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The word Occupation refers to practical and purposeful activities that allow us to live independently and give us a sense of identity and self worth.  This could be anything from essential day to day tasks, such as dressing or cooking, to the things that make us who we are – our jobs, interests, hobbies and relationships. 

Occupational Therapists are trained health professionals that provide practical support to enable people to overcome any barriers that prevent them from doing the activities that matter to them, helping them to live as independently and fully as possible.

Adele Bailey, St Helena’s Senior Occupational Therapist, based at the Community Care Complex (CCC) in Half Tree Hollow, said:

‘These barriers may be due to a physical or mental illness, an accident, a disability or general deterioration due to simply getting older.  Participation in meaningful activities promotes positive health and well-being because it keeps us physically and mentally engaged.’ 

St Helena’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Service provides a free service to residents of the Island, both children and adults, with physical disabilities, mental health conditions or learning disabilities.  Occupational Therapists work in the Hospital, in the community, at residential homes, SHAPE and all of the schools.   Employers can also access the service for help in supporting their employees with disabilities, and for training, such as moving and handling.  The service is based at the CCC and runs from Monday to Friday 8.30-4.30pm.  Accessing the OT Service is easy, anybody can make a referral.  Adele commented:

‘You can refer yourself by giving us a ring at the CCC, on telephone 23090 extension 216,  and tell us what problems you are having.  You can ask a relative or friend to ring us if you like or you can ask your doctor or any other health professional, such as a nurse or the physiotherapist, to make a referral for you.  If you are having difficulties at work then either you or your employer can give us a ring.’

Employers can also contact the service if they are concerned about one of their employees – but you must have permission from them before you do this.   If you are unable to get hold of the service on the phone you can e-mail either ot1@helanta.co.sh or ot@helanta.co.sh

Other Activities Provided by OT

Craft Group – The OT service is currently providing a craft class at the CCC on Tuesday nights, 5-6pm.  Adele is looking for volunteers to help out, so if you are interested in arts and crafts please feel free to come along and be part of something worthwhile and fun.

Anxiety Management & Relaxation Classes – These will be starting on Wednesday 2 July 2014, from 5-6pm at the CCC, and if these classes prove to be popular they will be rolled out to all other areas.  If you would like any further information about the classes, then give Adele Bailey a ring on 23090, ext. 216.

Volunteer Programme

About volunteering, Adele added:

‘We would very much like to deliver more activities but unfortunately do not have the capacity to do this on our own.   If you have a little spare time – it could be as little as 1 hour per week that you would like to give to help provide meaningful activities for our elderly and disabled people – then please contact the OT team. 

‘You may have a hobby or interest you would like to share with other people or you may like to learn a new skill, and as a volunteer you would be a valued member of the Occupational Therapy team.  ‘You would gain experience of working in Occupational Therapy and access in-service training opportunities – but most of all you would be making a massive difference to individuals’ lives.’ 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer within the Occupational Therapy team or finding out more about it, then please ring Adele on 23090, ext. 216.

 

SHG

20 June 2014 

 

On 30 May 2014, works were announced to continue the Main Street Enhancement Project on pavement areas in lower Jamestown.  The project was awarded to Brian Leo, project managed by ProArc. 

The work has begun outside Porteous House, gradually moving upwards towards the Consulate Hotel, then working back down the street from the Post Office.  It is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete. 

The work is restorative in nature, aiming to stay true to the character of the town by preserving and replacing cobble stones wherever possible.  The insertion of cobbles between entrances along both sides of Main Street will provide a reference to the dominant historic feature of the street while allowing for a smoother, safer and more accommodating surface for use as the principal walkways.  The installation of bollards is designed to protect and preserve restored surfaces and to avoid vehicles parking in undesignated parking areas on top of the pavement. 

Funding for the Main Street Enhancement Project is provided under tourism development, aided in this particular case by SHG’s capital programme.  

A Main Street Project Working Group has been established (see below) to assist the contractor and to ensure that historic features of the streetscape are maintained wherever possible.  Members of the working group are: Trevor Graham, Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Directorate, Jeremy Harris, Director of the National Trust, Lucy Ceaser, Director of the Museum, Cathy Ablerts, Director of Tourism (ESH), Michielle Yon, Director of Resources (ESH) and Paul Scipio of ProArc Ltd.  

Jeremy said:

“It is exciting to see rejuvenation of the Jamestown streetscape. Whilst a few compromises have been made by necessity, I am confident that the finished product will greatly enhance the look and feel of Jamestown and will serve the population well. The St Helena National Trust is proud to have been part of this and we also look forward to enhancing our prominent headquarters, in turn benefitting the local community and those visiting this very special town.”

Michielle continued:

“The Main Street Working Group is committed to ensuring that the final outcome is something that all locals and visitors can admire.  If any person wants to raise their concerns or make enquires please feel free to contact anyone in the group.”

