The British Friends of the Israeli War Disabled Trust

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UK charity (269269, 1975–2026) that hosted disabled IDF veterans; amalgamated into Beit Halochem UK

The British Friends of the Israeli War Disabled Trust

Logo Bfiwd-header-2014 (1).png
Type Unincorporated charitable trust
Founded Declaration of Trust 21 March 1975; registered 30 April 1975
Dissolved Removed (amalgamated) 27 July 2026
Registration ID Charity 269269
Location Chancellors House, Brampton Lane, Hendon, London NW4 4AB (final); earlier Brook Point, 1412 High Road, London N20 9BH; earlier 8 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AH
Website bfiwd.org (offline by 2025); Internet Archive: holdings


The defunct BFIWD website, as of July 2025.

The British Friends of the Israeli War Disabled Trust (working names BFIWD / British Friends of Israel War Disabled) was an English charitable trust, number 269269. It was registered on 30 April 1975 on a declaration of trust dated 21 March 1975. The Charity Commission removed it on 27 July 2026 as amalgamated; funds were received that day by Beit Halochem UK (charity 1146950).[1][2]

Objects

Governing document objects: to apply income at the trustees’ discretion for “the maintenance, relief, treatment, or otherwise for the benefit of members or ex-members of the Armed Forces of the State of Israel suffering from disability (whether mental or physical) occasioned in the course of their duties by armed forces hostile to the said State of Israel.”[3]

The Commission activity line restated that purpose. It listed operations in Manchester and throughout London. Gift Aid was recognised. Organisation type “Other” (unincorporated trust, not a company).[1]


Israeli Occupation Forces and their carers visiting Britain.
And here’s another… Also now removed.
Woodside Park Committee visit to wounded soldiers at Tel Hashomer Hospital, September 2014.
BFIWD supporter in branded t-shirt.
Large cheque presentation to Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation, December 2017.

What it did

BFIWD was the older British friends body of Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO), the Israeli organisation that runs the Beit Halochem centres. ZDVO’s international-partners page listed BFIWD under “ZDVO Delegations in the UK” with site www.bfiwd.org and info@bfiwd.org. A Tel Aviv Beit Halochem wall plaque reads: “In Honour of British Friends of Israel War disabled (BFIWD) For their friendship and outstanding support over the years.” Another plaque records a presentation “by BFIWD to Avris and Leon Leboff & Rite and Gerald Levy in recognition of their outstanding service to ZDVO.”[4][5]

The 2022 trustees’ report (year ended 31 December 2022) stated:

The primary intention of the Trustees continues to be bringing groups of disabled veteran soldiers to the UK to stay with caring families each year. The Charity has welcomed around 5,000 men and women for therapeutic and mental healing. Groups are hosted by Sub-Committees of the Executive in England who raise funds on behalf of the Trustees towards paying for the groups. The Charity's objectives are to organise hospitality programmes for Israeli war disabled, on a community basis. The Charity operates in co-operation with Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation in Israel, to raise funds to aid and support this organisation.[6]

The same report said that since 1974 the trust had “distributed over £3million which has gone directly to benefit the objects of the charity - disabled veterans and survivors of acts of terror,” and that “any additional funds may be sent to ZDVO in Israel.” Earlier reports (e.g. 2004) used the figure “over 4,500” and “over £2.50 million.”[6][7]

The archived site (bfiwd.org) described the UK visits:

Amalgamation

On 27 July 2026 the Charity Commission removed 269269 as amalgamated. That day Beit Halochem UK (1146950) recorded receipt of the funds. ZDVO’s partners page continued to list BFIWD for a period after the removal.[2][4]

People

Last public trustees

Name Role Appointed Notes
Frank Weinberg Trustee / Chairman 8 May 2006 (chairman from that date in accounts) Long-serving chair. Signed 2018 letterhead. Other live trusteeships include The Preston Jewish Charitable Trust, The Magell Family Trust and The Shabbaton Choir.
Leon Hantman Trustee 19 June 2017 Optometrist. Wife Jayne Hantman on the 2022 executive committee. Reported to have moved to occupied Palestine with his wife around 2021.
Simon Robert Albert Trustee 14 December 2022 Appointed in the 2022 accounts year. Director of a family property company. JustGiving fundraiser in the BFIWD name.

Historical trustees (from annual reports 2004–2007)

The 2004 trustees’ report lists: Leon Leboff, Gerald Alexander Levy, Daniel Richard Caspi, Charles Jeffrey Niren and Joy Kay (Mrs J Kay). Executive committee: Chairman Daniel R. Caspi; Secretary Gaye Daniels; Treasurer Charles J. Niren. Registered address 8 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AH.[7]

The 2005 report lists the same five plus Frank Weinberg. Executive committee: Chairman Frank Weinberg (appointed 8 May 2006); Secretary Gaye Daniels; Treasurer Charles J. Niren. Same Hatton Garden address.[8]

The 2006 report lists: Leon Leboff, Gerald Alexander Levy, Daniel Richard Caspi, Charles Jeffrey Niren, Frank Weinberg and Joy Kay. Executive committee: Chairman Frank Weinberg (appointed 8 May 2006); Secretary Gaye Daniels; Treasurer Charles J. Niren. Address changed to 45 Ealing Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA0 4BA.[9]

The 2007 report lists: F Weinberg, L Leboff, G A Levy, D R Caspi, C J Niren, Mrs J Kay. Principal address Brook Point, 1412 High Road, London N20 9BH.[10]

These names are consistent across the mid-2000s accounts. The 2008, 2009 and 2010 reports list the same six trustees: F Weinberg, L Leboff, G A Levy, D R Caspi, C J Niren and Mrs J Kay, with principal address Brook Point, 1412 High Road, London N20 9BH.[11][12][13] Leon Leboff and Gerald Levy appear on the ZDVO Wall of Honor plaque recognising their service.

