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The Guernsey Women’s Refuge has received £15,000 from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands for its work with victims of domestic abuse.
The Refuge provides emergency accommodation and a safe place to stay, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - including a telephone helpline and outreach service - for the victims of domestic abuse in the island.
It is staffed around the clock by paid employees and volunteers. The charity receives funding from the States of Guernsey for around half its running costs, but the rest of its income comes from donations, fundraising and from the rental contributions received by longer-term residents.
Dr Maggie Costen, chairman of the domestic abuse charity, Safer, which now manages the Refuge, said the money received from the Lloyds Bank Foundation would make a big difference to this year’s fundraising efforts. From 2012 to 2014, Safer received around £36,600 a year from the Foundation in relation to staffing costs. Now the Refuge is also benefitting.
“The money from Lloyds Bank Foundation is going towards refuge staff costs, training and supervision and maintenance,” she said. “We could not do without the support of organisations like the Foundation as we have to do a great deal of fundraising every year as the running costs add up to in excess of £110,000 a year.”
The Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands is one of the largest sources of charitable funding in the islands, dispensing almost £1 million a year in the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey. It derives its funding entirely from Lloyds Banking Group but is legally independent of the Group and an independent board of trustees determines the policies. The Foundation recently entered into a new covenant to provide long-term continuity of financial support.
The Chairman of the local foundation is John Boothman and the Deputy Chairman is Jurat Dr John Ferguson. The Executive Director is John Hutchins.
Mr Hutchins said: “We have over many years supported the Guernsey Women’s Refuge which is so critical to those seeking help at extremely difficult times in their lives. As such we are delighted to have been of assistance.”
Guernsey Women’s Refuge Limited is a registered charity, which since it opened in October 1998 has provided emergency accommodation and support services, including a 24hour telephone helpline and outreach support services to hundreds of women and their children who have been victims of domestic abuse.
Safer exists to raise awareness of the impact and extent of domestic abuse. Its key aims are the prevention of domestic abuse and the protection of individuals who have experienced domestic abuse.
