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The Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney (Youth Commission) has operationally merged with The HUB service.
The two charities will now work together to provide a wide range of services, from universal to targeted support, for children and young people across Guernsey and Alderney.
“We believe that The Youth Commission and The HUB working together provides an opportunity to build on the unique strengths of both charities,” said Kerstin Neason, CEO of The Youth Commission.
“Forming a joint service enables us to increase the opportunities for children and young people to engage in positive activities, have a voice in local decision making, support more young people’s emotional health and wellbeing and continue to deliver our Duke of Edinburgh and Prince’s Trust programmes.
“Our vision is a Bailiwick where all children and young people are safe, supported, healthy, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. Merging the operations of The Youth Commission and The HUB is a major milestone in our plan to achieve this and ensure that the services available to children and young people are of the highest quality, fit for the future, efficient and successfully respond to their needs.”
The HUB’s staff will now be employed by The Youth Commission and all of The HUB’s services will be delivered as part of the wider Youth Commission provision. The decision to work together has also led to the boards of both The Youth Commission and Young People Guernsey (YPG), the organisation behind The HUB, having the same directors.
“The support of the local community has been fundamental to the success of both charities and we are extremely grateful for the contributions we receive in terms of funding, volunteering and strategic input,” said Jane St Pier, chair of The Youth Commission and YPG.
“We rely on close partnerships with organisations and funders to develop and innovate the services we offer and this reliance will continue as The HUB’s operations become part of The Youth Commission. Both existing and future donations will continue to be ring-fenced for particular services thereby allowing funders to support those parts of our provision which particularly resonate with them.”
Before taking on the role of CEO of The Youth Commission in January 2017, Kerstin Neason was an assistant director at Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, and had management responsibility for the delivery of Barnardo’s services in the Channel Islands, including The HUB which YPG previously commissioned Barnardo’s to deliver. Bringing Kerstin’s experience to the island in a leadership role has been a key factor in the decision to merge The Youth Commission and The HUB’s operations.
“This new partnership is a significant, and logical, development that builds on the quality support that was previously provided to YPG by Barnardo’s. We now have a professionally developed team of staff and volunteers who understand the needs of local children and young people and who will continue to effectively deliver positive outcomes for those who access The HUB’s services through The Youth Commission,” said Jane St Pier.
Charles Billson, Cour du Bordier Limited, is a long-term sponsor of The Youth Commission and The HUB, providing four properties that the charities use to deliver their services: “Both The Youth Commission and The HUB do such fantastic work for children and young people in the local community and I’m very pleased to continue to support them.
“I’m thrilled that these two charities are now coming together to form one unified service which will further enhance the support available to children and young people in the Bailiwick.”
The Youth Commission is an independent local charity responsible for the delivery and co-ordination of all forms of youth and support work in the Bailiwick. The services it offers range from universal to providing targeted, individual support for children and young people. The services are offered in youth centres, schools and via outreach teams who work with young people wherever they are, on their own terms. The Youth Commission also manages the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and The Prince’s Trust programme in the Bailiwick.
YPG is the charity behind The HUB, a centre that provides a range of specialist services for around 400 children, young people and their families each year. Support offered includes emotional health and wellbeing, services for young people facing bereavement or terminal illness in their families and those affected by parental imprisonment and child sexual exploitation. The HUB also provides opportunities for young people to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity and offers support to children and families with a disability. YPG will continue to fundraise to support The HUB.
