United Jewish Israel Appeal

UK Jewish charity funding education and welfare programmes in Israel and the UK

United Jewish Israel Appeal
Logo
Type	Charitable company
Founded	16 December 1996 (incorporated); registered as a charity 10 January 1997
Registration ID	Registered charity 1060078; company 03295115
Headquarters	4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ
Area served	Throughout England And Wales, Israel
Key people	Steven Noé (chairman); Simon Wagman (treasurer); Amanda Winston (chief executive)
Website	www.ujia.org

UJIA logo circa 2014

The United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) is 'Britain's major fundraising organization for Israel'. It is the British branch of Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal, one of the three 'national institutions' in Israel. It was created in 1997 as the merger of Joint Israel Appeal and Jewish Continuity.

Michael Levy who was the chief fundraiser for Tony Blair during his time as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister has been a key figure in the UJIA. At about 12.45 am on 27 July 1994 a car bomb exploded outside Balfour House in North Finchley, London. The building housed the offices of the Joint Israel Appeal (JIA), one of the two bodies that merged to form UJIA in 1997, as well as the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organisation. Several people were injured. The attack came about 13 hours after a car bomb outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, and shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan had met at the White House. In December 1996 Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh were convicted of conspiring to cause explosions and sentenced to 20 years. UJIA's own history lists the attack as "UJIA's London office at Balfour House is bombed".

Activities

UJIA Blair Scholarships

In 1998 Tony Blair, then UK Prime Minister, launched a British-Israeli youth exchange program on a visit to Israel which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Israel. The grants were named 'UJIA-Blair Fellowships'. The program was designed to bring 'British youngsters completing high school to work here [Israel] in development towns, on kibbutzim, and to learn about the IDF and other elements of Israeli society'.

1998 Annual Fundraising Dinner

The UJIA fundraising dinner of 1998 was addressed by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. In the same week of Netanyahu's address he met with then Prime Minister Tony Blair and foreign secretary Robin Cook. The previous week the two countries signed a 'memorandum of understanding' aimed at creating greater military co-operation through 'joint research in defense technologies and information exchanges'.

2002 Annual Appeal Auction

In 2002 the UJIA held a fundraising auction hosted by footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones. A range of football shirts were auctioned off including those of English Premiership footballers Michael Owen and David Beckham. One auction winner paid £40,000 to spend Christmas with Vinnie Jones.

2002 Shaul Mofaz Events

In 2002 the UJIA held a dinner at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow where the guest speaker was Shaul Mofaz, the former Israeli army chief of staff. Mofaz also spoke at events in Leeds and Liverpool. All of these events attracted protests because of Mofaz's role in 'Operation Defensive Shield' where 'Israeli forces invaded the West Bank and occupied and sealed off the Palestinian towns of Jenin and Ramallah'.

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson described Mofaz's visit as a 'shameful stain on the city's reputation' because 'General Mofaz was in charge during some of the most horrendous military attacks on Palestinian civilians; men, women, and children' he denied that Glasgow City Council had any involvement in arranging the event and argued that the sole organisers had been the UJIA.

2003 Rudolph Giuliani Visit to Bolton

In 2003 former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani visited Bolton in a trip arranged by the UJIA. The main point of his talk was to increase support for the pending invasion of Iraq. In order to do this he warned that he 'shared President George W Bush's concern that Saddam (Hussein) had weapons of mass destruction'.

2004 Annual Fundraising Dinner

In 2004 former U.S. talk show host Jerry Springer was invited by the UJIA to be guest speaker at their annual fundraising dinner. Springer was criticised for being an inappropriate choice of guest speaker.

2005 Galilee Development Fund

In 2005 Shimon Peres set up a fund and recruiting initiative to attract investors interested in developing Galilee. The fund was headed by UJIA president Brian Kerner. Peres described 'developing the Galilee and Negev' as 'the most important Zionist goal of the 2000s'.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband Hosting Annual UJIA Patrons Dinner 2008

In 2008, David Miliband was a guest of honour and host at the Annual UJIA Patrons Dinner. The event took place at the Foreign Office where Miliband welcomed 160 UJIA members. Miliband was introduced by UJIA President Trevor Chinn. At the dinner, Chinn 'recalled the time they spent together in Israel visiting Gap Year students' (during Miliband's first year as foreign secretary), he also described Miliband as a "clever and courageous Foreign Secretary.”

