At the start of the pandemic I felt as if, just minutes before, I had been enjoying a brisk morning jog through life; and then, all of the sudden, had fallen into a pit which led to a long, seemingly endless tunnel. For the first few months I desperately felt around in the dark, hoping to make sense of where I was and wondering if there was anyone else experiencing this tunnel with me. While trying to navigate this new reality, I often contemplated what we might look like once we reach the tunnel’s end.
The fate of Jewish charities and the UK philanthropy landscape was, and continues to be, particularly concerning to me. As the Chief Executive of the Shalva UK charity, I was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of seemingly contradictory truths: increased demands yet fewer resources; connecting personally with socially distanced stakeholders; virtual events for place-based causes. With the backdrop of urgent local needs, how were we to go about connecting our donors to an Israeli charity? How would elevated values of partnership and generosity survive the harsh pandemic environment?
All the while, pressure was building surrounding the health and wellbeing of Shalva’s vulnerable population. Shalva provides rehabilitative care to 2,000 individuals with disabilities and their families in Israel who have suffered disproportionately with regressions and social isolation directly resulting from Covid. Parents were literally on the verge of collapse, and fickle health regulations made support resources unstable and inefficient. The heartbreaking reality could not afford but a moment of helplessness.
It turns out we weren’t alone in the Covid tunnel. A report published earlier this month by the Charity Commission for England and Wales shows that 91% of charities in England and Wales have been negatively impacted by Covid. The research reveals severe consequences concerning inability to deliver services and maintain financial and staff structures, as well as a general sense of insecurity and frustration. The majority of UK charities experienced loss of income, over one third have reported shortage of staff and volunteers; and yet, surprisingly, we’ve seen very few charities closing down.
So, what is their secret to survival? I can’t speak for everyone, but here’s ours; ‘Challenge Accepted!’ Since its inception, the ‘Challenge Accepted!’ campaign was designed to herald the partnership of UK and Israeli donors and respond to undertones of resentment surfaced by UK donors who have been inundated with requests to support both local and overseas causes. Matched funding secured from both UK and Israeli donors creates a platform for joint philanthropic contribution toward a common goal and emphasises a necessary message of global responsibility.
Additionally, the campaign was largely inspired by individuals with disabilities at Shalva. For them, completing even the simplest tasks may require immense efforts; but with perseverance and dedicated work, they are able to accept these challenges and achieve their goals. In this spirit, Shalva UK viewed the pandemic’s hurdles as a challenge that we must accept and we reformatted events and campaigns to uphold our fundraising targets. The surging pandemic only made us more committed to ensure that the Shalva individuals and their families would always find an open home and an open heart.
In lieu of a traditional gala dinner, last year Shalva UK produced a virtual event with gourmet meals delivered to the homes of dinner guests and an online programme of speeches, videos, and an interactive interview with Lior Raz, actor and screenwriter of the Fauda television series. Through the event’s successful charitable contribution and participant involvement, Shalva UK realised the ‘Shalva spirit’ of accepting challenges in our donors as well. Following this directive, Shalva UK’s 2021 fundraising campaign is taking yet another reformatting turn by launching its first-ever crowdfunding campaign, which we’ve called ‘Challenge Accepted!’.
The ‘Challenge Accepted!’ campaign’s exceptional matched funding partnership of UK and Israeli donors represents an insight we’ve gained on our journey through the Covid tunnel; shared causes require shared philanthropic responsibility. This central component of the campaign establishes a unified approach to Jewish philanthropy and an essential turning point for Shalva UK which we hope will continue for years to come.
Nearly two years since we first entered the Covid tunnel, with the end hopefully in sight; I anticipate we will emerge together, and this may truly be the light at the end of it all.
Gaby Hirsch is the Chief Executive of Shalva UK and can be contacted at gaby@shalva.org.
Shalva UK’s ‘Challenge Accepted!’ crowdfunding campaign will take place for 36 hours on November 21-22. Over one hundred ambassadors; including Shalva UK’s trustees, committee members, and volunteers will be turning to their personal circles of contact to help them meet this challenge.
For more information on the campaign please go to www.charityextra.com/shalvauk
