At a special dinner, hosted by HE Governor Capes last evening (4 November 2014), Stedson Graham Francis of Thompsons Wood was formally presented with his British Empire Medal (BEM), awarded to him under HM Queen’s Birthday Honours in June of this year.

The BEM was awarded to Stedson for his valued contribution to the community of St Helena.  Stedson was a voluntary producer for Radio St Helena for some 43 years, until its closure in December 2012, during which time he provided much welcomed entertainment to his many listeners around the Island.

Stedson has also served as Chairman of the Blue Hill Community Centre Association for some 25 years, one of the few community centres which have continued to function continuously during that period of time.

He has also worked with a number of NGOs concerned with farming activities since 1984, such as the Beekeepers Association, Farmers Association, St Helena Growers Cooperative Society and the Man & Horse and Blue Hill Cattle Syndicates.  In addition, Stedson has served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

The award also recognised Stedson’s service as a Member of the Legislative Council for a period of 12 years from 2001-2013, during which time he served on Executive Council for 4 years.

Governor Capes remarked:

“Occasions such as this I really enjoy as we celebrate a valuable contribution to St Helena.  Stedson’s service to his community in Blue Hill and his voluntary support for radio, bringing music and entertainment to St Helena for more than 40 years, is outstanding.

“Always a popular figure, Stedson was a Councillor for quite a few years and it was my privilege to work with him on Executive Council when I first arrived. On behalf of HM The Queen, it is indeed a pleasure this evening to present Stedson with the British Empire Medal.”

Stedson added:

“I am really honoured to have received this award and I thank Governor Capes for providing this opportunity to have my family and friends to share this special occasion with me.

“I did what I did because I enjoyed doing it. Serving on the Blue Hill Community Centre Association was a team effort and if I have given people some entertainment and enjoyment over the years via the radio and they felt it worthy of me to have received this award then I am indeed humbled and grateful to receive it, and thank you all for sharing this with me.”

The British Empire Medal was reintroduced in 2012 and rewards a sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work of a relatively short duration and honours continuous service to the community.

Two photos are attached.

SHG

5 November 2014 

The Landscape & Ecology Mitigation Programme (LEMP), part of St Helena Government’s Airport Project, is progressing well, with new staff recruitments, facilities and plants.

Amongst its many areas of work, the LEMP team is tasked with regenerating all temporarily disturbed ground caused by the construction of the Airport, in conjunction with Basil Read, and with providing compensatory habitat for all lands permanently lost.

There are now 8 people directly employed on Island by the LEMP carrying out ecological surveys, collecting seeds from the wild, growing plants, and carrying out habitat restoration activities throughout the Airport Development Area. The LEMP is also partnered by AECOM, a UK based consultancy which has been involved with the Airport Project for several years. AECOM is currently creating draft landscape designs which will be assessed by LEMP staff and public stakeholders and refined during an on-Island visit by staff later this month.

To be able to grow the tens of thousands of plants required, the LEMP has reinvigorated the old training centre below the Rock Club in Half Tree Hollow into the LEMP Tree Nursery where the majority of plants will be grown.

LEMP Project Manager, Ross Towers, explains:

“There has been weeks of hard work put in to remove several years’ worth of weed growth, to repair derelict buildings, and to kit the facility out to be able to produce the plants we will need over the next few years. The team has worked very hard to get the place up to scratch.”

Species currently being grown for conservation rehabilitation efforts include native and endemic species such as samphire, ebony, scrubwood and fishbone grass. There are also plants for residential areas such as flamboyant for Rupert’s Valley being grown.  Residents from Rupert’s, Deadwood and Bottom Woods are being asked whether there are any particular plants they would like to see in their district.

For more information on the LEMP or to pass on your ideas, contact Ross Towers, LEMP Project Manager, on 22721 at the Air Access Office, Second Floor Post Office, Jamestown, or by email: ross-towers@sainthelena.gov.sh.

SHG

4 November 2014

St Helena Government is in the process of creating a new Safeguarding Directorate. The purpose of the Safeguarding Directorate is – To protect and safeguard vulnerable children, young people and adults at risk or suffering from abuse.

