Norwood has highlighted the plight of neglected Jewish teenagers in its Rosh Hashanah appeal, which has a £100,000 target.
The campaign material focuses on the case of Simon, now 18, who from an early age was told that he was unwanted. His self-esteem was further damaged by bullying at school and he walked out of the family home when he was 16.
With his parents wanting nothing more to do with him, Simon went to the police, who referred him to Norwood’s family support service. A social worker was quickly on the scene with an emergency food and clothing grant.
Simon was also helped to find somewhere to live, get a part-time job and continue his studies. He will live in Jewish student accommodation when he starts university.
He praised the children and family services charity for “rescuing me from a very bleak situation. I don’t know what would have happened to me without them and I can now look forward to a much brighter future.”
Norwood needs to raise £9 million annually from voluntary donations to maintain services which chief executive Norma Brier says “will make a real difference to the lives of young people facing social disadvantage.
“Our practical and emotional support is often a lifeline.”
They rescued me from a very bleak situation