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B’nai B’rith UK member crowned a ‘Heritage Hero’
Valerie Bello runs the organisation’s European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage
March 19, 2025 14:18
Valerie Bello runs the organisation’s European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage
March 19, 2025 14:18A long-time member of B’nai B’rith UK, who has devoted the past 25 years to promoting Jewish heritage and culture, has been presented with a Heritage Hero Lifetime Award.
Valerie Bello, who is the organisation’s heritage activities coordinator, received her award from the Heritage Alliance at a ceremony in the Tower of London.
Valerie has spent the last quarter of a century coordinating and publicising B’nai B’rith UK’s heritage days, known as European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage (EDJCH).
She oversees a broad range of activities run by synagogues and Jewish organisations, which hold open days, talks, guided walks, exhibitions and heritage-related events.
Valerie, who received a plaque from the Heritage Alliance, said: “I was thrilled to learn I had won the Heritage Alliance's Heritage Hero Lifetime award, as I view it also as a tribute to my organisation, B'nai B'rith UK, one of whose main projects focuses on Heritage and, in particular, to the small group of volunteers who work with me.
"The awareness and importance of heritage has risen dramatically in recent years, both here and on the Continent. Heritage has a significant role to play in national life - in preserving our sense of history, in the preservation of heritage sites and in increasing our knowledge of life, art and architecture in the past and its influence on the future.”
Launched by the B’nai B’rith Lodge in Strasbourg, the EDJCH rapidly spread across Europe. In 2024, it celebrated its 25th anniversary. It is organised by a partnership between B’nai B’rith Europe, the European Council of Jewish Communities and the Spanish Jewry Network and is part of the Council of Europe’s project, Europe - A Common Heritage.
As a result of the efforts of the EDJCH, the European Route of Jewish Heritage has become one of the major cultural routes of Europe.
For over a decade, the annual Heritage Heroes Awards have celebrated the contributions of volunteers across the UK heritage sector.
This year was the 15th annual Heritage Heroes Awards and saw volunteers being nominated for awards in two categories – the Heritage Heroes 2024 Award, celebrating exceptional volunteer contributions in 2024, and the Heritage Hero Lifetime Award, which honoured individuals with 10-plus years of dedicated service.
Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO of the Heritage Alliance, said: “The Heritage Heroes Awards serve as a perennial reminder of the passion and commitment that volunteers in the heritage sector bring to heritage projects and places. From boat restoration to theatrical engagement, fundraising to community archaeology, this year has been no exception with an exceptional quality of nominees.
“Our panel heard inspiring stories and extraordinary feats from individuals and groups of all sizes. Our nation’s heritage story has always been intertwined with heroic voluntary effort and this continues today. Many congratulations to this year’s winners and all of those nominated for their hard work, creativity and dedication."