This year’s JVN Honouring Volunteers Awards 2023 took place on Sunday 14 January 2023 at The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Israel President Isaac Herzog kicked off the event with a specially taped message from Jerusalem talking about October 7 and how volunteers bind the community together.
Over 350 guests from the Jewish and wider community arrived at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire to see 89 charity award winners from 37 charities receive their trophies.
Introduced by community compere, Nigel Rothband, the event highlighted how the community pulls together in both normal and difficult times. Every volunteer that won an award told their own story and each winner was individually recognised.
Chair of JVN and host of the event, Daniel Levy, said “At a time of unparalleled difficulty in Israel and within our community, this was a rare moment to reflect on the positive impact of volunteering and spotlight the real heroes of our community, giving charities the opportunity to shine.”
JVN also premiered a new video, by BBC director David Coleman, about volunteers that JVN have helped place over the past year. The video focused on the work JVN does and how they connect charities to volunteers.
Nicky Goldman JVN’s Chief Executive commented; “It was so inspiring and humbling to hear the stories of volunteering of all the charity award winners, as well as the outstanding winners in each category. In the words of Rabbi Sacks, ‘our community could not exist for a day without its volunteers’ and the volunteers’ stories showed how and why this is true.
It was wonderful to come together and honour people who give of themselves, week in week out, to do what is in their power to make the world a better place. Thank you to the charities for awarding their winners and to our dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant, Robert Voss CBE CStJ, the Mayors of the London Borough of Barnet and Hertsmere and leaders of the British Jewish community.”
This year’s awards showcased volunteers from four award categories: Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Young Adult Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
The event also introduced a special recognition award which was presented to the CST volunteers whose role, especially since October 7 has been crucial in keeping the community safe in the UK.
An independent judging panel, headed by Dame Mary Marsh, studied each nomination individually and chose the outstanding winners from each category.
The Citron, Sivan and Sefton Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award was Ann and Bob Kirk, volunteer at Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Wohl Legacy Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award was Cheryl Brodie, volunteer at Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Investec Wealth and Investment UK Outstanding Volunteer Team of the Year Award was Kisharon Langdon mergers team, at Kisharon Langdon
Edwards Family Foundation Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer of the Year Award was Abigail Saltman, volunteer at Jewish Care.
DOWNLOAD >> You can read about all the charity award winners by downloading the brochure for the event here
