Scouts step in to provide island with festive sparkle
FESTIVE sparkle will be coming to the home of some Guernsey’s lonely islanders, after the Guernsey Scouts stepped in at the last minute to save a present-giving initiative.
Project Sparkle provides Christmas presents to more than 250 islanders.
It was put in limbo after the closure of the Leo Club, which ran it, but the Guernsey Scout Network has stepped up to ensure that those who might be spending Christmas alone this year experience some festive joy.
The Scout Network is the branch of scouting for young people aged between 18 to 25, and Amy Woodland, Kaylee Robins and Tom Allaway, who are leading the team, believed they could rise to the challenge of seeing the project through.
‘As Scouts we like to give back to the community and it’s such a shame that this couldn’t go ahead due to the fall in the Leos’ membership, but we’ve got the
membership and so we thought we’d step up,’ said Miss Woodland.
‘It’s not just our team heading it, we’re getting a lot of the younger Scout members involved, and it can help them work towards their community service badges. We’ve had great support from the Bailiwick so far.’
Tom Allaway is the son of the Lions Club president Paul Allaway, and while there was no commitment or pressure for the Scouts to step up to the job, Miss Woodland said that it helped having the connection to make the transition smoother.
‘It is something we’d like to be able to help out with in the future as is such a good cause,’ she said.
‘We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us, but the details should be finalised next week and we can get the ball rolling.’
Combined with the support from the Lions Club and former Leo, Sophie Veron, discussions are ongoing with other organisations and an announcement will be made in due course with details of donation drop-off points.
The Guernsey Scouts Association has the storage required to be able to hold the gifts until they are distributed, as well as having the enthusiasm and resources for it to be a success, it said.
Details for offers of donations, help with deliveries and nominations of lonely islanders who may not receive a gift this year can be made by contacting network@scouts.org.gg.
Items that are collected through donations include hats, scarves, socks, toiletries, games, puzzles and writing paper.
Shoe boxes and Christmas wrapping paper are also welcome.
