Athletes preparing to represent Team GB at the “Jewish Olympics” this summer visited elderly residents of a Golders Green care home.

Members of the Maccabi GB’s Open Football Squad put their training to one side and brought a smile and a friendly face to the Jewish Care campus in Golders Green Road.

Manager David Pollock and his players, who will compete at the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer, were given a tour of the centre and met some of its residents last Sunday, January 20.

Jewish Care provides a range of nursing and personal care for the elderly and those with mental ill health and disabilities within the Jewish community.

Mr Pollock said: “The visit to Jewish Care was a great experience for the lads. I was keen for them to visit charities such as this as I believe they give a fair representation of the modern Jewish community and some of the challenges we have to face.

"I truly feel that these men will grow to eventually become leaders within the Community and visits like this will hopefully inspire them for the future.

“The lads really enjoyed themselves and you could tell that they were taking a real interest. You could also see how happy the residents were and it was a real honour for us to spend some of our day with them.”

This summer will be the 19th Maccabiah Games, an international event hosted by Hendon-based Jewish sports organisation Maccabi GB.