Volunteer conservationist to be paid for part of her work

LONG-STANDING Guernsey Conservation Volunteers co-ordinator Angela Salmon has become the charity’s first paid employee.

Angela Salmon, for many years the co-ordinator of the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers, has become its first employee. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 31337667)

GCV was awarded a grant of £40,000 by the Guernsey Community Foundation to help cover the salary of a part-time operations director for two years.

Established 26 years ago, GCV coordinates volunteer efforts to complete a variety of conservation activities, including the removal of invasive plants species from land owned by La Societe Guernesiaise, the National Trust of Guernsey and the States.

Miss Salmon, one of GCV’s longest-serving volunteers, will become the charity’s first operations director.

She will focus on expanding the programme of work parties, developing a wider variety of practical conservation work, and raising awareness in schools.

‘These are exciting times for our charity, and I can’t thank the Guernsey Community Foundation enough for its backing,’ she said.

‘I feel honoured to be our first employee.

‘I am passionate about the natural environment. With this new structure in place, we can now offer more opportunities for the community to get involved with practical conservation work as well as learning about our amazing natural environment.’

Miss Salmon, a primary school teacher with a degree in biological sciences, has been a GCV volunteer for 18 years.

Last July she took a year’s sabbatical, allowing her to visit schools to teach pupils about invasive species and biodiversity as well as organising extra work parties.

In her new role she will enhance the charity’s data-gathering and liaise with the botany section of La Societe and the Guernsey Biological Records Centre.

Foundation chief executive Jim Roberts said: ‘We’re keen to support a wide range of good causes, and in recent years have made an effort to support the arts and the environment.

‘Witnessing well-established charities such as GCV develop in this way is really encouraging and we were more than happy to help it go from strength to strength.’

Grants applications

The Guernsey Community Foundation welcomes grant applications from all manner of charitable organisations.

Applications should be for at least £5,000, although smaller amounts are also accepted.

To find out more contact Anna Le Page, grants manager by emailing anna@foundation.gg or call the Foundation direct on 259523.