I am very proud to be an “Ambassador” for a charity in Jersey called Brighter Futures.
I’m often asked what the charity is all about and how I came to be involved with it, as well as what it means to be an Ambassador.
So, what is Brighter Futures all about? In short, it’s about improving the life chances of children in Jersey, through educating their main carers. The charity champions early years development and supports the theory that the first 1,001 days of a child’s life are their most critical in terms of attachment, development and achieving their potential. It is no overstatement to say that these first 1,001 days are crucial in determining a child’s future.
We believe that, by working in partnership with the child’s main carer(s) through The Bridge family centre – a fun, safe and stimulating environment, that benefits will be gained and in turn transferred to the home environment.
There are many people out there who are much better with figures than I will ever be, so let me give you some numbers to think about. During 2015, Brighter Futures supported 163 families (compared to 110 in 2014), to improve their relationships and wellbeing, and to help main carers to learn new skills and gain qualifications, but above all to increase their confidence and self-esteem so that these benefits are transferred to their children. The charity provides new fewer than 20 programmes at The Bridge to support carers and their children, to ensure that every baby has the best start in life.
As you can imagine, this essential work comes at a cost. Brighter Futures’ running costs during 2015 were approximately £450,000. A States of Jersey grant was, and is, in place, but only for £82,000. This is continuing into 2016, but that’s still £368,000 to find. It costs £3,600 per annum to support a family through the charity – and most families work with us for three years. However, this compare favourably with the estimated £70,000 per annum that it would cost for a child to be in within the care system in Jersey. We have to keep going.
The reality is that many of Brighter Futures’ clients suffer from poverty, isolation, physical illness and low self-esteem. If we were not able to intervene and help, then it is likely that these factors would never be challenged, or more importantly, changed.
If you or your business can help to support a family who are working with the charity, please consider pledging your support – and first have a look at our website to see for yourselves the testimonials from parents whom we have helped already.
In the words of one of our carers, “I’ve learned so much about bringing up children. We are all a product of how we have been been brought up and I realise now that there are better ways to deal with things – and that you can do it differently.”
If you would like to help us to help parents and children in Jersey who do not have the life chances that so many of us have and to do things differently, then please support us and enable every family referred to us to have just that – a brighter future. Thank you.
Sarah Nibbs 