The Jersey Aero Club’s Helping Hands project was born out of an idea first conceived for the 2005 Jersey International Air Rally – to share the excitement of flying in a light aircraft with young Jersey people who would not otherwise get the chance. For the focus on that year’s air rally, a young Jersey student was carefully selected to receive a Private Pilot’s scholarship. The funds for this were raised from club members, air rally entrants and sponsors.

The success of this project led the Jersey Aero Club to its current project – Helping Hands.
Under the general aim of sharing our passion for flying, Helping Hands has enabled special needs children to take a flight round the island as part of the day out at the aero club. Again the generosity of club members, air rally entrants and sponsors has enabled this.

So far, 45 children have flown with the aero club on two separate days, both in 2008. The days are carefully constructed around the needs of the children and the regulations involved with the children. The club has been fortunate to have, within the Helping Hands team, a senior figure in child care. Together with his expertise and that of the various groups such as Autism Jersey and Jersey Youth Service, we have been able to ensure that not only the children have a wonderful day but that all the correct procedures are followed.

A typical day sees the children, with their parents or carers being welcomed at the club. They receive a souvenir bag including a T-shirt featuring the Helping Hands logo specially commissioned from local artist, Giles Robson and other small gifts. Lunch is provided in the clubhouse with a magician to entertain the crowd! Outside, the children then get a chance to climb onboard one of Jersey Airport’s fire vehicles before they are introduced to their pilots for the highlight of the day – a flight around the island. For the 20 to 30 minutes flight, every child is accompanied by his/hers parent or career and when space allows, brother or sister. The look on everyone’s face is more than enough to make the project worthwhile. Before the end of the day, everyone will receive a souvenir photograph taken and very generously given by Kandidprints.

We have a very enthusiastic group of pilots who give their time and aircraft to the event. The feed back from careers and parents is so positive, and the response from the children so heart warming that, what started as a one off project will, we hope, become a regular part of the Jersey Aero Club’s calendar.
The effort is richly rewarded. To quote one parent “Today was a life changing experience...”