JAYF

What JAYF does

JAYF (The Jersey Association for Youth & Friendship) is a registered Jersey charity (no. 143) founded in 1961 that provides supported accommodation and related services for young people aged 18-25 experiencing homelessness in the Channel Islands. The charity operates four hostels offering supervised, furnished bedsit or studio-type accommodation for up to 26 young adults, supplemented by three one-bed independent living flats that provide a graduated pathway toward self-sufficiency. Residents typically stay between 6 months and 3 years. The organization uses an attachment-aware approach and trauma-informed practice, delivered through resident House Supervisors at each hostel location. Young people access services either through self-referral (with a 48-hour response commitment) or through agency referrals from professional organisations including social workers, mental health services, and educational institutions such as Highlands College.

JAYF's core offering is direct service delivery rather than a technology product. Its infrastructure comprises physical accommodation facilities in Jersey, supported by a governance committee led by Chair Hilary Jeune (a States of Jersey Deputy). The organization maintains an extensive referral network with partner organizations including Samaritans, Mind Jersey, Kooth, Jersey Women's Refuge, Citizens Advice Jersey, and the Children's Commissioner, enabling holistic support beyond housing alone. JAYF is one of only two third sector providers in Jersey specifically catering for 18-25 year olds, as identified in Jersey's first homelessness strategy published in 2021.

JAYF's revenue model is diversified across four streams: resident rent from hostel and flat occupants, grants from foundations and public sector bodies, corporate and individual donations (processed through Jersey Giving, JustGiving, payroll giving, Co-op dividend sharing, and Amazon Wishlist), and fundraising events. The charity's flagship fundraising series is JAYF Open Gardens, featuring premium Jersey venues such as Government House, with core sponsorship from Skipton International and in-kind support from Jersey Dairy. Additional supporters include the Richard Jeune Foundation, Jersey Freemasons, Co-op Channel Islands, Waitrose Jersey, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the Eric Young Orchid Foundation. The charity is currently recruiting for a CEO role, indicating an ongoing leadership transition and organizational professionalization effort.

Name

JAYF

Legal name

The Jersey Association for Youth & Friendship

Website

https://jayf.org.je

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Short description

JAYF is a Jersey-registered charity founded in 1961 that provides supervised hostel accommodation and independent living flats for up to 26 young adults aged 18-25 experiencing homelessness, funded through rent, grants, donations, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Supported Accommodation

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness support
• Supported accommodation services
• Homelessness prevention charity
• Residential youth housing
• Community-based social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey

HQ country

Jersey

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Resident Rent: JAYF generates revenue from the rent paid by residents staying in their four hostels and accommodation units.
2. Fundraising Events: The organisation runs fundraising events including the JAYF Open Gardens series, Bridge Lunch and Tea, and various community fundraising activities.
3. Grants: JAYF receives grants from public and private sector organisations, including corporate supporters like Skipton International and various foundations.
4. Public and Corporate Donations: Individual donations through Jersey Giving platform, corporate payroll giving schemes, and Co-op dividend donations from Channel Islands Co-op members.
5. Amazon Wishlist Donations: In-kind donations through Amazon wishlist for products supporting young people facing homelessness.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

JAYF provides supervised, furnished bedsit and studio-style hostel accommodation for up to 26 young adults aged 18–25 experiencing homelessness in Jersey, delivered through four hostels staffed by on-site House Supervisors. It also operates three one-bed flats offering independent living for residents transitioning out of supported housing, with average stays ranging from 6 months to 3 years. Complementary services include self-referral and agency-referral intake, a curated directory of external support resources (mental health, counselling, housing advice), and structured preparation for independent living.

