NEWS
Loganair is ISEP’s regional airline partner flying scholarship students from London to the Isle of Man
ISEP has benefited from a very generous donation in kind from Loganair over the past two years. Kayla Bobb and Luca Roberts have received complimentary flights from London to the Island, provided as a charitable donation by Loganair, the Island’s regional airline provider.
The donated flights have taken them between London and the Isle of Man at the start of school year and for the Christmas and Easter holidays.
ISEP’s chair, Tim Cullen, said “Having free flights is a big plus for us and we are immensely grateful to Loganair.”
He adds “A charity like ours depends on volunteers, goodwill, and generous material support, whether that be from individuals, foundations, or corporate partners. We need each of the cogs to work in harmony for our valuable work to continue.”
Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer of Loganair said: “We are always pleased to support young people and charities achieve their ambitions and if that means supporting our rural communities as well, even better.”
“Loganair is passionate about providing community lifeline services to the people of the Isle of Man and has an existing partnership with the King William’s College which the regional airline already supports by flying sports and student groups, as well as boarders to and from the Island.”
“I’d like to wish both Kayla and Luca the best of luck in their studies leading to their International Baccalaureate diplomas and I’m pleased Loganair is playing a part in their journey and experience on the Isle of Man.”
For more information about Loganair visit: Loganair | Fly To More UK Destinations Than Any Other Airline
Sir Ken Dodd’s Foundation is ISEP’s Most Generous Donor
Photo credit Ron Davies
The legacy of legendary comedian Sir Ken Dodd continues to transform lives, as his charitable foundation is now the leading donor to ISEP.
Sir Ken’s widow, Anne, Lady Dodd, made the first large grant to ISEP from the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation in 2022, covering almost half of the cost of a three-week study tour to the Island by 12 students from SVG, and giving the newly- formed Manx charity a crucial boost.
She said that ISEP was “exactly the sort of thing that Ken believed in and liked to support.” Lady Dodd added that she and Ken always loved coming to the Isle of Man, “Ken’s performances before wonderful audiences at the Gaiety and the Villa Marina were amongst our happiest memories.”
In the years since her husband’s death in 2018, Lady Dodd has devoted her life to philanthropy, from which many good causes in Britain have benefited. Following the initial donation, she has committed three further very generous grants to ISEP, effectively providing core funding for the scholarships for Kayla Bobb and Luca Roberts.
“For our charity, it is immensely satisfying that these donations were made possible by a man who earned the money to fund his foundation by working very hard for hundreds of evenings a year, making people laugh and bringing happiness to so many people through humour,” said ISEP Chair, Tim Cullen MBE.
While the Ken Dodd Foundation’s support has been transformative and has helped to inspire other generous donors, ISEP still needs more funding. “We want to give more young people life-changing opportunities, but we can’t do it alone,” said Cullen. “We are reaching out to new corporate and individual donors to continue ISEP’s mission,” adding, “Every donation helps build a brighter future.”
Devastation Strikes Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa Leaves Trail of Destruction
The three-week study visit to the IOM in August 2022 for 12 Vincentian students was designed to inspire hope for the youth of St Vincent after education there was severely disrupted by a volcanic eruption. Now, three years later, one of those students has been in the eye of a storm again as an undergraduate in Kingston Jamaica. His name is Niston A. Douglas, and he has sent a short account of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, along with photographs and a poem he has written. ISEP has a motto: The Art of the Possible. As he volunteers to help with the Island-wide recovery, he personifies that spirit.
“Just within a matter of minutes everything was destroyed”
Kingston Jamaica, October 26th, 2025 — In a matter of minutes, the island of Jamaica was ravaged by one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the Caribbean in decades. Hurricane Melissa, which rapidly intensified from a tropical depression to a Category 5 storm within days, made landfall on the island in the week of October 26th 2025, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Historically, Jamaica has faced devastating storms, but Melissa’s arrival marked a particularly severe event. The last hurricane of such magnitude was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, a Category 4 storm that remains etched in the nation’s memory. According to local residents, Melissa’s strength surpassed expectations, causing significant damage, especially in the western parishes.
A Personal Account of the Catastrophe
Amidst the chaos, many residents and students sought refuge in various locations. I, Niston A. Douglas, experienced it firsthand as I chose to remain in the Great Irvine Hall on the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus during Hurricane Melissa. I vividly recall the harrowing experience of the hurricane’s landfall when it touched down; it was very terrifying. However, while our capital city, Kingston, experienced less damage, the western regions like Hanover, Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny, and St. Elizabeth suffered extensive destruction.”
In those parishes, buildings, homes, churches, and schools were reduced to rubble. Many residents lost their possessions, livestock, and even their livelihoods, forcing families into shelters or abandoned houses. The storm’s ferocity disrupted lives and left a trail of despair across the island.
A Call for Compassion and Support
The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has seen many in need of urgent aid. Local authorities and communities are calling for assistance to help rebuild and support those hardest hit. As the Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
A group of students of the UWI Mona continue their efforts across the island, working tirelessly to aid in the recovery process. Their dedication exemplifies the resilience and compassion that define Jamaica in these challenging times.
As Jamaica begins the arduous process of recovery, the message remains clear: collective effort and kindness are essential to healing the wounds inflicted by Hurricane Melissa.
In the spirit of giving and unity, Vincentian poet, Niston A. Douglas, a student at the University of the West Indies, wrote a heartfelt poem emphasising the importance of compassion:
Aid for Jamaica: A Beacon in the Storm
In Jamaica’s land, where dreams take flight,
A storm has darkened their shining light.
Hurricane Melissa, fierce and grand,
Brought winds of sorrow across the land.
Yet in the shadows, hope still gleams,
A spirit strong, united dreams.
Hands extended, hearts aligned,
To lift the fallen, to heal the blind.
From mountain streams to sandy shore,
Aid pours in, and spirits soar.
With every gift, with every deed,
We sow the seeds of love and need.
Together we stand, through rain and wind,
A helping hand, a caring friend.
Jamaica’s soul, resilient and true,
Will rise anew, renewed and blue.
Niston Douglas