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Event showcases help for islanders

BBC Matt and Rachel look at the camera and give a thumbs up with both hands. Matt is wearing a dark red hoodie with a stormtrooper mask on the chest and Rachel has a dark blue jumper on. Matt has shaved hair and Rachel has dark hair down to her shoulders. Behind them people are standing around stalls.BBC
Matt and Rachel are helped by Jersey Mencap and say collaboration with Jersey Sport has been a big boost for them

Dozens of people attended an event in Jersey to show how charities and organisations are working together to help more people in the island.

Embrace of Difference was organised by the government to promote more collaboration between different groups.

The event was held at the Radisson Hotel and there were speeches from charities EYECAN, Jersey Mencap, and AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey.

It also focused on what could be done to make the island more inclusive.

People walk around stalls and stands in a hotel lobby, There are signs and banners up with charities displaying information on their tables.
It's hoped the event will promote greater collaboration between groups in the island to support those in need

Matt and Rachel have learning difficulties and are supported by Jersey Mencap and have been able to be more active through programmes provided by Jersey Sport.

Matt said “it feels very awesome to play sports” and “I like doing a load of stuff that I wouldn’t normally be able to do”.

Rachel said being active had helped with her confidence and added “it helps me feel like I can face more challenges”.

Jenny sits on a chair wearing a black and white stripped jumper and is sat in front of banners of the EYECAN charity. There are two chairs to her right which have coats and bags on them. Jenny has light-coloured hair and it comes down to her shoulders.
Jenny Stafford has lost almost all her vision and says work between the sight charity EYECAN and developer Andium has made a difference

The sight-loss charity, EYECAN, showed how it had worked with developer Andium Homes to make properties more accessible.

Mark Coxshall from the charity said “there was very much a can-do attitude” and “shady pavements can be quite misleading for people with sight problems”.

Jenny Stafford has lost almost all her sight and is on the committee of EYECAN.

She said “this is very important for the people living in the buildings” and “it hasn’t always been this way but this is a baby step in the right direction”.

Niamh is wearing a black and patterned shirt and has long blond hair which comes down to her chest. Penny has a white jacket over a black top on and has dark red hair which is tied into a ponytail. Behind them, people are going to stalls being run by various charities.
Niamh McDermott (left) and Penny Chapman from AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey spoke about their work with Ports of Jersey

The neurodiverse charity, AllMatters Neurodiverse Jersey, has been working with Ports of Jersey on improving service at the airport and the harbour.

Co-founders of the charity, Niamh McDermott and Penny Chapman, told those at the event how successful the collaboration had been.

Ms Chapman said “one of the best things is that Ports came to us” and “they have embraced neurodiversity and our community”.

Ms McDermott added “it is the small little things that make a big difference” and “Penny has been up to do training at the airport and the next stage is to do that training at the harbour too”.

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