The 2026 local elections come at a pivotal time for the UK Jewish community. Amidst a stream of physical attacks on Jewish people and sites, Jewish communities across the UK need local politicians to advocate for them. At the same time as increased racism, the cost-of-living crisis has put extreme pressure on faith-appropriate services. The Jewish Everyday Rights Forum – a collection of frontline services and charities – consistently encounters three drivers of need: failures in the social welfare system, a lack of community provision, and the growth of racism directed at Jewish people. These asks seek to address these:
- Be proactive in addressing anti-Jewish racism.
- Improve local authority knowledge of Jewishness.
- Support intercommunal life and strengthen trust between councils and the Jewish community.
- Ensure access to culturally and religiously appropriate food across local services.
- Apply the Socio-Economic Duty to tackle inequality.
Be proactive in addressing anti-Jewish racism
Local authorities should explicitly incorporate anti-Jewish racism into Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and safeguarding training for Councillors, officers, and service providers. A clear understanding of anti-Jewish racism should be implemented consistently across council services, schools, housing, and community safety functions.
Improve local authority knowledge of Jewishness
Local authorities should improve understanding of Jewish cultural and religious life, including how Jewish practice shapes engagement with public services. This includes recognising the distinctiveness of Jewish ethnicity, alongside religion, and addressing gaps in ethnicity data that can obscure need. Better literacy around Jewish identity supports fairer decision‑making in housing, education, social care, and health.
Support intercommunal life and strengthen trust between councils and the Jewish community
Local authorities should strengthen relationships with Jewish organisations and celebrate collaboration. This includes improving signposting, referral pathways, and communication between councils, local health trusts, and Jewish communal providers. Trusted partnerships help residents access support earlier, reduce pressure on services, and improve the quality of life for residents.
Ensure access to culturally and religiously appropriate food across local services
Local authorities should ensure access to culturally and religiously appropriate food, including Kosher provision, across local services such as schools, care settings, hospitals, and emergency food provision. Food support should be delivered with dignity and in consultation with community organisations, recognising the role that faith, festivals, and dietary laws play in everyday life.
Apply the Socio-Economic Duty to tackle inequality
Councils should meaningfully apply the Socio‑Economic Duty to address poverty and inequality within the Jewish community, as well as across other minority communities. This includes recognising internal diversity within Jewish populations, including low‑income households, disabled residents, older people, and large families, and ensuring policy decisions do not rely on assumptions of uniform affluence.
The Jewish Everyday Rights Forum brings together Jewish frontline organisations and service providers working with Jewish clients across a wide range of denominations and socio‑economic backgrounds. Convened by René Cassin, the Forum offers members the opportunity to share experiences and best practices and serves as an advocacy outlet to influence policy at both the local and national levels. The Forum believes that incorporating Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights is a key mechanism for achieving equitable living standards for minority communities. The asks we have set out are rooted in Jewish frontline lived experience and are intended to support councillors in delivering inclusive, rights‑based local services for all communities.
Download the full asks here.
