Collaboration Event Highlights Support for Jersey Residents

An event held in Jersey, attended by numerous individuals, demonstrated the collaborative efforts of charities and organizations aimed at assisting more residents on the island. The government initiated “Embrace of Difference” with the goal of fostering increased cooperation among various entities. The Radisson Hotel served as the venue for the event, which featured presentations from charitable organizations such as EYECAN, Jersey Mencap, and AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey. A key theme of the gathering was exploring strategies to enhance the island’s inclusivity. Matt and Rachel, who experience learning difficulties, receive support from Jersey Mencap and have increased their activity levels through initiatives offered by Jersey Sport. Matt expressed, “it feels very awesome to play sports” and “I like doing a load of stuff that I wouldn’t normally be able to do.” Rachel commented that physical activity had bolstered her confidence, stating, “it helps me feel like I can face more challenges.” EYECAN, a charity dedicated to assisting individuals with sight loss, presented its collaboration with developer Andium Homes to improve the accessibility of residential properties. Mark Coxshall, representing the charity, remarked, “there was very much a can-do attitude” and noted that “shady pavements can be quite misleading for people with sight problems.” Jenny Stafford, who has experienced significant sight loss, serves on the committee of EYECAN. She stated, “this is very important for the people living in the buildings” and added, “it hasn’t always been this way but this is a baby step in the right direction.” AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey, a charity supporting neurodiverse individuals, has partnered with Ports of Jersey to enhance services at both the airport and the harbour. Niamh McDermott and Penny Chapman, co-founders of the organization, informed event attendees about the positive outcomes of this collaborative effort. Ms Chapman commented, “one of the best things is that Ports came to us” and “they have embraced neurodiversity and our community.” Ms McDermott further stated, “it is the small little things that make a big difference” and mentioned, “Penny has been up to do training at the airport and the next stage is to do that training at the harbour too.” For updates, follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.