Guernsey and Alderney
Children and Young People, Grants to charities
Helping young children thrive in Guernsey
Phillip Falla, Head of Guernsey & Alderney Freemasons interacting with young children at Dragonflies
Dozens of toddlers and their families are finding connection, support and a safe space to play at the Dragonflies Toddler Group thanks to Guernsey Freemasons.
The £60,000 grant allows Home Start and the Youth Commission to run the initiative for children under four years old and their parents or carers.
The grant has helped cover the cost of staffing, healthy snacks, age-appropriate resources and venue hire – ensuring that finances are never a barrier for families looking to attend.
Without this funding, many families may have limited access to safe, stimulating spaces that promote early development and peer connection. The financial support allows Dragonflies to remain inclusive and accessible to all, including those facing isolation, hardship, or other challenges in the early years of parenting.
Held four times per week, Dragonflies offers a range of play opportunities, sensory exploration, story time, singing, and social interaction in a warm, inclusive environment. Families attending the group often describe it as a lifeline, with all benefiting from the relationships and routine it provides.
The Dragonflies Toddler Group is led by experienced early years practitioners and volunteers who create a safe, engaging space for children to develop their confidence, speech, and social skills, while parents and carers build connections and find encouragement.
We’re very grateful to Guernsey & Alderney Freemasons for their generous grant which will allow us to offer Dragonflies as a free, welcoming space for all families, regardless of background or circumstance. In the early years, every interaction matters – and Dragonflies helps lay the foundations for happy, healthy futures. This support allows us to make this happen week after week. The group forms part of the Youth Commission’s broader mission to support children, young people, and families across the Bailiwick, helping to build resilient, connected communities from the very start of a child’s journey.
I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help the Youth Commission with their hugely important project helping local children and their families and carers have a safe space to play, and to develop vital speech and social skills to allow them to take full advantage of their education when they move into school.
