MODEL, actor and author Ellie Goldstein has swapped catwalks for kitchens to take part in this year’s Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer.

Host Paul Hollywood is joined by Caroline Waldegrave OBE – the former co-owner and managing director of Leiths School of Food and Wine – to judge the best baking efforts in these special celebrity episodes.

Bake Off hosts Alison and Noel will also return to provide encouragement, tea and sympathy for the celebrity bakers going head-to-head tent.

Stand up to Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
The show, which has started airing when we went to press, saw a star-studded line up of 20 celebrities – including best-selling author, podcaster and businesswoman Sarah Beeny, comedian Adam Buxton and broadcaster Roman Kemp – go head-to-head in the hopes of being crowned Star Baker.

In each episode, four celebrities were challenged to create their best bakes in the signature, technical and showstopper rounds.

Ellie competed alongside Gloria Hunniford OBE, actor and writer Jim Howick and comedian Jamali Maddix in her episode which will go out on Sunday 13 April – and then go on the Channel 4 app for all those who want to watch after Pesach.

Loughton-based Ellie, 23, was born with Down’s syndrome, but it hasn’t stopped her from becoming a global fashion model, performer, author and influencer.

As a model, she made history as being the first model with Down’s syndrome to feature on the cover of British Vogue magazine, and she continues to use her platform to act as a champion for other people with differences or disabilities.

She will back on our screens again later this year in her first acting role as the history obsessed student, Nancy, in the new series of the BBC’s Malory Towers.

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More than 90 job seekers packed into the offices of event sponsors Patron Capital for a day of expert talks, lively panel discussions and interactive workshops – offering both motivation and hands-on advice. There was also the chance to discover live vacancies and sign up for training courses.

Attendees came from all sections of the community and spanned a range of ages and career stages.

Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett said: “From those seeking entry-level jobs to those pursuing senior executive roles, there was a strong sense of unity at New Year, New Career, with everyone sharing the same struggles but also the same determination.

“The sharp rise in numbers at this annual event echoes what we have seen in all areas of our work. Redundancies and job losses hit hard in 2024, along with the greater financial need many families have due to rising costs.

“What this inspiring day demonstrated is that the support is there to help people build confidence, find the right vacancy, prepare for interview and land their dream job.”

The day began with a panel discussion on ‘what it takes to succeed’ chaired by Charlotte Collins – the Editor-in-Chief of SheerLuxe fashion magazine.

She advised: “The people who get through the door, and rise fastest, aren’t necessarily those with the right skills or ability – but the people with the best attitude, who go beyond the 9-5 and show a true passion for the job and the company.”

Two motivational sessions were led by Nicky Simmons (Founder of London Health Consult) and Dr Danny McGuigan (Director of Business Development Centre), who used their own personal stories of overcoming adversity to help inspire others.

Nicky advised: “Life is unbelievably wonderful, but also unbelievably complicated. It’s OK to not be OK. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

The mix of speakers on the day – including Keith Breslauer (Managing Partner at Patron Capital), Amanda Reuben (recruitment consultant), Neil Taub (Co-Founder of Zoomdoc) and Eszter Bobvos (Head of People & Culture at JW3) – gave a true insight into what employers and recruiters look for across a range of sectors.

Job seekers described New Year, New Career as “insightful and empowering”, “a real boost to my confidence” and “the jolt I needed to kickstart my career plans for 2025”.

One young female participant said: “Looking for a job can be very lonely. To be with so many talented people, all in the same boat, was comforting and gave me hope.”

An older male attendee commented: “It’s been a long time since I had to look for work, so to hear about what employers and recruiters look for – along with what they certainly don’t want – will greatly help me as I start applying for jobs again.”

Pictures by photofabulous.co.uk.

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Clore Tikva School marked its 25th anniversary with a spectacular charity golf day at the prestigious Chigwell Golf Club.

The event brought together parents, grandparents, and supporters for a day of fun and fundraising, with all proceeds dedicated to enhancing educational delivery at the school.

It was made even more special by the presence of former England footballer and local hero, Teddy Sheringham.

