Mensch of the Year: Joint winners and top ten

Since establishing the organisation with three others 23 years ago at the age of 20, Mr Plancey has raised funds, organised the committee, trained volunteers and driven the charity to help more and more families.

'This is a huge part of my life," he said. "We can give these children the happiest time of their life."

He was inspired to set up the charity during his gap year in Israel. His host family had a young son who was being treated for a brain tumour. While visiting the youngster in hospital, Mr Plancey saw how well he responded to being entertained. "He told me that by making him laugh, by bringing some fun into the hospital, we created some good feelings for him. I realised that that was the way we could improve the quality of life for these children."

Mr Plancey's charity provides practical and emotional support, including services such as art therapy, benefits advice and respite care.

His first fundraising dinner in 2000 saw the launch of its family retreat programme - which now provides holidays for families at venues throughout the country.

He said: "I didn't even dream the impact it would have - the children tick off the days until they go to a retreat. It's for the whole family. We did not realise the fundamental impact it would have for the parents - they can leave the children with carers and then have dinner together."

He is full of praise for the charity's volunteers: "There is a robust training for the volunteers. For them the work is life-changing - they are young kids themselves and they get attached to the kids. It's a huge commitment."

A businessman, Mr Plancey lives in Golders Green with his wife, Rachely, who is also involved with the charity, and has six children, aged from three to 17.

As well as supporting Camp Simcha, he is also a first responder for the London Ambulance Service.

WINNER

Frada Wilenski

Community worker

It is probably true to say that without Frada Wilenski, the Jewish community in Sheffield would struggle to survive.

The 78-year-old has almost single-handedly kept the South Yorkshire city's 300-strong community together, last year becoming its president - the first woman to do so.

Ever since she retired as a doctor 15 years ago, she has organised events at the festivals, running the knitting and bridge clubs, cooking food for the elderly and being available as a friendly voice on the phone for anyone in need.

She took over the kosher kitchen at the Orthodox Sheffield Jewish Congregation synagogue and makes breakfast for worshippers, which keeps the minyan going, and prepares kiddushim.

She said: "I love Sheffield. It has always been a small community but it is so friendly and I feel a responsibility to go above and beyond for the community as a Jewish person.

"I've had a mixture of friends all my life from different backgrounds. But when push comes to shove I want my Jewish environment around me so it is why I've done my best to keep it there."

Since she became president she has generated more interest in Friday night services, and organised Shabbat lunches so those on their own or lonely can come and socialise with friends. She makes regular visits to those who are confined to their homes.

"I came here in 1955 after studying medicine and I would consider myself a bit of a feminist. It was always my ambition to be president of the shul. I believe in equal rights for men and women so it was great when it happened, but you won't catch me burning my bra."

She said she loves to cook for everyone. "I make the best cheesecake - it really is my signature dish and where there is food there is Jews so it has a way of keeping everyone together."

Ninety per cent of the community is aged 70 or over. Mrs Wilenski said: "It is important to keep it going - especially for the few younger members we have."

She remains modest about what she brings to Sheffield. "I do what I can but I'm not the only one," she said.

Daniel Aaron

Charity donor

More than a dozen posthumous nominations were received for maths teacher Daniel Aaron - who died suddenly in January aged 34.

The nominators spoke of a man who was not "one in a million, he was one in a billion". All of the nominators spoke of a "generous and caring person".

Among the many communal organisations he supported were Aish HaTorah and Club Sandwich, a Borehamwood-based charity providing food for the homeless.

Many people spoke of how, despite his work commitments, he was "a warm and hospitable person who enjoyed inviting people to his home to share Friday night dinners, he was such a good friend to so many people", and that he could be relied upon to sponsor other people's efforts to support charities. "He gave £500 to my fun run," said one friend.

A recurring theme was that he would be remembered for the tzedakeh he gave within the community and "his ability to connect to all kinds of people and to give them a sense of almost tailored support".

Many commented that despite not being a good runner Mr Aaron completed a 10k run last year in memory of his father, raising more than £2,000 for Chai Cancer Care.

