Rainbow holiday club manifestos impress deputies
Children at the Rainbow holiday club prepared manifestos on Friday of what they would do if they ruled Guernsey and read their proposals to deputies Mark Leadbeater and Dawn Tindall.
Anna Thompson, who runs the holiday club, said: ‘We always try and think outside the box to make the summer holidays a bit varied.
‘We had done the park and the beach etc and so it was nice to get the children to do something a bit different.’
She said the staff are always surprised at the maturity of some of the children’s answers and the response for the activity was great.
The club did a similar event a few weeks ago inspired by Dragon’s Den where the children had to come up with their own inventions.
Deputies Leadbeater and Tindall began the activity by explaining their role in the island and told the children: ‘We want to know what you want to do and how we can help you.’
Some common themes ran throughout the activity such as making healthier food cheaper and ‘bad foods’ more expensive, cheaper houses, growing more fruit and vegetables and having more activities for younger children to do such as more playgrounds, a massive slide and a water-park.
Six-year-old Imogen said islanders should not have to pay to go to Herm or for food at the shops.
‘Then you won’t have to spend all of your money and you can save it.
‘And we should be allowed to do whatever we want at school,’ she said.
Dexter, also six, said: ‘Guernsey should have a double-decker bus, more bins, and a whole city just for kids – no adults.’
Some of the older children recognised some of the more pressing issues the island faced. 11-year-old Alex said: ‘There should be more rehabilitation for ex-convicts so they can start their normal life again, there should be more work on mental health care, increase the pay for people that save lives like firemen, police, doctors and nurses, and everyone over 60 should have to re-take their driving test.’
Deputy Leadbeater said: ‘It was really amazing. The children came up with some really interesting stuff that you wouldn’t expect from people their age.
Deputy Tindall added: ‘They raised issues they have clearly heard on the media or from their parents but you could tell they were their own concerns too. It is important we listen to them because we are shaping the world they live in.’
A variety of issues were raised from recycling and electricity saving to planting more trees and keeping the bees safe.
‘I was so impressed with how concerned young people are with health and the environment. It’s very inspiring and puts a smile on your face,’ said Deputy Tindall.
