Expert: Sonia Douek
Organisation: Jewish Care
Job Title: Head f Volunteering and community development
I have been actively involved in volunteering for almost 40 years starting as a youth leader and then as a lay leader of a local synagogue. Having managed my own team of volunteers at Jewish Care for 8 years I took up the role of head of volunteering 3 and a half years ago. In the past 18 months I have introduced a strategy for volunteering for the organisation which aims to change the face of our 2,500 volunteer force. I have also been involved in the management of a number of Department of Health funded schemes, including our current one which aims to enable those who are traditionally seen as recipients of care to be able to give back as volunteers across the community. I am part of the wider advisory group for the Department of Health volunteer strategy.