Strategic Objectives
To enhance (alongside other communal organisations) the political security of the community, through healthy relationships with politicians, government, the media, and civil society organisations
To strengthen communal capacity and capability, building tomorrow’s leaders both lay and professional, guiding on governance and regulation, and working with members on their needs
To support and lead our members and the wider community to prepare for strategic long-term challenges and catalyse change using evidence and best practice
To further strengthen the JLC’s own governance, leadership, and management, ensuring that it is an exemplar of best practice
Connect & Coordinate
The JLC works and aspires to facilitate long-term strategic planning for communal life. We aim to increase and improve coordination, cooperation, collaboration, and (where appropriate) consolidate resources to enhance the effectiveness and impact of Jewish communal organisations. Through our membership, we have the ability to bring individuals and organisations together to share challenges and solutions. We Connect and Coordinate member organisations, be this through our JLC CEO Forum and Council Meetings or our cross communal fora such as the HR Forum, Marketing and Comms Forum and Fundraising Forum.
Our Purpose
The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) connects & coordinates the Jewish charitable sector, strengthens & supports leadership across our community, and magnifies & amplifies our members’ voices.
Cross-community Collaboration
JLC members value the fact that we offer a “central point of expertise that they can refer to from time to time, helping them to locate resources and find others who can help resolve issues”. They also know that as a representative body for Jewish communal charities we “have the ability to coordinate members in line with our values and purpose”. We see ourselves as an integral part of the support network to our members and encourage them to call on us for advice, guidance, and consultation when needed. A recent example of this type of work undertaken by the JLC is the establishment of the Jewish Community Refugee Task Force in March 2022 with the Board of Deputies of British Jews to ensure that the Jewish community could provide a coordinated, needs-led, and effective response to the refugee crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Nationwide Advocacy
Our regional managers ensure that the breadth of the Jewish community has people advocating on their behalf. Together, they build relationship with MPs, local councils, and regional mayors in London, the North West, and North East. This country-wide focus allows the JLC to think strategically and locally about the continued vitality of the Jewish community in the UK. The JLC supports the London Jewish Forum and Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region through a close working relationship and staffing of these organisations.
Jewish Youth Movements
The JLC created Reshet in response to our joint research with UJIA on the informal (out of school) provisions available for young people in the UK Jewish community. Originally starting as a network that brings together the many Jewish youth movements, today Reshet also act as the primary provider of safeguarding expertise and training in the Jewish community. It has led the central community response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and provided training for communal bodies in safeguarding.
Magnify & Amplify
The JLC seeks to Magnify and Amplify the work of its members, raising the profile of their causes, campaigns, and initiatives. We aim to connect members to decision makers at all levels of government and provide access to those in positions of power, able to support change. We also Magnify and Amplify the work of our members within the community, using our platform and various fora, to increase awareness about workstreams, projects, and campaigns.
Build Relationships with Policymakers
The JLC fosters relationships with policymakers. This ranges from organising various government roundtable meetings to fostering the ongoing positive relationships with regional Mayors, MPs from all political parties, and council leaders and councillors from across the country. We also promote the work of our members, facilitating meetings with Ministers, Secretaries of State, and their counterparts from the Opposition. Thanks to these relationships, we have been able to support 90% of English councils adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism and helped the NHS raise awareness of Covid-19 safety and increase vaccine uptake amongst the Haredi community.
Campaign Support
The JLC works with its members to provide and collaborate on original, tailored social content that helps elevate and publicise their campaigns. In addition to this, as part of our Digital Development Project, we have begun providing consultancy and networking groups that enable peer learning. We are working to guide organisations through the process of developing a social media strategy, helping them to evaluate their digital output and make improvements. We also assist member organisations to tell their stories beyond the Jewish community through our links with national media.
Labour Party Antisemitism
The JLC played a leading role in tackling antisemitism in the Labour party. We commissioned extensive polling and focus groups to give us a data-driven understanding of how the general public and Jewish community felt about the issue. One of the key findings was that the public often didn’t understand the term antisemitism. We advised our partners to refer to antisemitism in conjunction with the phrase anti-Jewish racism as this was well understood. We supported the Jewish Labour Movement’s successful referral to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and co-organised the Enough is Enough rally in Parliament Square in March 2018.
Strengthen & Support
The JLC Strengthens and Supports the work of our member organisations by providing varied opportunities to enhance the skill, expertise, and development of communal leaders. This includes the activities of the JLC leadership division Lead. Established in 2011, Lead is the only organisation of its kind working cross-communally in the UK Jewish community to offer leadership programmes, events, and networking opportunities for trustees, lay, professional, and emerging communal leaders.
Leadership Programmes
We understand that leadership development is a critical component of building a flourishing Jewish community. That's why we offer two distinct leadership development programs: the Adam Science Leadership Programme and the Dangoor Senior Leadership Programme (DSLP). The Adam Science Leadership Programme is specifically designed for emerging leaders and is aimed at launching talented individuals into lay and professional leadership roles within the Jewish community. On the other hand, the DSLP is designed for experienced senior leaders who are already established within the community. This program provides comprehensive support to help senior leaders continue to grow and develop their leadership skills.
CPD-Accredited Leadership Training
At the JLC, we are dedicated to nurturing and developing leaders within our community. To support this commitment, we offer a CPD-accredited series: Follow the Leader. The Follow the Leader series is an online program that explores various leadership and management themes. The program is designed for middle managers who find themselves in situations where they need to lead, follow, and manage. The Follow the Leader series allows participants to enhance their leadership skills and grow as a professional.
Trustee Development Opportunities
The JLC runs a Trustee Development Programme which consists of training sessions for new or existing Trustees exploring the essential duties of this role as well as the key risks involved in this position. It is facilitated by people with experience in the areas of law, finance and fundraising and individuals can sign up to one or to the entire series. This is run in partnership with the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN). Alongside these training sessions we organise two in-person Trustee conferences (one in London and one in the regions).
Professional’s Conference
We strongly believe in the importance of professionalism at every level of an organisation and acknowledge the valuable insights we can gain from each other, as well as from the wider charity sector. Our yearly conference presents an opportunity for professionals at any level, in any role, to reflect, connect, learn, and share their experiences.
Our Vision
The JLC has a vision of a strong, thriving, and engaged Jewish community in the United Kingdom for generations to come. A community that:
Has a confident sense of itself, safe within the United Kingdom and engaged with civic society
Embraces its historical and religious traditions, is engaged with Israel, nurtures its youth, and cares for its infirm, the elderly, and those on the margins
Has a thriving charitable ecosystem that is innovative, impactful, and has high standards of governance and regulatory compliance
Is staffed with an excellent cadre of professionals and supported by an engaged and committed lay leadership
Is efficient and well funded
Is seen as an exemplar for Jewish communities worldwide
Our Mission
Our mission is to support development and excellence in our member organisations, challenging them to lead the way in sustaining, building, and celebrating vibrant Jewish communities across the UK.
Our Values
The JLC has a vision of a strong, thriving, and engaged Jewish community in the United Kingdom for generations to come. A community that:
Work Collaboratively
We work with our members and partners to achieve the best results.
Be inclusive
We value diversity and work to make sure that our decisions at every level are informed by a wide variety of perspectives.
Use Evidence
We base what we say and do on the best research and on our members’ experiences and expertise.
Be Creative
We look to bring fresh approaches and to add value to our members new ideas through innovation.
Think Long-Term
We consider the long-term effectiveness and reputation of our organisation, our members, and the Jewish community in all that we do.
Act responsibly
We take seriously our unique strategic responsibility to take the long view and plan for the sustainability of the community.
