Knowsley Online

Warm homes means healthy people in Knowsley

Residents in Knowsley have been receiving free thermometers in the post this week as part of the ‘Warm Homes Healthy People’ initiative to help vulnerable people who are affected by the cold.

As part of a national campaign, all residents aged 85 and over across the borough have received two free thermometers and information to see if they are eligible to apply for a grant which can go towards financial support to ensure residents and their homes are winter ready.

With the recommended temperature of a room being 21⁰C (70⁰F) throughout the day and 18⁰C (64⁰F) at night in the room you sleep, Knowsley Health and Wellbeing is working to identify those who are living in houses under these temperatures and offer advice and assistance to improve home heating and ensure they stay warm, especially in light of the recent cold snap which has hit the UK this week.

Sue Drew, Director of Public Health for Knowsley, said: “Severe winter weather can be a real threat to vulnerable and elderly people, which is why we are working to identify and help those people by offering assistance with anything from ensuing their boiler is working effectively or managing fuel bills to help with shopping or making a hot meal.

“If you are living in a home which is cold, damp or has an inefficient heating system or know somebody who is, why not get in touch today to see if you or they are eligible for help.”

For more information or to find out if you are eligible for a help and support please call 0151 443 2600.

 

Young apprentices train to give energy advice

Fifteen young people from across Merseyside have been given the chance to become apprentices with Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT).

They have joined KHT as part of a national pilot project and are being trained to go out into the community giving energy efficiency advice.

Pictured is Terry Jackson (L) and Anthony Jarvis (2^nd L) from KHT with apprentices.

The apprentices, aged from 18 to 26, are carrying out home energy audits to make residents aware of the Warm Homes Discount from energy providers and giving advice on how they can save energy in the home – and money on their bills.

NHS Warning as Icy Conditions Hit Region

 As Merseyside is hit by icy conditions and a high risk of heavy snow showers NHS Merseyside is asking people to only dial 999 or visit A&E if they have an immediately life-threatening illness or emergency health problem.

NHS services are currently seeing a marked increase in activity as temperatures continue to drop and conditions become hazardous. In a bid to keep A&E and the 999 number free for genuine medical emergencies NHS chiefs are reminding people about the range of services available to local people, many of which you don’t need an appointment to attend.

Trish Bennett, Director of Service Improvement & Executive Nurse, NHS Merseyside said: “It is vital to remember that the ambulance service and A & E should not be used as an alternative to your GP if your surgery is closed.  If you require medical assistance outside of normal surgery hours, Merseyside has a wide range of alternative health services available including GP out-of-hours services, walk-in centres and pharmacists who are qualified to offer advice and treat common, everyday illnesses.

Dance company brings tweets to life

An award winning dance company is coming to Knowsley with a smash- hit  take on the Age of the Tweet.

Protein dance will perform LOL (lots of love) at the Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park at Longview Drive in Huyton on Saturday March 31 at 7.30pm.

They will also be running workshops for local schools on Thursday March 29 and a matinee performance for them on Friday March 30 at 1.30pm.

It is a fast paced show of dance and talk where six dancers place the world of emailing, texts and tweets before the audience.

Protein’s creator Luca Silvestrini says the show is “about the search for love and companionship in a vastly better connected but increasingly isolated global society”.

Social media-type images are played on three giant screen behind the dancers and  a keyboard-like tapping sound fills the show’s score.

It is aimed at an audience over the age of 12, and there will be a chance to talk to the dancers at the end.

“Protein is one of the top dance companies in the country,” said Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley’s cabinet member for Leisure, Community and Culture.

“Their work has humour but also some sadness, communicated through amazing dance.

“This is a show for everyone, not just dance fans. Let’s face it, we’re all up to our necks in the world of texts and tweets so to see that brought to life in dance will be amazing.”

For more information about the workshops and the matinee performance call 0151 443 5619.

Tickets for the Saturday show are £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for young people and concessions.

