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| Alderney facing 'big trouble' as population ages | Alderney facing 'big trouble' as population ages |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| In 2023, for every 100 Alderney residents of working age, there were 83 classed as "dependent" | In 2023, for every 100 Alderney residents of working age, there were 83 classed as "dependent" |
| Surrounded by sea and golden sands, Alderney - the most northerly of the Channel Islands - is facing a challenge. | Surrounded by sea and golden sands, Alderney - the most northerly of the Channel Islands - is facing a challenge. |
| With a population of just over 2,000, the island has an ageing demographic which is making some fear for its future. | With a population of just over 2,000, the island has an ageing demographic which is making some fear for its future. |
| Those who live in Alderney said a lack of job opportunities, affordable transport and even things to do was leading to an exodus of young people. | Those who live in Alderney said a lack of job opportunities, affordable transport and even things to do was leading to an exodus of young people. |
| "If we can't retain the younger generation, then we'll be in big trouble trying to look after the older generation," said charity worker Barbara Benfield. | "If we can't retain the younger generation, then we'll be in big trouble trying to look after the older generation," said charity worker Barbara Benfield. |
| Barbara Benfield said she feared for the island's future without more young people | Barbara Benfield said she feared for the island's future without more young people |
| Ms Benfield, who was born in Alderney and runs the island's Age Concern charity, which was hosting a bingo night when she spoke to the BBC, said: "It's charities and goodwill that support a lot of the things those elderly people need. | Ms Benfield, who was born in Alderney and runs the island's Age Concern charity, which was hosting a bingo night when she spoke to the BBC, said: "It's charities and goodwill that support a lot of the things those elderly people need. |
| "I see every day how many elderly people are here." | "I see every day how many elderly people are here." |
| As the game rolled on, she expressed concerns about the rising costs of long-term health benefits and predicted a future of "serious financial trouble" unless the burden eased. | As the game rolled on, she expressed concerns about the rising costs of long-term health benefits and predicted a future of "serious financial trouble" unless the burden eased. |
| Adding to the financial worries, she said many young people were leaving the island to look for jobs and failing to return when they have their own children. | Adding to the financial worries, she said many young people were leaving the island to look for jobs and failing to return when they have their own children. |
| 'People the island needs' | 'People the island needs' |
| She said more needed to be done to stop the exodus and suggested it should be made easier for young people to buy homes in Alderney. | She said more needed to be done to stop the exodus and suggested it should be made easier for young people to buy homes in Alderney. |
| "They are the people that the older generation need, they are the people the island needs," she said. | "They are the people that the older generation need, they are the people the island needs," she said. |
| According to the 2023 States of Alderney census, the island has a population of 2,167. | According to the 2023 States of Alderney census, the island has a population of 2,167. |
| The data showed for every 100 people of working age there were 83 "dependent" people - meaning they were under 16 or eligible for the pension - an increase from 68 a decade earlier. | The data showed for every 100 people of working age there were 83 "dependent" people - meaning they were under 16 or eligible for the pension - an increase from 68 a decade earlier. |
| The 2023 data showed 45% of the population were of dependent age, with 36% of those being of pension age. | The 2023 data showed 45% of the population were of dependent age, with 36% of those being of pension age. |
| In England and Wales, the percentage of over 66-year-olds was below 18%, the Office for National Statistics estimated. | In England and Wales, the percentage of over 66-year-olds was below 18%, the Office for National Statistics estimated. |
| Figures showed only 9% of Alderney residents were under 16 in 2023. | Figures showed only 9% of Alderney residents were under 16 in 2023. |
| "I've seen nothing but the needs of the population increase," said care worker Liz Bowskill | "I've seen nothing but the needs of the population increase," said care worker Liz Bowskill |
| Those on the front line of caring for an ageing population warned the island needs to "prepare itself" for the future. | Those on the front line of caring for an ageing population warned the island needs to "prepare itself" for the future. |
| Liz Bowskill, who runs Connaught Care, which oversees a residential home in the island and also provides home care services, said: "I've seen nothing but the needs of the population increase. | Liz Bowskill, who runs Connaught Care, which oversees a residential home in the island and also provides home care services, said: "I've seen nothing but the needs of the population increase. |
| "The risk is that we're going to have massive gaps in services and potential waiting lists." | "The risk is that we're going to have massive gaps in services and potential waiting lists." |
| Describing the demographics of the island, she said there was a mix of baby boomers and migrant retirees. | Describing the demographics of the island, she said there was a mix of baby boomers and migrant retirees. |
| She added many did not have familial support, which was "unusual for a small rock". | She added many did not have familial support, which was "unusual for a small rock". |
| The latest census figures show Alderney has a population of 2,167 | The latest census figures show Alderney has a population of 2,167 |
| The older population was generally healthy, she said, with many able to live in the community well into their 90s. | The older population was generally healthy, she said, with many able to live in the community well into their 90s. |
| However, she warned that was not sustainable. | However, she warned that was not sustainable. |
| "There's only so long you can go stretched on neighbours' support and neighbours' care and input from our organisation," she said. | "There's only so long you can go stretched on neighbours' support and neighbours' care and input from our organisation," she said. |
| "Alderney is beautiful - I can understand why people want to retire here and we should celebrate our older population. | "Alderney is beautiful - I can understand why people want to retire here and we should celebrate our older population. |
