The Bosdet Foundation was established by the late George Bisson in 1989, and over the years it has given out hundreds of thousands of pounds to Jersey causes.
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 lives.
The organisation runs Les Ormes in St Brelade and invests all its profits back into the sport and leisure site or donates them to charities.
And thanks to major developments at Les Ormes in recent years, particularly the expansion of its self-catering offering, it is now in a position to give out more money than ever.
About £300,000 is available in grants for this year, and that figure is expected to continue to increase annually. Groups and individuals are now being invited to apply for this year’s funding.
Their work must fit into one of the following areas: education; health and social support; infrastructure development for the good of the Island; and emergency support for families and individuals in need.
Mike Graham, the foundation’s general manager, said that anyone interested in finding out more should get in touch. ‘The approach this year has been quite open over who can apply, although in future years it may be more targeted,’ he said.
‘Bosdet has always tried to support groups who are not so much in the spotlight or who don’t have great support. It is important to remember that we can only support causes within the Island, and people who have been resident here for five years, and we only support people, not animals.’
He added: ‘We really want to help local people and charitable groups make people’s lives better.’
- 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 must be received by Thursday 30 April. Successful applicants will be informed by 30 June.
- Emergency support will be reviewed as applications are made and funds distributed as required.
- Application forms and more details are available here or by contacting Mike Graham on mike@lesormesjersey.co.uk or 497002.
The foundation has increased the amount it can give away after expanding its self-catering accommodation to 68 units with 142 bedrooms – a long-term asset it is hoped will continue to generate more money to give away in future years.
‘We would hope that the amount we give away will grow in the coming years, but an important aspect for us is long-term continuity of giving,’ said Mr Graham. ‘In 50 years the Bosdet Foundation will still be supporting our local community.’
Charities have until 30 April to apply for funding, and the successful applicants will be informed by 30 June. Emergency funding applications can be made at any time and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- The site includes 68 self-catering units with 142 bedrooms, seven two-bedroom staff flats and nine residential houses.
- Also included in the property portfolio are a number of concessions based at Les Ormes.
- These include the Creepy Valley High Rope Adventure Centre, Jersey Sports Injury Clinic, the Golf Pro Shop and Indoor Driving Range, Lacerta Bar and Restaurant, Bonita Hair Salon and Le Mourier Swim School.
- The sports facilities include a nine-hole golf course, three indoor football pitches, four netball and tennis courts and a gym.
- The facilities are also used for corporate events, schools activities and a range of childrens parties.
- In recent years Les Ormes has organised activities at other locations including climbing, abseiling and coasteering.
- All the money generated by Les Ormes is reinvested in the business or given away to charity, as per its founders wishes.
Background: How The Bosdet Foundation makes its money and who benefits
NEWCOMERS to Les Ormes in St Brelade could be forgiven for thinking that they are frequenting an exclusive country club where costly memberships and forbidding standards rule.
But with its good looks and expertly manicured lawns, the sport and leisure facility where hundreds of Islanders go each week to play five-a-side football, netball, tennis, golf and countless other sports is no such place. Rather, it is open to all, a facility for the community of all ages, backgrounds and interests.
- 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 Islands young.
And coupled with its self-catering accommodation which attracts tourists and locals needing a temporary place to stay, it is all part of a much bigger initiative to support the wider Island community.
It is run by the Bosdet Foundation and all profits from the facility are either ploughed back into Les Ormes or donated to local causes and projects.
Over the years Bosdet, which recently reviewed its long-term charitable strategy, has given away millions of pounds. And thanks to major investments in its self-catering offering and a renewed focus on turning the site into Jersey’s own version of Center Parcs, its annual charity budget is on the rise.
This year the foundation, which was set up by the late George Bisson to provide assistance to local people, has £300,000 to give away – the most it has ever donated in a single year. And as the popularity of the venue, its offerings and the professional way in which it is run continues to rise, that figure is only expected to increase.
Its trustees are now hoping to raise awareness of the foundation’s work and Les Ormes’ unique place in Jersey society and encourage worthwhile causes to get in touch.
‘The aim in the long term is to make sure that 50 years from now Bosdet will still be giving, because it has this asset base,’ said general manager Mike Graham, motioning to Les Ormes’ self-catering accommodation around him, which has grown to 68 units, including a number of impressive three-bedroom villas overlooking the golf course.
Mr Graham has been involved with the organisation for 15 years and fondly recalls his weekly visits with its founder, Mr Bisson, up until his death in his 90s in 2002.
Chairman Peter Bertram, meanwhile, has been involved since the foundation was first established, on 13 January 1989. Both men were friends with Mr Bisson and are passionate that Bosdet continues to be run as he would have wished. And all decisions about where its money is spent are made with his original wishes for the organisation in mind.
‘The aim is to get the most out of the site for us and also for the community,’ said Mr Graham. ‘We want to help people in need in Jersey and to develop Les Ormes for people’s leisure.’
Initially the foundation focused on helping the needy and deserving of St Brelade, but its remit has been extended to include the whole Island. ‘It’s George’s wishes we are respecting, and it’s his money,’ said Mr Graham.
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.
