The impact of Mitzvah Day in the wider community was highlighted by the founder of its Muslim equivalent at an interfaith tea for supporters hosted by Daniela and Trevor Pears on Sunday.

Facebook's European vice-president, Nicola Mendelsohn, was among guests who heard Julie Siddiqi, who recently launched the Muslim Sadaqa Day, tell how its Jewish precursor had inspired her.

"Mitzvah Day has taught me so much about community organising," she said. "I love working with the Mitzvah Day team and am grateful for their support in the work I do." She was pleased that Mitzvah Day planned to expand into Europe - "in light of what happened in Paris, building connections between our communities becomes ever more important".

The Mitzvah Day founder and chair, Laura Marks, discussed its role in a "fractured world", building bridges at local level. "Both by making Jewish people confident and by bringing people of other faiths together, we can really make a difference."

A new Mitzvah Day appointment is a dedicated staff member for interfaith issues, Abigail Kay.