Following the enormously successful establishment of new Jewish student centres in Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol UJS-Hillel has turned its attention to London and today announces the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art student centre which will transform Jewish student life in the Capital. This redevelopment and modernization will help UJS-Hillel to achieve its core aims of expanding student engagement and increasing interest in community activity among the student body. The new centre will replace the existing Hillel House on Endsleigh St and will sit in the heart of London’s university district.
This brand new student facility will be able to welcome a greater number of students in a stunning space occupying 4,000 square feet designed with a contemporary feel on the corner of Euston Road and Upper Woburn Place. As well as a much enlarged dining and lounge area the new centre will incorporate other much needed facilities such as study areas, high speed internet connections and wi-fi zones. There will also be a café serving quality kosher cuisine, a chaplain’s office where students can get confidential advice and fully equipped meeting rooms for student societies. It will be the perfect venue for Friday night dinners and student programmes and events as well as for relaxing and meeting friends. Students have been consulted about the layout, location and facilities of the new centre and by responding to these requests and concerns UJS-Hillel will increase the number of students using its services.
Commenting on the new centre Daniel Marcus, CEO of UJS-Hillel, said: “The opening of the new London student centre is great news for the whole Jewish student community and is part of UJS-Hillel’s commitment to meeting the needs of 21st century students. The response from students regarding the new centre has been extremely positive and I believe that these new facilities will inspire more students to engage with their Judaism. Crucially, the Jewish Society (JSOC) will have a unique and cutting edge space to creatively provide social, cultural, educational and political programmes for all London based Jewish students. The centre ultimately belongs to the students and I look forward to seeing it become the ‘must go to’ place for London’s Jewish students.”
The Endsleigh Street site is fondly remembered by former Jewish students of all ages, however, UJS-Hillel made the decision to relocate because of the demand for a more user friendly facility and because the cost of maintenance needed for the existing building were becoming prohibitive. The current site has been purchased by University College London who already rent four floors of the eight storey building.
Speaking about the new centre Mr Fred Worms, who was instrumental in the opening of the existing Hillel House in 1971, urged the community to show the same support for the new student centre as it did on the opening of the Endsleigh Street site: “Hillel House will always have a special place in the hearts of many former students for whom it formed a vital part of their university social, religious and cultural life. However, Hillel’s primary aim has always been to meet the needs of students and this means adapting to meet new demands and circumstances. I am confident that the new Hillel premises will provide outstanding facilities as well as the opportunities for engagement needed to create an even more vibrant Jewish student community.”
The transformation of UJS-Hillel’s London facilities is part of an ongoing programme to upgrade Hillel Houses in towns and cities across the country. Students in Bristol and Nottingham have already welcomed their new state-of-the-art facilities and new facilities are scheduled to open in Leeds and Brighton with other regional centres in the pipeline. A second London student centre is planned to be opened to cater for students from the LSE on the Strand and Kings College in Holborn.