It is a simple statement of fact that our community relies on volunteers. Without them, not one single aspect of communal life would be possible.

From synagogues to charities, and from campaigning to advocacy, volunteers are the vital ingredient behind how we live as Jews.

So it was important that last weekend the Jewish Volunteering Network recognised some of the most noteworthy volunteers with awards to mark their contribution.

But for all the celebrations, the context is that the level of volunteering has been on a downward slope for some years (preceding the pandemic). Nationally, in 2013-14 27 per cent volunteered regularly; in 20-21 that was down to 17 per cent.

The trend is expected to continue, which makes it all the more important that our communal institutions, which are dependent on volunteers to function, look with an open mind at how they can start to buck that trend.

For all the joy and celebration of the occasion, however, there was a sad element to it — because Leonie Lewis, the founder of JVN, died last year.

Leonie was an inspirational figure whose menschkeit touched everyone she met, and her character and spirit rubbed off on JVN itself.

It is fitting that the Leonie’s Life and Legacy campaign, launched in her name to promote volunteering, raised almost £50,000.

Even better, let every one of us consider what we can do as a volunteer — how we can help and who we can help.