Author: Robyn

Jewish Care Scotland – A place for everyone

 

With Rosh Hashanah and Jewish Care Scotland’s AGM approaching, we are reflecting on the previous year and starting to look ahead at what’s to come.

 

At our AGM in September 2025, we launched our strategic plan for the next five years with a real focus on bringing the Community together.  Community remains at the heart of what we do and we envisage a strong, united Community with provision for everyone no matter their age or capability.

 

Over the past two years we have been building on our existing programme of activities to create more opportunities for people to connect.  As well as the ever-popular Welcome Wednesday café and MorphFit classes we have introduced a monthly activity session, Monday Funday and weekly walking group, Tuesday Trails.  The regular, informal Monday activity has included quizzes, bingo and a speaker event as well as two outings, one to Loch Lomond Shores and most recently to Troon. Our all-weather walking group has over 20 active members who meet weekly to connect and get moving at a local park.

 

The weekly calendar is full of a variety of activities taking place at our centre in Giffnock.  Welcome Wednesday continues to offer a space to meet with old friends and make new ones, and importantly we are responding to demand for new, varied activities as part of that.  As well as the weekly “knit and natter” group, regular sing-alongs and engaging discussion panels, we are delighted to see our new groups coming together and using the Community space to play bridge and kalooki.

 

We are recruiting new volunteer roles to empower more members of the Community to get involved and give something back, as well as enabling us to expand our reach and be there for more people who need us.  Someone who can spare half an hour on a Wednesday afternoon to drive someone home from Welcome Wednesday will be giving them so much more than their time, they will be ensuring they can get out to meet with friends, enjoy some lunch and feel connected.  Something that many of us often take for granted.

 

Jewish Care Scotland has listened to the Community, to feedback and comments and we have responded.  For years people would say, “Jewish Care isn’t for me.”  I say it is.  Today, and in the future, Jewish Care Scotland is a place for everyone.

 

Jewish Care Scotland is proud to be able to offer something for everyone in the Community, at any phase of their lives.  From financial assistance grants supporting pupils at Calderwood Lodge Primary School, our upcoming Rosh Hashanah Makers Market spotlighting local artists and businesses and offering family activities, volunteering opportunities, to our Registered Day Care service we are confident that Jewish Care Scotland has something for everyone.

 

 

With exciting plans to redevelop the space to better suit the needs of the Community, we are confident that Jewish Care Scotland will continue to be a place for everyone, always.

To hear more about the year ahead, register to attend our AGM in October by visiting the Jewish Care Scotland website.  Please consider making a donation to our annual appeal this Rosh Hashanah to support the work that we do for all of the Community.

Shana Tovah!

Dr Richard Groden, Chairman

 

Jewish Care Scotland Honorary President Maureen Solomons was presented with a Jewish Volunteering Network Lifetime Achievement Award at the Giffnock charity’s base this week.

Maureen has been volunteering with Jewish Care Scotland for over 40 years, having joined Jewish Care Scotland in 1986.   Maureen spoke fondly to guests at the presentation during Jewish Care Scotland’s Welcome Wednesday, and told them how after joining the charity she “never looked back”.

During her tenure Maureen has been involved a variety of roles ranging from driving a minibus, befriending vulnerable clients and now as Honorary President.

Maureen has played an integral role in the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the charity throughout the years. Having retired as Chair of the Board in 2013, Maureen could have chosen to take a well-deserved rest from her voluntary career but instead played a key role in establishing Jewish Care Scotland’s Welcome Wednesday café with the aim of bringing people back together following Covid-19 lockdowns.  Maureen continues to work tirelessly today to organise and deliver the popular weekly café.  Each week, with thanks to Maureen and her volunteer colleagues, 40 to 50 visitors benefit from social interaction, activities and a light lunch in a culturally sensitive space.

Jewish Care Scotland staff and members of the Board joined the attendees of Welcome Wednesday to celebrate Maureen’s success and contribution to the Community over the past 40 years with guests congratulating Maureen through song, led by Eddie Binnie.

Jewish Care Scotland Chair Dr Richard Groden presented Maureen with her trophy from the Jewish Volunteering Network to celebrate her Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jewish Care Scotland were delighted to host an intimate Pre Seder event on 31 March, with thanks to local funder the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.

Regular attendees of the weekly JCS Wellbeing Hub shared Seder plates and enjoyed a special three-course meal, catered by L’Chaims, to kick off the Pesach celebrations.

