Young people leaving full-time care are the focus of this year’s Family Nursing & Home Care’s (FNHC) Christmas gift from Jersey Electricity. Between six and eight young people a year in Jersey leave care when they reach 18 years old at which point Children’s Services provides them with a Personal Adviser to help with the transition to independent adulthood.
‘Some young people may have been in care many years,’ says FNHC CEO Bronwen Whittaker, ‘so it is vital they are well supported at this critical time in their lives. The Personal Advisers are available to them up to the age of 25 to help them successfully transition on to independent adult life.
‘The advisers can help with housing, employment, further education, financial management, co-ordinate provision of further services, if required, and take steps to ensure the young person makes use of such services, keep informed about the young person’s progress and wellbeing and keep in contact as essential support.’
To aid this transition, FNHC wants to put together ‘Health Summaries’ for the youngsters with their records and a range of health-related information. FNHC’s Jane Long, who looks after children, says: ‘It’s a big jump for these young people as they have to start taking responsibility for their own health needs. Health and wellbeing might not be a priority with so many other things to cope with, so we’d like to provide them with electric toothbrushes, among other things to help with personal care, along with the “Health Summaries”.’
JE has donated funds saved by not sending corporate Christmas cards for FNHC to buy equipment for 12 years. FNHC Fundraising Manager Debbie Farley says: ‘We are always grateful for Jersey Electricity’s Christmas donation which helps provide us with much needed equipment of benefit to the community. This year, the funds will be ring-fenced to help with the health and wellbeing of these youngsters leaving care for several years to come.’
