Bailiwick Podcasts

Up to one in five mums and one in ten dads experience mental health problems in the period during pregnancy and a baby's first birthday... so why don't we talk more about parental mental health? Express spoke to Sara McCarthy, who helps run the NSPCC's Pregnancy In Mind service, about the pressures of being the 'perfect parent', 'strong' fathers' hidden anxieties, and why being 'selfish' isn't so selfish... ★ Support this podcast ★

The charity behind a brand new therapeutic facility to help struggling children in Jersey believe its services are being wasted because the Government is refusing to send anyone there. 'Hope House' was opened in March by drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity Silkworth to provide a four-week therapeutic residential programme for young people experiencing emotional distress or struggling with addiction, mental health issues and eating disorders. But it believes the Government has told staff not refer children there because it wants to open its own facility. Express investigates... ★ Support this podcast ★

Toilers of the Sea; Victor Hugo's masterpiece, dedicated to the people of Guernsey, is working its way to the big screen A film production of the tale of Gilliat is getting ever closer to being realised, with pre-production potentially starting at the beginning of 2022. The project is a labour of love for its two producers; David Shanks and Joy Mellins. During their latest visit to the island Express spoke to them about A-list casting, the enduring legacy of the book, and why the film must absolutely be filmed on location, in the seas around Guernsey... ★ Support this podcast ★

Cyber warfare is getting serious. In 2017, Jersey's Government was getting hit by around 500 high-level cyber attacks every day, while some island entities were getting hit by 4,000 or more... But hackers and digi-criminals have only got stronger since then. Last month, Ireland's health service fell victim to an international ransomware attack described as its "most significant" to date, while the largest petroleum pipeline in the US was reportedly breached as a result of a single leaked password. As the threat heightens, Jersey is preparing itself - by setting up a fourth emergency service. Express spoke to the man that will be leading the island's new Computer Emergency Response Team, Matt Palmer... ★ Support this podcast ★

Sometimes what you need is a different kind of medicine, which is just what a new Social Prescribing pilot is hoping to administer. Bailiwick Social Prescribing is a non-clinical scheme launched after collaboration between the Health Improvement Commission, IslandHealth, the Guernsey Community Foundation, HSC and Public Health. Express managed to catch up with Guernsey Social Prescribing Lead, Melissa Mitchell on the phone after the launch, to discuss what exactly social prescribing is... ★ Support this podcast ★

Childhood friends Rhys Ashcroft and Dan Le Friec fulfilled a childhood dream when the two Guernsey-born actors set up their own production company, Freaky Geese Theatre. Having originally planned to stage their first show at their new home in London, the duo returned to Guernsey during the pandemic and have performed their work to local applause. Express sat down with Rhys and Dan to discuss their journey to date and their latest production - which is being staged at the Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 26 June ahead of what they hope will be an autumn tour of London... ★ Support this podcast ★

With a piece of digital artwork by Beeple Crap having sold as an NFT - non-fungible token - for $69m at a Christie's auction earlier this year, some might be considering whether to invest in their own. Local art gallery Director Chris Clifford, of Private & Public, told Express why he wasn't impressed with the latest trend... ★ Support this podcast ★

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water, Jersey's covid restrictions have changed again...from the 29th of June, England and Scotland will be simply red. That means a long period of isolation if you haven't been double jabbed - which includes many of the island students. Nightclubs and standing service at the bar will also have to wait at least another two weeks. So what exactly has changed. In this pod, we take a look at covid part three. ★ Support this podcast ★

Penelope Hope Founder Nadia Newton has decided to end the brand at the end of the August, citing burnout and the way that needing to create products in line with that brand has started to stifle her creativity. She spoke to Express about the work-life balance, the difficult trade-off between creative and commercial instincts, and the importance about being honest with yourself when you are struggling... ★ Support this podcast ★

Should the number of people go up in Jersey or go down? One politician thinks keeping it at net zero would be just right for Jersey... ★ Support this podcast ★

Guernsey's housing crisis continues to spiral out of control, with very few rental options and house prices soaring. We've been told the inevitable answer will be to build. However, one man thinks we've been looking at the problem the wrong way, and we're not facing a supply problem but a consumption crisis. Michael Herwitz spoke to Express about his experiences renting in Guernsey and his outside opinion on how we fix the issue... ★ Support this podcast ★

This week saw the passing of a man who had served his island for more than 37 years as a Deputy, Senator and then Constable. Len Norman was Home Affairs Minister when he died - but he was much more than that to the many islanders who met him through his long political career. It was a time of great change in Jersey, and Len Norman had a seat in the States throughout. In this pod, his brother Les celebrates a life well-lived. ★ Support this podcast ★

