The Care Experienced Fund

STATES OF JERSEY

THE CARE EXPERIENCED FUND

Lodged au Greffe on 6th February 2026 by the Minister for Children and Families Earliest date for debate: 24th March 2026

STATES GREFFE

2026  P.30

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to support Jersey's care-experienced community (specifically, individuals aged 25 and over) by establishing a States Fund, to be known as the Care Experienced Fund ("the Fund"), in accordance with Article 6 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 and based on the terms of reference set out in the Appendix to the Report.

MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Note: In accordance with Article 6(4) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, this proposition is lodged with the consent of the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

REPORT

Summary

The Minister for Children and Families, with the support of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, proposes the establishment of the Care Experienced Fund ("the Fund") dedicated to supporting care-experienced adults over the age of 25 years.

The Fund would act as an extended part of the Government's corporate parenting commitment, with the aim to assist care experienced individuals in accessing lifelong learning opportunities, providing emergency financial assistance, and promoting mental health and well-being. By addressing the unique challenges faced by this often- overlooked demographic, the Fund aims to contribute to improved life outcomes and social inclusion.

The ring-fenced States fund would receive the revenue generated from the sale of the Aviemore site that was earmarked for a fund to support care experienced islanders in the Government Plan 2024 - 27.[1] The Fund is expected to receive approximately £2,250,000 and is designed to last for 10 years.

The Appendix to this report sets out the Terms of Reference for the Fund, for approval by the States Assembly as required by the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019.

In light of the views of the care-experienced community, expressed as part of a targeted consultation process, the Fund will be accessible through a neutral front door' which is neither stigmatising nor exposing. Accordingly, it is proposed that independent Administrators will manage the application process and make individual grants in accordance with parameters set out by the Minister in a Service Level Agreement.

The anticipated outcomes for individuals accessing the Fund include:

1. Mental health and wellbeing improvements: achieved through access to psychological support, leading to better mental health, emotional stability and overall wellbeing.
2. Educational advancement: achieved through access to lifelong learning opportunities, educational or vocational qualifications and enhanced employability.
3. Financial Stability: achieved through provision of timely financial support in case of emergencies, including medical emergencies, preventing financial crises, and the promotion of long-term economic stability for care-experienced individuals.

Further detail on the strategic priorities, funding arrangements and governance for the Care Experienced Fund is provided in this report.

Background

In September 2021, the then Council of Ministers agreed in principle, as part of the realisation of the Jersey Care Inquiry's Legacy recommendation 82, that the proceeds of the  sale  of  the  Aviemore  site  would  be  used  to  create  a  fund  dedicated to  care experienced islanders.

Establishing the Fund, as proposed in this report, would extend the Government's corporate parenting offer by providing a ring-fenced resource for care-experienced islanders.

The objectives of the Fund are separate to and do not seek to replicate the existing support available to young people leaving care, which is available up to the age of 25 years, or other existing benefits and grants provided by the Government of Jersey.

Key Objectives

The Fund aims to provide an extended support network for care experienced people, which will help them thrive. Evidence consistently shows that this group have poor outcomes in terms of employment, secure housing, mental health and substance misuse; they are also overrepresented in the prison population. The Fund is designed to promote recipient wellbeing by helping to mitigate social, educational, physical, and economic inequalities.

1. Promotion of Mental Health: Care-experienced adults may face mental health issues as a result of their past experiences. The Fund can provide individuals with the financial means to access psychological support services. This may include  counselling,  therapy,  support  groups,  and  other  mental  health interventions delivered within the community.
2. Access to Lifelong Learning: Care-experienced individuals often face unique challenges in accessing higher education, employment and  entrepreneurial opportunities. These challenges can stem from the long-term effects of school disruptions due to frequent placement changes, as well as financial barriers to paying for tuition fees, learning materials and travel expenses.

