Collas Crill has renewed its sponsorship of local charity Jersey Cares for a further 12 months, continuing its role as the charity's official training partner.
The renewed partnership builds on a successful first year during which Collas Crill funded all of Jersey Cares' advocacy training requirements, enabling the charity to deliver a high-quality, professional advocacy service to around 50 children in care and nearly 100 care leavers across the island.
Established in 2019, Jersey Cares was created for and by people with experience of care. The organisation's advocacy programme helps ensure children in care and care leavers are listened to, understand their rights and have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
Over the past year, Collas Crill's support has funded both entry-level and continuing professional development training for the Jersey Cares team, including specialist advocacy qualifications, reflective practice sessions, board development sessions and attendance at professional conferences.
The partnership has also supported wider workforce development initiatives, helping the charity strengthen its services and develop future advocacy talent.
Collas Crill's support has enabled Jersey Cares to strengthen its advocacy team through the appointment of two new trainee advocates, bringing the team to full capacity.
The renewed funding will support advanced advocacy training and enable team members to attend industry conferences, helping them continue to develop their expertise and deliver the highest standards of support to children and young people with care experience.
The renewal comes at an important time for the charity following the appointment of Simon Nash as Chief Executive Officer. Simon succeeded Susie Richardson, who stepped down earlier this year after leading the organisation through a significant period of growth and development.
Simon said; 'Advocacy for children and young people in care is now on a statutory footing in Jersey, and regulated to a high standard. Jersey Cares is enormously grateful to the partners and staff of Collas Crill for underwriting our learning and development programme to a such high standard.
'Indeed, at a recent UK conference other advocacy organisations were telling us how much they admired the depth and thoroughness of the initial professional practice programme that Jersey Cares equips our advocates with. For us, we believe the Island’s children in care should be supported by advocates trained to the highest standards, and we thank Collas Crill for enabling this.”
The partnership reflects Collas Crill's commitment to creating meaningful, long-term relationships with local organisations that deliver lasting benefits within the community.
Collas Crill Jersey Managing Partner, Pamela Doherty, said: 'We are delighted to renew our partnership with Jersey Cares and continue supporting the vital work they do for children in care and care leavers across Jersey and beyond.
'Over the past year we have heard the impact that investment in training and professional development can have, both for the charity's team and, most importantly, for the young people they support. We look forward to working with Simon and the wider team as they continue to strengthen and expand their advocacy services in the year ahead.'