A school friend from their days together at JFS described a man who was "always helping the community. He gave maths tuition for free to his students whose families could not afford the fees. He would use his lunch breaks to help his students. It is unquantifiable how much he did."

Another friend spoke of how "whenever anyone needed help with anything Daniel was always first to help".

Speaking to the hundreds of mourners at Mr Aaron's funeral, David Calek, headteacher at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Boys School in Stamford Hill where Mr Aaron worked, described him as "a dear friend and teacher whose overriding characteristic was his incredible sense of empathy, and his natural desire and ability to feel for others, particularly his pupils".

He described how Mr Aaron paid for a pupil's counselling, which otherwise the school would not have been able to afford. Mr Calek said: "He provided £90 a week for six months. He did it without any fuss. No one knew about it."

In an emotional tribute, he said Mr Aaron was "a treasure, a unique human being whom we were fortunate to have. You were the master of kindness and compassion."

Sharon Ben Hur

Fundraiser and volunteer

When the Stepney Jewish Day Centre needed to buy a new dishwasher, Sharon Ben Hur set up a fancy dress shop in her own home making Purim costumes to raise the required cash.

That initial fundraising project took place 30 years ago and once she had raised enough money for the dishwasher she kept going until the centre had everything else on its wish list.

"My family has a long history in the area and we want to give back to a dwindling community," she said. "Both my parents grew up in Stepney and my mother still volunteers at the centre."

Mrs Ben Hur has provided her party planning and costume services to schools and youth movements for free or at a minimal cost - she is affectionately known around the community as "Sharon the costume lady".

The mother of four adult children who have all volunteered in Stepney, she lives in Edgware with her husband, Yoseph. She said: "I find volunteering very enjoyable. The variety of tasks that can be undertaken always provide a challenge."

Her many other communal roles include setting up youth activities at Hendon United Synagogue and fundraising to bring to the UK Israeli children from Sderot who are at risk from terror attacks.

Danielle Freedman

Counsellor

Danielle Freedman has given 3,000 hours of her time as a mentor helping victims of alcohol and substance abuse.

Working with the charity Al-Anon UK for 14 years, she has counselled many Jewish and non-Jewish families who live with the problem of alcoholism in a loved one or friend.

Ms Freedman's other roles include supporting South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services where for the past two years she has helped women suffering from domestic abuse.

Her 25-year background within the entertainment industry as a publicist and TV producer has given her a wealth of knowledge which she has turned into practical assistance, publicly moving the organisation forward.

Ms Freedman, 45, instigated taking the free services SLDAS offers into her local Jewish community in Liverpool to help raise awareness of alcoholism and substance abuse and has spoken at the Limmud conference on the issue.

Volunteering has been important to her since she was a teenager. "I volunteered from a very young age - at 17 I was a fundraiser for Manchester Jewish Blind Society at the Nicky Alliance Day Centre. To give of your time is very rewarding both for the person giving and the person receiving the help. Giving back is a very important part of community life."

Ms Freedman, who has two young children, is currently studying for a degree in psychotherapy and counselling.

Andrew Jacobs

Volunteer

Those who nominated Andrew Jacobs said it was impossible to quantify his voluntary work due to the sheer scale of his efforts over the past 30 or more years.

He is an executive member of North London Citizens, the group which led efforts to assist the area's Somali Bravanese community after its community centre was destroyed by an arson attack.

He helped co-ordinate Finchley Reform Synagogue's hosting of the Somali group's Ramadan celebrations, a move which was commended by Prime Minister David Cameron.

There is also his voluntary work for World Jewish Relief and individuals who he helps with little fanfare or recognition. In total there are hundreds of hours at meetings, planning events and handling emails and phone calls.

Mr Jacobs said: "I call them my 'projects' and I enjoy getting involved. I'm not the sort of person to sit down in the evenings and just watch the television."

Rachel Klien

Childbirth companion

Rachel Klien founded the Hansy Josovic Maternity Trust ( HJMT) 20 years ago. From her home in Stamford Hill she co-ordinates around 20 volunteer doulas (childbirth companions) who are available at any time of day and night to support Orthodox Jewish women throughout their pregnancy and in childbirth.

