Thanks for 75 years of service

Nearly 20 volunteers were recently recognised for their efforts over a lengthy period of time – a handful of them for more than 30 years – in support the various activities of the GVS.

It’s certainly a wide-reaching charity and the testimonials on its website bear witness to its impact.

Remarkably its ethos has changed little since its launch in the island in 1949, when the half-a-dozen, all female, volunteers set out to offer practical support to isolated and lonely people, to assist them to maintain their independence and to help them remain in their own homes - particularly in later life.

‘Darby and Joan’ clubs in every parish, and meeting the lifeboat with refreshments after every call-out, soon diversified into other areas of island life and membership increased.

In 1960 the Meals on Wheels service was launched, and now 25,000 meals are delivered six days a week, with the added benefit of a small moment of friendly contact for sometimes house-bound older islanders.

Not every volunteer clocks up decades of service but the charity says it now has about 500 islanders helping out regularly and helping it to raise the £130,000 needed to fund its activities each year.

To every one of those volunteers, long-serving or new, our community owes you a debt of gratitude.