From 1 December 2014 the new Safeguarding Directorate will assume social services and safeguarding functions from the Health and Social Services Directorate, and further develop social services on the Island.

Assistant Chief Secretary (Performance), Paul McGinnety said:

“The current Health and Social Services Directorate has a wide range of statutory and specialist functions that impact on the lives of vulnerable people on the Island. Although health and social services are intrinsically linked it is uncommon for the functions to sit under one part of an organisation.

“To ensure that the right support, leadership and service delivery are obtained from both functions a separate Safeguarding Directorate is being developed to focus purely on social services and safeguarding which will allow the health functions to be managed separately.”

Social Services staff, including those based at Barn View, CBU and the Family Centre, will form part of the new Safeguarding Directorate from 1 December. The CCC and Older Persons Services will transfer to the new Directorate by the end of the financial year.

The Directorate will be led by an experienced Social Care Manager and will be supported by local and overseas dedicated staff as well as final year Social Work students from the UK. The Directorate will be committed to developing staff and the new arrangements will see local staff accessing UK training and exposure.

Day-to-day roles and responsibilities of current staff will initially remain the same while the new Directorate takes shape. In the short term staff will remain in the existing buildings, although new buildings are being constructed in Half Tree Hollow to provide new accommodation for Sundale residents and possibly other elements of Safeguarding.

SHG

3 November 2014

Talented professionals and public servants from St Helena are reminded that they have 12 days left to apply for a scholarship award under the UK’s flagship Chevening programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A Chevening Scholarship offers financial support for a Master’s level degree at one of the UK’s leading universities, beginning September 2015. They are awarded to outstanding individuals with leadership potential.

Awards may also be considered for other courses of a minimum of 3 months duration.

Those interested in applying should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application.

Applications should be made online at www.chevening.org/apply

The deadline for applications is Saturday 15 November 2014.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, and intend to return there after your studies
• Hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree in the UK
• Have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying for a Chevening Scholarship
• Be able to meet the Chevening minimum English language requirement
• Be able to obtain the correct visa, and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university

The Chevening team are particularly interested to hear from applicants from St Helena who wish to study areas that will benefit the Island’s three national goals.

A Chevening Scholarship usually offers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, travel to and from your country, and a thesis or dissertation grant.

Follow the St Helena Government Facebook page for regular updates on the Chevening programme.

SHG

3 November 2014

The St Helena National Trust in association with the Darwin Project, is launching an Environmental Education Pack on Tuesday 4 November 2014 at the Canister, commencing at 5pm.  The focus of the pack is ‘increasing local capacity to conserve St Helena’s threatened biodiversity’.

The Environmental Education Pack is part of an initiative from the Community Forest Project School’s Officer, Martina Peters.  Martina recently attended Forest School training in the UK along with St Paul’s Primary School Teacher, Sheena Isaac. An Environmental Education Pack has since been developed for use in schools and at Forest School sites – Blue Hill School and the Millennium Forest.

If you are interested in what your child will be learning, want to know how St Helena National Trust has contributed towards progressing education on the Island and how the National Trust is going to build on what they have created, then come along to the launching of St Helena’s Environmental Education Pack.

SHG

3 November 2014

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth Countries each year, on 11 November, to remember those of the Armed Forces who have died in their line of duty since the First World War.

On St Helena, Remembrance Day is commemorated with a special service at the Cenotaph in Jamestown. This year the Remembrance Day Service will be held on Sunday 9 November 2014.

Members of the public attending the ceremony on Sunday should be present at the Cenotaph by 10.40am. Acting Governor, Mr Sean Burns and Mrs Burns, will arrive at 10.55am and the ceremony will begin promptly at 11am with a 2 minute silence.  The service will continue, followed by the laying of wreaths.

The end of the service will be marked with the marching of uniformed contingents from the Cenotaph onto the Grand Parade for the salute from the Acting Governor and Acting Director of Police on the Court House steps.

SHG

3 November 2014