04 February 2020
Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex will be visiting Jersey on March 24. The Countess will visit the NSPCC, EYECAN, and the William Knott Child Development and Therapy Centre at Overdale, as part of her work to highlight the services provided to vulnerable children.
NSPCC
The Countess is the NSPCC’s Royal Patron and will learn about the charity’s work in Jersey by visiting the Gower Centre on Stopford Road, where it supports expectant parents, children, young people, and their families, when they need it most.
The Countess has been invited to:
- celebrate a combined 60+ years of volunteering/fundraising by members of the NSPCC Jersey Fundraising Committee
- celebrate seven years of NSPCC Jersey services at The Gower Centre; to recognise staff, meet service users and extend gratitude to major donor Philip Gower, who gave the building to the charity
- raise awareness about the services provided in Jersey and to inspire and engage both existing and new supporters with the important work of the NSPCC
Service Centre Manager at NSPCC Jersey, Jacky Moon, says: “We are thrilled to welcome our charity’s Royal Patron HRH Countess of Wessex to the Gower Centre to meet the volunteers, staff and supporters who make the crucial work we do possible.
“The Countess will help us thank them and our fundraisers, who raise money that enables us to offer direct services and free safeguarding assemblies in Jersey primary schools.
“NSPCC Jersey supports children who have been sexually abused to rebuild their lives, and helps expectant parents to manage anxieties. The Countess will hear from Islanders who benefit from these direct services during her visit.”
EYECAN
Her Royal Highness will also visit EYECAN’s Westlea Centre in St Martin, to meet staff, volunteers and members of the social club who meet twice a week for lunch and a range of activities. The Countess will also meet members of the arts and crafts club, who learn techniques like mosaics, acrylic and watercolour painting, and members of the gardening club, who grow crops that are used in the Westlea kitchen.
EYECAN’s Operations Director, Jane Vincent, said: “We’re very excited to be welcoming Her Royal Highness to EYECAN. We empower and support sight-impaired Islanders and we look forward to demonstrating the work we do.”
Child Development and Therapy Centre
The third service to be visited by the royal party is the William Knott Child Development and Therapy Centre at Overdale. The centre, which provides a range of services for children including Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Family Care Coordination and Community Short Breaks, was opened in October 2018 after comprehensive refurbishment. There are currently more than 1,000 children being supported by the services based in the Centre.
The Minister for Children and Housing, Senator Sam Mézec, said: “This purpose-built facility provides many services under one roof in a child-friendly environment. It puts children with complex needs at the centre of the services they need to help them reach their potential, and I’m pleased that the important work done by staff here is recognised as an integral part of our aim of putting children first.”
The Countess of Wessex is Patron of more than 70 charities and organisations. Each year, Her Royal Highness undertakes hundreds of visits to schools, universities, military bases and charity headquarters to learn more about their work, and to highlight the services provided by these organisations to the wider world.
Her Royal Highness has a strong personal interest in provision for people with disabilities and embracing opportunities for young people, championing local initiatives as well as national charities like the NSPCC.
Background
NSPCC services in Jersey
Letting The Future In (LTFI)
A therapeutic service for children and young people aged 4 to 17, who have been affected by sexual abuse. This service is designed to work with children, young people and the safe parent and / or carer.
Pregnancy in Mind (PiM)
Support for parents-to-be who are at risk of, or experiencing, mild to moderate anxiety and depression. The programme aims to minimise the impact of anxiety and depression on parents, to support them in building a positive relationship with their unborn babies.
EYECAN Jersey
Westlea Centre is EYECAN’s purpose built accessible centre for Islanders in Jersey with sight impairment based in the heart of St Martin.
William Knott Child Development and Therapy Centre
gov.je