Connect Me: connecting our communities grant scheme

The Connect Me: connecting our communities grant scheme is an initiative to provide opportunities for Jersey residents to take part in cultural and physical activities.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects which will increase opportunities for Islanders to participate in artistic or physical activities.

The scheme aims to engage Islanders in community activities to: 

• promote a sense of connection
• prevent loneliness
• enhance both physical health and overall wellbeing​
  

Criteria

We have kept the application criteria as open as possible to receive a wide range of creative project proposals.

An independent panel will assess applications and award projects which deliver the greatest benefits across the scheme’s 4 aims. 

The aims are to:

1. ​​engage a large cross section of the Jersey community in arts or physical activity aimed at enhancing sustainable wellbeing over the next 2 years
2. increase participation in the arts or physical activity across the Island
3. stimulate the creative economy by providing coordinated work for creatives and arts practitioners​
4. provide a means for Government to progress towards the delivery of the strategic objectives outlined in the:​

• ​​Common Strategic Policy, Government Plan Proposed Common Strategic Policy 2023 to 2026
  
• Arts Strategy Arts Strategy
  
• Heritage Strategy Heritage Strategy
  
• Inspiring an Active Jersey Strategy​
  

Projects funded by the grant scheme

Connect Me: Connecting our Communities has supported 151 projects created by 95 organisations which have benefitted 35,681 Islanders. These projects include:  

• ​Age Concern Jersey: New activity space (Watch the project video on YouTube) 
• Connect Me Video on YouTube 
• CYPES: Jersey Youth Choir
• Dreaming Trees: Immersive Bracelets  
• Jersey Youth Service: My Time for Young Carers
  
• La Moye Prison: Releasing Better Neighbours on YouTube​
  
• Macmillan Jersey: Allotment project
• Padel for All: School padel program 2023 (Watch the project video on YouTube)
• Skate Space: St Ouen's Methodist Church skatepark   
• St Andrew's Anglican Church: Keroucac Adventures on YouTube
• The Jersey Employment Trust: Communi-tree 
• The Jersey Squash Association: Squash and racketball community outreach programme
• The Shelter Trust: Walking Football on YouTube​
• The Sustainable Cooperative: The Community Fermentation Club 
• Community Connectors​  

Find out about the Elemental service

Elemental is an online social prescribing platform that allows healthcare professionals to refer patients to community programs and servic​es that can help them improve their health and wellbeing. 

Islanders have the flexibility to self-refer or seek assistance from a link worker. Elemental showcases a diverse range of charities and services which also includes organisations that have received funding from the Connect Me scheme to deliver community-based activities.​

Contact

For further information or if you have any questions, email connectme@gov.je.