Select a region
The Autism Jersey Advisory Council (AJAC) will be comprised entirely of Autistic individuals being a first for Channel Islands and possibly the first Advisory Council of its kind to be Chaired and comprised entirely of autistic individuals.
The Autism Jersey Advisory Council is the brainchild of Jonathan Channing a digital entrepreneur who was appointed as a board apprentice on Autism Jersey for a period of one year in Nov 2017. Jonathan will set up and lead the Advisory Council as chair of the council.
Jonathan is a founding committee member of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Connection Committee and leads the strategy for National Coding Week a volunteer-led digital initiative as Head of Strategy. Jonathan is also an autism awareness trainer and public speaker around autism and leadership.
The Advisory Council will act as a resource of practical expertise that the board of trustees can draw on when the informed views of Autistic Individuals are prevalent to the decision making process. The Advisory Council will also have a larger mandate of promoting awareness, making recommendations to the board of trustees and engaging with the autism community on behalf of Autism Jersey.
Jonathan Channing - Chair of Autism Jersey Advisory Council said
“The creation of a council of this kind shows Autism Jersey’s continued commitment to being an autism first charity by including autistic Individuals views in the decision making process and utilising their unique expertise to support and inform senior management and the board of trustees. Awareness and autism in the community will also be at the forefront of our mandate and a key objective of the council's Terms of Reference ”
Nick Winsor - Chair of Autism Jersey said
“ Jonathan made a great contribution to Autism Jersey during his time as a board apprentice, bringing a unique perspective into the board room. The new Advisory Council will build on that success and, to the best of my knowledge, is the first time that this approach has been tried anywhere. Autism Jersey also plans to continue with the board apprenticeship programme which adds real value to both the apprentice and the boards that they observe on. ”
The wheels are already in motion, the council’s Terms of Reference have been written and the recruitment process of council members has started. The council members will be decided by the chair of the council in conjunction with the Board of Trustees.
