Survivor-supporting café fundraising for staff trauma training

Sunday 23 July 2023

The founder of a new café dedicated to supporting survivors of abuse is raising money to fund training opportunities for staff.

Led by Cheyenne O’Connor, The Butterfly Café opened its doors to islanders for the first time last weekend morning to coincide with the Fête de St. Helier.

The non-profit venture – which has received £155,000 from the Government – provides job opportunities and workplace training to islanders who have experienced abuse, as well as access to ongoing, survivor-led services, such as peer-support group meetings, training, a helpline, a job shop and advocacy assistance.

With the café still in its early days and not yet "financially sound", Ms O'Connor is now reaching out to the public to help support The Butterfly Café team in taking up training that will allow them to better support those who have suffered abuse.

"Whilst we get ourselves set up and financially sound, we are hoping to reach out to you, the public in helping us raise £2,000," she wrote on a dedicated JustGiving page.

"This money will ensure we can pay for a specialist to come to Jersey and train all of our staff to a top level in trauma-informed training, along with two of our staff completing the Level 4 counselling course."

Click HERE to donate.