GCSE results out this morning

Friday 22 August 2014

The day has finally come for the hundreds of Jersey teenagers waiting to find out how they’ve got on in their exams.

GCSE results are out but not all will have got the grades they were hoping for – for those that didn’t there’s support from a number of local agencies including the police, who will be out and about this evening with members of the Youth Service, Freedom Church and the Community Sports Development team to chat to young people who are out either celebrating or commiserating their results.

Inspector Mark Coxshall said: “Previous years have at times seen large groups of youths congregating and the aim of this year’s work is to provide support and alterative activities to help young people celebrate their successes.

“GCSE exams can be incredibly stressful for young people and we understand that when that weight is lifted off their shoulders they want to cut loose, we just want to make sure they are safe and not causing any issues for themselves or other people.

“It’s also a chance for us to chat to them and let them know that whatever grades they have achieved that there are lots of opportunities for them and lots of people wanting to help.”

The different agencies will be offering support throughout today and are setting up a game of inflatable football in Millennium Park this evening– a sport which is proving to play an important role in diverting antisocial behaviour amongst youngsters at the weekend.

Community Sports Development Officer Paul Brannan said: “The inflatable football has proved a popular fixture on a Friday evening so it seemed the right choice to get it out on Thursday evening for young people to come and have a game, and let off some steam after months of exam stress.

“Anyone aged between 12-17 years of age are welcome to come down and have a game of football.”

Sarah Hawthornthwaite of Freedom Church said: “We will be in Millennium Park and available to move to other parts of the island. This is a great opportunity to interact with the islands young people.”

The Youth Service street based team is out every Thursday afternoon in the town area as well as the Mobile Bus Project at Millennium Park on Friday nights to offer support to young people.

The Move On drop in café at Liberation Square is open throughout the summer for anyone who wants to pop in for advice about college and plans for the future. Opening times are on the Jersey Youth Service Facebook page.