Since winning Bright Young Things, James Turner has been working to turn his Street Academy idea into a business. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0575040)

A PLACE for Guernsey’s young people to chill out and learn performing arts is the vision of Bright Young Things winner James Turner. The 23-year-old former carpenter, joiner and mason has ditched his job to work 24/7 on his business brainchild, Street Academy.

As a teenager, he had always longed for somewhere to learn more skills to combine with his passion for music, DJ’ing and roller-skating. ‘There wasn’t anywhere when I was 16, so I launched a petition with Deputy Al Brouard to try to get a skate park up and running,’ said Mr Turner.

‘Because I was young, I left it to the States and it never took off, but this time I’ve got my friends and Bright Young Things to help me out and get it off the ground. When I saw the competition being advertised, I thought this was my chance to turn my idea into a business rather than just doing it in a community hall somewhere.’

Website www.streetacademy.gg goes live this week and to contact Mr Turner, email jamesturner1984@hotmail.com.