2013 Guernsey Community Award nominations open on 28 August

July 30th, 2013 by Guernsey Community Foundation

(please click on logo to go to Community Awards website)

Nominations for the 2013 Community Awards open on 28 August 2013.

Now is the time to start thinking about who you wish to nominate for the Community Awards which are hosted by the Guernsey Community Foundation and principle sponsor State Street Global Services.

There are six categories open for nomination:

• Charity of the Year
• Fundraising Team of the Year
• Overseas Award
• Organising Committee of the Year
• Outstanding Individual Achievement
• CSR Award

Winners receive a trophy as well as a cash donation from the respective sponsor of their award.

The Community Awards event will be on Wednesday 6 November 2013 at St James and includes an afternoon tea and presentation of awards.

More information on how to attend, and on this year’s guest speaker, will be released in due course.

Nomination forms along with criteria and guidelines will be available to download from the Community Awards website on 28 August 2013.

Nominations will close on Wednesday 25 September 2013.

Post Carbon Institute’s “Snake Oil” book casts critical eye on fracking

July 30th, 2013 by Post Carbon Institute

(click book cover image to expand – image courtesy of Post Carbon Institute)

Richard Heinberg and the Post Carbon Institute have released “Snake Oil: How Fracking’s False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future,” which dispels the hype around shale gas and oil that has hijacked America’s energy conversation.

“Snake Oil” casts a critical eye on the environmental impacts and the purported economic benefits of new oil and gas production technologies.

Building on the most exhaustively researched analysis of shale production to date, Richard Heinberg categorically refutes: Continue reading

Les Bourgs Hospice pop-up shop on Smith Street, St Peter Port from 12 to 17 August 2013

July 30th, 2013 by Les Bourgs Hospice

The OSA Recruitment pop-up shop front at 22 Smith street, St Peter Port (click image to expand – ©RLLord)

Les Bourgs Hospice will take over the OSA Recruitment pop-up shop in Smith Street, St Peter Port from 12 to 17 August 2013.

The shop, which has been used on a temporary basis by a number of charities and organisations including Les Bourgs Hospice in December 2011, will be manned by volunteers and the Friends of Les Bourgs Hospice.

“Our loyal volunteers and Friends never cease to amaze us with their generosity. We simply couldn’t do this without them,” said Les Bourgs fundraising administrator Trish De La Mare.

“We want to thank OSA Recruitment for allowing us to use the shop again as it’s a fantastic way of raising the profile of Les Bourgs Hospice,” she said.

“We will be selling cakes, sandwiches and drinks throughout Continue reading

Guernsey’s charities looking for volunteers with business acumen

July 30th, 2013 by Guernsey Community Foundation

The Guernsey Community Foundation’s Volunteer Matching Programme, which launched in 2012, has successfully placed a number of experienced business people with acumen into local charities.

Placements have ranged from professionals with marketing, communication and accountancy skills, to people with business development expertise.

“All volunteers are invaluable and their contributions are hugely beneficial to our voluntary sector,” said Laurel Le Tocq of the Guernsey Community Foundation.

Laurel Le Tocq of the Guernsey Community Foundation at the Volunteer Week marketplace on 8 June 2013 (click image to expand – ©RLLord)

Continue reading

Tumaini Fund helping Tanzanian orphans receives Guernsey support from Asset Risk Consultants

July 25th, 2013 by Tumaini Fund

Dr Susan Wilson of the Tumaini Fund with Phil Bodman, Chief Operating Officer of Asset Risk Consultants (click image to expand – image courtesy of the Tumaini fund)

Asset Risk Consultants (ARC) are supporting the Tumaini Fund by providing a base for the charity at its Guernsey offices and now the charity’s work in Tanzania is benefitting from a new communications platform that the firm has helped to set-up with Tumaini volunteer and IT expert Adam Kinniburgh.

Dr Susan Wilson, who founded the charity, said “communicating with all of our volunteers and our parish workers out in Africa has always been a challenge.”

“This new cloud based IT system allows them to log in from our offices in the region and update contacts and provide information directly,” she said.

