A wad of cash forgotten by the States for nearly two decades is set to be dug out later this year to purchase new equipment for child disability facilities.
An old charitable trust with funds from services at the Castel Hospital was operational for decades – until one day in 2009 when the civil servants administering it changed.
The knowledge of this trust, the requirement for annual accounts to be filed, and the £21,000 inside it was then forgotten.
But last year officials at Employment & Social Security uncovered the trust and cash, which had accrued to £31,000 over the 15-year period it had lain dormant and hidden.
ESS drew up legislation last year to repeal the Country Hospital Charitable Trust law which governed the funds, with the President of the Committee serving as the trustee.
Deputies will be asked to rubber stamp this winding up and to release the cash to Health & Social Care to buy new equipment for the Croft at the States meeting due to start on 24 September.
The Croft provides support services for children with additional needs and their families and carers.
Any remaining cash from the trust would support the Friends of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital charity which supports patients with items not supplied by the States.
The previous Health & Social Care Committee had requested the money last summer to support the 35 families which regularly use the Croft.
Deputy Tina Bury, then Vice-President of Health, had noted that those facilities are “outdated” and not fit for purpose.
“The Croft lacks key facilities, such as a therapy room, fit-for-purpose equipment and furniture, sensory toys, and moving and handling equipment, and service-users would benefit from investment in these areas,” she said.
Health had made a request of £26,000 to carry out improvement works, but this was declined.
The trust was set up in 1958 as part of poverty relief efforts to care for impoverished and homeless people.
The law governing it said it could only be used for patients accommodated in the healthcare system, to help relieve poverty or other charitable endeavours.
