A spirit of care and generosity

The team at Jersey Cheshire Home tell Emily Moore about trekking, a poignant reminder and why the charity’s work extends beyond its ever-expanding residential home.

The Jersey Cheshire Home Community Centre at Havre des Pas offers a pay-it-forward scheme, which encourages those who can afford it to cover the cost of a meal or hot drink for those who are struggling financially.

WHAT would happen to you if you were knocked down by a bus tomorrow? Or if you suddenly suffered a stroke or similarly life-changing event?

While these may not be questions to which many of us give much thought, the likelihood is that, assuming we survived the experience, we would suddenly become reliant on a local charity for our new care needs.

And that charity is likely to be Jersey Cheshire Home, as it is the only residential facility in the Island which cares solely for adults with disabilities, a status which, as chief executive Donna Abel explains, presents some challenges.

“There is such a huge demand for our services that we are in the process of extending our property to create more rooms,” she said, adding that part of this work had been funded by a grant from the government-administered Le Seelleur Fund.

But while grateful both for that financial boost and for the recent increase in long-term-care contributions, funding, says Donna, remains a considerable challenge.

“We are constantly looking for new ways to attract donations and more regular giving to complement our large-scale fundraising events,” she said, before highlighting an “awesome” challenge from which some team members and charity supporters have recently returned.

“Last October, a group of us embarked on a trek across Vietnam, an adventure which raised a record-breaking £87,000 for the charity,” she said.

But the joy with which she announced this total was quickly replaced with sadness, as she recounted a story which poignantly reinforces the need for organisations such as Jersey Cheshire Home.

“We finished our trek on the Friday and started our return journey,” she reflected.

“On the same evening, one of our guides – a fit man who walked for a living returned to his family home where, the next day, he suffered a fatal stroke. That story, which shocked all of us, just shows that such ill fortune can happen to anyone at any time.”

The next part of that story, though, demonstrates the caring nature of both the Jersey Cheshire Home team and its loyal supporters.

“As soon as we heard the story, all the trekkers donated money and sent it to his family in the hope that this support will help his children to finish their education,” she said.

And that spirit of care and generosity permeates across the Island, as the charity’s mission extends far beyond the home’s ever-expanding walls.

“Our mission is to enhance the lives of Islanders with disabilities, not just the lives of our service users,” said Donna. “That is why, in 2024, we opened the Jersey Cheshire Home Community Centre at Havre des Pas in partnership with Andium Homes.”

Overseen by HR manager Petra Le Brocq and staffed by Sandra and Lin, who joined the hub shortly after the closure of The Lounge, the centre has, adds Donna, quickly become established at the “heart of the community”.

“The centre has had a huge impact on people,” added Jersey Cheshire Home volunteer Julia Lydford, who contributes to the 1,000 hours a year which Islanders donate to the centre.

“There isn’t a parish hall or central meeting place in that area, and it is great for people, particularly those who might be suffering from loneliness, to have somewhere to go and spend time with others.”

That, adds Donna, was something which was brought home to her particularly strongly during a conversation she had with a man who visited the centre on the first day it opened.

“I remember chatting to him and he said it was the first time he’d had a conversation with anyone in three weeks,” she recalled. “It has also been a tremendous source of support for the individuals who were misplaced by the Haut du Mont explosion, who now regularly meet there.”

And the centre’s welcome extends, says Petra, to any individual, charity, community group or business which would benefit from the space.

“Anyone is welcome to pop in for a coffee or a meal,” she said. “We have a pay-it-forward scheme, which encourages those who can afford it to cover the cost of a meal or hot drink for those who are struggling financially. Last year, 226 vouchers were redeemed, which shows the impact this initiative has.”

To raise awareness of this option, the team works in conjunction with fellow charities such as The Shelter Trust, St Vincent de Paul, Citizens’ Advice and the Community Savings Bank.

“The space is also available to hire and is proving popular with other charities and businesses who have hosted everything from yoga to advocacy sessions there,” said Petra, adding that some families had also used the space to hold children’s birthday parties, while the police had used it for some training sessions.

“It is a real community space and although it is costing us money to run at the moment, it is providing a much-needed place for people facing homelessness, isolation, mental-health challenges or chronic illnesses to meet and get some support,” added Donna.

“Because we believe so much in the difference it is making to people’s lives, I would encourage people to use it any way they can, as the more it is used, the less it will cost us to operate and the longer we will be able to keep it going.”