Express delves into the brewing battle over a £1.65m agricultural field. It's an unfolding tale that touches on water, waste, quarrying, the island's resources, NIMBYism and political scrutiny. ★ Support this podcast ★

The future of secondary education could soon be decided, after years of pausing, reviewing and intense debate. We've been shown option after option, and some would say the public have reached a certain exhaustion with the topic. However, with an impending policy letter soon laying bare the full proposal by the current Education, School and Culture committee, we might just be in the final chapter. ★ Support this podcast ★

In 2018 Jersey was approached to join the Vienna Convention for Road Traffic, and in 2019 work began to implement it. Since then, the Government has been working to bring in MOT-style 'Periodic Technical Inspections' - this week, they announced that they will building the centre for the tests themselves, due for 2024. However, they are still making the decision about whether they will be running the centre themselves, or whether it will be privately run by a franchise, either off-island or on-island. With expressions of interest currently being sought, DVS Head, Gordon Forrest, discusses how the inspections will be carried out, why the decision was made not to hand tests over to the island's garage industry, and how they will be making sure not to take away from the industry's already small pool of mechanics. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Alderney Bird Observatory has been voted out of its home and will have to leave the nunnery, where it has been for the past three years. The internationally acclaimed group has brought tourists and bird fanatics alike to the Alderney, quite often in the shoulder months when the tourist season dies off. So why do States member want to see it gone? The Editor of the Bailiwick Express took the time to pick apart the torrid tale and explain why the ABO could be gone for good. ★ Support this podcast ★

With a recent Government report noting that eating disorders in children have more than tripled over the past four years, and charity Jersey Eating Disorders Support noting an increase in adults coming to them for help too, there seems to be a growing prevalence of the condition on the island. Express sits down with Jersey Eating Disorders Support's mother-and-daughter duo, Amy and Karen Dingle, to discuss both what living with an eating disorder entails, why there's been an increase, and what the island can do to tackle it... ★ Support this podcast ★

Cost and the unlikelihood of either legislative or political priority have been given as reasons not to introduce a full Freedom of Information Law, with Scrutiny instead suggesting a model that would expect - but not compel - the States to answer valid requests for public information. The Committee is recommending that the current Code on Access to Public Information is "strengthened" expediently at no added cost through an independent appeals process. We sat down with the Scrutiny President Yvonne Burford and Committee Member Simon Fairclough to debate those proposals... ★ Support this podcast ★

When 60 French fishing boats arrived in Jersey's harbour to protest their fishing rights it thrust the island onto the frontline of international politics, and right into the middle of the Battle of Brexit. With the Royal Navy keeping watch, the protest ended peacefully, and may now lead to closer communication between Jersey officials and the Normandy fishers. But what are the wider implications for Brexit, and could Jersey see a repeat of the events of this week which have sailed around the world? ★ Support this podcast ★

Gaz Papworth has followed up his award winning documentary man down, with UnMute, which continues to focus on mental health and the social issues that cause stress and unrest in our lives. We spoke to Gaz about the premiere this week, the people he spoke to and the future of his company, Element Films.... ★ Support this podcast ★

Many would be horrified at the idea of ripping up an entire forest just to get a bird on our plate for a roast dinner... but some types of fishing are the equivalent of doing this at sea. Express digs into the threat facing Jersey's waters and asks, what can we do about it? ★ Support this podcast ★

At some point in our lives many of us will need to claim benefits, and with the cost of living so high, many of us may also need to consider social housing or partial ownership schemes. Unfortunately these decisions can come with stigmas and stereotypes, most recently highlighted by a Bailiwick Express article regarding a landlord telling a prospective tenant to "f*** off and get a job". We asked the President of Employment and Social Security, Deputy Peter Roffey, to come in and bust some myths about social housing. He was joined by local businessman and non-voting member of ESS, Ross Le Brun. ★ Support this podcast ★

It's a school designed to look after some of Jersey's most vulnerable children, but it's been likened to a "containment facility". La Sente was established in 2018, in the wake of the Care Inquiry and a pledge from Government to 'put children first'. The name was chosen as it is Jèrriais for 'the path', reflecting the school's mission to help children with complex emotional, social and behavioural needs become their "best or true self." But guardians of the school's pupils, individuals involved in child welfare, and even the Children's Commissioner have told Express that such a description couldn't be further from the truth... ★ Support this podcast ★

The idea of a fixed link between Guernsey and Jersey is a question of when, not if, according to a Guernsey actuary. Martyn Dorey says an under water tunnel between the islands is inevitable, and with borrowing rates low, now is the perfect time to engage a £2.6 billion pound project, which he says will be completed in six years and become profitable in 30. So how will it work? What do private investors need, and how much public money would be needed for the feasibility study? We invited Mr Dorey into the studio, to drill down into his plans. ★ Support this podcast ★

