New adventures at Crabbé

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Young Islanders can now enjoy the outdoors at a brand new activity centre at Crabbé.

The Youth Service’s new base in St Mary costing almost £1 million was officially re-opened by the Lieutenant-Governor and Islanders got have a good look around it at a special open day.

Plans were submitted last September to knock down the old cabins and classroom at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Activity Base and replace them with a single-storey chalet-style building. The base has been completely remodeled to house a new classroom and kitchen with better access for disabled Islanders and the grounds have been landscaped with recycled turf from Springfield Stadium.

Principal Youth Officer Mark Capern said: “Outdoor education is very important in building confidence and self-esteem and gives an extra dimension to learning that complements what young people experience in school. This excellent building means we have the right facilities to carry on offering valuable experiences to our young people and give them a chance to be outside in Jersey’s natural environment.”

The Crabbé centre was opened in 1981 and has been popular with youth groups and schools for more than 30 years. 

ESC Minister Deputy Rod Bryans said: “Crabbé has been such a fantastic resource for the Island for the past 30 years and so many Jersey people have had great experiences and great memories of spending time there. It is an important facility, not only for the Youth Service but also schools and a wide range of other youth groups.”

Deputy Eddie Noel, the Assistant Minister at Treasury and Resources with responsibility for property, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support the Youth Service in bringing this building to fruition. It’s an exciting project that opens up opportunities for people who might not otherwise have easy access to this kind of facility in the Jersey countryside.”