Children's charity report highlights impact of pandemic on children

Sunday 05 March 2023

The impact of the pandemic is still being felt by some of the youngest members of the community, according to a charity that promotes high quality, affordable childcare for island families.

In its annual report for 2022, the Jersey Child Care Trust says that many of those it started supporting were born into a pandemic which has impacted significantly on their lives and development.

The charity also highlights the impact of the rising cost of living which it says has put more children in precarious circumstances.

In her introduction on JCCT’s work last year, executive director Fiona Vacher said that their rate of growth had been "astounding".

"Our dedicated team have shown agility and responsiveness, helping children when it matters most, in their first five years of life. Together, with your support and partnership, our special-needs inclusion programme, for example, has grown by 77% in the past three years," she said.

Pictured: JCCT executive director, Fiona Vacher.

In 2022, the charity raised £720,000 and helped more than 160 children through its programmes.

"[Our] annual review makes a compelling case: access to our programmes has a significant and lasting impact on children’s future lives. Their earliest experiences shape the adults they become. We have focused on working with our partners to enable access, tackle poverty and improve quality to create safer, better experiences for all children. We are data-driven and know the difference we make," Ms Vacher wrote.

The report shows that the special-needs inclusion programme supported 66 children in 22 mainstream private early years settings, compared with 53 in 18 settings the previous year, constituting an increase of almost 2,000 hours provision.

Its best-start programme, funding part-time nursery places for children in low income families who are not meeting their developmental milestones at two, helped 97 children in 15 settings.

Pictured: In 2022, the charity raised £720,000 and helped more than 160 children through its programmes.

Meanwhile, the charity connected with 59 organisations across the island offering play care, activity and social clubs, working with 19 families and their children to ensure positive experiences.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, JCCT recognised the efforts of its retiring chair Marnie Baudains, and its first patron, Lady Anne Dalton, who has since been succeeded by His Excellency Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd and his wife, Dr Karen Kyd.

Commenting on his predecessor’s contribution, current chair Phillip Callow said: "It was the quality of the organisation and its management that inspired me to volunteer and take on the responsibilities in order to help the charity’s continued development."