Views sought on how to increase volunteering

It is becoming harder to recruit and keep volunteers in Guernsey, charities say

People are being asked for their views on the creation of a new volunteer strategy for Guernsey.

The Association of Guernsey Charities is creating the strategy to help the Bailiwick's non-profit sector recruit and retain volunteers.

It said a survey, which closes on 26 June, would help inform the strategy.

Kristin Dowling, the group's development officer, said volunteering was a "vital resource" for the community.

The survey will gather the views of people who "presently volunteer, have stopped, or have not considered it before" and the association said it hoped their answers would provide "valuable insights".

The group is expecting to publish the final strategy in the autumn after wider consultation.

'Volunteering is evolving'

It said keeping volunteers was becoming harder, despite a higher proportion of volunteers in Guernsey than the British average.

An ageing population and cost of living pressures were two factors making it harder to retain volunteers, the association said.

Mrs Dowling said volunteering was "a vital resource that makes our community fairer, more resilient, and vibrant".

"Volunteering is evolving, much like other aspects of modern life, and while the uptake of volunteering seems under threat, it is important to remember that the primary motivation for people to volunteer - to make a positive difference - remains constant."