Last year, Guernsey’s Social Investment Fund (SIF) launched its Major Grants Programme to support the financial sustainability of the Bailiwick’s vital charitable sector. Over £1.39 million was awarded to 14 different organisations.
Applications for the next round of the Major Grants Programme are now open.
Applicants can apply for grants over £25,000 towards running costs and salaries, capital costs or multi-year funding and must be registered charities or NPOs operating within or to benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
The programme aims to target funding towards organisations and projects which are most needed within the Bailiwick. Applications should focus on people in our Bailiwick community, on the services and support they need and are of benefit to the community.
They must demonstrate measurable impact against the following outcomes:
- Improving the lives of people with specific needs, disadvantages or vulnerabilities.
- Employment, education or training opportunities.
- The protection of our natural environment, culture and heritage.
- Improved health and wellbeing for our community.
- An inclusive community, which challenges the barriers causing disadvantage or discrimination.
The majority of last year’s recipients received multi-year grants to enable the continuation of key services, with some organisations receiving funds to develop, increase or introduce new services, responding to different community needs.
Citizen’s Advice Guernsey and Bright Beginnings (Every Child our Future) received £166,000 and £150,000 respectively to cover salary costs for key staff over three years, with the Guernsey Disability Alliance having been awarded £80,000 towards salaries and running costs for two years, and Guernsey Community Savings receiving two years’ support with a grant of £53,300.
The Youth Commission was awarded the largest grant of £300,000 over three years to introduce a new programme focusing on an early help approach to mental health for young people in secondary schools, which is now in operation. In-dependence received £51,200 for a new 12-month post plus associated costs to raise awareness of services for at risk, problem (adult) gamblers and their families and to respond to gambling referrals offering the appropriate intervention. The Styx Centre was granted £25,000 towards the purchase of an adjacent field to the Styx Centre to enable the redevelopment of the parking and play areas and to improve access.
Funding for SIF’s grants programmes came initially from the Guernsey net proceeds of the Channel Islands Lottery. SIF has recently received its first funding from the Guernsey Probate Registry and in future, other sources of States and previously unavailable funding will be earmarked for SIF’s grants programmes.
Sadie Siviter de Paucar, Lead Officer of the Social Investment Fund, said: “The Social Investment Fund is delighted to open applications for another round of this important grants programme, which we believe is already having a large impact on the Bailiwick’s charitable sector.
“Our vital third sector has been operating under increasingly difficult circumstances in the last few years, with the pandemic exacerbating financial and resourcing issues, so we look forward to being able to support the community further through this round of funding.”
To discuss submitting an application, please contact SIF’s Lead Officer, Sadie Siviter de Paucar by email on Sadie.SiviterdePaucar@gov.gg or call 07839 239994. Full information about the Major Grants Programme including guidelines, criteria and how to apply can be found here.
Complete applications must be received by midnight on Monday 4th April 2022.
