Latest news with #EllieJones
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
LGBTQ+ groups proud of Pride after 10 years
A LGBTQ+ group leader said there is more acceptance of its community since Pride began in the Channel Islands 10 Pride started, CEO of Liberate Guernsey Ellie Jones said there was a sense of "shame" for islanders who often felt unable to express their true selves."People have said they have left the island when they were younger because they thought it was slightly homophobic or they didn't fit in," said Ms Jones."To then come back to experience Pride, to be walking down the high street, that emotion of feeling you are accepted and included and not ostracised is the biggest shift." Ms Jones said: "I think we kind of underestimate the power of being able to see your community embrace you." The first Pride event was held in Jersey in 2015 and the year after it was held in Jones said organisers of the first Pride event only expected a few hundred attendees, but instead they welcomed thousands. She said between 2,000 and 3,000 islanders took part in the first year and this has grown to about 8,000 attendees. 'Feel safe' Ms Jones said there had been a noticeable rise in anti-LGBTQ groups around the world in the last 12 months, and highlighted the importance of hosting similar events."It just goes to show how Pride is still needed and for people to understand and accept people in the community," added Ms Jones."People are allowed to celebrate who they are, and we don't need to hide anymore or feel shameful about who we are."Pride may be the one-day couples feel safe holding hands in the street." Kaye Nicholson, CEO of Liberate Jersey thanked the dedicated voluntary work of the Channel Island Pride team for putting on the Pride events, adding there was a wonderful celebratory atmosphere at for its 10th anniversary earlier this said: "At a time when our LGBTQ+ community are seeing a rollback of rights around the world, this was a vital demonstration of support, love and acceptance by our wider local community."Thank you to everyone who joined as attendees, volunteers, performers, valued community partners and allies."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey staff accommodation disgraceful
Concerns about the cost and quality of housing in the island were the overwhelming issue for voters at BBC Guernsey's second election Lansdown, owner of La Grande Mare Hotel, labelled some of the rental accommodation for staff moving to the island as "disgraceful".The billionaire businessman said: "Staff accommodation here is appalling, some of the planning restrictions stop you from acquiring the properties to do them up."Liberate CEO Ellie Jones agreed that doing something to improve the affordability and quality of local housing should be the number one priority for candidates. Mr Lansdown said: "I have been appalled by some of the sites I have seen, trying to find accomodation for my staff. "I've been embarrassed and I think, there are certain places you could quite happily go in there and refgurb and revamp them, but because of planning restrictions you're stopped from doing this."Guernsey's Development and Planning Authority has been approached for comment. Ms Jones said the next States needed to "rip up the rule book and start again" when it came to housing: "We need to bring costs down tio allow people to afford to live."We are the first generation who has grown up in an era where earning a decent living, working hard, doesn't mean you can afford to live well, it's a sad place to be."In 2023 a report commissioned by the States of Guernsey by housing experts ARC showed an average-priced property cost more than 16.3 times as much as average earnings, compared to 16 in Jersey and 8.3 in England. Ms Jones said: "It means I'm a bit depressed, you never feel safe, you are always worried if a landlord is going to chuck you out."I pay more than half my wages on rent, and no generation before has done that and it has crept up." Over a coffee at the election roadshow, Bob Renstead said the current pressure on housing had been made worse by the island's population 2022 Guernsey's States agreed to grow the island's population by 300 people every year. "We are bringing so many outside workers in, while there are so many locals who are on benefits and can work."The latest figures from the States of Guernsey showed there were 259 jobseekers without work at the end of March in 2025 - a decrease of eight compared to the previous month and a decrease of 52 compared to March Nicolle agreed that getting more houses built should be the priority for the incoming States: "I'm very concerned that we have young people leaving, I'm very concerned for young people with mortgages and the cost of childcare, it's getting impossible really for them to live day to day."She has asked candidates to look at raising the allowances for income tax for the island's young people. Bob Angus agreed that housing and its impact on the cost of living locally, was the top priority for this States: "The chances for youngsters getting on the ladder are pretty much non-existent, or very slim. The States had originally said it needed 1,565 new units of accommodation between 2023 and 2027, but last year it dropped that target to 1,488 units needed by Guernsey's next election roadshow is at Forest Stores on 13 June and the final roadshow is on 17 June in Market Square.
