Guernsey Community Awards 2018: All you need to know

Tuesday 13 November 2018

Guernsey's annual Community Awards will be handed out this this evening, with individuals, businesses and charities set to be praised for their work helping make our community a better place.

The Guernsey Community Foundation event celebrates people and groups across a wide range of fields, all who contribute toward Guernsey itself.

All those shortlisted this year have made "inspiring diffrences to the community", it said.

Three entries have been shortlisted for each category, and the winner of each will be announced tonight at the awards. 

The Community Foundation team pictured in 2017.

The finalists are as follows: 

Charity of the year:

Guernsey Mind - The judges were impressed by the breadth of Guernsey Mind’s many campaigns and services over the last year, with their Employee Wellbeing Service becoming the go to service for employers looking to improve staff mental health wellbeing.

St John Guernsey - The Judges were impressed by the community involvement of a large number of volunteers who collectively offer vital support to both individuals and locally held events.

Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation- Shortlisted for having provided invaluable support to so many families during the most difficult of times, this treasured charity is dear to many islanders’ hearts.

Outstanding Individual Achievement:

Ann Wragg - Ann has been shortlisted for her sustained dedication to a wide range of community causes, particularly with the GSPCA and St Andrews Floral, which have made inspiring and tangible differences over the course of her long involvement.

Jon Honour - Shortlisted by the Judges for his drive, leadership skills, commitment, ambitious vision and profound effect on the Guernsey Welfare Service, as its Chairman since 2011.

Karen Girdlestone - The Judges were impressed by Karen’s achievements with FrOGs (Friends of Grow Limited) in such a short period of time, alongside her other charitable commitments with the GSPCA.

Pictured: There'll be afternoon tea for those at the awards later. 

Organising Committee of the year:

Floral Forest - The judges were impressed with the dedication of this team, with its multifaceted engagement with the local parish, and of course by the hard-won gold they were awarded at the national event.

Future Generations - A group of young people who came together to deliver a high-profile community conference at St James. The Judges were impressed with this young team’s organisational skills, for having put on a well-researched and thought-provoking event, which clearly engaged the audience and raised awareness about environmental themes.

GSPCA: Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday - Shortlisted for having engaged such a large amount of support from the community and for having had so much success with raising funds; increasing volunteers; raising awareness and even finding animals home.

Fund-raising team of the year: 

Ernie's Angels - Judges were impressed by this innovative fundraising campaign which, working with multiple partners, captured the imagination and hearts of the Dairy staff and public alike.

Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation - The judges were impressed with the successful fundraising campaigns to make the second home inSouthampton a reality, and with the team’s continuing hard work to raise funds for ongoing costs.

Trevor Mahy and family - Shortlisted for having been an inspiration to many, and for the team having surpassed their initial fundraising targets for the Guernsey Society for Cancer relief, which had helped Trevor during his stint with bowel cancer.

Corporate social responsibility:

Barclays Bank Guernsey Branch - The Judges were impressed by the range of Barclay’s CSR programmes, from developing older people’s skills to providing initiatives for disadvantaged young people through its strong support of Action for Children.

State Street Guernsey - Shortlisted for having such a high involvement of staff in CSR activities, which are clearly embedded within the company’s ethos, and for their projects having long lasting effects on the local community.

Investec - Judges were impressed by Investec’s staff’s engagement and commitment to La Mare, where their impact has been measurable.

Pictured: Dame Mary Perkins at last year's event. 

Youth award: 

Future Generations - The judges were impressed by the initiative shown by this group of young people, to raise awareness about something they were passionate about.

Charlotte Horsepool - The Judges were impressed with the tangible difference that Charlotte has made to the Leo Club of Guernsey and, as a result, to many of those in need in the local community.

Joshua Robertson - Shortlisted for his commitment to helping others and in overcoming personal difficulties to achieve a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Innovation award: 

GSPCA, ESS, State Street Guernsey & the College of FE - The Judges were impressed by how the project is working with multiple partners with the aim of facilitating the delivery of a new qualification for Guernsey to assist the unemployed gain employment, together with the impact this newly created role has already had on the GSPCA’s placement scheme.

Wellbeing Animals Guernsey - The Judges were impressed by the professionalism of this new charity, by the wonderful testimonies received and the reported resulting positive benefits it has already had on so many people.

The Pollinator Project - The judges were impressed by the range of initiatives that the group has started for Guernsey, by the amount of partnerships forged, and by the reach of the awareness raising activities in such a short space of time.

The awards are taking place this evening at St James, where the winners will be announced. Express will report them as soon as they are released.