Care campus has wide appeal

Hill and Hendon in order to find less expensive housing.”

He cites Jewish Care’s £44 million campus as another selling point of the area.

At the campus, Belinda Topliff, manager of its Michael Sobell Community Centre, speaks of efforts to appeal to all strands of the community.

Single-sex events are organised to cater for the more religious.“We helped to put a group of Orthodox ladies through training in keep-fit so they could work with the more Orthodox members.” The success of such activities has inspired similar projects for Charedi men.

“Traditionally the men are interested in learning and prayers so we worked with the local shuls to provide lectures they will enjoy, followed by an exercise class. They then stay for lunch.

“Part of the whole planning of this centre was to have a kosher licence so that people could eat here and benefit from everything on offer,

Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski not just come in for classes. “Word gets out and we work with different communities to involve them in the centre. We set up a kosher internet club, which means they can come in and book their trips to Israel or whatever it is they need to do.”

Barry Yarrow, 87, has been a regular at the Golders Green campus since its reopening.

“The area has completely changed,” he reflects. “It is like a ghetto now with all the religious people. And further up towards the tube station it is more ethnically mixed than it used to be.” Mr Yarrow participates in the centre’s Chaps That Chat sessions, enjoying the opportunity to converse with people from a range of backgrounds. “I love it because we’re all different and have very interesting life stories.” He credits the club for helping him to cope with the loss of his wife a year ago. “If I could do I would come here more.”