Family First Jersey

We've another heatwave on our hands! Please remember to keep yourselves and your little ones protected and comfortable ☀️ Some useful Brave Bear sun safety tips below!

☕️ Help us elevate our Coffee Mornings ☕️

As our service grows, we’re welcoming more and more children into our Coffee Mornings and Family Support meetings, which means our much‑loved toys and games are overdue an upgrade.

We’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with items that will help us refresh our play corner and add those extra comforting touches to our monthly Coffee mornings.
These toys will make such a difference to the children who spend time with us.

If you’re able to support, you can browse it here: https://amzn.eu/05MxjFp9

Thank you for helping us make these spaces even more welcoming 🧡

Check out my list on Amazon

This is Callie.

Last month she needed specialist medical testing that isn't available in Jersey.

That meant Callie and her mum Nikita needed to take an early flight to Southampton General Hospital.

Just the two of them, crossing the water for an appointment Nikita had been quietly worried about.

Living on an island means that when your child needs specialist care, your only option is a flight across the water.

The hidden costs of a sudden medical trip add up fast and bring a whole different kind of stress when you just want to focus on your child.

We sourced funding for the day so Nikita could focus entirely on being there for her daughter.

On the morning of the appointment, our team got in touch to wish them luck and that evening they checked in to see how everything had gone.

"I could just hold my daughter's hand and keep her smiling," Nikita said.

They're comfortable at home now. The testing is done and Callie is doing well.

"To anyone who supports Family First: please know how much of a lifeline you are to island families when they need it most. You turned an incredibly stressful day into one where we felt entirely supported."

If you'd like to help the next family through a day like this, our donation link is in the comments.

🌟 Fundraising Heroes - A huge thank you to the Anderson family 🌟

A huge thank you to the Anderson clan for supporting Family First by walking in this years Island Walk.

They’ve shared openly about the challenges of travelling off‑island for their child's medical appointments the stress, the costs and how overwhelming it can feel.

“We were signposted to Family First and honestly would be lost without them… They supported us with additional costs, helped us plan appointments and travel and checked in to make sure we were ok. We want to raise as much as we can to help Family First to continue supporting families from all different backgrounds and circumstances navigate travelling off island for treatment. The work they do is so vital and we want to help make sure that another family is able to get the same support that we have had.”

Ken is now taking on all 48.1 miles of the Island Walk to help ensure other families can receive the same support!!

We wish Ken luck and just know he's going to smash it. 🧡

👉 Donate or follow Ken’s journey here: https://jerseygiving.je/sponsor/activity/island-walk-2032/the-anderson-clan

🧡 Our last Coffee Morning was so much fun, we love to see so many friendly faces, people having fun and engaging in great conversation. We are so grateful to everyone who came along, your smiles and kindness made the room feel so full! We are proud to be able to offer these events to our families.

A very special thank you again to Jersey Hospice Care for allowing us to host these mornings in their lovely King's Lounge.

If you have a child being supported by us or have been recently supported by Family First. Our next Coffee Morning is on the 25th of June. We hope to see you there!

Please RSVP and join us for coffee, cake, tea, nibbles and good conversation 🥰🧡

🧡 Learning disability week 15th - 21st June 🧡

For Learning Disabilities Week, our team is thinking of the many children and families we support whose journeys include learning disabilities as well as medical challenges that effect their development and progression in school.

Their strength is so inspiring, and we’re here help you and your child on their medical journey. On‑island and off‑island, with care, understanding, and practical support. 🌞

15 Jersey families have contacted us for the first time this year alone.

Each family came to us during a time of uncertainty.

A diagnosis, an unexpected transfer, a referral to a specialist hundreds of miles away.

The common thread is that none of them had planned for this.

We are currently supporting 81 families through that process.

Just 4 months ago that number was 76.

When a family gets in touch, we ask what their appointment requires.

Then we work with our partners the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation, Jersey Children's Charity and the Friends of the Jersey Neonatal Unit,

These partnerships are vital in securing the funding these families need.

They don't fill out lengthy applications. They tell us what's needed and we do what we can to help make it happen.

For some families that means covering a second adult's travel. For others it means extended accommodation when surgery gets rescheduled.

For a lot it just means someone to talk to when things get too much.

If you know a Jersey family currently facing an off island referral, please share this with them so they don’t have to navigate it alone.

Jersey's Children and Families Hub has released their new Spring & Autumn programme of FREE workshops for parents and carers — including brand‑new CAMHS Early Intervention Practitioner sessions on anxiety, emotional regulation, parent wellbeing and understanding adolescent mental health.

These courses are designed to give families practical tools, confidence and support when things feel challenging.

You can browse and book all available workshops here:

Children and Families Hub The Children and Families Hub provides advice and support to help families in Jersey thrive. Our team works directly with families and coordinates with other organisations to ensure the right help is offered at the right time. Most of our services are free, and we’re here to support you with any c...

🧡 Date for your diary 🧡

Our next Coffee Morning will take place on Thursday the 25th of June.

If you have a child who requires off‑island medical treatment, or if you’ve been supported by Family First in the past or are currently receiving support, we would love to see you!

It’s a gentle space to meet other families who truly understand the journey, share experiences, and feel part of a community that cares.

We hope to see you there,
Please RSVP 🧡

💛 Walking for 65 Roses – Supporting Cystic Fibrosis 💛

This June, one of our amazing mums, Tamara, and her beautiful boy Avi are walking 65 kilometres for “65 Roses” to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive genetic condition that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and other organs, making daily life challenging. Thanks to ongoing research and fundraising, children like Avi can now thrive with the right care and treatment — but there’s still more to be done.

🌼 June 12th is Wear Yellow Day to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis and showing support for everyone affected by this rare condition.

Every donation helps fund vital research and life‑saving medications — bringing hope for a future where Cystic Fibrosis can be cured.

👉 Follow Tamara and Avi’s journey on Strava: https://strava.app.link/9Y2Haf2Ev3b
https://cystic-fibrosis-trust.sync.giving/fr/cr-krjpkml3vrz30
💛 Donate, share, and wear yellow on June 12th to show your support!

Tamara Marett is fundraising on behalf of Cystic Fibrosis Trust What is Cystic Fibrosis? Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, inherited genetic disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus. This mucus clogs the lungs, pancreas, and other organs, leading to severe respiratory infections, breathing difficulties, and digestive issues. 65 roses is a nick...