Author: Cally Gunn

Why JCS?

Leonard Wilson, known as Lennie by his Jewish Care Scotland family, Lennie has been volunteering with us for over ten years. Having been previously kept busy in the restaurant industry, Lennie comfortably steps into his role as the ‘kitchen manager’ where he serves soup, teas, coffee and cakes at Welcome Wednesday. If you know our Lennie, you’ll know that he takes his kitchen duties very seriously, arriving at The Walton Community Care Centre every Wednesday at 11am (sharp!) to make sure the café is stocked, sparkling and ready to go.

Lennie’s life before Jewish Care Scotland was definitely one to write home about! He started his career journey as a Commis Chef at the British Transport Hotel, before long he was quickly promoted to Trainee Manager where he learnt the managerial ropes. Climbing the hotel career ladder took him to new heights across Europe – from Le George V in Paris to The Ritz in Barcelona. Lennie enjoyed the food, culture and weather abroad, always taking the time to learn the language of the country he was working in and making many international friendships.

Returning to Scotland Lennie worked for the St Enoch hotel which hundreds of guests passed through every week. He was a familiar face for guests and famous faces alike. As his team, the guests and people around him began to hear whispers of his impressive travels and multi-language skills, Lennie was never short of people asking questions! His favourite request came from Scott Simon of Glasgow Rangers Football Club in the 60’s, when he asked: “Mr Wilson, would you like to come to Spain with the club to interpret Spanish?” Of course, Lennie graciously accepted and enjoyed a trip to Spain with teddy bears!

Growth through volunteering…

Over the years Lennie has worn many hats around the organisation!

In summer 2023 Lennie organised, and hosted, the first Jewish Care Scotland discussion panel where he invited guest speakers from out with the organisation to the centre to get together and chat informally about subjects relative to the local community. The gathering proved to be very popular, with the first chat drawing in more than 50 individuals to join the Welcome Wednesday group and get involved with the discussions! This first discussion session broke JCS’s record for number of Welcome Wednesday attendees!

From last June there has been seven discussion events with over 15 guest speakers visiting to join the conversation and connect with one another. In the year since discussion topics have included: Promoting Positive Wellbeing, Where are we going as a Community and Congregation? and Digital Skills Learn for Life.

Talking is a natural form of connection which JCS and Lennie will passionately continue to offer, enabling fun, meaningful conversation and giving the community a chance to be heard!

From kitchen manager to chair of the discussion panel to spearheading golfing events at Bonnyton, Lennie is an integral part of the Jewish Care Scotland team.

Advice for future volunteers?

“Say yes to instructions! It’s not a job, enjoy the honour! Encourage friends and relations.” Short and sweet!

23 July 2024

Jewish Care Scotland were delighted to hear of their National Lottery funding success last week.  With thanks to National Lottery players, the charity plans to deliver their Wellbeing Project which includes weekly exercise classes as well as a digital skills project. 

From Monday 5 August, JCS gentle movement class will take place each week between 10.30am and 11.30am at the Walton Community Care Centre.  Powered by MorphFit, the group exercise class offers a chance to get moving with our trained instructor Cara.  All attendees can go at their own pace and exercises are adaptable to everyone’s individual abilities.  Participants are welcome to stay after class for a tea, coffee or fruit juice and a chance to catch up with others. 

Of the Wellbeing Project, Deputy Chief Executive Robyn Friel said: “Our main objectives as an organisation include connecting people and promoting wellbeing and this project meets both.  The weekly movement class has increased in numbers each week since we launched the trial in May, with people telling their friends about it.  It’s a great way to start to the week.” 

The charity plans to launch a digital skills project in the early Autumn, following feedback from the community who lack confidence in their use of technology.  The project will include guidance and information on online safety, and ways to stay connected through the use of apps and finding out about events in your area, with a focus on making technology work for you.  Participants will have the opportunity to shape the sessions through feedback to ensure it delivers relevant and meaningful sessions.  The first digital skills workshop will take place during Welcome Wednesday on 28 August from 1pm and offers a chance to ask our Digital Champion, Cally Gunn, any questions and to register your interest to take part in the project.