The charity golf day was organised as part of a series of celebrations recognising Clore Tikva’s 25 years of educational excellence and community service.

With the support of the local community and generous sponsors, the event successfully raised £4,000 to help the school continue providing top-quality education to its students.

Ashley Sinclair, a parent at Clore Tikva and one of the event’s key organisers, expressed her delight at the success of the day. She said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated and supported the event. The funds raised will make a real difference in enhancing our children’s learning experiences. It’s heartwarming to see our community come together in such a meaningful way, and having Teddy Sheringham here was the icing on the cake.”

Louise Dorling, Chair of Governors at Clore Tikva School, also shared her thoughts on the occasion, adding: “This golf day was not just a celebration of our 25th anniversary but a testament to the strong, supportive community that surrounds our school. The funds raised will go directly towards improving the educational resources and opportunities we offer, ensuring that our students continue to thrive. We are deeply thankful to all who contributed and to Teddy Sheringham for his generous support.”

The Clore Tikva School community looks forward to continuing its 25th-anniversary celebrations with more events planned throughout the year – underscoring the school’s commitment to excellence in education and its dedication to fostering a nurturing environment where every child can succeed.

The post Teddy Sheringham helps Clore celebrate 25 years at golf event appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

The proceeds have been ring-fenced towards the completion of the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre in Mount Scopus – which opened earlier this year to meet the additional need of those injured in the war.

Cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment, with advanced techniques, is currently being used there to rehabilitate hundreds of patients.

Geoffrey said: “Thank you very much to all my generous sponsors and a big thank you to the support team.”

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We are asking for YOUR help to secure the future of this newspaper and website. Please donate today at: www.tinyurl.com/EJNDonation.

The only publication of its type anywhere in the world, the Essex Jewish News (EJN) is a vital part of our Essex Jewish community.

For more than 50 years, it has covered and highlighted the successes and stories of the Jewish congregations, schools, charities, businesses and people of Essex and East Anglia.

Founded in 1972, and originally called The Bridge, thousands of copies of the paper are printed and given away for free three times a year (for Pesach, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah) – supported by a website and social media channels.

Our team are all volunteers, giving their time not for financial reward but for the love of what they do and what this paper means to our community.

But with rising print, paper and online costs – advertising revenue can no longer keep pace with the costs of producing and distributing the EJN.

The amount needed to keep the paper and website afloat is relatively small – around £10,000 a year – which is why we recently became a registered charity, in order to be able to fundraise and help achieve this.

So why should you donate to support the EJN today? There are numerous reasons.

We cover, and give equal weighting to, United, Reform, Chabad, Liberal, Federation, Masorti, Sephardi and independent Jewish congregations.

We publish the amazing achievements of all of the members of our Redbridge, Essex and East Anglia Jewish communities – no matter where they go to shul or school.

You will find think pieces on Judaism, Israel, interfaith and community from both Orthodox and Progressive leaders.

And we speak to MPs and councillors from all political parties, not quizzing them on tribal politics… but on what they are doing for YOU.

Our papers are accessible online and taken by libraries across the world – archiving and preserving our way of life today (and yesterday) for generations to come.

There are, of course, other Jewish papers and local secular media – but none that cover Jewish life in our region in anywhere near the depth, or with the genuine affection, that we do.

Quite simply, if the Essex Jewish News were to disappear so would a huge part of the history of our wonderful, successful and totally unique Essex Jewish community.

Then there are the opportunities we give. Budding Jewish journalists from our area have been given their start by the EJN, writing for us at school, university and/or when getting a foothold in the industry. We are pleased that many of those, wishing to pay it forward years later, return to volunteer and add weight to our editorial content today.

On the other end of the spectrum we have retired writers, for whom being part of the paper gives a sense of purpose and fulfilment that is often lost when leaving the workplace.

If we can secure our finances and our future, then we can also do even more.

We can make sure to get more copies of the paper into more outlets. With a community no longer concentrated in just Redbridge, Chigwell and/or Southend, we want to ensure the paper can also be picked up by Jews – and our non-Jewish allies – in Woodford, Epping, Collier Row, Romford, Canvey Island, Harlow, Chelmsford, Colchester, Cambridge and beyond.

