Work Ongoing To Create Survivor-Led Support Network

Work is underway to create a 'survivors support network' for victims of institutional childhood abuse in Jersey.

One recommendation from the Citizens' Panel, following the Jersey Care Inquiry, was to provide help and support for survivors and their families.

That includes an independent service that helps them in any ongoing dealings they might have with government.

Cheyenne O'Connor from the Jersey Community Partnership is hoping to reach out to all survivors who want to have their voices heard.

"The role finishes in December, so once we've finished our role and we've spoken to everyone that we need to, we will then be passing that over and hoping to get something set up in place.

"Obviously I can't say too much at the moment, as we don't want to give false promises, but the end goal is to get a service in place that is solely survivor-run and nothing to do with government.

"There is obviously some support in the island, but there is definitely not enough for survivors specifically, so we'd like to get something in place that supports everyone's needs."

Meetings have already taken place with professionals such as Jersey Action Against Rape and Dewberry House to see what support is on offer.

Talks with around 25 survivors have already taken place on an individual basis.

The Citizen's Panel other recommendations, made in 2018, were to:

• Create a memorial to acknowledge what has happened in the past
• Hold 'Jersey Children's Day' to remember survivors and victims and give a focus on children and young people living in the island now
• Create an emblem.

Designs for a care memorial were released last year, but progress stalled after a change of Children's Minister and a protest in which some care survivors said they didn't want to be reminded of the trauma they went through.

The last update came in early March, when it was revealed that victims of abuse put forward their views to the Citizens' Panel with the aim of finding a joint solution on what to do.

A government spokesperson told Channel 103 in June that the panel continues to discuss the sensitive issues - and an update on all four main recommendations will be announced in due course.