A Jewish centre celebrated 50 years of community service.

National charity, Jewish Care, celebrated 50 years of since the Redbridge Jewish Community Centre (RJCC) in Sinclair House, Woodford Bridge Road, was opened.

The centre was joined for the celebrations by the worshipful Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Zulfiqar Hussain.

Jewish Care’s chairman, Steven Lewis, said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the centre’s past, present and future, from the youngest to the oldest, who make Redbridge JCC a lifeline to the local community.

“The dedication of the staff and 420 volunteers including lay leaders, youth leaders, fundraisers and advisory board members ensures the centre can continue to provide high quality services and a programme which moves to meet the changing needs of the community. We are looking forward to serving and supporting the local community for many years to come.”

Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care’s chief executive, who grew up and lives in Redbridge, has participated in RJCC’s youth leadership programme, known as the MIKE youth leadership programme.

He said: “RJCC has played a role in my life for 30 years and together with all of you, and many not with us today, I am proud to have played a part in shaping three of the five decades that the centre has been in existence for and I am proud to still call Redbridge my home. RJCC is unique; a community centre in the truest sense, literally from the youngest of children to wise older members of the community, and now home to an exemplary home care service and social work team too.”

President of the RJCC, Phillip Leigh, added: “50 years ago, Dr Sidney Gold, a local GP and Bernard Sinclair a pharmacist who had a dispensary in Stepney recognised that there was a generation of people marrying and moving from the East End and settling in Ilford.

“Sinclair House opened on 4 May, 1969 and in 1997 we merged with Jewish Care, enabling us to continue our work in Redbridge and Essex. It was the vision of the people that got us to this place and we of course thank them and their families for ensuring that the Redbridge Jewish Community had a purpose and future.”