JLGB CEO, Neil Martin awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours List

Lord Michael Levy, JLGB President said: “I am absolutely delighted at the recognition for Neil and his OBE. I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone connected with JLGB in that Neil has been a truly outstanding leader and professional, and has done wonderful work for young people in our community and of other faiths in wider society. It is very special that he has been recognised with an OBE.”

Norman Terret, JLGB Chairman added: “This is wonderful news – this well-deserved honour is a reflection of everything that Neil continues to achieve on behalf of JLGB and the way in which he inspires generations of young people to become leaders and volunteers. This OBE is an honour for Neil Martin and for JLGB too – and we really are incredibly proud of him.”

Neil Martin said: “I feel truly humbled, I still can’t believe it and I keep thinking of all the people who supported me throughout my journey. I’m so grateful to them all, especially everyone at JLGB and, of course, my family. Every day is a different adventure finding new ways to inspire young people, which has enabled the JLGB to now benefit thousands of young people all over the country to participate in positive youth activities without their religious or cultural needs being compromised.”

JLGB celebrated its 120th anniversary last year – and has gone through major changes since Neil took up the helm 11 years ago, modernising it to become a major national award winning charity.  

Some of the phenomenal JLGB achievements spearheaded by Neil include: expanding kosher Duke of Edinburgh’s Award provision across the Jewish community; creating the evolve volunteering and skills initiative – launched by HRH Prince Edward and the Chief Rabbi; and pioneering JLGB’s Interfaith National Citizen Service programme.

Stephen Greene, Chair of NCS Trust said: “We were thrilled to learn that the Queen has awarded Neil an OBE.  I can’t think of anyone more deserving.  Neil has been tireless in his advocacy for Jewish youth.  But, even more so for an interfaith NCS programme - that is now a smashing success.  So many young people will benefit from the experience of doing their NCS programme with their peers from different backgrounds."

Charlotte Hill, CEO of Step Up To Serve said: "Absolutely amazing, I can’t think of anyone who deserves this recognition more than Neil. He’s really driven the youth social action movement within the Jewish community and has been a huge ambassador of the #iWill campaign since the beginning. I'm also personally delighted, he’s an awesome bloke to work with!"

Neil adds: “I am so proud of the achievements of the entire JLGB professional team, trustees and all our volunteers as we strive to help thousands more young people be prepared and succeed in a global digital world by helping them reach their individual potential and become the best possible versions of themselves.”

As well as supporting young people, Neil holds several other communal positions and is chairman of Yom HaShoah UK, which organised the recent Holocaust commemoration ceremony.  He also chairs the Inter Faith Youth Trust.

You can congratulate Neil on Twitter for this much deserved recognition at@NeilSMartin

Chief Rabbi Humbled by Yoni Jesner Awards Ceremony on Volunteers' Week

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, stood before a packed auditorium at Arts Depot, North Finchley, and told the crowd how humbled he was by the 20+ hours of good deeds achieved by every winner of the Yoni Jesner Awards 2016; a JLGB-led volunteering scheme for school years 7-9.

The Award scheme is managed by JLGB, in partnership with The Yoni Jesner Foundation, in memory of Yoni Jesner, a passionate volunteer from Glasgow, who was tragically killed in a bus bomb in Tel Aviv, 2002, at 19 years of age. JLGB have digitised the award scheme and are able to track the impact young volunteers make in the community. Since 2014, 1,218 young people have taken part and 17,157 hours of volunteering have been recorded in total, with students of 17 schools and youth groups taking part nationally.

Rabbi Mirvis said: “It is hard to believe that nearly 14 years have passed since Yoni Jesner was so tragically taken from us. And yet, this evening’s awards clearly demonstrate the extent to which his legacy has become such an important part of the fabric of the Jewish community.”

Marsha Gladstone, the mother of Yoni, who set up the Yoni Jesner Foundation, said:

“Nothing can bring Yoni back, but his life’s work has been handed on to you now, and I hope you will continue after having achieved your first Yoni Jesner Award and continue Yoni’s work into the years ahead.”

Neil Martin, CEO of JLGB, said: “I think these inspirational young people got together and showed the entire community the power of Yoni’s values and that our future is safe in their hands.

“We look forward to supporting them on to the next challenge such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and thank the Yoni Jesner Foundation for their partnership, which keeps the memory of Yoni Jesner alive.”