Government Plan 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): eleventh amendment {P.1302-2020 Amd.(11)]

STATES OF JERSEY

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): ELEVENTH AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 30th November 2020 by Deputy R.J. Ward of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.130 Amd.(11)

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): ELEVENTH AMENDMENT ____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (f) –

After the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" insert the words –

",  except  that  in  Summary  Table  5(i)  the  Total  Revenue  Head  of Expenditure for Children, Young People, Education and Skills shall be increased by £300,000 to allow for funding to be provided towards the annual running costs of Beresford Street Kitchen, with an appropriate source  of  funding  to  be  identified  by  the  Minister  for  Treasury  and Resources".

DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2021 – 2024 specified in Article 9(1) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") and specifically –

1. to approve the estimate of total States income to be paid into the Consolidated Fund in 2021 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 to the Report, which is inclusive of the proposed taxation and impôts duties changes outlined in the Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(a) of the Law;
2. to approve the amounts to be transferred from one States fund to another for 2021, in line with Article 9(2)(b) as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report;
3. to approve the proposed borrowing to be obtained for 2021, in line with Article 9 (2)(c), up to and including the amount set out in Appendix 2

– Summary Table 3 to the Report;

4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2021 and the total cost of each such project and any amendments to the proposed total cost of a major project under a previously approved government plan, in line with Article 9(2)(d), (e) and (f) of the Law and as set out in Appendix 2 - Summary Table 4 to the Report;
5. to endorse the efficiencies and other re-balancing measures for 2021 contained in the Government Plan as set out in Appendix 2 Summary Table  6  and  reflected  within  each  gross  head  of  expenditure  in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 5(i);
6. to  approve  the  proposed  amount  to  be  appropriated  from  the Consolidated Fund for 2021, for each head of expenditure, being gross

expenditure less estimated income (if any), in line with Articles 9(2)(g), 10(1) and 10(2) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report, except that in Summary Table 5(i) the Total  Revenue  Head  of  Expenditure  for  Children,  Young  People, Education and Skills  shall be increased by £300,000 to allow for funding to be provided towards the annual running costs of Beresford Street Kitchen, with an appropriate source of funding to be identified by the Minister for Treasury and Resources;

7. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2021 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
8. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2021 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report; (i) to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
9. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
10. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2021-2024, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report.

REPORT Beresford Street Kitchen: the background

The Aspire Charitable Trust is a Jersey charity, founded in 2015, which aims to provide quality education, training and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autism. It operates through its wholly-owned Jersey company Beresford Street Kitchen Limited, a multi-faceted social enterprise. Beresford Street Kitchen (BSK) provides workplace education, training and employment opportunities for people with  widely  ranging  skills  and  life  experiences  and  offers  people  with  learning disabilities and autism the chance to develop workplace skills and engage with the community in an inclusive, safe and supportive environment.

BSK provides pre-employment work placements, traineeships and an apprenticeship scheme. People with learning disabilities and autism gain practical experience in a whole range of catering, hospitality and printing operations, including customer service skills, barista skills, food preparation, and sublimation and vinyl printing.

BSK opened its flagship cafe in St. Helier in August 2017 with 16 crew members. The catering workshop on the 1st floor opened in the October and Beresford Street Print Works opened in April 2018. It took on the running of the canteen at the Police HQ in January 2019 and opened La Hougue Bie Tea Rooms in June 2020. BSK now provides approximately 50 crew positions, and there are currently over 50 people on the waiting list.

Beresford Street Kitchen: the vision

BSK's vision is of an inclusive workforce, where people with learning disabilities and autism can maximise their potential, be recognized for their skills, and be regarded positively and with respect.

The mission is to provide quality education, training and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autism by promoting:

• Engagement, enablement, opportunity and progression

• Community presence

• The development of meaningful roles

• Co-operation with other organisations that share BSK's aims and objectives

Positive impact and achievements

Beresford Street Kitchen was recognised in the recent Safeguarding Partnership Board's review of Safeguarding of Adults with a Learning Disability1 as an example of what is

being done well:

"Trailblazing approaches empowering people with a learning disability - Beresford Street Kitchen - creating opportunities, choice and control.

1 Safeguarding Partnership Board: Review of the Safeguarding of Adults with a Learning Disability in Jersey

"The reviewers found the approach being taken by Aspire Charitable Trust in setting up Beresford Street Kitchen "A café with a conscience" was setting a progressive example of inclusion, engagement and empowerment of adults with a learning disability which in turn develops individual life skills, confidence and independence. Their vision to create the community presence and an inclusive workforce where people with a learning disability are regarded positively and with respect is providing opportunity for individuals and at the same time an example for other providers to build on.

"This example was spoken about a lot, and by a range of people and would lead the reviewers to therefore think that this innovation and empowerment is having a big impact on the way people positively consider how adults can be given the same opportunities as everyone else. The culture of empowering individuals and seeing adults as adults was not widespread."

