Month: February 2025

JT’s Community Giving Scheme has donated the connectivity needed for the new security cameras designed to protect the restored Pat Merriman Peace Garden in the Les Cotils following vandalism earlier this year.

Designed to be a restorative outdoor space to help people undergoing a healing process from physical or mental ill health. The garden planners consulted with Alzheimer’s, Autism and Dementia experts when it was being designed, so that it could be an inclusive area for everyone.

In April, the garden suffered over £7,000 worth of damage due to vandalism. Several trees were destroyed by arson, the walkway was ruined, and wildlife disrupted when granite was deliberately pushed into the pond.

Local businessman, Matt Thornton, co-founder of Cortex Technologies heard about the vandalism through the local media and donated £1,500 for repairs. Another friend of Les Cotils donated new sleepers for the bank under the tulip tree, after the previous ones had been soaked in petrol and set on fire. JT’s donation is the final piece of an amazing community effort to help restore and protect the garden.

Erin Adkins, Head of Operations at Les Cotils Centre, said: ‘The Peace Garden is a place of tranquillity and while we’ve been reluctant to install cameras, sadly we have been left with little choice.’

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, said: In a stressful world, we all need a place to pause and recharge. The Pat Merriman Peace Garden offers just that—a peaceful spot with beautiful views of St Peter Port to find calm and inspiration. When it was damaged, it was a real blow to the community, but the way everyone came together to restore it shows just how much it means to us all. It’s a reminder that even in the face of senseless acts, we can come together and care for what really matters.

Erin continued: ‘We are so grateful to JT and the rest of the community who have pulled together to rebuild the gardens. When Matt reached out to us, it restored my faith in humankind. Most people don’t realise what Les Cotils does and if he and JT hadn’t come forward, we would have had to spend money that would have otherwise gone towards helping others. We’re delighted that together we could bring the garden back to its natural state, and we hope that islanders will continue to enjoy the scenery and tranquillity for many years to come.’

The Little Chapel Foundation, the latest recipient of JT’s Community Giving scheme, has received a mobile data device, which means the charity can now take donations by card as well as cash.

One of Guernsey’s most loved heritage sites, The Little Chapel, is renowned for its intricate design and historical significance. Managed by a charitable foundation, it remains open to the public without an entry fee, relying entirely on donations to sustain its operations and continue the mission of its preservation.

Previously, without a data connection, many well-meaning visitors were unable to donate to the foundation unless they had cash. With the donated data device and 12 months of free data, visitors can now easily ‘tap’ into an online donation system, making seamless donations via their credit and debit cards.

Joachim “JJ” Paes, a Councillor and the Treasurer of the Little Chapel Foundation, said: “The Foundation depends 100% upon the generosity of the local community and visitors. We are so grateful to JT for their help with connecting this iconic attraction to the technology needed to enable people to donate in seconds. Something as simple as this gives us a new lifeline. This generous donation means more people can contribute to our goal to raise much-needed funds to fully restore The Little Chapel, which includes plans for wheelchair-friendly walkways and woodland gardens. For us, it’s helping to ensure its survival for future generations.”

Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships, added: “Relying solely on donations can be a real challenge for charities, which is why we set up JT Community Giving, so that each year we could help as many small organisations as possible that don’t have the means to fund basic digital equipment or large fundraising campaigns. The Little Chapel remains one of the island’s most popular tourism attractions, celebrated for its remarkable detail and fascinating history, and we’re delighted to have played a small part in helping them to maintain this wonderful part of our heritage.”

JT’s Community Giving scheme has assisted over 300 charities since November 2022 when the scheme began, spanning a diverse range of demographics and providing essential community services.

For more information or to apply, visit JT Community Giving.