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Variety’s Young Star of the Year Winner was announced in a poignant ceremony on Sunday 4th March. Twenty deserving youngsters were recognised for their commendable achievements and eleven-year-old Milo Baudains was crowned Variety’s Young Star of the Year 2018.

This year’s nominations were vast, with touching and triumphant stories from Jersey’s young community. The Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel hosted the extraordinary ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ themed event and local journalist Kevin Pamplin gave up his time to act as MC for the special ceremony.

The Awards acknowledged outstanding examples of courage, creativity, skill and selflessness. The ceremony was honoured by the attendance of its patrons Lieutenant-Governor, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton, and Lady Dalton.

After winning the ‘Young Star as Carer’ category, Milo Baudains was crowned the overall winner and credited for the wonderful care and support he gives his Mum, who is paraplegic. Milo’s mum broke her back in a horse riding accident in 1995 and she has been confined to a wheelchair since. Milo is described by his mum as ‘very sensible and caring for his age’ and each day, without thinking, helps her in any way he can. He gave up playing with his friends and going to Christmas parties two years ago after his mother also broke her hip, instead he stays at home to look after her and keep her company.

Milo is physically not very big and yet he finds the physical strength to hold his Mum and the wheelchair if she needs assistance. The Awards judges heard how on one occasion, when his mum fell from the car, he stopped her from hitting the floor whilst phoning his Dad for help.

Milo’s mum describes her son as ‘fun-loving’ and she believes that he really deserves recognition for all the help he gives under difficult circumstances and also for the day to day assistance he gives without a thought for himself.

The judging panel, who this year consisted of Lady Dalton, Charlie McArdle from the BBC and Malcolm Lewis, Chairman of Longueville Manor, said that ‘he truly deserved to be this year’s winner as he is a little boy who is so devoted to his Mum and really is a Young Star.’

Alongside Milo, many other young Islanders were recognised at the event in categories such as ‘Young Star of Courage Age 6-10’, ‘Community’, ‘Sports’ and ‘Arts and Academia’. Winners of each category were awarded £500 worth of CI Co-operative vouchers, while finalists were awarded £100 worth of vouchers.

Sandra Auckland, Chief Barker and Chairman for this event for Variety–The Children’s Charity of Jersey, says:

‘Every year I am more and more amazed by the young stars of Jersey. The nominations are always so poignant and inspirational. This year, every finalist has demonstrated strength, hard work and dedication that is well beyond their years. This event is so important, not only to recognise their past achievements, but also to encourage their future aspirations. An event like this wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors. We are so grateful for their contributions, especially the Channel Islands Co-operative Society. I am also thankful to our judges, it’s always a difficult job because each story is so unique and heartfelt. As with every year, we encourage all the schools, clubs and associations to participate as I know there are still so many unsung heroes out there.’

Full List of Winners and Finalists:

VARIETY’S YOUNG STAR OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Milo Baudains (11) – also Young Star as Carer

Young Star of Courage Age 6-10:
Winner: Kevin Teles (10)
Finalists: Lucy McKay (6), Daniel Canham (8), Eliana Lazzarin (10)

Young Star of Courage Age 11-16:
Winner: Charlotte Fernandes (11)
Finalists: Joanna de Oliveira (11), Holly Noel (16) and Mafalda Oliveira (14)

Young Star of Community:
Joint Winners: Nicole (12) and Scarlett Camacho (10)
Finalists: Harry de Gruchy-Wilson (6), Jayden Corley (13), Lexi Farrell (7), William Highfield (7)

Young Star as Carer:
Winner: Milo Baudains (11)
Finalists: Mimi Eloise-Galvin (15) Owen Ballantyne (7)

Young Star of Sports
Winner: Grace Greenwood (13)

Young Star of the Arts
Winner: India Henstridge (13)

Young Star of Academia
Winner: Tiago Alves (15)

Variety, the Children’s Charity of Jersey, marks 50 years of helping disadvantaged and special needs children in Jersey, with a charity skydive and, as the Battle of Flowers chosen charity, their first ever float. They want you to get involved and help them fundraise.