To book or for information call the ticket hotline on 0844 8000 400 or log onto www.knowsley.gov.uk/tickets.

You can also call into the leisure and culture park or Kirkby and Halewood leisure centres.

 

Fundraising by youth theatre

A drama group for young people in Huyton is running a fundraising event to raise money for their latest production.

Huyton Youth Theatre is staging a play about alcohol abuse and the effects it can have, particularly on a family.

The young people in the group are really committed and are determined the production, expected to be called, “What happens when”, will be their best yet.

They understand there are pressures on council funding so have decided to raise money themselves.

On Friday, February 10, they are staging a fundraising night at The Old School House in St Johns Road in Huyton, L36 0UX, from 7pm.
 
The entrance fee is just £1.50 and there will be games of Play Your Cards Right with prizes, a raffle with lots of goodies including tickets to events, music, karaoke and a sneaky preview of the play.

For more information, call Leanne Jones on 0151 443 5618 or email leanne.jones@knowsley.gov.uk

E.ON and Knowsley Council announce sustainable energy partnership

 Knowsley Council has this week agreed to form a low carbon partnership with energy company E.ON, which will see them work together to promote low carbon energy solutions for local homes and businesses.

Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, and Michael Woodhead, Managing Director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy business, signed the pioneering agreement between Knowsley Council and E.ON which will see them work together to improve energy efficiency and renewable technology as well as promoting new skills and job opportunities in the area.

KHT supports National Apprenticeship Week

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) is supporting National Apprentice Week to promote to businesses the benefits of helping young people take their first steps into a career.

KHT is a great supporter of apprentices locally, and has now welcomed a new group of apprentices who will be learning new skills and working towards NVQ qualifications.

Emma O’Hara, 16, has joined as an Affordable Warmth Assistant, Amy Kingsley, 20, will be working as a Tenancy Sustainability Officer, Anu Khanna, 18, is working as a Supported Living Worker and Mark Meadows, 21 as a Rents Officer.

In addition, 15 new apprentices have joined KHT as part of a project with Elmfield Training and EON to help give energy efficiency advice to communities and help people access funds in the Affordable Warmth Programme.

Kirkby consultation findings published

Knowsley Council has now published the findings from the recent public consultation in Kirkby.

More than 900 residents took part, over a 5 week period (19^th December 2011 to 20^th January 2012), and shared their views on public services and future council investment into the town.

The findings, including a full breakdown of all the comments made, can be found on www.knowsley.gov.uk . A summary of responses is also displayed in public buildings in Kirkby.  

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy & Skills commented:

“In the current climate it is a really positive thing to be in a position where we are actively consulting with the community on investment into their area.

“We wanted to gain as many views as possible, particularly from people actually using the current town centre and by holding the consultation over the Christmas period – when the town was at its busiest – we were able to do just that.

KHT directors get hands on at Foodbank charity

Housing directors have been helping pack food parcels that will feed families struggling to make ends meet.

Directors from Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT), including Chief Executive Bob Taylor, volunteered to help out at Knowsley Foodbank, a charity that provides food parcels for households on low incomes.

Executive Director of Business Services Jason Ridley, Ian Thomson, Executive Director of Asset Management, Social Responsibility Team Leader Kerry Cullen and Affordable Warmth Assistant Emma O’Hara also joined Barry Cooper and Peter Mitchell from the Foodbank for the afternoon.

Good news for kick-start programme

One hundred young people have started the New Year in new jobs thanks to an apprenticeship programme designed to kick-start careers.

The young people, all aged 16-24, have taken up posts in industries as varied as engineering, photography and catering following a rigorous six month application process through the Merseyside Apprenticeship Programme.

Among those starting 2012 in a new workplace is 19 year old Michael Stapleton from Kirkby. Michael is an Apprentice Toolmaker with AEB Precision, “I was so pleased to get this apprenticeship. I’ve been looking for a job for 15 months and now I’ll be trained up in toolmaking, studying towards an NVQ and earning a good wage too”.

