Primary reaches out with 36-hour fundraising drive

A Willesden primary school is holding a 36-hour matched-funding campaign to redress its income shortfall, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

North West London Jewish Day School needs to raise £300,000 in an appeal starting on Sunday 29 January. Half the required funds have already been secured thanks to a pool of generous donors, with the remaining amount to be found during the timed campaign.

Funds raised will go towards staff costs to facilitate the higher-thanaverage staff-to-pupil ratio to ensure the school continues to provide high educational standards for all children.

It will also fund SEN staff and welfare costs, regarded as one of the school’s big strengths in recent years, with achievements in this area including becoming the first Jewish school to be awarded the ADHD-friendly school award.

The money raised will also help to fund a reduction in voluntary contributions. Like other state-funded Jewish schools, North West receives no funding for Kodesh (Jewish studies) from local government and so relies entirely on voluntary contributions. However, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living crisis, the school is experiencing an income shortfall and is therefore reaching out to the wider community for support.

The campaign comes after North West received an overall rating of ‘outstanding’ in its most recent Kodesh Studies inspection, an upgrade on the school’s previous rating of ‘Good’.  To make a donation visit: www. charityextra.com/nwljds