Small change could make big difference for Cheshire Home
AS CASH loses its lustre in local shops, one Guernsey charity has launched a new fundraising appeal for the loose change that is languishing in homes.
The Guernsey Cheshire Home is asking islanders to collect a jam jar from its Rohais premises, or use their own container, and fill it with spare change.
The inspiration for the appeal came from a survey by the financial services trade body UK Finance, which estimated that the public was sitting on a copper and silver mine of £50m.
Since the pandemic, paying by credit and debit cards in shops has been seen as cleaner, but the home said it was happy to have the ‘dirty’ cash that may have been stashed away.
Sarah Winsall, the deputy manager, said it was a simple way to make a big difference.
‘We know that money’s tight with everybody at the moment, we’ve just been through a pandemic and prices are always going up.
‘But a little bit of change here and there will make a change for the Guernsey Cheshire Home and we’d just like people to have us in the back of their minds and know that we’re part of the Guernsey community.
‘It will go towards running costs – and part of that involves doing outings for our residents and getting our residents to do what everybody else does in the community and takes for granted.
‘We’re constantly trying to think of different ways to fund-raise – and there are lots of charities equally deserving. However we like to be a little bit different and we know we’re dear to a lot of people’s hearts, and we’d love people to get on board with this campaign and hopefully it will snowball.’
The Guernsey Cheshire Home provides care and opportunities for people with physical disabilities and a quick tour reveals a joyful family atmosphere that feels nothing like an institution.
There are 10 full-time residents, two respite beds, and across the course of a week around 15 people will use it for day care.
The charity receives no direct States funding and its running costs of £1.1m. per year need to met by donations and fundraising.
Jars need to be returned by 3 December so that the money can be counted.
n Contact Sarah on 07781 128341 for more information or email events@guernseycheshirehome.org.
