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 Enable Jersey – a charity dedicated to providing support and a voice to anyone in the island living with a disability or long-term condition, including their family, friends and carers.
The charity’s mission is to help the island become an inclusive community where disabled people can live without limits.
Express caught up with Sean Pontin, Chief Executive Officer of Enable Jersey, about the most rewarding part of their work and the best way for islanders to support the charity…
The biggest challenge facing our charity right now is…
Of course, finance. Sadly, our financial trajectory is only one way at the moment, but we are working hard to change that by increasing people’s awareness of what we do. Otherwise, even in 2025, I would say that our biggest challenge is accessibility, inclusion and disability arguably as a whole just isn’t the priority it should be!
The most rewarding part of our work is…
Seeing the difference our approach can make, we don’t expect people to have to prove how disabled they are, we just start with ‘tell us where you’re at’ and that helps us get to a place where others sometimes struggle.
If we had double the funding tomorrow, we would…
There is a long list of things the island needs to develop. We don’t struggle for ideas or things that make a difference to people living with a disability, but sadly, there is only so much we can do with the resources we currently have.
The best way for people to support us (beyond donations) is…
We can’t do what we do without the help of our volunteers. The commitment of volunteers means an incredible amount to us and goes a long way towards ensuring a life without limits for disabled people in Jersey. We are currently recruiting more volunteers to help at our Equipment Hub and our fundraising events, so if you can help, please get in touch.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as a leader is…
People’s own experiences often trump professional learning! Don’t be afraid – embrace and unleash that experience!
A great leader in the charity sector needs to be…
Flexible, able to wear lots of hats, along with great juggling skills! CEO is a grand title but really just means you are responsible for everything from strategy, finance, fundraising and HR through to taking the recycling out or changing a light bulb!
The best piece of leadership advice I ever received was…
Take a breath. Be positive. Wait a few minutes. Don’t just focus on what’s not working and maybe step away from that keyboard!
The most important quality in a team is…
Looking out for each other, especially in our work where we are supporting people in crisis and in difficult situations. We must not forget the impact that it can have on us, and that we might need time and support in order to recharge and do it again!
A mistake I made early in my leadership journey was… and what it taught me was…
Trying to be friends with and please everyone is sadly not possible. The smallness of Jersey can make maintaining boundaries all the more difficult, and we probably step over them most days. The important thing is often where you end!
If I could change one thing about how charities are run, it would be…
We are doing much better at working together and embracing the positives of partnerships, but there is still more to do. Maybe stop moaning about what we don’t get from the Government (and there is a long list) and let’s celebrate what we are doing so well. After all, I don’t think the island realises how much we do and what would happen if we didn’t exist!
GET IN TOUCH…
If you know a charity you think should be featured in our Charity Spotlight series, drop a message to editor@bailiwickexpress.com.
See more from our Charity Spotlight series…
