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The public are advised that all Economic Development Portfolio offices, including the Tourist Office and Property Section, will be closed on Friday, 11 September 2026.Therefore, social housing tenants should contact Building Services directly for any faults or repairs while the Housing Office is closed.
The Tourist Office booth at the Airport will open on Saturday, 12 September, from 11:30 to 14:30. The main Tourist Office at the Canister will open on Sunday, 13 September, from 09:00 to 12:00.
Normal business operations will resume on Monday, 14 September 2026.
The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio has today published the combined findings from St Helena’s first comprehensive survey into children and young people’s internet and social media use, bringing together responses from 225 young people aged 8–18 across primary and secondary schools.
Over the past two weeks, findings from the primary and secondary school surveys have been published separately. Bringing the results together provides a broader picture of children’s digital lives across the 8–18 age range.
The survey shows that digital technology is now a routine part of childhood. Almost every child has access to the internet at home, while smartphones are an increasingly important way of accessing the online world. YouTube is the most popular platform, followed by TikTok, Snapchat and WhatsApp, with Instagram also featuring among older young people.
The results also show that many young people are already aware that excessive social media use can affect their wellbeing. Across the survey, children and young people identified tiredness, lack of sleep, reduced concentration, lower school performance and changes in mood among the impacts they associate with excessive social media use.
At the same time, the findings highlight areas where continued awareness, guidance and support are needed.
Across the combined 8–18 age group:
- 14% reported experiencing cyberbullying.
- 40% had been contacted, or may have been contacted, by strangers online.
- 37% spend 16 or more hours each week on social media.
- Nearly half use mobile data outside the home, meaning parental controls based only on home Wi-Fi may not provide complete protection.
Online gaming is also significant, with some young people spending considerable amounts of time gaming and interacting with strangers through games.
Children and young people are telling us what they need
The findings show that many young people recognise the challenges of spending excessive amounts of time online and identify parents, carers, friends, siblings and other trusted adults as people they would turn to if something online worried or made them uncomfortable. This provides an important foundation for continued work.
The survey is not intended to tell parents how to raise their children, nor does it suggest that technology or smartphones are inherently harmful. Instead, it provides St Helena with a shared understanding of how young people are using technology and the issues families, schools and the wider community may need to consider.
The Digital Literacy and Boundaries Group was established in response to these concerns and brings together representatives from education, safeguarding, health, policing, Youth Parliament and other community partners. The Group’s aim is to understand children’s digital lives, consider the evidence and identify ways to support children and families to use technology positively and safely.
Children’s Champion and member of the Safeguarding Board, Cllr Julie Thomas, said:
“The findings from this survey provide us with an invaluable, clear picture of our children’s digital lives, but they must also serve as an urgent call to action. As Children’s Champion and a member of the Safeguarding Board, my absolute priority is ensuring that our young people are kept safe online at all costs. We are not looking to strip technology away from our youth, but rather to empower our community with the awareness and education needed to establish healthy boundaries.
By equipping parents, guardians, and the children themselves with the right knowledge, we can collectively make informed, cautious choices about device usage and connectivity. Protecting our children in this fast-evolving digital space requires a shared commitment, and we must ensure every decision we take is guided by a proactive dedication to their safety, well-being, and protection.”
Continuing the conversation
The findings come at a time when communities internationally are considering how best to help children navigate an increasingly digital world.
The focus is not on removing young people from technology, but on helping them develop the knowledge, confidence and boundaries they need to benefit from it safely and positively.
Parents and carers, young people, schools, health professionals, police and safeguarding partners, politicians and policymakers all have a role to play in supporting digital safety.
The survey also provides an opportunity for families to keep asking simple but important questions about what children use their devices for, how much time they spend online and who they are interacting with.
The survey has given St Helena something many communities do not have: a clearer picture of how our children and young people are experiencing the digital world.
The opportunity now is to use that information to shape what comes next.
To view the results of the survey, please click the link at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/app/uploads/2026/09/Children-Young-Peoples-Social-Media-Use-Findings-All-Schools-Final.pdf
#StHelena #OnlineSafety #AltogetherBetterfortheSafetyofChildrenandYoungPeople
The Highways Authority has approved a temporary road closure from Corner Wall, near The Briars Junction, to the Viewing Deck at Two Gun Saddle.
The closure will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, from 09:00 to 15:00 to allow the Rock Guards and Roads teams to safely remove a section of bank that has been identified as unsafe.
During this time, access for public transport and emergency services may be limited. Members of the public are asked to use the diversion route via Haul Road.
If the works are completed ahead of schedule, the public will be notified and the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.
Residents in Constitution will continue to have road access, and The Briars area will not be affected by the closure. Advance warning and diversion signs will be in place to alert motorists. The Roads Section apologises for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thanks the public for their patience, cooperation and understanding
His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE will end his term of office on Friday, 11 September 2026.
