Ogier raises £26,000 for two local charities

Wednesday 08 June 2016

More than a year of fund raising by staff at Ogier has resulted in two local charities benefitting from more than £26,000.

Nick Cook, Julie Jouanny and Kate Falle from Barnardo’s recently received a cheque for £13,816.42 from members of Ogier’s Charity Committee.

And the Jersey Alzheimer’s Association received the same amount when Mark Blamey and Michaela Graham met Ogier staff recently.

Peter Derrick from the Ogier Charity Action Group said: “Barnardo’s and the Jersey Alzheimer’s Society both do great work supporting the Island and we are all delighted that we have managed to raise this amount of money to help them with their activities, particularly the Plan B Service and providing dementia education.”

Barnardos, the charity that works with children and young people aged 5 – 25, will use Ogier’s donation to help fund its Plan B service. In particular, the money will be used to support the work of Julie Jouanny who has been taken on to co-ordinate group work sessions for young people.

Among those sessions are four six-week life skills groups each year, resilience skills training for at least 12 young people, “Chill Out” sessions on Thursdays and Sundays which provide an informal space for young people to spend time with other young people, as well as support, advice and guidance from staff and volunteers. There are also monthly mental health and well-being workshops, practical skills sessions and activity-based groups through the year targeting 15, 16 and 17-year-olds. 

Julie from Barnardo’s in Jersey said: “This money will transform the group work we offer and it will mean we can work with even more young people and offer support when they need it most. We are very grateful to Ogier’s charity committee for all of their hard work – what a fantastic amount they have raised.”

The Jersey Alzheimer’s Association will use Ogier’s donation to go towards the cost of employing its full-time Educator, Michala Graham.

Manager Mark Blamey said: “Michala teaches in many different settings, raising awareness of dementia so that individuals, companies, healthcare workers and the population at large are better informed about dementia and show compassion towards people living with dementia and those who provide care. Her role is key to one of the charity’s primary objectives, that of creating a dementia friendly Island.” 

Jim Hollywood, Chairman of Jersey Alzheimer’s Association, added: “The money raised by Ogier has gone a long way to support the appointment of a member of staff dedicated to raising public awareness and understanding of dementia in companies, organisations and community groups throughout the Island.”