Miliband is reported to have said that it was “a privilege to be amongst friends”. In his speech he described the UJIA as “an organisation with an inclusive vision of Zionism” that the 'whole of Britain' can take inspiration from. He described the organisation as not being "scared to put itself in danger and teaches us that it is Israel which breathes new life into Jewish people".

Miliband also divulged that he had hosted the Foreign Office’s first Chanukah party in December 2007.

In giving thanks, UJIA Chairman Mick Davis spoke of his belief that 'Jewish identity is a healthy way of acknowledging Israel and is a legacy Jewish parents must leave their children'. In concluding he stated that these are needs that must be met “today, tomorrow and forever.” The meeting was attended by controversial Labour Party donor David Martin Abrahams.

2008 Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX)

On a visit to Israel in 2008 Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to develop a Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX). UJIA helped to kickstart the initiative with a donation of £200,000. Mike Cushman of the London School of Economics argued that Universities should avoid the scheme, saying:

'Much of the finance for these partnerships is clearly coming from parts of the private and voluntary sectors that are allied to Israel ... We are urging our colleagues not to touch any of this funding with a bargepole. It is blood money and they should recognise it as such'.

Cushman's comments were made in the context of the academic boycott of Israel which played a role in the development of the Birax scheme according to Professor David Newman of Ben Gurion University. Newman who had been involved in planning the program from the beginning argued that the program 'has a great deal to do with the boycott' adding:

'Because of the ongoing discussion of boycotts the British government decided that the most appropriate response was to strengthen research ties'.

2008 United Jewish Israel Appeal dinner addressed by Gordon Brown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the UJIA 2008 appeal dinner where he delivered a speech on the subject of irresponsibility in the financial system. Brown argued that 'When risk-taking crosses the line between the responsible entrepreneurship we want to celebrate and irresponsible risk-taking then we have to take action to ensure that markets work in the public interest to reflect shared values'

Brown also used the dinner as a platform to make clear that his Government 'would oppose any boycott of Israeli goods or Israeli academics'.

Other Events

The UJIA also hold an 'annual property reception'and an 'annual ladies luncheon'.

Activities in schools

• Jewish schools: see UJIA and Jewish schools.
• Mainstream schools: see Jewish Activities in Mainstream Schools.

People

Current officers (2026)

• Chairman: Steven Noé
• Treasurer: Simon Wagman
• Chief Executive: Amanda Winston

The 2025 annual report records these board changes: Steven Kaye resigned on 30 January 2025, Brian May on 22 May 2025, Nicola Wertheim on 23 January 2026 and Nicholas Laitner on 26 March 2026; Hilda Worth was appointed on 30 January 2025, Benjamin Shapiro on 23 January 2026 and Naomi Katz MBE on 14 May 2026 (p. 15).

Current trustees (Charity Commission register)

Current trustees, with other charities on which the same register trustee ID appears:

Trustees of United Jewish Israel Appeal (register, October 2026; chair from the 2025 accounts)

Trustee	Appointed	Chair	Other trusteeships
David Pliener	2021-03-18		Jewish Continuity (1024140)
Steven Michael Noe	2022-12-13	Yes	The London School of Jewish Studies (1131850)
Alexi Jane Lewy	2023-06-01		—
Simon Wagman	2023-09-27		Foundation for Education (273127); The Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated (305963)
Gila Sacks	2024-03-28		Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust (1152781)
Edward Louis Isaacs	2024-09-26		—
Hilda Rosemary Worth	2025-01-30		The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief (290767)
Benjamin Shapiro	2026-01-23		—
Dr Naomi Katz	2026-05-14		—

The register extract of 8 November 2026 lists the same nine trustees.

