27/02/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Another rise in unemployment in Jersey but with record levels are

our Governments doing enough to get people back to work? Plus Guernsey

takes the battle against obesity to the supermarkets. And the bobbies

to beat - The UK police who are coming over in force to run the

Jersey marathon. Once again unemployment in Jersey has risen to

a new high. At the end of last month 1,700 people were officially

actively seeking work. And the number of NEW people registering

with the States last month was the highest to date. Almost one in five

people looking for a job have been unemployed for more than a year.

And nearly one in three jobs seekers are under 25. The

Government say it's their number one priority but what are they

really doing about it? And are they achieving anything when the

unemployment statistic keeps rising. Rachel Royce reports. After seven

months of looking for work, Daniel McCormack has landed a job. He's

starting as a hall porter at the Palme Dor in St Helier after taking

part in a states scheme to help young people find work in the

hosptiality industry. There I felt the have not really given the young

ones at chance because they would rather hire people who have got

experience. That is what I was binding. -- binding full -- finding.

He's not the first person to land a job this way - the hotels

receptionist spent a month on a return to work scheme. The

unemployment figures are getting worse but ironically the latest

figures have risen partly as a result of people registering for

the governments schemes. More people are registering because they

see the schemes we are running and want to take the jobs that were

being offered. They are still vacancies in the Jersey that some

employers say they are struggling to fill. Some say it is because of

an island economy not having enough people to fill every job. Others

say it is because people are too fussy. What's the best way to help

unemployed people get back into work? Well in Guernsey the States

are bringing in the experts. Social Security has teamed up with local

recruitment firm, Personnel Appointments and Advantage HR to

offer more support for job seekers. With the number of people out of

work also on the up in recent months, it's hoped it will help

reverse that trend. They will be working with jobseeker's to help

match them to vacancies. They will also be working with employers and

in some cases setting in on interviews to give feedback to the

jobseeker's to improve their chances next time around. Well what

do you think? Are you an employee looking for work and finding it

difficult? Or are you an employer searching for staff and having no

luck? Well we'd like to hear from you - just get in touch with us at

[email protected] or search for us on facebook and twitter - at bbc ci

news - and leave your comments. Meanwhile money left unspent by

government departments in Jersey will be used to help islanders find

work. �40 Million was left at the end of last year. The cash will

also be spent on bowel cancer screening and improvements to

states housing - like here at Le Marais and Le Squez. Are

supermarkets doing enough to help tackle the growing problem of

obesity? Well Guernsey's Director of Public Health says it's not been

plain sailing getting all the big stores on board. And he's calling

on the private sector to do more. Penny Elderfield reports. Whether

it be because of too many fatty foods or because we're less active.

The stats show we're getting heavier. With 20% of people in

Guernsey now thought to be obese. The problem is the States budget

for tackling the problem isn't growing. So is more outside help

the answer? There is plenty that the private sector can do,

retailers and supermarkets should work with the State sector to try

to encourage people to eat healthily. One strategy we had was

successful with some retailers but other retailers such as large

supermarkets were not interested at all in working with us which was

disappointing. So what more could stores do to help make customers

make the right choices? The Co-op says "It's have been working with

the States and specifically the Health Promotion unit in Guernsey

for a few years now. It is an excellent ongoing relationship that

we would like to develop further in the future." Marks and Spencers

says it also works with the States to put on various sporting events,

but says it would be keen to explore more options too. And

Waitrose says: it's committed to helping our customers lead a

And worked closely with the Health Promotion Unit during 'Weight Wise

Week'. Ssupplying stock to help spread the message of a good

balanced diet. So it seems the stores are willing. So perhaps

there is scope for more help in future to get that message out

there. Because if the Island doesn't... Obesity is a problem

that could cost a lot more to fix further down the line. A Jersey

politician has changed his proposal to scrap free health prescriptions,

after objections from islanders. Deputy Geoff Southern said charging

all islanders for the service could provide more health support for

less well-off people. But he's now re-written it to exclude those aged

65 or more, and those suffering from chronic illnesses. It is due

to be debated by the States in April. It is still worthwhile and

still allows free access to D P's. -- GPs. You're watching the BBC in

the Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight with Justin and Victoria.

The former owner of an animal sanctuary speaks out after she ran

out of money and had to re-home all her animals. Guernsey FC remains at

the top Combined Counties League division 1 after a 2-1 win over

London side South Kilburn. Fog put the match in doubt and the kick off

was pushed back to 7pm. Chris Mauger scored the winning goal 3

minutes from time. Cricket - and Guernsey offspinner Gary Rich is

stepping down from the island cricket squad. The 47-year-old

announced his retirement just ahead of Guernsey's game against the

Cayman Islands in Singapore yesterday. Guernsey were victorious

by a single run, and took third place as a result. Police Officers

from the UK are coming over for the Jersey Marathon in October. It's

not to police the event but to compete. Every year the force have

an inter force competition within an arranged marathon. And were

persuaded by Jersey's very own chief of police to come here.

Here's Emma Chambers. When he's not in charge of Jersey's police force

Mike Bowron runs. He's so passionate about it he runs to work

every day so it won't surprise you he's not shy of a marathon or two.

Now he's persuaded the UK police force to hold their inter-force

marathon in Jersey. I am chair man of the British police athletics

session. We always hold a force marathon and this year it will be

on Jersey. The police force competitions have been going on now

for over 30 years. They've competed in marathons all over the UK - but

it'll be the first time they've come to the Channel Islands. We are

going to have a real quality of runners we have never had in the

Jersey marathon before. I am hoping we may be able to produce the

winner of both the men's and women's. I am hoping to get some

really good athletes over. So the race is on - well it will be on

Sunday 7th October for all those competing in this year's Jersey

Marathon. Whether it's for fun or for a personal challenge - there's

still plenty of time to enter. There could more travel delays to

and from the Channel Islands over the next couple of days because of

the weather. This was St Aubin in Jersey - taken from St Helier this

evening as the mist set in. But as well as causing many flights to be

cancelled, last week's fog delayed about 160,000 items of mail. And

Cineworld in Jersey had to cancel some screenings of new films which

they were unable to fly into the island. Jersey's Met Office is

warning the fog and low cloud may return, though they don't expect

flights to be as heavily affected as last week. The man in the know

who can tell us what is going on is here. After last week's visibility

problems sadly the mist and fog is back again. Overnight tonight and

early tomorrow morning there will be a lot of cloud with nest around

the coasts and a hill fog. If you are travelling, particularly on

flights between Jersey and Guernsey there is a possibility of

visibility issues tomorrow morning. High pressure dominates the weather

for this week. This weather front will introduce a bit more moisture

into the area overnight. Tomorrow deal low-pressure will remain the

year. On Wednesday we will get south-easterly winds which is dry

air year so the potential of more breaks in the cloud and an easing

of the mist and fog. Tomorrow it will be misty and the day. It may

well brighten up a little bit into the afternoon. The maximum

temperature will be around 11 degrees. The coastal waters

forecast is moderate to poor would Wednesday is brighter and a boat

there will be some morning mist it will left and we should see some

sunny spells. -- it will left. By Thursday the will cloud will return

and the mist might again caused some problems by the end of the