What is KEF
KEF is a London-based charity that supports families in the Jewish community who have a child or children with physical and/or learning disabilities. We provide a wide range of programmes designed to bring happiness, respite, and support for both the children and their families.
At KEF, we are dedicated to creating an environment of friendship and fun where every child is given the opportunity to thrive, blossom, and reach their potential. Through culturally appropriate services and the individual care provided by our devoted staff and volunteers, each young person is valued and celebrated.
Our programmes also ensure that families receive the vital respite they need, together with a broad range of support services that ease their daily challenges and strengthen the entire family unit.
OUR VALUES:
We are safe & supportive
We are a family of support with a holistic approach
We value our strong Jewish ethos
We bring happiness & friendship
We are passionate & determined to make a difference
Our KEF Centre
Our purpose-built KEF Centre was opened in June 2017. The Centre is fitted with specialist facilities specifically tailored to the requirements of the children and young adults attending our programmes.
Play Facilities
Multi-Sensory Room
Soft Play
Our Story - How KEF began
Back in 2006, there were only a handful of local families caring for children with complex needs and very little respite support available. Among them were Channi, whose son Nuchi was at Tuffkid Nursery at the time and Shelley and her daughter Michali.
Batya Salamon (nee Heller) was working as a support worker at Tufkit Nursery where Nuchi was at the time and was seeing the exhaustion among parents, she dreamed of creating something special – a residential camp to give families some respite and children an exciting, nurturing experience of their own. Batya approached both Channi and Shelley with her idea and they soon recognised the incredible potential and together, they decided to make it happen.
With minimal resources and plenty of determination, they found a small cottage on the Isle of Wight, recruited six enthusiastic young volunteers, and prepared all the food themselves. That summer, 4 children set off for what was meant to be a one-off holiday. As the parents waved them off - with tears, nerves and hope – none of them imagined what would grow from that moment.
What started as a small act of kindness became the foundation of KEF, which today supports over 100 families, providing life-changing experiences and creating a true sense of community for children and young people with disabilities.