The figures do not lie.
Last year just 62 units were added to the housing stock in Guernsey, none of them in the affordable sector.
The current overall target is around 300 houses a year.
They are stark numbers. And Guernsey has rarely been anywhere close.
If everything that was given the green light by planners went ahead, the island would not have the type of housing dilemma which is slowly strangling society and the economy.
You can dive into any number of high level reports for the big picture, but work instigated 18 months ago under Environment & Infrastructure and now being taken forward by the Housing Committee has gone into the reality of what is happening on the ground.
In this episode Housing Committee President Steve Williams and Infrastructure and Environment Director Claire Barrett discuss what action has been taken and what is on the horizon  to unlock housing development.

You can also read the full story:
https://www.thequarry.media/dig-this-...

Guernsey's workforce could be boosted by 4,500 more employees, its GVA increased by £410m. a year and tax revenue increased by about £89m, a report released by PwC in July argued.
But it would need to match the employment rates seen in New Zealand.
This latest episode discusses those findings, what the barriers and what the opportunities are.
PwC Chief Strategy Officer Leyla Yildirim, Alexander Daniels Recruitment Consultant Blair Howitt and Learning Consultant Korinne Le Page joined The Quarry’s editor Nick Mann.

This episode is part of a series where The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver podcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.


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Water and wastewater bills in Guernsey will be increasing by around 9% next year, so why is this needed?
Guernsey Water managing director Steve Langlois gives us a detailed insight into its plans to invest £130m. over the next 12 years, renewing pipes, upgrading treatment, improving collection from currently polluted streams, and getting ready to connect up Les Vardes Quarry.
We find out what will, and what won't happen.

Participation in climbing and bouldering has more than doubled between 2021 and 2023 in the UK and its inclusion in the Olympics raised its profile even further. 
Since 2019 Guernsey has had an indoor climbing center attracting all ages and abilities. 
To find out more about this and why it's such a good activity for physical and mental health, The Quarry spoke to  Dimi and Ellie from UP Climbing.

In this episode Simon Sebire and Andrea Nightingale from the Health Improvement Commission discuss what the evidence is showing us about alcohol consumption in Guernsey and why collective action is needed.
Alcohol related deaths remain common and it is a leading cause of ill-health that has an unequal effect on society.
HIC promote public awareness campaigns like Count 14, which uses easy to understand advice on how much it is sensible to drink and also back the use of apps like Try Dry to help people monitor how much they are consuming. Other simple acts, like starting your night with a non-alcoholic drink, can all help change behaviour.
Regulatory measures also have a role to play, with evidence from Scotland suggesting that minimum unit pricing, something resisted so far in Guernsey, has reduced drinking levels without impacting retailers.
From GPs to support services like Independence and Action for Children, support is available.
You can try The Quarry's Count 14 calculator here: https://www.thequarry.media/problem-d...

In this episode of Dig This, Warren sits down with entrepreneur Rob Jones.

Rob shares his journey from growing up in Northwich to moving to Guernsey, helping to establish Aztec Group, and later following a lifelong passion for sport by creating Aztec Soccer and supporting the development of Victoria Park.

This is a conversation about taking risks, learning from failure, and finding purpose beyond profit.

In this episode:
Rob’s early years and lessons in hard work
The leap of faith that started Aztec
Building culture and dealing with imposter syndrome
Turning success into community investment
Why football means more than just the game

If you enjoy stories about leadership, purpose, and people who make a difference where they live — this is for you.

Dani Barnett has been on a roller coaster ride since having her ovaries removed four years ago.
Ultimately the conversations that she was having with friends and colleagues, some of them whispered, led to setting up Unpaused.
“Nobody really knew what was going on with me, and I'd get funny looks, and I'd just be like, ‘I'm in menopause. Leave me alone’. 
“I found that my friends are coming up to that sort of age, and they're asking ‘have you been feeling this? Have you had these symptoms and this?’ And people are asking me for advice and talking about things, and it felt like people were whispering to me at work, and I thought, ‘this is so wrong, like it's so taboo and it shouldn’t be.’”
Unpaused is raising awareness, removing taboos, supporting and empowering people through events, workshops and individual mentoring.
Watch to find out more and see what support is on offer at  https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpa-used/

The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver a series of podcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap. 

We will explore why action is needed and what the solutions could be as part of a collective call for change to help ensure the future success of the island.

For episode 2 we were joined by The Guernsey Institute College Principal Louise Misselke and Sixth Form Centre Principal Kieran James for a wide ranging discussion about skills, meeting the needs of learners and employers, the impact of AI,  as well why we need to work collectively to make sure young people are prepared for the future.

There are some exciting new initiatives on the horizon from The Guernsey Institute, watch to find out more...

