New Portuguese cultural and sports hub opens

Gilberto Franco hopes the hub will make a difference to the Portuguese community

A new Portuguese cultural and sports hub has opened in Jersey.

The site was opened to the public on Sunday after more than three months of work to transform the former Rojos nightclub site.

Organisers hope it will bring the Portuguese community together and share its heritage with the wider island.

The 2021 Jersey census reported there were about 8,000 Jersey residents born in Portugal or Madeira, and 9,700 people identifying as ethnically Portuguese.

The Sports and Cultural Hub was paid for by members of the Portuguese community

Gilberto Franco is the president of the Portuguese Cultural and Sports Centre (CCDP), which is the group behind the project.

He said it had taken "so much hard work" and he hoped to "create a beautiful atmosphere... not just for the Portuguese community but for the wider community too”.

Mr Gilberto added: “I thought we must not miss this opportunity not just for us the old ones, but also for the new generation.”

He confirmed the project cost £15,000 with 15 committee members donating £1000 each to build the hub.

Maria de Oliveira wants the wider community in Jersey to make the most out of this hub

Maria de Oliveira was one of the people who donated to the project and said she was "so happy" to do so.

“I don’t think the Portuguese community has ever had anything like this before", she said.

“But it can be for anyone, any culture to be here with us and it will be nice for all of us to be together."

Music and sports events are planned for the hub as well as providing food and drink for the wider community.