After spending 8 weeks with her son, Harry, in SCBU in 2011, Cirsty de Gruchy, decided to set up a charity to help other families going through a similar experience.

Little Miracles, was set up to practically support parents who have a baby in the Special Care Baby Unit in Jersey General Hospital. Every family that has a baby admitted to SCBU in Jersey was gifted; ‘a hug in a box’, a special keepsake box filled with gifts to help them during their stay.

Cirsty ran the charity between 2014 until 2020 when she successfully negotiated a merger with Friend of SCBU ensuring that the significant funds accrued were ringfenced to ensure that the work continued.

In 2015 Little Miracles was a finalist in the Jersey Business awards and in 2018, Cirsty was shortlisted for Inspirational Women of the Year for her work with Little Miracles.

Cirsty’s journey with the Superhero Series began in 2018 when she participated in the ‘any means possible’ disability triathlon alongside her son. Since then, she has been a regular participant in these events, whether in person or virtually in Jersey. Throughout her involvement, Cirsty and her son have teamed up with numerous celebrities and Paralympians, including Richard White, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, Stephanie Slater, and Liz Johnson.

The Superheroes Series’ focus on inclusion and participation rather than competition which served as the inspiration for Cirsty to establish the Cycle Without Limits centre. Cirsty also collaborated with the founder, Paralympian Sophia Warner, to build up a partnership and introduce the virtual series to Jersey.

Cirsty secured funding to bring the virtual Superheroes Series to the island from 2020 to 2023, allowing over 1300 islanders with disabilities (alongside their sidekicks) to partake in the ‘At Home’ UK Superheroes Series (Disney Marvel) events. During these virtual events, she organized activities to support the islanders in taking on their challenges.

Furthermore, Cirsty successfully garnered significant publicity in the local media and has worked with a Channel 4 production company, participating in three of their programs about the event, providing a platform to showcase Jersey’s involvement and engagement.

As part of a team of youth workers, Cirsty played a pivotal role in an initiative known as the EZ:36 project, which involved relocating to a socially deprived council estate in South Wales. Within this project, she actively contributed to various aspects:

1. Establishment of a Local Youth Club: Cirsty was instrumental in setting up a local youth club, providing essential support and engaging with the local Police and church. The primary aim was to reduce anti-social behavior by offering meaningful activities for the young people in the community.

2. Double Decker Bus Transformation: Cirsty and her team undertook the task of sourcing funds and fundraising efforts to outfit a double-decker bus, creating a dedicated space for young people to hang out and engage in positive activities.

Her involvement in these endeavors showcased a commitment to improving the lives of young people in socially deprived areas and fostering a sense of community through meaningful and constructive initiatives.