The Chief Minister and Minister for External Relations have made the first of three annual allocations of £1.5 million from the Jersey Reclaim Fund which will be distributed to local charitable and voluntary organisations.
In October last year the Ministers announced their intention to provide a three-year funding package of at least £4.5m for 2025 – 2027 to provide sustained support to charities and voluntary organisations.
Established in 2017, the Jersey Reclaim Fund is administered by the government and consists of balances in dormant bank accounts in Jersey where contact has been lost with the customer for more than 15 years.
The funds will be allocated by the Jersey Community Foundation (JCF). In addition to supporting the community, charities can apply to use part of their grants to sustain or strengthen the resilience and sustainability of their organisation.
The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, who has responsibility for financial services, said: “This allocation from the Jersey Reclaim Fund marks the beginning of a new phase of long-term support for our charitable and voluntary sector. By providing funding over the next three years, we are giving organisations the certainty they need to plan ahead, and also to invest in their own resilience in order to serve our Island community. I’d like to thank Jersey’s financial institutions for continuing to work with the Fund, and the Jersey Community Foundation for their crucial role in making sure these grants reach the organisations and recipients that need them most.”
The 2025 funding will be allocated over two grant rounds, and decisions on the first round of funding have been approved, with successful applicants to be notified this week. A second round of funding will take place in the autumn. The wide range of applications received from diverse organisations highlights both the vital work of Jersey’s charitable sector and the clear need for this funding at this time.
Anna Terry (pictured), CEO of the Jersey Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that the Government of Jersey has not only allocated £1.5 million from dormant bank accounts to the Jersey Community Foundation this year, but also committed to a three-year partnership. This long-term support enables us to offer multi-year grants, giving charitable organisations the stability they need to plan and deliver lasting impact. We’re incredibly grateful for the government’s trust in us to manage and distribute these funds, and we look forward to continuing to support the vital work being done across the Island.”
