Family First Jersey

25 new Jersey families have come to us for the first time this year alone.

That is 25 families who picked up the phone, sent a message, or walked through our door when things got difficult.

It can take a lot to ask for help. We do not take that lightly.

For the families who got in touch this year, thank you for trusting us.

And to everyone who has donated, fundraised, or shared our posts, that’s a big part of how we could say yes to these families.

We source funding through our partnerships with…
Jersey Children's Charity,
Friends of the Jersey Neonatal Unit
The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation.

If you would like to help make sure we can be there for the next family, please share this post with someone who may need our help.

🌟 Fundraising Heroes - Will! 🌟

He’s smashing his training for IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth and has already raised an amazing £2,900 for Family First! 🧡

We’re loving the photos! Clearly Will’s been putting in the hard work this summer… even with the heat trying its best to turn every training session into a slow roast!

Good luck for September, you’ve got this! 👏
There's still time to support Will!

Support Will here!
👉 https://jerseygiving.je/sponsor/activity/ironman-70-3-weymouth/will-jack-robinson

Every contribution helps us continue being there for families facing off‑island treatment.

Whether it’s £5, £10, or £20 per month, your support helps us provide comfort items, emotional resources and a reliable phone line for parents who need steady guidance.

Regular Giving keeps our service strong, consistent and ready for the next family who reaches out. If you cannot support financially at this time you can simply share our social media posts with friends or family who might be interested.

Please checkout our 'Sponsor a Brave Bear Campaign' here -->
https://sportsgiving.co.uk/donate/family-first-jersey?c=fcmuvyfo

We’re so sorry, but regrettably we need to cancel our upcoming Coffee Morning on the 28th of August.

I am extra sad about this because I spent far too long perfecting the flyer, it was basically my masterpiece. 🤣

We’ll share a new date soon and promise the flyer will make a triumphant return!! Sending warmth and Thanks to everyone today for their understanding ☕🧡

Every Brave Bear we give is a reminder that courage can come in small, snuggly forms,
For families facing medical journeys, these tokens of comfort really do matter.

By becoming a monthly donor, you help us make sure Brave Bear is always ready for the next child who needs him!

A little each month makes a big difference 🐻🧡

Please checkout our 'Sponsor a Brave Bear Campaign' here -->
https://sportsgiving.co.uk/donate/family-first-jersey?c=fcmuvyfo

This is Theo with his family.

"When I was just over 23 weeks pregnant I popped into hospital on a Saturday night for a check-up as I didn't feel right, only to be told I was in labour and needed to be flown to the UK immediately for my baby to stand any chance.

I didn't have a single item with me except my phone.

On the flight over the midwife told us about Family First and how they could help us.

My wife contacted them the next day and Sonya immediately jumped to action, sending an emergency payment for us to buy supplies such as toiletries, underwear and clothes.

Our beautiful son Theo was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 6oz.

Against all odds he survived but we were told we had a very long journey ahead of us and wouldn't be able to go home to Jersey for around 4 months.

This meant we would be apart from our oldest son George, which just added to the heartbreak.

The funding Family First sourced helped us fly our son back and forth to be with us, giving us a much-needed boost seeing our brave boy.

It also helped us financially due to 4 months of lost wages before I was due to start my maternity leave.

We didn't feel we needed to justify needing help, or give endless amounts of information, they were more than happy to help.

There will never be words that could do justice to the help Family First gave us.

I have never felt more scared, vulnerable or helpless, but they were there every step of the way." - Nicola and Fiona

If you'd like to help us be there for the next family, the donation link is in the comments.

What powerful reminder of where this journey began. Grace’s story, and the love that surrounds her, continues to shape so much of the support families receive today. We are thinking of our friends at The Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation.

We are incredibly grateful for work the foundation continues to do, quietly and consistently, year after year. They are vital to the work we do to support Jersey families and their support makes a real difference. Because of Grace, Family First exists, a charity built from lived experience, compassion and the determination to make sure no family ever faces these challenges alone.

Grace's legacy is woven into every family we support and her story reminds us so much why this work matters.🧡

It’s 17 years since we had the greatest joy that was Grace enter our lives, and 15 years since this foundation was born out of our loss…Yesterday I had the chance to talk about our experience and how the charity came to be, and it made me realise how important the charity is and what it means,
Back in 2009 there was absolutely no support at all for families who had to travel off island for their child to receive treatment- in our case, essential life saving treatment. We were completely alone, in a world we knew nothing about or were prepared for. Because of Grace, we have financially supported 100s of families over the years. Because of Grace, we helped set up Family First Jersey, and we continue to provide financial support every single year, in fact around on average £70,000 of support every year. Because of Grace, families can stay together. Because of Grace they have people to turn to, to guide them and financial support to make their journey slightly easier. Because of Grace.
We have been very quiet this past year, as any charity will know it’s tough keeping your profile out there, but we are still here, in the background, supporting families. Because of Grace.
I just wanted people to remember where this all started, and if you have a chance to listen to our story, please do. It’s all because of Grace 🥰

"And she is off!! The challenge has begun!
So proud of Rosie doing this and raising money for such a special charity. An early start to beat the heat!!"

If you want to follow Rosie's progress with her Journey of Hope she is posting regular updates on her Instagram 🐻🚴‍♀️

A big Brave Bear hug for the incredible fundraising she's done so far, we wish her luck with the rest of her journey. 🧡

Follow Rosie here ---> https://www.instagram.com/journeyofhope464?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

🎉 It’s Launch Day — Our Regular Giving Is Officially Live! 🎉

Every month, families from Jersey travel off‑island for medical care. Brave Bear goes too, tucked into backpacks, held by small hands and offering comfort during long hospital days.

Your monthly support helps us be there for families when they need it most.

Your donation makes a real impact:
🧡 A friendly voice at the end of the phone when it's most important
🧡 Essential travel and accommodation support so parents can stay close to their child
🧡 Emergency help when plans change unexpectedly
🧡 Emotional and practical guidance throughout treatment
🧡 Brave Bears for children and siblings, bringing courage and comfort during difficult days

A small monthly gift = A big difference for families.

By becoming a regular giver, you become part of the steady, reliable support that carries families through challenging medical journeys.

Please check out our Sponsor a Brave Bear campaign here →
https://sportsgiving.co.uk/donate/family-first-jersey?c=fcmuvyfo

Family First Jersey Supporting Jersey families whose children need off-island medical care.

💛 We support with extra travel costs and offer emotional & practical support, so no family faces it alone.

Support us | https://jerseygiving.je/donate/family-first-jersey