Charities benefit from Co-op fund
SIXTEEN Guernsey charities, youth groups, schools and adult support centres have benefited from the Channel Islands Co-operative Society Helping Hands fund.
The RDA Guernsey Group, which enables disabled adults or children to enjoy horse riding either as part of their physiotherapy or as their chosen sport, received £500.
‘The funding will be spent on upgrading some of our safety riding equipment such as riding hats or body protectors,’ said Heidi Ephgrave, chairman and group coach for RDA Guernsey.
‘It will also allow us to purchase some educational games equipment to use within our riding sessions. These items are important for keeping our riders safe and adding to the enjoyment of their riding experience.’
Philippa Stahelin, executive director at Headway Guernsey, said a donation of £1,000 from the Helping Hands fund would be used to fund Saebo – a tailored physical rehabilitation programme particularly used with stroke survivors.
‘It helps members regain dexterity, flexibility and strength after a stroke. This funding enables us to offer follow-up care from the hospital and for members to continue their physical rehab along their road to recovery. It promotes independence and prevents isolation,’ she added.
Other groups to receive funding this year included Edible Guernsey, which provides gardening tools to older members of the community with less physical ability, along with St John’s Residential Home, which currently cares for 45 residents, and Guernsey Caring for Ex-offenders, that will use a donation from the fund to buy basic kitchen appliances for ex-offenders.
The society has run the fund since 1995 and around £288,000 has been donated across the Channel Islands to good causes so far.
This year a total of £17,900 was awarded to 34 organisations in both Guernsey and Jersey.
‘We receive numerous requests every year for the Helping Hands fund,’ said membership and community manager Katey White.
‘It’s always difficult choosing which charities to support as they are all doing such great work within the islands.
‘We look at each individual application and try to make our donations benefit as many charities and people as possible.’
