Guernsey library announced as finalist for UK award
Guernsey's public library has been announced as a finalist for a major UK award recognising its work with children and young people, organisers have revealed.Guille-Allès Library, in St Peter Port, is one of four South West finalists for Library of the Year, part of the British Book Awards 2025.The library was shortlisted for its work organising its Summer Reading Challenge which encouraged children to read six books over the summer holidays.Jodie Hearn, head of the library's services for children and young people, said the nomination was "really exciting" and highlighted the efforts of the library's "whole team".
Miss Hearn said just over 1,800 children took part in the challenge - about 35% of the island's three to 11 year olds."It's a really good way to encourage children to read over the summer, especially when they're not in school and there's a bit of a reading dip," she said.The Library of the Year Award "celebrates libraries that serve their readers and implement initiatives which reach deep into communities, improving the lives of individuals through storytelling and literature", organisers said.The winner of the award will be revealed on 12 May.
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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I had a threesome with my girlfriend and her best friend – but she is now pregnant with my baby
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I thought, however, that if I agreed we could move on. So we arranged a date and the friend came over. We had a few drinks to get us in the mood. I was nervous but they were both very keen. It felt as if they were old hands. There was no awkwardness between them. I must admit the sex was amazing and, to my relief, everything went back to normal afterwards. Then to my horror, the friend announced she was pregnant. My girlfriend now wants her mate to move in with us — she thinks it would be the perfect solution. On top of everything she's started talking about having a baby as well. Dear Deidre After Dark- Understanding open relationships It's all too much and too fast. Our relationship still feels so new and I'm not ready to take such a big step. I don't want to be a dad to one baby, let alone two. DEIDRE SAYS: If ever there was a time to use protection, this was it. The decision over whether to have this baby belongs to your girlfriend's friend. My support pack Unplanned Pregnancy will help the friend look realistically at her options. Tell her you are not ready to be a dad and you will need a DNA test to prove paternity if she goes ahead with this pregnancy. If it turns out it is your child, you will have a legal obligation to help support your child. In an ideal world, a child will have two loving parents. Even if you aren't together, you can still be a positive force in a child's life. Having unprotected sex also risks jeopardising your sexual health, so please make sure everyone visits the local sexual health clinic to be tested. Get in touch with Deidre Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays. Send an email to deardeidre@ You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page. SHE HAS DAYS OUT WITH EX DEAR DEIDRE: MY girlfriend plays happy families with her ex and their young son. They go on day trips to the seaside, and theme parks, and I am supposed to just accept it. I know a few people who have kids but have split up, but they don't behave like this. Is it normal for an ex-partner to be so involved? I'm 27 and my girlfriend's 25. We've been together for eight months. I love her and accept that she has a child but I am uncomfortable about her being around her ex. I see him whenever he comes to collect his son. We get on OK. But my girlfriend has let slip that her ex is still very fond of her. One thing that concerns me is, when she goes out with him, she always switches her phone off so her ex doesn't get upset by me contacting her. I am trying to understand, but I have feelings too. DEIDRE SAYS: Her relationship with her ex is over but it's better for your girlfriend and ex to put aside their feelings for the sake of their child. Rather than her turn her phone off, can you agree that you will only contact her in an emergency? At some point you need to take a leap of faith and trust her. 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He is not your parent. Can you rearrange the shared living spaces so you both can have more privacy while living under one roof? It would also be a good idea to discuss boundaries around overnight visitors so that you both are on the same page. My support pack Standing Up For Yourself could also help.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I found out my long-term partner is married when he called me by another woman's name during sex – I'm devastated
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As I leant down to kiss him, he murmured another woman's name. I thought I'd misheard him, so I asked him to repeat it. He started to, then opened his eyes and the colour drained from his face as we both realised what he'd said. Eventually, I got the truth out of him. He's been married for a decade and he's got two kids. Dear Deidre After Dark- Understanding open relationships I kicked him out immediately, but he's been bombarding me with flowers and love letters. I know I should stay strong. I don't want to be some man's dirty secret. But I love him. DEIDRE SAYS: You thought he was your happy ever after, but he's just as emotionally unavailable as your ex. Start standing up for yourself now and tell him that you won't date a married man. Setting a boundary like this feels scary at first, but you'll be grateful you valued yourself in the long term. 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My Learning About Relationships and Age Gaps support packs will help. FAMILY FORUM DEAR DEIDRE: MY son blocked me from seeing my granddaughter, so I took him to court. But the judge ended up ruling against me. My son and I have always had a strained relationship. His father left us when he was a baby, so I brought him up alone and I must have spoiled him. He got used to having his own way and I always gave in. I'm 60 now and he's 34. He married five years ago and had a daughter. She's the apple of my eye. I loved seeing her. My son continued to bully me. He'd demand money and threaten to cut off contact if I said no. He expected me to look after their pets every time they went on holiday, even though I work full-time. I eventually stood up to him and told him I wouldn't be pushed around. That's when he stopped me from visiting my granddaughter. He wouldn't take my calls and barred me from their house. I sent my granddaughter birthday and Christmas presents, but heard from a mutual friend that my son ripped off the labels and told her they were all from him. After 18 months, I went to court to gain access. But the judge ruled against me, saying that as I hadn't seen my granddaughter for so long, it wouldn't be beneficial for contact to resume. My son smirked at me across the room during the ruling. I'm heartbroken. DEIDRE SAYS: What a distressing situation. I can understand why you're heartbroken. Your bullying son is using his own daughter to hurt you. Sadly, grandparents in the United Kingdom currently have no inherent legal right to see their grandchildren. But you don't have to go through this experience alone. You can find emotional support through Grandparents Apart UK ( a charitable organisation dedicated to helping grandparents keep in touch with their grandchildren if they've been denied contact or have fallen out. You can also find information and advice through Stand Alone ( can't get this link to work on laptop or phone, which helps people of all ages who are estranged from, or disowned by, their family. Good luck.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Wolverhampton library's windows smashed by vandals, police say
A library in Wolverhampton which is nearly 100 years old has been targeted by vandals, police Midlands Police said severals windows at the Low Hill Library in Kempthorne Avenue, which opened in 1930, were smashed over the past few weeks.A force spokesperson said they have put on extra patrols in the area to try to reassure people who use the building and to try to stop further with information about the vandalism and who might be behind it, was asked to contact the force. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
