The UK affiliate of Emunah, one of Israel’s primary welfare organisations overseeing projects for at-risk children, has appointed a new chief executive.

Julia Kay, 52, brings the best part of two decades’ experience working in the charity sector, including at Jewish Women’s Aid and at JAMI.

Emunah Israel and its British arm support projects in Israel for at-risk children and their families through crisis and intervention therapy centres, residential buildings, high schools, children’s day care and multi-purpose community centres.

Kay, who started the role earlier this month, told the JC that she finds charitable work especially rewarding because “it’s all about making a real difference to the people that need the help.

“I really enjoy the work, meeting new people, working across communities and building support, all for a good cause. That’s paramount for me.”

She added: “All of my colleagues [at British Emunah] believe in what they do and the difference we are making, so I’m very excited to be joining the team.”

Kay said she would focus on trying to reach and engage younger people in the UK to get involved and offer their support.

British Emunah’s chair of trustees, Rochelle Selby, said: “We are delighted that Julia has agreed to become British Emunah’s new CEO and we look forward to supporting her vision to herald a new era of growth and success for the charity.”

Kay replaces former director and chief executive Sharon Dewinter, who left in November after five years with the charity.

British Emunah relies solely on donations to support the 27 different projects it oversees in Israel, touching the lives of some 10,000 children on a daily basis.

Emunah, which was started in 1933 by a group of British women who wished to provide practical help to children escaping Nazi persecution, has evolved to become one of the primary social welfare organisations in the Jewish state, and through over 200 projects, confronts the many different issues faced by at-risk and vulnerable children and their families.