Survivor charity disbands after distributing £6m

FIFTY HOLOCAUST survivors and refugees will gather at JW3 next week to mark the winding up of a charity which has helped them and others with disbursements totalling more than £6 million.

The Six Point Foundation was established in 2011 with some of the proceeds from assets of the Otto Schiff Housing Association. Its goal was to “help improve the quality of life for individuals of Jewish origin living in the UK who experienced Nazi oppression and who faced difficult financial circumstances”.

Since then, it has supported some 350 people with around £2 million in grants for goods and services. A further £2.5 million has been awarded to organisations supporting survivors and refugees and the separate £2 million SPF Connect computer project is enabling hundreds to get online.

Grants have been awarded via the Association of Jewish Refugees, the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, the Agudas Israel Housing Association and Bikur Cholim and North London Bikur Cholim. They have helped beneficiaries in a range of ways — from home adaptations to wheelchairs.

A 12-minute film about the foundation’s achievements will be shown at the farewell reception.

Final appeals for potential beneficiaries have attracted a big response.

“We had close to half a million pounds in requests in the last week,” reported Susan Cohen, the SPF executive director. “We are still assessing them but we could fund them all.

“In all honesty, it has been the greatest privilege of my life. When does anyone have the opportunity to set something up, see it all the way through and see how much difference it makes?

“It’s a very emotional time and we are really grateful we have close relationships with our five partner organisations who will continue to advocate for our clients.”