Save Our Souls fundraising ball

On 30 November, The Jersey Lifeboat Association (JLA) is holding their first fundraising ball with the theme of ‘Save Our Souls’, but it’s not what you might think.

The event, aptly held at The Royal Yacht, has all the usual ingredients of your glitzy fundraiser; a three-course meal, live entertainment and raffle prizes, and yet the JLA wanted to add a splash of colour to this black-tie event.

The JLA wanted to create a unique event that was full of fun and celebration, so they drew inspiration from a Mexican festival for the theme. The ‘Save Our Souls’ dinner will pay homage to the Autumnal Mexican tradition that sees friends and family come together to celebrate the souls of their loved ones.

Simon O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Jersey Lifeboat Association, said “We’re really excited about hosting our first ball and hope it will become an annual event. We wanted to add a fun and colourful twist to the usual black-tie fundraiser and create an unforgettable evening which, most importantly, raises money for the JLA.”

The third sector has seen a rapid decline in donations which has forced some local charities to scale back their operations and others to close their doors completely. Fundraising is now more important than ever to keep the Island’s charitable organisations afloat and ensure that they continue to provide vital services to the people of Jersey.

Mr O’Donoghue wants to highlight the importance of providing a year-round lifeboat service to our small island community. He explained: “Our local crew’s knowledge of our waters is unsurpassed and, with a locally controlled lifeboat station and the fastest rib in the UK, we are always on hand to help Islanders who need help at sea and ultimately save lives. To ensure that we can continue and weather any storm, we need your support.”