02 July 2019
Jersey’s Children’s Minister has announced plans to hold the first annual Children’s Day on 3 July 2020, as part of the Government’s response to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.
Tomorrow, 3 July, marks two years since the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI) panel presented its report into the abuse of children in the island’s care system. One of the eight recommendations was that Jersey should find a way to acknowledge the children and young people who were failed by the island’s child care system.
An independent Citizens Panel was commissioned in 2018 to develop preferred options for a memorial, which will ensure survivors can be respected and honoured in decades to come. The Panel recommended a four-part legacy which included using this date in July as a way of both remembering the past and looking forward to the future.
In the States this morning [Tuesday, 2 July], Senator Sam Mézec praised the work of the Citizens Panel, who have been working alongside the Government of Jersey since last summer, and has invited young people to enter a competition to help design the emblem for Jersey Children’s Day.
Senator Mézec said: “In 2018, survivors who were failed by Jersey’s child care system and randomly selected members of the public were invited to help develop recommendations for a memorial. The creation of a memorial was recommended by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry as a way for Jersey to acknowledge the realities of the past and speak to the future aspirations of the island for its looked-after children.
“I would like to publicly thank each of the members of the Citizens Panel for their hard work and commitment working alongside the Government of Jersey on the Legacy Project with such passion and personal insight and for their thought-provoking ideas, which include establishing an annual Jersey Children’s Day, which I fully support.”
Jersey Children’s Day and the emblem are two elements of the four-part legacy recommended by the Citizens Panel, alongside the creation of a permanent memorial and a package of help and support for survivors and their families.
A statement from the Citizens Panel said: “The Citizens Panel are proud to be working with the Government of Jersey on the Legacy Project and their priority to put children first. This competition will enable children and young people across the island to be involved in designing the emblem. The winning design will become the symbol which links all four elements of the Legacy Project.”
A competition has been opened today to all children and young people under 19 who are of secondary school age to design a recognisable symbol or logo which represents the aims of Children’s Day.
The emblem designs should be related to a butterfly or butterflies and communicate ideas related to:
- the importance of recognising every child and young person’s full potential
- feeling safe and being able to express yourself
- enjoying life to the full
- learning to cope with change
- feeling supported to try new things and succeed
- a good sense of freedom.
The winner will be awarded a £200 voucher and invited to work with a professional graphic designer to see their winning idea developed into the emblem for Jersey Children’s Day and the other elements of the legacy project recommended by the Citizens' Panel.
The competition runs until 31 July 2019 and the winning design is expected to be announced in the autumn.
More details about the competition
Minister's Speech
gov.je