Jewish Care and Nightingale benefit as Wohl Legacy hands out £20 million grant

One of the Jewish community’s leading charitable foundations marked its 50th anniversary by handing out £20million to leading organisations in the UK and Israel.

The Wohl Legacy said it was splitting £6.5 million between welfare groups Jewish Care and Nightingale Hammerson, and TrainE TraidE, a Jewish employment charity.

Two bodies in Israel - the Jerusalem-based Hadassah Medical Organisation and Sheba Medical Centre, in Ramat Gan - would receive a total of £8.5 million to develop research centres, while £5 million would be given to the Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery in London.

The recipients were announced at Wohl Legacy’s anniversary celebration at the Royal Academy, on Thursday.

Guest speaker Matthew Gould, British Ambassador to Israel, said: “Jewish philanthropy tied together with Israeli creativity has achieved amazing things in Israel, and is still doing so.”

He described the late Anglo-Jewish philanthropists Maurice and Vivienne Wohl, who set up the Legacy, as “models for giving that makes a difference”.

He said: “The Legacy keeps their vision alive, and I have been grateful for the impact it has had on UK/Israel relations during my time as ambassador.”

Professor David Latchman, Maurice Wohl’s nephew, who is chair of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, said: “The Jewish sage Hillel taught us not to separate ourselves from our community. These grants not only reflect Maurice and Vivienne’s commitment to the communities of arts and medical science, but also to their shared love for the UK and for Israel. They also illustrate how creativity and discovery in the arts and sciences must be sustained and nourished.”

Jewish Care plans to use its grant to build 32 independent-living apartments on the charity’s site in Hendon, north London. The project, which is subject to planning permission, includes a garden, lounge and synagogue space.

Nightingale Hammerson will spend the money on renovating the Hammerson House complex in Hampstead to increase capacity for people who suffer from dementia.

The Wohl Legacy is partnering with TrainE TraidE to create the Wohl Employment and Business Campus, which will include a shared workspace, meeting room, training rooms and offices to be used by an estimated 6,000 people each year.

The Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery intend to carry out restoration and building work with their share of the grant.