For the last 50 years, on almost a daily basis, Variety has received requests from schools, health visitors, social workers, occupational therapists and other organisations who have direct dealings with families for help supporting children who are disadvantaged or have special needs.

Variety’s mission has been assisting these children to ensure that as far as possible they have equal opportunities.

Many of the requests are for help with basic needs such as food, uniforms, shoes, and baby equipment. As well as requests to provide specialist equipment for disabled children such as wheelchairs, walkers, electronic beds and supportive buggies.

In 2017, the total requests Variety received were from 357 families with 732 children amounting to £50,333.70. This represents an increase of 43% in the number of children needing their help from the previous year.

Can you help Variety fundraise to support these children?

How you can get involved:
– Variety are delighted to have been chosen as the 2018 Battle of Flowers official charity. As well as fundraising on the day, they are looking for people to help build and decorate their first ever float.
– Variety will have eight brave skydivers taking to the skies on Friday the 31st August. They are looking for some more volunteers willing to take the plunge for a good cause.

Sandra Auckland, Chief Barker, says:

‘We are very grateful to all of those who have supported Variety over the years. We have been able to help so many individuals during this time and everything we have achieved has been possible thanks to the generosity of Islanders.

Unfortunately, our work is not complete, as we heard from a speech given by the States of Jersey CEO, Charlie Parker, there are still around 300 children in the Island who come from families who are not able to give them breakfast in the morning or buy their school uniforms.

Variety plays a vital role in supporting these children and we are asking you to get involved and give us a special push this year. Whether that be helping us build our float for the Battle of Flowers, jumping out of a plane for Variety or fundraising in any way you can.

We rely entirely on the generosity of Islanders and our patrons to continue to support our children and any offers of help will be received with open arms, whether you want to become a member, fundraise, volunteer or donate. The only people more grateful than the team at Variety, will be the local children whose lives will be improved.’

If you are able to help Variety fundraise please contact us on 01534 856937 or email [email protected]

A state-of-the-art wine cellar has been built at Longueville Manor in Jersey. It is the first time in the Manor’s history that it has had such a facility. The cellar is the first of its kind for any Jersey hotel or restaurant and one of very few throughout the UK.

After securing deals on two important private collections, the cellar now boasts over 4000 bottles, including a number of extremely rare varieties. A number of the highest value bottles could be expected to raise over £3,000 at auction.

The owners of Longueville Manor, Malcolm and Patricia Lewis, have invested over three quarters of a million pounds in their latest stage of refurbishment. This includes the bespoke wine cellar, contemporary laundry facilities and a new pastry kitchen.

The cellar’s racking systems were crafted by Sorrells Custom Wine Cellars, one of the UK’s most prestigious wine storage experts. Previous clients of Sorrells include The Ritz, Galvin La Chapelle and The Dorchester. Their design at Longueville Manor has delivered optimum storage conditions to perfectly care for the wine, inclusive of insulation, lighting and temperature control systems. The seven-month build has been meticulously managed by Malcolm Lewis from concept to completion and local wine merchants Love Wine have, as local agent for Sorrels, assisted at every stage.

The exceptional wine collection now offers huge temptation to oenophiles. Of special mention is a collection of Le Montrachet and Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet from Domaine Ramonet, including vintages from 1986 to 2010. The Magnums and bottles of Musigny Grand Cru from the famous Comte Georges De Vogue 2001 are also much sought after. Alongside, guests will see an array of Jeroboams and Double Magnums including a Jeroboam of 1988 Bollinger R.D Champagne and a Double Magnum of 1953 Chateau Gruaud-Larose.

Wine tasting will now be at the heart of a memorable dining experience at Longueville Manor. Tasting packages have been designed by the Manor’s Managing Director, Pedro Bento. The cellar can now hold wine tasting events for up to 40 people.

Malcolm Lewis, Proprietor, Longueville Manor, says:

‘I am so proud to launch the Longueville Manor Wine Cellar. I believe it stands out as one of the top wine cellars in the UK as both a working cellar and a collection of interest. It’s so unique and we honestly have to pinch ourselves to believe it’s now a reality.

