Lihou Charitable Trust will be this year’s main beneficiary of the Harbour Carnival and it will be a double anniversary celebration. The organisers, the Guernsey Round Table, will be celebrating its 65th anniversary in Guernsey and Lihou Charitable Trust will celebrate 10 years since its formation.
Sponsored for the eighth year by RBC Wealth Management, this year’s Harbour Carnival will take place at the earlier date of Friday 19 June.
Since taking over the lease of the house on Lihou Island, the Lihou Charitable Trust has seen a year-on-year increase in the numbers of people staying in the house. While day-to-day operating costs are largely covered through the charge for using the house, all improvements and infrastructure expenditures have to be achieved through fund raising.
Richard Curtis, Warden of Lihou Charitable Trust said: "The Lihou Charitable Trust continuously aims to improve the facilities within Lihou House, to offer the best experience to both old and young alike. Young people are the focus of the Trust and the funds raised from this year’s Harbour Carnival will go towards improving the three bathroom facilities, making them more appropriate for school and youth group use.
"We rely heavily on fundraising for such ventures, which allows us to maintain the lowest possible charge for the hire of the house, making it affordable and available to all. In the ten years since we took over the running of the house, nearly 18,500 people have stayed in it, with 59% of those being young people. We’re delighted to be a part of this year’s Harbour Carnival and look forward to helping in the run up to it and on the night."
Bruce Watterson of the Guernsey Round Table said: "When selecting the main beneficiary for Harbour Carnival, we always bear in mind whether the good cause is Guernsey based, if the funds will stay here and what benefit the funds will provide to the wider community. As custodians of one of Guernsey’s few nature reserves, the Lihou Charitable Trust ticked all those boxes and presented a very strong case for support in its tenth anniversary year."
Lisa Barnett from RBC Wealth Management said: "Having stayed in Lihou House myself I know what a magical experience it is. As a company, we are delighted that the funds will be going to upgrade such an iconic building which has been pivotal in providing the Island’s school children with what is often their first night away from home in a safe and educational environment. With everyone’s support, we look forward to raising a substantial amount for the necessary renovations to the house at this year’s Harbour Carnival."