Guernsey Community Savings, the charity that arranges basic banking services for Guernsey residents who have been financially excluded has appointed three new directors.
Jane Kerins, General Manager of Guernsey Community Savings (GCS) since 2019, joins the Board along with former senior lawyer Stephen Ozanne and communications specialist Linda Rolf.
Founder and chairman of GCS, Peter Neville, said: “Jane and Stephen have been members of our team for some time and have been fully involved in establishing GCS’s operations. Linda brings experience and expertise that is already helping us extend our support within the community. Together, they will considerably strengthen and diversify the Board and I warmly welcome their appointments.”
Jane Kerins said: “After more than 35 years in the finance industry, I leapt at the chance two years ago to join GCS and use my experience and skills to benefit a very different, and often overlooked, group of people. I’m delighted to now join the Board.”
Stephen Ozanne, who is Chief Executive of Liberum Wealth and before that led global law firm Walkers’ Channel Islands regulatory and risk advisory group, added: “It has been fantastic to be part of the team with Peter to establish GCS, and I’m looking forward to helping GCS as it grows to solve the very difficult problem of financial exclusion for more people.”
Having set up as a communications consultant last year, Linda Rolf was keen to get involved in meaningful voluntary work alongside her new business. She says: “The more I have learned about the problems of financial exclusion in Guernsey, the more I have been determined to do what I can to raise awareness of the need for GCS and of the great work it is doing.”
The three new directors join chairman Peter Neville, Mark Bright, Nick England and Brian Horsepool on the Board, with Susan Norman serving as company secretary.
Guernsey Community Savings took on its first clients last August and has now received more than 70 enquiries and opened almost 40 accounts. Each client has an account, a debit card, and a means of building up savings. The charity also provides basic budgeting advice and aims soon to be able to offer small loans to clients to help overcome financial crises.
The main image shows (left to right) Jane Kerins, Stephen Ozanne, and Linda Rolf.
