Relocating to guernsey

Melissa9008 · 2020-08-17T18:49:45+00:00

Hello all I have applied for a position as a social worker and am considering relocating. I am a lone parent with two children who are 13. Reading some of the posts has put me off. I am anxious we would be isolated and ostracised as outsiders. I wouldn’t want to move there with my children for them to struggle and feel out of place! Any advice would be great Thanks 😀

MaskingForIt · 17/08/2020 20:01

Oh dear, I only opened your thread because I have a friend who is social worker in Guernsey, and she said that it is a lovely place to live but has the highest rates of child abuse and domestic violence that she has ever seen in the British Isles.

So I guess if you’re a social worker hopefully your family won’t be affected by that!

FriendofDorothy · 22/08/2020 21:01

Hi Melissa,

I am a social worker in Guernsey - although I work with adults. I don't think people ostracize outsiders at all - people are generally made to feel really welcome.

It is a wonderful place to live and bring up a family. Please message me if you have any questions.

AD :)

Pieceofpurplesky · 22/08/2020 21:11

I lived there for many years (and would move back in a heartbeat). It's fabulous and everyone was really welcoming. It's 2020, maybe 50 years ago it was.

edwinbear · 22/08/2020 21:35

I work in finance so completely different career, and was sent on secondment to Jersey for 2 years from London, so obviously a different Channel Island, but also spent a fair bit of time in Guernsey as part of my remit.

My 2 years in the Channel Islands were 2 of the best in my life. The way of life is more relaxed, I found everyone incredibly welcoming and friendly, I would go back in a heartbeat, in fact I’d love to retire there if I was allowed to buy a house! It’s an amazing place to live and work.

Diorissimo1985 · 22/08/2020 21:49

We moved here two years ago from the UK - feel free to message me with questions OP.
FYI we love it

Gingerfish91 · 22/08/2020 21:56

Guernsey is beautiful. Only been once but I’d live there in a heartbeat.

PuckyMup · 22/08/2020 21:59

@edwinbear

I work in finance so completely different career, and was sent on secondment to Jersey for 2 years from London, so obviously a different Channel Island, but also spent a fair bit of time in Guernsey as part of my remit.

My 2 years in the Channel Islands were 2 of the best in my life. The way of life is more relaxed, I found everyone incredibly welcoming and friendly, I would go back in a heartbeat, in fact I’d love to retire there if I was allowed to buy a house! It’s an amazing place to live and work.

Guernsey is hands done MUCH better than Jersey

PearTreeBoat · 22/08/2020 22:23

I moved to Alderney from UK about 7 years ago then to Guernsey nearly 2 years ago and absolutely wouldn't move back to the UK.
As a single female I've felt nothing but completely safe here and of course there are all the amazing beaches. Lots of family oriented things to do especially in the summer.
Feel free to pm me any questions.

Mummynextdoor · 22/08/2020 22:32

Hi there

I moved here 15 years ago, now married with 2 DC. We have lots of people come to Guernsey and it really is a welcoming and friendly place - you and your children will be fine. Happy to answer any questions you have.

Bella2020 · 22/08/2020 22:35

Sounds like it could be a great move, OP!

Shmithecat2 · 22/08/2020 22:51

As long as you know you can afford it, why not? It's a lovely place. Just bloody expensive.

Rainandclouds · 11/09/2020 21:14

@MaskingForIt

Oh dear, I only opened your thread because I have a friend who is social worker in Guernsey, and she said that it is a lovely place to live but has the highest rates of child abuse and domestic violence that she has ever seen in the British Isles.

So I guess if you’re a social worker hopefully your family won’t be affected by that!

I don’t think that is true. There are obviously cases as there would be anywhere but nothing that bad. I have lived here for 20 years and have never heard someone say this and I have fiends who are Social workers! Guernsey is a fantastic place to live and Covid free! We do have one case but they were isolating when it was caught is a test so we keep our Covid free status

Brightbluebell · 11/09/2020 21:42

I once had an interview for a deputy headteacher post in Guernsey. Accommodation and flights were paid for both my husband and me. I went to the interview which lasted about 3 hours. My husband came to pick me up and I asked him what the island was like. He said that it was nice and that he had driven around it three times in three hours! We decided at that point that it wasn’t for us and I withdrew from the process. I later found out that the person who was offered the post also withdrew for similar reasons.

It is a very particular place. The housing system was very difficult to understand. In your position, I would check it out thoroughly.

Sausagis · 11/09/2020 21:54

I'm Guernsey born and bred. I don't think you'll be ostracized - although you'll never be local but it won't be a barrier to finding friends.

It's true you can drive round in an hour (it's a nice drive!). It helps to live here if you like sea-swimming/surfing/paddle boarding, or at least going to the beach.

I have a 12 year old and can give her a decent amount of freedom without worrying unduly. Like her spending the day at the beach with friends. Although I've never lived in England so can't compare.

Also no Covid, masks, etc - long may it last!

Serendipity84 · 22/03/2025 08:39

Come across your post and wondering if you ever moved. I am looking at similar relocation as a social worker to jersey.