Sharei Chesed (London)

Sharei Chesed (London) is a charitable trust established in 2009 and registered in England and Wales, dedicated to relieving poverty, sickness, and infirmity among members of the Jewish faith, with a primary focus on the vulnerable Jewish community in Hackney, London. Led by a small board of trustees and volunteer base, it embodies a close-knit, community-driven ethos rooted in orthodox Jewish values, prioritizing immediate welfare needs through discretionary, needs-based grant-making derived from donations and legacies. Its distinctive approach emphasizes responsive support for acute hardships, maximizing current impact without endowments or commercial activities.

The funder supports direct relief for individuals and small grassroots institutions, funding essentials like food, health emergencies, daily living expenses, and religious activities to prevent exclusion and distress. Grants target financial hardship, sickness, and infirmity, with a dual emphasis on personal aid (e.g., hundreds to thousands of pounds per beneficiary) and organizational welfare support, as seen in 2020 distributions exceeding £267,000 to institutions and £636,000 to individuals.

Eligible beneficiaries are exclusively from the Jewish community in Hackney; it prefers small, local organizations and individuals in crisis, with no specified legal entity requirements but a clear religious restriction. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is trustee-discretionary via internal assessments, with rolling, ongoing decisions and no published deadlines, forms, or processes. Typical organizational grants range from £1,000 to £10,000.

Sharei Chesed avoids capital projects, capacity building, advocacy, political activities, or funding outside Hackney's Jewish demographic, distinguishing itself as a highly targeted, values-driven specialist for urgent welfare in this niche, eschewing broader or generalist philanthropy.