Volunteering icon, 90, honoured as King hails those who power Anglo-Jewry
This year's Jewish Volunteer Network Awards shone a spotlight on those who have given decades of service, with a new digital exhibition celebrating their work
A 90-year-old ‘professional volunteer’, a young adult with additional needs, and the daughter of a Jewish refugee were were among those celebrated as the “most beautiful people in the community” at this year’s JVN awards.
The King thanked volunteers for all their work in a message for Sunday’s event, conveyed by Hertfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant Robert Voss, while Sir Keir Starmer, in a written statement, hailed JVN, which “works tirelessly to bring volunteers and charities together”.
Awards at the celebration – media partnered by Jewish News – included Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year and Young Adult Volunteer of the Year. Each award was given to dozens of individuals representing a multitude of the nation’s 2,500 communal charities.
Special mention was afforded to 90-year-old Rosalind Preston OBE, a self-professed ‘professional volunteer’ for over seven decades. Among her numerous roles, Rosalind has served as a Trustee of the J.C. Trust, President of the National Council of Women G.B., Co-chair of the Inter Faith Network, and a former Chair of Nightingale/Hammerson.
The current JVN Life President told Jewish News: “If you want to be a volunteer, my advice is to find something you really care about.
“The community and the civil society we live in cannot function without volunteers. By volunteering you are seen as a Jewish person contributing to society, which is critical at the present time.
“There is much more respect now for volunteers than ever before, which is fantastic to see.”
Emma Ziff Photography
Receiving the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award, Helen Stone, who has volunteered at New Citizen’s Gateway for over 12 years, was praised for “inspiring and empowering refugees through her creative, supportive approach.”
Helen said: “I’m astonished and overwhelmed by this recognition – I didn’t think anything I did was out of the ordinary or special.
“My mother was a refugee from Germany in 1939, and everything I do is motivated by that family history.”
The Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer Award was won by Natasha Lush from Kisharon Langdon, with the judging panel highlighting her “warmth, positivity and care for others”.
Her mother commended Natasha for “never letting challenges in life stop her” during an emotional address. Natasha was praised for producing hundreds of easy-read keyrings, which have made communication accessible and inclusive for autistic people and those with learning disabilities.
The Awards also saw the launch of JVN’s ‘The Living Archive’, an evolving, multimedia installation that honours and preserves the stories of communal volunteering for generations to come.
The inaugural installation celebrated JVN’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer winners.
One recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award was Veronica Kennard, nominated for her efforts volunteering for over 20 years across education, community support and healthcare.
She told Jewish News: “It was an honour to be among such an esteemed group of doers and givers, within the Jewish community and beyond. The ceremony was a particularly inspiring event, recognising both the volunteers and the charities they volunteer for but, more importantly, the value and importance of volunteering itself.
“I want to thank the Royal Free Hospital for giving me the opportunity to help others and JVN for their support of those who want to do so.”
Speakers included the Chief Rabbi and Tamar Tabor, who paid tribute to her late mother, Judy Citron, co-founder of JVN, whom she described as “having the determination, energy and vision” to get the organisation up and running in 2007, together with Susan Winton. The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards were dedicated to Judy’s memory.
The Outstanding Volunteer Team of the Year was jointly won by UJIA’s Israel Tour Madrichim 2025, who “progressed with hope and courage” during a highly turbulent year, and the Manchester Jewish Museum’s volunteers, who were praised for their “commitment, adaptability and teamwork” in delivering over 11,000 hours of annual volunteering.
Guest speaker Dame Maureen Lipman concluded that volunteering “comes second nature to Jewish people,” noting that there is one Jewish charity for every 150 Jews in Britain. People here do not waste their days,” she added. “Volunteering is food for your soul and enhances your own wellbeing.”
CEO Nicky Goldman said: “The atmosphere in the room was wholehearted and supportive, cheering those who give so much to others. The particular focus this year on lifetime achievers, starting with the brand-new Living Archive Exhibit of their volunteering stories, was inspiring.
“We were especially delighted to celebrate JVN’s Life President, Ros Preston OBE, for her lifetime of volunteering and her 90th birthday. Thank you to all those who volunteer. You make a difference in the world.”
Clive Nathan, JVN Chair, said “The event was truly inspiring. We came together to honour the unsung heroes who give their time and energy just because they want to and they can. Not because they seek recognition The Jewish Volunteering Network plays a vital role in connecting willing hands with meaningful opportunities, and I’m proud to play a part in making volunteering accessible and impactful. The JVN team delivered the best awards yet!”
Also addressing the event were Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, co-lead of Progressive Judaism Rabbi Josh Levy and JVN President Daniel Levy, who added: “You are the doers in the community, the people who make things happen. You exemplify Tikkun Olam, of making this world a better place.”
