When Anita Wiseman was offered the opportunity to perform as a dancer in America, she pondered it but declined.

Instead, she gave up a glamorous showbiz life - performing at cabarets, music halls and prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium - to get married.

Young volunteers were honoured at the sixth Jewish Care Youth Leadership Awards ceremony at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre.

The event, hosted by leadership co-ordinator Ashley Williams, paid tribute to Redbridge's young volunteers who are involved with the community through the Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education leadership programme.

Josh Newman took gold at the London Youth Games.

Representing Redbridge, Newman, 12, exacted revenge on two rivals, aged 17, who beat him last year, forcing them to settle for silver and bronze.

Leading after the set routine, Newman pulled away after the voluntary routine, winning by a healthy margin.

Brit award winning pop and jazz singer Jamie Cullum sang the praises of Jewish Care at its campaign dinner on Monday, which raised a record £3.7 million.

Addressing almost 1,000 guests at Grosvenor House in central London, Cullum said he had been "absolutely blown away" by a visit to the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl campus in Golders Green, where he spoke to residents.

Young and old joined forces at Jewish Care's Redbridge Jewish Youth and Community Centre as a 250-plus crowd celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut.

Drawing on more than 30 years' experience of Independence Day events, Nettie Keene observed: "Every year these celebrations get more enjoyable. There is a great community spirit and solidarity. It's a fantastic and fun night to be a part of."

Two British Jews are among 30 young people who have been selected from more than 700 hopefuls to become fellows of Tony Blair's Faith Foundation.

From July Catherine Mansoor, from Middlesex, and Anthony Silkoff, from Essex, will be joined on the programme by three Jewish fellows from North America, as well as representatives from Christianity, Islam and other world religions.