JTeen, a vital resource dedicated to supporting Jewish youth, has been named Helpline of the Year at the 2024 Helpline Awards.
The award was presented by Helpines Partnership, the UK’s sole accrediting body for helpline services.
Founded in 2021, JTeen has rapidly gained recognition for its support of young Jewish people aged 11 to 24, offering a confidential, anonymous helpline via phone, text, and WhatsApp.
The helpline provides emotional assistance for those struggling with their mental health and other personal challenges.
Founder and CEO Yaakov Barr said: “This award is a powerful validation of our team’s commitment to safeguarding the mental health of Jewish teens and ensuring they feel empowered to face life’s challenges with resilience and hope.
“This recognition inspires us to keep advancing our support and outreach, meeting the evolving and urgent needs of the teens in our community.”
Yaakov Barr, founder and CEO of JTeen (Photo: JTeen)
Helplines Partnership praised JTeen for being one of the first support services in the UK to offer anonymous WhatsApp support. This innovation has significantly enhanced accessibility for today’s youth. enabling some 5,000 people to use the helpline since it was launched, with over over 180,000 messages being sent.
Aside from providing phone support, the charity is unusual in that it has therapists available to consult and, when necessary, can refer teens for further therapeutic care. This vision was integral to the late John Cameron, JTeen’s lifetime patron and former head of NSPCC and Childline, who was instrumental in JTeen’s inception.
Paula Ojok, chief executive of Helplines Partnership, said: “The Helpline Awards recognise the amazing work of the sector, celebrating individuals and organisations that go above and beyond to provide support to those in need.
“We are delighted to recognise JTeen Support as Helpline of the Year. As the first helpline of its kind in the UK specifically for children, it fills a critical gap in support services for Jewish teenagers facing emotional wellbeing and mental health challenges. Congratulations to the JTeen team for their incredible work.”
JTeen's Helpline of the Year plaque and certificate
The news of the acolade was applauded by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “The invaluable efforts of JTeen, supporting Jewish teenagers across the UK to manage their mental health, have made a real impact on the lives of so many.
"I was delighted to hear that they have been named Helpline of the Year 2024, and I wish all those who have contributed to this achievement, continued blessing and success in all of their endeavours.”
Beyond its support line, JTeen is also shaping the future of mental health support through JTeen Prevent, a preventative initiative informed by data gathered from support line interactions. Trends and crisis themes from these conversations drive the organisation’s community outreach, informing school workshops, community events, and resources.
Other helplines to receive awards included the British Heart Foundation and Citizens Advice Scotland.
Riki Greenberg, a trustee of JTeen, expressed her pride at receiving the award, saying: “Being recognised alongside such notable national organisations is both humbling and inspiring. This award underscores our unique role as the only support line with therapists on hand to consult and refer, providing essential support for young people in our community.”
JTeen:
Call: 0800 915 4646
Textline Number: 07860 058 823
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 6pm – midnight
Sat (in winter): 9pm – midnight
https://jteen.co.uk/ or click here
