Children’s Bikes at Christmas
(2016 - ongoing)
Donating children’s bikes at Christmas to families experiencing financial hardship has become an annual tradition for the Sarah Groves Foundation. Starting in a very small way in 2016, relationships have been forged with the appropriate authorities agencies who nominate the most deserving cases on their books at the time. The tradition has steadily grown to the point where in December 2019 we donated 28 bikes.
Financial contribution: Totalling c.£10,000 as at 31st December 2019
Dragonflies Parent/Toddler Drop in Centres
(2015 - ongoing)
In 2014 we were approached by Home-Start Guernsey with the concept of providing a free parent-and-toddler weekly drop-in centre. The Trustees supported the idea, which started in St Peter Port in January 2015. It was an immediate success and was quickly followed by a second centre in St Martin’s. The centres quickly became known as ‘Dragonflies’ – the logo of the Sarah Groves Foundation, a creature dear to Sarah’s heart. The opportunity then arose to take over an existing group in the Forest which has become the latest Dragonflies centre supported by the Sarah Groves Foundation. At the end of 2019, Dragonflies were supporting 223 families with 315 children.
Financial contribution: Totalling £73,500 as at 31st December 2019
Duke of Edinburgh Award, Le Murier School
(2015 - ongoing)
We were first approached by Le Murier School, a highly-acclaimed Guernsey-based special-needs school, in 2015 to provide financial support for their D of E bronze medal programme. The Trustees supported the request not only because it met our required criteria but also because Sarah herself gained her D of E Gold Award in her final year at St Mary’s School, Ascot.
All students successfully completed the course, in some cases against all odds. Since 2015 we have proudly supported Le Murier School for further bronze and silver programmes. It is always gratifying to attend the award ceremonies at Government House when the students are each rewarded for their success by the Lt Governor.
Financial contribution: Totalling £10,071 as at 31st December 2019
Guille-Allès Children’s Library Project
(2018)
In 2017 we became aware of the proposed redevelopment of the Guille-Allès Children’s Library in St Peter Port at a total estimated cost of circa £130,000. The Trustees immediately recognised this as a great opportunity to fulfil our Mission Statement of ‘Enhancing Young Lives’. It was open to all; it had a very wide audience; it would exclusively benefit children and it was long-lasting. We agreed to support the project as lead-sponsor in return for which we were offered the opportunity for the main room to carry Sarah’s name for posterity. The project was completed in 2018 and was officially opened in December of that year. It has been met with universal acclaim.
The figures for 2019 show that issues from the Children’s Library increased from 55,222 in 2018 to 64,535 (an increase of approx 17%). There have been increases in all aspects of the Library due in part to the enthusiasm of the current staff but also due to the improvement of the Children’s Library.
Financial contribution: £50,000
Magical Days in the Park
(2016 and 2018)
Magical Days in the Park is a biennial event which takes place in Saumarez Park in the first week of July. The aim to is to teach children of Primary School age all about the outdoor way of life.
Organised by the Floral Guernsey Foundation and initially staged in 2014, the Sarah Groves Foundation’s first involvement was in 2016, since when we have become the lead sponsor and partner for this event, which hosts almost 2,000 children from Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm over a three-day period in early July.
Magical Days in the Park is designed is an out-of-classroom experience designed to teach young people about the outdoor way of life. Activities include bushcraft; printing from nature; nature’s recyclers; miniature gardens; cave art; wonderful willow and Peter Rabbit with Mr McGregor in the Victorian Walled Garden.
Unfortunately, Magical Days in the Park scheduled for 2020 has been deferred for one year for operational reasons.
Financial contribution: Totalling £16,000 as at 31st December 2019
Art for Guernsey
(2018 - 2019)
Ever since Belgian national David Ummels arrived in Guernsey, fell in love with it and decided to promote art in a spectacular fashion via Art for Guernsey, the Trustees of the Sarah Groves Foundation have elected to be a small part of its success.
Working closely with schools in Guernsey, Art for Guernsey displays valuable pieces of art in the classroom thereby building an appreciation of art that would otherwise not be there. Using considerable levels of personal funds and through a generous and trusting arrangement for the loan of meaningful works of art, Art for Guernsey is a worthy recipient of funds from the Sarah Groves Foundation. This otherwise-unavailable exposure to art enhances many young lives.
