Government reverses decision to cut JET's funding

It's been confirmed that Jersey Employment Trust will get the same amount of funding this year as it did in 2025.

Speaking in the States this morning, the Social Security Minister has confirmed that Jersey Employment Trust will get the same level of funding in 2026 as it did last year.

That is £2.7 million pounds.

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham was questioned earlier (20 January) about the decision to cap Jersey Employment Trust's funding, which prompted a public backlash and a five-thousand-signature petition in support of the charity which helps disabled people find work.

READ: All JET staff at risk of redundancy as government caps funding

The Minister has since reversed the decision, and she and the charity have since released a joint statement, saying it removes the risk of redundancy and ensures job support services for disabled islanders continue uninterrupted.

Deputy Lindsay Feltham rejected the suggestion she was forcing JET's hand:

"I have not and never would hold any organisation to ransom, that is simply not the way that I operate, it's not the way that I operate or work."

She says work will continue on developing a future funding model.

Before the confirmation, the Board of Jersey Employment Trust said it was having 'constructive discussions' with the government about its funding, while thanking the community for their 'remarkable support'.

Last week, JET announced it would have to close its waiting list to new referrals and put all 38 staff at risk of redundancy after the government said it would stop providing 'top-up grants', which last year totalled £785,000 above its core funding of £1.9m.

The reduction was set to almost halve JET's budget and capacity, with JET saying the 'current contract' was 'no longer sustainable at its existing scale.'

The Social Security Minister reasoned that the funding model, of a core grant and one-off grants to cover additional costs, was 'unsustainable'.

READ: Minister: JET's top-up funding model was 'unsustainable'

At the time, she said she has a responsibility to make sure taxpayers' money is used appropriately, and the reason for the cut was JET 'running considerable overspends', which are 'unsustainable'.

Late on Sunday, the Minister said she had found some department money to provide JET with 'stabilisation funding' for this year, but would not tell Channel 103 how much that was worth:

"Any final agreement to the amount will be subject to commercially sensitive conversations with JET and understanding JET’s service proposal and costs associated with delivering this."

Today the Minister said:

"We all agree on the need to develop a longer‑term, sustainable solution for JET's funding and this funding means we will have additional time to work together to achieve that.

"Following a constructive meeting yesterday afternoon I am confident we can work positively together with the JET Board and management team. This puts an end to the uncertainty for JET’s staff and clients."

JET's Acting Chair, Dan Perkins said he was delighted an agreement has been reached.

"...we remain totally committed to positive engagement over the coming weeks and months, and to finding a sustainable way forward for all parties.

I would like to put on record my thanks to the incredible JET staff for the professionalism they have shown during such a challenging period."

The longer-term solution will include a revised contract for services, an agreement on data sharing and a business plan that ensures JET and government services don't overlap.