For nearly 35 years Les Bourgs has been supporting patients and their families while staying at the forefront of the changing needs of hospice care.

Now the charity is facing fresh challenges as it looks to continue its vital work and expand it out into the community to help meet a growing wish for people to be at home when they die.

It costs £3m. a year to run Les Bourgs, all of which is funded by charitable donations, including through its very successful shop and fundraising events, with no financial backing from the States.

But its funding model will now have to change with just three years of legacy donations left which are not being replaced to the same extent that they were, potentially because of cost of living pressures families are dealing with: “in three year’s time, there is no reserve,” said Les Bourgs CEO Rob Jones.

“The next iteration is one that's already started, we're talking to the States of Guernsey, we're talking to Health and Social Care to say, ‘what would a strategy look like for the island?’

“Because if we can get a strategy right that's based on the quality of patient care and support for the family, then we can put a number to it, and then we can work out how we share that."

In this episode of Dig This we explore how hospice care has evolved and what comes next. We also hear about the passion that drives those working at the hospice. 

Care Manager, Letishia Vermeulen said: “Isn't always a very grand gesture that you need to make to change somebody's quality of life and to make such a drastic difference to people every day, in every moment. If it is the patient, if it is the family members, you go away with a sense of satisfaction that you've made that difference on so many different levels.

“If it is comfort, if it is nutrition, [they might say] ‘I feel like having ice cream for breakfast today, please?’ Yes, absolutely. Do you want sprinkles on that? You know, it's simple things, a glass of wine with your supper in the evening, or creating a special menu because your illness is creating a lot of symptoms around eating and enjoying food, and it is such an important part for that person that you go out of your way to achieve that. 

“That takes a whole team, and everybody brings a specialty to that and we work together, it's like a puzzle that fits in together and with any of those pieces out of synch it affects it, but working together, everybody bringing their speciality together to provide the best care possible for that patient and that family."

“It's not just wellbeing, it's performance, it's mental health, it's leadership, it's management, it's navigating change, transition. You need to train people how to do that. We don't do that naturally. When you do, companies get an advantage.”

Ask most people what resilience is and they will talk about bouncing back, about coping.
But, Jon Watkins (CEO of Resilience Development Co ), says it is actually about the ability to positively adapt, including to the small things that impact us in everyday life, to move forward.
“If your behaviors are coming at a cost to you or the people around you, you're probably not using resilience,” he said.
Companies, often so keen to spend on technology, need to invest much more in their people to maintain their levels of performance, he says.
He shared some skills with us, including how you react to pressure will determine whether it becomes stress or not: “If you recognize that you're feeling a little bit stressed, just ask yourself, will this matter in a week? Will it matter in a month? Will it matter in a year?” 
Another tip - take regular breaks. It takes about 20 minutes to fully focus, after 90 minutes your brain will start to switch off, so step away for five to 20 minutes to recharge.
There is much more, watch to find out.


If you like independent media and want to see it survive, subscribe or become a member at www.thequarry.media.  We are funded by our members, not vested interests.

Ruth Thomason visited The Quarry to discus her journey into writing and the challenges of producing her first book, Poole of Light. Feedback and community support, including writing groups and critique sessions, are vital. Looking for somewhere to start? Well, this year the Guernsey Literary Festival is hosting a short story anthology competition for Bailiwick writers, which invites submissions under the theme "Time and Tide." 

If you like our work and want to support independent local media survives, sign up as a subscriber or member at thequarry.media.

The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver a series of podcasts exploring the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.

We will explore why action is needed and what the solutions could be as part of a collective call for change to help ensure the future success of the island.

In the first podcast of the series, we sat down with CoC executive director Alice Gill and CoEfficient co-founder John Hibbs to explore how the conversation needs to include workplace culture and the importance of a healthy, happy and therefore more productive workforce. Companies that have are already reaping the benefits. 

Dirk Bischoff, a new resident of Guernsey, shares his entrepreneurial journey from East Germany to London, where he founded impact companies and non-profit programs. 
He emphasises the importance of mentorship and community support for startups. 
The island has potential to diversify beyond financial services, with new initiatives like his Pitch Guernsey connecting startups with investors and resources beginning to help. 
But there is a need for more early-stage support programs, mentorship, and government involvement to foster entrepreneurship. 
Dirk also stressed the importance of experimentation and overcoming the fear of failure to build a thriving startup ecosystem in Guernsey.

For more from The Quarry:
https://thequarry.media

It is easy to dismiss human rights as something that is a problem elsewhere.
Local legislation is limited, many people are working from the comfort of being cocooned in an office. 
But, Estelle Levin-Nally argues, there are not only human rights issues that are affecting individuals in the island today, from housing to health, they are also at play in the countries where local companies are doing business.
Failure to recognise that can leave companies reputations exposed, while also missing out on other tangible benefits to recruitment and retention.
She is one of the experts appearing at the Channel Islands Sustainable Business Conference in October.