Historical officers and trustees

Bill Benjamin, Chair, and Michael Wegier, Chief Executive, of the UJIA. Screenshot from UJIA, Our people. Accessed 13 February 2014.

Mick Davis former CEO of Xstrata, UJIA Honorary President and former Chairman (until 2012) and a member of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC). Screengrab from UJIA Mick Davis. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 2 October 2008 on 13 February 2014

UJIA Lay leadership organogram, circa 2010. Source Ujia.org. Accessed 14 February 2014.

2014

• Bill Benjamin has been the Chairman of UJIA since the beginning of 2013. Benjamin is also on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC). From 2008-2012, he served as Co-Chairman of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues. Benjamin is founding partner of AREA Property Partners, a global private equity firm specialising in commercial real estate. Prior to AREA, he worked in the real estate finance group of Bankers Trust Company in New York.
• Michael Wegier became Chief Executive of UJIA in September 2012. Wegier grew up in London and originally made Aliyah in 1990 and has spend much of the last 23 years living in Israel. Most recently he served as Executive Director of the Melitz Educational Centre in Jerusalem. From 2002-2007, Wegier spent five years seconded from Israel with UJIA.

UJIA Lay Leaders including Trustees

• Honorary Presidents Mick Davis | The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
• Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner of Braunstone QC | Gerald M Ronson CBE
• Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | David M Cohen | Mick Davis | Brian Kerner
• Vice-Chairmen Geoffrey Ognall
• Regional Chairmen Ashley Gold | Martin Harris | Andrew Joseph | Richard Pinder | David Samson
• Honorary Treasurer Warren Persky FCA
• Trustees Keith Black | James Burchell | Alex Dwek | Ian Grabiner | Ruth Green | Karen Harris | Jeremy Isaacs | Louise Jacobs | Stuart Levy | Robert Randall |
• Also Trustees of UJIA.

2011

• Mick Davis UJIA Chairman. Chief Executive of Xstrata plc, a diversified mining and metals company listed on the London Stock Exchange and is in the top 20 of the FTSE100 with a market value of circa $65 billion.
• Douglas Krikler Chief Executive. Joined UJIA in October 2004 as Vice Chairman, and has been Chief Executive since April 2005. Krikler was listed in 33rd place in the Jewish Chronicle's top 100 'of those who wield the greatest influence on British Jewry' which reports him as 'running a tight ship'.

UJIA Lay Leaders including Trustees

• Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
• Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC | Gerald M Ronson | Cyril Stein
• Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | David M Cohen | Brian Kerner
• Vice Presidents Michael Bradfield | Stanley Cohen OBE | Alan Fox | Dov Hamburger | Ronald Preston | Stephen Rubin OBE | Sir Harry Solomon | Anthony Spitz | Michael Ziff
• Chairman Mick Davis*
• Vice-Chairmen Michael Goldstein* | Geoffrey Ognall*
• Regional Chairmen Adam Berkley | Martin Harris | Andrew Joseph | Richard Pinder | David Samson
• Honorary Treasurer Sam Clarke FCA*
• Trustees Keith Black | James Burchell | Karen Harris | Jeremy Isaacs | Louise Jacobs | Stuart Levy | James Libson | Professor Anthony Warrens

*Also Trustees of UJIA.

2006

• Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf

• Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC, Sir Jack Lyons | The Lord Mischon QC DL | Gerald M Ronson, Cyril Stein | Fred S Worms OBE
• Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO, Brian Kerner*
• Vice Presidents Stanley Cohen OBE, Alan Fox, Ronald Preston, Stephen Rubin OBE, Sir Harry Solomon, Anthony Spitz
• Chairman David M Cohen*
• Vice Chairmen Michael Bradfield*, Geoffrey Ognall*, Michael Ziff*
• Campaign Chairman Michael Lewis
• Programme Chairman Michael Goldstein
• Renewal Chairman Dr Anthony Warrens
• Communications Chairman Michael Bradfield*
• Training and Development Chairman Jerome Reback
• Honorary Treasurer Peter C Leach FCA*
• Members Melvin Berwald | Sir Victor Blank | Andrew Brecher | Caroline Buchler | David Buchler | James Burchell | Sam Clarke* | Joy Cohen | Michael Davis | Allan Fisher | David Franklin | Alan Jacobs* | Stefan Kerner | Benjamin Leon* | Natalie Lesser | Michael Lewis* | Steven Martin | Gary Phillips* | Jerome Reback* | Andrew Rubin | Carrie Rubin | William Sharron | Jo Wagerman OBE | Dr Anthony Warrens | Roberta Wolens
• Chief Executive Douglas Krikler

