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JCORE Newsletter
Rosh Hashanah Edition
September 2011 / 5772 |
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| Dear Supporter,
After a tumultuous summer, we decided to mark the New Year by reminding ourselves of the responsibility we, as Jews, have to the wider society. So JCORE has instigated a manifesto for social action, which, we're thrilled to report, 20 other organisations have signed up to. You can see it in this week's Rosh Hashanah edition of the Jewish Chronicle.
Please tell your friends to look out for it, and encourage them to get involved - if not with us, then with one of the other charities.
Meanwhile, do read on for all the latest news about JCORE. We wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.
We can't do it without you.
Dr Edie Friedman,
Executive Director
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News: JCORE welcomes Simon and Jen
Meet Simon Pullan, new JUMP co-ordinator
 Simon says (!): "I'm delighted to join the JCORE team after a year-and-a half volunteering with unaccompanied minors in various places from the Refugee Council to a cricket project in Croydon. My background (and this may divide opinion amongst you!) is in investment banking, and I spent my first four years after university at Barclays Capital.
I also work with children leaving care, helping them to prepare for and find employment. And I play as much sport as I possibly can.
This year I aim to take JUMP onwards and upwards, so please get in touch with me if you'd like to know more, are interested in volunteering as a befriender, or have ideas about trips for the young people - like the seaside trip below."
Meet our new intern, Jen Izaakson:
 Jen says: "I'm a post-grad at LSE in Economic Sociology, got to hear about JCORE through working for Love Music Hate Racism, and hope to create roots for JCORE in universities across the UK. I've produced an introductory pack to encourage students to get involved with us and to raise awareness on campus about asylum destitution. We've contacted tens of Jewish societies and over 20 have already requested our materials for their Freshers' Fayres. I think this shows the huge potential of students' capacity to care about social justice issues.The other thing I'm doing at JCORE is developing our use of social networking - an absolute must these days for any charity. JCORE now has hundreds of followers on Twitter. It's a brilliant way to keep in touch, and if you've never tweeted you'll be amazed how easy and quick it is. Why not follow us? We're called 'JCOREUK' and update regularly. We're also on Facebook as 'Jcore Britain' and would love to add you to our list of 300+ friends." Do email me if you need help getting started."
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 Simon writes: "On Friday 2 September, JUMP and the Refugee Council took twelve boys on a trip to Brighton. Very few had seen the sea since they arrived in the UK, so there was a great deal of excitement on the train. The first thing we did was head straight to the beach, where we managed to convince the boys to try swimming. IT WAS COLD, but once they were in the sea it was difficult to drag them out. After a stone-skimming competition (these guys are strong!) and some lunch, we headed off to the pier and the rides. Most of them chose a 360-degree swing that looked terrifyingly high and fast. We had just enough time to go and see The Royal Pavilion before catching the train back to London. Everyone went home with a smile on their face. Here's to many more great trips to come."
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Caroline hands over baby milk to Project Worker Gabriella Yifter.
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JCORE Support comes to the aid of the Refugee Council.
JCORE has a long history of supporting the Refugee Council and when we learned that they had a severe shortage of baby milk, nappies and clothing, we were only too glad to help out. So last week we delivered 51 litres of baby milk, 25 boxes of baby rice, hundreds of nappies, sanitary towels, bags of clothing and children's shoes to their day centre in Brixton.
Whilst we were there we overheard staff talking about a man who had only the clothes he was wearing, and wondering whether they could do a wash-load just for him. We searched through our bag of men's clothing and were delighted to find some tops and jumpers for him.
The look on his face made our day.
Can you help us do MORE deliveries to the day centre? You can even drive there without paying the congestion charge. Please contact Caroline.
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Requests from our "HELP!" department.
Nappies
The Nappy Campaign is still going strong, with an amazing 6416 nappies collected to date. They are for mums at the NNLS Destitute Asylum Seekers' Drop-in, Helen Bamber Foundation, The Refugee Council and the Red Cross. With the wonders of the internet we are getting offers of nappies from all over London and further afield. We have some waiting for us in Chiswick, so if you can collect from there please contact Caroline or please donate £10 to help people post nappies to us, so we don't have to turn down valuable donations.
Mitzvah Day
We have five partners signed up so far for Mitzvah Day on Sunday November 20th. If it's anything like the last few years, we really will need extra hands to collect and sort donations. If you are available on the day please contact Caroline.
SOS: clothes appeal
We are urgently appealing for good condition men's clothing - there is an ongoing demand, outstripping supply. We also need winter clothing for two girls age 4-5 and 7-8, and shoes size 9 and 13. We have a four-year-old boy who needs clothing, and his newborn sister who needs a single buggy and a baby sling.
If you can help... (yes, guessed it...) please contact Caroline.
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Journey to safety returns by popular demand
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Filming oral histories at Hasmonean High school, earlier this year.
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The feedback for our oral-history project has been terrific, both from teachers and pupils. All five schools we worked with last academic year want us back again this year, and four more have signed up so far! And we're constantly adding to the online resource www.journeytosafety.org.uk.
Meanwhile, don't miss the event with Kindertransport refugee Bernd Koschland at Birkbeck tomorrow night. Bernd Koschland, who came here on the Kindertransport, and has taken part in Journey to Safety will give a talk at Birkbeck college with JCORE as part of 'Tolerance and Freedom from Discrimination' - a week of talks and workshops. Click here for details.
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Get on your bike! (But in a good way.)
Last month saw the launch of a brilliant new scheme - the Habo Bike Project - to provide bicycles to destitute asylum seekers, who can't afford the cost of public transport.
Pictured with Edie are Helen Bamber, whose Foundation, along with the New North London Synagogue drop-in centre for Destitute Asylum Seekers, will distribute the bikes; Jerome Phelps of Detention Action, immigration laywer Laurie Fransman, QC, and Adam Wagner and Jem Stein of Habonim Dror, whose scheme it is. |
My Neighbours
Edie represented the Jewish community at the launch in July at Toynbee Hall, East London, of a project to bring neighbourhoods and communities closer together. Also pictured are the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman; Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow; and Neil Jameson, Executive Director of London Citizens.
My Neighbours seeks to create awareness of and promote the rights and responsibilities we all have as neighbours. Edie said "I hope this event will act as a catalyst to bring Muslims and Jews together to tackle not only Islamophobia and antisemitism but all other forms of racism, and to support and campaign on asylum."
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 DON8 2 JCORE
If you like what we're doing, it's easier than ever now to support our work. Just send a text to 70070 quoting the code JCORE11 and the amount you'd like to give.
For example JCORE11 £10
Your donation will appear as Just Giving on your next mobile phone bill. It's part of the JustTextGiving, and it doesn't cost anything extra - normal text messages charges apply.
Alternative you can still donate online via the secure website of charity choice. |
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The Jewish Council for Racial Equality. Registered Charity 1132666 |
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