Funding from Guernsey Community Foundation has enabled a well-established local charity to appoint its first ever employee.
Guernsey Conservation Volunteers (GCV) has been awarded a grant of £40,000 from the Foundation to help cover the salary of a part time Operations Director for two years.
Established 26 years ago as a charity with a focus on the natural environment and biodiversity, GCV coordinates volunteer efforts to complete a variety of conservation activities including the removal of invasive plants species from land owned by La Société Guernesiaise, the National Trust of Guernsey and the States. It carries out seasonal jobs such as raking hay meadows and pollarding trees, and encourages corporates, schools and community groups to learn about the natural environment and get involved in practical conservation work.
Thanks to funding from the Foundation, Angela Salmon (pictured), one of GCV’s longest serving volunteers, will become the charity’s first Operations Director. She will focus on expanding the programme of work parties, developing a wider variety of practical conservation work, and raising awareness in schools.
Angela said: “These are exciting times for our charity, and I can’t thank the Guernsey Community Foundation enough for its backing. I feel honoured to be our first employee.
“I am passionate about the natural environment. With this new structure in place, we can now offer more opportunities for the community to get involved with practical conservation work as well as learning about our amazing natural environment.”
Angela, a primary school teacher with a degree in biological sciences, has been a GCV volunteer for 18 years. Last July she took a year’s sabbatical, allowing her to visit schools to teach pupils about invasive species and biodiversity as well as organising extra work parties . In her new role she will enhance the charity’s data-gathering and liaise with the Botany Section of La Societe and the Guernsey Biological Records Centre.
Jim Roberts, Chief Executive of the Foundation said: “We’re keen to support a wide range of good causes, and in recent years have made an effort to support the arts and the environment. Witnessing well established charities such as GCV develop in this way is really encouraging and we were more than happy to help it go from strength to strength.”
The Foundation welcomes grant applications from all manner of charitable organisations, especially those delivering essential services to the community. The application process is simple and open to any charity, community group or non-profit organisation doing work for the Bailiwick.
Applications should be for at least £5,000, although smaller amounts are also accepted. To find out more about the Foundation’s grant-giving services contact Anna Le Page, Grants Manager, by email or call the Foundation direct on 259523.
