By Robyn Rosen
Merseyside Jewish Community Care is putting £13,500 in grants towards new educational services and outings.
The 125-year-old organisation has received £12,500 for well-being activities from Liverpool Primary Care Trust and £1,000 for training from Vola, the Voluntary Organisation Learning Association.
Last year, MJCC helped 273 people and was contacted by a further 154 among the 3,000-strong community. It has over 250 volunteers.
A recent addition to its activities is appointments for clients with a Citizens Advice Bureau officer for half-a-day every week. The first session was fully booked.
"We are delighted the PCT is supporting us," said MJCC chief executive Lisa Dolan. "These are difficult times but we have been told there are funds so we've actively searched for grants available and have found them."
The Vola cash has gone towards a mental health training session and upcoming first-aid training.
"It's to enable us to keep up standards and regulations and maintain our services," Ms Dolan explained.
MJCC also plans to open its first supported living apartments "imminently", having purchased a site last year.
"We bought it when prices were low and refurbished it when VAT was low. We saw it as an opportunity.
"We're now working with the local authority on care packages. It's a big achievement."