How we help
Foodbank
We provide practical help to those in need by providing items from our foodbank. This is the best way we can help as we have very generous donors and usually a well stocked cupboard of essential store cupboard items such as tea, cereal, pasta, tuna, soup, beans, vegetables, fruit, puddings, jam, biscuits, sugar and squash and we also have some fresh items, both bought in and from supermarket excess. In addition we often have nappies, wipes, toiletries etc too.
Even when we are unable to help in any other way we are usually happy for people to take items from our foodbank.
Life skills courses
If you are in need of some help - managing your money, basic cooking ideas, sewing etc, please get in touch as we can run a session for you.
We now have a jobs' notice board and can help you with an application or filling out a form.
These sessions will take place either at the Guernsey Welfare Centre or at Trinity Church Centre and are all free of charge.
We are also a Community Partner with Hey Girls who are working to eradicate 'period poverty' by supplying free sanitary items.
If you'd like to find out more, please contact Rose our Life Skills Co- Ordinator on 07839 188180 or on lifeskills@welfare.gg
Household items
We work closely with Guernsey Waste and individual donors to keep two stores stocked with furniture and household items such as bedding, curtains, pots and pans, crockery, cutlery etc. If you have broken items which need replacing or have recently set up your own home and are in need of such items then please get in touch with us to see how we can help. Please contact Susi on susi@welfare.gg or 07839 176930.
Parent Empowerment Programme
The Parent Empowerment Programme is about travelling together on a journey of change. We believe that everyone with the right support and help can develop the mindset to be able to make lasting and meaningful change. Your past does not have to define who you are or dictate your future. PEP is a weekly group with some time for parents and children to be together and some time for parents to have space to talk whilst their children are well cared for. Each member of PEP attends the group with their children and is encouraged to think of how their week has been from their child's point of view as well as considering their values and goals.
The group is facilitated by a Welfare Worker and a retired headteacher and is for parents with children under the age of 3 though older siblings can join in during the school holidays. Committed, regular attendance is essential and once you have joined the group you can stay until your youngest child starts school. You can then keep in touch by joining us for PEP+ activities which will take place around 4 times a year.
If you or someone you know would be interested in joining the Programme you should speak to your Health Visitor, Support Worker or you may contact us direct on 07839 724300 or 07839 188180 and ask for Rose.
Guernsey Linking Lives
Guernsey Linking Lives is a befriending service run by Guernsey Welfare Service. It is aimed at those over 65 who find themselves requiring some extra friendship and support and has been set up using the model of a UK charity. The Linking Lives Scheme seeks to match trained and vetted volunteers with an older person who would like to see a friendly volunteer visitor on a regular basis for around an hour.
For more details on either how to volunteer or regarding a referral, please contact Rose Hall, Guernsey Linking Lives co-ordinator on 07839 188180 or linkinglives@welfare.gg
Tree of Joy
The Rotary Club does a wonderful job each year of organising the Tree of Joy where members of the public can purchase gifts providing Christmas presents for children who might not otherwise receive much.
We are pleased to support their work by acting as an agency forwarding nominations for such children and distributing the gifts to our clients. If you would like us to nominate your child to receive a gift at Christmas, please call into the office during opening hours between 1st September and 31st October and we will have a chat and ask you to complete a form.
Money coaching
The CAP Money Course is a revolutionary money management course that teaches people budgeting skills and a simple, cash-based system that really works.
This course will help anyone to get more in control of their finances, so they can save, give and prevent debt. The CAP Money Course is a course devised by the award winning debt counselling charity, Christians Against Poverty.
Faith
We don’t push our faith or expect that you will have the same beliefs as us but we are a Christian charity and recognise that when people are struggling financially they are often struggling with many other things as well. We are always happy to discuss our faith or to pray with you if you would find that helpful. There are also some booklets available in the waiting area which you might find bring comfort or hope.
Signposting
We act as a signposting service and information centre, pointing people in the direction of other community services, charities or States departments that may be able to assist them.
From time to time we liaise directly with these other agencies on behalf of our clients if their situation is more complex and they require a mediating body.
We seek to function as a ‘listening ear’, to make ourselves available to those in genuine need and offer support and practical help to them through difficult times.
Pre-school
For many years, we ran Happy Days pre-school on five mornings a week for children referred to by Social Services’ Health Visitors. These children would otherwise not have been able to access this valuable start to childhood development because of the cost of private pre-schools.
Because of the introduction of free pre-school education by the States of Guernsey, Happy Days closed in July 2016.
