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A big anniversary means 2024 will live long in the memory of those supporting and supported by the Guernsey Voluntary Service.
The charity was established in 1949, and today it offers a variety of services.
These include social clubs, meals on wheels, a bathing service, trolley shops and the blood donor service.
The charity is now 75 years old but it has no intention of slowing down on delivering its offering, it told us as it looks ahead to 2025.
The overiding highlight for the GVS during 2024 was celebrating its 75th anniversary said Mandy Le Bachelet, for the charity.
As part of this, the charity was able to honour its team of volunteers - which makes for staggering reading.
The Guernsey Voluntary Service has a total of 550 volunteers, of which 31 have achieved a 30-year commitment to the service, and been rewarded with a long service award.
"An Afternoon Tea was hosted by our patron Louise Cripwell at Government House for our volunteers who have all given over 30 years’ service," said Mrs Le Bachelet, the GVS Manager, offering another 2024 highlight.
Pictured: Some of the recipients of the long service awards.
There was also the presentation of the Long Service Awards, also held at Government House, for recipients of the GVS Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards honouring 10, 15, 20, and 30 years' service respectively.
The GVS 75th Ball was held in November. That event alone raised £11,000 for the charity.
But, the overwhelming highlight of 2024 for the GVS was simply "seeing the benefit of our services with our clients and in the community,", said the charity.
This saw more than 210 clients attending a GVS Social Club, at either St Martin's or St Sampson's. More than 27,000 meals were expected to be delivered via the Meals on Wheels service throughout the year.
36 clients were able to bathe, with thanks to the assisted bathing service which offered a collective total of 900 baths during 2024
"Funding" is the biggest challenge facing the GVS as it heads into 2025, said Mrs Le Bachelet, "as we need to raise £200,000 each year".
"Finding new volunteers," is another challenge.
"Although we have 550 volunteers, due to the age of many of them we only have 400 active volunteers," explained Mrs Le Bachelet. "We need at least 40 volunteers each day to run our services."
Pictured: Patron Louise Cripwell joining GVS Chair Sally Wilkinson on a Meals On Wheels round.
Aside from the operation of direct client services, Mrs Le Bachelet lifted the lid on what work goes in to running a charity in Guernsey.
"Secondary pensions was a big challenge for the GVS," she acknowledged, as that new policy started to be a legal requirement from 2024 onwards.
During 2025, the GVS will continue to offer all of the services that it has become so well known for over the past 75 years.
The social clubs, meals on wheels, bathing service, trolley shops and blood donor service are staffed by volunteers in the main, meaning that recruiting more volunteers will be a priority for the charity over the coming months.
Mrs Le Bachelet said she is keen to work even more closely with the business community where possible to provide volunteers.
There is also the matter of sorting out D1 category licences so that there are more drivers able to take responsibility for the charity's 12 seater minibuses which contribute to its vital services.
Pictured top: Guests at the 75th anniversary afternoon tea event. All images provided by the Guernsey Voluntary Service.
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