Thank you for supporting US Futures, as I walk 1km at the Maccabi Fun Run on the 14 June at Allianz Park.

US Futures was set up to support the people that will inspire the next generation of British Jewry and support the programmes that we know have made and are making a real difference to hundreds of young Jews. These programmes include the Learn to Lead trips to Israel and Poland that inspire so many of our youth every year.

Today’s modern world provides so many distractions and diversions for young Jews. How are we to keep the Facebook generation connected to the Jewish tradition that we care so much about? How are we to ensure that the continuity of our community is safe, built on a strong Jewish identity?

We believe that the answer lies in making connections. We have to connect young people not just with each other but with activities and experiences that meaningfully instil in them the importance of being a part of the Jewish community. This can be in their school, on campus or in their local community – for that matter it can be at a local social venue – but wherever it is, it needs to be planned and delivered with a sense of purpose, guided by the values that we share. That’s why we’re asking you to help US Futures support the work of Tribe and Young US.

Take the Tribe Learn 2 Lead Poland Trip. 60 young people have just returned from an experience that will genuinely influence their Jewish future. This was only possible because of the wonderful Learn 2 Lead programme that Tribe have made available in a number of our local communities. We tracked children who attended Learn 2 Lead over 6 years. 84% of teenagers who attended remained highly involved in the United Synagogue from the ages of 19-24. Without the Learn 2 Lead experience the numbers will be very different. Learn 2 Lead can have a real impact.

But this is just the beginning; we need to widen our programmes to connect with more young people. US Futures is built upon the commitment that every child must have the chance to share in such life-changing opportunities. Our first project was to ensure that the Chesed Bursary Fund could prevent the exclusion of children due to financial hardship. This work of course continues, but we can do so much more. We need your support.

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