Jewish Care Scotland from its earliest days over 150 years ago has been caring for the Jewish Community in Scotland.
Click on the links below to find out more about Jewish Care Scotland.
About us
Jewish Care Scotland supports people in the community of all ages in a professional and compassionate way. Whether it is young people struggling with multiple sclerosis or mental health problems, or perhaps older people suffering from dementia, Jewish Care Scotland is there to offer a helping hand through its professional staff and its dedicated care agency volunteers.
Click here to watch our new DVD introduced by Maureen Lipman.
When the image appears, make sure that your computer sound is turned on and press the "play" symbol in the middle of the picture.
Our history
Here are some notable dates and events in our history:
2008
Jewish Care Scotland marked 150 years of continuous caring with a year full of events, special fundraising and celebrations. Glasgow City Council and East Renfrewshire Council each hosted a civic function to celebrate the history and communal contribution of Jewish Care Scotland. Jewish Care Scotland published A Caring Community…150 years of Jewish Care Scotland researched and written by Sharon Barron. 21 Jewish Symbols, an embroidered panel stitched by ladies from the Arts and Crafts Clubs, was gifted to East Renfrewshire Council and is now exhibited in East Renfrewshire Council Headquarters.
1999
Jewish Care Scotland moved into the purpose built Walton Community Care Centre, along with Cosgrove Care and the Jewish Blind Society.
1996
A radical change - the Glasgow Jewish Welfare Board was professionalised, changed its name to Jewish Care Scotland and moved from Coplaw Street to temporary premises within the Maccabi complex in Giffnock. A chief executive was appointed, together with professional social workers and staff. East Renfrewshire Council entered into a partnership arrangement with Jewish Care Scotland, leading to the development of a seconded social work team and a day care service. The partnership gave the community a unique one door approach to statutory and voluntary services. The Welfare Agency changed its name to the Social Care Agency and volunteers and professional staff joined together for the increased benefit of those in the community in need of help and support.
1970
The Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians was renamed The Glasgow Jewish Welfare Board, coinciding with a move into new premises at 49 Coplaw Street and to reflect changing public attitudes to welfare services.
1926
The Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians opened their new administrative offices and communal hall at 52 Thistle Street, Gorbals.
1917
The Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians and Philanthropic Association became The Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians.
1911
The charity moved from Garnethill to the Gorbals where most of those making a claim on its funds resided. The organisation was based in a large main door flat at 11 Apsley Place.
1867
The merged Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians and Philanthropic Association took on responsibility for the relief of the poor.
1866
The Synagogue Council amalgamated its charity work with the Glasgow Hebrew Philanthropic Society.
1858
The earliest written record of the Glasgow Hebrew Philanthropic Society. Our roots go back to the earliest days of the Scottish Jewish community when charitable caring for those in need was a priority for everyone in the community. The Society is recorded in the Minutes of the first synagogue opened in George Street, requesting the use of a room to dispense charity to Glasgow’s Jewish needy.
Our team
Jewish Care Scotland is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association under the Companies Act 1985. It also adheres to the values and principles as set out by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator OSCR.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is elected at the Annual General Meeting. Directors, as Trustees, are responsible for the policy and financial well being of the charity. The undernoted were elected in September 2009:
Chair, Maureen Solomons; Vice-Chairman, David Bishop; Treasurer, George Hecht; Company Secretary, Trevor Schuster-Davis; Social Care Agency Chair, Lesley Roles. Board of Directors: David Bishop, Colin Black, Natalie Cahif, Sylvia Cohen, Angela Hecht, George Hecht, Paul Morron, Oli Norman, Lesley Roles, Trevor Schuster-Davis, Maureen Solomons, Vivian Strang, Albert Tankel.
Finance Committee
George Hecht, Colin Black, Melville Robinson, Maureen Solomon, Lesley Roles.
Delegate to Glasgow Jewish Representative Council
Bernice Gordon
The staff
Senior Management Team:
Chief Executive: Suzanne Neville
Social Work Manager: Ailsa Kellie
Personnel & Administrative Manager: Michael McLellan
Volunteer Services Manager: Neil Buchan
Day Care Manager and Outreach Worker : Gail Anderson
Office Manager: Irene Black
The Social Care Agency Management Group
Chair: Lesley Roles
Vice Chair: Angela Hecht
Rayner Howard, Avril Levy, Sarah Reinhold, Joan Sellyn, Vivian Strang, Alice Tankel.
Click here for details of how to volunteer.
The Social Care Agency is dedicated to the work of Jewish Care Scotland. Over 120 volunteers work within 17 sub groups: Arts and Crafts, Aviv Club, Bakers, Book Club, Bowling Club, Discussion Group, Events, Kandu Club, Newark Care Joint Project, Newsletter, Outreach, Reception and Support, Sponsored Walk Development Group, Sunday Club, Thistle Club, Thistle Bus Escorts, Thistle Social Club. Volunteers contribute Movement to Music, Medication Advice and Bridge Advice.
How we are funded
Jewish Care Scotland is a Scottish Charity registered under Charity No. SCO 05267. As a not for profit organisation, we need to raise funds to cover the cost of the services we provide.
Our main funding comes from the Jewish community itself and from local authorities. We benefit from a unique partnership with East Renfrewshire Council whereby approximately one third of our staff is either seconded from East Renfrewshire Council or have salaries covered by the council. We also receive income from Glasgow City Council and from those who use some of our services.
We benefit too from voluntary input with the Social Care Agency volunteers contributing over 22,000 hours a year of practical help and a spirit of care that pervades everything we do.
However there is always a sizeable sum that we need to find each year to ensure we have the staff and resources to help people in need in the community. We subsidise every client who attends our clubs by an average of £20 each day and we must also raise money for the social work team who work outwith East Renfrewshire.
We rely on the generosity of individuals to make up the shortfall in our funding. Every penny donated is appreciates and is well used. We claim Gift Aid too when authorised to ensure the maximum benefit from each donation. Here are some ways of giving designed to suit individual requirements:
Donate Online - Convenient and easy wherever you are. You can make your donation safe and secure on our web site.
Annual Appeal - Each autumn this is our major and crucial fundraising effort. It allows everyone in the community to contribute their support.
Annual Fun Walk - A great family event. Sponsored walkers of all ages raise vital funds for Jewish Care Scotland services.
The Celebration and Anniversary Fund - A delightful way to extend the joy of a celebration even further, a donation to Jewish Care Scotland in the name of the celebrant who receives a special Certificate to frame and display.
The Tree of Life - Adding an engraved leaf to the beautiful copper Tree of Life that graces the reception in Jewish Care Scotland is a delightful way to commemorate a special person or occasion and help Jewish Care Scotland care for those in need in our community.
Memorial Board - A permanent and lasting tribute to departed loved ones whose names are displayed in the foyer. The funds from this initiative contribute substantially to services in the Walton Community Care Centre.
A Legacy - Leaving a legacy to Jewish Care Scotland in your will means we can keep on caring for our community in the years to come.
Please contact us on 0141 620 1800 or email us at admin@jcarescot.org.uk if you would like to find out more about how you can help.
Click here for more information on ways of helping Jewish Care Scotland.
Job Vacancies
For positions advertised directly by Jewish Care Scotland, download a job application form by clicking here and printing the form from your computer.
There are no such vacancies at present.