The working group wishes to thank the general public in advance for their cooperation and patience during this work, which will inevitably cause some disruption.   

Main Street Drawing 2014

Two pictures and one illustration accompany this release.

Notes for Editors

Contact details for the Working Group are as follows:

 

Name	Telephone	Email
Trevor Graham, Director of ENRD	24724	trevor-graham@enrd.co.sh
Jeremy Harris, Director of National Trust	22190	director@shnt.org.uk
Lucy Ceasar, Director of Museum	22845	museum@helanta.co.sh
Cathy Alberts, Director of Tourism, ESH	22158	Cathy.alberts@tourism.co.sh
Michielle Yon, Director of Resources, ESH	22920	Michielle.yon@esh.co.sh
Paul Scipio, ProArc Ltd	23850	PROARC@helanta.co.sh

 SHG

20 June 2014

 

 

Currently featuring on Statistics Views (a global statistics website) is a feature by St Helena Government’s Statistician Paula McLeod.

The article is entitled ‘Small Island Statistics in a World of Big Data’ and highlights the big changes that St Helena is facing.  With the impending arrival of air access, the Island now, more than ever, needs useful and reliable information – for example on the economy and the environment.

The article states: ‘As we head into this change, St Helena has a higher than ever demand for reliable data on the people, the economy and the environment.’

St Helena’s Statistics Office is continuing to improve the range and timeliness of its outputs, and to establish valuable connections and raise the Island’s statistics profile in the context of data on a global scale.

Paula explained:

“Through promoting statistics on the Island, we are collaborating on a bigger scale and allowing the office to raise its standards alongside those in the United Kingdom.  Improving our systems allows us to be equally matched, so that anyone anywhere can read and trust the data that we produce.”

For the full article please see the link: http://www.statisticsviews.com/details/feature/6163761/Small-Island-Statistics-in-a-World-of-Big-Data.html

SHG

17 June 2014

 

 

To mark the construction of the Terminal Building at the St Helena Airport site (Prosperous Bay Plain), a special ceremony will be held on Saturday afternoon, 28 June 2014.

Invited guests from the community, charitable and non-Government organisations, the schools, the private sector, the local media, St Helena Government and Basil Read will witness the laying of a Commemorative Stone by HE Governor Capes and the Blessing of the building by Bishop Richard Fenwick.

Speeches on Airport progress and wider economic development will be made by Governor Capes, Basil Read, PMU, the SHG Access Office and Enterprise St Helena.

The highlight of the ceremony will be the burying of a Time Capsule by the Student President and Vice Student President of Prince Andrew School. Included in the Time Capsule will be photos and short films showcasing the Island community and Airport progress, Island newspapers, a comments book from all involved in the St Helena Airport project, a special Airport stamp issue, St Helena currency, St Helena crafts, seeds from plants endemic to the Island, the Electoral Roll, and an essay, poem and drawing from winners of the ongoing competition in Schools.

This event is the first of many to mark significant milestones of the Airport project.

Unfortunately, due to the area being an active building site (for health and safety reasons), the event is restricted to invited guests.

The event will be filmed and broadcast on local TV in due course.

SHG

17 June 2014 

I am pleased to announce the award of an MBE to Mr George Frederick Thomas JP, in recognition of his services to the judicial sector on Ascension Island.

George, affectionately known as ‘Dover’, has served the community of Ascension Island as a Magistrate since July 1988.  George has made a positive contribution to the governance of Ascension Island during that 25-year period. Delivering justice in such a small community requires a high degree of responsibility and civic-mindedness that George has demonstrated throughout the time he has served as a Magistrate, which has been on a purely voluntary basis.

I am further pleased to announce the award of a BEM to Stedson Graham Francis for his 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, providing much welcome entertainment to the community.  Stedson has also served as Chairman of the Blue Hill Community Centre Association for 25 years, one of the few community centres which have continued to function continuously during that period of time. Stedson’s contribution to the community has also included taking on various roles in a number of associations 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. Stedson also served as a Member of the St Helena Legislative Council for a period of 12 years from 2001- 2013, during which time he served on Executive Council for four years.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating both George and Stedson on these well deserved recognitions.

Sean G P Burns

Acting Governor

13 June 2014

‘Air Access to St Helena – One of the World’s Most Remote Populated Islands’

St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce today the commencement of the official process to procure an air service provider to the Island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.

SHG is seeking to award a contract to a suitably qualified organisation to provide air services to the Island, on a contract period of up to five years.

The requirement is for a minimum weekly flight to a recognised international hub airport operating throughout the year. Services will commence when St Helena’s Airport opens in February 2016.

Potential air service providers are invited to visit the official SHG website https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/air-access/ or the Fly to St Helena website www.flytosthelena.com to find out more about this opportunity by viewing and downloading the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and Information Memorandum (IM) relating to the contract.

