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February 2021
Bembridge & St Helens Area
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As I put pen to paper or rather fingers to keyboard, I feel a great sense of relief that we are moving into February and coming out of January which is always a difficult month and made even worse by being in lockdown. I have no crystal ball to see what is ahead (and maybe that is a good thing) but I think we will be in battle with this virus for a while longer. Although lockdown is difficult and frustrating it’s important that we follow the rules in an attempt to try and get our lives back on track.
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Here at Island Magazines, we are animal lovers, so we just had to reach out and help a local attraction that is suffering during these troubling times. You can read all about how we can all help the animals on page 10. We have also been working with a local Community Interest Company which is dedicated to supporting victims of domestic abuse and you can read more about this on page 16. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue which is packed with news and information. A big thank you to all our wonderful advertisers and contributors who make it possible to publish each month. Please tell your family and friends that we are a free local community magazine packed with news and information. If you are a local business, please consider advertising with us. I hope you all have a great February and I look forward to catching up with you again next month.
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News Report from Cllr Michael Murwill - Member for Brading, St Helens and Bembridge. T: 07754 463040 E: michael.murwill@iow.gov.uk Councillor Michael Murwill @cllrmurwill COVID-19 Whilst it is very disappointing that the island has now been moved from Tier 1 to Tier 4 (and, currently in national lockdown), this emphasises the vital importance of adhering to the government restrictions.
The overriding advice is to stay at home, wash hands, cover your face when in shops (or when you are in public places) and to keep social distancing. If required, Island residents can access mental health support and advice online at www.iwmentalhealth.co.uk
The latest guidance and restrictions for residents and businesses can be found at Voting from home (simple and safe) www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdownAt the time of writing the local elections stay-at-home and at keeptheislandsafe.org are due to take place on 6th May 2021 and it is unconfirmed whether there will If you need help, please telephone the a postponement due to the Covid-19 Isle of Wight Council (IWC) Coronavirus pandemic. One option that many residents helpline 01983 823 600 or, for the latest have asked me about is postal voting. This advice, please visit the IWC COVID-19 obviously saves time and means that you website: keeptheislandsafe.org where do not have to attend a polling station in residents can subscribe to receive email person. Any registered electors can choose updates from the IWC by scrolling to to vote by post, and you have the option to the bottom of the page and pressing the request a postal vote for a specific election, subscribe button. for a set time period, or to run indefinitely. Included on this IWC website are informative sections including: • Support for islanders • Isle of Wight COVID-19 helpline • Business support (this includes Tier 3 business grants) • Community hubs • Support with food • Preventing COVID-19 • Self-isolation • Local restriction tier system • Guidance for people at higher risk • NHS COVID-19 app • COVID-19 statistics • Test and trace 4
There is a very simple postal vote application form to complete, which has only eight questions on one page. The form can be found at: Postal Vote Form or type in www.iow.gov.uk/Council/ OtherServices/Electoral-Registration/ Postal-Votes If you have a problem with obtaining a form via the website, please contact me and I will ensure that you receive a copy. The form needs to be returned to the Electoral Services Department, to be received by 17:00 on the eleventh working day before an election. continued over the page
News Report from Cllr Michael Murwill I continue to be available to assist residents so please do not hesitate to contact me if required. Keep safe and healthy. Meetings To ensure safety, meetings continue to be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Agendas for forthcoming meetings will be available for public viewing 5 working days before the meeting. February 2021 IWC dates for your diary: 9th February 17:00 11th February 12:00 11th February 17:00 18th February 17:30 22nd February 10:00 24th February 17:00
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St Helens Parish Council
Phone: 07563 130185 | E-mail: clerk@sthelensiw.org.uk St Helens Parish Council continue to thank businesses and residents for their ongoing observance of the new Covid 19 guidance, and for the support of the community to the helpline service provided via the Isle of Wight Council Hub (phone 823600), and Community Action/Resilience website: which is now helping roll out the vaccination programme across the Island. We are aware that the St Helens medical centre is already delivering vaccines to local priority groups, and that the programme will roll out further in the coming months. The Parish Council have continued to comment on planning issues affecting the Parish, and nearby areas, and appreciate the comments forwarded by local residents – these have helped inform the views expressed and ensure planners hear the voice of the local community, which will reflect, in subsequent decisions. We have commented on the IW Council Budget proposals, and are awaiting feedback – any decisions of the local authority to reduce services may have an impact on the Parish Council precept for 2021/22, and this will be discussed at the next meeting. It is hoped the next Parish Council meeting will be later this month, when we will set the budget for 2021/22, details will be on the website.
