Freemasons donate £20k to help care leavers 'move on'

Wednesday 04 August 2021

Jersey's Freemasons have donated £20,000 to help young people leaving care on their journey towards living independently.

Shared with charity Brightly, the funds will go towards 10 young people aged 16 to 21.

Each will be given an 'Independent Moving On Grant' agreed by the charity up to the value of £2,000.

Using the money, the young person will then be able to cover deposits or initial rents for independent accommodation and purchase items with the assistance of their social worker, including:

• furniture - preferably good second-hand (other than mattresses);
• new white goods, vacuum cleaners, and home ware items;
• televisions, mobile phones, and laptops;
• and clothing, including footwear, for job interviews.

Noting the very "little support for 'Care Experienced' young people in Jersey", Brightly commented: "We would like to provide young people who have been in care with opportunities to enhance their life chances and reduce their experience of social exclusion.

"We recognise that many young care experienced adults have poor self-esteem and significantly less developed social skills then their counterparts in the wider population, as well as education and knowledge gaps, due to disrupted young lives and multiple placements."

Head of Jersey’s Freemasons, Graham Spence said he was "immensely proud that, despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the generosity of our members has again enabled us to assist Brightly and the vital work they undertake supporting young people wishing  to live independently.

"Jersey Freemasons’ commitment to charity is very much community focussed and encompasses many long-term relationships with local charities.”

Support for children living in care and care leavers is supposed to be reviewed regularly by a board of politicians and civil servants known as the 'Corporate Parenting Board'. However, it emerged last month that this board had not met for nearly a year - a revelation described by the Constable of St. John as "unacceptable."

Earlier this year, young islanders shared their experiences of care with Express, with one writing about the "daunting experience" of leaving it and living independently for the first time.