The full list of winners can be found below:
Volunteer of the Year
1. AJEX – The Jewish Military Association – Benjamin Suster
2. AJR – The Association of Jewish Refugees - Paula Hammond
3. British Emunah – Jeremy Leighton
4. Chai Cancer Care – Jane Jacobs
5. EcoJudaism – Michele Benn
6. GIFT - Myriam Feiner
7. Jewish Care – Ana Broider
8. Jewish Women’s Aid – Dana Houri
9. JLGB – Ron Prince
10. Jnetics – Alan Cohen
11. Kisharon Langdon – Jonathan Kaye
12. Lauderdale Road Synagogue – S&P Sephardi Community – Paul Weldon
13. Magen David Adom UK – Reverend Mark Madeley
14. Malki Foundation UK – Wendy Pater
15. New Citizen’s Gateway – Helen Stone
16. Nightingale Hammerson – Howard Blumenthal
17. Northwood & Ruislip United Synagogue – David Franklin
18. Norwood – Julie Sonnenthal
19. ORT UK – Dr Simon Nadel
20. Resource – Colin Bilkus
21. Royal Free Charity – Martin Jacobs
22. S&P Sephardi Community – Michael Green
23. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue – Michael Romain
24. The Together Plan – Gillian Gruder
25. WIZOuk – Naomi Greenaway Samuels
Volunteer Team of the Year
1. AJR – The Association of Jewish Refugees – AJR Scotland Volunteer Team
2. BBYO – BBYO Shorashim Senior Tzevet
3. Camp Simcha – Camp Simcha ‘TOP’ Volunteer Team
4. Chai Cancer Care – Jewellery Workshop
5. GIFT – Cuppa Kindness Team
6. Goods for Good Team Lewy – Our Everyday Heroes
7. Help 4 the Homeless (London & Home Counties) – Food & Clothing Distribution Team
8. HSFA (Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association) – HSFA Outstanding Volunteers
9. Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service – Volunteer JBCS Counsellors
10. Jewish Care – The Pittals
11. Jewish Deaf Association – Redbridge Hearing Aid Maintenance Service
12. Jewish Women’s Aid – JWA University Ambassadors
13. JLGB – JLGB Winter Camp Team 2024/25
14. JTeen – JTeen Level 2 Volunteer Counsellors
15. JW3 – Family volunteers of the year! Jacob & Doreen
16. Kisharon Langdon – Friday Night Dinner Team
17. Manchester Jewish Museum – Manchester Jewish Museum Volunteers
18. Mitzvah Day Charitable Trust – All Mitzvah Day Coordinators
19. Nightingale Hammerson – Singing Group, Hammerson House
20. Northwood & Ruislip United Synagogue – NRUS School Visits Engagement Team
21. Norwood – School Ambassador Team
22. S&P Sephardi Community – Vestment Committee
23. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue – The Bereavement Support Group
24. UJIA – Israel Tour Madrichim 2025
25. United Synagogue – US Inclusion Leads
26. Volunteers on Wheels – Barnet Road Maintenance team for Tarmac Kier Joint Venture (TKJV)
27. Wellspring – Wellspring Trustees
28. WIZOuk – WIZOuk Young Patrons and Professionals
Young Adult Volunteer of the Year
1. All Aboard Charity Shops Saghar Mozafar
2. Chai Cancer Care Natasha Seitler
3. GIFT Isaac Leigh
4. Jewish Care – Jami Adam Gross
5. Jewish Women’s Aid Lara Isaacs
6. JLGB Sam Steinberg
7. Kisharon Langdon Natasha Lush
8. Nightingale Hammerson Katheleen Araujo
9. Project ImpACT Alexander Rogoff
10. Tribe UK Ben Morganstein
Lifetime Achievement Winners
Ajex – Clive Boxer
All Aboard Shops – Howard Brecker
Board of Deputies – Sheila Gewolb
British Emunah – Camille Compton
Camp Simcha – Meir Plancey
Chai Cancer Care – Susan Malins
Coventry Jewish Reform Synagogue – Ian Cohen
GIFT – Debbie Slyper z”l
Hadassah UK – Guilda Shamash
Jewish Care – Rita Rogers
Jewish Care Scotland – Maureen Solomons
Jewish Family Centre – Sandy Weinbaum
Jewish Women’s Aid – Caroline Ratner
JLGB – Pamela Livingston
JW3 – Dr Selina Gellert
Maccabi GB – David Wolff
Nightingale Hammerson – Hilary Halter MBE
Norwood – Jack Matthews
Royal Free Charity – Veronica Kennard
The S&P Sephardi community – Adam Musikant
Sutton and District Synagogue – Paul Solomon
The British Friends of Zichron Menachem – Eli Seliger
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue – Alex Weiss
UJS – Adam Rose
United Synagogue – Susan Starr
WIZO – Rae Ingleby
World Jewish Relief – Frank Maxwell
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