Closer to Home visits St Ouen

On Tuesday 25 February, the second of 12 Closer to Home roadshows will take place at St Ouen’s Parish Hall. Local residents of all ages are invited to drop in between 2pm and 7pm to access a range of free activities and services including, but not limited to:

Launched in 2019, Closer to Home is a partnership between the Government, the voluntary and community sector and the Parishes. The initiative is designed to make it easier for customers to access activities and services by bringing them together in community spaces around the Island.  

This month’s event brings together 28 organisations, all offering their activities and services free of charge. The full list of activities and services can be found on the 

Government of Jersey website.

Dr Rhona Reardon, Help2Quit Lead Nurse said: “Stopping smoking can be difficult, and we know that you will be more successful in quitting with support from the Stop Smoking Service. Information about the service will be available.”

Julie O’Grady, Senior Librarian, said: “We’ll be giving visitors the chance to try amazing experiences through virtual reality, including meeting a blue whale in its natural habitat, relaxing in a tropical forest, and even touring the inside of the human body. 

“We’re hoping to showcase the education and therapeutic benefits of virtual reality for people who have never tried it before.”

Representatives from Health and Community Services’ Modernisation Team will be at the event to gain feedback from the public about the planned intermediate care services set out under the proposed Jersey Care Model. 

The proposed services will support individuals to maintain their health and social care needs in their own homes whenever possible and will link to ongoing social care packages if required. A presentation about the proposed intermediate care services, which aim to support islanders’ with both their physical and mental health, will also be given at 2.15pm.

Under the proposed Care Model, some health and social care services would be moved into the community so that Islanders do not need to come into hospital enabling the hospital to concentrate on specialist and emergency care.

During 2020, Closer to Home is running a roadshow of 12 events, one per month, in each of the parishes. The next roadshow will take place at St Martin’s Parish Hall on 12 March between 2pm and 7pm. Further dates will be announced throughout the year.

For more information visit the Government of Jersey website.