We can find and support more volunteer journalists, columnists and photographers in order to feature even more diverse and compelling content.

We can update our website and social media more often, and maybe even add an extra print issue, so you aren’t just getting the news three times a year.

Many charities need to raise millions each year to continue. We just need £10,000 to help us thrive.

We know times are tough for everyone, but we are confident that together we can reach this target and
keep this important communal publication going for many more years to come.

• Please donate today at: www.tinyurl.com/EJNDonation.

The post Essex Jewish News needs your help to thrive and survive appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

Work Avenue raised more than £1million in 36 hours to support its work transforming the lives of members of the community who are unemployed, struggling with their career or experiencing issues with their business.

Its Charity Extra campaign was backed by an incredible 2,583 donors and far exceeded an initial target of £750,000.

Donations ranged from £5 to £30,000, as the whole community came together in a show of support.

The money will be used so that Work Avenue can continue to provide information, advice, guidance, courses and one-to-one support – helping more than 3,500 people each year find jobs, change careers and start thriving businesses.

Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett said: “The response to this campaign was overwhelming and we are so grateful for all of the generous donations.

“We were not just blown away by the amount raised, but by the sheer number of people who chose to support us and all the amazing messages they left.

“We are proud that our work changes lives and helps people earn a living with dignity. Now, thanks to the support of the community, we will be able to help even more people over the next year.”

The campaign is still open on the Charity Extra website. Donations can be made via www.charityextra.com/workavenue.

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Two well-attended fundraising events have been held at Southend and District Reform Synagogue in aid of Israeli charities.

The first was an afternoon tea and talk, which raised £672 for Magen David Adom – Israel’s National Blood and Medical Emergency Service.

The speaker was Angela Cohen (pictured), the mother of TV star Rob Rinder. She opened by telling of her upbringing and life before speaking movingly of her father, the Holocaust and his experiences as a Windermere boy.

This was followed by a question and answer session, during which she also spoke of her son Rob and his charity and television work.

The community’s Mike Royston said: “Angela was a wonderfully warm and friendly guest who everyone wanted to meet. We were delighted to support MDA, which helps to save the lives of all of Israel’s citizens regardless of religion.”

The synagogue also held a charity challah bake, raising £200 for ZAKA, Israel’s leading non-governmental search and rescue organisation.

ZAKA volunteers were amongst the first responders after the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October and their selfless actions saved numerous lives and brought dignity to many of the dead.

Linda, Jeff, Sam and Elisheva Klein – who helped to organise the event – said: “Much has been done to raise funds for Israel and we’re so proud that our challah bake went so well.

“At times like these, when so many of us are impacted by events in Israel, coming together as a community provides the strength we all need.”

• Top photo by Terry Mendoza, second photo by Ashley Jay Brent.

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During lockdown, the health and wellbeing of its tenants was a key focus of their Zoom programme which included a wide range of activities and sessions from exercise classes, pilates and yoga to mindfulness and relaxation classes. Tenants were able to access these classes from the comfort of their own home.

These classes proved so popular, that now that activities can happen in person again, JBD have been looking at different ways to further promote health and wellbeing activities within their developments.

Clive Geller, a Jewish Blind & Disabled Tenant and a Vice President of Maccabi GB and Former Chairman has been keen to see a closer partnership between the two organisations for some time and is “very pleased” that this relationship is beginning to move forward.

He added: “I hope that the future will be bright for both of our organisations and await with interest to seeing how the programme develops.”

After a consultation session between Maccabi GB and tenants at JBD to establish what sports tenants would be interested in, a five-week pilot programme of accessible golf was launched at two of the developments.

Feedback from participants has been positive. Malcolm, a JBD resident said: “I used to play golf and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play again. It was something different and lovely to see people enjoying themselves no matter how good or bad they were at golf.”

Another tenant, Diane added: “I have never played golf before but it was something fun to do and it was good exercise for me.”  

Following the success of the programme, JBD are working with Maccabi GB to create taster programmes in a range of accessible sporting activities from walking football to archery.

