Chancellor George Osborne has announced a major six-figure grant to the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade to be used towards getting more young Jews involved in social action.
JLGB was among 14 national youth organisations funded after a competitive application process. The money will support a new team of regional professionals, heavily subsidised activities and camps and the establishment of national campaigns to attract more student, young adult and parent volunteers.
Chief executive Neil Martin said: "This major boost from the government gives JLGB the resources we need to take our award-winning provision to the next level, expanding and creating new JLGB groups and programmes."
The grant is part of the Step Up To Serve campaign, geared to doubling the number of young people involved in social action by 2020. JLGB has been in the forefront through its eVOLve young volunteering initiative, launched in January by Prince Edward and the Chief Rabbi.
Mr Osborne said the money for the campaign had been found from the financial penalties resulting from the Libor banking scandal. "It is right that money paid in fines by people who demonstrated the worst of the values in our society is now being used to support those who demonstrate the very best and bring about a positive change."
Civil Society Minister Brooks Newmark added that "this scheme will help to build a generation of young people with raised aspirations and greater prospects for their future".
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