* Trustees of the United Jewish Israel Appeal

2005

Trustees

Michael L . Davis (appointed 15 September 2005) (Chairman) | Keith Black (appointed 24 November 2005) | Michael Bradfield (resigned 31 December 2005) | David M. Cohen | Sam Clarke FCA | Michael Goldstein FCA | Alan Jacobs | Brian Kerner | Peter Leach FCA (resigned 24 November 2005) | Michael Lewis | Geoffrey Ognall | Gary Philips (resigned 24 November 2005) | Jerome Reback | Carolyn L Rubin (appointed 25 January 2006) | Anthony Warrens | Michael Ziff (resigned 31 December 2005)

2004

• Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks, |The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
• Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC, Sir Jack Lyons | The Lord Mischon QC DL | Gerald M Ronson | Cyril Stein | Fred S Worms OBE
• Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | Brian Kerner*
• Vice Presidents Stanley Cohen OBE | Alan Fox | Ronald Preston | Stephen Rubin OBE | Anthony Spitz
• Chairman David M Cohen*
• Vice Chairmen Michael Bradfield* | Michael Goldstein | Geoffrey Ognall, | Michael Sinclair | Michael Ziff*
• Campaign Chairman Steven Martin* (until Feb. 2003)
• Renewal Chairman Michael Goldstein*
• Communications Chairman Michael Bradfield*
• Training and Development Chairman Caroline Buchler
• Honorary Treasurer Peter C Leach FCA*
• Members Melvin Berwald | Sir Victor Blank | Andrew Brecher | Caroline Buchler | David Buchler | James Burchell | Loretta Cash | Joy Cohen | Uri David | Michael Davis | Allan Fisher | David Franklin | Alan Jacobs | Stefan Kerner, | Michael Lewis | Steven Martin | Gary Phillips* | Jerome Reback | Andrew Rubin, | William Sharron |Sir Harry Solomon | Jo Wagerman OBE |Dr Anthony Warrens
• Chief Executive Benjamin Leon
• Finance Director Eldred Kraines CA (SA)
• Corporate Resources Director Alison Rosen ACA

* Trustees of the United Jewish Israel Appeal

Historical trustees (UK Government Web Archive)

