Following the closure of Jersey Recovery College, charity bosses have warned that “lives could be lost” if the third sector does not receive further Government support.
Robert Surcouf, vice-chairman of the Jersey Charities Association, said the charity sector had made a “tremendous effort” when it came to mental health support on the island.
Jersey Recovery College, which provided education and training to Islanders with mental health problems, decided to close with immediate effect on Monday citing rising costs and falling donations, with 10 staff losing their jobs and around 50 volunteers affected.
The news comes after two other nonprofits this week highlighted the financial difficulties they are facing.
Mr Surcouf said: “We have heard comments from the government about challenges around service delivery and budget constraints in the area of mental health, but this is not an issue that can be swept under the rug as it affects people’s lives, their families, their productivity and the future of us all, particularly in an ageing population.”
“The charity sector has been shouldering a lot of the heavy lifting so far, but without material support services will be short-lived and pressures on the health service will increase. Sadly, if action is not taken urgently, the real cost could be loss of life – a price that is far too high.”
Health Minister Tom Binay said he was sad to hear of JRC’s demise, adding that the ministry had been working closely with the charity in recent months to provide additional support.
Deputy Commissioner Binet said the Department of Health and Community Services was “considering alternative delivery of the services provided by the Recovery College on behalf of the Department of Health and Community Services as soon as possible to ensure Islanders continue to have access to adequate mental health support.”
Surcouf said the closure of the JRC was a “real tragedy” for the island’s mental health support network.
In a statement, he called on the government to recognise the “vital role” charities play in supporting their communities and to provide them with the funding and resources they need to continue their work.
He added: “The awareness raising and training provided by the JRC has saved lives and kept families together. The loss of this work and the personal support and training will undoubtedly increase demand for other great charities working in the area.”
Mr Surcouf’s comments came after a Freedom of Information Act response published earlier this year revealed that Government grant funding to the JRC had been cut from £184,887 in 2019 to £99,336 in 2024.
Surcouf said the past five years had been “very tough” for the third sector, with many organisations still trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic. He also said potential donors had less disposable income.
Another FOI response highlighted how donations to charities in Jersey had plummeted by 33% from £16.8m in 2021 to £11.2m in 2023.
All Matters Neurodiverse Jersey, a charity that aims to promote understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity, has announced it will close its community hub at the end of September because the building it rents is up for sale and it is “unable to secure the lease on an alternative property due to an unavailability of funding”.
The charity added: “We know how much this safe space has meant to our community and will work hard to find a new solution, which means we will have to suspend some services for the time being.”
Meanwhile, the Butterfly Cafe, a non-profit organisation which provides employment opportunities and on-the-job training to hundreds of abused islanders, appealed for funding this week, saying rising costs are putting “everything we have built and achieved at risk”.
The cafe’s founder and CEO, Cheyenne O’Connor, said they were in discussions with the government about financial assistance.
Crowdfunding has started (justgiving.com/crowdfunding/shelley-hollis-1?), and is urging islanders to contact them directly at [email protected].
