5 March 2024

Yesterday, JCS and pupils from Calderwood Primary School attended Generations Working Togethers’ intergenerational learning roadshow in Govanhill.

The Intergenerational project, which sees Calderwood Lodge Primary School pupils spend time with attendees of Jewish Care Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub throughout the school term, was a resounding success in 2023. The children and older people work together to have meaningful interactions and learning experiences.  The project has gained positive feedback from everyone involved.  After receiving a Highly Commended Award at the Generations Working Together Awards in 2023, JCS was invited to the roadshow to showcase the successful project.

 

JCS’s Registered Manager, Vicki McPhee: “What a fantastic opportunity to share the story of our Intergenerational journey with Calderwood Lodge Primary School whilst networking and learning from others. It was a pleasure to have been invited to speak at this event! Bringing younger and older generations together to learn from one another, share stories and building connections is a such meaningful project for Jewish Care Scotland, benefiting the wellbeing of everybody involved.”

 

The collaboration comes after a longstanding partnership with Calderwood Lodge Primary School working on smaller projects, the two local Jewish establishments came together to work on Intergenerational Projects with the aim of connecting people through shared culture and experiences.

 

For more information, please contact Cally by emailing Comms@jcarescot.org.uk

 

JCS want everyone to have the opportunity to observe and celebrate important times in the Jewish year. Once again, we are delighted to be able to offer our annual Pesach grants for anyone struggling to meet additional costs associated with this time.

This is a one-off grant, aimed at households with a limited income, of £80 for individuals increasing to £120 for households with children. Applications close Thursday 28 March at 5pm.

Upon application, you will be put in touch with one of our Community and Wellbeing Team. Any support offered will be dependent on individual circumstances and applicants may be asked to provide supporting documentation. All applications are treated in strictest confidence and with discretion. Successful applicants will receive their grant by Thursday 18 April.

If you would like more information, or to apply for a Pesach Grant, please contact us on 0141 620 1800 or email hello@jcarescot.org.uk.

 

Jewish Care Scotland have received a grade 5 following an unannounced visit from the Care Inspectorate at the end of October.  The grade 5, an evaluation of very good, applies to performance that demonstrates major strengths in supporting positive outcomes for people.

 

The inspection focussed on JCS’s registered services, including the weekly JCS Wellbeing Hub at Walton Community Care Centre and care at home.  The service is provided to adults and older people from the Jewish Community with the aim of reducing loneliness and isolation and to increase feelings of wellbeing.

 

The key messages from the report include that the service provides a high level of person-centred care, and that the support is highly valued by the people who use the service.

 

Linda Kemp, Chief Executive at JCS, said: “I am delighted by the content of our Care Inspectorate report. It is extremely positive and identifies significant key strengths in all areas.  The report is a testament to the valuable contribution of all JCS staff.”

 

The JCS Wellbeing Hub provides registered day care to individuals who might otherwise struggle to get out and about.  With the support of trained staff, people can attend the weekly group in Giffnock to enjoy a morning coffee with friends and have a hot, two-course kosher lunch.  The JCS Wellbeing Hub offers access to meaningful activities, a cultural and social connection to suit individual needs.

 

JCS social support visits focus on improving and maintaining wellbeing, providing an opportunity to engage in meaningful activities and to maintain cultural and social connections.   A recipient of JCS social support visits said, “without JCS I would be unable to leave the house.  Getting out has really helped me as I continue to recover from my stroke.”

 

The Care Inspectorate Inspection Report said of the service, “The social interaction provided by attending the Thursday session was valuable to people.  Social support was the focus of both the Thursday day centre and the one-to-one home visits.

“The individual social support allowed people to access their local community as well as the wider Jewish community. This was important for people who wished to maintain that important part of their lives and needed some support to do so.”

 

The full report is available to view here.  Further information on JCS services available can be found by emailing hello@jcarescot.org.uk.

