Skipton Community Fund

Guernsey Friends of Maggie’s

Guernsey Friends of Maggie’s is a small charity, currently with just five voluntary committee members, formed in 2019. GFoM exists to ensure that Guernsey residents (and Jersey, where required) have access to cancer support when they need it most, by raising awareness and funds for Maggie's Southampton Centre. It provides practical, emotional, and social support to families on a free drop-in basis at the University Hospital of Southampton (UHS), without any charges or limitations.

The Skipton Community Fund supported GFoM by providing funding for warm drinks to welcome visitors to the Centre, thus creating a sense of ease. In addition, funding was also provided for building materials, signage and furniture. This helped to ensure that no-one from Guernsey (or Jersey) goes through cancer alone, and that families are supported while their loved ones are treated.

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Family Nursing & Home Care

Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC) is committed to providing high quality community health care services to support islanders in Jersey. These services are accessible, appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the community from birth to end of life. Services include Community Children's Nursing, School Nursing, District Nursing, Health Visiting, Home Care & Rapid Response and Reablement. FNHC’s ethos is to help islanders start well, live well and age well.

The Skipton Community fund awarded FNHC with a grant of £4,900. This money will be used to purchase specially designed breastfeeding chairs and antibacterial privacy screens to promote and support breastfeeding in four patient facing children’s settings across the island - Pip’s Place in St Helier, The Bridge in St Saviour, Communicare Centre in St Brelade, and Samares Pathways Centre in St Clement. This will enable women in Jersey to breastfeed in safe, private and comfortable locations reducing mothers’ undue anxiety.

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The Jersey Employment Trust

The Jersey Employment Trust (JET) is a charity that helps people who have a disability or long-term health condition secure and sustain employment. In 2022, the 14-21 service supported 183 people under the age of 25, 50% of whom listed their primary disability as mental health.

The Skipton Community Fund was able to support JET through its Gearing Up programme which enabled six young people with a disability or long-term health condition to learn how to build a bike. This 12-week project enabled participants to develop new skills, work as a team and learn more about wellbeing and the benefits of exercise. Sessions included everything from road safety and bike maintenance to decider skills and goal planning. This gave participants something valuable to put on their CVs and progress them towards further training or employment opportunities. Four young people were able to complete the course being awarded a bike, helmet and lock.

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Jersey Hospice Care

Jersey Hospice Care seeks to transform and deliver outstanding specialist palliative care, free of charge, to all islanders with life-limiting illnesses, irrespective of diagnosis or age. The hospice is about so much more than the treatment of a person’s physical symptoms: it is a total philosophy of care, offering spiritual and emotional support that extends to family members and carers.

Skipton was able to support Jersey Hospice Care by providing funding for Memory frames. These frames take a thumb print of a loved one and family member, which is then framed and given to the family member following the death of the loved one.

Michelle Benest, Health Care Assistant at Jersey Hospice Care said:

“We’re so grateful to Skipton International for helping to fund this amazing project. The memory frames are really important to our patients and their loved ones, giving them an opportunity to create a special memory together. It's something that families can hold on to after their loved one dies, and they can look back and remember all of those special moments we have the honour of helping to make happen, thanks to their generosity.”

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Brightly

Skipton Community Fund donated to Brightly Jersey. Funds will be used for crisis funding for the children and young people that we support who are under the care of the Children’s Service. This could be anything from covering the cost of baby/toddler items, food, clothing, and white goods.

They support up to 400 children and young people each year. They aim to help these youngsters to make an independent and fruitful life for themselves by providing financial support, material help, and services.

They help with education and training, health and well-being, or independence. This could include anything from nursery placements for the children of care leavers, food vouchers in times of crisis, memberships for the zoo, and other attractions that allow quality family time. For care leavers, they will also help fund, over and above statutory allowances, the cost of college courses, work clothes, tools, medical fees, and items for when they move into their first home, which is very exciting, but a big and expensive step.

All money raised by Brightly either stays in Jersey for the benefit of island residents or can be applied in cases where local children and young people are cared for off-island.

For further information about Brightly, please check out their website www.brightly.je.

