The Jewish Leadership Council has renewed its appeal for the community to help raise £3 million for its Social Care Assistance Fund – which to aims support charities providing for 15,000 sick and vulnerable people in the UK.

Thirty community organisations that deliver specialist services to vulnerable people have applied to the fund for cash since the onset of the pandemic.

So far, over £1.5 million has been raised for the Social Care Assistance Fund.

People relying on these services include cancer patients, victims of domestic abuse, people with disabilities or people suffering from mental health issues.

Earlier this month, JLC chair Jonathan Goldstein told the JC the next three months were "absolutely critical" to making sure the organisation’s Covid-19 fund is put to its best possible use.

"I am really not interested in what we have done so far," he says. "The next three months are going to define whether we satisfy the needs of those charities."

He added that leadership group’s response to the coronavirus crisis has shown "the JLC at its best – when it has needed to lead and show that it can make a difference to people’s lives across the entire community".

Charities are facing increased costs in the provision of extra expert care; safe counselling; physical therapy and face-to-face contact with those most at risk; and more one-to-one support for those who would usually access group activities.

Many are providing additional practical assistance including safe transport for immunocompromised children to hospital, kosher food for thousands of ill or isolated people, and technology to ensure access to online support and programming.

Meanwhile the Emergency Community Fund, established by the JLC in partnership with Work Avenue  to support those in the community whose earnings have been directly affected by the pandemic, has allocated £311,865  to 175 households by June 11.

In a sign of how the pandemic has impacted on the community across the entire UK, householders in 62 different postcode locations have been supported in England and Scotland.

Meanwhile the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) has become the JLC’s  latest member.

JVN is the primary national hub for volunteering opportunities across the Jewish community and in 2017 was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Michelle Janes, Joint Interim Chief Executive of the JLC said: “Volunteering is essential to the success and sustainability of the Jewish community. 

“ It is important that those who give their time and energy to our community through their volunteering have a voice and can be supported through JVN.”