Paperweight Manchester Branch
Paperweight has supported the Manchester community for eight years, but opening a permanent office has transformed our local presence. Since the doors opened, 259 people have already crossed the threshold and received a warm welcome from our Regional Director, Hannah Gerson.
A local office means people can speak to us face-to-face, in a familiar community setting, while still drawing on the knowledge and specialist support of the wider Paperweight team.
The official opening was marked with a special launch event attended by 50 guests.
They included, Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South and Government Whip (HM Treasury), local councillors Richard Gold, Debbie and Alan Quinn, community leaders, charity partners and supporters.
The opening recognised Paperweight’s growing presence in Manchester and our commitment to making free, practical support accessible to individuals and families across the region.
Guests heard from Dov Black, Paperweight Trustee; Mark Adlestone, Chair of the Manchester Jewish Representative Council and a longstanding supporter of our work; and Benjamin Conway, Co-founder and Chair of Trustees, who thanked all those who helped turn the vision of a Manchester office into reality.
It was the perfect occasion to present the latest Leonie Lewis Awards, in honour of recipients’ exceptional commitment and dedication as Paperweight Volunteer Caseworkers. Congratulations to… Mordche Kaufman, Chana Smith and Richard Rappaport.
Our caseworkers are the very heart of Paperweight—extraordinary people who give not only their expertise and time, but something even more precious: the patience, humanity and determination to stand beside another person until the weight they are carrying finally begins to lift.
“I became a Paperweight caseworker because I wanted the knowledge and experience I had gained during my professional life to mean something beyond my own career. There is little value in keeping that knowledge in an ivory tower when it could help somebody who feels frightened, overwhelmed and unable to see a way forward.
I recently watched a woman arrive at our Manchester office for her first appointment. She was hunched over, visibly nervous and unable to look up. When she left, the difference was extraordinary, she was smiling, animated and almost bouncing out of the door.
In that moment, I understood the name Paperweight completely. You could almost see the burden that had been lifted from her shoulders. To know that you have helped make that change possible is an extraordinary privilege.”
Paperweight’s Leeds Branch
Paperweight Leeds continues to grow as a trusted source of practical support for the local community. From our dedicated office within the Leeds Jewish Housing Association campus, we are helping increasing numbers of clients.
During the year, we said a fond goodbye to David Wynnick, with our sincere thanks for everything he contributed to Paperweight Leeds. We are delighted to welcome his successor, Sofie Hirschstein, who will work alongside Suzanne Benjamin in a Co-ordinator role, helping to strengthen our presence and ensure that people across the Leeds community can access Paperweight’s support when they need it.
Paperweight’s Gateshead Branch
Our Gateshead team is growing. We are delighted to have welcomed four new caseworkers, two of whom have already taken on, and excelled in, their first cases.
Recent enquiries have ranged from Attendance Allowance and PIP to an unexpected bank account closure and wider benefits support. Gateshead may be a small community, but the need is very real, with new cases reaching us every week, and a stronger local team now ready to respond.