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Guernsey Mobility Let's Go

Guernsey Mobility Let’s Go (GMLG) is a group that deliver a wide range of weekly based activities at Beau Sejour such as Boccia and Curling. This caters to people with mobility issues, dementia, reduced communication issues and many more. They also work closely with local residential homes and individuals who are less fortunate than most. Skipton was able to support GMLG by providing funding to help them extend the duration of their sessions. This enabled them to expand what they currently deliver and help more people take part.

Jersey Cheshire Home

Jersey Cheshire Home is the only residential facility on the island, caring solely for physically disabled adults. They have a purpose-built facility enabling those with disabilities to live with independence and choice. Those cared for all have debilitating physical disabilities that mean they can no longer live in their own home. Sadly, there is an ever-increasing demand for the Home’s services and the facility is always at full capacity with 30 adults over the age of 18. The Home also provides support to the wider community through various therapies and adult day care. These services provide physical and emotional well-being through healthcare, social and recreational activities.

The Jersey Cheshire Home is planning to introduce the new Andium Homes development as a community centre to be enjoyed by islanders and its residents. The fitting of the kitchen area is expected to be a large cost to the Home. The Skipton Community Fund supported this by providing a specialist oven known as a Merry chef E2S. This will not only benefit the community but also enabled its residents to have an additional safe place to go with family and friends.

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Alderney Animal Welfare Society

Alderney Animal Welfare Society is an independent charity with a veterinary practice, kennels, and cattery, run by a small team of dedicated staff who are on call 365 days a year caring for the animals on Alderney. Their mission is to offer responsive, affordable animal care and build long-term caring client and patient relationships. Their Registered Veterinary Nurses offer professional nursing skills, preventative medicine, empathy, time, and compassion. We adopt a whole team approach to animal health care and our team is completed with our veterinary surgeon visiting the island every 2 weeks, in addition to being on call, video/audio link 24/7 to support our nursing staff.

The Skipton Community Fund donated money to the welfare clinic to help fostering, printing of community support leaflets and pet bereavement counsellor training. This funding will reduce the patient and client stress levels associated with travelling off island with a sick pet, reduce the carbon footprint and ensure that we are offering sustainable pet health care on island.

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Guernsey Park Run

Guernsey Park Run is a free, 5km run, jog or walk which takes place every Saturday morning at 9am. It is run entirely by volunteers and they rely on donations to buy essential equipment and other small items. Guernsey Park Run is all about inclusiveness and promoting well-being. It aims to provide a welcoming friendly environment, reducing social isolation, depression, and anxiety whilst increasing a sense of community and improving confidence in a non competitive way.

The Skipton Community Fund has donated to the Park Run so they can purchase a new storage boxes which will hold course signs and equipment.

JAYF (Jersey Association for Youth and Friendship)

JAYF is a long-standing, local charity providing safe, supported hostel type accommodation to young people, aged 18-25, experiencing homelessness. As the only charity providing a service to this specific age group, the support they give act as a safety net to an increasing number of young people in the Jersey community who have nowhere else to turn. The fundraising events ensure they can continue to provide this service as well as raising awareness of homelessness in Jersey.

The Skipton Community Fund has funded the annual running costs used to raise awareness of JAYF’s Open Gardens scheme and bridge lunch fundraising events, attract attendance as well as to provide information about the visiting gardens and the work of the charity.

Forest Primary School

The Skipton Community Fund was contacted to help to enhance and improve the outdoor area of Forest Primary School. In Early Years settings, it is essential for children to have access to an outdoor area. Not only does it support the development of healthy and active lifestyles by offering children opportunities for physical activity, freedom and movement, and promoting a sense of well-being, it also supports children's problem-solving skills and nurtures their creativity.

Balance bikes and markings on the ground for guidance have been added to the outdoor area, a teepee tent was purchased for the children to have a quiet space to read. A new 'mud kitchen' to replace the existing area, a small stage area has been constructed where children can perform instruments and dressing up costumes. New building blocks were purchased which help develop creativity and imagination.

