Forty-two Guernsey charities gain funds from Christmas Lottery draw

May 4th, 2012 by The Association of Guernsey Charities

Many Guernsey charities are set to benefit from last years record breaking Christmas Lottery Draw, and the Association of Guernsey Charities has announced details of the projects that will receive a grant.

Money raised from tickets sold in Guernsey is given to the Association of Guernsey Charities to allocate to local organisations, and the 2011 draw raised £213,897.

The Association has added some additional funds, which means that £215,196 has now been distributed amongst 42 local charities.

(click list to download PDF file of charitable grants)

The Channel Island Lottery has been running since 1975, and over recent years has seen a huge rise in popularity, both in terms of the winning jackpot, and also the amount of money raised for charities. Continue reading

Royal Society report frames global challenge facing humanity

May 2nd, 2012 by The Royal Society

(Please click report cover to go to download page)

Consumption levels between developed and developing nations must be rebalanced alongside a stabilisation of the world’s population by voluntary methods, according to a new report from The Royal Society.

The most developed and the emerging economies must stabilise consumption levels, then reduce them, to help the poorest 1.3 billion people to escape absolute poverty through increased consumption.

Alongside this, education and voluntary family planning programmes must be supported internationally to stabilise global population.

The new report, People and the Planet, is the result of a 21 month study by the Royal Society, the UK’s 350 year-old national academy of science, on the issues around global population. Continue reading

Waitrose helps local charities with new Partner Volunteering Scheme

May 2nd, 2012 by Waitrose

Mike Loveridge and the partners at Waitrose Rohais, Guernsey during the branch opening on 10 March 2011 (click image to expand - ©Chris George)

Waitrose Admiral Park and Waitrose Rohais have launched a Partner Volunteering scheme, which will see the branches donate a total of 500 hours of employees’ time to local charities and good causes this year.

Over the coming months, Partners (as all employees are known) from Waitrose branches in Guernsey will take time out of their day-to-day job roles to support various local charities and causes. The type of support given could include:

• Transforming a woodland or garden for hospice or hospital patients to enjoy
• Sharing retail and customer service skills with a local charity shop
• Supporting a local litter pick to benefit the local environment

The supermarket chain is rolling out the Partner Volunteering scheme across all of its 277 branches, as well as its head office and distribution centres. Continue reading

Guernsey’s Bailiff will officially start World Aid Walk on 7 May 2012

May 1st, 2012 by World Aid Walk

(click on logo to go to The World Aid Walk website)

Guernsey’s Bailiff Richard Collas will officially start the 42nd World Aid Walk on 7 May 2012 in Market Square, St Peter Port.

Richard Collas will be carrying on the role undertaken for many years by the former Bailiff Sir Geoff Rowland.

Chair of the World Aid Walk Bella Farrell said “Sir Geoff Rowland was always a great supporter of the walk so we are delighted and honoured Richard Collas has agreed to support the event.”

“I encourage people to sign up and take part,” she said.

Action Aid, Christian Aid, Hope for a Child, Save the Children, Oxfam and The Tumaini Fund all benefit from the funds raised by walkers. Each charity has its own projects earmarked that the funds from the walk will go towards. Continue reading

Guernsey cow painting auction in aid of Guernsey Voluntary Service

April 30th, 2012 by Guernsey Voluntary Service

(click on image of painting to expand)

The painting of a Guernsey cow is being auctioned in aid of Guernsey Voluntary Service.

The framed oil painting has been kindly donated by London-based artist Peter Hawkins, who won the inaugural Mourant Stepping Up Art Competition in January 2007.

The painting, which is valued at £300, is 45 cm by 45 cm. The reserve price is £50.

The painting will be on display at: Continue reading

Record number of bicyclists in 2012 30in30 challenge to raise money for Les Bourgs Hospice

April 29th, 2012 by Ian Brown

(click on jersey logo to go to the 30in30 website)

The fifth annual 30in30 Challenge, organised by Ian Brown of Ian Brown’s Cycle Shop, begins on 5 May 2012.  A record number of participants, including 33 first timers, will ride their bikes for one hour each day over 30 consecutive days to raise money for Les Bourgs Hospice. Each rider aims to get 30 sponsors at £1 each day for Les Bourgs Hospice.

