As JLGB celebrates 130 years of service to young people, we’re also marking another incredible milestone this month: a huge Mazel Tov to our Chief Executive, Neil Stuart Martin OBE, on his 20th anniversary at the helm of JLGB.
Neil’s national impact over the past two decades has been nothing short of phenomenal. From expanding our kosher Duke of Edinburgh’s Award provision—now accessed by over 50% of Jewish teens in the UK—to launching the UK’s first interfaith National Citizen Service programme for Jewish and Muslim teens, Neil has redefined inclusion across the youth sector.
During the pandemic, Neil was one of our community’s unsung heroes. While the country was in lockdown, JLGB Virtual kept thousands of young people connected and inspired, with a million views and more than 150 incredible celebrity guests.
From sold-out summer & winter camps to expanding local group provision across the UK—and even His Majesty the King becoming our Patron—JLGB’s renaissance is, without doubt, the result of Neil’s visionary leadership.
But Neil’s powerful legacy stretches well beyond JLGB. As Chair of Yom HaShoah UK, he has transformed Holocaust remembrance for the next generation, producing some of the UK’s largest-ever commemorations—including producing next week’s 80th Anniversary national ceremony outside Parliament.
As Chair of the Interfaith Youth Trust, and now a trustee of Youth United, he continues to champion and empower some of the hardest-to-reach parts of society, bringing together communities across faiths.
And somehow, amidst it all—and now with three young children of his own—he still finds time to volunteer weekly, mentoring young musicians at his local JLGB band.
Neil often credits his childhood heroes—The Muppets and Transformers—for instilling in him the values of optimism, resilience, and the belief that even the most unlikely characters can make a difference and light the dark. These inspirations have clearly shaped his leadership style: humble, hilarious, and relentlessly dedicated to empowering young people.
We are so lucky to call him our leader. Join us in wishing Neil a huge Mazel Tov on this monumental 20th anniversary milestone!
Watch His JLGB Virtual Episode Now!
Reflect on the success of JLGB Virtual, and hear our CEO talk about the plan for the future of JLGB as part of our 125th anniversary!
Neil Martin OBE is a community leader, Chair of the Interfaith Youth Trust and Yom HaShoah UK, but is best known to us as the Chief Executive of JLGB.
Born and raised in Gants Hill, Neil grew up in the Essex Jewish Community, attending Ilford Jewish Primary School. It was at age 14 that Neil first joined JLGB as a member of Redbridge Band. After working in teaching young people skills in JLGB, it made sense that after graduating with his Masters in Digital Practises for the Arts and Media, Neil stayed on to lecture and share his knowledge for another 3 years – volunteering with Redbridge all the while, and becoming their conductor and musical director. A role that he continues to fulfil on a weekly basis.
In April 2005, Neil became Chief Executive of JLGB, and hasn’t looked back since! Neil has transformed the UK’s longest serving Jewish youth organisation JLGB into a double national award winning, thriving, innovative and much respected youth charity, not just in the Jewish Community but across wider society. Neil strongly believes every child really does matter, and has become a leading expert in creating faith and culturally sensitive provisions that remove barriers to universal youth programmes.
Neil was named the number three “Forty under 40” in May 2015 by the Jewish News and of course, in June 2016, Neil was also awarded his OBE for Services to Young People and Interfaith Relations in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List – in a week where he famously met Prince Charles 3 times in one week!
Though he hates to blow his own trumpet, after much persuasion, it is my absolute pleasure and honour to introduce the man responsible for the success of the organisation we love for 15 years. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome our honoured guest, Neil Martin OBE!
