The Movement for Reform Judaism held a well-attended online training course for both Liberal and Reform communities to understand their responsibilities when recruiting and managing volunteers.

Our congregations are dependent on volunteers for their day to day running, and the course offered a clear process for managing volunteers, in particular those working with children and vulnerable adults.

Representatives from 19 different Progressive communities up and down the country took part in the course, which was led by Sharon Daniels, MRJ’s Head of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, alongside the Movement’s HR Director Gilly Shulman.

Sharon said: “As everyone is a member of the synagogue, there is often a sense that we know and trust each other, as it should be in a community. However, this can present risks for volunteers, for members, and for the synagogues. Safer recruitment training explores the appropriate process for recruiting, training and supervising volunteers, and how this can be adapted to reflect the nature of the role.”