And for the employers who have taken on apprentices, the programme has been a positive experience. “We’ve been involved with the apprentice programme for the last three years and taken on a new apprentice each year,” said Gavin Butterworth from Butterworth Barlow Chartered Accountants. “The quality of candidates is really high and the programme makes it stress-free for us to recruit.”

Half term football training sessions for just a pound.

Looking for something for the kids to do over half term?

There are football training sessions for boys and girls in Halewood every day from Wednesday to Friday, February 15 to 17.

They are for children aged 6 to 16 and will be held on the outdoor pitches at Arncliffe Sports and Social Centre in Arncliffe Road from11am to 2pm.

The sessions are part of Knowsley Council’s Golden Sports programme which gives people a chance to try out a series of Olympic sports for free or just £1.

In March, the Golden Sport will be Track and Field Athletics for juniors aged between 8 and 16.

The sessions will be held at Kirkby Sports College athletics track on Thursdays March 15, 22 and 29, from 5.30pm until 6.45pm. This time the sessions are free.

There will be more taster sessions in other sports in the coming months.

For more information on the Golden Sports programme contact Peter Green on 0151 443 2120.

Double award win for Knowsley

Knowsley Health & Wellbeing has been celebrating this week after scooping two national awards for its commitment to improving patient experience.

The Patient Experience Network (PEN) Awards were presented to Knowsley Health & Wellbeing for its ‘No Decision About Me, Without Me’ model, which has been developed by involving patients and the public in improving community cardiovascular disease (CVD) services in the borough.

The PEN Awards are the first and only awards programme to recognise, share and celebrate the best practice in patient experience across all aspects of healthcare.

Thanks to the involvement of patients in developing this model, Knowsley Health & Wellbeing has been able to talk to patients to understand their views on the services and make significant changes. These changes have resulted in great improvements over the two years since its launch.

Bringing back the time

Kirkby Library are inviting residents to join them on a journey back in time to the 19^th Century.

From unique footage of a Prescot Sunday School Procession in 1927, to a look at the borough of Knowsley in the 1980s, the library will be showing over two hours of film footage in a special screening on Tuesday 7 February.

Local historians will also be treated to archive footage of Liverpool during the interwar years, post-war plans for the regeneration of the city, as well as scenes from Liverpool’s dockside in the 1800s.

Knowsley Library Service has worked with Manchester Metropolitan University’s North West Film Archive to bring residents this historic footage. Tickets for the screening are just £2 and can be purchased from Kirkby Library.

Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture, said,

“I’m delighted to see Kirkby Library hosting this fantastic evening that is a must for all history enthusiasts.

“The borough of Knowsley and the city of Liverpool have a rich heritage and culture, and it will be interesting to see footage that captures this unique history.”

If you are interested in local heritage, Knowsley Library Service has a wide range of resources to help you in your journey to discover the past. Census returns forms, parish registers and local newspapers are just some of the resources available to local residents. For more information, ring the Community history team on 443 4365.

Knowsley women urged to join the Fight by entereing 'Race for Life 2012'

Knowsley  women are being urged to join the fight against all cancers by entering Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, which opens today (Tuesday, January 17).

Event organisers are issuing the rallying cry ‘it’s all of us versus cancer’ to mums, daughters, sisters, grandmas and friends, encouraging them to sign up as soon as possible.

Women and girls of all ages, shapes and sizes are needed to join forces for the event which will take place at Knowsley Hall on Wednesday, July 11th.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in partnership with Tesco is an amazing women-only series of events which raises millions of pounds every year for life-saving research into 200 types of cancer – helping men, women and children across the North West survive.

Amnesty launched to bring forward tenancy frauds

Tenants committing tenancy fraud will be able to hand in the keys to their properties without risk of prosecution in a month-long amnesty.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) is running the amnesty throughout February with Knowsley Council to crack down on tenancy fraud and encourage those responsible to come forward.

