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The Chair of Jersey Cheshire Home said he is "delighted" that the Government has agree to provide additional funding to the island’s only residential facility for adults with disabilities next year.
Jersey Cheshire Home Chair Jim Copley reached an agreement with Heath Minister Tom Binet last week to ensure the "necessary additional funding" to support the charity's work during 2025, after financial challenges threatened its future.
In a joint statement, Mr Hopley and Deputy Binet said that the funding for Jersey Cheshire Home will "hopefully be achieved in a manner that avoids impacting the Health and Community Services budget for the year".
Pictured: Jersey Cheshire Home Chair Jim Copley.
The statement also confirmed that the Health Minister has pledged to establish a longer-term funding solution for charities handling the most complex medical cases, alongside Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham.
"This work is to have a target completion date of the middle of 2025, possibly the 30th June, and reflects a recognition of the importance of sustainable support for the unique needs of clients cared for by such organisations," the joint statement said.
This development comes after Deputy Inna Gardiner highlighted the financial pressures facing Jersey Cheshire Home, with operating expenses surging by 15% between 2021 and 2023 due to inflation, increased staffing costs, and maintenance expenses.
She called the Government to provide a one-off "bridging grant" of £200,000 to the charity through an amendment to the Budget, which was debated last week.
In the report accompanying her proposal, Deputy Gardiner said it would cost the Health Department as much as £9 million to deliver the services provided by the residential facility, which she said was facing "significant financial challenges".
She warned that, if Jersey Cheshire Home was unable to sustain its current level of care, more pressure would be placed on the Hospital.
However, Deputy Gardiner's amendment was ultimately withdrawn after the Health Minister pledged to provide the funding late last week.
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Politician seeks funding to ensure Jersey Cheshire Home's "survival"
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