A new website offering information on all services available to residents in the south will be launched shortly.

The initiative springs from a series of focus group meetings, held in the south, where a number of local issues were raised.

At the top of the list was a need to have somewhere that could be easily accessed for local information.

The group believe that by filling this gap, community life in the south would benefit enormously.

In response to this need the Southern Community Partnership (SCP) was formed to come up with actions, ideas and solutions to address the issues and concerns raised by the general public at the focus group meetings. The partnership consists of representatives from local charities, commissioners, doctors’ surgeries and faith groups.

Thanks to sponsorship from the Manx Lottery Trust and the Elizabeth Clucas Trust, the partnership has employed a project administrator and a webmaster to create the Southern Signpost website. The Southern Signpost site will provide a directory service including creative activities, sporting clubs, statutory services or other specialist interests

Currently there is no one information hub specifically for the south of the island where people can find out what is available to them.

Services

If you don’t know what specific organisation it is you want to find you can spend a lot of time looking for it and even then you might not find it or any similar groups or services.

SCP will also be looking at ways to ensure all residents of the south of the island, from Santon southwards, are made aware of the service’s website so they can access it either directly or through someone on their behalf.

’We are very excited about this project,’ said Ruth Martin from Southern Signpost.

’It has been a long time coming and it will make a big difference to people’s lives by helping them to find and connect to the activity or service they need’

’We urge you to help us make it as comprehensive as possible, so please get in touch.’

The website is scheduled to go live in January.

Any organisation interested in being included is asked to contact Ruth Martin as soon as possible by email at [email protected]