Applications for our Chanukah grant are now open!
We want everyone to be able to take part in the celebrations, and that’s why we are offering a one-off grant to individuals and households with limited income.
Please get in touch by calling 0141 620 1800 or by emailing hello@jcarescot.org.uk for more information or to apply.
All enquiries and applications are treated with discretion.
At our AGM in September 2025, we launched our next, five-year strategic plan for Jewish Care Scotland.
We have been working for the last year or so on developing this next strategic plan.
Many of our valued stakeholders were involved in gathering feedback, through speaking with us, sharing ideas and telling us what is important to you. We shared a stakeholder feedback survey, as widely as we possibly could to get people’s views and perceptions of Jewish Care Scotland. Many volunteers, service users and visitors completed it and we tried to reach members of the Jewish Community who currently don’t engage with us to find out why, and what we could do that might encourage them to engage. We set up a Strategy subgroup, comprising of staff, volunteers and Board members to analyse the findings alongside looking at demand for our current services. We are proud to share this new Strategic Plan with you now.
Our vision has been fine-tuned, with a focus on creating opportunities to connect. Our purpose is a bit clearer, emphasising that the work that we do and the services we provide are designed to enhance and to enrich people’s lives in various way. Our values remain the same with a focus on collaboration in the coming years.
Through all of our data gathering, informal conversations, staff brainstorming sessions and Board meetings we agreed that our three strategic priorities would remain the same. Connecting People, Promoting Wellbeing and Maximising Resources.
You can read the Strategic Plan online by clicking this link. Or you can request a printed copy by calling 0141 620 1800, emailing admin@jcarescot.org.uk or pick one up from our Information Station at Jewish Care Scotland.
Jewish Care Scotland marked a huge milestone with Honorary Vice-President Joan Sellyn. Jewish Care Scotland Chairman Dr Richard Groden, Honorary President Maureen Solomons, Honorary Vice-President Lesley Roles joined Joan and her grandchildren Marc and Gabrielle at Joan’s home for a surprise tea to mark her upcoming 100th birthday.
Along with Chief Executive Linda Kemp and Deputy Chief Executive Robyn Friel, the group celebrated Joan’s birthday as well as reminiscing and reflecting on Joan’s impressive contribution to Jewish Care Scotland and the wider Community.
Maureen Solomons remembered how she looked up to Joan as her mentor when she first started volunteering with Jewish Care Scotland in 1986, and described her as the voice of reason. Maureen, Joan and Lesley remembered an intensive counselling course that they embarked upon together, with Joan helping to organise weekend retreats as part of the learning and always making sure the group had their home comforts while they were away learning. They reflected on Joan’s motto which was “just do it”, and according to her grandchildren that hasn’t changed!
Joan was presented with flowers, cakes and a certificate from Jewish Care Scotland marking her 100th birthday in October and told us of her time at Jewish Care Scotland that it was “all good fun”.
Jewish Care Scotland, The Jewish Council of Scotland and The Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance were delighted to collaboratively host a Rosh Hashanah Fayre at the Walton Community Care Centre and Maccabi Glasgow.
The event was an opportunity to spotlight the talents of Jewish makers, artists and small businesses from all across the country. There were 17 stallholders from across Glasgow, Edinburgh and even Dundee. The event also saw the launch of a Hannah Frank exhibition, with thanks to the Glasgow Women’s Library, as part Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage Month. There was live music from Ingrid and Eric, live performances from Marnie, apple juicing with Rob and a visit from Laura and the team at Bunny & Co.
We were delighted to have the support of ten volunteers who kept the day, and the café, running smoothly welcoming over 200 visitors!
The event was a truly collaborative one, bringing together many different people from the Community in time to celebrate the New Year. Huge thanks to everyone involved for making the day such a fun Community event. See you next year!
We are hiring two key roles to join the team and drive forward our upcoming strategic plan from 2025 to 2030.
JCS Support Workers provide care & support interventions within the Community and Wellbeing team.
This includes working across any community and building based services to maximise wellbeing and cultural connections for clients, as well providing traditional care support.
The Communications and Engagement Officer will work across all community and building based services to maximise wellbeing and cultural connections.
The role holder will connect with and energise external stakeholders to maximise opportunities and deliver the organisations’ objectives.
Check out the job roles here.
We want everyone to enjoy celebrating Rosh Hashanah which is why JCS are offering a Rosh Hashanah grant for anyone struggling to meet additional costs associated with this time.
Applicants may be asked to provide proof of income and expenditure to progress their application. All enquiries are treated with discretion and respect.
Applications close at 5pm on Monday 15 September and successful grants will be paid by Friday 19 September 2025.
Our first Bubbly Bingo community fundraising event, which took place at the Walton Community Care Centre on Sunday 22 June was a huge hit. There was a “full house” on the day with over fifty people attending the afternoon event.
Jewish Care Scotland are proud to announce a new funding opportunity to support people in the Community to advance their careers and take on new opportunities. With thanks to a gift from the Harris Kaufman Trust, Jewish Care Scotland can now offer support to individuals to achieve their full potential.
Whether you are in Higher Education and need support to purchase books or equipment to help you succeed, looking to take on professional qualifications to allow you to advance in your career, or looking for a change and a fresh start and need some support to do so we might be able to help. These grants are aimed at individuals with low disposable income and savings who are keen to progress in their chosen vocation.
One member of the community has already benefitted from the fund, taking on a CIPD level 5 qualification. She told us, “Without the support of Jewish Care Scotland and the Harris Kaufman Trust, I would never have been able to undertake this course and progress to a new role.” For more information and for a confidential chat, please contact the team by calling 0141 620 1800 or email hello@jcarescot.org.uk.
Jewish Care Scotland’s Senior Support Worker, Jean Guthrie, has been named a finalist at the Scottish Care Care at Home Awards 2025 in the Leadership Category. Jean joined Jewish Care Scotland almost two years ago and has brought a wealth of experience in care as well as an abundance of passion and determination to provide quality care. Every day Jean goes above and beyond and sets a great example for all her colleagues.
JCS Deputy Chief Executive, Robyn Friel said of the news, “Jean is a valued member of the team who really does go above and beyond every day for the people we support. Jean leads by example and is a real inspiration to all the staff team and to the volunteers who support the work of Jewish Care Scotland in the Community too. This recognition is so deserved and we are all so proud to have Jean on the team.”
The winner will be revealed at the Scottish Care Care at Home Awards in Glasgow in May.
Monday 7 April 2025
In September 2020, Jewish Care Scotland launched our five-year strategic plan setting out the long-term vision for the charity. The main strategic priorities identified five years ago were: “Connecting people”, “Promoting wellbeing”, and “Maximising resources”. Five years have almost passed, and our staff team and Board of Trustees are now working on our next Strategic Plan and considering the future direction of the organisation. To ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community we want to hear from you!
Jewish Care Scotland’s Vice Chairman, Paul Winocour, adds: “This is a great opportunity for the Community to shape the future of JCS. We want to hear from as many people as possible to let us know what we do well, what could we do better and what do they want to see us do more of in the coming years.”
The survey is available to access online: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/JCS2025/
Or in the news section of our website until 12pm on 30 April, paper copies are available on request. If necessary, JCS staff are available to support the Community to complete the survey.
If you have any further questions or require assistance, please call us on 0141 620 1800 or contact comms@jcarescot.org.uk
0141 620 1800
