Les Amis forced to cancel all fundraising activities due to Covid-19

Due to Covid-19, Les Amis has been forced to cancel all of its fundraising activities for the immediate future, which is having a serious impact on the charity’s finances and therefore needs the support of islanders more than ever before.

Les Amis would usually be busy preparing for its various fundraising activities taking place this time of year such as the Battle of Flowers, The Island Walk, the Family Fun day and its annual VW Camper Van Raffle. However, all of these events have had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic and to ensure the health and safety of its residents and staff are protected.

With no fundraising taking place and Les Amis being deemed ineligible for the government’s Co-Funded Payroll Scheme, the charity has been relying solely on the generous donations of islanders and organisations to continue caring for its 86 residents, who require either 24-hour residential or domiciliary care.

Les Amis has incurred additional costs due to Covid-19 including in-house IT purchases to help residents stay connected with their families and friends, and recovering vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff. As well as all of these essentials, the charity requires funding to purchase various materials for residents’ activities, which help them learn new skills, such as arts and crafts and gardening.

Shaun Findlay, Managing Director of Les Amis, said: “Charities have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic and we have had to make a number of changes in order to continue operating in a way which best supports our residents and staff. Our aim to provide quality services to support people with learning disabilities and associated conditions is still our main priority during these challenging times. Having to cancel all our fundraising activities is having a major impact on our finances, which is why we need the support of islanders more than ever before to move forward and provide a quality of life to our residents. Once again, we would like to thank islanders for their ongoing support during this crisis.”

To make a donation to Les Amis, please do so via the website: https://www.lesamis.org.je/donate/