Lilleth Tolley, originally from the Isle of Guernsey, reads digital forensic investigation at university in Stoke. She passionately speaks to the harsh realities that she and her classmates face everyday in pursuing their dreams and aspirations. Rising cost of living and boom rental prices have increased 50% in five years. In consequence, countless young islanders are increasingly looking like they’d rather risk the opposite— departing the place they’ve always called home.
That recent report — the first of its kind — surveyed 3,000 residents. It showed just how mounting the worries about affordability are becoming in Guernsey. The mean rent on rented properties now stands at £2,037 a month. This influx adds to the growing challenge of making it possible for young people to picture a future on the island.
Tolley admits that going back to Guernsey once she finishes her education is “not realistic” given these economic pressures. “It’s just completely unaffordable to the average person,” she remarked, illustrating the desperation many young residents feel as they weigh their options.
Myles Duquemin, whose family is one of the oldest families established on Guernsey, shared his doubt. He expressed uncertainty about his ability to afford living on the island, stating, “I just don’t know if I’m going to be able to afford to live here.” His sentiments reflect a big shift happening within the tech community’s most ardent supporters. They had intended to settle on Guernsey, but now they are having very real conversations with each other about relocating to the UK.
Duquemin’s situation is not unique. Many parents in Guernsey encourage their children to leave home at 18 to foster independence. The independence movement has an uphill battle ahead. For too many of these young adults, financial hardships mean they can never go home. “If I leave the island now, I might not ever come back because I won’t be able to afford to,” he shared.
According to the report, the overwhelming majority of the public is still not aware of how severe the crisis actually is. Tolley noted, “A lot of the public don’t realise how bad it is,” emphasizing the disconnect between perceptions and reality in Guernsey.
Tolley and Duquemin aren’t shying away from these challenges. They’re taking concrete steps today – making plans, saving money – to bring their business to the UK. Increasingly, the island’s youth find themselves at an important crossroads. Their decision to remain or return home is today made less by the attachments to their homeland than by the pursuit of economic security.