‘Fine dining and fine wine are synonymous, so this exceptional facility is ideal for our clientele many of whom are collectors themselves. We are enjoying giving tours and discussing the rare wines, Champagnes and Ports. It’s an excellent addition to our property and we are delighted to share it with our guests.’

Tim Lewis, Sales and Operations Director, Sorrells, says:

‘Malcolm Lewis had a passion and clear vision for the project from the outset and we used our expertise to enhance his ideas. We incorporated a display cabinet, a wine tasting table with corks set under glass and state of the art display racking. We used redwood with a dark finish and installed LED lighting throughout. The room is temperature controlled by one of our bespoke mechanical systems and sealed with a bespoke hardwood ash door with a glass viewing panel. Longueville Manor is a highly prestigious hotel and now the wine cellar and tasting area will be the envy of every major hotel around the world.’

Cheval Roc, a Nursing and Residential Care Home situated in Bonne Nuit Bay, is playing host to eight nursery school children, for a morning of singing, crafts and cakes, on Thursday 22nd February.

The children, from Acorn Nursery School, are taking part in an initiative which is inspired by Channel 4’s ‘Old People’s Home For 4-Year-Olds’, where pre-schoolers shared their classroom with pensioners. The idea, which has also been trialled across the US, focuses on the benefits to health and happiness the older group receives from intergenerational relationships: these range from a reduction in cases of depression, to improved memory and an enhanced sense of purpose.

Research also shows that children can benefit from these interactions, with improved academic performance and a heightened sensitivity towards aging and those with disabilities, making them socially more mature than their peers.*

Vicky Scarborough, Owner, Acorn Nursery School, says:

‘Many of our children are collected by grandparents who either live on the Island or are visiting. To witness the joy in the faces of both is testament to the valuable role that older people can play in the lives of our little children and the pleasure the young give in return.

We are taking eight children aged three and four to visit Cheval Roc, armed with cakes that they have made, songs they have practiced and puzzles they would like to share with the residents. We hope this will be the start of regular meetings that will enhance the lives of both the young and the old.’

Maggie Stobbart-Rowlands, Manager of Cheval Roc, says:

‘At Cheval Roc, we pride ourselves in putting people at the heart of everything we do. The health and wellbeing of our residents is of utmost importance to us and we are delighted with this new partnership with Acorn Nursery School. The children’s unbound energy, curiosity and joy for life makes for an invigorating experience for our residents and we hope they will be able to give back just as much to the children.’

* Generations United: http://www.gu.org/RESOURCES/Research.aspx

Renowned Relais & Châteaux chefs Michael Caines and George Blogg will be cooking up a gourmet storm at Longueville Manor to launch the hotel’s 2018 Guest Chef Series. The Michelin-starred chefs will be creating collaborative tasting menus in February and March with Longueville Manor’s Executive Head Chef Andrew Baird.

The visiting chefs will showcase their regions in their dishes, whilst Andrew will be celebrating the best of Jersey’s award-winning produce. At the helm for over 25 years, Andrew has acute knowledge of the exquisite ingredients and quality producers on the Island.

George Blogg from Gravetye Manor will cook for guests at Longueville Manor on 22nd February, followed by Michael Caines from Lympstone Manor on 8th March. Alongside the tasting menu, guests will be treated to a preview of the Manor’s spectacular new wine cellar and enjoy a Champagne reception. The special dining experiences will be paired with a superb selection of fine wines for each course.

Speaking about the series, Longueville Manor owner Malcolm Lewis says:

‘At Longueville we are passionate about food, sustainability and sharing ideas and we are therefore delighted to welcome these amazing chefs. We are looking forward to seeing what they create for our guests, each showcasing their region whilst working with Andrew on the exceptional ingredients we have on Island. As well as delicious dishes, our series will demonstrate Relais & Châteaux’s commitment to local cuisine. The two events will also give us the opportunity to show off our new state of the art wine cellar and tasting room – the only one of its type in Jersey.’

