The Association of Guernsey Charities has launched an updated version of volunteer.gg, which it hopes will boost the number of volunteers locally.
It follows a 2024 survey by the AGC, which found many people were unaware of potential volunteer opportunities.
Despite a high level of support in Guernsey, the AGC stated that charities are facing challenges in engaging volunteers due to factors like an ageing population and a changing work-life balance.
“Volunteer.gg offers a centralised space where users can explore currently over 80 diverse volunteer listings, with new opportunities being added regularly” – an Association of Guernsey Charities spokesperson.
According to the organisation, around 30% of Guernsey’s 16+ population will volunteer at some point during the year, however despite almost a third of the island donating time to good causes, the AGC reports that 41% of the island’s charities face challenges in engaging volunteers.
“Volunteer.gg provides an easy-to-use platform to discover and sign up for volunteer opportunities, whether they are for one – off or longer – term roles,” said the AGC spokesperson.
“Volunteer.gg was created with the understanding that volunteering should be accessible to everyone, regardless of time constraints or skill set. The platform helps connect individuals with opportunities that match their interests and availability.”
You can find the website online HERE.
Kristin Dowling, is the Development Officer at the Association of Guernsey Charities.
“We recognise that volunteering must fit into people’s lives, and that time is precious,” she acknowledged.
“A one-stop-shop for all volunteering opportunities, whether for a one-off event or a more involved role like a board position, will make it easier for more people to engage. The response from charities and organisations has been fantastic, and we hope the public will feel inspired to volunteer for the many causes listed on Volunteer.gg.”
A number of charities are backing the move, including GROW, St Martins Parish Church & Community Centre, and the Nature Commission.
“At Grow, we recognise the invaluable role volunteers play in empowering individuals with learning disabilities and difficulties,” said Mandy Mackelworth, General Manager at GROW Ltd.
“Joining the new volunteer platform has opened doors for us, enabling us to make new connections with people ready to make a difference. Together, we can nurture a supportive community that fosters growth, understanding, and opportunity for all.”
Rebecca Silk, the Operations Manager at St Martins Parish Church & Community Centre is also supporting the move.
“The Community Café in conjunction with St Martin’s Primary School is an exciting project, its an opportunity for young people to come out of school, engage with the wider community, work on their social skills and learn some new games. This project is something we have been trying to get off the ground for a while now but have been struggling to find volunteers. By posting on the new volunteer.gg website we hope to be able to have a wider reach and find the right people for this and other projects.
“We rely very heavily on volunteers, we have fabulous facilities and great ideas but without the volunteers we can’t get them off the ground. The events we run here with volunteers e.g. coffee mornings, youth groups and toddler groups are so successful, they impact the community in such a positive way and the volunteers get so much out of the experience as well.”
The Nature Commission has recently pushed an emphasis on Citizen Science, which helps engage the public with research projects aimed at understanding species, populations and habitats.
“Volunteering is a really great way to connect with our island community and be a part of something good,” said Jessi Jennings. “Volunteering with the Nature Commission, and other environmental organisations across Guernsey, connects you with nature, helps you to learn about our amazing natural environment, and also helps us to build that all important evidence-base for so that informed decisions about our environment can be made.
“The roles the Nature Commission offer mainly revolve around citizen science projects, which anyone can take part in, you just need to have an interest! We are looking forward to meeting more of the Guernsey community through the Association of Guernsey Charities volunteering platform and providing people with ways to care for and care about nature. The voluntary sector is so important to protecting and enhancing the natural environment. We can’t do it without amazing volunteers!”
You can find more out on the Volunteer Guernsey website HERE.