Helping Hands

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We have been making a difference to local charities and community groups through our Helping Hands scheme for over 20 years.

Our Helping Hands fund is the longest running Society fund and has donated more than £300,000 to worthwhile causes since it was introduced over 20 years ago.

The annual fund is open to Channel Island charities and organisations to provide financial help in order for them to continue the brilliant work they do.

Each year we receive an overwhelming amount of applications and each and every one is reviewed to ensure that smaller charities and causes aren’t overlooked.

We're currently working on a new-look Helping Hands fund, launching in 2021. Keep a look out in the local media and our social media channels to find out when it will be open for applications.

Who can apply?

Helping Hands is open to local charities and community groups in the Channel Islands. Projects must benefit the local community on-island, and applicants must be based in the Channel Islands.

What can I apply for?

We welcome applications to support the purchase of equipment, or the funding of resources. We do not support applications for off-island travel. Have a look at our Helping Hands case studies below to see what others have received in the past.

Helping Hands 2020

In 2020 we received more than 100 requests for funding from across both islands and were able to donate more than £17,800 to 24 projects in both Jersey and Guernsey.

Jersey

Project	Funds donated	How will the funding be used?
Art in the Frame Foundation	£400	We would like to create a new larger outdoor decoration for outside our gallery, featuring bright, vibrant colours and using different media such as paint and other repurposed materials.
Autism Jersey	£500	We would like to purchase more stock for our sensory room, so children, young people and adults have a range of specialist materials to help them learn.
Friends of St Peter’s School	£500	We would like to 'rejuvinate' the children’s school playground.
Jersey Brain Tumour Charity	£800	One of the main aims of our work this year is to provide more support to the children we support by providing Family Support Days. We need funding to help run these days.
Grace Trust – Parklife Choir	£750	The Parklife Choir started 10 years ago to help alcoholic dependent islanders have a focus. Money is need for new equipment.
Methodist Homes for the Aged	£500	To purchase a smart TV for the lounge.
NSPCC Jersey	£1,000	Funding for a new programme called Baby Steps, which is an antenatal service that offers support and advice for people preparing for parenthood.
Chatty Benches	£800	The funds will be used to purchase the plaques to put on the Chatty Benches. The benches are aimed to encourage people to talk more and combat isolation.
Project Linus	£500	Project Linus Jersey offers comfort and a hug to children in Jersey by providing handmade blankets and quilts.
Rising Voices	£200	Rising Voices a choir for people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Need funds to purchase the music.
Stroke Association	£1,500	The funding would help to meet the costs for the weekly hire of the hall where the group meet.
The Inclusion Youth Project – Jersey Youth Service	£500	We support young people with a wide range and variety of needs such as Autism, Downs Syndrome, Physical disabilities, Cerebral Palsy and learning difficulties
The Oasis of Peace	£1,000	The Oasis will be open for those who need a sanctuary or are troubled and need some rest and respite, by offering a halfway house.

Guernsey

Project	Funds donated	How will the funding be used?
Arts for Impact	£1,000	The funds would allow us to deliver up to 24 weeks of skills-building sessions divided into 8 week blocks and facilitated by 3 different artists.
Bowel Cancer Guernsey LBG	£500	As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness month, Bowel Cancer Guernsey is introducing Fibre Friday on Friday 24 April to encourage people to eat more fibre as a means to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
Carers Coming Together	£500	We give hard working Carers a day of relaxation and friendship and company away from the stress of their normal day. It would be lovely if we could print some new leaflets.
Guernsey Dynamics Football Club	£1,500	This a club for males with varying forms of learning disabilities, if we were lucky to be accepted the funds would be a great help with the hire costs.
Guernsey Military History co	£150	We are working with the organisers of Liberation day 75th, to recreate the landing of the first troops of May 9th 1945, and to take a group of people to various commemorative events. We want to be able to give them boiled sweets.
Guernsey Voluntary Service	£1,000	We are requesting funding which can be in the form of vouchers so that we can purchase the afternoon cakes for Jubilee.
Hautes Capelles PTA	£500	We wish to install playground equipment at Hautes Capelles school to provide quiet areas for reading and shade.
Le Platon Residential Home	£1,000	We are opening up a new purpose built dementia wing in the spring and the funds would go towards specific dementia designed furniture in the day room.
Paws for Support	£1,500	We work with the local charity Liberate and local bereavment services - providing unique services with our therapy dogs to help support those that require these charities services and run joint events.
The Health Improvement Commission for Guernsey and Alderney	£1,000	The Be Active Team will design, order and install signs around St Peter Port which will inform individuals who park in or near town of the distance, time and number of steps it would take to reach popular destinations in the town centre.

Helping Hands 2019

In 2019 we received over 109 applications this year and were able to donate over £17,000 to support 33 local charities and organisations with their initiatives.