2022 was a very busy year for the Rivington Fund with £66,000 awarded to help 59 Jersey residents take trips to seventeen different destinations around the world, with many embarking on memorable cultural experiences.
Destinations included Edinburgh, Texas, Aberystwyth, New York, Leeds, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Liverpool, Munich, London, Venice, Reykjavik, Berlin, Annecy, Vienna, Tokyo and Marrakesh. Islanders are now encouraged to come forward and submit their applications, with the next deadline to apply being 1 May 2023.
The Rivington Fund provides funding to Jersey residents who could not otherwise afford to travel off-Island to cultivate their passion for arts, crafts or history.
The fund first came about in 2002 when Jersey resident Mr William Charles Richmond-Pickering bequeathed a portion of his estate to the States of Jersey to enable interested Jersey residents to travel abroad in order to cultivate their passion for culture. Following significant efforts to better communicate the message of this incredible opportunity, the Rivington Fund has enabled a large number of deserving Islanders to benefit from experiences that they would otherwise not have been able to enjoy.
A relaunch took place during the first quarter of the year, which saw the introduction of the new website, featuring a clear and easy-to-use online application process embedded within it. Although the fund is managed by the Government of Jersey, the administration is supported by ArtHouse Jersey, who were able to apply their grant funding administrative principles to the process, offering support to applicants where needed and helping to ensure everyone eligible had a fair shot at being successfully awarded.
The Rivington Fund awards money to applicants four times a year, with the quarterly deadlines being 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November of each year.
Deputy Kirsten Morel, Minister for the Economy and ex-officio Trustee of The Rivington Fund, said: “We began 2022 with a very clear goal – to increase awareness of The Rivington Fund and support as many Islanders as possible to take life-changing trips that would deepen their cultural passions. As well as communicating the message to individuals, this was also about working closely with local charities whose clients could undeniably benefit from this fund. It’s been wonderful to watch testimonials roll in from around the world as Jersey people soak up these once in a lifetime opportunities, bringing home new perspectives, skills and passions. We still have a way to go to ensure that these funds are reaching those in the island who could truly benefit the most and
wholeheartedly encourage anyone who thinks they know someone who might, to refer them to our website and application process for 2023.”