“Tenancy fraud takes away homes from those on waiting lists who desperately need them,” said Terry Bonner, KHT’s Operational Director of Landlord Services.

“We want to appeal to those who are committing fraud to do the right thing now, rather than risk being caught and feeling the full consequences later on.”

Want to make a difference to the young people of Knowsley?

Are you aged 11 to 18? Would you like to represent the views of other young people in the borough and influence decision makers? 

If yes, why not stand for election in the Knowsley UK Youth Parliament Elections 2012?

Knowsley has one member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) and one Deputy (DMYP) who are elected by young people in Knowsley to represent young people at the UK Youth Parliament.

MYP’s voices are heard by some of the most important politicians and decision makers in the country.

If you would like to stand contact Sean Donnelly in the council’s Rights and Participation team on 0151 443 3254 or sean.donnelly@knowsley.gov.uk.

The closing date for nominations to stand for election is Friday 17 February.

The Big Event

Thousands of jobs will be available at a unique event to help the region’s young people find work.

The Big Event is a one of a kind recruitment fair organised by the Liverpool City Region’s six local authorities to tackle rising youth unemployment. It will bring together hundreds of employers for one day only, to promote their current job vacancies.

In April 2011 the Liverpool City Region’s business-led Employment and Skills Board called for a concerted effort by businesses in the region to create 10,000 apprenticeships for young people. The Big Event represents a big push by local authorities and local businesses to meet this ambitious target.

More than 220 companies will have thousands of jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities, in construction, hospitality, retail and more, available for 16-24 year olds who are looking for work.

World class orchestra at new culture centre in Knowsley

The award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is upping sticks and coming to Knowsley.

The world famous orchestra is performing a concert of hit songs from West End musicals at the new Knowsley Leisure and Cultural Park on Friday February 24, at 7.30pm.

“A Touch of the West End” features hits from shows, including Les Miserables, Cats, Evita, Chicago and Phantom of the Opera.

The concert is conducted by Anthony Gabriele with singers Rachel Barrel, Annalisa Rossi, Glyn Kerslake and Ian MacLarnon.

It is the first time the orchestra has played at the culture park in Longview Drive in Huyton which has facilities for an 850 seat performance space.

Home care social enterprise celebrates successful first year

A social enterprise offering home care services has created 33 jobs in Knowsley in its first 12 months.

Care and Share Associates (CASA) Knowsley set up in Huyton last year and in that time has boosted jobs and training while providing vital care services that allow vulnerable, elderly or disabled people to remain in their homes.

It now serves 131 people, delivering 1,222 hours of support each week. The business, a social enterprise that puts profits back into improving services and training, worked with numerous partners including Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) as well as the PCT and Knowsley Works to set up in the area with money from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF).

Louise Harris, Head of Social Responsibility at KHT, said: “Social enterprise is something we are passionate about supporting and growing in Knowsley. “It is a fantastic way of putting more control and choice over services in the hands of the local community, and creating much needed jobs and training.”

Marathon effort for cancer research.

Knowsley Council boss Andrew McCormick is aiming to raise £12,000 by running 12 marathons in 12 months during 2012. 

Andrew, service director for the Directorate of Wellbeing Services, is a keen runner and a regular marathon man. 

He is raising the money for research into prostate cancer. His father died from the condition last year. 

His first marathon was in January in Gloucester. That will be followed by Cambridge in March, Manchester in April and Belfast and Edinburgh in May. 

The events in June and July aren’t confirmed yet but he is planning to run the 26 miles of a marathon on a treadmill at the Knowsley Flower Show in August. 

He will run in Yorkshire in September, Liverpool and Dublin in October and possibly New York in November. 

Andrew said: “This is my Olympic effort for 2012. I ran three marathons in six weeks a few years ago, so this time I’ve upped my game. 

“My father died from a series of illnesses including prostate cancer and I wanted to do something to help others in the same situation.” 

If you’d like to sponsor Andrew in his Olympic effort go to his Just Giving website page at www.justgiving.com/Andy-McCormick