05 July 2022
The first public Jersey Children's Day celebrations attracted thousands of children, young people, and families for a day of free entertainment, activities, sport, art, and live music on Sunday 3 July.
An estimated 2,000 children, young people and families attended the morning event at Millbrook Park, and around 4,000 attended the afternoon event in Howard Davis Park. Both events were supported by more than 50 charities, organisations, and businesses, many of whom offered their time or services free of charge.
Children and young people had input into the shape and content of the day. Hundreds of children and young people responded to a survey to identify locations for the event, and to choose the activities they wanted to take part in.
At Millbrook Park, a community art project, in collaboration with schools and ArtHouse Jersey, saw children's art transformed into dozens of individual totem poles, each one topped with the emblem of Children's Day – a butterfly.
At Howard Davis Park, Youth Arts Jersey provided four hours of live music, including a ukulele band, a Greatest Showman tribute, and jazz and rock bands.
Cheyenne O'Connor, of the Independent Survivors' Steering Group, said: "I was so incredibly proud to see so many happy faces at the first public event for Children's Day. We were amazed that so many families turned out for this event, far more than we expected.
"Children's Day may come from a dark place in our history, but that doesn't mean it can't be a day to celebrate, and to appreciate that all these children will one day be adults with their own families. This is what the day is about: our children, our future, and a collective responsibility to ensure we never leave any of them behind.
"The community really came together to support this event, and I want to thank everyone who helped us make it happen."
Rob Sainsbury, Interim Director General for Children, Young People, Education and Skills, said: "It's been a fantastic team effort by the Government of Jersey Children's Day Steering Group, who organised the event in partnership with charities, businesses and services in a very short space of time.
"We're extremely grateful for all the support, especially to all the young people from Jersey Youth Arts who gave up their time rehearsing for their spectacular performances on stage and creating a fun family-festival feel at Howard Davis Park.
"It was wonderful to see so many children, young people and families attend, relax and play freely and safely in the parks, enjoying the free activities organised by Government services and charities.
"Jersey's community spirit shone throughout in making the first public Children's Day a memorable one."
Thank you to all the exhibitors
- Centrepoint
- Jersey Childcare Trust
- Public Health Food and Nutrition
- Childcare and Early Years Service (CEYS)
- Jersey Library
- States of Jersey Police
- Every Child Our Future
- Milli's Separated Family Centre
- The Jersey Showman
- Jersey Sport
- Amuse Me Events - Lawn games
- Facepainters Ink
- Jersey Women's Refuge
- Caring Cooks
- Jersey Music Service
- Jersey Youth Service
- Flair Entertainment
- Jersey Photo Booth
- Mind Jersey
- Girlguiding
- Jersey Sea and Royal Marines Cadets
- Skills Jersey
- Jersey Cares
- States of Jersey Police
- Jersey Employment Trust (JET)
- Jersey Stormtroopers
- Youth Arts
- Hoops and Glitter
- Jersey Luxury Ice cream
- Classic Cars
- Jersey Evening Post
- St Lawrence Honorary Police
- Entertainer Toy Shop
- JMD Secure
- The Kiosk Millbrook Park
- Classic Catering
- Cannon O' Rafferty Irish School of Dance
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