08 June 2022
More than 300 children, young people and their families have shared their views on how Jersey should celebrate its first public event for Children's Day on Sunday, 3 July.
The Government, in partnership with an independent survivors' steering group, launched a survey to hear how children and young people wanted to celebrate Jersey's Children's Day this year.
A total of 332 people took part in the survey, with 111 votes for Howard Davis Park, 109 for Coronation Park and 21 for Millennium Town Park. The total votes for all three parks were 148.
As a result of this feedback, two family events will be held on Jersey Children's Day on Sunday, 3 July. An event for younger families will be held at Millbrook Park from 9.30am to 12pm and another event, with live music from Jersey Youth Arts, will be held at Howard Davis Park from 2pm to 6pm.
Jersey Heritage have also offered to support the day by providing free entry to children to all of their sites on 3 July, Jersey Children's Day. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Children's Day was launched as a result of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, which recommended that Jersey should find a way to acknowledge the children and young people who were failed by the Island's child care system.
Following the Inquiry, an independent Citizens Panel recommended holding Children's Day on 3 July as an opportunity to remember Jersey's past, celebrate childhood and to look forward to the future.
Rob Sainsbury, Acting Director General for Children, Young People, Education and Skills, 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."
Cheyenne O' Connor, of the Independent Survivors' Steering Group, said: "The steering group are 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 on."
The Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) is again working with Art House Jersey on a project in all primary and secondary schools, which will be unveiled on Children's Day. They will be assisted by Woodshack, at Jersey Employment Trust.
Every school in the Island has been invited to create a totem artwork. Children and young people will create a triangular design with the three points on the triangle representing the child, their home and their community. These will join together to create a large totem sculpture for each school and will form an exhibition that will be part of Children's Day.
The butterfly emblem for Children's Day was designed by Jodie Perkins, a Haute Vallée School student, which represents the importance that we must all place on ensuring that every child in Jersey can grow up safely, enjoy their rights and reach their full potential.
The Curriculum Council have agreed that age-appropriate information will be included in the school's curriculum to ensure all children and young people understand the role of the Jersey Children's Commissioner and how this emerged from the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry. For older students in Key Stage 3 and above will learn about The History of the Care System.
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