| "But we need to prepare ourselves for when those individuals need care and make sure we have the right resources and people here." | "But we need to prepare ourselves for when those individuals need care and make sure we have the right resources and people here." |
| "Young people want things to do," said resident Cameron Cairnduff | "Young people want things to do," said resident Cameron Cairnduff |
| Across the road from the care home is 32-year-old filmmaker Cameron Cairnduff, who is working on a video promoting Alderney's only school. | Across the road from the care home is 32-year-old filmmaker Cameron Cairnduff, who is working on a video promoting Alderney's only school. |
| Born in Alderney, before embarking on a marketing career which took him around the world, Mr Cairnduff returned, he said, to find the island had "started to fall apart". | Born in Alderney, before embarking on a marketing career which took him around the world, Mr Cairnduff returned, he said, to find the island had "started to fall apart". |
| Citing empty shops and businesses due to a lack of young people willing to take over, he said: "As the demographic gets older, it gets a lot less appealing for young people to be here. | Citing empty shops and businesses due to a lack of young people willing to take over, he said: "As the demographic gets older, it gets a lot less appealing for young people to be here. |
| "Not only are there less job opportunities, but generally we all want different things. | "Not only are there less job opportunities, but generally we all want different things. |
| "Maybe the older generation want a quiet life, but young people want things to do." | "Maybe the older generation want a quiet life, but young people want things to do." |
| JoJo and Ian Corder said families were leaving the island to look for more opportunities | JoJo and Ian Corder said families were leaving the island to look for more opportunities |
| The Corder family are also among those feeling the impacts. | The Corder family are also among those feeling the impacts. |
| Ian Corder, 37, said the availability and cost of travel from the island was a growing headache. | Ian Corder, 37, said the availability and cost of travel from the island was a growing headache. |
| A return trip to Guernsey via plane, just 10 minutes away, currently costs just short of £200 and services can be unpredictable. | A return trip to Guernsey via plane, just 10 minutes away, currently costs just short of £200 and services can be unpredictable. |
| "Even though I'm lucky to be able to work from home, you still want and need to get away," Mr Corder said. | "Even though I'm lucky to be able to work from home, you still want and need to get away," Mr Corder said. |
| "There are more blocks to doing that and more expense." | "There are more blocks to doing that and more expense." |
| Mrs Corder, 33, a veterinarian who has lived in Alderney most of her life, added: "One of my very best friends has recently left the island with two young children. | Mrs Corder, 33, a veterinarian who has lived in Alderney most of her life, added: "One of my very best friends has recently left the island with two young children. |
| "They've moved to Guernsey to get the opportunities they need." | "They've moved to Guernsey to get the opportunities they need." |
| Edward Hill warned the island could have an unbalanced population | |
| Edward Hill, who topped the poll at a recent election to the States, the body that governs Alderney, said radical changes were needed. | Edward Hill, who topped the poll at a recent election to the States, the body that governs Alderney, said radical changes were needed. |
| "I've lost four families in the past two months, with nine children between them," he said. | "I've lost four families in the past two months, with nine children between them," he said. |
| "If something isn't done, then we will have a very unbalanced population. | "If something isn't done, then we will have a very unbalanced population. |
| "We won't be able to provide services for the older population. We basically won't be able to run the island." | "We won't be able to provide services for the older population. We basically won't be able to run the island." |
| Bill Abel, chairman of Alderney States Policy and Finance Committee, said an older population was not necessarily a drain on States funds because many residents had "their own monies and pensions". | Bill Abel, chairman of Alderney States Policy and Finance Committee, said an older population was not necessarily a drain on States funds because many residents had "their own monies and pensions". |
| However, he said the healthcare burden was a "major challenge" and the island needed "younger people to come in". | However, he said the healthcare burden was a "major challenge" and the island needed "younger people to come in". |
| He said more job opportunities and a reliable transport service - including an upgrade to the runway - would be an "enabler". | He said more job opportunities and a reliable transport service - including an upgrade to the runway - would be an "enabler". |
| Renewable energy could bring employment hope, he added, with discussions ongoing over an offshore wind farm and tidal renewables across the island. | Renewable energy could bring employment hope, he added, with discussions ongoing over an offshore wind farm and tidal renewables across the island. |
| "Until we can improve our infrastructure... that's not going to be a positive for attracting people here," he said. | "Until we can improve our infrastructure... that's not going to be a positive for attracting people here," he said. |
| 'I'm going to stay here' | 'I'm going to stay here' |
| It is these problems - and possible solutions - that weigh on Mr Cairnduff's mind as he ponders the future of the island. | It is these problems - and possible solutions - that weigh on Mr Cairnduff's mind as he ponders the future of the island. |
| "There's just something about your home and wanting to protect it," he said. | "There's just something about your home and wanting to protect it," he said. |
| "I don't know anybody else who comes from a community like this. | "I don't know anybody else who comes from a community like this. |
| "I have accepted the fact that if I'm going to be here it's going to be a lot less exciting and quite lonely at times." | "I have accepted the fact that if I'm going to be here it's going to be a lot less exciting and quite lonely at times." |
| Islanders need to embrace new ideas if change is to happen, he argued. | Islanders need to embrace new ideas if change is to happen, he argued. |
| "I'm going to stay here until I get a positive signal that this island is heading in the right direction," he said. | "I'm going to stay here until I get a positive signal that this island is heading in the right direction," he said. |
| Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. |