The first four grants agreed by the SIF board have seen money donated to a childcare setting, Lihou island, Les Cotils and the Stay Connected project.

The largest grant has seen Bright Beginnings given £8,624 to contribute towards salary costs so key staff can be retained to continue their work supporting families through both group and one-on-one sessions.

Pictured: Bright Beginnings is based at Delancey Park.

The Lihou Trust will receive a grant of £7,000 to go towards the salary costs of the Lihou Warden so it can continue to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children and adults.

A number of planned stays on the island have been cancelled meaning a significant drop in its normal income because of the pandemic.

Pictured: A number of overnight visits to Lihou have been cancelled meaning a drop in income for the charitable trust which runs the island.

A grant of £5,000 has been agreed for Les Cotils which has been supporting some of the families worst affected by the crisis through its ‘Food for Families Project’.

80 families are now being supported, receiving deliveries of home cooked meals. The grant will go towards food for the project which is currently continuing.

Pictured: Les Cotils has been using its own chefs to provide meals for needy families during the lockdown.

Another grant of £5,000 has been made to the Stay Connected project which has partnered with a large number of third sector, businesses and groups locally to provide devices, wi-fi and data for older Islanders or those with underlying health conditions who are shielding or self-isolating.

More than 200 devices have been used to keep family and friends connected during the pandemic. The project is co-ordinated by We All Matter, Eh? (Guernsey Disability Alliance) on behalf of all parties.

Pictured: Devices like iPads have been used by many people to keep in touch during the lockdown.

Chair of the Social Investment Fund Jurat Stephen Jones, OBE said more grants will be issued as applications are received and assessed.

“Each of these charities and projects meets the aims of our Appeal, which is to support those who are actively helping to respond to the pandemic, or who have found funding for their essential services severely restricted because of it.

"We have received several applications from charities and will be awarding more grants very soon. And of course, we’re still welcoming donations to the Appeal which has now raised more than £144,000 – the more donations we receive, the better we are able to assist those charities supporting our Bailiwick community.”

Details of how to donate, can be found HERE. 

Charities are able to apply for funding by emailing Sadie.SiviterdePaucar@gov.gg