With plans for the new youth facilities are Adrian Windsor-Smith and Dominic Coquelin of Dee-Caf, service user James Savident with five-week-old Aimee Le Sauvage, Dee-Caf manager Kim Pattimore and another service user, Vikki Le Sauvage, with Ruby Purvis, 4. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0802495)

WORK is about to start on a Town youth house in Upper Mansell Street.

The former Caves de Bordeaux pub was bought by Guernsey Youth more than a year ago but it has taken the charity longer than expected to get plans drawn up.

Directors Wayne Bulpitt and Alun Williams have obtained sponsorship to get the work started but are awaiting final tenders to see how much more money they need to raise.

They are also awaiting approval from building control for work to start inside.

The pair aim to turn the ground floor into a cafe, which will be run as a commercial entity by youngsters under the guidance of a full-time manager.

The third floor, currently a derelict flat, will be turned into offices where different agencies can work with at-risk children to provide specialist help.

Dee-Caf, which will move from its current premises in the Bordage, will occupy the middle floor.

‘It’s a real opportunity for young people.

‘We are going to involve them completely in the move so that they can get involved and have a sense of ownership [of the building],’ said Mr Williams.