Funding secured for St James in Guernsey budget U-turn

Nov 07, 2024

Policy and Resources (P&R) has U-turned on its decision not to provide funding for a Guernsey cultural centre.

Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) has withdrawn a proposal to change P&R's budget and will grant an extra £151,000 to fund St James in St Peter Port.

The venue's manager Jon Bisson had warned without the funding the venue could close next year.

P&R has now said it will fund the facility, which hosts events including concerts, in its budget for 2025, which still requires the approval of the States.

More details on the arrangement are expected to be announced later today.

Reacting to the news Mr Bisson said: "It is a one year solution, which is not quite what we hoped for but it's great in really tight times I'm really thankful. It gives us time to do more planning and look at the longer term funding.

"2025 is our 40th anniversary and we'll push hard for funding again, but really the problem is to recruit someone to fill the missing posts.

"It's tough when you're only offering a year's employment."

He added the venue was looking at bringing bigger comedy acts over like Dara O'Brien and Al Murray during 2025.

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