Knowsley Online

Free afternoon Tea Dance

The Huyton Suite will be hosting a free afternoon tea dance to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Norman Roy and his Orchestra with Laura Lee on vocals will be taking centre stage at the celebration to help residents get into the swing of things.

There will also be ballroom dancing with music courtesy of Glynn Miller Dance Tunes. Afternoon tea is provided free of charge.

So don’t forget to book the date in your diaries, Thursday 7 June, 1 until 4pm.

Tickets are available from the Huyton Suite, at Poplar Bank, Huyton. You can also book your ticket in advance by ringing the Huyton Suite on 0151 443 3761.

Thank you to Merseyside financial services provider Parker Kelly for sponsoring the event.

Sinbad shares the limelight with parents.

Former Brookside cheeky chappy Sinbad was on his best behaviour at a presentation in Knowsley.

Actor Mickey Starke, who played the window cleaner in the Liverpool soap, was celebrating success with the parents of children with extra needs.

Pictured is Brookside’s Sinbad, actor Mickey Starke, celebrates with the parents of disabled children in Knowsley, following a course on how to get help

They’d “graduated” from a six week course on how to get the right support so their children can live ordinary lives.

The weekly sessions included advice about education, rights and the latest thinking on different disabilities.

Plan how you’re going to watch the Olympic Torch!

The Olympic Torch arrives in Knowsley this Friday, so its time to plan how you’re going to be a part of this historic event.

The iconic Flame will arrive at Knowsley Safari Park around 3pm for a welcoming ceremony.

The torch relay begins around 3.30pm at the Prescot end of Liverpool Road and the Flame is carried by the torch bearers through Huyton into Liverpool.

All of the free tickets to the event at the Safari Park have now gone but you can be part of the excitement by lining the route on Liverpool Road. 

Choose where you want to cheer on the torchbearers by logging onto www.knowsley.gov.uk to see a map of the route and suggested areas to watch.

There won’t be any road closures around the relay but there could be delays, so you should plan to get to Liverpool Road before 2pm. 

Don’t forget to bring water with you and dress according to the weather so you can enjoy the mounting excitement.

If you’re bringing small children with you, its even more important they’re dressed appropriately with protection from the sun or the rain and that you have drinks for them.

There may well be crowds and you might be waiting for a bit to see the Torch, but there’ll be stewards who can point out where the nearest toilets are and where there might be car parking.

It’s a moment in history and our chance to be part of it. Enjoy!

Housing staff hit the road to promote healthy living

Staff from Knowsley Housing Trust put on their running shoes once again to encourage people to get on the right road to health and wellbeing.

A group of 34 staff members from Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) took part in the Active Knowsley Challenge 5k run on Wednesday, May 23, to promote a healthy lifestyle.

They joined around 260 people who took part in the run, held on the grounds of Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall.

People could also take part in a 3k or 8k walk, and for youngsters there was a 2k junior challenge.

“We promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in many ways across KHT, so it is important we lead by example,” said Collette King, KHT’s Operational Director of Organisational Development.

“We have taken part in the Knowsley Active Challenge for the past few years and it is a great way for people of all ages and abilities to take a step towards a healthier lifestyle.”

Tae Kwon-Do Club's success at Cardiff

Halewood Tae Kwon-Do Club’s recent success at the 2012 Welsh Championships, held in Cardiff on 20th May. We had 15 team members taking part in the championships, and they came back with 13 trophies and medals – 8 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.

10-year-old Callum McDonald, who only achieved his black belt at the end of April, won two gold medals in black belt boys individual and team sparring events. Callum did especially well, as this was his first experience of black belt competition. Faye Clifton (10), another of Halewood’s new black belts, also struck gold in girls team sparring, while her 6-year-old brother Joe bagged a bronze in the blue belt boys team event.

Adam Butler (14) and his sister Lauren Butler (10) were a force to be reckoned with, as they both took gold in the red belt boys and girls sparring divisions; and Lauren also earned a bronze in team sparring.

Kirkby residents are set to benefit from free home energy saving improvements.

Knowsley Council is working in partnership with Wetherby Building Systems to help homeowners, landlords and private tenants improve their energy efficiency with external wall insulation, energy efficient boilers and loft insulation.

To be eligible for the scheme, homes need to be located in certain areas of Kirkby and meet certain criteria. Eligible homeowners have already been contacted and some have attended open days to find out more about the programme.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills said: “Helping our residents to become more energy efficient is really important to us and we already work closely with local communities and businesses to achieve this.

“The energy saving measures available as part of this particular scheme will also benefit residents by helping them to save money on their energy bills.

“As this scheme is restricted to certain areas, we are also working with utility companies to identify further opportunities to assist even more homeowners and tenants to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.”

Jumbo lighters seized in shop raid

Trading Standards officers in Knowsley have seized hundreds of jumbo lighters which pose a safety risk to consumers.

Officers removed more than 300 of the lighters from a shop in Kirkby Town Centre during a recent operation.

The products are a bigger version of standard lighters and were found in a range of colours. However, the lighters do not comply with European safety standards or general Product Safety Regulations.

Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services, Cllr Ken Keith, said: “It is good news for our residents that these unsafe products have been removed from sale.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of consumers in Knowsley at all times and, where products do not meet the required standards, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action and prevent them from being sold.

Pictured is  Councillor Ken Keith with the confiscated lighters.

Targeting underage sales

Trading Standards officers in Knowsley have carried out a test purchasing operation targeting underage sales.

The team visited a number of premises across the Huyton area in a joint operation with Merseyside Police, with underage volunteers attempting to buy tobacco or butane.

During the exercise, three retailers sold age-restricted products to the 15 year old volunteer:

• One shop sold a multi pack of butane to the volunteer and a large quantity of suspected counterfeit and unsafe goods were seized, including children’s lunch boxes and potentially unsafe inflatable toys and children’s chairs.
• One shop sold cigarettes to a 15 year old girl and a small quantity of drugs was also found on the premises.
• One shop sold cigarettes to a 15 year old girl.

Further enquiries are on-going by Knowsley Council’s trading standards officers in relation to the offences in all three premises.

Kindle Surprise for Knowsley pupils!

Following the success of last year’s event, Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning has again played host to a spelling bee event which saw pupils from local primary schools compete against each other and also against pupils from the centre’s partner school in Namibia.

Pupils from Blacklow Brow, Longview, St Columba’s, St Margaret Mary’s and Sylvester Primary Schools took part in the event which was broadcast live to Namibia via Skype.  The Namibian children opened the event with some traditional Namibian songs.

The winners, from St Margaret Mary’s Junior School, were presented with Kindle e-book readers which were donated by RM, the centre’s IT partner.

Damian Kenny, the centre’s Director of E-Learning said: “This was a fantastic event which showcases the achievements of our primary schools in the key area of literacy.  I would like to congratulate all the children who took part – they are a credit to their schools and the borough of Knowsley. 

A big thank you goes to everyone who has worked so hard to make this such a great success.  I would especially like to thank our friends from Namibia for helping to make this event so memorable and we hope it will help to further strengthen our relationship.”

Bring out the bunting for the Olympic Flame!

Local groups have been designing their own banners to cheer on the Olympic Torch bearers in Knowsley.

The flame arrives here around 3pm on Friday, June 1 and is taken into Knowsley Safari Park for a celebration event.

The Torch Relay then begins at the top of Liverpool Road about 3.30pm and continues down the road and out into Liverpool.

A workshop was held at Huyton Arts and Sports centre for learning to help local community groups design banners to line the route.
They were helped to create their own personalised bunting by professional artist Francisca Sierovogel.

“The excitement’s really building up, “said Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley’s cabinet member for Leisure, Community and Culture.

“We want to help people share in this historic event and this workshop was part of that.

“We’re hoping as many people as possible turn out on Liverpool Road to cheer on the torch bearers.”

There’s a map of the relay route and suggested spectator areas on the Knowsley Council website, www.knowsley.gov.uk

Local community groups at a workshop to create Olympic Flame banners at Huyton Arts and Sports centre for learning.

Help decide how to spend £50,000 in your area

A pot of £200,000 is available to improve communities and homes in Knowsley.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has made £50,000 available to each of its four area boards in Halewood, Huyton, Kirkby and Prescot/Whiston/Knowsley Village.

The money can be used to improve the environment or enhance the comfort and conditions of residents living in KHT homes.

KHT residents are being invited to put forward their ideas for where the money can be used to have the most impact.

Suggestions must be submitted by June 30 to be considered. They could include anything from security improvements and environmental works to energy efficiency schemes.

Ideas can be submitted via email – enquiries@k-h-t.org, by calling 0151 290 7231 or in writing to  Homes Team, Lakeview, Kings Business Park, Prescot, L34 1PJ. Please include your name, address and contact phone number.

All scheme ideas received will be assessed by the Area Board members and a decision made as to which should be carried out.

Even if a scheme is not selected this year it will be kept on record and will be re-considered as more Area Board funding is made available in future years. 

 

Teenage torchbearer is all heart.

Teenager with a heart Joe Shaw will be swapping lunch club sandwiches for the Olympic Flame in a couple of weeks.

The Knowsley 16 year old will be carrying the Torch down Liverpool Road as it’s taken through Huyton, out into Liverpool.

It’s his chance to share in an historic moment and a far cry from the selfless voluntary work he does week in, week out.

Joe, who’s from Kirkby, is doing a diploma in sports but finds time to help out at the charity shop and lunch club at St Mark’s church in Brook Hey Drive.

Get active with a party for the Diamond Jubilee.

Knowsley’s Activity for LIFE Programme is having a party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

The party is at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park in Longview Drive in Huyton on Friday June 1, from 3pm to 7pm. 

Tickets are £5 and include a glass of bucks fizz on arrival, a buffet, licensed bar, entertainment and a disco. Everyone is welcome. 

There’s a free return coach to Huyton from Kirkby, Halewood and Stockbridge leisure centres so there’s no need to worry about transport. 

You can pick up your tickets from the Activity for LIFE Team at any of Knowsley’s leisure centres.