Inappropriate comments. Playground porn. Upskirting. Assault. In the wake of Sarah Everard's death and the Everyone's Invited revelations, schoolgirls who previously suffered sexual harassment once brushed off as 'banter' or 'boys will be boys' are now speaking up - including in Jersey. Last month, JCG and Victoria College wrote to parents, telling them that some students' accounts were "difficult to hear". Express spoke to Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) about the root of these problems and how we begin tackling them... ★ Support this podcast ★

The St Peter Port Port Douzaine is the biggest Douzaine in the island, with some 9,000 plus parishioners and 20 members given the task of running the parish. This week saw the latest Remede voted in, the parish budget and all it entails. From the cost of keeping the lights on, to maintaining Cambridge park and a grant for school books. For the first time one constable decided to pick apart the budget online, showing us exactly where and how our intended rates are to be spent throughout the year. Zoe Lihou did this through a video she shared, to try and make the organisation more transparent and open, and we sat down with her to discuss exactly what this means... ★ Support this podcast ★

This wasn't betting as we know it. Jersey-based Football Index was a self-styled 'football stock market' where fans could grow 'investment portfolios' worth thousands by buying 'shares' in top players. Then suddenly the company collapsed last month, and their money disappeared. Regulatory referees in Jersey and the UK are now consulting the VAR screens to see if there was a foul. But some players are wondering if the refs were paying full attention to the match... ★ Support this podcast ★

The Bailiff has been an integral part of island life since the 13th century and Sir Richard Collas was our 89th sitting Bailiff until his retirement last year. He was kind enough to sit down with Express and discuss his time in the role, his road to the position and the many charities he is now involved with. ★ Support this podcast ★

Back in 2005 the States did a deal with global chemical giant 3m, to accept £2.6m, in return for agreeing never to take legal action about the pollutant PFOS which had got into the water supply from fire-fighting foam used at the airport. The details in that agreement were never made public. This week, Express was shown of copy of it. This podcast reveals the full story... ★ Support this podcast ★

Internet trolling. It's not something you'd expect from a sitting Deputy. Unfortunately this kind of behaviour has been making the headlines recently, after Deputy Chris Le Tisser was revealed to be trolling colleagues whilst sitting in the State's Chamber. Deputy Le Tisser was using the Twitter handle @radiosutch299 to post anonymously and his actions have forced him to self-refer to a code of conduct panel. In an unprecedented situation, he now faces being sacked. The story was broken following an investigation spearheaded by Express Guernsey's News Editor, Aaron Carpenter. He speaks on the role of social media in local politics, the potential for a sitting Deputy to be fired and why it's so important to hold our elected officials to a high standard. ★ Support this podcast ★

No woman should be afraid to walk home alone. This is the bottom line of a national campaign sparked by the death of Sarah Everard. The 33 year old went missing after walking home in London, one week later her body was found in Kent and a police officer was charged with her murder. The event was a catalyst for a national movement, raising awareness of abuse and sexual violence. A peaceful protest was held in Guernsey this week and the Bailiwick Podcast invited two of the organisers, Daisy Chappel and Gwen Le Blond, into the studio, to discuss the event and why the conversation needs to continue. ★ Support this podcast ★

Along with aerosol dispersal, self-isolation and the alcohol content of hand sanitiser, a Vaccine Passport is yet another concept which covid has forced us to get our heads round in the last 12 months. As well as the obvious health issues caused by the virus, it has also challenged us to reconsider how much we value our freedom.....and what we will accept being removed or suspended. This is a year when we have all accepted being ordered to stay at home for most of each day, wearing a face mask to go shopping and not seeing loved ones for months on end. Will we also accept being compelled to have a particular medical procedure - a vaccine - if we want to do something, like travel without needing to isolate? Exactly what is meant by a vaccine passport is still unclear, but already the government is under a lot of pressure to make travel easier - by removing some of the restrictions they have imposed - for those who have had the vaccine. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week a major new sports strategy is launched in Jersey, seeing £100m spent over 10 years to build a series of new sports and wellbeing centres - the Bailiwick Podcast talks to the man behind the plans to make us one of the most active populations in the world. ★ Support this podcast ★

Twelve months have passed since the Bailiwick first went into lockdown due to escalating cases of covid-19 in Guernsey. The Bailiwick Podcast invited the Director of Public Health and the former Health & Social Care President to reflect on a year like no other, full of fateful decisions, personal struggles and an enduring will to make it through. ★ Support this podcast ★