“Our volunteers in Guernsey, the UK and the USA can also access our databases making us much more efficient and able Continue reading

Offshore floating wind turbines cost competitive with standard turbines in water depths over 50 metres

July 25th, 2013 by The European Wind Energy Association

(Please click report cover to go to EWEA website report download page)

A report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) shows that deep water wind turbines are key to unlocking the massive energy potential in Europe’s Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas, and the deepest parts of the North Sea.

The ‘Deep water – The next step for offshore wind energy‘ report reveals that floating turbines in North Sea deep waters alone could power Europe four times over.

Offshore wind in Europe could be providing 145 million households with renewable electricity and employing 318,000 people by 2030, while providing energy security, technology exports, and no greenhouse gases.

“To allow this sector to realise its potential and deliver major benefits for Europe, a clear and stable legislative framework for after 2020 – based on a binding 2030 renewable energy target – is vital,” said Jacopo Moccia, Head of Policy Analysis at EWEA.

Continue reading

Guernsey Water offers advice to waste less water and reduce bills

July 25th, 2013 by Guernsey Water

Brickfield House, Guernsey Water headquarters, at the St Andrew’s storage reservoir on 23 June 2013 (click image to expand – ©RLLord)

Guernsey Water encourages customers to be mindful of their water usage habits during this hot and dry weather, and to think about reducing wastage wherever possible.

The latest water storage figures show that Guernsey’s reserves are still in a healthy state, but the utility are aware that prolonged dry weather spells can put pressure on reserves.

Andrew Redhead, director of water services said “at Guernsey Water we are always encouraging customers to be sensible with their water usage, especially in these summer months were there has been a lot less rainfall and the temperatures have been very high.”

“We recommend simple, cost-effective changes to water usage habits, which once combined, can make a real difference to the amount of water used by customers,” he said.

“Customers who have a water meter fitted to their supply generally reduce their water consumption by between 12 to 15%, so this is still the most effective way of saving water and reducing your bill,” Mr Redhead said.

Guernsey Water has a wealth of water saving tips and advice on its website.

St Peter Port Open Garden in aid of Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association on 11 August 2013

July 24th, 2013 by Events

(Please click image to open PDF file for download to your computer)

Huw and Sarah Evans are opening their St Peter Port landscaped home garden between 2 pm and 5 pm on 11 August 2013 in aid of the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association.

Their home, La Bigoterie, is on Berthelot Street, St Peter Port with access from Clifton. Parking is available close by on Clifton or at the Odeon car park.

The view from their garden overlooking St Peter Port and the Little Russel is spectacular. Continue reading

Guernsey Welfare Service wishes to build food bank collection network

July 24th, 2013 by Guernsey Welfare Service

Jenny Simpkin Guernsey Welfare Service volunteer, Allen Edwards, branch manager of Waitrose Admiral Park and John Copeland, Director of the Guernsey Welfare Service (click image to expand)

More than 1500 items of tinned and packaged food were donated at the Guernsey Welfare Service food bank collection held at the Waitrose Admiral Park and Rohais branches on Saturday 13 July 2013.

Customers were given a suggested shopping list when entering the stores including items such as pasta, pasta sauces, cereals, coffee, sugar and biscuits to be distributed to people in need within the local community.

The Guernsey Welfare Service, an independent charity that operates under the umbrella of ‘Churches Together in Guernsey’, works in partnership with other local agencies to provide financial and practical support to those in need on the island.

One of the services the charity offers is a food bank and in a typical week the charity gives out 20 food parcels to local Continue reading

Lihou House on Lihou Island to reopen on 5 August 2013

July 23rd, 2013 by Lihou Charitable Trust

Lihou House on Lihou Island (click image to expand – image courtesy of The Lihou Charitable Trust)

Guernsey residents raised £60,000 to replace the roof of Lihou House on Lihou Island off Guernsey’s west coast.

Richard Curtis, Lihou Charitable Trust warden, is grateful to all those who helped make the replacement of the roof possible by fundraising and donating their time.

“We’ve had quiz nights, tea and coffee open days on Lihou island, a duck race, a summer ball, and many donations from individuals and companies, which have gone towards paying for this costly but vital project,” Richard Curtis said.

“Money was also raised through the sponsorship of a group that completed the grueling Three Peaks Challenge in July 2012.”

Guernsey Roofing began work to replace the roof on Monday 22 July 2013, and because of the work, Lihou House will not be accessible until Monday 5 August 2013. Continue reading