Whispers of Freedom, written and directed by Guernsey filmmaker Brandon Ashplant, has qualified for the British Independent Film Awards.

Set in 1980s East Germany - during the twilight years of the Cold War - the short film is based

on the true story of Chris Gueffroy, one of the last attempted escapees from East Berlin.

Produced with vital support from Guernsey Arts and the DDR Museum in Berlin, it is one of a growing number of local film projects, prompting calls for a Guernsey Film Institute to set up and work with the government to move the industry forward.

Whispers of Freedom is screening at the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts on Friday 12 September.

Tickets can be purchased online at: https://sogscuba.gov.gg/scuba6/stellar2/centreStageBooking.php#/2039/2039 or via the box

office at the PRCPA.

The Quarry is an independent outlet reliant on subscribers to fund its work. If you value our journalism become a member at thequarry.media.

Its all about mindset and delivering world class basics according to Guernsey Cricket coach Philip Smith. 

Guernsey U19s are competing in the ICC Europe Qualifier, facing top-tier opposition including Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Jersey, and Denmark. Its a rare and exciting opportunity for the players to represent their island on a global stage with the opportunity to go to the World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe in 2026

The tournament provides exposure to pressure environments, different playing conditions, and the challenge of playing multiple high-stakes games in a tight schedule.

It’s not just about qualification—it’s about developing young players who can compete at the next level and contribute to Guernsey cricket for years to come.

Their approach to building a high-performing team?

Clarity of purpose
World-class basics, executed under pressure
Team culture that drives standards
Player ownership
Maximum effort is the baseline.

Grow was innovative when it began 40 years ago, it remains at the forefront of thinking about helping people with learning disability today. A  £4m. redevelopment project has led to an incredible new facility where the crew can not only work in horticulture, but also in hospitality in the cafe and learning carpentry skills in the workshop. 
There is now also a small shop selling local crafts, adding retail skills into the mix as well, and opportunities to help in administration and at events.
This is the first Charity Spotlight from The Quarry, part of our efforts to support and celebrate the community in Guernsey. Visit www.thequarry.media for more.

Amelia Hart and Gian-Luca Robilliard speak on the eve of the Orkney Island Games. You are quickly reminded that progress is not linear, that resilience is among the most important tools an athlete can have, and that the Island Games plays a huge role in motivating and inspiring local sportspeople.

Hundreds of young children have been given a taste of sport which might just lead to a lifelong love affair thanks to the Specsavers Youth Games.
Every two years over the past two decades the Games, organised by the Guernsey Sports Commission, have been instrumental in helping children try out a new sport, importantly giving them support through training and familiarisation with venues, before some friendly team based competition on the final day culminates in an energetic and colourful closing ceremony that lasts long in the memory.
This time around 800 children took part in 23 sports.
The Commission's Nicky Will and Squash development officer Martin Watts  join us to discuss the event and its impact.

With Guernsey's economy stalling and a general election approaching, key business groups and charities joined forces to form the G8. They have produced the Voice of Guernsey Business Insight Report, setting out an agenda for change. The IoD's Glen Tonks and Chamber of Commerce's Alice Gill join The Quarry's Nick Mann to discuss the key findings. Read more at www.thequarry.media.

Drew Jonkmans is just an ordinary guy. In September he plans to run from Land's End to John O'Groats, and then cycle back again. This is his story, one as much about positive mental health as it is about athleticism.

For more on Big Moose: https://bigmoosecharity.co

For more on the Becoming X Foundation: https://www.becomingxfoundation.org/

Keep track of Drew’s preparations here

Eight months in from launching Guernsey's only independent news outlet, we discuss the lessons we've learnt so far and what's to come. Talking to co-founder Warren Mauger, Editor Nick Mann explains: 

• people will pay for quality in-depth stories and to support a project they believe in
  
  
• letting people control how they consume news will be vital for the future, we're experimenting with that now through our paid members' exclusive app.
  
  
• the need to move beyond superficial use of AI to instead focus on empowering research and coding new information rich products. 
  
  
• how we are moving to our next phase, in-person events to show people what we're doing, why and to hear their feedback.
  
  

If you're considering setting up an independent news operation, please get in touch and we'll share our experiences: editor@thequarry.media.

It has been a home for people with serious disabilities for nearly 40 years.
One that is all about facilitating life, encompassing a philosophy that concentrates on what people can do, not what they can’t.
The Guernsey Cheshire Home sits on the Rohais, but Shorncliffe, for all the good memories it holds, is tired, and now the charity is planning for a new future.
The Home receives no public grant, it relies on fundraising, legacy donations and through payments of long term care allowance to cover running costs of about £1.6m a year, 90% of which is spent on staffing.
It has appealed to landowners to let them know if they have a site that could become a purpose-built facility, one that could also help it evolve to meet the future needs of the island, including the possibility of providing step down care for those ready to leave hospital, but not quite ready to look after themselves.
Visit our website for more stories like this.

