The “unsung heroes” who give up their time to a Jewish charity have been remembered in a ceremony.
More than 50 volunteers were recognised at Jewish Care’s annual awards event at the Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green.
One of the youngest at Thursday's ceremony was nine-year-old Jake Gilbert, who was presented with an award for his fundraising.
The Nancy Rubens Primary school pupil has raised more than £900 for the health and social care organisation by carrying out activities from playing his guitar at Purim to hosting a bake day sale and undertaking a sponsored silence.
The Hendon schoolboy said he was inspired to fundraise for the charity by seeing the positive impact it had had on his uncle’s life.
He added: “My uncle has really enjoyed being a resident in Jewish Care's Sidney Corob Care Home and so I wanted to say thank you to Jewish Care.”
The organisation, which operates in London and the south east, has 2,900 volunteers who carry out work from befriending to entertaining, fundraising to administration.
Jewish Care chairman Steven Lewis, who himself is a volunteer, thanked those who gave their time for making Jewish Care so special.
He said: “Your contribution and those of your colleagues help so many people engage in our services and activities and give real meaning to their lives.
“Not only do you bring meaning to people’s lives you also add value to the organisation.
“We know that the contribution of your time and the time of your volunteer colleagues is estimated at £9.25 million."
Jewish Care’s head of volunteering and community development Sonia Douek said she wished the organisation was able to reward the time and hard work of all its volunteers.
She added: “This event was an opportunity to celebrate extraordinary acts of volunteers. Some amazing people many of whom don’t realise quite how extraordinary their contribution is.
“We congratulate each and every one of our award winners and take our hats off to all our volunteers for their amazing contribution.
"This community wouldn’t be the same without them.”
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