A bold step from third sector

It is also timely: the States has recently come under criticism, following comments made by the vice-chairman of the Association of Guernsey Charities that the Assembly is showing ‘supreme indifference’ to the heavy lifting done by the sector.

The Bailiwick is extremely fortunate to have a great many locally-focused charities doing a whole raft things every day that benefit islanders in need. Some are large, and help hundreds of people, others are tiny, raising only a few thousand pounds a year, but the fact is, we’re a caring community and the vast majority of us will help a neighbour or fellow islander in need, whether that’s by actively giving up time each week or stuffing a fiver into a collection tin.

The beauty of our community is that islanders get involved in helping each other because they want to, not because government has told them to. However, that doesn’t mean they should be left to get on with it, without acknowledgement or support.

The island has some 500 charities – twice as many per head of population than the UK – with the value of work carried out by volunteers estimated at between £75m. and £120m.

Conscious that the voluntary sector is on the cusp of evolutionary change, the foundation has spent six months considering its future and identified key changes that it believes need to take place to ensure greater synergies between itself and government. This is timely, particularly as more than ever, donors want to see just how their contribution has made a difference. Charities need to improve the way they demonstrate their effectiveness and also become more adept at how they use their funds.

The Community Foundation seeks to do more to act as a broker between the voluntary, private and public sectors to build partnerships, encourage collaborative working and build capacity. Early indications are that the plan has been well received and should ultimately benefit the sector and those in the most need.