enter the workforce stronger than ever.

New homes, new hope

At the start of 2025, Jewish Blind & Disabled (JBD) received planning permission to transform Fairacres, its oldest building, into a modern haven of accessibility and independence. The redevelopment will replace 29 smaller flats built in the 1980s with 40 contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments designed for people living with physical disabilities or vision impairment. With 70 percent of the £14 million funding already secured, construction begins in spring 2026 — marking a bold step toward JBD’s vision of inclusive, dignified living for all.

A year of global impact

Founded in the 1930s to help Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, World Jewish Relief continues to embody that same spirit of compassion today. Now the UK’s largest provider of employment support for resettled refugees, the charity secured a major new government contract this year to assist 4,000 refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, helping them gain skills, settle in the UK and rebuild their lives. Across 19 countries, World Jewish Relief has touched nearly 180,000 lives in 2025 — a year of lifesaving, life-changing impact.

Changing the future

In Israel, WIZO achieved a milestone with the expansion of its Transformative Education Program — a visionary partnership with the Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center addressing Israel’s shortage of qualified early-years educators. The initiative enables WIZO daycare workers, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to earn a Bachelor of Education while continuing their vital work. Graduates emerge as skilled teachers, economically independent and ready to nurture Israel’s youngest generation — a true investment in the nation’s future.

Excellence in care

Nightingale Hammerson was named Palliative Residential Care Provider of the Year, with judges praising its person-centred approach and outstanding compassion. An incredible 90 percent of residents pass away in their preferred place — a profound testament to the dedication of the team. Daisy Pillora, Palliative Care Lead, reflects: “We are emotionally attached to our residents and ensure they receive the highest quality of care — even after death.”

Advice, advocacy and action

Demand for Paperweight’s support has never been greater. In 2025, the charity delivered over 45,000 hours of advice, supported 2,500 clients, and answered 6,400 helpline calls — each one handled with dignity and care. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, Paperweight continues to expand nationwide, opening new hubs in Leeds and soon Manchester, ensuring help is always within reach for anyone in crisis.

 

Supporting young minds

With 55 percent of under-25s in the Jewish community reporting experiences of mental distress, Jami made it a priority to expand support for young people. This year saw the growth of Jami’s Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service and the extension of Talking Therapies to include secondary school students as well as adults. These services offer safe spaces for young people to open up about stress, anxiety, relationships and self-esteem — helping them find balance, confidence and hope for the future.

A vision becomes reality

Jewish Care’s dream of The Sugar & Ronson Campus came true this year and it is on track for completion in June 2026. This this state-of-the-art hub will bring together all local services under one roof — including the Sugar Family Care Home, The Ronson Community Centre with the only licensed kosher restaurant on the area, The Dennis Centre for Dementia, Jami’s mental health services, social work and family carers support , Meals on Wheels and more. “This campus will strengthen our community in Essex and northeast London for generations,” says CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown. “This modern, inclusive and welcoming space will transform the way we care for, connect and reach out to the local Jewish community.”

The skills to progress

Work Avenue celebrated a landmark year, significantly expanding its reach to help more people in more places earn a living in increasingly difficult economic times. Kicking off the 2025, the annual Work Avenue New Year, New Career event saw attendance double, with over 90 job seekers gaining vital skills, confidence boosts and hands-on advice for their job search. The opening of WE Hub @TheBelmont provided the Jewish community with its first shared business co-working space in Manchester, offering affordable desks and free business support. Work Avenue also launched The Freelance Agency, the community’s first initiative connecting businesses and charities needing support with skilled freelancers for immediate short-term projects.

Bringing back the joy

AtCamp Simcha this year, 361 family members joined staff and volunteers on four incredible residential retreats – giving seriously ill children, their siblings and parents three days of amazing activities, community and respite, with medical support on site. On top of the day-to-day practical and therapeutic services Camp Simcha provides, retreats are a highlight of the year. Among those who attended Summer Retreat was six-year-old Saul, who has been receiving treatment for leukaemia and came straight from his hospital bed. His mum Michaela said: “The moment Saul stepped into the hotel where retreat was, something shifted. The energy, the joy, the spirit that Camp Simcha creates – it was as though it breathed life into him. Within minutes he was smiling, laughing, exploring, playing… he was filled with a kind of energy we hadn’t seen in months.”

Silver anniversary

2025 marked the Jewish Family Centre’s (JFC) 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of supporting families across the community. This year saw continued growth of its accredited Contact Centre, providing a safe, supportive space for children to maintain relationships with parents during challenging family transitions. Alongside this vital work, JFC expanded practical assistance and emotional support for families facing hardship, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to strengthening wellbeing, stability and connection within the community.