JN Group establishes member welfare fund to ease burden of COVID-19

The Hon. Earl Jarrett, chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group, made the announcement of the Fund while addressing a ‘JN Circle Catch Up’, a video series of conversations about how Jamaicans can come together, to overcome various elements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have identified funds, which will be delivered through the JN Circle network and their membership, who will determine how these funds will be used in respective communities,” he explained.

Jarrett said the Fund will be administered by the JN Foundation to address the needs of members in the communities where the 13 JN Circle chapters are located, across the country.

“It could be supporting an individual, a cause, the community itself; or for sanitizers, masks for the police; these are things which the JN Circles can respond to through the pool of funds that will be made available to their clubs,” he explained.

The JN Circle is a network of clubs, comprised of JN members and customers of the JN Group. It was introduced in August 2019 and allows members and customers, who share JN’s values, to take action to improve outcomes for themselves and for all Jamaicans, wherever they reside.

Through these clubs, JN members can participate in and influence JN’s work to positively impact the lives of Jamaicans and assist them to build their communities. To date, 13 JN Circle chapters have been established across Jamaica.

The JN Group CEO encouraged persons to access funds through the JN Circle, which has an existing governance body, who will examine the needs in communities.

“This initiative helps us to ensure we respond to the unique needs of our members; JN’s intervention will be relevant to each community; and will reflect the will of our members and customers,” said Claudine Allen, member ombudsman. She added that her team is working closely with the JN Bank business relationship and sales managers who lead circles across the island to support the initiative and identify opportunities help communities.

In addition to the welfare fund, Jarrett said that The Jamaica National Group will also seek to improve the financial awareness of members, so that they and other Jamaicans can live their best lives, even as the environment changes.

“As we go through the period of this pandemic, our people also need to plan financially. We have seen some hotels close their doors, and many are persons worried about their jobs. Therefore, what we are seeking to do, is assist persons to understand that even in this situation, there are things that they can do to manage the crisis,” he said.

This included managing one’s expenses by ensuring that only essential items are purchased. This financial information, which includes budgeting, will be provided through the JN Circles and the JN Foundation’s Be Wi$e Financial Literacy Programme, he informed.