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The proposed budget will include provision for the continued maintenance of the Duver Toilets, retention of the Seaside Award, beach programme of works, maintenance of the Greens, and other projects initiated by the Council. Additional work continues on the Heritage Project, which is hoped to be completed this spring, but subject to the Covid Guidance – with the safe involvement of residents with knowledge of the history of the Parish and neighbouring area. Members are also mindful of 2021 being a scheduled Town/Parish and County Council election year, and will work with the Community Centre on the arrangements for the Election, but note the Centre (which is a Polling Station) is currently closed due to Covid Guidance, and the volunteers that provide services also operate under the same Covid guidance that we all follow. We hope this keeps residents as informed as possible at this time and hope all take care, and stay safe. St Helens Parish Council
Adrian Kensit
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Do you like this month’s front cover star? This is Bert the Red Panda and he is a resident of Amazon World Zoo Park and Bert and all the other residents and keepers are sending out a plea for your help. Amazon World Zoo Park are continuing the daily fight for survival, the pandemic and Avian flu has hit them really hard and once again their doors have had to remain closed to the public. The work continues to carry on behind closed doors as the animals still need to be fed, tended to and looked after and on average running costs per day amount to approximately £1,000. Heating, lighting, medication, feed and keeper wages are just some of the daily running costs. We as an island are known for our love of animals and Amazon World Zoo Park and the animals really need our help. They have a varied diet of vegetables and fruit and they are running low on many of the following items:Mixed Herbs - (Basil, Spinach, parsley, coriander), cabbage, chicory, collards, peppers, carrots, broccoli, courgettes, kale, spring greens, spinach, brussel sprouts, asparagus, okra, radishes, artichoke, swede, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, turnips, beetroot, celeriac, aubergine, corn on the cob or mini corn or frozen sweet corn and frozen peas. Fine beans and runner beans, cucumber, cauliflower, celery, fennel, leek, mixed salad leaves romaine lettuce, parsnip, fruit, nuts and seeds. When you are next doing your weekly shop please pop a few extra items into your trolley for the animals. Although the park is closed you can deliver and leave your donations in the container by the main gates. This is manned throughout the day and will be picked up by the keepers. If you are a Tree Surgeon or know of one and are able to donate fresh woodchip for their Sloth and Tamandua enclosures in the Twilight area. They can accept any of the following types of woodchip; Alder, Birch, Hazel, Pine, Poplar and Willow. If you can help please leave a message on 01983 867122 or message them via Facebook. You can also help them by gifting items on the Amazon Wish List. The link can be found on their Facebook page. 10
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Grants available for local businesses Island businesses eligible for government grant support under the latest national lockdown can now apply via the council’s website. The application forms and details of the grant help can be accessed via: www.iow.gov.uk/covid19_businessadvice Under the national lockdown there are rolling payments and top up grants for eligible ratepaying businesses in certain categories. Some businesses may also qualify for grant support relating to the brief period around Christmas when the Island was under Tier 3 and then Tier 4 restrictions. There is also support for ‘wet’ led pubs for late December.
