The Quarry

Dani Barnett has been on a roller coaster ride since having her ovaries removed four years ago.
Ultimately the conversations that she was having with friends and colleagues, some of them whispered, led to setting up Unpaused.
“Nobody really knew what was going on with me, and I'd get funny looks, and I'd just be like, ‘I'm in menopause. Leave me alone’. 
“I found that my friends are coming up to that sort of age, and they're asking ‘have you been feeling this? Have you had these symptoms and this?’ And people are asking me for advice and talking about things, and it felt like people were whispering to me at work, and I thought, ‘this is so wrong, like it's so taboo and it shouldn’t be.’”
Unpaused is raising awareness, removing taboos, supporting and empowering people through events, workshops and individual mentoring.
Watch to find out more and see what support is on offer at  https://www.linkedin.com/company/unpa-used/

The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver a series of podcasts about the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap. 

We will explore why action is needed and what the solutions could be as part of a collective call for change to help ensure the future success of the island.

For episode 2 we were joined by The Guernsey Institute College Principal Louise Misselke and Sixth Form Centre Principal Kieran James for a wide ranging discussion about skills, meeting the needs of learners and employers, the impact of AI,  as well why we need to work collectively to make sure young people are prepared for the future.

There are some exciting new initiatives on the horizon from The Guernsey Institute, watch to find out more...

For nearly 35 years Les Bourgs has been supporting patients and their families while staying at the forefront of the changing needs of hospice care.

Now the charity is facing fresh challenges as it looks to continue its vital work and expand it out into the community to help meet a growing wish for people to be at home when they die.

It costs £3m. a year to run Les Bourgs, all of which is funded by charitable donations, including through its very successful shop and fundraising events, with no financial backing from the States.

But its funding model will now have to change with just three years of legacy donations left which are not being replaced to the same extent that they were, potentially because of cost of living pressures families are dealing with: “in three year’s time, there is no reserve,” said Les Bourgs CEO Rob Jones.

“The next iteration is one that's already started, we're talking to the States of Guernsey, we're talking to Health and Social Care to say, ‘what would a strategy look like for the island?’

“Because if we can get a strategy right that's based on the quality of patient care and support for the family, then we can put a number to it, and then we can work out how we share that."

In this episode of Dig This we explore how hospice care has evolved and what comes next. We also hear about the passion that drives those working at the hospice. 

Care Manager, Letishia Vermeulen said: “Isn't always a very grand gesture that you need to make to change somebody's quality of life and to make such a drastic difference to people every day, in every moment. If it is the patient, if it is the family members, you go away with a sense of satisfaction that you've made that difference on so many different levels.

“If it is comfort, if it is nutrition, [they might say] ‘I feel like having ice cream for breakfast today, please?’ Yes, absolutely. Do you want sprinkles on that? You know, it's simple things, a glass of wine with your supper in the evening, or creating a special menu because your illness is creating a lot of symptoms around eating and enjoying food, and it is such an important part for that person that you go out of your way to achieve that. 

“That takes a whole team, and everybody brings a specialty to that and we work together, it's like a puzzle that fits in together and with any of those pieces out of synch it affects it, but working together, everybody bringing their speciality together to provide the best care possible for that patient and that family."

“It's not just wellbeing, it's performance, it's mental health, it's leadership, it's management, it's navigating change, transition. You need to train people how to do that. We don't do that naturally. When you do, companies get an advantage.”

Ask most people what resilience is and they will talk about bouncing back, about coping.
But, Jon Watkins (CEO of Resilience Development Co ), says it is actually about the ability to positively adapt, including to the small things that impact us in everyday life, to move forward.
“If your behaviors are coming at a cost to you or the people around you, you're probably not using resilience,” he said.
Companies, often so keen to spend on technology, need to invest much more in their people to maintain their levels of performance, he says.
He shared some skills with us, including how you react to pressure will determine whether it becomes stress or not: “If you recognize that you're feeling a little bit stressed, just ask yourself, will this matter in a week? Will it matter in a month? Will it matter in a year?” 
Another tip - take regular breaks. It takes about 20 minutes to fully focus, after 90 minutes your brain will start to switch off, so step away for five to 20 minutes to recharge.
There is much more, watch to find out.


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Ruth Thomason visited The Quarry to discus her journey into writing and the challenges of producing her first book, Poole of Light. Feedback and community support, including writing groups and critique sessions, are vital. Looking for somewhere to start? Well, this year the Guernsey Literary Festival is hosting a short story anthology competition for Bailiwick writers, which invites submissions under the theme "Time and Tide." 

If you like our work and want to support independent local media survives, sign up as a subscriber or member at thequarry.media.

The Quarry has partnered with the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Working Group to deliver a series of podcasts exploring the current workforce shortage and the future skills gap.

We will explore why action is needed and what the solutions could be as part of a collective call for change to help ensure the future success of the island.

In the first podcast of the series, we sat down with CoC executive director Alice Gill and CoEfficient co-founder John Hibbs to explore how the conversation needs to include workplace culture and the importance of a healthy, happy and therefore more productive workforce. Companies that have are already reaping the benefits. 

It is easy to dismiss human rights as something that is a problem elsewhere.
Local legislation is limited, many people are working from the comfort of being cocooned in an office. 
But, Estelle Levin-Nally argues, there are not only human rights issues that are affecting individuals in the island today, from housing to health, they are also at play in the countries where local companies are doing business.
Failure to recognise that can leave companies reputations exposed, while also missing out on other tangible benefits to recruitment and retention.
She is one of the experts appearing at the Channel Islands Sustainable Business Conference in October.

Whispers of Freedom, written and directed by Guernsey filmmaker Brandon Ashplant, has qualified for the British Independent Film Awards.

Set in 1980s East Germany - during the twilight years of the Cold War - the short film is based

on the true story of Chris Gueffroy, one of the last attempted escapees from East Berlin.

Produced with vital support from Guernsey Arts and the DDR Museum in Berlin, it is one of a growing number of local film projects, prompting calls for a Guernsey Film Institute to set up and work with the government to move the industry forward.

Whispers of Freedom is screening at the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts on Friday 12 September.

Tickets can be purchased online at: https://sogscuba.gov.gg/scuba6/stellar2/centreStageBooking.php#/2039/2039 or via the box

office at the PRCPA.

The Quarry is an independent outlet reliant on subscribers to fund its work. If you value our journalism become a member at thequarry.media.

Its all about mindset and delivering world class basics according to Guernsey Cricket coach Philip Smith. 

Guernsey U19s are competing in the ICC Europe Qualifier, facing top-tier opposition including Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland, Jersey, and Denmark. Its a rare and exciting opportunity for the players to represent their island on a global stage with the opportunity to go to the World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe in 2026

The tournament provides exposure to pressure environments, different playing conditions, and the challenge of playing multiple high-stakes games in a tight schedule.

It’s not just about qualification—it’s about developing young players who can compete at the next level and contribute to Guernsey cricket for years to come.

Their approach to building a high-performing team?

Clarity of purpose
World-class basics, executed under pressure
Team culture that drives standards
Player ownership
Maximum effort is the baseline.

Grow was innovative when it began 40 years ago, it remains at the forefront of thinking about helping people with learning disability today. A  £4m. redevelopment project has led to an incredible new facility where the crew can not only work in horticulture, but also in hospitality in the cafe and learning carpentry skills in the workshop. 
There is now also a small shop selling local crafts, adding retail skills into the mix as well, and opportunities to help in administration and at events.
This is the first Charity Spotlight from The Quarry, part of our efforts to support and celebrate the community in Guernsey. Visit www.thequarry.media for more.