Faith In Charity – Jewish Charities Have Their Say
The bridges and barriers facing those who run faith-based charities will be at the heart of discussions between the Charity Commission and Jewish charities at a seminar in London this week. It follows on from the successful launch event with the Jewish charity community in Manchester and is part of a larger nationwide campaign run by the charity watchdog to develop its knowledge of the issues facing minority faith charities.
Kenneth Dibble, director of legal and charity services at the Charity Commission said: “Around one in nine charities that operate in England and Wales has a religious foundation so there is no doubt that faith-based charities play a vital role in building social cohesion. There are around 1,850 Jewish charities in Greater London alone, generating an annual income of more than £564 million and dealing with a whole spectrum of issues ranging from health and welfare to education.
“The vibrancy and strength of this part of the sector is very important to us, which is why we look forward to hearing the views of local people and to learning more about the broader context in which Jewish charities operate.”
Brenda Feldman, company secretary of Jewish Care said: “As the largest health and social care charity for the Jewish community, we draw on the rich heritage of communal care that is rooted in the Jewish religion. Our faith provides the backdrop to our work and directly affects how we provide our services, so we’re delighted to have the opportunity to discuss the challenges we face and opportunities we encounter. We’re also looking forward to contributing to the debate on how better regulation can help to build charity effectiveness and community confidence.”
The Charity Commission’s seminar will also generate discussion about how better regulation can support and enhance charity performance. The event will take place on Thursday 23 November in London and will involve a wide range of invited representatives from the Jewish charity community.”