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Baubigny Schools PTA Duke of Edinburgh

Baubigny Schools PTA provide additional financial support to extra curricular and normal curricular activities of both Le Murier School and St Sampson's High School. Recently they had been asked to fund the purchase of new tents for the Duke of Edinburgh group, with an application to the Skipton Community Fund, the fund was granted to purchase five tents.

The Styx Centre

The Styx Centre has been rooted in and serving the community for the last 38 years. In term time, it now has 2000 attendees per week across the life span facilitating mother and baby groups; Guernsey Specials Gym group; singing for health, arts for impact; and many other groups. For many, this protects against social isolation, loneliness and exclusion. In December 2022 they purchased the next door field and received planning permission to create a new access road and additional parking which will create a much safer and accessible entrance to the Centre.

The Skipton Community Fund donated money to the centre to plant a Community Orchard of 70 fruit trees. The orchard will form part of a nature walk where other indigenous shrubs and trees have been planted to improve biodiversity.

GROW Jersey

GROW Jersey supports those islanders experiencing food poverty by growing an array of fruit and vegetables. It also provides education and awareness on issues such as the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, sustainable transport, and responsible soil management. The award-winning project has already achieved key objectives in education with local children, community engagement with groups such as Acorn & Mencap Pond Project, planting 100 fruit & nut trees and 220 fruit bushes, establishing raised planting beds, beehives and a vegetable garden. This has helped form a strong community of likeminded individuals who join in with regular activities to enhance the area.

Skipton Community Fund has funded their most recent GROW projects in 2023, which include; creating accessible pathways around the 13 vergee site, building/sourcing raised growing beds to provide accessibility for those with physical disabilities, provision of a community space to allow all-year provision of education to visiting communities including schools, and additional equipment and materials to allow us to scale up food production

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The Jersey Brain Tumour

The charity was set up by Sue May (Little) who had a brain tumour diagnosis 12 years ago to assist others with the same devastating diagnosis through their brain tumour journey by providing regular contact, guidance and support with people who have knowledge of the area. Part of the process is the supply of Brain Tumour Boxes to each client, the box includes vital information to assist the client in becoming more knowledgeable. The charity provides assistance to clients from volunteers, nurses, occupational health and counselling to both clients and their families and they have created a brain tumour community for them to join for as long as they need it.

The Skipton Community Fund has supported The Jersey Brain Tumour charity by funding 40 Brain Boxes.

Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group

The Skipton Community Fund gave funds to Fairtrade Guernsey to purchase these reusable cups to raise further money to support the group to continue its work to engage, educate and inspire islanders to support Fairtrade for the foreseeable future.

Guernsey became an accredited Fairtrade Island in 2006; a status that has been renewed every two years thanks to the efforts of the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group (registered Guernsey charity number 453). Members work with States of Guernsey departments (in particular the Overseas Aid and Development Commission), businesses, schools, churches and other community organisations to raise awareness of the Fairtrade Mark, to increase the range, volume and visibility of Fairtrade products available to islanders and to show consumers how a conscious choice to buy Fairtrade can make a difference to the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries. Each year in late February/early March, the Steering Group organises a range of activities to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. They applied for a grant to support their popular annual schools' competition, which provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to engage children of all ages on social, environmental and trade justice issues. This year's competition is to design a reusable hot drinks cup, creating artwork that promotes Guernsey as a Fairtrade Island and reflects Fairtrade principles. The two winning designs (primary- and secondary-age) has been printed onto fully biodegradable cups made from rice husk. Funding from Skipton International has provided the cost to produce 500 units of each design, which will be sold at events and potentially through the Channel Islands Cooperative, to raise funds for Fairtrade Guernsey. To order your cup please email info@fairtradeguernsey.com

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The Mill Street Community Café

The cafe's aims are simple, they provide good quality, nutritious food at very reasonable prices. This is possible because they receive generous donations of food and none of our volunteers are paid for their work. If somebody genuinely cannot pay for their meal, they are given it free of charge. Their costs are covered by the donations that other people give.