"Beresford Street Kitchen - This community service and provider featured again as something that is working well. An example of genuine partnerships with adults with a learning disability and within the local community connections with local businesses, with the aim of development of real jobs and employment opportunities for people with a learning disability."

The social impact of BSK:

BSK recently completed its first social impact survey. The results of the survey demonstrate the positive outcomes of the learning opportunities for the crew and how BSK's work is directly contributing to the Government Plan 2020 – 2023 priority stating "We will improve Islanders' wellbeing and mental and physical health by supporting Islanders to live healthier, active, longer lives, improving the quality of access to mental health services, and by putting patients, families and carers at the heart of Jersey's health and care system."

The survey results also highlight how BSK's work is closely aligned with the objectives of the Disability Strategy and that it is clearly contributing towards reducing the inequality between the wellbeing of disabled and non-disabled Islanders. Beresford Street Kitchen was cited in the Disability Strategy Annual Progress Report 2018.

The results of the of the BSK survey show that the average life satisfaction score for people before becoming a BSK crew member was 7.2 (0-10 scale). This score increased to 8.7 since becoming a BSK crew member, representing a 21% improvement. This is a notable rating when compared with the average life satisfaction score for Jersey adults in 2020 as recorded in the Jersey Opinions & Lifestyle Survey Report 2020[2], which is 6.7 (6.9 in 2019 and 7.6 in 2018).

Becoming a BSK crew member has had a hugely positive impact on the level of loneliness experienced by individuals. Since becoming a BSK crew member there is a 78% increase in never feeling lonely, a 45% decrease in sometimes feeling lonely, and a 50% decrease in often feeling lonely. In addition to this, the survey demonstrates the BSK's positive impact on anxiety: when asked to describe the level of anxiety before becoming a BSK crew member, the average rating was 5 (0-10 scale). Since becoming

a BSK crew member this reduces to 4.1 (-18%). The most notable differences being a 62% reduction in those who rated having high anxiety (ratings 9-10).

Since becoming a BSK crew member:

• 79% feel that their life is better now

• 79% feel more valued

• 68% have more pride

• 79% feel that being a BSK crew member gives them the confidence to move into another role in the future

• 82% have more friends since becoming a BSK crew member

• 50% have joined new social and sports clubs since becoming a BSK crew member

• 100% think their job makes other people happy

• 100% felt supported and listened to by the Beresford Street Kitchen staff

These positive results enabled by BSK directly contribute to the overall key outcome of the Disability Strategy of "working to ensure that people living with disability [in Jersey] enjoy a good quality of life".3 They also demonstrate the difference that can be made by an inclusive social enterprise such as BSK in terms of the four wellbeing indicators that the Disability Strategy sets out as the method for measuring success, these being:

• life satisfaction

• sense that what one does in life is worthwhile

• happiness

• anxiety.

Development opportunities

BSK is developing the Aspire Life Skills Programme' which is an adult education scheme for crew working at the Aspire Charitable Trust social enterprises including Beresford Street Kitchen, Beresford Street Print Works, La Hougue Bie Tea Rooms, and the Police HQ canteen.

The programme has just been launched and will enable crew to further develop their employability, personal and social abilities and general life skills.

There can be barriers to learning life skills. However, these skills can be taught through active learning, where teaching is targeted at the individual's level and ability. The programme  covers:  Skills  for  Daily  Living,  Skills  for  Socialising,  Skills  for  the Workplace. There are three levels: Pathway, Traineeship and Apprenticeship. The programme is delivered in-house through a series of challenges and certifications.

3 R.57/2017: Disability Strategy for Jersey

Financial position

Beresford Street Kitchen exists due to the generosity of an anonymous donor who purchased and lent the building to the charity for 21 years rent free and funded the extensive restoration and fit out costs.

As a social enterprise it generates considerable traded income (£350,000 per annum) however,  due  to  the  highly  supported  training  environment,  operating  costs  are significantly  higher  than  comparable  businesses.  BSK  continues  to  manage  its operations to get the most from them financially but there is, and always will be a gap. BSK has done incredibly well to sustain the charity over the last 3 years with £499,825 and £585,237 raised in grants and donations in 2018 and 2019. Since opening, it has been reliant on several major grants. Many of these were multi-year grants which are now expiring.

BSK's current cash levels are under 6 months operating costs. With key funding coming to an end and looking into next year it is not possible to maintain the current level of fundraised income.

As already set out in this report, BSK has demonstrated the positive impact of its work over the last 3 years on the quality of life of people with learning disabilities and autism through the provision of education, training and employment and would value long- term Government funding. To continue operating on the current scale BSK requires £300,000 annually towards overhead costs.

If funding is not secured, BSK will potentially need to close operations which would have a significant detrimental effect on the current crew members, those on the waiting list and future generations of adults with learning disabilities and autism. This would have an incredibly negative impact on the wellbeing of many and it is hoped that Government will recognise this and wholeheartedly support the opportunity to sustain the ongoing inclusion and development of Islanders by the Beresford Street Kitchen.

Financial and manpower implications

Funding of £300,000 will be required from the skills budget.