The Duchess of Cornwall has wished an island initative well.
Prince Charles’s wife’s message was given at a lunch to launch a partnership between the Joanna Simpson Foundation with The Children’s Centre.Â
The lunch was attended by more than 130 guests including the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Lady Gozney and Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK.
Sir Richard read a special message from the Duchess of Cornwall.
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
This was followed by video messages from Emma Barton from Radio 5 Live and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, a former trustee of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, now chairperson of Refuge UK.Â
The island’s only dedicated service dealing specifically with domestic abuse will begin in January 2021 with the support of JSF and in partnership with The Children’s Centre, which will be headed by the newly-appointed domestic abuse support lead Joni Beck.Â
The event was publicise the JSF initiative to support The Children’s Centre. It also raised £5,907.00.
 Joanna Simpson was raised and educated in the island at the Buchan School, then at Bath University before having a career as a European marketing manager.
She was a mother of two children.
In 2010 Joanna was killed by her estranged husband.
The Joanna Simpson Foundation has been set up in her memory to help and support children affected by domestic homicide and abuse.
 As a foundation, it works with public, private and charitable sector organisations and is guided and advised by legal and academic specialists.
The Children’s Centre has been supporting children and families in the Isle of Man since 1864.
All funds raised or donated remain on the island and are used directly for supporting families living here.
Operating from its 15-acre therapeutic farm, it continues to support children and families island wide.
The Children’s Centre initiative, supported by JSF, will allow it to work directly with those affected by domestic abuse in a much more targeted way.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s message:
’I first met Diana Parkes when I visited the domestic abuse charity, SafeLives, in 2016. It was there that I heard for the first time about the horrific circumstances in which her beloved daughter, Joanna, had died.
’At that moment I knew I had to do something to help, as there were too many stories, like Joanna’s, which needed to be brought out into the open and heard. I resolved to do whatever I could to lift the shroud of secrecy and bring this taboo subject into the light.
 ’I was so pleased to hear about the vital support that the Joanna Simpson Foundation (which Diana set up in her memory) is giving to children affected by domestic abuse. One of its projects, which will benefit from today’s lunch, is to fund a specialist domestic abuse counsellor for the Children’s Centre on the Isle of Man, where Joanna grew up.Â
 ’Thank you for supporting this hugely important cause, which will make an enormous difference to some of the most vulnerable children on the island.
’Â I hope you all have a very special and enjoyable afternoon.’
The event was sponsored by Kelly Luft Stanley and Ashton and Ramsey Crookall and Co Limited, supported by Crowe Morgan, Isle of Man Creameries, Robinson’s, and Davison’s.