To address these barriers, the Fund will support lifelong learning for care- experienced adults, empowering them to overcome adversity, achieve their goals and contribute positively to their communities and the economy. The Fund  will  provide  financial  support  for  educational  initiatives,  including funding short courses or offering additional financial assistance for degree programs, provided these costs are not already covered by other government funding sources. The support will also cover associated costs, such as learning materials and travel, that are not typically included in existing education grants.

3. Emergency Grants and Financial Advice: Care-experienced adults may face challenges in maintaining affordable living arrangements without the familial support networks that many others have. The Fund can fulfil a critical role in providing swift financial assistance for those experiencing urgent financial hardships  such  as  bill  payments,  dental,  ophthalmic  or  other  medical emergencies, food shortages or emergency travel.

2 R.59-2017 Independent Jersey Care Inquiry Report.pdf (page 67)

Care-experienced adults may lack the familial support and resources needed to navigate financial challenges independently. Financial education can equip individuals with the tools they need to become self-sufficient and reduce their reliance on external assistance. The Fund can also provide individuals with access to professionals who offer ongoing budgeting advice, and the option to open a basic account regardless of their credit rating.

Design Principles

The Fund is designed to provide holistic support for adults who have been in Jersey's care system, recognising that care doesn't end at age 25. It aims to be culturally inclusive, adaptable to emerging needs, and managed by neutral organisations to ensure fairness and comfort. The Fund will be data-informed, using insights to continuously improve, and will include regular monitoring to evaluate its performance.

The goal is to offer meaningful assistance in education, mental health, and emergency financial support, in the same way that most parents strive to support their children flourish as they grow older.

Development of the design principles for the Fund included:

• researching existing statutory offers to ensure no overlap;

• seeking feedback from stakeholders (including agencies who represent and work with care-experienced adults) to understand their perspectives and needs relating to the Fund's goals and approach; and

• research into what other organisations offer care-experienced adults and the approach they take.  

The design principles can be summarised as follows:

1. Status: applicants need to meet the definition of having previously been a child in the care of the Minister' under the Children (Jersey) Law 2002.
2. Age: applicants must be aged 25 years or over. The current statutory offer for care leavers ends at 25 years, whereas the intention of the Fund is to continue the corporate parenting support so that care never leaves.'
3. Jersey-specific care experience: applicants must have been in Jersey's care system.
4. Cultural  Responsiveness:  the  Fund  should  be  culturally  responsive  and inclusive of different ethnicities, cultures, languages, and identities.
5. Flexibility and Adaptability: the Fund should be flexible and adaptable to changing needs, emerging trends, and evolving policy landscapes.
6. Neutral front door: independent administrator(s) will be appointed to manage applications and disbursals, with discretion in making awards.

7. Data-Informed:  collect  and  analyse  data  on  the  needs,  outcomes,  and experiences of care-experienced people to inform fund design, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts.

Stakeholder Engagement

The key design principles for the administration and application of the Care Experienced Fund were developed and tested with stakeholders in 2021-22. During July and August 2024, Jersey Cares facilitated a consultation to validate the fund's objectives and design principles. The consultation findings3 will help ensure that the Fund meets the real needs of care-experienced individuals.

Funding allocation

Proceeds from the sale of the Aviemore site to the Jersey Development Company will be transferred to the Fund. The total expected is circa £2,250,000. This sum will be invested as part of the States' Common Investment Fund.

Financial Forecasting  

The Fund is designed to last for 10 years, in order to maximise assistance to those who were looked after prior to more recent investment in and improvements made to children's social care services in Jersey. It has clear objectives aimed at improving the lives of survivors of the historical care system within this timeframe. The goal is for the system to be sufficiently improved by the time the Fund is wound up, reducing the ongoing financial support required for individuals with care experience. However, if significant  needs  remain  and  the  Council  of  Ministers  at  the  time  recommends prolonging the life of the Fund, there is flexibility to introduce further funding, subject to the agreement of the States Assembly.