Trustees shown in archived register pages

Capture date	Trustees listed	Source
2010-07-10	Michael Goldstein; K Black; Geoffrey Ognall; Samuel David Clarke; Anthony Warrens; Gary Mark Phillips; Michael Lawrence Davis; James Lawrence Burchell; Louise Jacobs; James Libson; Karen Harris; Jeremy Michael Isaacs
2012-01-27	Michael Goldstein; K Black; Geoffrey Ognall; Samuel David Clarke; Anthony Warrens; Michael Lawrence Davis; James Lawrence Burchell; Louise Jacobs; James Libson; Karen Harris; Jeremy Michael Isaacs; Stuart Levy
2021-01-14	Raphael Addlestone (from 23 January 2020); Melvin Frank Berwald (from 28 January 2016) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity, The Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated; Steven Kaye (from 12 September 2017) – also trustee of The Aimwell Charitable Trust; Hilton Darren Nathanson (from 12 September 2017); Ruth Helen Green (from 11 March 2013) – also trustee of Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade; Karen Lucie Jane Goodkind (from 19 May 2016); Brian Michael May (from 25 May 2017); Marc Lester (from 16 July 2015); Warren Ashley Persky (from 09 December 2013) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity; Nicola Wertheim (from 22 January 2018); Louise Jacobs (chair) (from 07 April 2016); Miles Webber (from 16 May 2018); Jonathan Saul Morris (from 06 August 2020)
2021-07-05	Raphael Addlestone (from 23 January 2020); Melvin Frank Berwald (from 28 January 2016) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity, The Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated; Steven Kaye (from 12 September 2017) – also trustee of The Aimwell Charitable Trust; Hilton Darren Nathanson (from 12 September 2017); Karen Lucie Jane Goodkind (from 19 May 2016); Brian Michael May (from 25 May 2017); David Pliener (from 18 March 2021); Marc Lester (from 16 July 2015); Nicola Wertheim (from 22 January 2018); Warren Ashley Persky (from 09 December 2013) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity; Louise Jacobs (chair) (from 07 April 2016); Miles Webber (from 16 May 2018); Jonathan Saul Morris (from 06 August 2020)
2026-01-09	Hilda Rosemary Worth (from 30 January 2025) – also trustee of The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief; Edward Louis Isaacs (from 26 September 2024); Gila Sacks (from 28 March 2024) – also trustee of Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust; Nicholas Daniel Laitner (from 28 March 2024); Simon Wagman (from 27 September 2023) – also trustee of Foundation for Education, The Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated; Alexi Jane Lewy (from 01 June 2023); Steven Michael Noe (from 13 December 2022) – also trustee of The London School of Jewish Studies; David Pliener (from 18 March 2021) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity; Nicola Wertheim (from 22 January 2018)
2026-07-06	Dr Naomi Katz (from 14 May 2026); Benjamin Shapiro (from 23 January 2026); Hilda Rosemary Worth (from 30 January 2025) – also trustee of The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief; Edward Louis Isaacs (from 26 September 2024); Gila Sacks (from 28 March 2024) – also trustee of Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust; Simon Wagman (from 27 September 2023) – also trustee of Foundation for Education, The Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated; Alexi Jane Lewy (from 01 June 2023); Steven Michael Noe (from 13 December 2022) – also trustee of The London School of Jewish Studies; David Pliener (from 18 March 2021) – also trustee of Jewish Continuity

Companies House officers

Companies House lists 61 current and former officers of the charitable company (03295115), 10 of them active. Officers recorded as resident outside the UK: Alexi Jane Rosenwax Lewy (Jersey, active).

Appointments of these officers to overseas companies registered in the UK (FC) or on the Register of Overseas Entities (OE):

• Steven Michael Noe – Harper (Niu UK) Limited (FC030776)
• Keith Joseph Black – Craghoppers Ireland Limited (FC036151)
• Keith Joseph Black – Regatta Great Outdoors Ireland Limited (FC036144)
• Michael Lawrence Davis – Jordana Holdings Limited (FC039662)
• Hilton Darren Nathanson – Kaizen Surveillance Solutions Limited (FC031260)

Finances

Income and expenditure of the UJIA 2009-2012.

UJIA financial overview year ending 30 September 2012. Source: The Charity Commission. Accessed 12 February 2014

Latest figures (Charity Commission register)

Income and expenditure, five most recent reported years

Financial year end	Income	Expenditure
2021-09-30	£7,469,000	£6,244,000
2022-09-30	£6,733,000	£7,322,000
2023-09-30	£6,388,000	£8,292,000
2024-09-30	£12,804,000	£11,317,000
2025-09-30	£12,531,000	£10,759,000

Source: register annual-return history.

Year to 30 September 2025

Consolidated statement of financial activities (£'000)

Line	2025	2024
Donations	7,878	11,347
Legacies	3,911	829
Trading income	296	187
Investment income	446	441
Total income	12,531	12,804
Raising funds	1,867	1,581
Israel: educational infrastructure (capital projects)	253	468
Israel: education programmes	1,407	1,765
Israel: social welfare and medical	22	47
Israel: employment and small business	107	168
Israel: absorption and victim support	—	14
Israel: response to October 7th – emergency	1,782	3,657
Israel: response to October 7th – recovery	1,649	412
UK: education programmes	1,479	1,227
UK: Israel Experience	1,319	864
UK: research and evaluation	61	74
UK: community education and awareness	780	1,015
UK: welfare	33	24
Total expenditure	10,759	11,317

Source: consolidated statement of financial activities, 2025 annual report p. 16. Net assets rose from £9.2 million to £11.0 million, mainly because of a £3.1 million legacy that the trustees designated for a four-year programme in the UK and Israel.