Contact Lui Tel: 520522 Mob: 07795 363 534
In addition, the council is offering government-funded discretionary grant help to businesses which may fall outside these schemes, and has created a Winter Business Support Grant scheme.
www.primotechnical.co.uk primotechnical@gmail.com The views and opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own and do not reflect the views of the Editor or Island Magazines unless stated otherwise. Island Magazines reserves the right to refuse or alter material where necessary. 11
We have managed to crawl our way through to February and have survived January which is (in my opinion) the worst month of the year. But what is February about, is there anything to look forward to? I have been looking into what is happening across the globe during this extra short month. Some events can be celebrated without breaking lockdown rules and others can be attended remotely. Some are traditional and some I have never heard of.
National Sickie Day 2021 - Monday 1st February - Under normal
circumstances and certainly not through a lockdown pandemic, statistics have shown that the first Monday in February is the day when people are most likely to pull a sickie. One of the factors attributed to this is the first payday since Christmas, meaning people have been out celebrating all weekend with a particularly heavy one. Another theory is that people tend to reevaluate their career path in January, meaning that a lot of these sickies are actually to attend interviews.
Candlemas Day - Tuesday 2nd February – The Christian Festival of
lights. The day marks the midpoint of Winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. Candlemas also commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son. It is also the day when all the candles, that are used in the church during the coming year, are brought into the church and a blessing is said over them. On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home. While in many countries Christmas decorations are
traditionally removed on the twelfth night (January 5) for other countries it is customary to remove them on Candlemas.
Send a Card to a Friend Day Sunday 7th February - Everyone loves and appreciates their friends, and we all just assume that they know how much we care and that we are always thinking about them. Sadly, many of our friends will experience loneliness and feel under appreciated from time to time. That’s just how life goes. That’s why Send a Card to a Friend Day exists, and why year after year it is so popular!
A small gesture that we may not think makes any difference could actually make our friends’ day. All it takes is a cute little card with a nice personal message in it to put a smile on their face. This could be an e-card that you send to them online, a store-bought card, or better yet, a home made one that oozes thoughtfulness, ideal for your extra special besties. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on celebrating your friendships on this special day!
St Valentine’s Day – Sunday 14th February - also called the Feast of
Saint Valentine, and is recognised as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. It’s the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love. continued over the page
Pancake Day – Tuesday 16th February – also known as Shrove Tuesday, is a
day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes, and also the last day of fat eating or gorging before the fasting period of Lent. This moveable festival is determined by Easter. Whether you are a savoury or sweet pancake lover or a traditionalist with just lemon and sugar, enjoy it and have that extra one or two. Life’s too short not to.
Random Acts of Kindness Day - Wednesday 17th February - This international
celebration has grown in popularity each year. It is celebrated by individuals, groups and organisations, nationwide, to encourage acts of kindness. It is a favourite day to many, as people everywhere are enjoying doing these acts of kindness.
National Love Your Pet Day - Saturday 20th February
- Love Your Pet Day is a great day to show your love for our little furry friends. Whether you’re a cat lover, a dog lover or you’ve got a family of chimpanzees sharing your home with you, today’s the day to spoil them even more than you normally do and show them how much they mean to your family. If you love pets but don’t have any you could still get involved by calling by your local Cats Protection, Feline Welfare, RSPCA or pet rescue centres and make a donation of food or treats. You could also look into how to volunteer to spend a little time at your local pet rescue centre, maybe walking “An excellent team one of the dogs there offering an or giving a little bit of invaluable service” your time to the cats at NEW! Book online www.mobilevetsurgery.co.uk the cattery. Stress-free Islandwide “Friendly & reliable professional yet Home Visits & very caring” Central Vet Surgery
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BEMBRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL Tel: 01983 874160 E: clerk@bembridgepc.org.uk
