Guernsey volunteering website is launched

Guernsey charities have welcomed the launch of a new website aimed at helping them recruit more volunteers.

The initiative has been backed by the Guernsey Community Foundation and the Association of Guernsey Charities.

Already, 43 of more than 360 registered charities in the island have signed up to show the kind of work they do and upcoming projects and events.

Dame Mary Perkins, a patron of a number of charities, said it would allow more people in full-time work to volunteer.

She said: "I think what people don't realise is that they don't have to go and open a charity shop every day of the week, it might be that they might just go and do one Saturday morning in a month or something like that.

"Charities need to say what their needs are and be a little bit more flexible than perhaps they've been in the past."

Sue Aldwell, treasurer of Friend of St Martins, said two or three people had already got in touch with them having learnt more about the group fromthe website.

She said the charity, which offers practical support and drop-in centres for adults and children with learning disabilities, relied heavily on people giving up their own time.