Norwood this week raised £2.1 million from a 36-hour online crowdfunder, held in place of an annual dinner.

The UK’s oldest Jewish charity – supporting those with learning disabilities and children and families facing social, educational and mental health challenges – ran the campaign on the theme of We Need Norwood.

It showcased people with a range of learning disabilities, special educational needs and autism for whom Norwood has provided a lifeline. It also highlighted the findings of a Norwood-commissioned poll, to which almost a quarter of respondents said that they or a family member would likely need to access Norwood services within the next three years.

Trustees’ chair Neville Kahn was “incredibly gratified and humbled by the response of the community to our call for support. We are a community charity and we exist to serve the community’s needs. But when we needed our community, they supported us to reach our fundraising target in very challenging times. It’s never been more important for the community to come together to ensure our organisations are empowered to continue to assist our most vulnerable members, now and in the future.”