Charity Spotlight is a new 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, we’ll hear 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.
First up: Healing Waves – a charity harnessing the power of the ocean to provide life-changing therapy for islanders with disabilities.
Co-founder and Executive Director Max Wiltshire shares what it’s like to lead Healing Waves and the biggest challenge they face right now…
The biggest challenge facing our charity right now is…
Like many charities, our biggest challenge is financial and the ability to safeguard our future.
Healing Waves has established itself as an invaluable pillar of support within the Jersey community over the past seven years, creating a high-quality service that has profoundly impacted the lives of hundreds of individuals facing disabilities, conditions, and/or mental health challenges.
As we look towards the future, it is clear that our mission to create sustainable and empowering experiences must be matched by a solid financial strategy. We recognise the critical need to safeguard our future for the generations to come, whilst continuing to scale our impactful services.
As we continue to navigate the currents of our charitable journey, we recognise the huge importance of sustaining our mission and safeguarding our future here in the Channel Islands. We believe this will be achieved by prioritising transparency, open communication, and the spirit of innovation in all our endeavours.
We recognise our weaknesses, particularly the need to enhance our fundraising efforts and the constraints faced by our small team. As a young charity, we understand the importance of investing time and resources into building our financial foundations, ensuring that our directors can focus on strategic growth rather than being hands-on with sessions 24/7.
Healing Waves is a small charity with big ambitions, and ultimately, if we had double the funding tomorrow, there is so much we could do to benefit the community and safeguard our future to ensure future generations can continue to benefit from Ocean Therapy.
So, if you’re reading this and think you can help us, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The most inspiring success story I’ve witnessed through our work is…
The framework we use helps us to shortcut the time it takes to build trust with another person. What is really beautiful is that the sea does the heavy lifting for us. It creates the sense of awe, provides the fun, the challenge to be overcome, and a sense of danger where positive risks can be taken. In turn has resulted in some remarkable success stories and a number of happy tears shared.
I mean it when I say that I’m inspired by every family and individual that puts their faith and trust in us, each time we take them into the ocean.
We’ve had children who have stopped talking begin to speak again. Individuals overcoming aquaphobia who will now surf and swim with us, and seasoned surfers who had previously come to accept that the ocean was out of reach due to their limitations, have their reality transformed by our wonderful team, empowering them to once again embrace the waves.
A great leader in the charity sector needs to be…
Charity leadership isn’t easy. It means choosing between yourself or your cause every single day! A leader in this noble sphere must first and foremost embody dynamism, ever ready to adapt and evolve in response to the shifting tides of circumstance.
\They must be unafraid to innovate and seek out new pathways to promote the greater good. As Nelson Mandela once declared, “it always seems impossible until it is done.” A great leader inspires others to rise above challenges, illuminating the way forward with clarity and conviction.
Additionally, approachability is paramount – stand as an open door, welcoming all who seek to contribute their talents and perspectives. When a leader is approachable, they foster an environment of trust and collaboration, enabling voices from all walks of life to be heard and valued.
Last but not least, the best of listeners are those who create ripples of understanding and empathy within their communities. Listening is not merely an act of hearing; it is the art of engagement.
Thus, a great leader in the charity sector must indeed be dynamic, approachable, the finest of listeners and be prepared to sacrifice for the greater good.
One thing we do to support our team’s wellbeing is…
We understand that the needs of our team members will change throughout their life. Being dynamic, ready to listen and supportive of these needs when possible is key to fostering strong wellbeing.
Wellbeing isn’t having a staff gym membership, fruit bowl, or endless supply of biscuits (although many charity workers I’ve met appear to function off of these!). We do however have a wellbeing day each month where one team member will choose a new inclusive and appropriate activity, which everyone in the team can enjoy. The main rule is that the activity must cover at least one of the five ways of wellbeing: Give, Stay Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice & Connect.
In addition to this, after our busiest period in the summer (typically September during bad tides) we have ‘Wellbeing Week’. This week follows the same formula, but across all five working days. One early morning session followed by pre-arranged and mutually agreed activities that hit all five ways of wellbeing. This scheme has seen our team bond, as well as their wellbeing and work enjoyment increase. Activities have included: pottery & martial arts classes, Snorkel trails, meditations, golf and badminton to name a few.
In five years, I hope our charity will…
In five years, I hope our charity will be in an even stronger position within Jersey and have become more sustainable in its mission. My main concerns for now, rest with safeguarding our future. I’m hopeful that we will have well-established annual community events that will not only raise awareness and financial support but also serve as platforms for collaboration & growth, enhancing our mission of empowerment through shared experiences.
Moreover, our commitment to delivering empowering experiences will remain at the forefront of all our operations. I hope that in five years our services will have well established programs that have been refined on feedback, ensuring they continue to meet the evolving needs of our participants. I hope that we will have had time to explore potential holiday club/respite options for families, similar to that of the Bosdet Foundation, whom we have heard some wonderful feedback from our own communities.
I would also like to see our services continue to support our sister island of Guernsey once a year and potentially scale this to better serve those who could benefit from more regular sessions. I believe that our plans to diversify service locations & extend session times reflect our dedication to accessibility, equity and quality, ensuring that our services are available to those who need them most.
As we embark on this next chapter, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide innovative, high-quality services that resonate from our core, inviting collaboration, investment and engagement from our community, stakeholders and potential partners.
GET IN TOUCH…
If you know a charity you think should be featured, drop a message to editor@bailiwickexpress.com.