Alcohol charity closing at end of year

Brockside is one of Guernsey's only dry houses

A dryhouse that has been home to seven people is closing its doors at the end of this year.

The Guernsey Alcohol Advisory Service (GAAS) lost its funding three years ago when the States chose Independence to provide alcohol support services.

Dave Newman has run GAAS for more than 30 years and said he was "sad" to see Brockside, in St Peter Port, close following "great support from the community".

He said he still needed to find new homes for two people who live at the facility and said they "would rather stay".

Mr Newman said it would be a challenge to find them somewhere to live.

He said "housing has been a long-term issue, moving people on has always been difficult, I think this will make that situation more difficult".

Dave Newman has worked for the charity for 31 years

Mr Newman said the "house enabled people to break the cycle of behaviour and was important for helping reintegrate people with alcohol problems back into the community".

He said: "We've seen more than 400 people pass through the dryhouse and make significant changes to their lives.

"What we provided was unique, it was a valuable resource. It took a lot to get this house up to scratch and that will now be permanently be lost."

GAAS has operated in Guernsey for the last 50 years.