Gef’s Daily Roundup

Derbyhaven

People who visit Derbyhaven Bay and its surrounding coastline can now learn more about its fascinating birdlife, thanks to new illustrated signs. 

The signs, which will be changed depending on the season, show many of the species that use the Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and offer tips on how to use it sensitively.

Intertidal mud habitat is rare on the Isle of Man and the ASSI is one of the most important on the island for migrant waders and waterfowl. Find out more ow.ly/s12i50JmTIg

£50,000

The Children’s Centre has been awarded a grant of £50,000 for a second year of funding towards its online connectivity initiative for children, young people and families called ‘Digital Fingers’.

The grant was offered as part of Manx Lottery Trust’s Thematic Funding for 2021, Bridging the Digital Divide. The children’s charity also received additional funding from Community Awards to further develop the project in its first year.

‘Digital Fingers’ is a holistic programme that encourages children’s learning and development and improves communication using digital solutions. The grant will fund a range of costs to support the ongoing project, including a communications project worker, training, community events and computer equipment, including a small number of the revolutionary mini-computers’ Raspberry Pi’.

Joff Whitten, Head of The Children’s Centre, said: ‘The Children’s Centre uses digital solutions across our work; whether this is helping isolated children reconnect with their families or encouraging young people living with disabilities to learn computing and digital making skills. 

‘Over the last two years, we have had to adapt our offering and services. After the outbreak of Covid-19 and during the various lockdowns we quickly transitioned to a remote model, carrying out the majority of our support work virtually. Without a doubt, the charity’s digital approach helped us keep those vital connections with our clients, volunteers, other Island communities, and UK research centres. The grant from the Manx Lottery Trust has enabled us to fund the digital programme for a second year and will go a long way in improving the lives of our young clients and their families.’

Paddocks

A disappointing one this. Several people have been entering a number of workshop tents belonging to race teams in the paddocks at the rear of the Grandstand. So far, an electric bike, a set of tyre warmers have been stolen and equipment boxes containing tools and spares for the team’s racing bikes have been opened and rifled through.

The island’s Police have said: ‘Not only is this criminal behaviour but there are clear safety implications to the safety of the riders and may even mean a bike withdraws from a practice or race.

‘Police are currently investigating these incidents and we are appealing to those who are working in the paddocks, those who are visiting the paddocks to be vigilant and if any person is seen to enter a workshop uninvited or suspiciously then police are called immediately.’