“ There are currently 272 charities registered with the Association of Jersey Charities, which was
established in 1971
members have the opportunity to showcase their work and advertise for volunteers.
• Jersey Charity Awards – recognition for excellence in the Sector.
• Sector Interest Groups – consolidating and unifying our members leading to better knowledge dissemination, and a more cohesive and efficient offering of services.
The Association, therefore, contributes to charitable work on the island both financially, through distributing grants to members according to need, and also by supporting our members through other means.
Our activities and facilities are aimed at improving the ability of our members to provide their services, and also to provide a gateway for society to access our members. Through the Association we can help find matches between charity needs and volunteers, on an individual level and also for larger projects and corporate opportunities.
Although highly rewarding for the individuals and recipients involved, charitable work can be a thankless task, not fully receiving the recognition it deserves. While it is very difficult to put a financial figure on the exact contribution the charitable sector makes to island life, the hours and resources devoted by hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals to help our community should not be underestimated and I am sure would amount to millions of pounds in value.
A CSR ethos is a win-win situation for both the company and charity involved. Organisations benefit from achieving wider company objectives to play a larger role in society and to give something back to the community at the same time as raising their profile and brand recognition. Internally, the company and staff benefit from team building opportunities
through the various projects they undertake, and staff morale is boosted. Individuals will also feel good for having done something for a worthy cause – often something that is outside their usual skill set.
The benefit for partner charities is far reaching; increased finances, extra resources, strength from the corporate sponsor’s brand and association, and ongoing support from those working for and involved with the sponsoring organisation.
It does not always have to be about money, although financial donations are the easiest for many charities to receive without having to provide training for volunteers.
Regular dress down days, event sponsorship and matched donations are the more usual ways of businesses demonstrating their community involvement. Alternative ways for businesses to make a difference are also becoming more popular, such as regular giving from monthly salaries, taking clients along to charity events as an alternative to a client specific event, or buying a table at a charity ball or dinner.
Non- financial giving is also important, with many firms providing the means for staff to volunteer their time for practical projects, usually in their own time, although the number of businesses and corporate organisations allowing their staff to help out in company time is increasing. Of course, all charities are more than grateful to receive funding to help them provide for their cause but there is a massive benefit to be gained for all participants if people actually get involved in finding out about the needs of charitable organisations, and get involved in appropriate volunteering, for however short a time, or engage in projects or events, because it melds together people from different sectors of our community.
As the saying goes - to give is to receive. Time, skills and expertise can make a huge difference to a small charity in need of a bit more direction or a board of trustees short of an accountant, or other professional willing to sit on committees. Approaching a charity and offering just a few hours regular commitment could change the future of that charity, enabling it to achieve what otherwise would not have been possible.
CSR appeals to those who ‘want to make a difference’ and being part of the charity can, in turn, make one feel privileged as well as adding to one’s own skills, expertise and life experience. It also offers the opportunity for networking and social contacts.
As more and more mainstream welfare services are outsourced to
”
charities, so there needs to be more support from the community to help these essential service providers achieve their goals, as gradually and eventually everyone is affected by their work.
It may
not be immediately apparent and it may not have an effect until later on in life, but charities touch all of our lives at some point and it is important for all of us to support them.
We hope, through our objectives and activities, that the Association makes a meaningful contribution to charity work on the island and, by aiding our members, and raising the profile of charity work, we hope in turn to encourage more people and organisations to fulfil their social responsibilities, for the benefit of us all.
CENTRE POINT TRUST WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING:
• Building Renovations Limited • Royal Bank of Canada • Standard Bank • Children in Need • Lloyds TSB Foundation • Steve Southern • CA Mauger • State Street
• Peter Noble – Parish of St Helier
• Jersey Child Care Trust
• Stephanie – Channel Islands Training & Development
• Choice Properties • The Grace Trust • Hawksford International • Maria (Supervisor) at B&Q • Rob the Builder • Rotary Club • ABN Amro Bank
CSR - Helping others Page 11
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