The Jewish Volunteering Network, in partnership with HW Fisher and Company, has announced the winners of its first ever Jewish Volunteering Awards. The ceremony, which was held Wednesday at the London Jewish Cultural Centre and was hosted by newsreader Martyn Lewis, attracted around 130 people to see a £1,000 prize granted to the Jewish Volunteering Awards Winners.

With many nominations for just eight awards, the judges were faced with the difficult task of deciding which of the nominees should have their volunteering efforts recognized by a Jewish Volunteering Award.

Amy Philip, Deputy Director of the Pears Foundation and one of the judges, said, “The nominations demonstrated an enormous level of dedication and commitment among the Jewish volunteering community. The range of organizations and activities represented in the nominations was incredible, and choosing the winners was a long and difficult decision!”

With over 73% of adults in England and Wales volunteering, JVN felt it is important to honor the volunteers who donate their time to help causes close to their hearts. The £1,000 prize money will be put back into the nominating charity to help with volunteer training, to further develop the volunteers who form the backbone of the Jewish community.

The winners of the Jewish Volunteering Awards are as follows:

• Volunteer Team of the Year: Drugsline – The Crisis Line Support Group
• Overseas and International Volunteer of the Year: René Cassin – Sarah Oliver
• Young Volunteer Aged 18 – 25: Camp Simcha – Zalmi Finn
• The Children’s Aid Committee Young Volunteer Award: JLGB – Sarah Lasher
• The Pears Award for Innovation in Volunteering: World Jewish Relief – Harry Heber and David Goldman
• The Bircham Dyson Bell Public Choice Award for Inspirational Volunteer: Tzedek – Steve Miller
• The Judy Citron Lifetime Achievement Award: Joint Winners: Wizo.uk- Lottie Frazer and Aboard Shops Ltd – Jeffery Pinnick
• HW Fisher Special Award: Limmud – Andrew Gilbert

Andrew Gilbert winner of the HW Fisher Special Awards summarized the feeling of many of the attendees, “I came away from last night’s awards in wonder at all the incredible work done by volunteers in British Jewry. I was honored and humbled as one of those to receive an award in the company of so many special volunteers. Like them, we are so proud of what our organizations have achieved and so thankful to JVN for giving us the opportunity to tell our stories to the wider Jewish and Non-Jewish community.”