Celebrating 50 years of empowering Islanders with learning disabilities

1975 was a momentous year for people with learning disabilities and for Jersey. Then known as Maison Variety, Jersey’s first residential home for people with learning disabilities such as Downs Syndrome and Autism opened its doors at Five Oaks. Fighting stigma, ignorance and some resistance, those behind what became Les Amis set the course for what the organisation does today. As the charity marks its 50^th birthday, Managing Director Shaun Findlay reflects on the debt we owe those that started it all those years ago:

'We have made massive progress since 1975 when a group of people came together and decided that Jersey needed to do better in the way it treated its fellow islanders. They were following in the footsteps of the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children which changed the way in which people with Downs Syndrome and other learning disabilities were supported in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Later becoming Mencap, it opened its first short-stay residential home in 1955, paving the way for Maison Variety to open Jersey’s own centre and home at Five Oaks which is still our HQ and main residential home.

This island owes a huge debt of gratitude to those people and all of those who’ve since given their time, energy and skills to help Les Amis grow. We now support around 100 islanders with learning disabilities, we have nine residential homes, provide domiciliary care, respite care, we have a sustainable social enterprise, we are an Investor in People Gold employer, and we have a thriving social club which our residents and members love.'

Your memories of Les Amis

'As we mark our first half century, we have been looking through the archives and we’ve found these fantastic photos of Lord Mountbatten opening Maison Variety alongside island dignitaries including Sir Billy Butlin. The building has changed quite a lot since then, but we’re hoping to contact those that were there that day and with that in mind, we want your memories of Les Amis and to hear about your involvement so that we can capture those moments too.

What’s been remarkable about our story has been the support from three individuals who have or are still serving as active members of our Board of Trustees over the last four decades. Stewart Mourant MBE had the foresight to set up an operating company to run alongside the charity so that we were better placed to meet the changing nature of social care. Paul Routier MBE, who joined our predecessor organisation Maison Variety in 1985 and went on to become Chair of Les Amis, shares the same vision for the future of the charity and the services it provides as Leslie Norman MBE, another Chair and Trustee. Those three have done so much to help to steer the charity towards progress and successful outcomes for our service users and residents.

As we have aimed to always improve the quality of life and wellbeing for individuals with learning disabilities, we have promoted independence, dignity and a sense of community. Ingrained in our values is our deep sense of community presence, encouraging those we support to participate and contribute to their community as valued members of society. They do that by having jobs and attending social events and activities. Without the support of the community, none of that would be possible and that’s why we are so grateful for the huge support we receive.'

If you would like to support Les Amis this year, please get in touch via pr.fundraising@lesamis.org.je or call 01534 850600

Courtesy of the JEP Collection held at Jersey Archive.