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£1.3 million of public funds is being paid out to local charities and not-for-profit organisations from the Social Investment Fund, the majority of which is going towards covering the salaries of key staff members.
The SIF was established in 2020, using public funds to invest in the third sector. Funding for the Major Grants Programme comes initially from the Guernsey net proceeds of the Channel Islands Lottery.
The Major Grants Programme was set up following the pandemic to support the financial sustainability of the Bailiwick’s vital charitable sector, targeting funding towards organisations and projects which are most needed or demonstrate measurable benefits for our community.
Pictured: A total of 13 organisations have received grants towards salaries and/or major projects.
The Youth Commission has been awarded the largest grant of £300,000 over three years to introduce a new programme focusing on an early help approach to mental health for young people in secondary schools, which will start later this year.
Citizen’s Advice Guernsey and Bright Beginnings (Every Child our Future) have been awarded £166,000 and £150,000 respectively to cover salary costs for key staff over three years.
Guernsey Alcohol Advisory Service has received £80,000 support for two years to support work at their Rehabilitation Dry House, Carers Guernsey £100,000 for two years to support outreach work and Autism Guernsey £80,000 to cover the costs of specialist psychological, therapeutic, counselling and sensory integration services for two years.
In-dependence has been awarded £51,200 for a new 12-month post plus associated costs to raise awareness of services for at risk, problem (adult) gamblers and their families and to respond to gambling referrals offering the appropriate intervention.
The Guernsey Disability Alliance has been awarded £80,000 towards salaries and running costs for two years, along with Guernsey Community Savings receiving two years’ support with a grant of £53,300.
Two years support of £151,000 has also been provided to Guernsey Employment Trust to cover salary costs for two Employment Support Officers.
Lastly, Wigwam has also received support to continue the work of the Family Support Coordinator with a grant of £58,046 for three years.
Two further grants have been awarded to improve access to facilities so that more individuals and groups can participate in community activities. The Styx Centre has been given a grant of £25,000 towards the purchase of an adjacent field to the Styx Centre to enable the redevelopment of the parking and play areas and to improve access.
Guernsey Rovers AC LBG will receive £27,500 to improve access to the South West frontage of the building and provide a bespoke area for training, learning and education for community groups and charities.
Jurat Stephen Jones OBE, Chair of the Social Investment Fund, said: “Many of these organisations have extended or developed their services to respond to increased community needs, some in part to Covid-19 and some due to greater demand for vital services not provided elsewhere.
“Together with our Small Grants Programme and our Covid-19 Community Charity Appeal grants, SIF has now awarded just over £2 million in the 18 months since its incorporation and aims to provide valuable support to the whole Bailiwick community.”
SIF will open further rounds of its major and small grants programmes later this year and again in 2022. For further information about SIF’s grants programmes, please contact SIF’s
Lead Officer, Sadie Siviter de Paucar by email on Sadie.SiviterdePaucar@gov.gg or by calling 07839 239994. Further information can be found at https://www.sif.gg
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