Grants of more than £100,000

In 2025 UJIA made grants to 93 institutions (2024: 131).

Grants over £100,000 (note 3, p. 28; £'000)

Recipient	Type	2025	2024
Kibbutz Be'eri	Emergency/recovery	1,500	—
Birthright Israel	Non-emergency	507	177
Jewish Agency for Israel	Non-emergency	460	619
Jewish Agency for Israel	Emergency/recovery	336	423
UJIA Israel	Non-emergency	323	248
Regrow	Emergency/recovery	245	—
Federation of Zionist Youth	Non-emergency	233	167
Western Galilee College	Non-emergency	230	315
B'nei Akiva	Non-emergency	137	156
Kiryat Shmona Community Centres	Emergency/recovery	118	—
Shalom Hartman Institute	Non-emergency	103	80
King David High School Manchester	Non-emergency	101	106
Enosh	Emergency/recovery	100	—
Other youth movements (under £100k)	Non-emergency	348	378
Other non-emergency grants (under £100k)	Non-emergency	1,319	1,204
Other emergency grants (under £100k)	Emergency/recovery	818	3,353
Total grants		6,878	7,226

Source: 2025 annual report, note 3.

Spending in Israel and Israeli partners

• FY to 30 Sep 2025: Israel programmes total £5,218k (educational infrastructure £253k; educational programmes £1,406k; welfare/medical £22k; employment & social investment £107k; October 7th emergency £1,781k; recovery £1,649k). Note 3, PDF p.26. Israel-trip programme ('Israel Experience', a UK programme line): £1,319k.

UJIA Israel (formerly British Olim Society Charitable Trust; does due diligence for UJIA – PDF p.4, p.34); Jewish Agency for Israel; Birthright Israel; Western Galilee College; Shalom Hartman Institute; Kibbutz Be'eri; Regrow; Kiryat Shmona Community Centres; Enosh.

Income from other charities

In 2025 KKL Charity Accounts, the donor-advised giving arm of JNF UK, paid £164,619 to UJIA, one of its 20 largest payments that year.

Pensions and linked bodies

UJIA contributes to the Zionist Federation Staff Pension Scheme, a multi-employer defined benefit scheme whose liabilities it shares with the Jewish Philanthropic Association for Israel and the Middle East (JPAIME, charity 256689), a UJIA subsidiary that funds the pensions of staff who did not become UJIA employees in January 1997. A deficit provision of £836,000 at the start of 2024 was released after actuarial gains, and no deficit contributions were due at 30 September 2025. UJIA's trading subsidiary is UJ Events Plus Limited.

Historical finances (UK Government Web Archive)

Income and spending shown on archived register pages

Financial year end	Income (£)	Spending (£)	Source
30 Sep 2005	14,786,078	14,163,759
30 Sep 2006	16,087,058	13,580,614
30 Sep 2007	17,943,613	14,084,977
30 Sep 2008	25,080,738	19,976,190
30 Sep 2009	13,450,000	17,898,000
30 Sep 2010	14,278,000	16,200,000

Archived accounts

Accounts no longer on the live register were found in the UK Government Web Archive:

• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2006
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2007
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2008
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2009
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2010
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2014
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2015
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2016
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2017
• Accounts for the year ended 30/09/2018

Support for the Israeli military

The UJIA accounts show no direct funding of the Israel Defense Forces.

Grant to the Garin Tzabar operator. Israeli Scouts Western Europe (1156815), which runs Garin Tzabar Europe (an aliyah programme for young Diaspora Jews who enlist in the Israel Defense Forces as lone soldiers), records a "UJIA Grant" of £32,500 in each of 2022, 2023 and 2024, £35,156 in 2021 and £38,093 in 2020. The grant is shown as unrestricted income, so it is not attributed to Garin Tzabar itself.

