The United Synagogue

US And Jewish Care Tackle Changing Face Of Ageing

PRESS RELEASE

London,
10th November 2010

US AND JEWISH CARE TACKLE CHANGING FACE OF AGEING

Two of the biggest welfare providers in the community – the United Synagogue and Jewish Care - joined together this weekend to hold a special conference focusing on the challenges of ageing.

The event, which took place on Sunday 7th November, was attended by over 80 people from 22 different United Synagogue communities including US Community Cares Co-ordinators and older members of the community. A number of workshops, expert speakers and group discussions throughout the day provided the US and Jewish Care with the guidance necessary to design new programmes and services to cater for older people in US communities.

Commenting, Candice Woolfson, Director of US Chesed said: “The United Synagogue is often overlooked as a key welfare provider within the community. Thousands of our members are cared for by a vibrant force of volunteers supported by an effective professional staff. Being older in 2010 is very different than it was in the past and we want to make sure that we offer the services that our older members want and need. This conference provided a forum to hear their views.”

The morning session included a keynote address from Maureen Kendler, Head of Educational Programming at the London School of Jewish Studies, who linked growing older with Jewish sources and her own personal perspective. The seminar also included three workshops coordinated by Sonia Douek, Head of Community Development and Volunteering at Jewish Care.

The first workshop focused on “What do our older members want to do”. With the traditional activities of day centres and friendship clubs no longer attracting new members, the session enabled people to explore and voice the kinds of activities that would attract them.

The second workshop centred on “Living alone in the community. It looked at the number of people who live alone in the Jewish community, and how the community could be more engaged with them. The third workshop discussed what “Everyone can contribute to the community” and examined how age and disability need not be a barrier to being a giver to others, and how important it is for everyone to feel they have something to contribute. Participants explored how they would like to be more involved and included in their community.

The final session, facilitated by Stuart Bloom, Chair of the United Synagogue Community Cares Advisory Group and Candice Woolfson, Director of US Chesed, discussed what attendees would like to see the US and US Community Care groups doing to help them.


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