 

November 2023

Last week, the Board of Trustees welcomed Jewish Care Scotland staff, volunteers and members of the Tankel family to an intimate reception to launch The Albert and Alice Tankel Bursary Fund.

In 2017, after the passing of her beloved husband Albert, former Chairman and Honorary President of Jewish Care Scotland, Alice set up the Albert Tankel Bursary fund. Continuing Alice’s ethos to do all she could to help others, the purpose of the fund was to ensure access to education, training and development opportunities for staff and volunteers, with the aim of ultimately benefitting the people we support.

This year, Jewish Care Scotland received a further contribution following the passing of Alice.  The family requested the fund be renamed The Albert and Alice Tankel Fund.

Since it was established, the bursary fund has enabled two JCS staff members the opportunity to complete their SVQ3 qualifications as well as providing first aid and mental health awareness training for staff and volunteers.  Most recently, staff and volunteers have completed dementia awareness training.  These courses better equip staff and volunteer teams to fulfil their roles safely, and to the maximum impact for the people we support.

Guests shared memories of Albert and Alice and reminisced about their contributions to Jewish Care Scotland.  Albert and Alice Tankel did so much for Jewish Care Scotland and the community in their lives, and we are so grateful that their legacy continues in supporting our staff and volunteer development now and in the future thanks to the Albert and Alice Bursary Fund.

 

 

Jewish Care Scotland are looking for motivated and enthusiastic people to join our Board of Trustees. If you are keen to make a difference and contribute to the governance of Jewish Care Scotland we want to hear from you.

Our Board meets every six to eight weeks, in the evening at our Giffnock office. Board Members are also invited to join sub-committees including Finance and Audit, Building and Fundraising.

No previous Board experience is necessary, but we are interested to hear from professionals with a background in social care or mental health to complement the existing skillset on the Board.

For an informal discussion, please contact CEO Linda Kemp by emailing Lindak@jcarescot.org.uk or call 0141 620 1800.

Calderwood Lodge Chanukah Cards

13 November 2023

 

Each year the pupils of Calderwood Lodge are invited to design Chanukah Cards.

Last month JCS’s Wellbeing Hub group deliberated hard over selecting winners for their annual Chanukah card competition with Calderwood Lodge Primary school. The Wellbeing Hub spent an afternoon pouring over the cards and were proud and delighted to select the winning designs. The JCS team attended assembly at Calderwood Lodge Primary to celebrate all the entries and the winning designs. Congratulations to the individual winners from primary two through seven and the collective class of primary one winners.

This year boasted a host of beautiful designs. Much the same as previous years, the decision-making process was very difficult as so many pupils deserved commendation and thanks. The pupils families were able to order the winning designs on a variety of items to celebrate Chanukah, with proceeds going towards Jewish Care Scotland services and fundraising for school activities.

 

JCS Registered Manager Vicki McPhee adds: “Each year it’s so rewarding getting involved in such a creative, collaborative project. When Autumn rolls around the JCS team really look forward to the project with Calderwood Primary. We are so proud of all the artistic pupils who put in so much effort to make their cards shine this Chanukah and look forward to sharing them with the community.”

 

 

National Institute, RNID will be back visiting Jewish Care Scotland on Wednesday 6 December offering support, advice and information around hearing loss or tinnitus.

 

This session will take place between 12 – 2pm during JCS’s drop-in café, Welcome Wednesday. All are welcome.

JCS’s Registered Manager, Vicki McPhee adds: “The last time RNID visited our Welcome Wednesday community, they were really well received. 1 in 5 adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus and most of our community are elderly so it was really valuable for the RNID guys to come in.”

The RNID can help with a free hearing check, hearing aid servicing, maintenance, and repair (replacement batteries, cleaning and re-tubing) while providing information and support for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.

After receiving such positive feedback from their last visit to JCS’s Wellbeing Hub, the RNID are aiming to return once every three months to continue to keep the community up to date and informed. To keep up to date on RNID’s visits to JCS, please visit the ‘Events’ section of our website which is regularly updated.

