A long-running charity supporting islanders living with stomas has closed its doors after struggling to attract new managing committee members.
For 35 years, the Jersey Ostomy Society had provided support and advice to islanders living with stomas, including a pre- and post-surgery buddy system to support patients, access to financial aid and, in conjunction with Family Nursing and Home Care, advice on practical equipment to make life with a stoma easier.
It also aimed to spread awareness of the challenges facing islanders with stomas. Among its best known initiatives was its use of a giant inflatable colon at the Jersey Kindness Festival.
The Society first warned of potential closure due to a lack of participation in the Society in a letter to ostomates (people with stomas) in March.
They said that the Society had only 40 members despite there being over 200 ostomates on the island.
The letter explained: “For many years the Society has endeavoured to provide support, information and a sense of community for ostomates and their families. However, times have changed. Many people now turn to online resources for advice and support, and interest in the Society’s activities has declined.”
They reported that turnout at recent events had been low and that some had even had to be cancelled due to lack of interest.
A last call for new volunteers was made ahead of the charity’s AGM on 15 May – but, with no one stepping forward to take on key management roles, the decision was made to formally wind up the group.
That decision was formally communicated in a letter last month.
“This is a sad situation, particularly as the Society has been operating since 1990,” the existing committee said.
“However, for many reasons, the decision was inevitable as no other options were available.”
They said their Facebook page – through which the charity shared various support resources – would also shortly be deleted.