Seven-year-old Jersey fundraiser helps raise £2,500 for food poverty charity

A seven-year-old from Jersey has helped raise £2,500 for a local food poverty charity after donating her birthday money and organising events and fundraisers over the past 18 months.

Ophelia, whose father is a chef lecturer at Highlands College, has supported Caring Cooks — a charity that aims to ensure no child or family in Jersey goes hungry through donations and education — since she was five. Her efforts have included collecting donations and involving other children in the charity’s activities.

Yvonne Corbin, a representative of Caring Cooks, said Ophelia has "brought awareness to how important charity work is" and described the girl as "incredible." Corbin said she was moved when Ophelia’s mother told her that the child wanted to donate her birthday money and noted that "everything is off of her own back and comes up with her own ideas." Corbin added that Ophelia has energised the charity by getting children involved in its work.

Ophelia’s father, Adrian Goldsborough, said his daughter has taken the work seriously and that it has been "fantastic" to see the effects of her fundraising. "I don't think Ophelia understands how her actions have helped so many," he said, adding that he hopes her example will encourage other children to support charities such as Caring Cooks.

Ophelia said volunteering "makes me happy because I'm helping other people" and that she wants to continue so "other people do it." She has been shortlisted for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards, with the winner due to be announced on Friday.

Caring Cooks runs donation and education programmes aimed at addressing food insecurity in Jersey. The charity said that grassroots support and community fundraising are important to sustain its services and expand outreach to families in need.

Local volunteers and parents have welcomed Ophelia's involvement, saying it helps raise both funds and awareness among young people. Organisers said the funds raised by the seven-year-old will be used to support meals, food parcels and educational activities that teach families about cooking and nutrition.

The nomination for the Make a Difference Awards recognises individuals and groups that have made notable contributions to the community. Caring Cooks said it hopes Ophelia’s profile will highlight the role children can play in tackling food poverty and inspire other young people to take part in volunteer work.

The award outcome will be announced later this week. In the meantime, the charity continues to seek donations and volunteers to support ongoing programmes aimed at ensuring children and families in Jersey do not go hungry.