Culture Secretary praises JW3’s ‘fantastic contribution’ to UK life

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP was full of praise for JW3, north-west London’s vibrant Jewish cultural centre, during a visit last week.

“Organisations like JW3 play a unique and essential role, not only as a hub for Jewish life, learning, and celebration, but also as a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds,” she said.

"I was delighted to visit and witness the fantastic contribution of JW3 and to meet leaders from across the Jewish charity sector to discuss their important work."

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport highlighted the need for such places, saying: "Arts and culture are vital in telling our national and local stories, bringing people together and promoting understanding across communities."

The day's itinerary, facilitated by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), saw Nandy personally witness the ways in which the JW3 leverage arts, education and social action in order to bring people together.

Raymond Simonson, JW3's CEO, proudly guided the Secretary of State on a comprehensive tour of the bustling venue, saying afterwards: “It was an honour to welcome the Secretary of State to JW3, for her to learn more about what makes us the home for Jewish culture and conversation in the UK.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy at JW3 with Jewish leaders (Photo: JLC)[Missing Credit]

Taking the Secretary of State on a tour, Raymond was able to demonstrate the many ways in which the JW3 uses the arts, culture, and education to bring people together and harness a strong sense of community.

Simonson said: “Her visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the breadth of our work and the vital role JW3 plays both in strengthening Jewish life in the UK and ensuring that Jewish culture enriches wider British society.”

Following her tour of JW3's facilities, Nandy joined a significant discussion, chaired by Marc Levy, JLC’s external affairs manager, with representatives from Maccabi GB, the Jewish Museum London, the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN), Mitzvah Day and the Board of Deputies.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy at a roundtable discussion at JW3 (Photo: JLC)[Missing Credit]

CEO of the JLC Claudia Mendoza underscored the visit's broader importance for the community; “This visit reflects the JLC’s commitment to amplifying the voices of our member organisations and highlighting their work to senior decision-makers. We are grateful to the Secretary of State for taking the time to engage with our community and understand the impact our charities make alongside the challenges we are currently facing.”