The PQQ is the first stage of the air service procurement process. The closing date for responses to the PQQ is 12 noon GMT on Thursday, 17 July 2014.

SHG expects to award the final contract for an air service provider in February or March 2015.

Note to Editors

The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire represents the initial stage of agreeing contractual terms for the supply of air services to St Helena. The questionnaire will allow SHG to obtain sufficient information from potential organisations interested in supplying these air services, and to make an assessment of their suitability to be invited to continue in the tendering process. Only organisations that are successful at this stage will be invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process.

SHG
12 June 2014

ST PAUL’S SWIMMING CLUB RAISES FUNDS

Over the past year, St Paul’s Primary School has operated its own Swimming Club at the Jamestown Pool on Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30.  Children have grown in speed and stamina and many children who were once strugglers are now becoming competent swimmers, with their technique improving constantly.  The PTA has invested money into the swimming club, with floats and swim caps bought.

For their sponsored swim on 30 May, children were tasked to swim a set number of lengths within a particular time.  The older Key Stage 2 children swam 20 lengths in under an hour, whereas the lower school swam 10 lengths in 40 minutes.  Twenty six children showed how much fitter they have become over the year by completing the lengths in under the time provided.  They did their school proud by completing the lengths with what the instructors described as ‘Style, Speed and Stamina’. The money raised by the 26 swim club members – over £400 – will be put back into the PTA fund and be used to buy future sports equipment.

The prize for the most money raised and most sponsors collected went to Jordana Peters.  Other children who received prizes for most effort were Brooke Yon, Lara Lawrence, Kiera Joshua, Taylor Bennett, Annika Lawrence and Jerome Peters.  Certificates were presented to the children by Mr Johnny Dillon, who also donated two new stopwatches to St Paul’s Swim Club.

St Paul’s Primary would like to thank Mr Colin Williams who transports the children to the pool, to Mr Johnny Dillon who gave two lanes especially for the swimming club during swim sessions, for the support and cooperation of the swim instructors and most importantly for the help of parents and guardians who collect children from the pool. Without your support and help, the Swim Club would not be the success which it has become.

Paul’s Primary

Education Directorate

SHG

10 June 2014 

Arriving on the Island on Wednesday 28 May 2014 was new Senior Social Worker, Samantha Dunn.

Samantha’s main focus, whilst on Island for a two year period, will be to improve the current system for safeguarding children, promoting their welfare and wellbeing.  She will work closely with the Police and Education directorate on identifying potential cases and carrying out assessments with families – improving the families’ situation and the situation for the children within them.

Samantha hopes that by working closely with the Police, plans can be devised both to protect the community and also to protect those being released from custody.  Samantha also understands that one area of work will be to place emphasis on children being exposed to close family members who are being sentenced and how these circumstances ultimately affect the whole family unit.

Samantha commented:

“The biggest challenge will be putting forward a strong and workable framework for the protection of children on the Island, but this is a positive challenge as improvements need to be made and we need to act.” 

In Samantha’s role as Senior Social worker she will work with all vulnerable groups – for example, these could be younger mums who might want support and guidance.  Bringing relevant services together to improve outcomes for children – but doing so in partnership with families needing support – will be central to Samantha’s role.

Samantha’s background is in working with children and young families in the south of England, looking at need and risk.

SHG

10 June 2014  

A new resident representative from the Department for International Development (DfID), Morgan Riley (photo attached), will be arriving to the Island on Tuesday 17 June 2014. Morgan succeeds previous resident representative Eddie Palmer and will be on Island for the next two years working closely with SHG to support the Island’s preparations for the opening of the Airport.

Morgan said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work on the Island.  I visited St Helena many years ago when the Airport was just an aspiration. I understand that thanks to a huge team effort the Airport project and all the preparations for its opening are progressing well and I am very much looking forward to working with all stakeholders during such an important chapter in the Island’s long and distinguished history.”

Prior to his appointment, Morgan has worked at HM Treasury on economic development in the Middle East and North Africa and on international finance. Previously, he has worked in the private sector on development programmes for remote communities.

SHG

10 June 2014

The public are reminded that while construction works are ongoing at the Wharf, the area will be open to pedestrians only between the hours of 16.00 & 08.30 Monday to Friday and from 16.00 Friday to 08.30 Monday – ie, open evenings and weekends only.  There will be restricted access to vehicles, and a barrier will be in place.

Authorised users only will be able to drop off/pick up equipment (e.g. diving equipment, fishing tackle etc) at the lower steps – before returning their vehicle to the area beyond the barrier. No vehicle at any time can be left parked on the Wharf between the construction site and the landing steps – this area needs to be kept clear in the event of an emergency.

Port management would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued co-operation.

SHG

10 June 2014