Ashley Lerner, Chief Executive from Maccabi GB commented: “It’s great to be working together with Jewish Blind & Disabled on this important project. We have each recognised the importance of promoting health and wellbeing and making it accessible to anyone and I look forward to watching this partnership grow”.

Jewish Blind & Disabled’s Community Engagement Manager, Simone Mazin added that by working with Maccabi GB it has “given tenants the opportunity to take part in activities that many assumed that could no longer do. It has been great to see tenants get so involved and enjoy the accessible golf and I look forward to seeing how the programme develops.” 

The post JBD and Maccabi GB ‘team up’ appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

The show, which was broadcast in November, showed Rinder getting as far as question 12 out of a possible 15, before using his last lifeline to phone his friend Clare Balding to help him answer a question about James Bond. When she was unable to answer, “In which film is 007 shown to kill only one person”, he decided to walk away with an impressive £64,000.

The prize money will be split between JBD and Buttle UK, a charity dedicated to helping children and young people in crisis in the UK.

For JBD, receiving such a significant donation will help the organisation continue their work in transforming the lives of people with physical disability or visual impairment.

Its mobility apartments are located in seven developments across London and Essex, where JBD help people to live independently. They are also able to provide support services in people’s own homes.

During the show, Rinder explained to host Jeremy Clarkson why the organisation was close to his heart, as it provides a home for his own father, David.

Rinder has supported the charity for many years and has described JBD as ‘a light in the darkness’ in helping him deal with his father’s illness.

JBD’s Chief Executive, Lisa Wimborne, thanked him for his ‘ongoing support for the charity and recognition of the work that we do’.

“It’s not very often that an independent Jewish charity like Jewish Blind & Disabled gets a mention on prime-time national TV and is awarded a generous prize sum too. His decision to nominate us as one of his chosen charities means so much to us. As the son of a tenant, she commented, he has seen first-hand the impact of our work and what better endorsement can we get?”

The post Judge Rob Rinder wins big for Jewish charity appeared first on Essex Jewish News.

Lesley got involved as the co-ordinator of the operation, and when Yochy was unable to continue last June, Lesley took over the reins full time. Along with her ‘right hand woman’ Rachelle Orgel and a group of dedicated volunteers the initiative has grown and grown.

Now operating out of Loughton Synagogue, Lesley has a regular group of volunteers from across Essex prepare come together on every Thursday to make over 150 ‘goody bags’ consisting of homemade chicken soup, a savoury dish, homemade cake, fresh fruit salad, challah and a local newspaper.

Deliveries are made on Friday across Essex to the elderly, those without families, or those who might be ill or isolating. As well as the food, volunteers take the time to have a chat with each recipient on their doorstep, which for many may only human contact they receive each week.

Participants on the walk ranged from 18 months to 82 years old along with a few dogs and even a life sized chicken, courtesy of volunteer Jes Shine, who dressed up for the occasion!! Essex councillor Sebastian Fontanelle also took part in the fundraiser.

The group, dressed in specially designed T-shirts sponsored by Headstart Corporate Clothing, walked from Loughton to Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue taking in a visit to some of the recipients at Aztec House in Ilford, a home for the blind and disabled, on the way.

On arrival at Chigwell Synagogue, they were welcomed with drinks and snacks including cakes made by regular volunteer Sandra Waldman.

Lesley told the EJN, “We are a lifeline to so many of our recipients. We just cannot stop this now!”

As well as those walking in Essex, Yochy Davis took part in the walk from Israel, whilst Rabbi Yanky of Loughton Synagogue took part all the way from Canada.

Thanks to overwhelming generosity for the community, the group were able to their £10k target and would like to thank all those that have supported them.

The money raised event will help keep up with the ever-growing demand as more and more people seek the service. Lesley would love for the initiative to extend across the country so that people in other communities could also benefit.

Lesley is always keen to speak to anyone who would like to volunteer to be part of the Made with Love Chicken Soup Run team. If you are interested, please contact her via email lesleyadams@outlook.com or call on 07956 902177.

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