In this year’s Medical Officer of Health report, entitled Shaping Tomorrow: The Voice of Future Generations, data compiled specifically for the report shows 36% of young people are not confident that they will stay or return to Guernsey after completing education. 37% said they were unsure and only 27% said they were confident they would stay.
‘What is important is that 37% don’t know, and I think that’s a really important group to focus on because we need to have a resilient, vibrant Bailiwick, and that is critically dependent on a resilient, vibrant population of young people,’ said director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink.
‘I do think that this is a problem, we need to create a Bailiwick that is vibrant, is attractive to young people, who are the future of the Bailiwick. They’re going to be our future leaders, they’re going to contribute to our economy in the future. I think it’s absolutely vital that we look at what we can do to attract young people to stay.’
Housing affordability, the high cost of living, the cost of off-island travel, the fear that not enough people will end up working and paying tax here for the government to provide the services they need, and the feeling that government does not listen to their worries, are the top five concerns for young people in Guernsey.
‘If you look at the future concerns that people have brought up, they could have potential solutions. Like the high cost of living, that’s a concern for them, but they also talk about the cost of buying or renting houses, and again, that’s something that potentially one could find a solution for,’ said Dr Brink.
‘They also talk about the cost of off-island travel, and that’s really important for connectivity, for people’s social lives, but also for work and so on.
‘They are really concerned that there won’t be enough young people working to pay taxes and that will impact on the ability or the services that we are able to provide.’
The report draws on engagement with approximately 200 young people aged 16 to 24 across Guernsey and Alderney.
Dr Brink said that encouraging confidence among young islanders that they can build an independent future in Guernsey, while addressing wider determinants of health such as housing, education, employment, transport and participation, will be critical to the Bailiwick’s future prosperity and wellbeing.
‘For this year’s report, I wanted to listen directly to young people and ensure their perspectives were heard without censorship. The message we received is clear,’ she said.
‘Young people care deeply about their future here, but many are uncertain whether the Bailiwick can offer them an affordable, sustainable and fulfilling life as they move into adulthood.
‘They have told us about the challenges they face, including housing affordability, the cost of living, transport and access to opportunities. They have also told us that they do not always feel heard. Listening is important, but listening alone is not enough. We must also act on what they are telling us.’
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