Charity Spotlight is a 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 Project Linus UK – Jersey, Channel Islands – a charity dedicated to providing handmade blankets and quilts to children in need of comfort and security.
The charity’s mission is to ensure that their blankets, often called “hugs”, are distributed to children in hospitals, hospices, women’s refuges, and other settings where children may be facing difficult circumstances.
Express caught up with Sarah Jordan, the Channel Island’s Co-Ordinator for Project Linus UK, about what it is like to lead the charity, the biggest lesson she has learnt as a leader…
The most rewarding part of our work is…
Getting to work with such a wonderful, dedicated team of volunteers and getting to meet the lovely blanketeers and quilters.
Being able to read the thanks and anecdotes from recipients about how our blankets have been used and have benefited them.
Our charity wouldn’t exist without…
Funding opportunities, our talented crafters and dedicated team of volunteers.
The biggest shift in the charity sector over the past decade has been…
The effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown. More people decided to learn a new skill, like knitting and crocheting, etc, and then donated the blankets to Project Linus UK in Jersey.
Over the years, there has been an increase in demand for comforting blankets for teens in particular.
The best way for people to support us (beyond donations) is…
By volunteering and assisting with admin. We need more younger members to participate and volunteer, as well as support in admin roles.
In five years, I hope our charity will…
Still be in existence. With an ageing group of members and volunteers, this carries the potential of many resigning or becoming ill. Unless we can get younger members or volunteers to come forward, the Charity will not be able to continue the good work it has been doing for the past 15 years, comforting more than 4,000 children.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a leader is…
Selecting a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.
The best piece of leadership advice I ever received was…
Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
The most important quality in a team is…
Good communication between the members of the team and myself.
One thing I do to support my team’s wellbeing is…
I impress upon all volunteers that should they shouldn’t experience any anxiety and stress as a result of their volunteering, they:
- notify me, so I can spread the load/step in if possible
- work at whatever pace they need to to ensure that their mental health is not affected
The most unexpected thing about working in the charity sector is…
The passion of volunteers and how much I enjoy my volunteering “work” even more than my previous paid work.