Gap-year programmes with an IDF component. In July 2026 Middle East Eye reported that UJIA's website advertised the Israel Classic Track gap-year programme run by Aardvark, through which participants can sign up for Marva, a course run by the Israeli military and the Jewish Agency for Israel in which participants live on an army base for six to eight weeks. The same report said UJIA made grants to Bnei Akiva of £194,000 in 2023 and £214,000 in 2022, according to documents filed with the Charity Commission, and that it promotes Bnei Akiva gap-year programmes. It noted that UJIA does not publicly advertise Bnei Akiva's settlement-based Mechina Olamit programme. UJIA's own accounts record grants to B'nei Akiva of £137,000 in the year to September 2025 and £156,000 in the year to September 2024. Bnei Akiva UK's 2025 gap-year catalogue promotes Marva ("an Israeli army experience, run by the IDF") and the Mechina Olamit pre-army year at Kibbutz Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion, and says bursaries are available "from Bnei Akiva and UJIA as well as various other trust funds".

Support for the Israeli military: grading

Finding	Grading
Unrestricted grant to the charity that runs Garin Tzabar Europe (£32,500 a year, 2022–2024).	Low
Promotion of a gap year with an optional Marva course, and grants to a youth movement that promotes Marva and a pre-army mechina (reported by Middle East Eye).	Low

Prior scrutiny. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, quoted by Middle East Eye, said that charities have obligations not to facilitate unlawful activity abroad. It said Marva's "carrying guns, wearing uniforms and staying on an army base resembles pre-enlistment military training rather than cultural exchange". Middle East Eye said UJIA did not respond to its requests for comment. UJIA is not listed as a donor on the Powerbase page UK AWIS - supporters, which names it as a recipient of The Peltz Trust.

Activity beyond the Green Line

Findings are graded by confidence. "Partner" findings concern the Israeli recipient organisation, not proven use of UK funds.

Evidence of activity beyond the 1949 armistice line

Finding	Confidence
The accounts state: 'All funds allocated by the Charity for expenditure in Israel are restricted to projects within its internationally recognised borders.' Research for this profile found no contrary evidence. Research for this profile did not research the grantees' own (nationwide) activities.	Medium-High

Controversies and regulatory action

• No regulatory action or Gazette notice concerning UJIA itself was found in the sources searched (Charity Commission register and press releases, The Gazette, Third Sector, Civil Society, Jewish Chronicle, Haaretz, Times of Israel).
• Middle East Eye (July 2026). Middle East Eye reported that some programmes UJIA promotes include trips into occupied territory; its reporting on the Marva course and on grants to Bnei Akiva is set out under Support for the Israeli military.
• The charities in the Commission's settlements class inquiry (opened August 2026) have not been named, so it is not known whether this charity is among them.
• Parliament. In December 2012 Baroness Warsi, then a Foreign Office minister, told the Lords that the UK Task Force on issues relating to Arab citizens of Israel "was set up in 2009 under the joint leadership of the United Jewish Israel Appeal and the Pears Foundation".

Other registers and records

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Registered in Scotland as a cross-border charity, SC039181 (confirmed in UJIA's accounts). No entry was found on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland register.

The Gazette

Searches of The Gazette notice feeds (all notices, insolvency and company) for the charity's name found no insolvency, winding-up or strike-off notice; results were limited to Companies House filing lists.

Grants recorded by 360Giving

Grants received (360Giving data)

Date	Funder	Amount (£)	Purpose
2015-04-22	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2016-05-05	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2017-05-03	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2017-06-06	Pears Foundation	46,783.58	Israel Engagement Educator focusing on Arab Citizens
2018-04-29	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2019-05-27	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2020-09-22	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core Funding
2021-06-28	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core Funding
2022-07-14	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core Funding
2022-11-22	Pears Foundation	15,000	Research project delivered by Rosov Consulting to look at the pipeline for young people and Jewish leadership.
2023-07-27	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding
2024-09-20	Pears Foundation	100,000	Core funding

No grants made by the charity are published in 360Giving data, so flows between linked charities could not be traced there.

