Chair’s review for 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Annual Accounts and Report for the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands. Reflections on the year inevitably focus on our 40th Anniversary celebrations, where we introduced two new grant programmes, alongside our core grant programme. The Channel Islands’ 40th Anniversary grant programme offered unrestricted funding to charities who have been experiencing a significant increase in demand for their services due to the cost-of-living crisis. We launched a financial resilience fund in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group and our sister foundations for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland offering charities supporting those struggling with the pressures of financial insecurity with unrestricted funding, and financial, digital and employability education and skills support through Lloyds Bank Academy.

Throughout the year, we are as ever proud and delighted to have showcased many charities we have partnered with who reflect our values and missions, supporting people across Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney who face isolation, are vulnerable and who may face disadvantage in their communities. Our Winter Receptions are well established in the charity sector’s calendar of events and provides an opportunity to celebrate and champion the vital work of the sector, particularly with our islands’ politicians and civil servants, as well as the many dedicated people working and volunteering in the sector.

In 2025 we are proud to record that we provided funding of £1,318,017 (2024 £1,031,401).

Grants totalling £1,308,950 were awarded to the following charities:

• Action for Children, Bright Beginnings, Citizens Advice Guernsey, Guernsey Bereavement Service, Les Bourg Hospice, The Bailiwick of Guernsey Victim Support & Witness Service, Liberate, Shiloh Church, Guernsey Voluntary Service, and Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney.
• Autism Jersey, Family First, Focus on Mental Illness, Jersey Heart Support Group, YouMatter – Love Matters Trust, Kairos Arts Limited, St Johns Ambulance Jersey, Caring Cooks of Jersey, Caritas Jersey, Jersey Employment Trust, Jersey Childcare Trust, Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau, Sanctuary Trust and The Shelter Trust.
• Association of Guernsey Charities for Alderney.

The Foundation also provided Matched giving to colleagues’ chosen charities of £10,739 (2024: £10,330).

40 years represents £26 million in total funding and this incredible financial support for our communities is achieved because of our long-standing covenant from the Lloyds Banking Group. We are so grateful for their commitment to funding support for people experiencing multiple and complex social issues, through the charities on the ground who are the real experts. Beyond our core funding we have continued to call upon and be grateful for, the support of the bank and their colleagues to ensure delivery on the Foundation’s unique developmental support programme, through mentors, the skills exchange, and charity response forums. We know from feedback how much this additional support is valued by the charitable sector. Sitting independently from LBG, the Foundation acknowledges the contribution of bank colleagues who give their time, effort and enthusiasm to enhance the funding and support we give to our partner charities. At our winter receptions in November 2025, we were delighted to be able to demonstrate the impact of their involvement in these programmes. A huge thank you to all of them.

A continued aim of the board is collaboration and co-production, whether that’s with charities, Governments or other funders and sector stakeholders across the islands. We will always seek to partner and support those charities who are the experts in their chosen areas of focus and are best placed to deliver services to those in the greatest need.

A significant change in strategy at the end of 2025 was the announcement that our core grant programme was moving to unrestricted funding from 2026. The Board recognised that it is the charities at the sharp end who understand and know best how to deliver service and support, and this move acknowledges our trust in their decision-making. We hope that this will enable charities we partner with to have the confidence to fund services which really make a difference. As ever, the support and guidance of our Executive Director, Jo Le Poidevin, to all potential grant applicants is key in this change.

And talking of Jo, as we move into 2026, I must recognise the huge contribution she makes to not only the charities in our islands but also with her expertise supporting the Board. This year will mark Jo’s 10th year at the Foundation, and this will not be the last time that the Board thanks her for everything she does and the pivotal role she plays at the heart of the Foundation.

In February 2026 we welcomed many old and new faces at seminars, focusing on the use of AI in charitable organisations. We know that it’s a force for good if we can learn how best to use it and I am personally really looking forward to some expert advice and learning from those who are already harnessing the technology in their work.

A heartfelt thank you to my fellow Trustees, who steer us in our objectives and priorities. With a six-year term on the Board, every year we say goodbye to those who have served on our Board and contributed so much to the longevity of the Foundation. Thanks this year go to Brian Heath and Tracey Johnson for all their wise words and unending support, and we are delighted to welcome Stuart Berry, Aaron Davies, Jane St Pier and Ollie Smith as four new Trustees. In addition, we welcome from Lloyds International, Eriko Davies as a Board Apprentice.

Final thanks go to the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales who continue to provide the Channel Islands with back-office support, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the organisation.

As we head into a new year, we must, as always, send a huge thank you and shout out to the charities we work alongside. We know that times are tough, that you are all doing so much and that your resources are stretched like never before. Our promise is to be there to support you and show case the outstanding work you do and the real difference you make in our communities – Thank you!

Philippa Stahelin
Chair of Trustees
24 March 2026