Camp Simcha to expand its services
CAMP SIMCHA is to extend its operations by offering support to families with a child with a serious mental health condition.
The move was announced by president, Jonathan Goldstein, to almost 1,000 supporters at the charity’s dinner at London’s Grosvenor House on Monday, which raised £1.85 million.
Until now, Camp Simcha has focused on helping families of children with serious physical illness. But Mr Goldstein said the problems of mental health among young Jews were “too big for any one charity to deal with alone” — and Camp Simcha would work closely with Jami and Norwood.
The service extension will see the charity support up to 20 additional families over the next 18 months.
Camp Simcha would concentrate on what it “does best — whole family pastoral care; practical and emotional support services”.
Chief executive Neville Goldschneider welcomed the opportunity to help “families coping with any and every serious childhood illness”.
Its plan was to assist a pilot group of families with children who have either been hospitalised or taken extended school leave as a result of mental health problems.
“For example, severe OCD, eating disorders, or anxiety,” Mr Goldschneider explained.
“We will be working with a dedicated mental health professional who will join our team and who will assess every family before any pastoral support services are decided.
“This is where our collaborative approach will come into play and we will be liaising with other charities and agencies to ensure the clinical needs of the child and family are being met before we step in.”
The dinner raised the bulk of the £2 million needed to run the expanded operation over the next year.
Guests also heard from members of client families, including Eli Sassoon, 16, younger brother to David, who has lissencephaly, a rare, gene-linked brain malformation.
“Among his numerous medical complications, David suffers from serious epileptic fits,” Eli said. “The fact we still have him at all is a miracle.
“My parents have done an incredible job caring for David throughout his life.
But our childhood has been spent in the company of doctors, nurses and carers.
“Camp Simcha gave me back some of the parts of my childhood I felt I was missing out on — the normal things other kids get to take for granted. And they gave my parents vital opportunities to take a breath.” Jonathan Goldstein For Sylvia Cohen, whose granddaughter Liora has a complex medical condition requiring 24/7 care, the charity has been a lifeline.
“It is incredibly distressing to witness everything Liora has to contend with. And as a mother, it is almost unbearable to see the enormous strain it puts on my daughter Bev from lack of sleep, caring for Liora round the clock and the added pressure on her marriage. Bev feels isolated and at times depressed.
“But Camp Simcha’s support makes such a difference at these low points. They are a shoulder to lean on, understanding the situation at times when Bev feels life is getting on top of her.”
It is the sort of assistance Mr Goldschneider is seeking to provide for the new roster of clients.
“We don’t want to get involved with the clinical side of things — there are charities in the community already doing that,” he told the JC.
“It can be a distressing time for the family and children who are missing large amounts of school.
“Mental health problems often leave people in a terrible state and the emotional support we will offer will hopefully make all the difference.”