Les Fouaillages was built in about 4800BC, one of the oldest monuments to the dead.
Sitting on L’Ancresse Common in Guernsey, it was only rediscovered in 1976 after a fire burnt through covering vegetation.
Archeological digs that soon followed produced 36,000 pieces of pottery, flint and stone - including eight incredible arrow heads brought to the island from France when the tomb was closed in 2000BC.
Five decades later and renewed interest in the site means that a full account of those digs and what they show will soon be published, while work continues to uncover more information about settlements in the area.
For this episode  of Dig This we were joined by the man who found Les Fouaillages, John Lihou, States Archeologist Phil de Jersey and Les Societe Guernesiaise Archeology Section Secretary Tanya Wells.
There is hope that Les Fouaillages will finally be given the recognition it deserves. 
You can also read the story at thequarry.media.
Please subscribe to support our work.

GradRoutes Guernsey is a new initiative by The Guernsey Institute which has explored what factors influence the decisions of students studying off island when choosing whether or not to return.
It aims to reverse a trend of young talent staying away by showcasing viable career opportunities and internships in Guernsey.
Project lead Michelle Morley explains more.
This episode is part of a series where The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver podcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.

It might be light touch, driving in with someone as they head to a job for the first time.
Maybe it is more hands on, sitting next to them through the working day, breaking down tasks to be more manageable.
But that support is priceless.
That allied to the work beforehand, trying to ensure people are matched to the right roles and employers, can mean permanent jobs for those that would otherwise struggle.
In a nutshell, that is the Guernsey Employment Trust.
Find out more as we speak to GET's Chief Executive Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis and learn from BWCI's Alison Rimington and Guernsey Post's Tracey Le Cheminant about their experiences. 

This episode is part of a series where The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver podcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.

Guernsey’s shift to embrace digital finance is showing encouraging signs.
The Guernsey Financial Services Commission is signaling that it wants to have conversations with innovative businesses as it grasps the opportunity a changing approach from the US has created.
That means looking at tokenisation, blockchain, stablecoin, and beyond. It has launched a consultation on what the regulatory environment needs to look like for success,  while also being open to approaches for business that may be moving faster than the rules and laws can be changed.
GFSC Director General William Mason discusses its approach.

In episode 19 of the Quarry Podcast, host Nick Mann is joined by Guernsey Training Agency CEO Simon Le Tocq and Tech Entrepreneur Ian Campbell, to explore the burgeoning role of AI in Guernsey. 
The discussion, which featured a real-time AI assistant named Emma, painted a picture of an island at the outset of a significant technological shift, one that could act as a liberator for the local workforce and a catalyst for stalled economic growth.
It includes practical examples of the steps businesses should be taking to adopt AI and talked about some of the limitations.
2026  is expected to see the next step as agentic AI evolves - are you ready?  
This episode is part of a series where The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliverpodcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.

Vassos Alexander is one of the UK's best known sports presenters from his time at the BBC, Virgin Radio and now through the freshly launched Track Radio.
He is also an endurance athlete always hunting for different ways to get out of his comfort zone.
We met at La Vallette Bathing Pools to discuss his latest book, Swimmingly: Adventures in Water, his background, motivation and what comes next.
Swimmingly charts his preparation to swim the English Channel and introduces us to swimming communities and characters around the world, including bringing to prominence the remarkable impact of Lynne Cox on the Cold War.
This was recorded as part of our partnership with the Guernsey Literary Festival.
https://guernseyliteraryfestival.com
https://www.trackradio.com/
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Inso has released The Guernsey Innovation Report, an honest account of the innovation landscape in the island and the challenges it faces after gaining insights from 45 industry leaders.
https://https://inso.gg/guernsey-innovation-report
"Across every sector, conversations converged on urgent structural realities: the rapid adoption of AI, the inevitability of blockchain and asset tokenisation, and the urgent need for infrastructure automation."
The report sets out a roadmap to making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.
Inso founder Dan Wood discusses  innovation, where Guernsey is and how it can take advantage with The Quarry editor Nick Mann.

The Quarry is an independent reader-funded initiative, this podcast is not possible without your support. If you enjoy our work please sign up:
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The Charity Sector Survey has provided a snapshot of volunteering, capacity, funding and demand in Guernsey.

Association of Guernsey Charities chair Wayne Bulpitt discusses the key findings as well as the huge funding opportunities should Guernsey free up some £100m in dormant money for the sector in the same way as happens elsewhere.

https://charity.org.gg/sector-survey-...

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