As is customary on St Helena, His Excellency the Governor will make himself available in the Governor’s Office to bid members of the public farewell.
Accordingly, Governor Phillips will be available in the Governor’s Office, the Castle, Jamestown, from 10:00 to 11:00 this Friday, 11 September 2026, to receive members of the public and bid farewell to those who wish to attend.
#StHelena #HEGovernor #Farewell
The Health and Social Care Portfolio (HSC) wishes to inform the public that, due to a temporary shortage of doctors, some outpatient clinics will be operating at reduced capacity over the coming weeks.
We recognise that changes to appointments can be worrying, and we want to explain clearly what this means for you and your care.
Most appointments will continue as scheduled. If your appointment needs to be moved, our team will contact you directly. Unless you hear from us, please attend as planned.
If your appointment is moved, you will not lose your place. We will offer you the earliest available alternative slot as full capacity is restored.
Please note that emergency services will not be affected.
The HSC thanks the public for its patience and understanding while we work to restore full clinic capacity as soon as possible.
The Health & Social Care Portfolio would like to remind the public to allow 5 working days for the Pharmacy to process repeat medication requests.
To avoid running out of medication, patients are encouraged to submit repeat prescription requests when they have 7 days of medication remaining.
Repeat prescription requests can be sent to pharmacy.prescriptions@sainthelena.gov.sh or made by calling 25867.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The Inauguration Ceremony for Governor Designate Ms Belinda Lewis will be held on Saturday, 12 September 2026 at 14:00 on the Supreme Court Terrace, Jamestown.
Uniformed contingents will parade from the Canister to take up their positions on the Grand Parade at approximately 13:50 where the Combined Brass Band will provide music for the event.
Following the reading of the Royal Commission appointing Ms Lewis as Governor of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha by Chief Secretary Mr Ian Todd, OBE, the Oaths of Office will be administered by the Sheriff of St Helena, Mrs Ethel Yon, OBE.
Welcome addresses will be read by the Sheriff of St Helena and the Hon Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, to which Ms Lewis will respond before inspecting the Parade accompanied by her Aide de Camp and the Parade Commander. The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of St Helena, Dale Bowers MBE, will then give a Prayer and a Blessing before the Parade Commander requests permission to march off parade. Contingents will then march past to enable Her Excellency to receive the salute.
Following the ceremony, Her Excellency accompanied by her husband, Major Anthony Galvin (USMC Retd.), will proceed to the Court House where they will be able to greet members of the Legislative Council, officials, dignitaries and members of the public.
#StHelena #Governor #InaugurationCeremony
SHG
02 September 2026
The public are advised that temporary parking and road closures will be in place for the inauguration of Governor-designate Ms Belinda Lewis. The Highways Authority has given approval for these arrangements.
From 06:00 on Monday, 7 September 2026, six parking spaces outside Supreme court Terrace will be closed to allow a stage to be installed. All vehicles must be removed beforehand.
From 06:00 on Saturday, 12 September 2026, the remaining parking spaces between the Public Library and the Public Works Department entrance will also close as preparations continue. The road form the Canister to the Seafront will then close between 13:30 and 15:00 to allow uniformed contingents to participate in the ceremony.
The public are thanked for their cooperation.
The Roads Section wishes to advise the public that the Maldivia Car Park, located near the hospital, will need to be cleared of all vehicles tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 September 2026, from 07:00 to 11:00.
The temporary closure is required to allow the Roads Section to carry out cleaning and preparations for the demarcation and reinstatement of the white parking lines.
Parking may resume shortly after the works have been completed in the relevant sections.
Members of the public are kindly asked to remove their vehicles before 7:00 am and to follow any instructions provided by the Roads Section while the works are underway.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their cooperation.
The public are advised that a period of strong winds is forecast to affect St Helena from 06:00 UTC on Saturday 29 August 2026 until 12:00 UTC on Sunday 30 August 2026.
Winds are expected to be South-Easterly, with upper winds of 28-31 knots during the warning period. Surface winds are expected to have mean speeds of 15-20 knots, with gusts of 25-32 knots widely. There is also an isolated risk of gusts reaching around 40 knots, particularly in exposed locations with moderate to heavy showers that may affect St Helena during this period.
Care should be taken when walking or hiking, particularly in exposed areas. Residents are advised to secure any loose items that could be blown away, such as wheelie bins and outdoor equipment.
Boat owners should ensure that vessels are securely tied to their moorings. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving, particularly on exposed roads and routes prone to strong crosswinds. Motorists should also remain alerts for loose debris on roads.
There is a possibility that the strong winds may continue, this will be monitored by the Emergency Planning Department and the Met Office with further updates issued as necessary.