This was an important year for Jewish Care, with many highlights.

The annual Jewish Care Dinner was the first communal event that Rishi Sunak attended in his capacity as Prime Minister. He praised the support and care we provide for the community and acknowledged the contributions of 3,000 volunteers, including Rita Roth, who he presented  with a Points of Light Award. Holocaust survivor, Ivor Perl BEM, introduced Craig David at the Dinner. Our 100th Business Breakfast was attended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Dame Maureen Lipman and Rachel Riley MBE joined the uplifting Holocaust Survivors’ Centre Dinner in October.

Jewish Care opening of Sandringham (Credit: Justin Grainge)

The people we care for, and our Jewish values are at the heart of all we do. Our dedicated staff provide high-quality care and we are proud to align our pay with the London Living Wage across our nine care homes and four Retirement Living schemes. We received a Retirement Living Award at The National Retirement Living Awards 2023 recognising the support at our four schemes which are 100 per cent full. Six members of our care staff received awards at the Barnet Care Quality Awards.

Our nine community centres and three specialist centres for people living with dementia have never been busier. We launched both our virtual community centre programme, JC Presents, and our new website, including virtual tours and a cost of care calculator.

Jami and Jewish Care became one, ensuring community mental health services are sustainable. We saw the official opening of the state-of-the-art Sandringham campus and approval of planning permission for the new first-class Redbridge development, to meet the needs of the local community.

Members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre with Dame Maureen Lipman DBE and Rachel Riley MBE, Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown (Credit: Justin Grainge)

Since the tragic events in Israel on October 7 and during the dark times and distress that followed, our caring staff and volunteers have reassured and supported those who rely on us. We adapted programmes to create a safe space to talk and to be together, especially vital for our members at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre. I am proud to say that our staff and volunteers of all faiths have been a beacon of communities coming together with compassion, to support the Jewish community and one another.

We are proud of all we achieved and grateful to the community, lay leaders, volunteers and our 1200 dedicated staff, enabling Jewish Care to touch the lives of 10,000 people each week.

May 2024 be filled with good health and peace for all.

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Daniel Carmel-Brown is CEO of Jewish Care