Overview
Brightly (formerly Brig-y-Don Children’s Charity) is a small, independent Jersey charity. We give support to children and young people from birth to 25 years living in care, leaving care, or who are experiencing adversity.
All money raised by Brightly either stays in Jersey for the benefit of Island residents or can be applied in cases where local children and young people have to be cared for off-island.
Our support creates positive experiences and opportunities for children and young people with the aim of helping individuals move towards independence.
Brightly awards grants to children and young people from birth to 25 years who are being looked after in States care or are leaving care, as well as others who are suffering adversity and are in need. Typically, health and social care professionals make requests to us for support for those they are working with. Last year we helped 263 children and young people with 419 disbursements. We can only do this thanks to the superb support we receive throughout Jersey, support that comes from individuals, employers, funders and numerous other local charities, who we collaborate with for the benefit of those we mutually help.
Examples of the things we fund include:
Our support is tailored to the individual and we consider all requests on an individual basis. The charity does not support applications for goods or services that are included in grants or benefits from the States of Jersey.
Brightly works to ensure that our contribution is underpinned by the following principles:
Our vision is for all care experienced children and young people living in Jersey to realise their full potential regardless of ability or background.
What We Do
Evidence and research shows that looked after children, those leaving care and children facing adversity experience additional challenges to those of their peers. Therefore, we offer them the kind of opportunities and support those living in a stable family environment may well take for granted. For young people who have lived in care the transition to adulthood can be difficult. The support we offer to those leaving care aims to help them to move towards independence.
Simply put we seek to enhance childhood and enable independence. Our support creates positive experiences and opportunities and makes a real difference to the life experiences of vulnerable children and young people in Jersey. There are also less obvious but equally important benefits that result from our work, such as greater social inclusion, financial independence, personal growth/development and less reliance on benefit systems.
History
We have been supporting children and young people in Jersey for almost 100 years. Founded in 1925 we are one of the Island’s longest serving charities. Originally, the charity was established as a residential home to care for children recovering from tuberculosis; we then evolved to provide care for children who, for a variety of reasons, were unable to be with their own families.
Due to lack of States grant funding, the charity ceased to run the residential home, known as Brig-y-Don House, in 2009. Since 2010, the States of Jersey has leased this property from the charity and now this residential home is managed by Health and Social Services. Brightly is not involved in the operations of Brig-y-Don House.
Today we support children and young people throughout the island who are living in a range of children’s residential homes, as well as those who are in foster care. We also offer support to approximately 24 children and young people from Jersey who are residing off-island in various residential placements, as well as supporting care leavers up to the age of 25.
The ethos of care, which is the foundation upon which the charity was built, remains as strong as ever.
How You Can Help
Volunteering
Our work depends on volunteers and donations. If you would like to volunteer then please contact our Wendy Nerac, Fundraiser, Email: wendy@brightly.jeor Tel: 07797 856 127
Donations
Donations can be made in any of the following ways:-
Please be assured that your support is much needed and appreciated and is vital for the future of the charity.
Larn-a-Lod,
Rue du Coin,
Grouville,
Jersey,
JE3 9QR