The latest Association of Guernsey Charities’ Sector Survey results show strong community engagement with time spent by volunteers across 106 organisations adding up to an estimated annual value of about £3m. if those roles filled by volunteers were paid at minimum wage.
‘The results also showed an improvement in volunteer recruitment and that fundraising levels are stable,’ said Wayne Bulpitt, chair of the Association of Guernsey Charities.
Volunteer recruitment has improved slightly compared with two years ago, but challenges remain, particularly in skilled and governance roles.
Nearly two-thirds of organisations reported that recruiting trustees or board members is at least ‘somewhat difficult’, and almost 40% of charities with vacancies said roles remained unfilled for six months or more.
‘While it is encouraging to see some improvement in volunteer recruitment, the findings clearly reinforce what many charities have been telling us – recruiting skilled volunteers and trustees remains a significant challenge. By improving visibility of both the sector’s contribution and its pressures, we can better focus support and strengthen the case for proportionate, risk-based governance that allows charities to continue delivering vital services to our community,’ said Mr Bulpitt.
The findings also point to growing interest in closer collaboration with the business community.
While 26% of charities are seeking strategic partnerships with businesses, only 7% have been able to secure them to date. Other forms of support, such as in-kind donations, financial contributions and pro bono expertise, broadly match demand, although about one in five organisations interested in business support have not yet engaged with it.
Funding levels are said to be broadly stable, with 63% of charities reporting three or more income streams. 58% of charities hold reserves covering six months or more of operating costs, though the survey notes that reserve levels vary widely by operating model, and should not be viewed in isolation as a measure of financial health.
Capacity constraints continue to affect about half of the sector, with financial sustainability identified as the primary pressure point.
Despite this, demand for services is increasing, with 60% of organisations reporting higher demand and 86% planning to maintain or expand their activities over the next 12 months.
You need to be logged in to comment.