Youth movement FZY has offered reassurance that the decision by its US partner to split from its longtime parent organisation will not impact programmes for British teenagers.

Young Judea announced last week that it would become independent from Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, after more than 70 years of collaboration.

However Hadassah will continue to support Young Judea financially and in other ways, meaning that its programmes, including the yearcourse scheme run in tandem with FZY and joint events on Israel tours, will not be affected.

Michael Berman, a member of the new board of the independent Young Judea, said the decision was partly intended to broaden the scope of the youth movement's Israel programmes.

"Nothing will change for our participants and FZY will still be working with Young Judea," said Francesca Wolfe, the outgoing national director of FZY. She said the decision to have a board of trustees would bring the structure of Young Judea in line with that of FZY.

"Everyone is very excited about this," she said. "It's incredibly positive from our perspective and if anything we hope it will put new life into the organisations."

FZY, which celebrated its centenary last year, is the UK's biggest Jewish youth movement, sending hundreds of teenagers to Israel every year. Its partnership with Young Judea began in 1978, when eight FZY members joined Young Judea's gap year scheme in Israel.