Family First Jersey

Did you know that every time you shop online, you can help support Jersey families whose children need off‑island medical care.
When you use Easyfundraising, the retailers donate on your behalf — it costs you nothing, but it means everything to the families we help.

Just start your shopping through our Easyfundraising page:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/familyfirstjersey/

Your kindness truly makes a difference 🧡

You spend, brands donate to Family First Jersey. Help us when you shop with 7,000+ brands. Join now.

This is Billie.

She arrived 5 weeks early in a hospital 150 miles from her home, while her mum Chelsea was under general anaesthetic.

Chelsea had recently been diagnosed with placenta accreta which meant she couldn't stay in Jersey for the birth.

And had to leave home at 32 weeks pregnant with no clear date for when she'd be coming back.

She had to wait in Southampton for 3 weeks, separated from her family while the surgery ahead carried very serious risks.

Thankfully it went even better than the surgeons were expecting and Billie and Chelsea were able to come home

We supported Chelsea and her family throughout those weeks, emotionally and financially, through funding sourced from local Jersey charities.

If you'd like to help the next family in this position, please share this with someone who may need our support.

🧡 Our team is sending the biggest hug to this amazing mum who shared her story publicly with such courage. Facing major surgery while caring for a young child is something no parent should ever have to go through.

Thank you Lauren for being part of our Family First Community, sharing her story helps to give other families strength when facing the unknown. You are not alone.

Wishing her and little Nico all the best for the future 💛🧸

After being told she had placenta accreta - a rare pregnancy complication - mum Lauren Farrelly hopes her story will show others that help is out there 👉️ https://bbc.in/4aeBNjj

☀️ Brave Bear’s Sun‑Safe Tips for Little Ones ☀️

Its another scorcher today! Its too hot for our team but Brave Bear has been having the best time in this heatwave!

Here are his gentle reminders for babies and toddlers during sunny days:

🌤️ Stay in the shade
Babies under 6 months should stay out of direct sun. A shady spot under a canopy or umbrella keeps tiny skin protected and cool.

👒 Pop on a hat and light layers
Brave Bear never forgets his floppy hat and comfy T‑shirt. Wide‑brimmed hats and long sleeves help protect delicate skin, especially shoulders and necks.

🧴 Sunscreen for little explorers (6 months+)
A high‑SPF, broad‑spectrum sunscreen helps keep older babies and toddlers safe. Reapply often, especially after water play.

💧 Keep cool and hydrated
Brave Bear always takes breaks in the shade and has a drink nearby. Little ones need regular sips and time out of the midday heat.

⏰ Play earlier or later in the day
Brave Bear knows the sun is strongest between 11 and 3, so he saves his big adventures for the cooler parts of the day.

Here’s to a summer full of gentle fun, protected skin, and happy memories ☀️💛

🧡 So many of our families have shared their wisdom about what truly helps when travelling off‑island for treatment 🧡

We’ve gathered their thoughtful suggestions into a simple, supportive packing list to help you feel prepared and cared for as you get ready for your trip. There may be some things on here you haven't considered, maybe there's something missing you'd add? Feel free to add any helpful suggestions, packing tips and travel hacks in the comments! 🥰

76 Jersey families currently depend on our support while their child receives medical treatment.

One family needed emergency flights when their baby was transferred unexpectedly to a UK hospital.

Some families needed accommodation for extended stays when their children's surgeries were rescheduled.

Several families needed someone to talk to because things were just getting too much.

Every situation was different.

Different timelines. Different family circumstances.

What stays the same is the process.

Each family contacted us.
We asked about their appointment details and what they needed covered.
Then we arranged funding through our partnerships with the Jersey Children's Charity, Friends of the Jersey Neonatal Unit, and the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation.

For the families whose surgery was rescheduled, that meant extending their hotel booking by four extra nights and reassuring them that we had secured funds to cover this.

For the families with a child in a UK hospital unexpectedly, it meant one of our team on the end of the phone to listen and reassure.

For the families with ongoing appointments, it meant securing funding for the coming months costs.

This is what reliable support looks like, predictable cover for long-term treatment.

The partnerships we've built mean we can say yes quickly. Families don't need to fill out complicated applications. They tell us what's needed and we do our best to source funding for them.

That's how multiple families got to their appointments in May without financial stress sitting on top of medical stress.

This is how they know help is there when they need it. Follow us to stay updated on the families we're supporting.

🌟 Cheering on Will Jack Robinson – IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth! 🌟

This September, Will is taking on the huge challenge of IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth to raise funds for Family First.

After a difficult year for his family, Will set himself this challenge as a way to rebuild, refocus, and give back to Family First for our support and to help us support more families. His determination and heart have already moved so many people and he’s absolutely smashing his training. We wish him our best for the upcoming event!

He’s already hit his target, but there’s still time to help him go even further!! 💛
Every donation helps us support more Jersey families whose children need medical treatment off‑island. Your kindness and donation truly makes a difference.
https://jerseygiving.je/sponsor/activity/ironman-70-3-weymouth/will-jack-robinson
👉 Donate or follow Will’s journey here:

JerseyGiving - Donate To Activity: Will Jack Robinson Will Jack Robinson is fundraising. Visit their fundraising page to sponsor them online now!

8 years ago, we helped our first Jersey family get treatment for their child in the UK

Since that first day, we have supported 320 local families.

Through close partnerships with the Jersey Children's Charity, Friends of the Jersey Neonatal Unit, and the The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation , we have coordinated £550,000 to cover the hidden costs of off-island care.

Most of these trips are to Southampton, Great Ormond Street, or Portsmouth. But we’ve even stepped in to support a child receiving specialist treatment in Germany.

Right now, we’re actively supporting 76 families through their child's treatment and we could never do this without collaboration.

Health professionals refer the families.
Service providers handle the logistics.
Local charities fund the grants.
And families trust us.

We are so proud of what we’ve been able to do, but we are incredibly grateful to the island community that even makes this possible.

Our focus remains exactly the same as it was 8 years ago, making sure no family has to face their child needing specialist medical care alone.

If you believe this matters, please share this post or follow our page. If you know a family currently facing an off-island transfer, send them our way.

Thank you, Jersey.

🧡 We know many of your Brave Bears have settled into their new homes, and we’d love to hear how things are going. Has your Brave Bear helped your child feel braver, calmer, or more understood? What do they enjoy most about having one? 🧡

If you’re happy to share a photo or two, we’d be delighted to see them.

And just a little hint… we have an exciting Brave Bear project coming up, and your photos may be more important than you think. 🐻