POLITICIANS will be held “firmly” to a pre-election pledge to support the charitable sector – after 38 Members of the 49-strong States Assembly signed it.
The Association of Jersey Charities described the sign-up figure as “a foundation for advocacy that the sector has never had before”, following its efforts to get candidates to make the commitment ahead of June’s election.
The update was included in the Association’s most recent Annual Report and Impact Review, which noted its campaign inviting candidates to sign a pledge to “recognise the vital role charities play in Jersey and commit to strengthening partnership between government and the charitable sector”.
Of the 49 Members elected, 38 had committed to the pledge, while four indicated that they broadly supported it but had chosen not to sign election pledges, two indicated partial support and five did not respond.
The report stated: “Jersey’s new Assembly begins its term with a public, personal commitment from more than three-quarters of its Members to strengthen partnership with the charity sector – a foundation for advocacy that the sector has never had before.”
Writing in the document’s foreword, AJC chair Robert Surcouf said that the new
Assembly “begins its term with a majority commitment to partnership with our sector”.
“We intend to hold it warmly – but firmly – to that promise.”
The pledge was launched alongside a set of “practical asks” that the AJC wanted candidates to consider supporting, including “providing stable, multi-year funding for essential services” and “consulting charities early in policies affecting the communities they serve”.
Speaking to the JEP, AJC chief executive Marcus Liddiard contended that the response to the campaign was one of the “positive signs” that the Assembly “is wanting to value charities more”.
He also noted that a Jersey Charity Sector Exposition event due to take place at the Royal Jersey Showground on 11 September would provide opportunities for States Members, as well as senior civil servants and high-value residents, to meet charities and hear from the sector.
