Brushwood and Millvina Care Homes to remain open

2 Liverpool Care Homes which were set to close are to remain open and will be transferred to another operator. An agreement has now been reached with provider Bloomcare which means that Brushwood Care Home, in Speke and Millvina Care Home, in Everton, will both remain open. In 2020, sadly Shaw Healthcare gave notice that they wished to cease as provider as it was no longer viable, largely due to Covid causing a weak fill rate resulting in low bed occupancy. Then in September 2020, an interim agreement was reached which meant that Shaw Healthcare would be able to keep the two homes open until the spring, while talks took place to find another operator. Bloomcare is a locally based care operator with experience of providing good quality dementia, nursing and residential care across Liverpool City Region and the North West. Staff will transfer to the new operator on their current terms and conditions, and existing residents will have their care protected with no top up fees. A virtual introduction meeting for relatives of residents will take place next week.

Acting Mayor, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "I know there was a huge amount of concern from residents and relatives about the proposed closure of the homes, and this news will come as a great relief to them. We have been working hard behind the scenes over the last few months to identify a new operator committed to the long term future of both sites and we are delighted to have reached an agreement with Bloomcare. For residents, this provides certainty that they can stay in the homes with the same care. For staff, it means they will continue to be employed on the same terms and conditions."

Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Paul Brant, added:- "We listened to the concerns of relatives and acted on it, so I am delighted that we have had success in being able to find a new organisation to take on these valued facilities in Everton and Speke. It is also welcome news that they continue to operate in the guise that they were specifically built for; providing quality care for some of our most vulnerable residents."

Audrey Tan, Operations Director at Bloomcare, also commented:- "We are thrilled to be able to incorporate the operation of Millvina and Brushwood into our company vision of providing excellence in dementia care across the North West. It is our pleasure to be able to provide the continuity of care needed during these challenging times. We are honoured for the opportunity to steward Brushwood and Millvina, and we look forward to building on the existing relationships within the community and welcoming all staff and residents to our Bloomcare family."

Pride for Mobile Mini team after ₤20,000 of donations distributed

STAFF at a leading storage container provider are bursting with pride following the success of its nationwide charity pledge, which supported local foodbanks. Mobile Mini, which has a branch in Liverpool, raised approximately ₤20,000 for foodbanks across its nationwide network of branches through physical donations and a JustGiving page as part of its Mobile Mini Meals campaign. The firm launched the charity pledge in November to collect donations such as food, toiletries and other essential items, as well as monetary contributions, which have now been shared with those in need. A 20ft container was filled with items at each of the firm's 16 UK branches and head office, with staff, customers and the wider community contributing to the cause. Through its JustGiving page, Mobile Mini team members, customers and the public also raised over ₤5,000 to be distributed evenly between each branch's local foodbank. Andrew Thompson, Mobile Mini's Managing Director, said:- "We wanted to support the communities we work in, and with foodbanks seeing an unprecedented rise this Winter, Mobile Mini Meals was the perfect way to do so. The team, our customers, and the public really got behind the initiative, with a fantastic number of items dropped off at our branches. We've overwhelmed with the support we were given, especially given the circumstances of such a difficult year."

To drum up support for the pledge, Mobile Mini contacted its customers, reached out to the community via social media and spread the word through local news outlets. Nicola Hawkes, South Liverpool Foodbank coordinator, said:- "It was lovely to have the support from Mobile Mini. We receive a lot of donations over the Christmas period so Mobile Mini has kindly stored its items at the branch for us to collect when we start to run low. Not only that, but the team have also sorted donations into types to help us organise them when we pick them up. We were surprised by how much was collected, and all of the items are essentials that we'll need. The donation will definitely make a big difference."

Andrew added:- "As a business, it's so important that we support such well deserving causes that work so tirelessly for the communities they operate in. On behalf of Mobile Mini UK, I want to say a huge thank you to our team, our customers and all those who supported this initiative. With your help, we've been able to make a difference to the communities we serve across the UK."

Looking ahead to 2021, Mobile Mini has renewed its annual company support for the Lighthouse Club, which provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families and is a cause close to the firm's heart. For more information about Mobile Mini and its branch network, visit:- MobileMini.Co.UK.