• as the fund duration is assumed to be 10 years, total funds available for distribution to care-experienced individuals will be approximately £200,000 per annum.

• it is estimated that there are between 100 and 140 care experienced islanders over the age of 25 in Jersey who would be eligible to apply for the scheme.

• the  cost  of administering the  Fund, including any fees  to  be  paid to the independent administrator(s) will be met from the Fund.  

• the chart below illustrates how the receipts (plus interest earned) could be disbursed from the fund over time. The chart assumes an annual investment income of 2% and annual benefits uprate of 2.5%. The closing balance cannot be negative. Variations may affect the amounts available for distribution and/or the life of the Fund.  

3 Endowment Fund Consultation July-Aug 2024 (Jersey Cares)

1,800,000 10-Year Operating Life

1,600,000

1,400,000

1,200,000

1,000,000

800,000

600,000

400,000

200,000

0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -200,000 Opening Addition Distributed Fee (10%) Closing Interest (2%)

Benefits and Risks

A government fund focused on supporting care-experienced individuals over 25 years old, specifically for mental health support, lifelong learning, and emergency financial assistance, offers numerous benefits but also presents potential risks, outlined below:

Benefits

Improved Mental Health and Well-Being

• access to targeted mental health support to address trauma and instability

• building resilience and long-term emotional stability

Increased Educational and Career Opportunities

• access to lifelong learning and skill development opportunities

• improved employment outcomes and career advancement

• breaking the cycle of poverty through education

Financial Stability and Emergency Support

• emergency financial assistance during crises (e.g., job loss, medical)

Risks

Mismanagement or Inefficient Use of Funds

• risk of funds being misallocated or used inefficiently, leading to unmet needs

• inadequate monitoring and evaluation could lead to ineffective programs or misuse

• proportion  of  available  funding  being  spent  on  administration rather than individuals

Overdependence on Financial Assistance

• risk that individuals become reliant on short-term support without developing self-sufficiency

• emergency financial assistance might only provide temporary relief without addressing deeper issues

Stigma and Targeting Challenges

• social stigma may prevent care-experienced individuals from seeking help

• difficulty in reaching and identifying care-experienced individuals who may be disconnected from social services

Financial Management and Oversight  

The terms of reference set out the mechanism for payments into and out of the Fund. Initial funding will be provided by means of a grant (of the Aviemore sale proceeds) from the Environment Head of expenditure to the Fund.

Specific arrangements for oversight of operation of the Fund will be developed and must be agreed by both the Minister for Children and Families and the Minister for Treasury and Resources. Any variations to the terms of reference included in this proposition must be agreed by both Ministers and published as a Report to the States Assembly.

Financial and staffing implications

The Budget 2026-29 provides for the full proceeds from the sale of Aviemore to be used for the creation of a fund for care-experienced Islanders that aligns with the Council of Ministers' objectives.

The Appendix to this report sets out the Terms of Reference for a Care Experienced Fund.

Staffing implications will include technical and governance expertise. The Accountable Officer will be able to make use of available funds to secure any advice required to discharge their role in respect of the Fund and the Fund will meet appropriate costs incurred in designing, delivering, and assuring the good governance of the Fund.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) screener has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.

APPENDIX

TERMS OF REFERENCE: The Care Experienced Fund

The Care Experienced Fund ("the Fund") is established as a States Fund in accordance with Article 6 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") which enables the States, on a proposition lodged by or with the consent of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, to establish a States Fund for specific purposes.

1. Purpose of the Fund

1. To provide financial support to Islanders over 25 years of age with care experience to access appropriate psychological support services.
2. To provide financial support for education and training initiatives to promote lifelong learning for Islanders aged over 25 with care experience.
3. To provide swift financial assistance to Islanders over 25 with care experience in case of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.  
4. To receive funding in the amount of circa £2,250,000 arising from the sale of the Aviemore site.
5. To use the available funds to:

1. pay the independent administrator(s) an agreed annual amount for the purpose of making grants in accordance with the terms of the fund.
2. pay the independent administrator(s) an agreed percentage in respect of their operational costs.
3. meet any reasonable expenses necessary to the operation and good governance of the Fund.