Product overview

JAYF is a charity providing accommodation and support services for homeless youth in Jersey. The core offering consists of four hostels offering supervised bedsit and studio accommodation for 26 young adults aged 18-25, plus three one-bed independent living flats. Young people can access services through self-referral or agency referral. The organisation also provides a curated resource directory connecting residents with external support services. Fundraising activities include the annual Open Gardens event series and corporate engagement programmes. Donation processing is handled through multiple channels including Jersey Giving, bank transfer, payroll giving, and Amazon Wishlist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supervised Hostel Accommodation Four hostels offering supervised, furnished bedsit or small studio-type accommodation for up to 26 young adults aged 18-25 experiencing homelessness in Jersey, with on-site House Supervisors and an average stay of 6 months to 3 years.
• Independent Living Flats Three one-bed flats in one house offering independent living accommodation for young adults ready to transition from supervised hostel settings toward self-sufficient living.
• Self Referral Service Direct intake pathway enabling young people aged 18-25 in Jersey to contact JAYF themselves for housing and support, with JAYF committing to respond within 48 hours.
• Agency Referral Service Formal referral pathway for professional organisations such as social workers, mental health services, and educational institutions to refer young people aged 18-25 to JAYF, with placement matched through JAYF's network of third-sector accommodation partners.
• Young People Resources Directory Curated directory of free external support services for young people in Jersey covering mental health, counselling, housing advice, domestic abuse support, and crisis intervention, including referrals to Samaritans, Mind Jersey, Kooth, Jersey Women's Refuge, and Citizens Advice Jersey.
• JAYF Open Gardens Events Annual fundraising event series featuring private garden openings across Jersey (including Government House, Domaine des Vaux, Woodlands Court, Seafield House) with admission fees, cream teas, tombolas, and nature walks, supporting JAYF's operations.
• Corporate Fundraising and Engagement Programme Corporate engagement services for Jersey-based companies including payroll giving administration, employee fundraising support, matched funding coordination, and team challenge opportunities via Discover Adventure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residents successfully complete education and gain employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skipton InternationalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSkipton International provides continued support for the JAYF Open Gardens scheme. Their support has been instrumental in enabling successful fundraising events.
• Co-op Channel IslandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-op Channel Islands members can support JAYF while shopping by using JAYF's share number (1110) instead of their own number at checkout, donating their Co-op dividend.
• Jersey DairyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJersey Dairy donates milk and butter for JAYF Open Gardens events, supporting their fundraising activities.
• JustGivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJustGiving provides online fundraising platform services enabling supporters to create fundraising pages for JAYF.
• Eric Young Orchid FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Eric Young Orchid Foundation has dedicated their Open Day to JAYF fundraising, with their own staff offering tours and potting demonstrations. 2026 marks 40 years of the collection.
• Youth Enquiry ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing young people with free confidential information, advice and counselling services for JAYF referrals.
• SamaritanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization available for referrals from JAYF, providing support for young people not feeling okay.
• Mind JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent local charity providing support to people living with mental illness through volunteer-based Peer support. Available for JAYF referrals.
• The Listening LoungecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation supporting islanders with mental health and wellbeing, providing free counselling without need for referral. Available for JAYF referrals.
• KoothcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline mental wellbeing community providing free, safe and anonymous support. Accessible by selecting 'Jersey Kooth' during sign-up.
• Jersey Women's RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 service to women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Available for referrals from JAYF.
• Citizens Advice JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides information, advice and practical help on Housing, Employment, Benefits, Relationships, Legal and Debt Management. Available for JAYF referrals.
• Children's CommissionerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvailable for children or young people who feel they are not getting the help they need or are entitled to. Available for JAYF referrals.
• The Children and Families HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides information, advice and support for families and young people. Available for JAYF referrals.
• Highlands CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Life Team at Highlands College provides well-being and emotional/practical support for students. JAYF provides housing support enabling students to complete education.
• Discover AdventureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure challenge company providing trekking, running and cycling challenges. Employees can fundraise with colleagues for JAYF through open challenges across 4 continents.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Depaul UK: Charity supporting young people facing homelessness through accommodation, training and wellbeing programmes across the UK. Comparable to JAYF in focusing on homeless youth with supported housing pathways and partnerships with local agencies.
• Together Trust: Provides supported accommodation, residential care and special education for young people including those leaving care. Overlaps with JAYF's trauma-informed residential model and bridging-to-independence pathway.
• Single Homeless Project (SHP): London-based charity providing supported housing and homelessness services including for young people. Comparable to JAYF in operating small-to-medium hostel portfolios with move-on pathways and partnership-based referrals.
• Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity providing supported housing and services for 16-25 year olds. Most directly comparable to JAYF in mission, demographic focus, and supported-accommodation model, but at significantly larger national scale.
• Foyer Federation: Network of 'Foyers' providing integrated learning, training and accommodation for 16-25 year olds. Highly comparable to JAYF's combined housing-plus-life-skills approach targeting the same age cohort.
• P3 Charity (People, Potential, Possibilities): UK charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people, including young people, through supported housing and move-on services. Comparable operating model to JAYF's hostel-plus-flats structure.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA England & Wales: Large established charity providing supported accommodation including for young people across England and Wales. Comparable in offering supervised hostel-style accommodation but operates at much broader scale and with multiple programmes beyond youth homelessness.
• Catch22: Social business delivering services for young people including supported housing, leaving care support and education. Comparable in addressing vulnerable youth transitions, with overlap in the 18-25 demographic and supported accommodation.
• St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity providing supported housing and recovery-focused services. Comparable in delivering hostel accommodation and move-on support, though primarily focused on adult rough sleeping rather than JAYF's 18-25 youth cohort.
• Crisis UK: National homelessness charity offering accommodation, education, training and resettlement services. Comparable in mission and outcome-focused youth programme, though broader in scope than JAYF's island-based hostel model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jayf.org.je

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JAYF