Charities focused on conservation, supporting children and families, and promoting the development of young people were amongst the winners of the 2021 Jersey Charity Awards, announced at a virtual ceremony yesterday (12th September).
Organised by the Association of Jersey Charities (AJC) in its milestone 50th anniversary year, the Awards recognise outstanding achievement, professionalism and excellence amongst organisations and individuals in Jersey’s charity sector.
Nominations for the Awards were judged rigorously by the judges – Paul Routier MBE, Charles Humpleby, Liz Le Poidevin and Jane Galloway – with the winners of each of the ‘Small’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Large’ charity categories, who each received a prize of £5,000, and two runners up being announced at the ceremony.
In addition, two special awards were also presented this year. A ‘50th Anniversary Commendation Award’ recognised a particularly noteworthy collaboration or a response to the climate emergency, whilst an ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ was presented to an individual who has made a significant impact in the community. The winners were:
Outstanding Achievement for a Small Charity
- Winner: Jersey Sea Cadets
- 2nd: Jersey Marine Conservation Society
- 3rd: Jersey Biodiversity Centre
Outstanding Achievement for a Medium Charity
- Winner: Jersey Child Care Trust
- 2nd: Caring Cooks of Jersey
- 3rd: St John Ambulance
Outstanding Achievement for a Large Charity
- Winner: Durrell
- 2nd: Jersey Heritage Trust
- 3rd: Jersey Employment Trust
50 th Anniversary Commendation Award
- Jersey Marine Conservation Society
Outstanding Contribution Award
- Jackie de Almeida, Maufant Youth Club
Hosted by BBC Radio Jersey presenter Ashlea Tracey, the event, which nominees watched whilst enjoying a freshly delivered afternoon tea from Beresford Street Kitchen, also featured a range of musical entertainment.
First established ten years ago and held every two years, the 2021 Awards were supported by the Ana Leaf Foundation and Jersey Finance, who have partnered with the AJC this year as part of its own celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the island’s finance industry.
Chairman of the Association of Jersey Charities, Kevin Keen, said: “The last two years have been unprecedented in terms of the demands put on charities. What came out clearly from the nominations for our Awards this year is that Jersey is fortunate to have a network of charities that are so focused on supporting different areas of the community and that are willing and able to innovate to deliver their services.”
“Our winners are very worthy indeed – they have shown professionalism, leadership and a real understanding of how to adapt in a challenging world. At the same time, it is fantastic to see charities large and small not only surviving but thriving as they continue to add real value to our island.”
