Mike Graham, general manager of the Bosdet Foundation, said they had also received applications for money to be spent away from the Island, including on international projects.
The foundation, which owns Les Ormes Sport and Activity Resort and gives its profits (after costs) to Jersey charities on an annual basis, said that ‘well over 50 per cent’ of applications had not been appropriate.
The aim of the Bosdet Foundation is to support the people of Jersey by providing individual grants and support for registered charities in the following areas:
- Education (including childcare, schooling, further education and apprenticeships).
- Health and social support.
- Infrastructure development for the good of the Island.
- Emergency support (ten per cent of its annual funds are reserved to help individuals or families in direct need).
- Support of small and medium-sized charities with projects focused on making a real difference to peoples live
He said: ‘We are being very careful about analysing the applications and we always ask for a charity’s financial accounts before we give out grants.
‘We really want to make sure the money goes to those who really need it and that it goes to the frontline.
‘There are some cases where facilities have to be done up, like Women’s Aid, which we are happy to help, but we are not keen to pay for offices to be renovated or for a charity’s marketing officer’s wage.
‘We also get applications from charities which already have a lot of money.
‘There is a significant issue in terms of how charities are running, and there needs to be a total review of how it is done.
‘We don’t think some of them are being run efficiently.
‘They do fantastic work in Jersey, but some overlap and are competing with each other.
‘We also have a huge amount of charities in Jersey and this needs to be rationalised.
‘In business, companies often merge and charities in Jersey should be amalgamated in certain circumstances.’
Mr Graham said the Chief Minister’s office should look into charities in the Island.
- Funding is allocated on an annual basis.
- To be eligible, applicants must identify a specific organisation development and have a clear plan of what they hope to achieve.
- They must work in one of the areas listed in the foundations purpose (education, health and social support, infrastructure development for the good of the Island and emergency assistance).
- Applicants must be registered with the Association of Jersey Charities and be able to show how the funds will be used.
- Bosdet cannot support charities whose primary purpose is to give to other organisations, animal charities, and charities working outside Jersey.
- This year there is £300,000 in the pot and applications had to be received by Thursday 30 April.
Another charitable fund which distributes up to £750,000 a year from the Jersey share of the Channel Islands lottery is also experiencing an increase in applications.
Lyn Winton, administrator for the Association of Jersey Charities, said: ‘We used to get ten or 12 applications per quarter from members for grants but now we are getting up to 22.
‘Charities are getting bigger and are taking on more work. Some charities get a States grant but they are not completely funded by the States.’
She said that, as well as an increase in the number of charities, there is also an increasing ‘professionalising’ of charities, with many employing part-time administrators/co-ordinators and applying for funds to cover wages.
Mrs Winton said: ‘Nearly all the schools have PTAs coming to us for funding, as well as parish youth clubs.
‘We get a lot of applications for minibuses and for property which needs maintaining.
‘We are very strict with giving out grants.
‘If they are going in for a refurbishment we have to ensure the building is not being done up to be sold on.’
Projects which have received support in the past include the following:
Jersey Marine Lake
The Bosdet Foundation was instrumental in the reopening of the Marine Lake at West Park last year. The foundation has committed to operating the lake with an annual net subsidy of £50,000 a year for five years. It wants people from all sectors of the community to take advantage of the facility and aims to host events at the site with the parish of St Helier.
Maison St Brelade
One of the foundation’s major projects over the years, Maison St Brelade care home has received £500,000 from Bosdet over five years. The money has been spent redeveloping the parish residential home, and its 50 residents now have more comfortable living facilities, including en-suite bedrooms. Improving the lives of Jersey’s oldest residents is a key aim for the foundation in the hope that they can both inspire and teach the Island’s younger residents.
Palliative care
Bosdet agreed to contribute £25,000 for two years towards the salary of a palliative care physician for the Island after concerns had been raised in the medical community about the lack of standardised palliative care in Jersey. The funding enabled a joint project between Health and Jersey Hospice Care to get off the ground and as a result, more patients are now receiving palliative care out of the hospital environment, either at home or at Jersey Hospice.
Aquatic Rescue Club
The foundation provided funds to pay for a much-needed rescue boat to assist the Jersey Aquatic Rescue Club, giving it vital safety cover for community events. Five swimmers in distress have already been rescued using the boat.
Student loans
In 2010 the foundation announced it would be giving away £100,000 in interest free student loans. The money was part of its £250,000 charity budget for 2011 and provided a maximum of £5,000 for each year of study, paid back over five years once the individual had started work. Some of those loans are still being paid today as the courses are ongoing. Having left school at a young age, George Bisson valued education greatly and helping others to study was always one of the key aims of the foundation.
Employment Trust
The Bosdet Foundation is currently supporting the Jersey Employment Trust with its alternative learning programme, which engages with young people who are not able to achieve their full potential through normal academic routes. It offers the Trust its facilities at Les Ormes and the support of its staff.
Born and raised in the Les Quennevais area, he was committed to his home parish of St Brelade.
He had five brothers and two sisters and was sent to live in the UK during the Occupation.
His father was a property developer.
After the end of the war, having left school at the age of 12, George returned to Jersey and became a builder. In fact, many of the houses in the Les Quennevais area can be connected to him. He would develop houses on a piece of land and sell most of them, keeping two or three to build his own property portfolio.
Among the land he owned was the then Les Quennevais Campsite, which he chose as the site for Les Ormes, initially because he had a vision for a golf course which he thought might become quite profitable in the future.
According to those who knew him, despite his wealth Mr Bisson lived a frugal lifestyle right up until the end.
He was known as a hard taskmaster and a tough businessman, but was particularly keen on supporting the elderly and the Island’s young.
