COVID-19 Recovery Strategy

About the Strategy

The step down from emergency status allows the Government of Jersey to now focus investments on COVID-19 recovery and future wellbeing. The Recovery Strategy contains a range of projects designed to start tackling the harms caused by the pandemic. This will be a focus for the Government in 2022 and future years.

We have committed to a Health and Social Recovery Fund with political oversight to invest in projects to support Islanders COVID-19 recovery. Multiple initiatives are being rolled out in the community, particularly in areas of education, health, and environment.

Early years

Providing additional support for 0 to 5 year olds whose normal development has been impacted by the pandemic.

We will help support families and children to develop positive health and wellbeing habits in the early years.

Achievements

The 50 Things to do Before You're 5 app launched on 9 April 2022 and has more than 650 downloads. This App provides a checklist of key activities for developing new borns. We've also supported an extra 20 families with enrolment in the Best Start Nursery Plus programme.

Goals

We will keep working to provide information and resources for families and children. We are also working with the children's workforce sector to understand and prioritise training needs.

Further education

We have provided funding to Highlands College for around 20 free courses over a 16 month period. The courses are targeted at Islanders with limited or no qualifications. The delivery of these courses will support Islanders' future employment opportunities.

Achievements

We have helped more than thirty students across six courses covering key areas including English and Maths. In some cases, these foundational skills have helped encourage academic achievement amongst students of adult learners.

Goals

We will continue to deliver courses, as well as working to develop an English and Maths learning hub for parents.

Children and young people's health

Supporting children who have been impacted by mental and physical health wellbeing and learning disruption.

This includes:

• art projects
• Jersey Tutoring Programme
• summer school provision with an academic focus
• reading recovery to improve literacy levels
• funding mathematics training for selected education staff
  

Achievements

Increased attendance at La Passerelle by 20 students. We have also rolled out a Reading Support initiative and have begun to collect data on results. Plans are underway for Summer School initiatives as well as programming to support wellbeing through the arts.

Goals

We will continue our work to support students in literacy and math. We've begun data collection, and will refine our approach based on lessons learned. We're also looking forward to establishing Summer Schools and additional programmes for students.

Children's dental health

Providing access to dental health care for primary school age children who have had dental care delayed. Parents and guardians will be contacted directly with information on how to access services.

Achievements

We've worked with stakeholders and dentists across Jersey to establish a network of providers capable of delivering dental care to children across the island.

Goals

We will be issuing communications across Jersey to let people know how to sign up and access children's dental care.

Long COVID care pathways

In February 2022, we set up pathways for those living with long COVID symptoms, including the establishment of a dedicated clinic to support people living with Long COVID benefit from access to treatment and support.

Contact your GP or healthcare professional if you are concerned that you may have long COVID symptoms.

COVID-19 symptoms

Achievements

A long-covid clinic has been up and running since February 2022 and served more than 80 patients.

Goals

Clinic staff will continue to work with and accept patients. Staff will also work with experts around the world to share knowledge and strategies for treating long covid.

Social prescribing

We are exploring new and innovative methods of connecting people whose mental and physical health have been affected by the pandemic to specialised cultural or physical activity designed to aid their recovery. 

Achievements

We've worked with stakeholders across Jersey to understand the needs of our community and how this project can help. We've developed a three-strand approach to provide support to organisations and individuals across Jersey.

This summer, we will announce plans to provide new opportunities for people to join in arts and group exercise as well as expanding existing opportunities. Check back to see applications for opportunities your organisation may be interested in.

Countryside access

We have put funding into a countryside access scheme to improve access to green spaces. Access to Jersey's beautiful countryside and green areas was so important to Islanders during the pandemic and we will be engaging with community groups and volunteers to enhance Jersey's footpath network and help more people enjoy our countryside. 

Achievements

We have met with Parish leaders to discuss how best to develop this work, both in terms of selecting potential pathways and establishing local volunteer groups. We're working to ensure we deliver the greatest possible impacts for all islanders while safeguarding volunteers.

Goals

We hope to develop a work plan throughout the summer. Once we have a plan in place, work can begin on creating and improving the trail network. If interested in volunteering, keep an eye out for opportunities to be posted in the coming months.

Understanding and insight of pandemic impacts

The pandemic has highlighted just how important having good data is to inform effective decision making. We will be working with Statistics Jersey to build upon this and to understand how the pandemic has impacted the health needs of different community groups.  

Achievements

We have begun to identify potential research projects, working with academic stakeholders to explore opportunities for partnership and ensure accuracy. This includes safeguarding citizen data and addressing privacy concerns.

Goals

As research progresses, we aim to share our findings and shape future recovery efforts through the use of accurate and detailed analysis.