Co-op donates more than £8k to Guernsey good causes

Wednesday 29 May 2019

Thousands of pounds have been donated to 18 Guernsey charities, youth groups, schools and adult support centres as part of The Channel Islands Co-operative Society’s Helping Hands fund.

The Co-op has ran the Helping Hands fund since 1995 and to date approximately £288,000 has been donated across the Channel Islands to good causes. This year the fund awarded a total of £17,900 to 34 organisations in both Guernsey and Jersey.

Among those groups in Guernsey to receive funding this year were Edible Guernsey, which provides gardening tools to older members of the community with less physical ability, St John’s Residential Home, which currently provides 45 residents with a home, and Guernsey Caring for Ex-offenders, which will use the funds to buy basic kitchen appliances for ex-offenders. In total 16 Guernsey charities benefitted from donations totalling more than £8,700.

Also to receive money from the Helping Hands fund were Headway Guernsey and the Riding for the Disabled Guernsey Group (RDA).

Headway Guernsey, which received £1,000 from the Helping Hands fund, supports Islanders and their families who are living with the long-term effects of brain injury. The charity provides a wide range of services that bring people together in a supportive and positive environment. 

Philippa Stahelin, executive director at Headway Guernsey, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Co-op for this donation which will be used to fund ‘Saebo’ - a tailored physical rehab programme particularly used with stroke survivors. It helps members regain dexterity, flexibility and strength after stroke. This funding enables us to offer follow-up care from the hospital and for members to continue their physical rehab along their road to recovery. It promotes independence and prevents isolation.

"Following a stroke, there may be many issues which survivors have to deal with. Starting a long process of physical rehab is one of them. At Headway, with Saebo referrals, members can work to regain lost skills in an environment where their brain injury is understood and they feel safe."

The RDA Guernsey Group, which enables any disabled adult or child to enjoy horse riding either as part of their physiotherapy or as their chosen sport, received £500 from the Helping Hands fund. The group also offers members the opportunity to spend time with the horses as part of its therapy groups. The organisation received £500 from the Helping Hands fund. 

Heidi Ephgrave, chairman and group coach for RDA Guernsey, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen by the Co-op to receive this donation. The funding will be spent on upgrading some of our safety riding equipment such as riding hats or body protectors. It will also allow us to purchase some educational games equipment to use within our riding sessions. These items are important for keeping our riders safe and adding to the enjoyment of their riding experience."

Katey White, the Society’s membership and community manager, said: "We receive numerous requests every year for the Helping Hands fund. It’s always difficult choosing which charities to support as they are all doing such great work within the Islands. We look at each individual application and try to make our donations benefit as many charities and people as possible."

Pictured top: Riding for the Disabled Guernsey were one of the groups to receive funding.