Annette Weinberg Frank’s wife, is also heavily involved in supporting genocidaire visits to the UK.

Executive committee and other named people (2022 accounts)

The 2022 TAR said day-to-day running was by an executive committee of the trustees plus:

Name Role in 2022 TAR / other
Jayne Hantman Executive committee
Susan Freedman Executive committee
Murray Freedman Executive committee (later reported deceased)
Dov Hamburger Executive committee
Debbi Nizri (Deborah Nizri) Executive committee; Edgware & Stanmore committee chair
Nici Pyzer Executive committee
Annette Weinberg Executive committee; wife of Frank Weinberg

No employees or £60k+ pay band appear on the Commission people card. This was a volunteer-run trust, not a staffed company.[6]

Other names in secondary reporting, not on the last trustee card:

Name How they appear
Leon Leboff / Avris Leboff ZDVO plaque with Gerald Levy; earlier trustee lists (2004–2007); also involved with Habaid
Gerald Levy / Rite Levy Same ZDVO plaque; earlier trustee lists (2004–2007)
J Kay / Joy Kay Earlier trustee lists (2004–2007) and 2018 letterhead
Daniel Richard Caspi Chairman of executive committee in 2004; trustee through 2007
Charles Jeffrey Niren Treasurer in 2004–2006; trustee through 2007
Spencer Gelding JustGiving pages in the BFIWD name; CEO of Beit Halochem UK, not a 269269 trustee
Dennis Levine Founder/chair of Beit Halochem UK on ZDVO plaques — BHUK, not this trust

Patrons

File:Leboff.jpb
Leon Leboff, second from left
The late Irving Carter with former Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev.
Boateng speaks about ‘racial justice’ in 2025, while supporting the IOF’s racial injustice.
Boateng with Bernie Grant, Keith Vaz and Dian Abbott, the first black MPs in the UK.

A 29 October 2018 letterhead (signed by Frank Weinberg as Chairman) lists the patrons as:

2018 BFIWD letterhead confirming patrons: Lord Sacks, Lord Boateng, Irving Carter and Leopold Noé.

These names are not on the Commission trustee card but are confirmed by the organisation’s own stationery.[14]

Finances

Year ends 31 December. Figures drawn from the filed annual reports (2004–2007) and Charity Commission summaries. Archive snapshots of the Commission register are at 2010 and 2012.

Year Income (£) Expenditure (£) Notes
2004 242,044 212,242 Donations £238,974 (bequests and other £113,298; Celebration of Life £63,905; sub-committee £61,771); grants to ZDVO £100,000; flight costs £30,503; group entertainment £52,701
2005 108,088 145,802 Donations £105,695 (bequests and other £40,537; sub-committee £65,158); grants to ZDVO £30,000; flight costs £34,601; group entertainment £49,372
2006 194,363 121,085 Voluntary income £191,628 (bequests and other £89,879; sub-committee £101,749); grants to ZDVO £15,000; flight costs £32,110; group entertaining £41,402
2007 385,277 346,649 Voluntary income £378,480 (donations £66,541; sub-committee £97,509; legacies £214,430); grants to ZDVO £231,264; disabled groups costs £101,896
2008 208,005 148,764 Voluntary income £200,540; grants to ZDVO £38,000; disabled groups £100,301
2009 374,172 494,186 Voluntary income £373,949; grants to ZDVO £381,650; disabled groups £104,756
2010 369,609 300,905 Voluntary income £369,388; donations to Beit Halochem £175,265; disabled groups £103,567
2017 446,699 — Sub-committee £89,506; groups costs £138,489; grants to ZDVO £267,000
2018 155,650 — Sub-committee £99,680; groups costs £113,336; grants to ZDVO £100,000
2019 96,493 — Sub-committee £77,909; groups costs £119,212; no grants to ZDVO
2020 35,770 14,910 Low year
2021 503,740 413,400 Donations/legacies £498,350, of which legacies £476,750; grants to institutions £410,000
2022 136,840 173,230 Hospitality programme year; Albert appointed December
2023 133,470 176,360 Grants of approximately £100,000 reported
2024 255,148 203,116 Last full year before amalgamation

[15][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Full print, The British Friends of the Israeli War Disabled Trust, Charity Commission 269269.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Governance, Beit Halochem UK, Charity Commission 1146950.
  3. ↑ Governing document, Charity Commission 269269.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 International Partners, ZDVO.
  5. ↑ Wall of Honor, zdvo.org.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2022, filed with the Charity Commission.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2004.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2005.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2006.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2007.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2008.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2009.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Trustees’ report, British Friends of Israeli War Disabled Trust, year ended 31 December 2010.
  14. ↑ BFIWD letter to Ronna Harris, 29 October 2018, signed by Frank Weinberg as Chairman.
  15. ↑ Financial history, Charity Commission 269269.
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