Sanctions screening

The names of current and archived trustees and Companies House officers were screened against the UK Sanctions List and the OFSI Consolidated List. No match on full name was found; only coincidental surname matches.

Land and property

The register records that the charity owns and/or leases land or property. Title numbers were not obtained, and no title registers were purchased. Candidate addresses for a title search:

• 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ – current office; accounts mention freehold and leasehold premises (source: register 2026; accounts)
• 1 Torriano Mews, London NW5 2RZ – former office (2021) (source: UKGWA 2021)
• 37 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 8NX – former office (2010–12) (source: UKGWA 2010/2012)

US counterparts (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)

Organisation	EIN	Latest filing year	Revenue (US$)	Expenses (US$)
Jewish Agency For Israel	237254561	2023	455,277,000	340,464,000

These US organisations share the name or beneficiary of the UK charity; no financial flows between them and the UK charity were established.

Parliament

Selected Hansard references

Date	House	Member	Debate
2012-12-13	Lords	Baroness Warsi	Israel: Arab Citizens

A search of Hansard for 'United Jewish Israel Appeal' returned 4 contributions in total; most are general references rather than discussion of the UK charity. Written questions could not be searched (the API timed out).

Web archive

• ujia.org: 25 yearly captures, first 2002-05-27, last 2026-01-06.

The UK Government Web Archive holds 8 archived Charity Commission register pages used in this profile (cited in the sections above). The 2021 archived full print showed the status "Charity reporting is up to date" and "Other regulators: No information available".

Associated organisations and affiliations

Associated

• UJIA Israel (incorporating the British Olim Society) | Keren Hayesod | United Israel Appeal US | United Jewish Appeal | Israel United Appeal | American Friends of the United Jewish Israel Appeal | Jewish Philanthropic Association for Israel and the Middle East (Charity No 256689)

Companies associated with the UJIA

Registered offices of active companies as shown by Companies House on 10 November 2026. Created 1950s

• Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated(The)- 00493669 - Incorporated on 31 March 1951 - 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ

Created 1987

• UJ Events Plus Ltd - 02194244 - Incorporated on 16 November 1987- 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ

Created 1990s

• Jewish Continuity - 02836858 - Incorporated on 16 July 1993 - 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ
• United Jewish Israel Appeal (formerly Joint Jewish Charitable Trust 16 Dec 1996 - 26 Jun 2000) - Company number 03295115 - Incorporated on 16 December 1996 - 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ

Created 2010s

• Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal UK - 10332876 - Incorporated on 17 August 2016 - Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, United Kingdom, EC4M 7AN

Dissolved

• Erez Israel (Palestine) Foundation Fund Keren Hayesod Limited(The) - 00173860 - Incorporated on 23 March 1921, Dissolved on 17 May 2016 - 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ
• UJIA Events Ltd- 07465097 - Incorporated on 9 December 2010, Dissolved on 2 January 2018 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, NW5 2RZ
• UJIA Legacy Services Ltd - 08005139 - Incorporated on 26 March 2012, Dissolved on 11 May 2021- 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ

Former names

United Palestine Appeal (created 1944) | Joint Palestine Appeal (created 1947) | Joint Israel Appeal (from 1973-1996) |

Affiliations

In November 2003 Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon gave a speech to the United Jewish Israel Appeal. In his speech he declared that he is a 'strong supporter' of Labour Friends of Israel and a good friend of Trevor Chinn.

Contact

UJIA is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 1060078 and in Scotland No. Sc 039181

A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 3295115.

Registered office: (20/7/2009 - 24/11/2015): 37 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 8NX

(from 24/11/2015): 1 Torriano Mews, London, NW5 2RZ

Registered office (Companies House, November 2026): 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London NW11 9DQ

Charity register (October 2026): phone 020 7424 6400; email info@ujia.org

Web: ujia.org

Internet Archive holdings of ujia.org 2002-present.

See also

• UJIA Scotland
• UJIA and Jewish schools
• Jewish Schools in the UK