23 November 2022
The Governments new micro-grant scheme, Connect Me: Connecting Our Communities is aimed at
funding cultural or physical activities to support Islanders whose mental or physical health may
have been affected by the pandemic. Since its launch, the Government have supported over 40
initiatives with micro-grants, awarding up to £5k to each project.
These initiatives include:
- Project Bounce - a women’s only basketball league for 13 years+. The aim of this project is to
create a fun and inclusive environment for all players and supporters. 68 people have
registered, with games live from 20 September 2022. The majority of players are new to the
sport and since this initiative launched, there has been an increase in the number of women
attending the Islands Games training
- Age Concern, Jersey - this initiative was set-up to encourage and provide opportunities for
older male Islanders to interact. Following feedback, snooker, darts, model-making and design
technology sessions have been set-up for all members to attend
- Taking Part, Making Art - Taking Part, Making Art is a well-established art program from
Mencap. The grant has been able to support additional art sessions and recruit a new art tutor
- Mixed youth summer touch league (MYSTL)- creating a meaningful and sustainable initiative
for 11-15 year olds. The grant has helped purchase a range of equipment with the organisers
planning for this to become a permanent initiative
Tony Taylor, MYSTL Joint Organiser, said. “We started the MYSTL to provide a new avenue for
children to be physically active and outdoors during the summer, which is always important for
everyone, but especially as kids were getting back to normal life post Covid.
“MYSTL has been a great success with over eighty young people from ages 11 to 15, girls and boys
taking part, playing in mixed teams, learning new skills, having fun and keeping fit playing Touch.
We ran over twelve weeks and have confidence that MYSTL will continue again next year and
expand to wider age groups.
“Support from the Government of Jersey’s Covid Recovery Programme and Connect Me was
gratefully received to help fund with acquiring equipment, kit and covering pitch hire. We were
able to make MYSTL free to all children and also received considerable contribution from volunteer
coaches from the Jersey Touch Association and JRFC Minis and Juniors.”
Assistant Minister for Social Security, Deputy Malcolm Ferey said. “The Connect Me: Connecting
Our Communities initiative has been hugely successful and the community spirit that has come
across has been magnificent. The number of organisations that applied for these grants has been
incredible and I am very encouraged by the number of initiatives that have been able to come to
life because of these micro-grants being in place. It is important that we create and support these
opportunities so we can help our Islanders to thrive.
“I look forward to seeing the difference these 40 plus initiatives will make across the Island and
supporting further initiatives in the new year.”
Following the success of this initial round of funding, The Connect Me: Connecting Our
Communities grant scheme will open for a second round of bids early in the New Year.
For further information on Connect Me: Connecting Our Communities please contact Paul
McGinnety, p.mcginnety@gov.je or Edward Jewell, e.jewell@gov.je
gov.je