ABUNDANT FUTURES:
MARIANA PINTO LEITÃO PEREIRA
INTRODUCTION In 2025, researcher Mariana Pinto Leitão Pereira invited 25 people with different relationships to Jersey to talk about home, belonging, work, community, knowledge, contribution, and the Island's future. Their stories demonstrate that there is no single answer to what it means to be local. Some people inherit their connection to Jersey; others build it slowly through friendships, work, care, memory, and everyday life. Some feel at home here yet don't feel able to call themselves local. The resulting research report, What does it mean to be local?, brings these perspectives together, and opens up new questions about whose stories, knowledge, and contributions are recognised as being part of Jersey. This is a summary of the research. It shares what 25 people told Mariana about their experiences of living in Jersey. It does not speak for everyone. Instead, it gives us different perspectives and asks us to think about what they might mean for our Island.
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This research was developed as part of Abundant Futures, a long-term socially engaged project - commissioned by ArtHouse Jersey and led by socially engaged artist Dana Olărescu - which explores migration, food, climate, land, and knowledge. Mariana Pinto Leitão Pereira is a researcher specialising in migration, cultural heritage, belonging, and ways of knowing. Her work explores how communities use heritage to understand identity and navigate change. Mariana is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Heritage for Global Challenges Research Centre in York. Mariana comes from the Portuguese-descendant community of Macau: the Macanese.
METHODOLOGY The participants included: m reside
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Twenty-five people were interviewed. They were asked a set of questions, while giving them space to talk about what mattered to them. People shared how they felt about the Island and the different communities they belong to. They also took part in a mapping activity to show which places, paths, and areas of the landscape were most important to them.
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The participants came from varied fields...
Eight worked in health, care, or support roles Five in arts, culture, or education
Four in finance or professional services
Five in hospitality, tourism, catering, retail, or customerfacing roles
Three in public sector or administrative roles
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DISCLAIMER Each account reflects an individual’s experience or perspective. It should not be taken to represent the experiences or views of others. These stories are important, but they do not represent everyone who lives in Jersey. Some people talked about subjects such as racism, housing, immigration,
work, or other sensitive topics. We have taken care to share these stories respectfully. The research describes what people experienced, noticed, and thought when they were interviewed. They should not be seen as a description of everyone’s experience in Jersey.
KEY FINDINGS AND CONTEXT “What does it mean to be local?” is a question with many answers. The interviews show that people have complex feelings about living in Jersey. It is common for someone to feel two opposing things at once: they might love the Island but feel frustrated by it, or feel welcome in some ways but left out in others. For example, someone might adore the landscape but struggle to find a home, or feel physically safe while feeling overlooked at work. They might miss Jersey when they are away, yet still wonder if they truly belong there. This report highlights these feelings as a key part of the Island experience.
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This research took place while Jersey was already thinking about the future, including its housing, jobs, and changing population. The 2024 Common Population Policy Annual Report estimated the population at 103,650 at the end of 20231. It also noted that the population is getting older and that the Island needs people to move here from elsewhere to keep businesses running and look after existing residents. These facts help explain the wider context and situations people are living in, and why questions were asked about localness, recognition, and participation.
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THE THEMES
1.
HOME CAN COME BEFORE LOCAL
5. THE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE
2. LEARNING THE ISLAND THROUGH REPETITION
6. RECOGNITION, DIFFERENCE, AND UNEQUAL BELONGING
3. I MAY BE PRESENT, BUT NOT BELONG
7. CONTRIBUTION AND IMAGINED FUTURES
4. THE KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE CARRY
HOME CAN COME BEFORE LOCAL Five of the 25 people, or 20%, said that Jersey feels like home - even though they describe themselves as foreign, temporary, or not local. This illustrates an important point: feeling at home is different from having legal status or being recognised as a local.
