Many people have flocked to the island for its affordability and quietness, but it’s the ‘friendly’ local community that really stands out
Joel Friedman, Cllr Dave Blackwell, Cllr Jamie Huntma, and honorary Alderman Ray Howard at Jewish Community Centre Canvey(Image: Castle Point Council)
An Essex island, which once had a predominantly Christian population, has undergone rapid changes over the years. Since 2016, a large number of Orthodox Jewish people have been flocking to Canvey Island in Castle Point from North London in hopes of a better and more affordable life.
Back in 2016, members of the orthodox Jewish community in north London were looking to relocate as soaring house prices in Stamford Hill were making life almost impossible for their large families. Four and five-bed homes in the area were priced in excess of £1 million, and they could simply no longer afford it.
Canvey Island, however, offered a cheaper alternative. The town had pretty much everything they needed. Good transport links to London, affordable homes, and a quiet, peaceful way of life – and it has been so successful that the community continues to grow.
EssexLive spoke with Joel Friedman, lay leader of the community on Canvey Island. He was part of one of the first orthodox Jewish families to swap the hustle and bustle of north London for a seaside retreat like Canvey.
He said: “I am initially from Manchester, but have lived in north London for a while, too. We had to move out of London as a result of the housing crisis.”
Joel went on to explain that Orthodox Jewish people often live in large communities and require more bedrooms than a typical home in London can offer. As a way to combat this, he and five other families moved to Canvey in 2016 in search of a more affordable life.
Canvey Island, in Castle Point(Image: EssexLive)
After the six families moved, others quickly followed. Today, there are over 1,000 Orthodox Jewish people living on the island, comprising around 130 families.
Joel said: “Once we all started moving, people realised how easy it is to move out of London.” Joel explained that the community did not want to move too far from London, as they rely on the community in north London.
He said: “We have cultural requirements, such as synagogues and kosher food and supplies, that we rely on the community in London for – which is much more diverse than that on the island. We are not self-sufficient! However, those communities are only an hour away from Canvey, so we can attend family events very easily.”
We then discussed how successfully the Orthodox Jewish community has integrated into the pre-existing community on Canvey Island. Joel said: “We were welcomed into the community before we moved – given a very warm feeling, and this has generally continued on to this day.
“Of course, there is not a warm reception all of the time. What we have in common is that many Canvey residents have moved from London in search of a more peaceful life.
Thorney Bay, Canvey Island(Image: EssexLive)
“We are just 30, 40 years behind the curve. Of course, the orthodox Jewish community is a change to the local community, as Castle Point is not as diverse as Haringey, for example.
“But what we have found is that the majority of people are very friendly and very supportive. We also find that the local authorities, council, police and fire services are all extremely supportive of the Orthodox Jewish community in Canvey.”
Joel also went on to explain the difference between living in North London and living in a seaside area. He said: “It is definitely a quieter place of life. People are much more friendly here than in London!
“There is so much more potential for the area. The children are happier, there’s much more natural space – and of course, I love living right near the beach.”