A FUNDRAISING appeal to raise £50,000 has been launched by Jewish-based charity Norwood.

Any money raised by the group's Passover Appeal will go towards supporting some of the organisation's services, which are almost entirely reliant on voluntary income.

Among those set to benefit is the Leonard Sainer Cantre in Redbridge, which works with vulnerable Jewish children and families in the community.

A Norwood spokeswoman said: "Every year, Norwood needs to raise £8m a year in voluntary donations.

"This is to meet the current shortfall between what the organisation receives from local authorities and Central Government funding, and the income Norwood needs to secure to retain the currentl level of services, across our five key service divisions."

The appeal uses key symbols of the Jewish festival of Passover, and also plays on other symbols of tears and bitterness, which are central themes of the festival of Passover.

Norwood's head of marketing said: "Our core message is the breadth and scope of the vital work that we do to support the most vulnerable members of our community, and just how crucial the community's continued financial support is to many of our services."

Details of the Passover Appeal which includes ways to help are being sent out by direct mail to Norwood's database of active supporters.

April 28, 2003 14:00