Financial contribution: Totalling £6,000 as at 31st December 2019
Frangipani School, Sri Lanka
(2019)
Bridge2 is a Guernsey-based charity set up by Sarah Griffith to help people affected by humanitarian disasters. Following the devastating tsunami in 2004, Frangipani School in Sri Lanka was totally rebuilt by Bridge2. Providing young children with a pre-primary school education, it was on Sarah’s original itinerary when she left Guernsey in late-2012 before fatefully changing her plans by going to Kashmir.
In February 2019, Sarah’s close friend Fabiana and her partner Julian visited Frangipani School, which had no library and very few books. Between them they built bookshelves, put up educational posters, acquired educational videos, provided a cushioned reading area and recreated one of Sarah’s favourite symbols that she had painted many times – a rainbow with butterflies. In short, they provided a library. It has proved very popular and we are proud to have funded its creation.
The cost has been minimal but the positive effect on the children has been immense.
Financial contribution: £300
Waterbugs to Dragonflies by Doris Stickney
(2018 and 2019)
Following a request for support from Rev Linda le Vasseur, the Trustees agreed to support the purchase of this book, which tries to provide reassurance to children about what it means to die and about when a loved-one dies. There is also guidance to parents about how to talk to their children on the subject. Each book contains a small card reflecting the fact that it was funded by the Sarah Groves Foundation.
Click here for more info on the book.
Financial contribution: Totalling £917 as at 31st December 2019
Guernsey Lantern Parade
(2015 and 2017)
The very first lantern parade through the streets of St Peter Port was organised by the Guernsey Arts Commission in March 2014 as a harbinger of spring. We were approached to sponsor the 2015 event, a request supported by the Trustees due to the extensive involvement of young people through long, dark winter evenings when they attend workshops and construct their own lanterns. They also ingeniously made a very large dragonfly lantern to lead the parade in keeping with the Foundation’s logo.
The 2015 event, despite unfavourable weather, comprised some 2,000 people bearing more than 500 lanterns and was led by drummer band SPARK! The 2017 event was equally successful in slightly better weather and was again led by SPARK!
Unfortunately, mainly due to the unreliable nature of weather at the end of March, the 2019 event was deferred and the future of the event is now in doubt.
Financial contribution: Totalling £16,000 as at 31st December 2019
Chora Chori, Nepal
(2017 and 2018)
‘ChoraChori’ is the Nepali word for ‘children’. It is also the name of a UK-based charity that confronts violence against children in Nepal, including child rape, trauma management and bringing rapists to justice. Its record of success is remarkable and when contacted by Chora Chori in 2015 the Trustees of the Sarah Groves Foundation were unanimous in their support.
Financial contribution: Totalling £12,500 as at 31st December 2019
St Peter Port Carnival
(2017, 2018 and 2019)
For two weeks in July St Peter Port comes alive with its annual carnival staged by The Town Centre Partnership, sadly now disbanded. For the past three years the Sarah Groves Foundation has provided financial support for the areas allocated to children’s activities such as Punch & Judy. Here again, the future of this event is in some doubt.
Financial contribution: Totalling £5,000 as at 31st December 2019
Mgungani School, Tanzania
(2014)
When Sarah climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in September 2012 to raise money for charity, she visited Mgungani School and fell in love with it. Exactly two years later 26 people, including close family and friends, re-traced Sarah’s footsteps up Kilimanjaro and also re-visited Mgungani School.
In advance of the 2014 climb, the Trustees agreed to allocate some of the money that would be raised to provide a new playground, a new sports field, associated sports equipment and a complete set of text books.
The official opening of the playground and sports field was timed to coincide with the climb in 2014, which resulted in an emotional and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Gifts were exchanged, a plaque was unveiled with Sarah’s name on it and a tree was planted in Sarah’s memory.
It was an unforgettable and highly emotional experience that touched the hearts and minds of everyone present.
Financial contribution: £7,500
The Sarah Groves Foundation has made various other small donations including £2,000 to the Nepal earthquake Disaster Fund in 2015.