Kisharon Langdon’s Bike Shop and other social enterprises will be offering City and Guilds accredited qualifications which could pave the way for more work opportunities.
At the Bike Shop in Bell Lane, Hendon, students can work towards the Level 1 qualification in bike mechanics, and other qualifications will be available soon in horticulture, retail, customer service and administration.
Eytan Bordoley, Manager of the Bike Shop, which trains people from across the learning disability and autism community, as well as those supported by Kisharon Langdon said: “These are proper recognised qualifications, acknowledged and welcomed by employers. We can teach City and Guilds qualifications up to Level 3, with courses lasting from three months to a year. There’s no exam at the end, but a series of course questions to make sure students have learned well.”
Sarah Sharlott, Head of Social Enterprise and Community Opportunities said: “We were required to provide a quality assurance framework and demonstrate that we could teach people all aspects of the units involved. Now we are looking at the horticulture qualification, which we hope will appeal to students at Kisharon Langdon College.”
City and Guilds accredited qualifications in other services are expected to be launched next.
For more information, contact Eytan Bordoley, at Kisharon Langdon on 07903 050848.
Tuffkid Nursery children and students at Langdon College have now joined Kisharon Noé School pupils in having Forest School sessions thanks to the generosity of a Kisharon Langdon Trustee with a four-acre forest in Radlett.
The Trustee, who has requested anonymity, has given over the land for Forest School and funded accessibility aids including a path, ramp and toilet. The forest, a 20-minute drive from the school in its minibus, has a zip wire for the adventurous, and a fire pit.
Until now, Sunny Hill Park or Windsor Open Space have been Forest School destinations for Kisharon Noé School pupils, but the facilities available at the Radlett forest have opened up opportunities for others to experience Forest School, even for those using wheelchairs.
Regular learning sessions in the open air are widely acknowledged to improve confidence, resilience and physical wellbeing as well as teaching students about the natural world. Forest School has been on the curriculum at Kisharon Noé School since the pandemic and even children with severe disabilities get involved in Forest School activities in a purpose-built eco hub in the playground.
The first Forest School session in Radlett for Tuffkid Nursery children was a huge success. The nursery’s weekly newsletter reported: “The children were amazed to see a natural environment full of exploration around every corner. Forest School was rich in hands-on learning and fostered risk-taking confidence and critical thinking. The children were mesmerised and can’t wait to go back.”
Kisharon Noé School’s Forest School Leader, Alfredo Sanguino runs all the sessions.He says the experience is especially helpful for non-verbal children and adults and those who struggle with light and sound. They enjoy the calm and listen to the birds, the rustling of leaves and the wind.
Alfredo, helped by Forest School Assistant Ranny Di-Mampova, said: “We are very grateful for all the Trustee has done for us. Everyone is very excited, parents and students alike. Having this facility is living a dream.”
Parents of people we support now share an overwhelming sense of reassurance about the future. In parent meetings and surveys, 85 per cent were confident of our long-term positive impact, with their pre-merger anxieties largely dissipated.
There was also positive feedback on the increased opportunities we can offer following the merger, with the cultural or religious wishes, and life choices, of those accessing our services considered and respected.
This reflects our new organisational values, laid down by staff and trustees, of Respect, Integrity, Community and Excellence. These principles, given the acronym RICE, sit alongside behavioural standards demonstrating our shared ideals.
These have been pivotal in addressing issues where standards have not been at the level expected, leading to our decision over the summer to close certain college sites. These same values will be central as we address other challenges in the coming year.
Despite a period of great transition and upheaval, the healthy, positive and forward-thinking friendly culture created has attracted high-calibre new starters to our now £24m charity.
Generous-spirited people like you responded accordingly, raising a record-breaking £2.2m in our 36-hour On Top of the World matched fundraising campaign in March, helping us to reach £4m, our largest-ever fundraising target.
However, among other factors, the new Chancellor’s decisions are adversely impacting our current £20m statutory funding, and we will need £4.4m from the community this coming year just to continue what we are doing.
This is without even addressing the large call on our limited reserves following the cash flow impact after the horrific events in Israel on 7 October, and the ongoing consequences.
At this important time of reflection and renewal, I pay tribute to each one of you who have gone the extra mile in helping us achieve such positive change, and ask that you join with us in the year ahead to help realise our shared vision of ensuring people we support thrive in 5785.
Wishing you Shana Tova and a healthy, happy and sweet New Year.
New funding has allowed more early years students to take up places at the Wohl Campus, Kisharon Noé School and paid for the equipment and resources needed in the classroom.
Following grants from The Dyna and Fala Weinstock Charitable Trust and the Breakaway Charity Committee, the intake of this cohort can now be expanded.
With students at school up to the age of 19, the new resources for early years students will enable children with learning disabilities to continue their education without disruption from a young age to early adulthood.
Following the grant, the early years classroom will be refurbished and a new teacher has also joined recently, further improving provision to this year group.
Dr Emily Haddock, Director of Education, said: “The earlier children can access an unparalleled centre of excellence, in a Jewish learning environment, the greater the impact the school has on improving their futures.”
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Three challengers Vivian, Lance and Rafi have selected their own events, dedicating all funds to Kisharon Langdon.
“While Kisharon Langdon runs challenges of its own, supporters can choose any event and we will support them in any way we can. Vivien, Lance and Rafi are in running and cycling events but the sky’s the limit and whatever the event we’re hugely grateful,” said Events and Challenges Coordinator Nicole Levy.
Vivian Wineman is taking part in the London to Brighton cycle challenge,
Lance Ettinger is running the Thames Path 50k Challenge from Putney to Runnymede while Rafi Auret will be in the Victoria Park Half Marathon in Hackney in memory of Jake Marlowe who was murdered by Hamas on 7 October. His sister Natasha is supported by Kisharon Langdon.
