Alongside funding, the Foundation provides developmental support to its charity partners. This includes mentoring, where a Lloyds Bank International colleague is paired with a charity whose needs suit their expertise.
My Voice supports people who are severely affected by mental illness or lacking capacity. The charity employs a team of specialist Mental Health Advocates who work across Jersey. Specialist national training and skills enable their advocates to work with individuals with the most complex needs.
Since 2006, the professional, independent mental health advocacy charity has supported around 400 people per year in Jersey from between 14 and 104 years of age. Most of their clients will have a recent professional diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, depression, personality disorder or dementia.
My Voice has the States of Jersey contract for mental health advocacy, but it is sometimes difficult for them to measure outcomes and effectiveness. The charity supports people with serious mental health problems, meaning that just making it through the day is a positive outcome.
Lloyds Bank International colleague, Jack Waters, has been working with Patricia Winchester, CEO at My Voice, to help improve the charity’s data collection, processing and sharing.
Using his experience of preparing Board papers at Lloyds Bank International, Jack helped Patricia to prepare high-level Board papers. “It’s about pitching it at the right level,” Jack explains. “Patricia needed to provide the Board with enough information to understand how they could best support, without them getting bogged down in details.”
Patricia says that working with Jack has validated her experience and leadership. “He has given me the confidence to make the right decisions for My Voice,” she says. “In sharing his experience, Jack has enabled us to determine the best roles and responsibilities for our Board of Non-Executive Directors, giving our charity a clearer and more strategic direction.”
“It’s been a really rewarding experience,” Jack comments. “The passion My Voice has is incredibly inspiring and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to be outside of my comfort zone.” – Jack Waters