Plans to open new youth club in southern parishes

The news comes as Guernsey Youth Commission appointed new youth club team coordinator Hayley Winter.

Miss Winter was amazed when she found out she got the position at the end of October.

‘It’s important to support to the team who are delivering the best quality support to our young people,’ she said.

Miss Winter moved to the island at four years old, but classes herself as a Guernsey girl, having used the service at the North Club at La Moye.

‘To be in charge of a service I used to use is a bit odd, but I am enjoying every moment of it,’ she said.

‘I don’t want to change anything, but I want to develop what we have so far.’

Commission support worker Dan Chick said Miss Winter was excited to take on the role and they were keen to expand the youth club work.

‘We’re looking to open another club in the southern parishes next year, we have a few venues in mind.’

The Youth Commission, which is based at Les Beaucamps High School, is a charity which offers free services to children and young people in a bid to help them reach their potential.

That includes supporting youth clubs, the Youth Forum and Duke of Edinburgh.

Youth support worker Emmie Bougourd said was keen to see young people heard more, especially in school.

‘Not everybody thrives there and I want that to be known,’ she said.

‘It’s a place where we can help young people to become resilient, informed members of our community.’

No two days are the same at the commission, where variation can be as simple as cooking a spaghetti carbonara to planning a UK activity centre trip, which teaches young people about organisation, budgeting and independent living.

Anna Falla started as a volunteer earlier this year and became a full-time staff member at the start of winter.

‘We deal with several young people who are so misunderstood,’ she said.

‘If you spend 30 minutes with them you’ll realise how amazing they are.

‘I’m very excited to do all this being so new and it’s nice that the young people get a say too. A lot of them have never even been on a plane.’

Miss Winter said that the team have to be so flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the young people and always need a plan B.

The commission is looking to run an open day at the end of January to recruit more volunteers and inform the public of the services they provide.