20%
SAID JERSEY FEELS LIKE HOME
For some participants, localness remained connected to ancestry. One described being truly local coming from having “a heritage here”, “a familial connection”, and “roots”. Another participant took the opposite view, suggesting it is about living there and becoming part of daily life. Another framed localness as a continuing process, where feeling needed and contributing to the community is what matters most: “I think we never stop arriving[,] in a sense.”
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These different definitions show that, as well as relating to rights and recognition, “local” can mean where your family is from; how long you have lived somewhere; and how you feel about that place. For some, the word "home" was a more powerful way to describe their connection to place. “Every time I'm getting a taxi from the arrival halls I'm back home. [...] ‘Oh yes, that's home, that's home.” Participants repeatedly described a strong bond to Jersey because they feel physically safe there. They valued being able to be outside without the fear they had experienced in other places. However, the interviews show that physical safety doesn’t mean feeling secure in other areas of life, such as employment, housing, or legal status. “Jersey has one more quality that I [...] really hold high. It’s safe. It’s safe. [...] I feel safe taking my dog for a walk after midnight, straight to the empty beach.”
“I CONSIDER JERSEY MY HOME, BUT I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AS A LOCAL”
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LEARNING THE ISLAND THROUGH REPETITION If there is no one definition of being "local", it may be better to see this as something that grows over time. People get to know Jersey through details like bus routes, the weather, local shops, old buildings, and daily habits. This knowledge builds up slowly through familiarity. One person explained that, after twenty years, a place is less about its current name and more about the layers of memories attached to it. “I remember this nightclub was opened five nightclubs ago. I remember it’s X now, it used to be Portuguese and then it was Portuguese Club, previously it was Roger, previously it was La Cala. I will still call it La Cala because that’s what it was 20 years ago when I came here and was going out and going there[...]”
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Throughout the interviews, people talked about their strong connection to nature, frequently mentioning the sea, bays, forests, beaches, and coastal paths. For one person, simply arriving in a place surrounded by water created an instant bond with Jersey: “[W]hen I came to this land just to find water in abundance, I said, ‘Wow, it’s [the] one treasurable element that any individual can best hope for in life.’ [...] [W]ater does something to me, that’s how I relate to this land. I fell in love with the beauty of [the] water, because you smell water right from the time you land.”
However, people experience the landscape differently. One person felt that Noirmont was a "neutral space" that belonged to everyone. Another felt that Green Island was "too Jerseylike", making them feel as if they were entering a space that belonged to others. Just because someone is allowed to go somewhere doesn't mean that they feel comfortable or welcome there. Heritage also came up in the interviews. Participants mentioned the Jèrriais language, history, local food, and family memories. Several argued that heritage only exists if there are people still practicing those traditions. Others described Jersey's culture as something that exists even if it isn't always obvious.
“The culture is there, and it’s strong in its own way. It’s a bedrock of culture, and maybe it is just about sometimes scratching away at the sand on top of the rock a little bit so that we see it.”
I MAY BE PRESENT, BUT NOT BELONG Some participants spoke about Jersey as a hub of cultural, religious, and community activities - but without equal access for all. Those already in the loop see an Island full of life, while those on the outside find these activities hard to find or to join. This demonstrates the difference between simply living in a place and participating in it. People from different backgrounds can live on the same Island without ever meeting across their differences. An event might be advertised, but the people who would enjoy it may never hear about it. Similarly, a place may be open to all, but some people could still feel that they don't belong there. Doing activities together is often an easier way to connect than having serious conversations about identity. This gives people a reason to spend time together, allowing them to get to know each other naturally. “People can come and socialise and interact [...] You can get to know others and you don't feel so alone.” However, the existence of an activity doesn't mean that everyone can join in. Twenty-four percent of participants said that work, childcare, or a lack of free time made it hard to participate.
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Others mentioned problems with transport, cost, or feeling nervous in new places. While a weekend event might work for some, it is impossible for others, especially immigrants who may be working during that time.
