Up to 22 administrative and support jobs are being cut at Jewish Care as the charity looks to chop £2.5 million off its budget for the financial year starting in April.

Faced with the prospect of increased costs and less voluntary and statutory income, Jewish Care hopes to save £1 million through the redundancies, with the remainder clawed back through a range of savings initiatives at its properties.

Around one-in-six of the staff at its Merit House, Colindale, base will lose their jobs and the consultation process is under way.

Chief executive Simon Morris said: “These decisions were not taken lightly”. The charity was not immune to the effects of the economic downturn: “I know the community would expect Jewish Care to do everything it can to protect the services we provide to the more vulnerable members of the community.”

Every effort would be made to help the staff who lose their jobs. For example, other opportunities might become available within the charity. Alternatively, in-house counselling and support was available and assistance offered towards their search for new employment.

Projected expenditure for the coming year is £43 million and Mr Morris stressed: “We’ve worked very hard to have a balanced budget.” Cost-cutting efficiencies were being considered in areas such as catering and fuel consumption.

But he could not rule out further job cuts from the charity’s 1,100 workforce.