Time to Make a Difference
What can the JCC do for you?

Whoever you are, however you want to help, however much time you have – we have something for you to do.

Are you are committed to making a difference? Do you have time on your hands? Are you looking for ways to become more involved and tell more people about things that bother you in the world? If so, then we can help you.

‘Finding your voice’ (p52) will give you the tools you need to speak publicly with confidence about specific causes that you believe in. When you feel confident and ready you’ll be able to go out to communities to educate and speak on these causes, and tell people how they can make a difference. Support and advice will always be on hand.

Are you a member of a synagogue, community centre, youth movement or a Rabbi looking for something different for your community?

The JCC is more than happy to arrange bespoke sessions on different social issues to suit the needs of your community. Be in touch and we will do our best to bring JCC Social Action to you.

What can you do for the world?

If you want to get involved in any of our key campaigns then keep an eye on our website, which regularly provides information. Just click on the social action section and download the latest update.

If you want to volunteer your time there are also lots of local volunteering opportunities you can get involved with through the JCC. Have a browse through the list below; if there is one that interests you,  then let us know and we will put you in touch with the right people.

Holy Trinity Primary School
Based in Hampstead, Holy Trinity Primary School educates over 180children from a variety of backgrounds. 30% of the students are refugee and asylum seeking children and 75% of the pupils have English as their second language. The school would love volunteers to come in and run after-school clubs, develop the school library, and also work one-to-one with pupils helping those that need it with reading and basic literacy.

The Royal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital is part of The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust. It has nearly 5000 members of staff and 900 beds. The hospital relies heavily on volunteers in order for it to function. As our local hospital the JCC has worked with the Royal Free several times as a partner on Mitzvah Day. If you have anything from 2 hours to 20 hours a week they would be happy to hear from you.

St Mary Magdalene’s Refugee Centre
St Mary Magdalene’s Refugee Centre based in Holloway offers support and English classes to refugees and asylum seekers, and also gives out food packages and clothes. The centre operates Monday to Friday. We are now working with them helping to support food and clothes collections. They need volunteers to help teaching in English lessons, assist in computer training and sort through clothes. You don’t need to be an expert in teaching to get involved!

JCC Mentoring and Befriending
The JCC has recently launched a mentoring and befriending scheme. If you have 5 hours to spare every month and would be willing to spend time with a Darfuri refugee or asylum seeker, we would love to hear from you. You don’t need any in-depth knowledge of asylum law or legal issues. We will provide you with the information you need and in return you can offer a friendly ear to some of the most vulnerable people living in our society.

New North London Synagogue Drop-in for destitute asylum seekers
Are you available the first Sunday of every month for a few hours? In partnership with JCORE, the JCC is giving you the opportunity to support the New North London Synagogue Drop-in for destitute asylum seekers – a monthly drop-in that provides support for some of the most vulnerable people living in the UK today. There are several ways that you can get involved: volunteer to help in the centre during the drop-in; provide medical or legal assistance; or drop-in good quality second hand clothing and toiletries in clearly labelled bags on the day.

The drop-in is expensive to run. Every asylum seeker that attends has money topped up on their oyster card, receives food parcels and Tesco vouchers. Anyone with any fundraising ideas, small or large, please get in touch and we will link you up with other fundraisers.

Tents of Hope
Build a Tent of Hope over Succot. Tents of Hope is a global campaign to raise public consciousness about the impact of displacement on the people of Darfur and the humanitarian crisis faced in refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps. The campaign is focused on bringing communities together to work on local and international issues of concern, from the deportation of Darfuri asylum seekers in the UK, to government support of the UN peacekeeping force, and global action to end impunity for genocidaires and war criminals.

By building a tent in a public space, people come together to create a tangiblesymbol for the displaced people of Darfur in their community.

Over Succot, Tents of Hope will be working with Jewish communities in the USA, Israel and Europe to explore the experience of Darfuri IDPs, refugees and asylum seekers, and to consider the impact of displacement on community life and identity
www.tentsofhope.org.