Six-point plan unveiled for future of island charity

Thursday 03 May 2018

Today, the Guernsey Community Foundation has unveiled its new six-point plan, which it said will transform the voluntary sector for the benefit of the island.

The Foundation's Chair, Wayne Bulpitt, said the sector has an opportunity to reinvent itself, providing all of its official bodies - the States, Association of Guernsey Charities, the Social Investment Commission and the Foundation itself - are willing to re-examine their roles.

“We are at our strongest and our most effective when we work together,” Mr Bulpitt said. “The Foundation’s vision for a rejuvenated voluntary sector – one that’s better-placed to tackle challenges around funding and governance – depends on a partnership built on mutual trust, respect, and, most importantly, a willingness to take action.”

The six points of the plan are as follows: 

1. Impact: "Now more than ever before, those who give time and money to the voluntary sector – whether grant-giving bodies, the States or the general public – want to see how their contribution has made a difference," Mr Bulpitt explained. "Charities need to be supported so they can more clearly demonstrate their impact. This should lead not only to more targeted and effective fundraising, but to improved governance and clearer strategic thinking."

2. Governance: "Charities need to be provided with the tools and the ‘know-how’ to become more transparent and effective in terms of how they operate and how they use their funds," he said. "Regulation can have a part to play in this drive towards greater accountability."

3. Partnership working: "While it can be debated whether there are too many charities, there is certainly huge scope for effective collaborative working between the public, private and charitable sectors, and the community as a whole."

4. Capacity: "In order to ensure that charities maximise their reach there needs to be more focus on leadership (both at staff/volunteer and trustee level), a greater emphasis on training, mentoring and peer support, and the creation of a charitable hub, i.e. a physical location from which multiple charities could operate. There is a need for a corporate-level volunteer matching programme."

5. Commissioning: "The sector is keen to play its part in the transformation of public services. The States should work with the voluntary sector to develop policies and procedures that will make the commissioning process simple, intuitive and robust."

6. Leadership: "There is a need for a clear voice to speak on behalf of charities and the voluntary sector as a whole, and for that voice to demonstrate a new clarity of purpose."

Guernsey's third sector has a heart of charitable organisations which represent and promote its interests - Mr Bulpitt's plan argued that while Guernsey has long benefited from the dynamism of the sector, there is a desire for greater leadership within organisations and a need for greater clarity as to the roles of those bodies.

The Foundation said it had spent the last six months considering these six points and its plan, and seeking feedback both locally and nationally regarding how charities are run and how they mesh with government. The six-point plan was derived from that research.

Pictured: Wayne Bulpitt, Chairman of the Guernsey Community Foundation. 

Along with the six points, it was also presented with plans for how the central bodies can be redefined. 

The Social Investment Commission

It would see the Social Investment Commission placed to supply the voluntary sector with grants and loans to facilitate work, all being consistent with States' priorities. This change would require additional funding for the SIC however.

"Guernsey is a long way behind other jurisdictions in terms of utilising what is estimated to be £30m to £40m in dormant, seized and escheated assets held by Her Majesty’s Receiver General. These funds should be moved to the SIC for the benefit of Islanders via the voluntary sector and much more quickly than the time being taken to do this presently," Mr Bulpitt said. 

"The SIC would work with other grant-givers to ensure that grants are properly coordinated and that recipients meet an agreed standard of transparency and governance via the AGC membership."

The Association of Guernsey Charities

The AGC would be "the voice of the sector", with the aim of encouraging improved governance by potentially having membership rely on a number of practices being fulfilled. This would see roles such as distributing the lottery grants taken away from it and its focus being changed to solely be on the support of island charities. 

Guernsey Community Foundation

The Foundation would continue to source additional funding from different Guernsey entities, according to the plan. It would essentially act as a broker between the voluntary and private and public sectors. The commissioning and funding of research would also be facilitated through the GCF. 

"While the pace of change in our Islands may be slower than many would like, we do see from all parties a genuine commitment to a future of strong partnership — and everyone in our community will benefit," Mr Bulpitt concluded.

"It is our hope that this call to action will prompt a wide-ranging and constructive debate about how everyone who contributes to the success of the voluntary sector and can build trust and forge a positive way forward."