Guests were served chicken soup with egg lokshen before a roast chicken main course followed by cake and fruit salad.   Guests were delighted to be joined by JCS Vice Chair Paul Winocour and Rabbi Rubin for the special event.

The Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust’s support funded the special meal and allowed some invited guests to come along and join in the celebration too.  The event was a welcome way to start the Pesach festivities for all involved.

 

Jewish Care Scotland’s Spring Fayre was welcomed to May Terrace with a flurry of snow last week.  The weather didn’t put visitors off dropping by to browse a range of local entrepreneurs, makers and creators and the charity was delighted to welcome a host of new visitors and regulars alike.

Stallholders included Dear Green Candle Company, Philippa’s Boutique, Mona & Nettie, and Hearts ‘N Stars by Marticlare as well as charity Cosgrove, Cross stitch by Elaine Marks and Jewish Care Scotland’s own Knit and Natter group.

The Fayre was a great success with all visitors enjoying the opportunity to shop and support local businesses.  All sales from the JCS Knit and Natter stall, selling unique handcrafted items, were generously donated to Jewish Care Scotland and we are delighted to announce that over £180 was raised.  Huge thanks to all of our talented knitters, crocheters and creators and to everyone who supported the event.

 

 

Jack and Diane Kay held an exclusive whisky tasting event earlier this month as part of an ongoing fundraising drive for Jewish charities.  Jack of Whisky Barrel Judaica, and his wife Diane welcomed guests to their home to enjoy an intimate whisky tasting event in aid of Jewish Care Scotland.

The event, which saw guests sample a variety of Scotch whiskies and bid in an auction for whiskies, raised over £1,000 for the Giffnock-based charity.

In 2022, Jack established Whisky Barrel Judaica, a unique initiative which sees Jack handcraft one-off items from oak barrels previously used to store Scotch whisky including Mezuzot cases, Chanukiot and Challah boards in exchange for a donation to one of Jack’s three chosen charities.  Jack takes nothing for his work and Jewish Care Scotland, Chai Cancer Care and Magen David Adom are all lucky beneficiaries of Jack’s hard work.

Since 2022, Jack has created hundreds of individual items for happy customers in exchange for donations as well as hosting a Chanukah raffle to benefit all three charities.  This latest event has now seen Jack, Diane and Whisky Barrel Judaica raise a combined total of more than £10,500 for all three charities.

Of the recent whisky tasting event, Jack said, “This was a great way to raise funds for JCS – and a lot less effort than making my wooden Judaica! I will definitely be doing this again.”

Robyn Friel, Deputy Chief Executive of Jewish Care Scotland said, “We are so grateful to Jack and Diane for all of their efforts and hard work over the years to raise awareness of Jewish Care Scotland as well as to receive such generous donations.  Jack has supported us in so many ways including the Whisky Barrel Judaica Chanukah raffle, donating handcrafted items towards our own fundraising events, asking those asking him to make items to donate to Jewish Care Scotland and most recently through this special whisky tasting event at his home.  We are delighted to be a part of Whisky Barrel Judaica’s unique initiative with funds raised going towards our work for the Jewish Community across Scotland.”

You can find out more about Whisky Barrel Judaica by visiting the website at www.whiskybarreljudaica.com.

                           

Jewish Care Scotland are seeking a highly motivated and driven individual to join the team as Communications and Engagement Officer.  As part of the charity’s Strategic Plan, the role will be a link between Jewish Care Scotland and other Community organisations.  The successful candidate will develop new ways to engage with the Community face-to-face and reach new audiences.

We recently celebrated some team member promotions.  Megan, Senior Administrator from July 2021 was appointed as Office and Finance Manager earlier this month.  Jean, previously Senior Support Worker, now leads the Community and Wellbeing team at Jewish Care Scotland as Service Lead.

Jewish Care Scotland Deputy Chief Executive, Robyn Friel said of the opportunity: “We are on the look out for an enthusiastic individual to take on the role of Communications and Engagement Officer to help increase Community engagement, to make sure anyone who might benefit from our services knows about Jewish Care Scotland and what’s on here and to listen to feedback to help us develop our service offering to best meet the needs of the Community.”

The role is currently open to applicants, and anyone interested is encouraged to get in touch for an informal conversation and to find out about the role and the recruitment process.  Closing date for applications is Monday 13 April at 12 noon.