2. Powers and limitations of the Fund

1. As a States Fund, the purpose of the Fund can only be varied by the States on a proposition lodged by, or with the consent of, the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
2. Money held in the Fund will not form part of the annual income of the States nor the Consolidated Fund balance.
3. Only those costs associated with the purpose of the Fund can be met out of the Fund.
4. The Fund will be maintained until such a time as the Minister for Children and Families, with the consent of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, makes a Ministerial Decision to wind up the Fund.
5. Any residual assets remaining in the Fund upon winding up will be paid to the Consolidated Fund.
6. The operation of the Fund must be in accordance with the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 and the requirements of the Public Finances Manual.

3. Those empowered to carry out actions on behalf of the Fund

1. The Minister for Children and Families has overall political responsibility for the Fund.
2. The Minister for Children and Families is responsible for appointing independent administrator(s) who will receive an annual funding allocation from the Fund and manage the onward distribution to applicants in

accordance with a Service Level Agreement to be entered into between the Minister and the administrator(s).

3. The Minister will approve any changes to the Terms of Reference or Service Level Agreement(s) with independent administrators, having regard to the recommendations of the Oversight Group.
4. The Principal Accountable Officer has responsibility under the Public Finances Law (Jersey) 2019 for the appointment of the Accountable Officer(s) for the Fund.
5. An Accountable Officer is accountable for the proper financial management of the Fund, which includes ensuring that payments from the Fund are progressed in line with the purpose of the Fund and that the Fund is administered in a prudent and economical manner; responsibility for ensuring that proper control and assurance frameworks exist; and responsibility for ensuring that systems are in place to manage risks related to the Fund.
6. An Accountable Officer for the Fund is answerable to the States' Public Accounts Committee for the performance of their functions.
7. An Accountable Officer can delegate functions to others but will remain accountable. To ensure that good governance and control is achieved, any delegation must be documented in a Scheme of Delegation.
8. The Comptroller and Auditor General has a duty under Article 11 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Jersey) Law 2014 to provide the States with independent assurance that the public finances of Jersey are being regulated, controlled, supervised, and accounted for in accordance with the Law. This duty extends to the Fund.
9. The Minister for Treasury and Resources has ministerial responsibility for setting an appropriate investment strategy for the Care Experienced Fund, as required by the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019.

4. Control of expenditure from the Care Experienced Fund

1. The Accountable Officer has responsibility for the budget and expenditure relating to the Fund. The Accountable Officer will be able to make use of available funds to secure such advice, including third party advice where appropriate, as is required to discharge their role in respect of the Fund.
2. Specific arrangements for oversight of operation of the Fund will be developed and must be agreed by both the Minister for Children and Families and the Minister for Treasury and Resources. Any variations to the terms of reference included in this proposition must be agreed by both Ministers and published as a Report to the States Assembly.

5. Reporting arrangements

1. A Care Experienced Fund Oversight Group will be created, to consist of the Accountable Officer, a senior officer in Health and Care Jersey, a senior officer in the Social Policy Directorate and a representative of the charitable sector, to be invited by the Minister.
2. The specific reporting and management information requirements for the Care Experienced Fund will be determined by the Oversight Group. These may include financial, risk, programme management, benefits realisation, and

governance information, all of which will be reported to the Oversight Group twice-yearly by the independent administrator(s).

3. Given the evolving needs and challenges faced by care-experienced individuals, some initiatives or support measures may not achieve the anticipated outcomes and may require adjustments or discontinuation. Recommendations for any such changes may be made to the Minister for Children and Families by the Oversight Group, in order that the Minister can take steps to amend the Terms of Reference accordingly.

[1] Government Plan 2024 to 2027.pdf (page 77)