The event begins with a participants’ group breakfast at St Emilion Café at 8.00 am.

The previous four challenges have raised a total of £210,321.04. With a target of £50,000 for this year the 30in30 challenge should pass the one quarter of a million pounds mark raised for Les Bourgs Hospice since 2008. Continue reading

Guernsey FC team raise awareness of Male Uprising Guernsey charity

April 29th, 2012 by Male Uprising in Guernsey

Guernsey FC players wear Male Uprising Guernsey t-shirts to increase awareness and educate men on prostate, bowel and testicular cancer. (click image to expand - image courtesy of MUG)

The Guernsey FC team wore the MUG t-shirt in the warm-up before the game against Spelthorne Sports on 28 April 2012.

The Male Uprising Guernsey charity is grateful that the team choose to support its message about male cancers in the community.

The match announcer read out a message of support to Guernsey FC from former professional footballer John Hartson who played for Celtic, Arsenal and West Ham United, and was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 2009.

“Congratulations to Tony Vance and the lads on winning the Combined Counties League Division One and thank you for helping raise the profile of MUG, a local charity raising awareness of male cancer, and hoping to raise £250,000 over the next three years to be used for research into testing, cures and treatments of prostate, bowel and testicular cancer in Guernsey.”

Special bingo night raises £4,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust Guernsey

April 27th, 2012 by Carey Olsen

Jess Lund and Laura Preston (on the right) enjoy the Teenage Cancer Trust fund raising Bingo night (click image to expand - image courtesy of Carey Olsen)

Over 150 islanders attended a special bingo night at St Pierre Park Hotel in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust Guernsey appeal which raised £4,000.

The event, which was sponsored by Carey Olsen through its Guernsey charities committee initiative, took place on 31 March 2012.

The funds raised are to be donated to help develop a special unit at Southampton General Hospital which will support young cancer patients and their families from across the Channel Islands and Hampshire and Dorset.

Building and equipping the new ten bedroom unit will cost more than £1 million and will enable young patients to be treated with others their own age.

The bingo night, organised by Jay Aylmer and Anne Ruddy from the Guernsey unit appeal committee, included a raffle, food, music and dancing.

Mr Aylmer, chair of the Guernsey unit appeal committee, said “we had a fantastic turnout for the event and are delighted with the support of islanders and local organisations like Carey Olsen in raising funds and awareness of the charity and its work.

“Providing young cancer patients with an environment suited to their needs is integral to their treatment and we hope that islanders will continue to dig deep to assist the Teenage Cancer Trust in developing this facility,” said Mr Aylmer.

The Teenage Cancer Trust is one of Carey Olsen’s chosen charities and the law firm will be supporting the cause until 2013.

Tom Carey, partner at Carey Olsen, said “the Teenage Cancer Trust carries out such important and worthwhile work with young people and we are pleased to be supporting the charity. Our staff have already taken part in fundraising initiatives such as the blue day, with Shaun Rankin, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all and we were delighted to be able to assist with this event.”

Well fed with delicious food at the Fresh Friday Market in St Peter Port

April 20th, 2012 by Richard Lord

The Fresh Friday Market in Market Square, St Peter Port enjoyed a successful second week although the weather was more variable with moments of bright blue sky interspersed with short showers.

Armelle Hodkinson of L'Escalier serves a Dutch customer at the Fresh Friday Market in Market Square, St Peter Port (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Besides the delicious food sold, one of the pleasures of food markets is the banter that occurs and the comaraderie that develops between regular customers and vendors. Continue reading

Run in RG Falla quarter marathon on 20 May to Help a Guernsey Child

April 20th, 2012 by Events

(Please click on image to download to your computer quarter Marathon entry form as a PDF file)

This year’s RG Falla Quarter Marathon will raise funds for Help a Guernsey Child.

Now in its eleveth year, the sponsorship money from those taking part in the annual charity run will go to assist disadvantaged local children, young people and youth organisations.

Help A Guernsey Child also supports some other local charities that need additional funding.

“As a Guernsey company which has been part of the local community for more than 50 years, we want to support those locally that could do with a little help,” said RG Falla managing director Peter Gregory. Continue reading