This scheme is known as “paying it forward” or “pending coffees” or other such terms which imply that your kindness helps another person to eat. In addition to food, we also aim to provide warmth and shelter and company to people who might otherwise be alone or suffering in some way. Several of our customers are homeless and come to us for support. Many of the volunteers and clients are elderly people who relish the chance to have good company.

Skipton Community Fund has donated money to enable the Mill Street Community Café to replace their kitchen and do interior renovations to enable more space for customers to sit.

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Trevor Laughlin Acorn Skipton Community Fund

Acorn Enterprises

A Jersey project where islanders with disabilities or long-term health conditions refurbish the island’s public benches has been able to buy an industrial sander to help with its work, due to financial support from the Skipton Community Fund. We awarded funding to Acorn Enterprises to support this project within its Training & Development provision.

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Pollinator Project

The Pollinator Project is a local charity focused on making a practical difference to Guernsey's biodiversity, with a focus on pollinating insects. They focus on four main streams of activity: Education, protecting and enhancing natural habitats, conducting scientific research, and campaigning against the use of pesticides, plastic and peat.

Skipton Community Fund has given funds to the Pollinator Project to enable them to purchase a gazebo so they can continue to participate in several outdoor events to get key messages of caring for Guernsey's nature to more people through their education programs.

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Jersey Cheshire Homes

A local charity which provides care and support for islanders living with a physical disability has been able to purchase a specialist vital signs monitor thanks to financial support from Skipton International’s Community Fund.

Jersey Cheshire Homes successfully applied to the Community Fund, a grant scheme which supports good causes across the Channel Islands, for funds to buy a Dinamap Monitor to help care for their residents.

The monitor gives accurate readings of residents’ vital signs and alerts nursing staff to any irregularities that require their attention.

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3rd Jersey Scout Group

The 3rd Jersey Scout Group is one of the largest groups within the Jersey Scout Association. As a Group they have over 120 young people aged 8-14 supported by a team of volunteer leaders. Camping is a big part of the group, it helps to build confidence being away from home, making new friends, trying new activities and learning new skills. It supports our young people in their personal development and allows them to make a positive contribution to the wider community.

Their our two mess tents have come to the end of their useful life and they hadn't been able to fundraise in the usual way to replace these because of COVID. They represent the largest item of expenditure for the Group. Skipton Community Fund was happy to fund the purchase of a new mess tent.

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JSPCA Animals' Shelter

When a pet dies, the family who loved that animal can experience strong feelings of grief. Pets are family members: they are there when we wake up, and beside us when we go to sleep. They see us sick, happy, angry, sad, and they never pass judgement.

The aching hearts of those who lose a pet can often suffer from a terrible condition called ‘broken heart syndrome’. When the response to grief is severe, the person exhibits symptoms that mimic a heart attack, including elevated hormone levels that can be 30 times greater than normal.

When you’re in anguish after this kind of loss, you need to reach out and let people know how badly you’re hurting.

'We know how hard the loss of a pet can be, so that's why the JSPCA Animals' Shelter offers a bereavement service for anyone who is in need of emotional support, from our trained team who have undertaken the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement course. We are very grateful to Skipton Community Fund for funding the training of some of our team on this course. The grant we were given also included the printing of 500 sympathy cards to give out to all those people who choose an individual cremation with the JSPCA.' Michelle Parker, JSPCA

If you'd like more information about the JSPCA bereavement service, please call our Reception on 01534 724331 or email bereavement@jspca.org.je

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Beneficiaries

Guernsey Friends of Maggie’s

Family Nursing & Home Care

The Jersey Employment Trust

Jersey Hospice Care

Brightly

Guernsey Mobility Let's Go

Jersey Cheshire Home

Alderney Animal Welfare Society

Guernsey Park Run

JAYF (Jersey Association for Youth and Friendship)

Forest Primary School

Baubigny Schools PTA Duke of Edinburgh

The Styx Centre

GROW Jersey

The Jersey Brain Tumour

Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group

The Mill Street Community Café

Acorn Enterprises

Pollinator Project

Jersey Cheshire Homes

3rd Jersey Scout Group

JSPCA Animals' Shelter