MICHAEL NEWMAN

WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS CHARITY?

NINETEEN YEARS AGO, I joined the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) when many of the historic Holocaustera restitution and compensation settlements were established. Many large industrial organisations, Swiss banks and insurance companies started to pay substantial reparations in respect of their crimes and larceny during the Holocaust.

Having identified a need to set up a service that would advise, guide and assist survivors and refugees and their families about how to claim back their rightful assets, I set up the Central Office for Holocaust Claims, which was based at AJR offices and was supported and co-funded by Jewish Care and Agudas Israel.

In my previous position at the Holocaust Education Trust, I had also worked on restitution settlements, including the British Government’s enemy property claims assessment panel, through which families of people who had deposited assets into British banks could receive restitution.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR INVOLVEMENT SO FAR?

Once the claims department was set up, I continued to work throughout the organisation, also focusing on marketing and communications. In 2012, I was appointed chief executive and I oversee and manage a dedicated and compassionate team who take care of the social and welfare needs of our

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

It is our mission to represent and care for Britain’s Jewish refugees and survivors of Nazi oppression and commemorate their experiences and contributions to society. This is achieved by combating antisemitism and through our educational grants which support