24% STRUGGLE TO BALANCE WORK, CHILDCARE AND FREE TIME
The interviews show that when people don't attend events, it doesn't mean they aren't interested. They also show that "community" isn't about everyone getting along like one big happy family. What matters is seeing people regularly, building trust, and feeling welcome to return. Some participants spoke about civic spaces without programmed activities or events. One suggested a “public art space” where people could make art or just relax and bring their own food, without having to spend money to feel welcome. Another simply said that there are “not enough civic spaces”. This raises an important question: Where can people spend time together without feeling that they have to prove they belong there?
THE KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE CARRY One of Abundant Futures’ central questions is whose knowledge is valued. Participants shared many different kinds of expertise outside of professional skills, such as knowledge tied to food, language, care, and a deep familiarity with the land. Such everyday knowledge is often overlooked, yet remains significant.
Food is the best example. The majority of the participants (64%) talked about how cooking and food traditions are linked to their culture, memories, and community. Food was described as a way to share hospitality, learn about other cultures, and pass memories down through generations.
64%
LINKED FOOD TO CULTURE, MEMORIES AND COMMUNITY
One person shared a family tradition that is kept alive simply by doing it over and over again: “My ex makes Jersey bean crock [...] the way his mother made it. [...] [H]e makes a huge batch and he divides it between the family. So that’s a continuation.”
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Another person described the opposite, a situation where that chain of tradition might stop: “I suppose some of the old recipes will probably die with me actually, like the bean crock I loved, but my children don’t like it so they don’t make it.”
Together, these stories show that heritage stays alive when someone continues to make, teach, and value a tradition. The same is true for knowledge about the environment: participants learned about the tides, weather, and plants through their daily lives on the Island. Some of this knowledge is very practical; for example, one participant noted that you must know the right paths to avoid being trapped by the tides. The interviews also demonstrate that knowledge can be held in the body. For example, in William Bock’s Jersey Green Rope art project, part of Abundant Futures, four people had to work together to make a rope. Participants described this shared movement as a form of “body memory” passed down through
physical action. People who spoke different languages were able to understand each other by weaving together. This is why using art and sensory activities is fundamental: they reveal types of knowledge that might be overlooked in an everyday conversation. However, sharing knowledge isn't always easy. One person warned that just providing information doesn't mean that people will accept it. The real question is whether the knowledge people possess is listened to, respected, and used to make a difference.
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THE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE The interviewees’ perspective on belonging changes when it shifts to work, housing, and legal status. These factors affect how much energy a person has, whether they can plan for the future, and whether they feel able to invite others into their home. Work can be a way to enter Jersey life, helping people build relationships and feel that they are contributing to the Island. However, work can also consume so much time that there is nothing left for building a life outside of the job.
“IT’S LIKE LIVING AT WORK, BUT JUST VISITING HOME FOR SOME REST” 16
For some, "free time" is often the only time available for sleeping after a late shift, looking after children, calling family abroad, or simply recovering emotionally. Even if official support is available, it isn't always practical. For example, one interviewee mentioned an employer helpline; while theoretically positive, their late working hours didn't allow the opportunity to call it. Support may exist, but that doesn't mean that people are necessarily able to access it.
Being separated from family also affected how people felt about their time and security. Some spoke about workers who hadn't seen their children for months, or who planned their entire work lives around staying in touch with relatives abroad. Participating in community life isn't only about whether an event is free or easy to find; the ability to join in is shaped by the difficult conditions of their life overall. A third of participants (32%) said that their immigration status, work permit, residency, or licensing arrangements affected their rights, their housing, and their ability to plan for the future. Official policies, such as the 2024 Work Permit Policy2, state that work permits are issued to a named employer. Some temporary routes do not lead to permanent residency. This research aims to show how it feels for people to live with that uncertainty and dependence. “[W]hen you’re not here, when you leave, it means that you’re nobody. And when you come again, [you start] from zero.”
