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Offices in the Bordage will provide much needed extra space for the Hub and be the new home of two more charities thanks to the generosity and commitment of the Long Port Group to Community Investment.
In 2012, Long Port provided on a long term basis 7, Cour du Bordier to Young People Guernsey for a peppercorn rent of £1 a year, which allowed the charity to open its hugely successful information, advice and emotional listening support service, The HUB, for young islanders.
Now Long Port, working in partnership with YPG, has provided three more offices on the same terms, which will allow the charity to expand The HUB into the building next door and to sub-lease some of the additional space to domestic abuse charity Safer. Long Port has also agreed a peppercorn lease with the Youth Commission for another office, which is already being used as the base for the roll out of its Prince’s Trust Team programmes.
"Guernsey is extremely fortunate to have some hugely dedicated charities which literally transform the lives of those they support. Unfortunately those organisations face a daily battle to raise enough money to simply continue existing, let alone actually provide the invaluable help and care they do," said Long Port chairman Charles Billson.
"Long Port has seen first-hand how our support of Young People Guernsey, by providing them with a long term usable base at a peppercorn rent, has allowed them to focus on the very reason for their existence. Our hope is that by expanding that support, it will allow YPG, Safer and the Youth Commission, the delivery partner for The Prince’s Trust, to continue their excellent work in ensuring that those in need receive help at a time when they are feeling most vulnerable."
Karen Gamble, director of Young People Guernsey, said: "Our services supporting youngsters in Guernsey are continually expanding and 7, Cour du Bordier was bursting at the seams. Extending The Hub to the building next door will allow us more space which in turn means we can help more young people and hopefully change their futures for the better."
"Long Port’s support has been intrinsic to our success as we couldn’t offer the wide range of services we do if we had the financial restraint of annual rent and reviews. We knew Safer were in desperate need of a new home, recognised the work that they were doing and felt there was enormous benefit to the island if we were working and liaising closely together."
Safer, which operates the Independent Domestic Violence Advisory (IDVA) Service and the Guernsey Women’s Refuge, saw an increase in 2014 and 2015 in the number of high-risk individuals and families which it was supporting.
"There was a time that what went on between a couple stayed behind closed doors but slowly more and more victims are feeling that their voice will be heard. By having a central Town location, it will make it very clear that there is a place for people to come when they feel the time is right to ask for help," said Safer chair Maggie Costen.
"We want to thank Young People Guernsey, and Long Port, for recognising the work we have been doing and providing us with a long-term home that will allow us to make many of our future plans a reality."
The Youth Commission, which is closely aligned with Young People Guernsey, moved into Cour du Bordier at the end of 2015 and is using the space as the base to deliver The Prince’s Trust Team programmes which include bespoke 12 week personal development programmes for 16 – 25 year olds who are not in education, employment or training.
"The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a hugely successful course that helps three in four young people to progress into education, employment, training or volunteering. Groups of 12 to 15 people take part in a challenging programme which begins with team building activities, including a week at a residential activity centre, followed by teamwork on real projects in the local community as well as individual work placements. It’s a holistic course that improves self-confidence and motivation, teaches essential life skills and ensure that the young people who complete it are work ready," said Youth Commission chief executive Roddy Winser.
"The first pilot course is sponsored by State Street and it will benefit from having a permanent base so that we can run at least two courses a year. The remainder of the time, it will be offered as a training facility for others across the Youth Commission and the youth sector. It will have merit as a training room for our courses, such as First Aid and Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme training, as well as providing a base from which to launch outreach."
Long Port is also assisting with the fit-out of the premises and work has already begun.
‘We wish YPG, Safer, The Youth Commission and Prince’s Trust a successful future at Cour du Bordier providing essential much needed first class care services for the Guernsey community,’ said Mr Billson.
