The Fed’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programme’s February session focussed on volunteering and it proved to be one its most successful and rewarding ventures to date.

The programme offers a gateway for young people to gain a better understanding of charity and communal responsibility. During a year where the children will be the recipients of much generosity, the programme acts as a counterbalance, aiming to enhance young people’s sensitivities to people in need.

On Sunday afternoon, the children gathered in the activities hub at Heathlands Village to learn about what our army of 500+ volunteers do in the community. Firstly, they listened to a talk by Volunteers Co-ordinator Debra Foster, who spoke about the range of volunteer services we offer and how they help: from lifts to appointments and befriending to shopping and cooking.

Our Next Generation Project co-ordinator, Dan Jeffries, then spoke about her role in recruiting and nurturing the next generation of volunteers. This was followed by fundraiser and volunteer, Natasha Sarak, teaching some basic do’s and don’ts for volunteering with vulnerable people.

After the speakers, the children made tea and decorated cakes ready for the community clients and Heathlands Villagers, who soon arrived and sat down for afternoon tea with the children. Using conversation starters, they struck up an immediate rapport and chatted for over an hour.

“We intended the children to serve the food but they were so deep in conversation with the clients that we ended up serving them ourselves.” Said Natasha, “We didn’t want to disrupt the conversations, it was just lovely. There was a few moments where me and Dan just stood at the back of the room in awe at how natural it all was. Some of the clients didn’t want to leave they were enjoying it so much.” It was really beautiful to look around a room and see different generations mixing and getting on so well

The children essentially became volunteers for the session; befriending, talking, making tea which will hopefully prove valuable in their development. “It was really beautiful to look around a room and see different generations mixing and getting on so well.” Said Dan.

Raphi Bloom, The Fed’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing said “I am absolutely delighted that a concept we originally devised in 2019 when I joined The Fed, and which was interrupted due to Covid, has been such an outstanding success. The program is achieving everything we set out for it to do – engaging and educating our community’s youth about charity, the less fortunate in our community and their individual and collective responsibility to become involved and be leaders and at the same time providing crucial intergenerational support and interaction with Fed clients both in the wider community and at Heathlands Village. It is unique to the Manchester Jewish community and huge credit goes to my Fed colleagues Natasha Sarak and Danielle Jeffries for their dynamic leadership of the course”.

FeedBack from Clients:

Lionel

“Had a very very nice afternoon and met some lovely young children. They were beautifully behaved and so polite, it was an amazing experience for me and them I am sure”

Ruth
“I have never enjoyed something so much in such a long time. It really was a lovely afternoon and I am so happy I came. Had such a nice chat with three lovely girls. I even took their names so I could check the JT when they get bat mitzvah’d. I definitely want to come again, thoroughly enjoyed”

Loiuse

“I had a very nice afternoon, it was very nicely done and we all got on well. The kids really entered into it and asked questions. It is important for them to mix with older people and good for us too!”

Marion

“The kids were lovely, so sweet, well behaved and so chatty.
It was marvellous. I love being invited to things, it keeps me out and young.”

Barbara

“It was very interesting to talk with the children, it was lovely and I really enjoyed. Came back all bubbly and glowing and thank you for sorting transport.”

Anonymous

“It was so nice. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on it. It was a lovely afternoon. One of the young ladies reminded me of my great niece which was so nice.”