22 years of volunteering with Guernsey Counselling Service
When I first volunteered as a trustee for Guernsey Counselling Service (GCS) back in 2004, the charity was establishing its very first Board. With a background in finance, I felt I had something useful to contribute and was happy to get involved in looking after the charity's finances.
Twenty-two years later, I'm still here!
Over that time, I've had the privilege of supporting GCS as a director, watching the charity grow and evolve to meet the increasing demand for mental health support in our island.
GCS is a wonderful organisation to be part of. Every day, it helps islanders who are struggling with the many different pressures and challenges that life can bring. Knowing that the charity makes a genuine difference to people's lives is enormously rewarding.
I'm not a counsellor and I don't need to understand all the intricacies of the therapeutic process to make a valuable contribution to the charity.
What I do understand is financial governance and the importance of ensuring a charity has the resources and support it needs to do its work. By putting those skills to use, I can help the people who care directly care for our clients.
And to me, that's what being a trustee is all about.
Charities like GCS need people with all sorts of skills, experience and perspectives. Whether your strengths lie in finance, communications, administration, fundraising, organising events or simply bringing people together, there's a good chance a local charity could benefit from what you have to offer.
Guernsey is fortunate to have such a vibrant charitable sector, but it relies on people being willing to give their time and expertise.
Volunteering has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction over the years, as well as the opportunity to contribute to a cause I genuinely believe in.
So, if you've ever thought about volunteering, why not take that next step?