The construction of the Jewish Care site is expected to start in January 2024, with plans to open to the public in 2026.
Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the South East.
The centre, expected to be used by hundreds of people, will house a purpose-built 66-bed care home, a modern community centre and centre for people living with dementia.
It will also host Jewish Care’s MIKE youth leadership training programme, a Meals on Wheels hub and be the base for Jewish Care’s North East social work and community support team.
The project has been made possible through “generous” donations, including money from Lord Sugar and his family, and the Ronson family through The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation.
A spokesperson for Jewish Care said: “Thanks to the incredible commitments […] this much needed care and community campus is now closer to becoming a reality for the local community. These two outstanding displays of generosity are the cornerstone donations for the project.”
A campaign has been launched in the community to raise the remaining £5 million needed for the projects’ completion.
Jonathan West, Jewish Care’s director of legal affairs, property and procurement, said: “We have received planning permission for this new first-class development in Redbridge and are incredibly grateful to our generous donors for their commitments.
“The East London and Essex community have been fundraising for this project for many years and now this long-held vision will become a reality.
“This will be the final campus and will complete Jewish Care’s strategic vision whereby multiple campuses across London and the South-East support our community.”
The development includes a planned housing centre to meet the needs of members of the Jewish community living with dementia, with the 66-bed care home replacing the Vi & John Rubens House care home in Gants Hill.
Mr West added: “With so many Jewish families using our services in the area, we will be able to give this long-established community a first-class care and community campus designed to meet their needs, now and into the future.
“The memories made at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre are so important to us and to the community, so we have carefully preserved the memorabilia from decades of community life at RJCC, […] which will be displayed at the new Redbridge campus when it opens.
“We look forward to updating the community with further developments in the coming months.”
https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/23880821.lord-sugar-among-donors-redbridge-jewish-care-care-home/
