Category: News

Monday 13 March – 10am to 2pm

 

We are hiring!

We have a number of vacancies to join our Community and Wellbeing Team including sessional hours and 30-hour contracts.

Our working hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm – that’s right, no evenings or weekend shifts!

If you are confident, outgoing and passionate about people and wellbeing come along to our JCS Jobs recruitment open day on Monday 13 March.  Drop-in between 10am and 2pm to apply or simply to find out more.

https://www.jcarescot.org.uk/jobs/

The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland) are seeking new referrals.  The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland) offer support to people including grants to improve their quality of life.

 

Originally established to provide care, entertainment and outings for members of the Jewish community with visual impairments, the Society has broadened its scope thanks to a welcome reduction in the number of clients with severe visual impairment.   The Jewish Blind Society now financially support Jewish Care Scotland, The Respite Fund and Chai Cancer Care in Scotland to deliver their services to those in need.

 

The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland) are working closely with Jewish Care Scotland to ensure that people who are eligible for financial support are aware of the grants available by creating strong referral pathways for Jewish Care Scotland clients to apply.

 

Chairman of The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland) Jonathan Lewis said, “We are delighted to support and work with Jewish Care Scotland and Chai Cancer Care in Scotland to reach those who need our assistance.  We are keen to reach more people, who might not be involved with any other organisation, who have a real need that we could meet.  Our aim is ultimately to improve the quality of life for people in the community who have a visual, physical or age-related impairment or chronic illness and we welcome their requests for support directly.”

 

Requests for support can be made directly by contacting The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland) by calling 0141 620 3339 or emailing jbs@jcarescot.org.uk.  All enquiries are treated with discretion and respect.

 

Jewish Care Scotland is delighted to welcome Tracy Levy to the Board of Trustees.  Tracy will join the organisation from March 2023 as a Trustee, responsible for the policy and financial wellbeing of the charity.

 

Tracy joins the Board of Trustees with a wealth of experience from her varied career in Sales.  Tracy is a Business Development Manager working with Tapestry Events, and in her spare time is a Freelance Tour Director and cake baker.

 

Tracy’s family have a strong connection with JCS, with her Mum Avril Levy most recently being involved in establishing the charities popular Welcome Wednesday weekly drop-in café.

 

Robyn Friel, Interim Deputy CEO said of Tracy’s appointment, “We are thrilled that Tracy will be joining the Board of Trustees and helping to shape the strategy and future of the organisation.  As a valued member of the community, Tracy will bring a new set of skills and expertise to our Board that will be invaluable in the governance of JCS”.

 

Welcome on board, Tracy!

We have started planning celebrations as the charity nears its 165^th anniversary in 2023. Planning for the 165^th Celebrations has been going on behind the scenes over the last few months. Jewish Care Scotland will be launching a year-long fundraising campaign ‘165 for 165’ where we will be asking 165 people to raise £165.

 

To drive the success of the campaign Jewish Care Scotland will be giving our supporters the option to get involved with the charity in dozens of different ways, supported throughout the year by the charity’s fundraising team. More information on these events will be released early next year.

 

Another way that the charity plans to highlight its longstanding service in the Jewish community in Scotland will be by exploring our rich history and showcasing our findings.

 

To help ensure the success of Jewish Care Scotland’s 165^th celebrations we will be looking for volunteers throughout the year in a variety of roles including two roles which we have launched specifically for the celebrations.

 

The first  is our new 165^th Anniversary Fundraising Role which will focus on attending the events as volunteer staff, helping out in operations and assisting with fundraising. The other role is our Communications Volunteer who will help the team find hidden gems in our archives, interview the community to hear their memories of Jewish Care Scotland and to suggest ideas for how to present our findings.

 

For more information on the roles or our 165^th Anniversary please contact Anya by emailing comms@jcarescot.org.uk.

 

Jewish Care Scotland launches JCS debit card powered by Currensea.

 

The team at JCS are delighted to launch the JCS debit card powered by Currensea and Mastercard.

The JCS debit card is a layer over your existing bank account so there’s no need to open a new account.

You can round up your spending at home in the UK as well as make savings on transactions abroad.  Using the Currensea app you can keep a track of your savings and you can choose to make a donation to JCS, if you choose to.

 

Robyn Friel, Interim Deputy CEO and Head of Income Generation said: “The card is a great way to show your support for JCS.  It is also a great way to save money when spending abroad and the round-up feature reminds me of Home Money Boxes which were common when I started my career in Fundraising.  Users can save their pennies virtually and choose if and when to donate some of those savings to JCS.  This gives our supporters and donors a new way to show that they care about the work that we do as well as offering them great savings if they use the card abroad.”.

 

It’s quick and easy to apply online and link the card to your existing account.  For more information or to apply for your card now visit: https://www.currensea.com/partner/jewish-care-scotland

 

Jewish Care Scotland thanks its Board of Trustees as part of Trustees’ Week celebrations.

Here at JCS are celebrating Trustees’ Week (7 – 11 November) by thanking all members of our outstanding board members for the vital contribution they each make to the success of our charity. Trustees’ Week is an annual event that gives charities a chance to showcase the great work their trustees do. This work is especially important in weeks like this one, which will see our organisation launch a new collaborative project ‘Warm Spaces’ with Cosgrove Care.

There are just over 100,000 charity trustees in Scotland, and over a million in the United Kingdom and here at JCS, we’re lucky to have a supportive and dedicated board that brings sensitivity and awareness to our cultural needs and a wide variety of skills and experiences.