George Blogg, Gravetye Manor, Sussex – 22nd February
George Blogg has over 20 years of culinary experience from some of the most prestigious restaurants in Europe. He has worked as Head Chef of Gravetye Manor since 2014 and achieved Michelin star status in 2015. George’s cooking is led by the produce grown in Gravetye Manor’s iconic gardens and the Sussex countryside. Famed for his focus on unpretentious, seasonal dishes, George will be treating guests at Longueville Manor to a six-course tasting menu, with three dishes inspired by Gravetye Manor and three courses prepared by Andrew using Jersey ingredients. Dishes from George will include supreme ingredients such as celeriac, black truffle, smoked High Weald cow’s curd, Sussex roe venison, preserved wild garlic seeds, caramelised white chocolate, and Gravetye apples. www.gravetyemanor.co.uk

Michael Caines, Lympstone Manor, Devon – 8th March
Michael Caines MBE, is one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed chefs. In April 2017 Michael opened Lympstone Manor, a country house hotel for the 21st century, which received a Michelin star just six months after launching. Over the past 22 years, Michael has earned a global reputation for his distinctive modern European cuisine utilising the finest regional produce and ingredients. Guests at Longueville Manor will be served an eight-course tasting menu, with Andrew and Michael preparing four courses each. Michael’s menu will consist of some of his outstanding local produce such as fillet of Darts Farm beef, as well as seafood inspired by the Exe Estuary, which Lympstone Manor overlooks. www.lympstonemanor.co.uk

In addition to dinner at Longueville Manor, Michael will also host an event at Beresford Street Kitchen, a social enterprise that is supported by the hotel. A busy café, meeting point and social hub, Beresford Street Kitchen offers people in Jersey with learning disabilities and autism the chance to develop workplace skills and engage with the community in an inclusive, safe and supportive environment. During his visit on Friday 9th March, Michael will judge a cookery competition as well as giving a talk about his experiences in the hospitality industry. www.beresfordstreetkitchen.je

The UBS Forum, to be held at The Royal Yacht on 22 January 2018, will analyse significant projections for the economic year ahead. UBS’ Chief Investment Office economists and analysts will provide an in-depth overview of the economic and financial outlook for 2018.

In such a challenging geopolitical climate, the UBS Forum couldn’t be more vital for investors. The speakers will present analysis of the global economic trends, how they are expected to influence the financial markets and the likely implications for different asset classes.

The UBS Forum consolidates knowledge from over 900 global analysts, with Economist Dean Turner providing a UK specific update on the year ahead and Caroline Simmons, Deputy-head, Investment Office UK, looking at the investment opportunities for 2018 as well as the long-term global economic outlook.

Senior Impacting Strategist, James Gifford, will put the spotlight on the topic of Impact Investing which has been identified as a potentially significant investment opportunity for the next decade. Additionally, James Mulford, Head of Investment Management UK & Jersey, will look back over the last year and provide an overview of the performance of UBS discretionary portfolios.

The debate will be opened and hosted by Tom Hill, Group Country Head, Jersey and be moderated by David Rowe, Managing Director, UBS Wealth Management. The event will finish with a lively panel debate and questions from the audience.

Tom Hill, Group Country Head, UBS Wealth Management, Jersey, says:

‘This is the thirteenth year we have hosted the UBS Forum and it always sets the tone for the year ahead. It is highly anticipated by our clients; understanding the investment landscape is critical and knowing how to maximise the opportunities is even more important to them.

UBS Wealth Management provides comprehensive advice and financial services to private clients around the world, with the exception of those served by Wealth Management Americas. UBS is a global firm with global capabilities and its clients benefit from a full spectrum of resources, including wealth planning, investment management solutions and corporate finance advice, banking and lending solutions, as well as a wide range of specific offerings.’

Key influencers from UBS presented their review and predictions to an audience of over 100 private investors and intermediaries at the 2018 UBS Forum, held at the Royal Yacht Hotel on the 22nd January.

The UBS Forum was opened by Tom Hill, Group Country Head, UBS Wealth Management in Jersey. The four speakers, Dean Turner, Caroline Simmons, James Gifford and James Mulford, then presented key analysis of global economic trends, how they are expected to influence the financial markets and the likely implications for different asset classes.

