By
Corinne Rein
A social services group offering support to vulnerable members of the Bournemouth community has been started by volunteers Pat Cravitz, Josie Lipsith, Marcia Goodman and Liz Harris.
Bournemouth and District Social Services will help residents to access local social services and will give emotional support to those in need.
Sixty people attended a fundraising launch event at the home of Josie and Harvey Lipsith, which was addressed by Jewish Care's head of volunteering and community development, Sonia Douek.
"This is community development at its best," she said. "I am delighted that Jewish Care has been invited to support and advise this impressive community initiative.
"We plan to offer the group the first of what we hope will be many training sessions for their volunteers in December."
Run from a room at Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation, the cross-communal enterprise has the mandate "to co-ordinate the care and support of the Bournemouth Jewish elderly and anyone, irrespective of age, who finds themselves in difficulty".
It will operate under the auspices of Jewish Care, which will help with the training of volunteers and marketing.
Having worked with Jewish Care and Jewish Community Housing in London, Mrs Cravitz is team leader.
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