32%
Housing is just as personal: a home affects a person's privacy and their ability to be hospitable and maintain relationships. One participant explained how living in a very small space directly affected whether they felt they belonged: “I say I’m local, but, for example, it would have been so nice if I could have invited you to my place to make dinner, to sit down, to open a bottle of wine or something and just put on some nice music and talk. But my house is so small, I can’t invite anyone there. So, it’s interesting, how am I local?”
SAID IMMIGRATION STATUS MADE FUTURE PLANNING HARDER
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RECOGNITION, DIFFERENCE, AND UNEQUAL BELONGING Several participants shared stories of feeling welcome: they felt accepted by their schools, churches, neighbours, and colleagues. These stories are important because they show that exclusion isn't the only experience in Jersey, even if welcome isn't universal. At the same time, around a third of the participants (32%) spoke about experiencing racism. These experiences varied; some were obvious and direct, while others were more subtle, such as a certain tone of voice, slower service, or a general feeling of being treated differently in ways that are hard to prove.
Several interviews showed that workplaces can make people feel unequal. Some participants described having to justify their decisions more than their colleagues did, or that their experience wasn't fully respected. One person noted that while her colleagues were "lovely", the company's structure and promotion pathways led to a lack of trust and opportunity. Others argued that the problem is a lack of systems that recognise and reward different types of contributions.
“YOU CAN JUST FEEL THAT THE WAY I’M BEING TREATED HERE IS DIFFERENT” 32% 18
SPOKE ABOUT EXPERIENCING RACISM
Legal and permit systems also make people feel unwelcome. Some described the licensing process as "ostracising", or felt they lacked the same freedoms as locals. These experiences show that a person's official status shapes how secure and settled they feel.
Finally, participants noted that being "visible" is not the same as being "recognised". Some felt that multicultural festivals were just for show and didn't give diverse demographics more influence. One questioned why Black history is only acknowledged during a specific month. Overall, the participants wanted to be seen as being part of Jersey without having to give up their own cultural or national identities.
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CONTRIBUTION AND IMAGINED FUTURES People contribute to Jersey in many ways. Contribution is not only about paid work or money. It can also include caring for family, volunteering, helping neighbours, making art, and taking part in community life. When asked what contributions should matter in establishing who has the right to stay or be recognised as part of Jersey’s future, nearly half of the participants (48%) said this shouldn't purely relate to money. They instead highlighted the value of care, volunteering, community work, and a commitment to the Island: “The biggest contribution anyone can give is their time [...] in labour, in volunteering, in supporting family [...] their knowledge [...] their cultural experience, their connections.” One professional worker pointed out a contradiction: the Island acknowledges their expertise by giving them a license to work, yet without allowing them to feel fully accepted or valued. Therefore, contributing to the economy doesn't always lead to a feeling of belonging.
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“When I was given a licence to practise here, [...] they’ve already acknowledged that I have got that experience, that expertise that they want here. [...] I’m actually contributing to the economy and to healthcare. So why not be acknowledged?” For others, being "local" is simply about loyalty and a desire to stay and care for the Island's future: “I honestly feel the real answer to that question, what does it mean to be local, is loyalty.” Many people feel a mix of love and frustration toward Jersey. They might miss the Island's beauty when they are away, but feel angry when they return. This shows that criticising the Island often comes from caring deeply about it. Finally, participants worried about subsequent generations. Some wondered if their grandchildren would even be able to imagine staying on the Island. While the participants disagree on what Jersey should become, they do all agree that the future depends on whether people feel there is truly a place for them here.
“ THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION ANYONE CAN GIVE IS THEIR TIME” 48%
AGREED CONTRIBUTION IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PAID WORK OR MONEY
CONCLUSION Whose stories become part of public narratives? The question “What does it mean to be local in Jersey?” reveals that people belong to the Island in many different ways. Jersey is shaped by everyday acts of working, caring, sharing food and language, volunteering, making art, raising children, and remembering places that have changed or disappeared. Participants described histories and experiences that are not always appreciated. They also shared
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different views of culture, change, responsibility, and belonging. Together, these perspectives challenge narrow ideas about who represents Jersey. They show that people’s sense of home, and whether their contributions are recognised, is shaped by social, economic, and institutional factors. One participant’s words capture the wider message of the research. They ask us to make space for all the different ways people belong to Jersey:
REFERENCES 1. States of Jersey (2024) Common Population Policy Annual Report 2024. R.184/2024. St Helier: States Greffe. https://www.statesassembly.je/getmedia/91b03ab1-192f-4e38-914baa6ec88e8623/R-184-2024.pdf?ext=.pdf 2. Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (2024) Work Permit Policy. Updated December 2024. St Helier: Government of Jersey. https://www.gov.je/Working/WorkPermits/Pages/WorkPermitPolicy.aspx
KEEP READING This booklet offers an introduction to the research and some of the experiences shared by participants. The full report explores these themes in greater depth, including the research methodology, participant perspectives, and wider context.
Scan the QR code to read the full report: What does it mean to be local? by Mariana Pinto Leitão Pereira.
The research raises questions for all of us who shape Island life - through our work, our organisations, our communities, and our everyday choices.
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GLOSSARY Words used in this research:
Belonging
Participation
The feeling of being accepted, connected, and part of a place or community.
Taking part in community or cultural life, such as joining an activity, event, group, or shared project.
Contribution
Recognition
Something you give to a community or place, such as your time, care, knowledge, skills, or work.
Being noticed, valued, and treated as someone whose contribution matters.
Heritage
Local / localness
The traditions, stories, places, knowledge, and practices that are passed between generations and help shape a community.
People described localness in different ways, including through family connections, how long they had lived in Jersey, their relationships with others, and their feelings of belonging.
Immigration status
Socially engaged
The legal position a person has when they are living in a country or place, which can affect where they can live and work and what they are allowed to do.
An approach to art that involves working with people and communities, often through shared activities, conversations, and creative projects.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A heartfelt thank-you to all the interviewees who generously gave their time to this research. Your perspectives will help shape how belonging is understood in the future.
Abundant Futures is commissioned and produced by ArtHouse Jersey. This research was undertaken in 2025 with sponsorship from Spoor & Fisher, now a Corporate Patron of ArtHouse Jersey.
Through workshops, gatherings, cooking, performances, sound installations, publications, walks, and other creative activities, Abundant Futures honours the diverse knowledge and skills that participants bring from their homelands, fostering new cultures and working to nourish future generations.
Picture credits:
To learn more about Abundant Futures or to get involved, visit ArtHouse Jersey's website.
6,7, 11, 22, 23: Kupala Festival curated by Olha Pryymak, as part of Abundant Futures, 2025. Image by Mark Fox.
www.arthousejersey.je/our-work/ abundant-futures-food-politics
13, 15: Harvesting and rope making for The Jersey Green Rope, by William Bock, as part of Abundant Futures, 2024. Images by Dana Olărescu.
ArtHouse Jersey is a charity that exists to bring art into everyday Island life. We believe that creativity has value in its own right. It can entertain, challenge, and inspire; it helps people feel connected, strengthens communities, and makes Jersey a more vibrant place to live, work, and visit.
Publication Design: Kate Wiliwinska All illustrations by Kate Wiliwinska, using images from Abundant Futures
21: Visit to Lomah Farm as part of Abundant Futures, 2025. Image by Dana Olărescu.
www.arthousejersey.je
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GET IN TOUCH If you have any questions about this research, would like to share your thoughts, or are interested in finding out more about Abundant Futures, please get in touch: Robyn Cabaret, Producer at ArtHouse Jersey robyn@arts.je www.arthousejersey.je