Brightly: What We Do & Who We Support

Wednesday 03 August 2022

Brightly: What We Do & Who We Support

MEDIA RELEASE: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not Bailiwick Express, and the text is reproduced exactly as supplied to us

Brightly is a small, independent Jersey charity that awards grants to children and young people from new-born to 25 years who are being supported by the Children’s Service.

This includes those who:-

are living in residential care, foster care, or with extended family (LAC),
have been in care (care experienced),
acknowledged as being on the edge of care, being on the Child Protection Register, or being identified as a child in need (CIN).

Our Support

Our support is intended to create positive experiences and opportunities for children and young people to improve their daily lives with the aim of helping families/individuals move towards independence. The charity does not support applications for goods or services that are included in grants or benefits readily available from the Government of Jersey.

Our support makes a real difference to the life experiences of children and young people who are in need. There are also less obvious but equally important benefits that result from our work, such as greater social inclusion, financial independence, personal growth and development, and less reliance on benefit systems.

Brightly offers wide-ranging support including:

For children in residential or foster care (LAC) and care-experienced young people (over and above statutory funding, which should be investigated before applying to Brightly)	For Children on the edge of care, on the Child Protection Register or a Child in Need (CIN)
Financial or material help to encourage and assist with independence e.g., driving lessons, household items	Financial or material help and guidance to purchase pre-loved (where possible and practicable) household items.
Well-being e.g., doctor, dentist, optician costs, gym membership, etc	Wellbeing – support with medical costs not included in income support allowances.
Education / further education or employment e.g., educational courses, work clothing, laptop/computer, and educational items such as a camera for a photography course	Education – for items, including school trips, where the lack of funding puts a child at a disadvantage.
Crisis funding – food or fuel vouchers	Crisis funding – food or fuel vouchers
Independent moving on grants (IMOGs)	N/a
Support for children of care experienced young people e.g., nursery placement, medical bills, essential clothing.	Nursery placements - support for 10-12 hours per week at nursery may be possible, but this support is limited, and all other funding avenues need to have been previously explored before making an application.
Memberships/vouchers for leisure activities, e.g., aMaizin! Adventure Park, Durrell, etc	Memberships/vouchers for leisure activities, e.g., aMaizin! Adventure Park, Durrell, etc
18^th& 21^st birthday vouchers	Birthday gift or voucher
Items or goods not provided by the Government of Jersey as the Corporate Parent (e.g., laptop/computer, off-island trip) to children and young people in residential care (including those placed off-island).	N/a
Christmas gifts (vouchers)

For families in receipt of Income Support, an ‘Authority to Disclose’ form will need to be completed and submitted with the application.

When making an application please ensure that the family or young person is in full agreement with sharing what is written.

Do include sufficient information for the Board to make a decision, but please do not include highly sensitive information unless necessary.

The charity will not support applications for goods or services that are included in grants or benefits from the Government of Jersey.

Second-hand items

Brightly has an agreement with the Cry charity shop in New Street, St Helier, where good second-hand items can be sourced. It is vital that the person making the application is prepared to liaise between Brightly, the Cry shop, and the family in a timely manner.