Care Memorial Planned For At La Collette Gardens

Wednesday, 21 December 2022 at 11:19

La Collette Gardens. Credit: Parish of St Helier.

A memorial to islanders who suffered abuse in Jersey's care system will be at La Collette Gardens, if planning approval is giving next year.

A permanent memorial was one of the recommendations that came from the 2017 Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.

A Citizen's Panel, set up in its wake, recommended a place to acknowledge what happened.

Jersey Community Partnership, which is representing child abuse survivors, says the design for a 'Place to Remember' has been submitted for pre-application planning advice.

Previous controversial plans and designs for a memorial at the Weighbridge were scrapped when some survivors said it would reignite upsetting memories.

Previous designs for a memorial at the Weighbridge were shelved following a protest in late 2020

Work has been going on since to achieve a consensus.

Now, if the 'Place to Remember' is approved, it will be at La Collette Gardens in St Helier.

The design will include a 'reflective pool', a butterfly garden and a small granite structure positioned in the first rays of morning sun - as a symbol of hope and a reminder that 'each day is a fresh start'.

“Submitting pre-application planning advice is a huge step forward to realising the Place to Remember.

I would like to thank everyone who has been involved so far, for their commitment and vision for this very important place. We look forward to receiving planning approval next year.” - Cheyenne O’Connor, Outreach Worker for survivors of institutional abuse.