'Vital' car funding to keep meals on wheels moving

A meals on wheels team will be able to keep its "essential service on the road" after receiving "vital" funding from another charity.

Guernsey Voluntary Service (GVS) said The Lions Club of Guernsey had sponsored a new Hyundai i10, which will replace the oldest of the fleet's four vehicles.

The car is expected to remain in service for the next five years, helping GVS deliver meals and carry out welfare checks to people across the island.

Manager Mandy Le Bachelet said it meant the charity, which travels thousands of miles each year to deliver meals, could continue to help older islanders "remain independent and in their own homes".

The meals on wheels team delivered more than 28,000 meals in 2025, providing around 110 meals every day, six days a week across the island.

Speaking to BBC Radio Guernsey, Le Bachelet explained her team is made up of eight volunteers a day, from drivers to those operating the charity's social clubs.

She added funding from charities like The Lions Club was vital.

"It's difficult to find funding all the time," Le Bachelet said.

"When other charities like the Lions, Rotary or Round Table reach out to us to offer help, it's fantastic."

Paul Allaway, president of The Lions Club of Guernsey, said supporting the venture was "one of the most meaningful ways" it could help older islanders.

Allaway added: "This new vehicle will help ensure that hot meals and a friendly face continue reaching those who rely on them across our community."

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