Perkins suite helps KGV to become charitable hub

The commission has already moved into the refurbished second floor of the KGV community centre, while the foundation is set to up there later this year. The project was paid for by raising money from supporters and augmented by a significant contribution in 2019 from the States of Guernsey.

The Perkins Suite, named in honour of Dame Mary and Doug Perkins – long-term supporters of KGV, the Guernsey Community Foundation and many other local charities – consists of offices, with space for approximately 20 people together with a large board room, which doubles as a meeting room.

Tying in with the Health Improvement Commission’s aims to create environments which support people’s health, the offices are furnished with sit-stand desks that help people to break up their personal sitting time at work.

This style of working has shown to improve work-related physical and psychological health.

Health Improvement Commission chief executive Simon Sebire said that moving into the suite allowed the charity to bring its whole team together in the same space.

‘It gives the commission a sense of identity and room to grow,’ he said.

‘Being part of a community facility, which includes community and sports groups and other charities, presents lots of opportunities for us to connect and collaborate with others who share similar values.’

Guernsey Community Foundation chief executive Jim Roberts said the foundation will outgrow its Town premises later this year, when the Charities Support Centre is launched.

‘The parking at KGV will make it easier for the foundation to receive visitors and give the new centre the best chance of success,’ he said.

‘With the Health Improvement Commission and the foundation sharing the same premises, and Headway downstairs, KGV is becoming something of a charitable hub – a development that bodes well as third sector organisations look for ways to work more closely together.’

This significant addition to the KGV Clubhouse constitutes phase six of an eight-phase development programme.

The work on site took just under a year to complete under the supervision of Henry Main at RG Falla Ltd. The contract was made more complicated as the premises were occupied throughout the contract period and an existing roof had to be modified and then extended.

Also, part of the project was a new entrance lobby which gives a great sense of arrival to the clubhouse. The lobby incorporates a display area outlining the eighty plus years of the development.

These new facilities should have been opened on 17 April, but that was put back three months to allow the whole team to celebrate this milestone with a post-Covid opening party.