Linda Kemp, Interim CEO at Jewish Care Scotland said: “Trustees are the unspoken backbone of the charity sector.”

Jewish Care Scotland has eight trustees who give their free time to help set the strategic direction of our charity and our community home. Each trustee comes with their own unique skill set that helps Team JCS achieve long-term strategic goals for the organisation.

Our trustees played a vital role in the recent success of our fundraising Golf Day and have been key advisors in building our latest project Warm Spaces and the successful volunteer-led community café Welcome Wednesday, which just celebrated its first anniversary.

Speaking about this Martin Livingston, trustee, said: “The COVID years proved to be a stimulus to update our care model to one that was more personally orientated, in line with modern practice. We have now enhanced our offer by providing a communal space for all with our Wednesday Welcome project at the Walton.”

Thanking the Jewish Care Scotland Board of Trustees, on behalf of all staff and companions, Linda Kemp, said: “They play an important leadership role in our charity, working together to make important decisions that impact the future of our charity”

“This has been especially true over the last few years, with the pandemic instigating many of the vital changes to the way we work and serve the community”

Find out more about JCS trustees all this week over on our social media.

Glasgow based Care organisations Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland are joining together to open their doors to those in need over the winter months.  As well as offering a warm refuge, simple lunch and social interaction the initiative plans to provide nags of essentials to attendees too, including toiletries and cleaning products.  The charities are asking for donations of these items to be distributed to help those impacted with rising costs this winter.

 

Donations can be dropped off to The Walton Community Care Centre Monday to Thursday, between 9am and 5pm.  Local pick-ups can also be arranged if necessary, by calling 0141 620 2500.

 

The Warm Spaces Project will see the Walton Community Care Centre in Giffnock open its doors on Sundays, from 12pm to 3pm, each week from Sunday 13 November.  Everyone is welcome and will have access to a warm space, a simple lunch and friendly faces from the teams at Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland.  The organisations are also relying on their loyal volunteers to help deliver the Warm Spaces Project, with support from Pulling Together.

Join us every Sunday from 13 November

12 to 3pm

 

Everyone is welcome to join us at The Walton Community Care Centre every Sunday, from 13 November, between 12 and 3pm for a warm welcome, simple lunch and friendly faces from the teams at Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland.

 

These sessions are free of charge and open to anyone who is struggling with the harsh winter months, whether you need to keep warm, something to eat or are simply looking for some company.

 

For more information, to let us know that you’re coming along or to request support with transport to and from Warm Spaces, call 0141 620 2500.

 

Glasgow based Care organisations Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland are joining together to open their doors to those in need over the winter months.  In light of the ongoing cost of living and fuel crisis the charities are pulling resources in an effort to support as many affected people as they can living in and around the southside of Glasgow.

 

The Warm Spaces Project will see the Walton Community Care Centre in Giffnock initially open its doors on Sundays, from 12pm to 3pm, each week from Sunday 13 November.  Everyone is welcome and will have access to a warm space, a simple lunch and friendly faces from the teams at Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland.  The organisations are also relying on their loyal volunteers to help deliver the Warm Spaces Project, with support from Pulling Together.

 

The project is aimed at anyone who is struggling with the harsh winter months, whether they need to keep warm, something to eat or are simply looking for some company. Cosgrove Care Co-Chair Colin Black said, “The Warm Spaces Project will offer a refuge for anyone in the local community who needs some extra support.  Whether they are struggling financially, in need of advice and support or feeling isolated and alone, our doors are open.”

 

Those who come along to the Warm Spaces Project will be able to take away a food parcel too, with some essential cupboard staples as well as having access to our warm clothes bank.  Staff and volunteers can also help with access to transport to the session.  The staff teams will also be on hand to discuss any potential support people might be able to benefit from, including the Jewish Care Scotland cost-of-living grant.  The grant is a one-off payment to people who are struggling financially, and more information can be found on the Jewish Care Scotland website.

 

Richard Groden, Chair of Jewish Care Scotland said, “Some people are facing the very real dilemma of heating or eating this winter.  We are here to help and are offering those who need us support in various forms.  The Warm Spaces Project is a joint venture between Jewish Care Scotland and Cosgrove Care to allow us to pull our resources and to maximise the impact we can make to those in need.”

 

Warm Spaces opens its doors every Sunday from 12pm to 3pm from Sunday 13 November.  More information about the Warm Spaces Project can be found at www.cosgrovecare.org.uk or www.jcarescot.org.uk.  To register your interest or for access to transport, please call 0141 620 2500.

 

More information on the Jewish Care Scotland Cost of Living grant can be found by contacting the charity directly, by calling 0141 620 1800 or emailing hello@jcarescot.org.uk.

 

The Warm Spaces Project signals a commitment from the Boards of Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland to work closely together into the future and there are ambitions to extend the support on offer moving forward.

 

In light of the unfolding cost of living crisis JCS are offering a one-off grant to low-income household and individuals who are struggling.  Households with no contingency i.e. no savings and no means to economise can apply.

 

The Minimum Income Tool will be used to calculate eligibility as it independently calculated and takes into account the income needed to maintain a decent standard of living, and not just basic necessities.  Applicants for the grant will also be asked to provide information about their income and expenditure to ensure that we can evidence need and appropriate use of funding, as well as to ensure that people are accessing all support that they are entitled to.  Our team will work closely with applicants to support households to more sustainable solutions where these aren’t already being accessed.

 

All enquiries and applications are handled by our staff team in confidence and will be treated with respect and discretion.

 

To find out more please contact Kayleigh on 0141 620 1800 or email hello@jcarescot.org.uk.