ISLANDERS are being encouraged to join the first public events to mark Jersey Children’s Day next month.
Two get-togethers aimed at families are being held on Sunday 3 July – at Millbrook Park and Howard Davis Park – with entertainers, sports clubs and children’s charities being encouraged to attend. Jersey Heritage is also offering free entry to children at all of their sites on the day.
The events stem from a recommendation from a citizens’ panel – mainly comprising abuse survivors and created in the wake of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry – that an annual day to remember the failures of the care system in the past as well as to celebrate children’s rights be established.
The 3 July was selected as it was the date in 2017 when the inquiry panel released its report which documented decades of abuse in the Island’s care system.
The Curriculum Council – a group appointed by the Education Minister that acts as a consultee for the curriculum – have agreed that age-appropriate information will be included in lessons to help children understand the role of the children’s commissioner and how the post emerged from the inquiry. Older students in Key Stage 3 and above will be taught about the history of the care system.
Rob Sainsbury, acting director-general of the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department, said: ‘This is the first time we have been able to hold a large-scale public event since the first Children’s Day in 2020, and we are grateful to all the children, young people and families for their feedback.
‘We look forward to holding two public events on Children’s Day in the parks and we are grateful to Jersey Heritage for supporting the day by offering free entry to children, on 3 July, at all of their sites.
‘Children’s Day is a day for all Islanders to be part of, so we are inviting children’s charities, children’s entertainers, sports clubs and anyone who would like to be a supporter of Jersey Children’s Day to join us at Howard Davis Park and Millbrook Park to provide fun for children, young people and families while showcasing your work to the community.’
The Millbrook Park event is being held between 9.30am and midday and is targeted at families with young children, while the Howard Davis Park session will be held between 2pm and 6pm and will feature live music from Jersey Youth Arts.
The sites were selected following a government survey that looked at how children and young people wanted to celebrate Children’s Day.
Meanwhile, every schoolchild will be asked to create a triangular design for Children’s Day, with each point representing the child, their home and their community.
These will be joined together to create a large totem sculpture for each school and will form part of an exhibition on 3 July.
Cheyenne O’ Connor, of the Independent Survivors’ Steering Group, which helped develop the plan for the day, said: ‘The steering group is really happy to be involved in Children’s Day this year. It’s great that such a big event is being organised to celebrate children in the Island and that the recommendations of the citizens’ panel are continuing.’
