New Youth Aliyah Child Rescue executive director Martin Mason intends to raise the profile of the 75-year-old charity, which supports five villages in Israel.

Mr Mason, 54, took up the role this week, having assisted Youth Aliyah on a voluntary basis after closing his trade catalogues’ publishing company.

He produced the brochure for the charity’s anniversary dinner at St James’s Palace in November, held in conjunction with the International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and hosted by Prince Edward.
Youth Aliyah raised over £1 million in its last financial year and the dinner generated £200,000 for its 2008/9 accounts.

“My brief is to develop existing
relations and to source new donors,” Mr Mason said.

He acknowledged that finding additional benefactors would be challenging in the current financial climate but felt that a charity helping young people with a variety of problems had a strong selling point. “A lot of children come from broken homes and we give them a better life.”

Married with an adult daughter, he is also an active Woodside Park Synagogue member and a keen Spurs fan.

He will work alongside Youth Aliyah executive administrative director Nelly Ebert.