Therapy ponies pay a visit to Jewish Care Scotland and neigh-bours

Therapy Ponies Scotland paid Jewish Care Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub a visit last Thursday sparking joy and smiles among the community.

Flicker and Wilson, two miniature Shetland ponies came along from Therapy Ponies Scotland, to meet the people attending the JCS Wellbeing Hub.  

Flicker and Wilson also met some people supported by neighbouring charity Cosgrove Care, as well as a group of children from Calderwood Lodge Primary School, participating in an intergenerational project with Jewish Care Scotland.   

Flicker and Wilson visited the centre for over an hour and really brightened up the day of the pupils, guests and staff! JCS’s Registered Manager, Vicki says: “These visits really brighten people’s day, you can see the happiness and positivity they leave behind long after the day is over.”

After 10 years of looking after animals, John and Elaine officially started Therapy Ponies Scotland in 2015 with the aim to brighten people’s day while also reducing stress. The ponies stand at about 2ft tall, complete with tiny pairs of Converse to ensure they don’t slip indoors.

Therapy Ponies Scotland dedicate their time to brightening up others’ days thanks to their adorable/ gentle/ special therapy animals. In the past, Jewish Care Scotland has hosted petting zoo style events where the community has had the opportunity to spend time with rabbits, chickens, ducks and goats. These events have always brought a lot of happiness and laughs to the Walton Community Centre, and this time was no different!

 

Once again, we are delighted to have published a review of our activities, finance and community for 2022/ 2023. Our annual review includes information on how we’re funded.

DIGITAL-JCS-Annual-Review-2022.pdf (jcarescot.org.uk)

Lennie Wilson Hosts Discussion Panel from The Heart of the Community

Lennie Wilson, a long-time member of Jewish Care Scotland, will be hosting his third discussion panel for the people of JCS in the Walton Centre on Wednesday the 23^rd of August.

The discussion will be joined by Deborah Haase, Timothy Lovatt, Michael Goodman and Myrna Bernard. Their conversation will cover a range of topics impacting the community, with an opportunity for questions and meaningful dialog.

The from the heart of the community panel is a fantastic form of connection, incorporated into Jewish Care Scotland’s weekly drop-in Welcome Wednesday café session, established in Spring 2023 and continuing on an ad hoc basis. Lennie has people join him to lead the discussion while everyone is invited to join in the chatter.

Nicole Telfer, Support Worker at Jewish Care Scotland shares: “Seeing how the panel has grown and developed so organically over the past few months has been really nice to see.”

“Lennie and the rest of the group look forward to the discussion panels. People will come along for a bit of lunch about 12pm, then they’ll start discussions for 1.30pm.”

JCS is proud to continue hosting member led discussion groups designed to connect the community while promoting wellbeing and maximising the voice of Glasgow’s Jewish community.

Requests for support can be made directly by calling 0141 620 1800 or emailing: comms@jcarescot.org.uk. All enquiries are treated with discretion and respect.

Notes to editor:

1. Jewish Care Scotland (JCS) exists to provide a helping hand to the community in order to promote independence, keep people connected and support those in crisis. JCS provides services both in person and over the phone and work in ways that ensure that no one is left vulnerable or isolated.
2. JCS is the only social care charity dedicated to the needs of the Jewish community in Scotland, working in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council and in liaison with Local Authorities and agencies throughout Scotland.
3. Jewish Care Scotland, Scottish Registered Charity No. SC005267
4. Jewish Care Scotland, The Walton Community Care Centre, May Terrace, Giffnock, G46 6LD
5. The Jewish Blind Society (Scotland), Scottish Registered Charity No. SC011789
6. Further media enquiries contact Robyn Friel, Interim Deputy CEO/ Head of Income Generation of Jewish Care Scotland, 0141 620 1800 or email callyg@jcarescot.org.uk