In brief: The Association of Jersey Charities has launched its biggest-ever free training programme, worth nearly £95,000, covering fundraising, governance and leadership. Funded largely by a grant from Jersey Business, the programme runs from November 2026 to May 2027 and is open to trustees, staff and volunteers across member charities at no cost.
A Lifeline for the Voluntary Sector
Jersey’s charity sector, which quietly underpins much of the Island’s social fabric, has just received a significant boost. The Association of Jersey Charities (AJC) has launched its ‘Skills and Resilience Programme 2026-27’, a free training initiative valued at £94,985, Channel Eye reports.
The programme runs from November 2026 through to May 2027 and comprises around 40 sessions, delivered primarily by local and Channel Islands specialists. It focuses on the three areas that charities themselves identified as most pressing: fundraising, governance and leadership. Every session is free for attendees and their organisations, removing what has historically been a significant barrier for smaller charities operating on tight budgets.
How the Money Works
The programme has been made possible by a Better Business Skills Grant from Jersey Business, which funds 80% of the total cost. The AJC covers the remaining 20%. The result is that no individual charity, large or small, pays a penny to participate.
Marcus Liddiard, Chief Executive Officer of the AJC, described the significance of the offer: “Jersey’s charities do remarkable work, often with very small teams and volunteer boards, and the pressure on them keeps growing. Training is usually the first thing to go when budgets are tight. This is the biggest training offer the AJC has ever been able to make to its members.”
He added: “Thanks to Jersey Business, we can offer high-quality, practical training to every member charity at no cost, whatever its size. We are very grateful to Jersey Business for recognising that the charity sector is an important part of Jersey’s workforce and economy.”
Paul Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Jersey Business, echoed that sentiment: “Skills are critical to every organisation’s success, and charities are no exception. Investing in people builds stronger, more resilient organisations, and that benefits the whole Island.”
Why This Matters for Jersey
Jersey’s charities operate in an environment of growing demand and, frequently, shrinking resources. Many rely heavily on volunteers and small paid teams who rarely have access to the kind of professional development taken for granted in the private sector. Governance failures, weak fundraising strategies and leadership gaps are not abstract concerns: they can mean the difference between a charity continuing to serve its community or quietly folding.
The AJC’s programme addresses all three vulnerabilities in a single, coordinated offer. The fact that delivery is handled mainly by local and Channel Islands specialists is also worth noting: this is not a generic off-the-shelf package imported from elsewhere, but training grounded in the specific context of running a charity in a small island jurisdiction.
For the roughly 200 member charities of the AJC, ranging from large household names to tiny community groups, the programme represents an unusual opportunity to invest in their people without raiding their reserves or diverting funds from frontline services.
Source: Channel Eye
