Mr Ellis is a former banker who has already held leading roles in several charities, including Maison St Pierre, 41 Club, Round Table and At Home In Guernsey.
Mr Neville founded GCS in order to help islanders who were unable to access mainstream banking. Since it started in 2020 it has provided accounts and linked debit cards to about 200 people and offered guidance on money management to many others.
It has also supported people facing a wide range of challenges, including poor credit histories, family breakdowns, absence of necessary documentation, and troubled pasts.
Mr Neville welcomed Mr Ellis into his role: ‘James brings exactly the right blend of financial services experience, charitable involvement, and community understanding,’ he said.
‘The initiatives now being discussed, together with the additional features offered by the new money‑transmission platform, reassure me that James’s vision aligns perfectly with the aims we set in those early days.
‘I wish the board and GCS staff every success as they take the charity forward.’
In particular he thanked Nick England and VFX Financial, which provided the charity’s money‑transmission platform for many years, as well as the directors, staff, and volunteers who supported GCS since its inception.
He will continue to be involved with the charity, however, having taken on the role of life president.
‘The creation of Guernsey Community Savings in 2020 was only possible because of Peter’s unique set of qualities that enabled him to create a talented team and the structure to tackle the issues facing the financially excluded in our island,’ said Mr Ellis.
‘I was delighted when he asked me to continue with his work and further expand his vision, which I share, to provide help in the form of bank accounts, debit cards and financial education and to realise our ambition to provide grants and soft loans where needed.
‘I am very pleased that he has agreed to remain involved as life president, ensuring continuity of the principles that established GCS.’
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