£50k invested into social mobility skills for young islanders

A new fund will distribute money to organisations that offer opportunities to young people in Jersey that will help them gain skills for employment and later life.

The fund has been launched to help reduce barriers to social mobility in Jersey.

Jersey Community Foundation is offering grants of between £500 and £5,000 to schools and charities to expand access to extra-curricular education, cultural and sporting activities for young islanders. 

The money can also go towards research programmes that are working on social mobility solutions in Jersey. 

Social mobility allows individuals to move along the social and economic ladder. This can be done through education, employment, financial stability, wealth building, strong social networks, mentorship and access to opportunity.

When social mobility is high, people can improve their circumstances despite their life circumstances. 

JCF says the fund will go towards breaking down barriers of circumstance, such as high housing costs, language barriers, the expense of university, limited access to extracurricular activities and the selective education system.

The aim is that addressing these hurdles will allow more young people to reach their full potential.

Sir Mark Boleat: "I hope that we can provide greater opportunities for people that otherwise wouldn't have them."

Sir Mark Boleat led the initiative to establish the fund. He says academia is not the only thing that matters in giving young people the best start:

"The soft skills are really important  - team work, resilience, communication skills - and also having the widest possible education, not simply in the classroom but through a variety of activities outside the classroom, whether that's culture, sport or even travel.

"It's really important for a future career. The more people that can have the best possible education in the widest sense, the better it can be.

"Many parents struggle to provide everything they would like to provide. I hope that what we can do with the Social Mobility Fund is to provide greater opportunities for people that otherwise wouldn't have them." 

"For those young people that don't have the advantages that others have had, we hope the fund can help to make a difference."

The Social Mobility Fund has an initial investment of £50,000, with a further £100,000 pledged for 2026 and 2027.

It is designed to grow over time, through further contributions from those wanting to improve social mobility on the island.

 The JCF has previously supported dual-language theatre performances in schools by Every Child Our Future to support literacy skills.

Anna Terry, CEO of JCF said:

Talent and potential exist in every corner of our island, but unfortunately opportunity does not. The Social Mobility Fund is a small step towards helping people, regardless of their background, to access experiences and resources they need to succeed.

"We look forward to working with organisations that share our vision to create a more inclusive and thriving Jersey.”

Applications for grants are open until 20 May 2025 and can be for one-off projects or structured programmes lasting from one week to one year.

For more information or to apply, visit the Jersey Community Foundation  or email [email protected].