Economist Dean Turner, from the UK Investment Office at UBS Wealth Management, assured investors that the political instability of 2017 – including Brexit, Donald Trump’s first year as President and North Korea’s missile tests – had resulted in little impact on the global economy.

Mr. Turner said: ‘Political impact has proved to be very slight. In fact, it looks like 2017 is going to be the best year for the global economy since 2011. The era of austerity ended in Europe and it’s the first year that every country in the G20 experienced economic growth. A recession in 2018 is highly unlikely but we should still be braced for some change. One change is likely to be the banks introducing monetary tightening and the end of easy money. Additionally, we should expect a stronger euro and a weaker dollar.’

For UBS, 2017 saw the company perform ahead of its peers, due to a focus on globally diverse portfolios and good conditions for hedge funds. With a resource of over 900 analysts, UBS could support clients in being pro-risk. Current data places UBS’ performance in the top quartile.

James Gifford, Head of Impact Investing at UBS Wealth Management, spoke of a new generation of investors. ‘With the median age in the world now being 26 years old, there has been a huge transfer of wealth to the millennials. The economic power of women is also on the rise. Both groups are really pushing for investments that not only deliver commercial returns but match their ethical values and ideals.’

Impact investing was highlighted as a significant investment opportunity for the next decade. The sector encompasses investments made into companies, organisations and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. Projects include water security, clean air, affordable housing, energy efficiency and emerging market healthcare.

Mr. Gifford explained: ‘Your investments have an impact on the world for better or for worse. What’s interesting is you can have financial wealth and sustainability – financial returns are virtually the same over the long term as with a conventional portfolio. In education and water efficiency there are incredible opportunities and somebody is going to make a lot of money in cleaning up China’s air. Investors looking at this are conscious of creating a legacy for the future. Impact investing is growing fast and the face of wealth is changing.’

Throughout the UBS Forum, the audience of private investors and intermediaries were invited to answer a series of questions. 72% of the audience said they would invest in sustainable or impact investments and 64% said they believed sustainable or impact portfolios would provide the same or similar returns to a conventional portfolio. Their greatest concern with investing currently was ‘political instability’ but 54% said they felt more confident about economic growth in Jersey than this time last year*.

All four speakers responded to questions from the audience with topics ranging from sustainable investment costs, to Systematic Allocation Portfolios, to the value of investing in hard commodities.

ZEDRA is proud to announce a series of excellent exam results. Over the past year, 17 members of the Jersey team have achieved a number of professional qualifications.

Four team members have passed the STEP Foundation Certificate in International Trust Management and James Amos has passed the STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients. Full STEP members are internationally recognised as experts in their field.

Further qualifications have also been attained by other parts of the business. Lidia Wieclawska passed several papers during 2017 and now holds the full International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB) qualification. Carolyn Cowan and Francesca Frezza have both achieved certification in General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). ZEDRA Jersey now offers data protection services to clients, which will greatly assist as the law comes into force in May this year.

In November 2017, ten members of the ZEDRA team gained the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification issued by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC). The globally recognised IASSC Certification provides a mark of professional distinction.

ZEDRA is an independent, global specialist in trust, corporate and fund services with 13 offices globally. The Jersey office houses ZEDRA’s largest team with over 140 employees and a continued strategy for growth. The business provides a wide range of private client, corporate and fund administration services to an international client base.

As an employer of choice, ZEDRA is committed to supporting the professional and personal development of its employees and training and mentoring forms an important part of this ethos. The company continues to attract ambitious professionals who are passionate and committed to working as part of a pioneering team.

Ashley Cox, Managing Director, ZEDRA Jersey, says:

‘Our “Do More. Achieve More” ethos is at the centre of everything we do and our colleagues’ professional development and growth is key to our identity and vision. We are very proud to announce such an impressive cohort of professional qualifications. It is important to both our team and our clients that we uphold the highest standards and produce excellent results. This can only be achieved through attracting the right people and ensuring their continued professional and personal development. We look forward to an excellent year ahead where we will see many more members of the team achieve their ambitions.’