The Social Investment Fund has announced the first recipients of its Major Grants Programme, which has awarded over £1.3 million in its first round to Bailiwick charities and non-profit organisations.
The Major Grants Programme seeks to support the financial sustainability of the Bailiwick’s vital charitable sector, targeting funding towards organisations and projects which are most needed or demonstrate measurable benefits for the community.
SIF was established as an independent charitable company in 2020, to use mainly public funds to invest in the third sector. Funding for the Major Grants Programme comes initially from the Guernsey net proceeds of the Channel Islands Lottery, and in future, other sources of States and previously unavailable funding will be earmarked for SIF’s grants programmes.
A total of 13 organisations have received major grants. The majority of these are 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) have been awarded £166,000 and £150,000 respectively to cover salary costs for key staff over three years.
Guernsey Alcohol Advisory Service has received £80,000 support for two years to support work at their Rehabilitation Dry House, Carers Guernsey £100,000 for two years to support outreach work and Autism Guernsey £80,000 to cover the costs of specialist psychological, therapeutic, counselling and sensory integration services for two years.
In-dependence has been awarded £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 Youth Commission has been 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 will start later this year.
Two further grants have been awarded to improve access to facilities so that more individuals and groups can participate in community activities. The Styx Centre has been given a grant of £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. Guernsey Rovers AC LBG will receive £27,500 to improve access to the South West frontage of the building and provide a bespoke area for training, learning and education for community groups and charities.
The Guernsey Disability Alliance has been awarded £80,000 towards salaries and running costs for two years, along with Guernsey Community Savings receiving two years’ support with a grant of £53,300.
Two years support of £151,000 has also been provided to Guernsey Employment Trust to cover salary costs for two Employment Support Officers.
Lastly, Wigwam has also received support to continue the work of the Family Support Coordinator with a grant of £58,046 for three years.
Applications for Major Grants need to demonstrate measurable impact against these wide 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.
Jurat Stephen Jones OBE, chair of the Social Investment Fund, said: “The Board of the Social Investment Fund is thrilled to have made these awards to such important third sector organisations, which provide support to those most in need, improving the lives of Bailiwick residents.”
“Many of these organisations have extended or developed their services to respond to increased community needs, some in part to Covid-19 and some due to greater demand for vital services not provided elsewhere.”
“Together with our Small Grants Programme and our Covid-19 Community Charity Appeal grants, SIF has now awarded just over £2 million in the 18 months since its incorporation and aims to provide valuable support to the whole Bailiwick community.”
SIF will open further rounds of its Major and Small grants programmes later this year and again in 2022. For further information about SIF’s grants programmes, please contact SIF’s Lead Officer, Sadie Siviter de Paucar by email on [email protected] or by calling 07839 239994. Further information can be found here.
