Irish Heritage Trust champions inclusion with JAM Card partnership
- Gerry Monaghan
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Tara Carroll, Aidan McBride, John O’Driscoll and Ciara McCorma from Strokestown Park
27th January 2026 — The Irish Heritage Trust, an independent non-profit organisation caring for some of Ireland’s most treasured heritage sites, is sending a clear message: everyone deserves to feel welcome.
By adopting the JAM Card (Just A Minute) initiative across its visitor attractions, the Trust is making it easier for visitors and staff with hidden disabilities or communication barriers to discreetly ask for a little extra time, patience or support. The partnership with NOW Group includes staff training, awareness raising and ongoing collaboration to embed inclusive practice across Irish Heritage Trust sites and visitor services.
The JAM Card is used by people with autism, neurodivergence, speech, language or communication difficulties, and other hidden disabilities. Recognised as a simple but powerful tool, it helps improve everyday interactions and the overall visitor experience. By presenting a physical JAM Card or using the JAM Card mobile app, visitors can quietly signal to JAM Card–trained staff that they may need “Just A Minute” of additional understanding or assistance.
The rollout demonstrates strong leadership by the Irish Heritage Trust in creating more inclusive and accessible visitor experiences across Ireland’s heritage tourism sector.
Lisa McAlister, Head of People & Organisation Development at the Irish Heritage Trust, commented:“We are delighted to be partnering with NOW Group and introducing the JAM Card across our sites at Fota House and Gardens in Cork, Johnstown Castle, Estate Museum & Gardens in Wexford, and Strokestown Park and the National Famine Museum in Roscommon. These special places s offer calm, reflective environments where nature and history come together to promote wellbeing, and we want everyone to feel comfortable enjoying these experiences Our partnership with NOW Group strengthens our commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for all visitors and colleagues. By adopting the JAM Card, we are raising awareness of hidden disabilities and ensuring that people feel understood, supported and confident from the moment they arrive.”
Maeve Monaghan, CEO of NOW Group, added:“Irish Heritage Trust plays a vital role in connecting people with Ireland’s heritage, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the JAM Card family. We will be working together over the next three years to support their inclusion ambitions. People with hidden disabilities represent a significant proportion of visitors, staff and volunteers, and JAM Card is a simple but powerful way to remove barriers and improve experiences for everyone.”
NOW Group is calling on organisations across tourism, culture, retail and the public sector to join the movement. Becoming JAM Card Friendly is simple, impactful, and a powerful way to demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
With nearly 200,000 JAM Card users across the UK and Ireland, and more than 3,000 organisations trained through the JAM Card e-learning platform, JAM Card is now one of the most widely recognised tools for supporting people with hidden disabilities.
To find out how your organisation can get involved, visit www.jamcard.org.
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