30 September 2022
The Bailiff of Jersey, Sir Timothy le Cocq, will formally open a new youth and community
centre at First Tower at 10.30 on Saturday October 1.
The new youth centre includes a first floor club room with a dance studio, art room, fullyequipped kitchen and games area, connected by a new lift. The downstairs area features a
comfortable lounge area for the use of the community, as well as offices and a meeting room.
The project is located on the inner road just past Mansells Garage, in what is known as the
“tea factory,” a granite-fronted listed building which was once owned by the Overseas Trading
Corporation and was known as the Sun Tea Factory.
After the closure of the factory, the building was used to store files for the Viscount's
Department and vacant downstairs area became a youth club started by the First Tower
Community Association.
Current chairman of the First Tower Community Association, Ted Vibert, said “The Association
has always felt that the young people in the area deserved something better than what they
had. We also felt that there was a very real need for a community room where people could
take part in activities.
“Thanks to the efforts of former Deputy Mike Higgins and senior staff from the Jersey Youth
Service, who applied to the Fiscal Stimulus Fund for £1.5 million, we now have a terrific new
centre.”
Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “We know that the COVID-19
pandemic led to many people feeling isolated, and this especially true for young people.
“So it is fitting that money from the Fiscal Stimulus Fund – which was set up in response to
COVID – is being used to provide facilities to bring children, young people and all First Tower
residents together. Flexible spaces like this can be used by the whole community, from First
Tower school, to young people, right up to older members of the community.
“I’d like to thank all the Jersey Youth Service staff – and the First Tower Community
Association – for all their work on this project.”
Members of the public can visit the newly-opened centre between 11am and 1pm on
Saturday 1 October.
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