JT beats autism fundraising target by 50 per cent

Monday 09 February 2015

JT has raised more than £74,000 in its three-year commitment to support autism charities.

JT’s staff based in offices in the Channel Islands, London, Boston and Melbourne joined together over the three years to take part in fundraising activities with their efforts matched pound for pound by JT. Together they raised £74,310 - beating the original fundraising target by 50 per cent.

From shaking buckets at Jersey Live, sponsoring and taking part in the Mount Kilimanjaro trek; organising the L’Etacq and Back Charity Walk and raising awareness of the charity through the JT Directory cover, JT’s staff have embraced the 36-month effort.

Staff have also volunteered their time and services to help Autism Jersey with a number of ventures, such as helping to prepare the Jersey Autism Centre at Brittania Place for opening. Staff also received autism training to understand the developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.

JT’s Corporate Affairs Director Daragh McDermott joined the Board of Trustees at Autism Jersey. “Communication is at the heart of everything we do which led naturally to autism becoming a charity we’ve focused on for the last three years," he said. "We are very proud of all our staff spread across our office network who wholeheartedly contributed to this amazing donation. In Jersey, the money will contribute towards both the amazing work that Autism Jersey does in the Island and the Charity’s new purpose-built centre at St. Saviour, which will be specifically designed to help those living with autism in Jersey.

“It is one thing to raise funds for a cause and another to do so steadily over a three year period which shows real commitment and passion among our staff to support our local community. We wish Autism Jersey all the best in its ongoing work and I am glad to remain involved in a personal capacity as a Trustee.”

The Chairman of Autism Jersey, Nick Winsor said: “It is no mean feat to engage a staff as big as JT’s in fundraising and yet they have continued to show us consistent support over the last three years. We are hugely grateful for the donation and for all the additional backing JT and its staff have offered our charity.”

In parallel with this announcement, JT has confirmed that for 2015 its chosen charity will be Cancer Research, which was chosen by its staff through a process of consultation and voting. JT has a set a group-wide target to raise £20,000 for the charities in 2015.

Click here to visit our Charity section for more information about Autism Jersey and other local charities.