GWS asking financially solvent pensioners to donate money

The GWS has been busy in recent weeks helping to support islanders with hundreds of food parcels.

Now the charity is asking for assistance in helping to cover its costs.

Director John Copeland is a pensioner himself and said he understood the strain the illness was putting on that part of society.

‘Perhaps Covid-19 is our biggest challenge,’ he said.

‘We are amongst the most vulnerable to the disease, but we do not have to face job losses, furloughs or reduction in income as our pensions continue to be paid.’

He noted that most pensioners received an old age pension from the States of Guernsey and for many that is their only or major source of income.

He said this appeal for support was not aimed at these people.

‘Others however will have been members of generous work-related pension schemes,’ he said.

‘The OAP arrives every Friday in our account and while welcome, and paid for through our social insurance contributions, at the moment we have few things to spend it on. We feel that many pensioners want to help at this time and one way to do this is financially. We are suggesting that those who can afford it might consider making a contribution of 25% of their old age pension, for 13 weeks, as a donation to Guernsey Welfare Service Ltd.

‘It’s in line with pay cuts that those in work are being asked to take, but if you can’t afford 25%, please pay what you can.’

The GWS has been delivering about 80 parcels a week during lockdown and this has strained its reserves.

‘Our store of food has been depleted and we now have to buy almost all of the food we distribute,’ he said.

‘Some local companies and individuals have already made generous donations to GWS, but an increased need for our service is going to be there for many months to come. Any funds received will be used to buy food and basic necessities that will be delivered to those who need it.’

An OAP receives up to £222 a week.

Mr Copeland said if 100 pensioners donated £50 a week, that would raise £5,000 – enough to pay for a week’s worth of goods delivered under the current arrangements.

‘We hope many more people will commit and if we are more successful we will look to ramp up our distribution of goods,’ he said.

‘At the end of the period if there is a surplus, we will consider the options for its use but there will be transparency in what we do. GWS is 125 years old next year and has been serving the local community over that time.

‘We are all in this together and this is one way that pensioners can show we care about those in our community who have been most affected economically by Covid-19.’