The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation‘s Portlaoise Charity Boutique is now officially JAM (Just A Minute) friendly, following the successful completion of JAM training by all staff members across the organisation, including Shop Managers, Nurses, office staff and the family support team.
The JAM Card initiative allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to discreetly and easily communicate their need for ‘Just A Minute’ of patience and understanding when in a public setting.
By becoming JAM Card friendly, Jack and Jill say it is “reinforcing its commitment to making its stores and the wider organisation as inclusive and welcoming as possible for everyone in the community.”
Stacey Bohanna, Head of Retail and Compliance at the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, said: “We’re really proud to have achieved JAM accreditation across all our Jack and Jill Charity Boutiques.
“This training helps ensure our shops are safe, supportive spaces where all customers feel understood and valued.
“It’s a small step that makes a big difference and it reflects our wider commitment to accessibility, inclusion and community care.”
The JAM Card initiative was developed by the social enterprise NOW Group, who’s CEO Maeve Monaghan, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation become JAM Card friendly across all of its Charity Boutiques.
“JAM Card awareness plays a key role in fostering inclusion and understanding for people with communication barriers.”
The Portlaoise boutique is part of a nationwide network of Jack and Jill Charity Boutiques that help fund vital in-home nursing care and respite support for children with complex medical needs.
Currently, Jack and Jill supports eight children in Laois and has supported 53 children in the county since the charity was founded in 1997.
The charity provides up to 100 hours per month of in-home nursing care and respite support to families caring for children, up to the age of six, with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs.
Typically, these children may be tube fed, oxygen dependent, may not sleep, take seizures, need a lot of medication and require around-the-clock care.
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