Meanwhile, Kisharon Langdon has eight runners in the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 13 October. Best of luck to Melanie Angel, Doron and James Jacobs, Yiddy Gertner. Tamar Nathan, Alex Pollak, Joshua Rosen and Sam Ucko.
To find out more about challenge events, contact: challenges@kisharonlangdon.org.uk
People supported by Kisharon Langdon will be helping to break down disability barriers in the United Synagogue’s Cross Community Zone Challenge, which starts in November.
Students from years 8 and 9 will bake hamantaschen, pack mishloach manot and enjoy Purim singing and dancing with Kisharon Langdon members next March in the last of five events in the Zone Challenge.
Rachel Ucko, Head of Jewish Living and Community, said: “The aim of the session is for the students to interact with people with learning disabilities, support them and to develop a greater awareness of how people with learning disabilities behave. As always, the aim is to break down barriers and promote inclusion.”
The programme, from eleven London US shuls, includes sessions on Jewish medical ethics, Jewish law and a treasure hunt through the Jewish East End. It culminates with a Tribe Shabbaton.
For more information about the Zone Challenge, email: crosscommunityzone@gmail.com
Sweet treats, host gifts, presents for family, friends and neighbours and something guaranteed to keep children happy, the Kisharon Langdon Gift & Homeware Store has it all this Rosh Hashanah.
With people we support packing products and all profits invested into helping people with learning disabilities, every buy is a mitzvah.
Looking for a conversation starter? Try apple and honey gourmet popcorn or candy mallows (freeze-dried mini marshmallows), from the US. These Popinsanity products, like all our yummy edibles, are parev and kosher.
Bags of apple rings (£3) are in a range of yomtov nosh packed by people we support. Invaluable work experience started weeks ago for the packers who weigh and label bags too. You’ll also find their caramelised cashews with honey, chocolate coated cranberries, and chocolate covered pretzel poppers (all £4.50), in the shop in Temple Fortune or online.
Talented artists we support are behind this year’s Rosh Hashanah greetings cards, available in packs of five, (£3.50), and you’ll find their work on hand-painted honey dippers, (£4).
Rosh Hashanah cupcakes kits, packed in-house too, contain pre-weighed ingredients, a wooden spoon and cupcake cases, (£10). These will entertain the young, and young-at-heart.
Adorn your table with pomegranate serviettes (£4) and a honey pot from a wide selection to suit all tastes.
Anyone undecided on their purchase can take a look at the pre-wrapped gifts on sale at a range of prices. Here, edible treats are decoratively packaged on a fine Equal dish, so you can indulge on Rosh Hashanah and have a gift for afterwards. The perfect mix.
Four pupils at Kisharon Noé School were presented with Jack Petchey awards by the Mayor of Barnet Councillor Tony Vourou at the Arts Depot in Finchley.
Charlie, pictured, Joe, Sophia and Ibri were rewarded for their resilience, kindness, hardwork, strength and friendliness in these first awards for the school.
Eitan Cohn, Kodesh Lead, said he was ‘delighted’ adding that the school would definitely be entering again next year. Winners each receive £300 to be spent on equipment that will benefit them or their peers.
The Jack Petchey Foundation, established by the late Sir Jack Petchey CBE, aims to inspire and motivate young people across London and Essex. The Foundation recognises the outstanding achievements of young individuals through its awards programme.
A campaign to make the government more transparent in its social care funding decisions is launching this September.
It comes from Access Social Care which has made freedom of information requests on funding decisions to three government departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care.
While the information commissioner has ruled it is in the public interest for this funding information to be shared, the government has appealed on the grounds that ‘live’ public policy decisions should remain private. A judgement is expected soon.
Meanwhile, the Access Social Care charity has posed further requests for information.
Kari Gerstheimer, Access Social Care CEO and Founder, said: “We are putting pressure on the new government to be more transparent in its funding decisions. We want to make sure the right evidence is considered.
“We want to get the social care sector and the public behind us and will launch a public crowdfunding campaign in September. Legal fees are very expensive and if every social care provider puts £200 in the pot, we’ll be covered.”
Government officials maintain that social care is adequately funded but providers and social care recipients have a wealth of evidence to the contrary.
One provider, Mencap, says that proper social care funding is a gateway to happy healthy lives for people with learning disabilities. Without it, people miss out on the care that can help them integrate into local communities.
In addition, a new report from ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) found that adult social care budgets in 2023/24 were overspent by £586 million, the highest level for a decade.
It said that most local authority social care directors were unsure about funding their statutory duties for the year 2024/5, and carrying out tasks that had been the responsibility of NHS staff had placed an additional burden on social care staff.
Specialist technology designed to help people with learning disabilities develop their work skills is coming to Kisharon Langdon following a £19k grant from the Karten Network.
The new technology will open up work opportunities for these individuals who find it difficult to secure paid work, and are at risk of loneliness and isolation. They may also suffer economically.
Funding from the Karten Network, which provides the latest in adaptive computer technology, will replace outdated IT equipment and bring in new software.
Second-hand book business New Chapters is one Kisharon Langdon social enterprise to benefit from the grant. Commercial Enterprise Manager Courtney Wright said: “New IT will speed up our operation and stop our systems from crashing. This will end a lot of frustration. Using the new text-to-speech technology will let New Chapters staff who cannot write send emails to customers for the first time.”
Two new internet-enabled iPads for the Bike Shop, which is run by people with learning disabilities, will let them take payments and check prices at cycling events, while switches, which allow those who cannot use touch screens, mouse buttons or keyboards to access a computer, are going to the enterprise team – a group of people with learning disabilities who pack confectionery to be sold at our gift and homeware store, Equal, or as favours at events.