 The Activity for LIFE programme offers support to local people who need help to do more exercise. 

You can join the programme for as little as £4 a month and there are sessions at all of Knowsley’s leisure centres. 

To find out more or to get information about Activity for LIFE call 443 3109 or email activityforlife@knowsley.gov.uk

Kick start your fitness

Do you like training outdoors and want to improve your fitness fast?

Why not try out a fitness boot camp at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park?

You can try out the all new boot camps for just £4 a go in June or you can sign up for a 12 session course for just £40.

The taster sessions are on Tuesdays, June 5 and 12 and Thursdays June 7 and 14, from 6pm until 7pm and Saturdays, June 9 and 16, from 10am until 11am.

The first full course starts in the week beginning June 18, 2012

For more information, call 0151 443 2200 or call into Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park in Longview Drive in Huyton to book your place

Drop in to hear about street lighting work in Kirkby Central

Knowsley Council is working with Tay Valley Lighting (TVL) to carry out a multi-million pound revamp of the borough’s street lighting.

Work is nearing completion in Prescot West and Halewood South and the team will then move into Kirkby Central next month, contributing to the wider £200 million regeneration of the town centre.

 Members of the community in the Kirkby Central area are invited to attend a drop-in event being held on Wednesday, 23 May at Southdene Community and Youth Centre on Broad Lane, Simonswood, Kirkby.

Representatives from both Knowsley Council and TVL will be on-hand to answer any questions residents may have regarding the work that will be taking place.

Call in any time between 6.30pm and 8.00pm to find out more about the scheme, along with details of the timescales and benefits it will bring to the area.

Councillor Norman Hogg is the new Mayor of Knowsley for 2012/13.

Cllr Hogg has represented Halewood West for the last 14 years and is a governor at Halewood Centre for Learning and Holy Family Junior School.

He received the chains of office from outgoing Mayor, Cllr Christina O’Hare, at Knowsley Council’s Annual General Meeting.

Cllr Hogg’s wife of 49 years, Wendy, is the Mayoress in 2012/13 and the Mayor’s chosen charities are:

HoneyRose Foundation - a charity which supports local people who are suffering from a terminal illness.

Friends of Knowsley Young Carers - a project to provide relief and support to young people in Knowsley who provide care to a family member.

A donation will also be made to Listening Ear Merseyside, which is a community-based charity which provides a free and confidential listening, counselling and bereavement support service.

Cllr Hogg said: “It is a great honour and privilege to serve my borough as Mayor this year.

“I’ve always been extremely proud of my Knowsley roots and Wendy and I are delighted to be able to represent the borough and see some of the fantastic things that are happening here.

“In my role as Mayor, I’m particularly pleased to have the opportunity to raise money for my chosen charities, which do a fantastic job in our communities.”

Crimestoppers offer up to £2k reward for information on the theft of plaque for boys killed in Cheshire

A reward of up to £2,000 is being offered by crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers for information on thieves who stole a metal plaque erected in the memory of two young boys killed in an IRA bomb attack in Warrington. 

The victims; 12-year old Tim Parry and three year old Johnathan Ball, died in 1993 after two bombs were detonated in the town centre in a blast that also injured 54 others. The two bombs exploded within a minute of each other on 20 March 1993.

The plaque is believed to have been stolen between 20 April and 5 May 2012. The scrap metal value of the stolen plaque, which forms part of the River of Life memorial on Bridge Street in Warrington, is thought to be worth around £30.

The plaque replicates a passage from the bible featuring a large rock in which water flows down a channel into a dome. Along the channel are words to commemorate the bombing and the boys who lost their lives. 

Foodbank charity opens new centre in Huyton

A charity that has helped to feed hundreds of people across Knowsley has opened a new centre in Huyton.

Knowsley Foodbank, run by Jubilee Church, has two distribution centres in Kirkby and has now opened a third centre at the Apostolic Church on Liverpool Road in Huyton, where people on low incomes or who are struggling to keep their cupboards stocked can pick up emergency food parcels.

Since opening in September last year the charity has helped to feed 900 people. It ultimately aims to run 10 centres across Knowsley that will put its vital support within one mile of the majority of Knowsley residents.

Knowsley MP George Howarth will be joining volunteers at Asda in Huyton on Saturday (May 19) to help the new centre get off the ground by collecting donated food.

Barry Cooper, from Knowsley Foodbank, said: “It is very sad that there has been such a big demand for the foodbank because it shows how many people are struggling to make ends meet.

“But it also shows how important this service is and that we need to make it accessible to as many people as possible across the whole of Knowsley.”

Why not try out for Prescot Cables under 18s youth team

Prescot Cables Youth under 18,s are presently holding trials on a Friday night at Huyton Arts & Sports Centre, Seel Rd , Huyton.

Time - 6.45pm to 8.00pm each week. All players must be 18 after the 31st August. Players leaving school or just finishing their 1st year A levels are welcome.

Prescot Youth play in the Northwest Youth Alliance league and therefore players should have played to a very good standard previously.

For further information Contact :- Kev Jones (Youth Manager) on - 07894306876