The 68-year-old mother of six said she set up the charity "because I know how important it is for every woman to have a positive experience of childbirth. The family is the focus of Jewish life. A positive birth experience leaves a woman feeling strengthened and promotes her sense of well-being."

She praised the doulas, who are, like her, volunteers. "They nurture the women. You can't divide me from my team. They are there all the time, even if it is Yom Kippur."

Mrs Klien was motivated after witnessing family and friends having poor experiences of birthing. "Women are most vulnerable during labour, they need support. We work with the hospital in partnership with the professionals. The NHS staff love us and they are so enamoured by our work," she said.

Mrs Klien co-ordinates and books women in with a doula, as well as organising training for the volunteers. The charity now has sister organisations in Gateshead, Manchester and in Edgware, north-west London and is supported nationally by 60 doulas.

Arnold Levin

Volunteer

The 71-year-old volunteers five days a week to assist young adults with learning disabilities who receive help from the Langdon charity. Fundraising, teaching, and mentoring all come under his remit as he assists the students with selling second-hand books online. The venture is so successful that there are plans to extend it from London to Manchester.

Mr Levin has decades of voluntary experience, having previously assisted Jewish Care and co-ordinated a committee to help recently bereaved people socialise.

He said: "I enjoy it. I was a teacher during my working life and I like being with young people. Many people have had a rough time in their lives and for many the education system has failed them. The young people find it very difficult to get employment. Hopefully I give them a positive experience."

Nominees praised Mr Levin's patience and friendship qualities and highlighted - as was the case with so many of our mensches - that he is reluctant to accept any recognition for his efforts.

In the past he has also ran a committee organising events for people who have been bereaved but retired from that role partly due to the amount of time he was giving to Langdon.

Joyce Rothschild

Fundraiser

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, Joyce Rothschild has raised more than £100,000 for Macmillan Cancer Care by writing themed quizzes which are sold for £2 each.

She had to overcome an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 40, at a time when she had two young children.

She said: "When I had breast cancer the hospital didn't have the equipment that I needed and I had to go somewhere else. I wanted to do something so others wouldn't have to do it.

"I came up with the idea of a quiz and I've done about eight of them so far. It seems to have captured the imagination of so many people - it's a great way of raising money.

"It does take hours of work but knowing it is making other women's lives different and a bit less stressful when going through their treatment is why I do it."

She has undertaken her voluntary work alongside a full-time job in education and more recently several professional consultancy roles.

When she is not raising money for charity she also directs the choir at her synagogue, Birmingham Progressive, alongside hosting an annual Rosh Hashanah lunch for members who are on their own.

Her nominator said: "She is a true mensch, a delightful person always there for others no matter how busy or what problems she may have herself.

"The support and hope she has given to people, often newly diagnosed with breast cancer, cannot be quantified."

Over the past year, Mrs Rothschild has juggled all her voluntary commitments as she has also been the main supporter of her mother, who lives over 100 miles away.

She said: "I'm doing OK now. I try to plan for the future and take each day at a time."

Barbara Waterman

Volunteer

Stepney is indeed fortunate, boasting two mensches in our top 10, who devote their time to the area's Jewish Care day centre.

Barbara Waterman has given a lifetime of service to the East End community, particularly to elderly people living there.

Over 46 years, she has dedicated almost 26,000 hours to volunteering - and is still going strong at the age of 82.

She travels twice a week - by Tube - to the centre from her home in Hendon.

She said: "I do various jobs, making teas, serving lunch, fundraising and chatting to the members.

"The centre is small, which means we all know each other so well. They feel like family and I love going there."

Mrs Waterman has also raised tens of thousands of pounds and has inspired volunteers to follow in her footsteps to keep the centre open.

According to her nominator her donated time equates to £206,400 worth of unpaid work.

Mrs Waterman said: "I work as volunteer co-ordinator with a dedicated group of likeminded volunteers.

"I adore coming to the East End. The members of the centre there are such characters. They say they look forward to seeing me. I hope they mean it."