THE DIANA AWARD MENTORING PROGRAMME LAUNCHES IN JERSEY

The first year of the mentoring programme with the Diana Award involves twelve States of Jersey Police Officers who will be one-to-one mentors to 12 young people, aged between 14 and 16, who have been selected from the Island’s Secondary State schools. HSBC has committed to provide two years of funding, and aims to reach 40 young people through the initiative by 2021. HSBC has also been instrumental to the planning stages of the programme and will provide further support through employee volunteers.

Throughout the launch week, mentors and mentees will work together on team building exercises with Jersey Fire and Rescue, survey members of the public on ideas to improve the Island and develop initiatives that address some of Jersey’s social issues. The week will conclude on Friday with the mentees finalising and pitching their social enterprise ideas to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style leadership panel made up of Police, HSBC, The Children’s Commissioner and Tessy Ojo, CEO, The Diana Award, where three initiatives will be selected for development during the course of the programme.

“We are really proud to be part of such an exciting project. Officers mentoring young people over the ten month period has the potential to make a real difference and result in some positive, long-lasting relationships. We hope this project will improve communication and our understanding about what’s important to young people and equip those people with leadership skills for their future”.

Mark Hafey, Acting Chief Inspector of The States of Jersey Police

“We’re delighted to be working with the States of Jersey Police on our mentoring campaign, kindly sponsored by HSBC and expanding our reach to Jersey. Our mentoring work is unique in that it places a strong emphasis on social action; mentors and mentees work together to develop a campaign around a social issue that affects their community. This two-pronged approach prepares the young people for their post-secondary future whilst also instilling a sense of active citizenship.”

Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award

“HSBC continually strives to positively impact island life, and to help young people develop workplace skills needed for the future is at the very core of HSBC’s community strategy. We’re absolutely delighted to have developed this partnership with The Diana Award and States of Jersey Police, and I very much look forward to seeing the young peoples’ confidence and skills grow throughout the course of the programme.  Bringing this programme to fruition has been a true collaboration between corporate, government and charity, and is testament to what can be achieved when different sectors work together to provide the opportunities needed to enable young people to live their best lives”.

Chantal Le Goff, HSBC’s Head of Corporate Sustainability

The programme has also received patronage from both The Lieutenant-Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen and his wife, Lady Dalton. It has also been officially endorsed by The Government of Jersey Council of Ministers and Office of Chief Executive. The programme also compliments both The Government of Jersey’s and States of Jersey Police’s commitment to young people.

Tom Martin Hughes, a Diana Award recipient who has worked with the police to get this project up and running, said:

“This programme is an exciting opportunity for our island, and I am happy after ten months of work that it has finally come together – hopefully it will give young people a role model in their lives who can offer additional support and guidance to them. I look forward to the coming weeks and months ahead and seeing how young people use this programme to create positive change through social action”.

Tom Martin Hughes, a Diana Award recipient

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