Robyn continued, “We are so grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support and contribution to allow us to bring this project to life.  It will have a huge impact on the people who will take part.”

08 July 2024

A new defibrillator has been installed outside Jewish Care Scotland’s headquarters; The Walton Community Care Centre, May Terrace, Giffnock to allow the local community access to life-saving medical equipment.

Co-funded by JCS, Cosgrove and Glasgow Macabbi, the defibrillator will be available for anyone visiting the building and the local community to access. The installation has significantly improved the availability of a defibrillator should anyone suffer a cardiac arrest and, importantly, increase the chance of survival.

In case of an emergency please call 999, let them know that you are at May Terrace and they will give you a code which allows you to access the defibrillator.

For more information on how to access the defibrillator, or to find out how else JCS can support you, please get in touch by calling 0141 620 1800 or email hello@jcarescot.org.uk. 

Jewish Care Scotland’s Honorary President, Maureen Solomons, is one of our organisations’ longest running volunteers, with decades of experience under her belt! Originally, Maureen volunteered for Age Concern Scotland for around three years when in 1986 her sister-in-law, who was already volunteering with JCS, recommended she get involved.

Reflecting on the start of her volunteering journey: “I came along and had my interview with the late Freda Jackson, who was an amazing lady, one of the original ladies. And that was it! The minute I walked through the door, I knew it was different from anything I’d done before. I just knew, and I never looked back!”

In the early days Jewish Care Scotland was still referred to as the Glasgow Jewish Welfare Board and had yet to relocate to our well-known Giffnock location headquarters. Maureen reflects that although the old building on Coplaw Street was old and could be considered a bit “higglety pigglety”, everyone loved it and saw it as a second home for the community and the surrounding areas. Volunteers would be able to reach people from the Gorbals all the way through to Shawlands before we took on the big move in 1996 when JCS moved in next to Macabi in May Terrace, Giffnock.

Over the years Maureen has grown and changed alongside JCS; from performing in community cabaret events each year at Chanukah time to helping to establish and coordinate her fellow volunteers during the Covid-19 pandemic, Maureen is an integral part of Jewish Care Scotland. Ten years ago, Maureen has the honour of speaking at Glasgow City Chambers for Jewish Care Scotland’s 150th anniversary.

 

 

After many months of social distancing in 2020, JCS realised just how different the social care landscape was looking. To tackle these changes a group of volunteers, spearheaded, by Maureen alongside Lesley Roles and Avril Levy, boldly initiated the first ‘Welcome Wednesday’ drop-in café to promote the communities’ wellbeing and allow them to connect with one another! To this day Welcome Wednesday is still going strong, boasting 30 – 50 attendees per week. This would have simply not been possible without Maureen Solomons.

Reminiscing on her sweetest memory of JCS, Maureen prides herself on the achievement of her volunteering cohort who won the Queen’s award for volunteering. To commemorate the award a Royal Lord Lieutenant visited the centre to present the volunteer team with their honorary award. Over the years Jewish Care Scotland has had countless lovely memories of Maureen and simply couldn’t choose just one!

31 March 2025

JCS have launched a special one-off grant to support low-income families hoping to send their child to this year’s Maccabi Summer Scheme.   The summer scheme will take place between Monday 7 and Friday 11 July, at a total cost of £175 with a 10% discount for a second child.  Jewish Care Scotland is offering a limited number of one-off grants of £175 to eligible applicants. 

Robyn Friel, JCS Deputy Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this grant to ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to anyone taking part in this year’s Summer Scheme at Maccabi Glasgow.  The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact families and with the summer holidays approaching we want to make sure that no child misses out on the chance to attend the Summer Scheme and make some great memories.” 

The one-off grant is now open to applications.  Please contact the team at Jewish Care Scotland for more information by emailing Nicole at hello@jcarescot.org.uk or calling 0141 620 1800.  Applicants will be asked to evidence their disposable income to determine eligibility and further support may be available to those who would benefit.  All applications and enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence and payment will be made directly to Maccabi for successful applicants. 

For more information on the Maccabi Summer Scheme please contact Shayna Conn by emailing Shayna-SJYA@glasgowmaccabi.org.uk.