Karen Dingle, JEDS: “I feel very fortunate to be working with our wonderful community and for such an incredible charity”

Charity Spotlight is a weekly series dedicated to showcasing the incredible work of Jersey’s charities – from grassroots initiatives to island-wide movements, we’ll be sharing the stories of the people working tirelessly to support those in need and the importance of leadership in guiding that work.

Each week, Express hears from a charity leader on their biggest challenges and successes, what leadership and wellbeing truly mean in the third sector, and their hopes for the future.

Next up is Jersey Eating Disorders Support (JEDS) – a charity dedicated to supporting Islanders affected by eating disorders, as well as their families and friends.

Chief Executive Officer, Karen Dingle shared what it’s like to lead JEDS and the most inspiring success story she’s witnessed due to the charity’s work…

The biggest challenge facing our charity right now is…

Trying to ensure that we raise enough funds to keep the charity going. Last year we were fortunate to receive funding from The Association of Jersey Charities and The Lloyds Bank Foundation. Each year we need to start from scratch so it would be wonderful to have multiple year funding so that we can plan for the future of JEDS knowing that we have the funding to offer our community new support options.

JEDS would like to start two peer led group support sessions using people with lived experience. The first would be for those who are in recovery from an eating disorder, and they would be supported by those who have either recovered or are in recovery and are managing their eating disorder well. The other peer group support would be for carers and would be run by those with lived experience of caring for someone who has either recovered or is in recovery from an eating disorder.

Raising funds to be able to run the groups as well as individual counselling and peer support and raising awareness by offering our peer led Education and Awareness Programme is a big challenge. JEDS received the following feedback from someone who attends our group support sessions: 

“The support group has been such a huge help to me personally…it’s an opportunity to discuss any concerns with others who understand.” 

“I attended this awareness session, and it was an excellent opportunity to learn about eating disorders. Thank you: brilliant presenters and invaluable insight from a trainer with lived experience.” 

The most inspiring success story I’ve witnessed through our work is…

When a client came to me to ask for help as he was only eating a small number of foods such as meat and potatoes and he wanted to include fruit and vegetables. He was encouraged to challenge himself to eating different foods in a variety of ways over the following few weeks. His partner had not wanted him to move in with her and her family as she considered him to be a bad role model to her children because of his eating habits. JEDS started working with him to incorporate more foods into his diet and after a few months she accepted his marriage proposal, and they were soon married. JEDS received the following feedback from him:  

“Karen helped me identify why I was scared of trying different foods and helped me get to the bottom of this. We went through all the different foods and categorised them from which foods I love to which I would never touch. She really helped me break it down into small achievable targets. Karen really supported me on the start of my journey, and I am now like a different person with my diet. I eat all the things (and enjoy them) that I actively avoided for years. Thank you so much!!” 

Our charity wouldn’t exist without…

The wonderful people who work or volunteer for us. JEDS is run by two part-time workers and has three qualified counsellors and seven trainee counsellors in their final year of qualifying to be a counsellor. We also have six peer support workers who use their lived experience of having an eating disorder or caring for someone with one, to support others within groups or on a one-to-one basis as not everyone likes to be part of a group, so we like to give options to those who come to us for support. JEDS received the following feedback from one of our trainee counsellors: 

“As a trainee counsellor doing a level 4 counselling placement with Jersey Eating Disorder Support, I feel very supported and encouraged by them.” 

The most important quality in a team is…

The ability to work together with the common aim of supporting our community as much as possible. JEDS is run by me, Karen, the CEO, and I am ably assisted by the Deputy CEO, Amy who does the social media as well as organising fundraising and awareness events.  JEDS has an amazing Management Committee which consists of experts in a variety of areas as well as those with lived experience of having an eating disorder.

Our Chairperson, Elaine has vast experience in chairing meetings from working in education for thirty years. Lesley, our Secretary, was involved with the charity when it began over forty years ago. Paula, our Treasurer has worked in finance for most of her working life and is also a qualified counsellor. Dan, a Director of his own IT company looks after our IT Support and assists wherever he can and Siobhan who is very experienced in all aspects of charity work, does JEDS’ reporting as well as using her knowledge to improve JEDS. We all work together extremely well.  

One thing that I do to support my team’s wellbeing is…

To look for opportunities for us to bond as a team. JEDS has taken part in the around the island walk relay and we do various courses and training together. I obtained free tickets for the team to see a show at the Arts Centre, to go to the zoo and to do a Whodunnit in the Victorian House in New Street. I also arrange evenings when the whole team get together at the Pomme d’Or, a hotel which  has been extremely supportive of the charity.  

I feel very fortunate to be working with our wonderful community and for such an incredible charity. 

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