IWASP Trading Standards are receiving increasing reports of a worrying scam that appears to be targeting anyone and everyone. The scammers are again using the coronavirus to con us into parting with money and details. The latest scam is an official looking text purporting to be from the NHS saying that you need to book a vaccination appointment. This will then take you to a fake NHS form which will ask for bank details to prove your identity. This is a SCAM The NHS will never ask for a person’s banking information so please do not provide it The second comes in the form of a survey scam on social media. This has been reported from the mainland however social media has no geographical boundaries! The scam purports to be authorised by the local authority and alleges to find out how residents are coping with the Covid19 situation. Participants are requested to provide their personal details and are offered a payment of £25 for taking part. It is believed that by giving bank details for the payment the scammers will have access to their bank accounts and can take money from them. Be very wary of any links you click on social media and never give information in this way. There are still the following scams: • 14
Email from the Royal Mail that says due to incomplete address they are
unable to deliver a parcel – asking you to click on the link to complete the information required – DON’T •
Email from EE to say that your payment couldn’t be taken and asking you to click on a link to verify your details – DON’T
•
Text message allegedly from the DVLA to say that your payment couldn’t be taken and asking you to click on a link to make the payment due – DON’T
•
Calls from Amazon Prime stating that the annual membership of £79.99 is due for renewal – HANG UP
Remember any unsolicited communication is likely to be a scam so treat them with suspicion Village Hall Roof The restoration work on Bembridge Village Hall Roof is very near to completion. There have been some very positive comments on the quality of the work and the conduct of the contractors. Bembridge Friendship Circle The 150 Club 2021 is still open if you would like to purchase a number. Choose your number/s for the draw and fill out the application form on the Bembridge Parish Council website or hard copies available in the Parish Office and monthly Coffee Mornings in the Village Hall.
continued over the page
BEMBRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL Return applications to the Parish Office. Pay ÂŁ12 per number for 12 monthly draws. All funds raised go to the running of the Bembridge Community Bus COVID 19 Bembridge Support Line For information on Shopping Deliveries, Local Hot Meal Deliveries, Prescription Deliveries, The Phone Buddy System or anything else you are concerned about, please call on 07724 401443 Parish Office Due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the Parish Office will be closed to the public until further notice. This includes use of the door entry system as it represents a hard surface. The Clerks and Councillors are available by contacting clerk@bembridgepc.org.uk or by phone on 01983 874160.
EST 2001
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It’s time to stop being a victim and start living. It can happen to both men and women, there is no preference to age or nationality. It is no longer just physical! Just because a person doesn’t put their hands on you, that doesn’t mean they aren’t abusive. ABUSE is control, blatant disrespect and hurtful words. Domestic Abuse has dramatically increased during the coronavirus crisis and lockdown. Abusers feel they are stronger than ever, they make their victims believe they have taken away all safety nets and any chances of getting help... but this just isn’t the case, there is support and help for all victims, whether you have already escaped or want to escape then help is here in the form of Break the Cycle (CIC). Their FREE ‘Mind the Gap’ course is able to create and deliver courses, coaching, mentoring and support to women and men who are suffering from abuse in any form. The 10-week course is for everyone to learn how to rebuild their confidence and move forward positively in their lives. The sessions help build support networks, learn new skills and increase self-belief. They help individuals and groups to gain the courage and confidence to stand up against oppression, control, abuse etc. They have changed the thinking of some people in such a way as they have made the decision not to commit suicide. Others have discovered they are valuable members of society after continuously being told how worthless they were and some have gone on to start their own businesses, gone back into education or, just as importantly, escaped from their abusive relationship and now live confidently on their own terms. The ‘Mind the Gap’ course is versatile in its approach to each client, and they can adapt to the needs of any client. Having written this course specifically to help people who have suffered domestic abuse, whether that is recently or historically, the results achieved by those who have attended have been truly remarkable. Break the Cycle CIC has been running since 2016 and was founded by Maggie Currie after she realised there was a gap in the support needed by people who had suffered domestic abuse. The new courses are beginning again this February, for women on 1st at 10am and for men on 3rd at 10am via Zoom. Their pilot Zoom based course was very successful so they are sure you will learn more about yourself, how you think and how you can move forward in your life more confidently. To book your place on this course please email hello@breakthecycle.org.uk or call/text 07779 189 305 www.breakthecycle.org.uk