Sefton's Mayor's heartfelt:- "thank you" to residents across the Borough

THE Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burns, has shared a heartfelt:- "thank you" to residents across the Borough who have already supported this year's toy appeal. And she is reminding people that there is still time to get involved before Christmas with festive cheer needed more than ever this year. Since launching the appeal in November, more than ₤1,200 has been donated via Sefton's Crowd Funding platform and hundreds of gifts have been delivered to Bootle Town Hall. It is the 1st time the Mayor's appeal has used Crowd Funding for the annual gift event, and donations surpassed the target just 48 hours after it was launched. The Crowd Funding has now closed and volunteers from the Council will use the funds to buy gifts from some local businesses that will be distributed to more than 500 families by Christmas Day. New and unwrapped toys, gift vouchers, toiletries, pyjamas and stocking fillers for all ages, are still needed and welcomed as part of the appeal. Items can be donated in the following ways:-

Purchased online and sent to the following delivery address:-

►  Sefton Mayor's Christmas Toy Appeal, Town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle L20 7AE.

►  Dropped off at the in store donation point, at Asda Central 12, Southport.

►  Dropped off at libraries and leisure centres which re-opened, on 2 December 2020, opening hours may be varied so people should check before making a drop off.

►  People need to drop off their donations by Tuesday, 22 December 2020, in time for them to be sent out for Christmas Day.

Cllr Burns said:- "I have been absolutely delighted by the support we've already received from people across the Borough for this year's toy appeal. For the very 1st time we set up a Crowd Funding page for the appeal, and I couldn't quite believe that we reached our target after less than 2 days. It just goes to show how generous and kind our residents are, thinking of others this Christmas. I would also like to say a special thank you to Crosby resident Jack who ran a ˝ marathon raising an incredible ₤1,000, and a number of community groups who have gone above and beyond to support my appeal this year."

Jack Antonio, aged 23, ran a ˝ marathon around Crosby in November and raised ₤1,000 which he used to buy toys and gifts that he has generously donated to the appeal.

Jack was due to take part in an event earlier in the year to fundraise for the Mayor's Christmas Toy Appeal. Despite the event being cancelled due to the ongoing health Pandemic, he decided still to complete his run locally and support families across the Borough this Christmas.

Community groups including Attitude Dance (Bootle) and Marina Sands JFC (Crosby) as well as Sefton Schools and Parish Councils have been collecting gifts to give back to their communities. There's also been a huge amount of support from local businesses, Sefton Council employees, elected members and people from all wards across the Borough.

Cllr Burns added:- "It's just so incredible to think that people are putting others 1st this festive season, ensuring that children across Sefton have a gift to open on Christmas Day. However, we're still looking for new and unwrapped gifts as there are hundreds of families that we need to support more than ever this year. Gifts need to be donated by no later than Tuesday, 22 December 2020, with a small gift could go a long way to making this year special for families across Sefton."

For further information on the Mayor's Christmas Toy Appeal call or text the Mayor's Office:- 07837863075 or visit:- Sefton.Gov.UK/ToyAppeal.

A new scheme is supporting more than 100 long-term unemployed people in the Liverpool City Region into the workplace, by providing them with computer equipment, access to the internet, and digital skills training. This innovative scheme is delivered by Pathways to Work and has been developed in partnership between Jobcentre Plus and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Households into Work programme, with funding from DWP's Flexible Support Fund. Eligible participants, including:- more than 70 Households into Work clients so far, receive a desktop computer or laptop, free internet access for 2 months, along with a computer desk and chair set up for them in their home. Participants in the scheme, which runs until March next year, have to do a Level One course in Internet Safety for IT Users and upon completion of an assessment they are allowed to keep all of the equipment they have been given. The assessment is normally taken in a classroom, but due to the Covid19 Pandemic and Lockdown, Pathways to Work is radically changing the way they conduct the 20 minute multiple choice assessment. An 18 seater bus has been converted so that trainers can travel to the homes of people who are unable to come to them, giving the option to take the assessment on board.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "When I was elected I pledged to drive towards making the City Region the most digitally inclusive place in the UK. Our Households into Work programme has worked with more than 1600 people across the last three years, helping them overcome the barriers that prevent them from entering the work place. The Pandemic has shown us even more strongly just how essential technology is in connecting us to work, learn and access entertainment. A lack of digital skills and IT equipment is a major barrier holding talented people back, especially now when we are more reliant than ever on technology to access services and job opportunities, as well as keeping in touch with each other. That's why during the 1st Lockdown we funded a number of schemes tackling digital exclusion through LCR Cares and that's why we are backing this scheme now."

Joe Anderson Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills at the Combined Authority and Mayor of Liverpool said:- "Giving people access to equipment and digital skills has never been more important, particularly given the impact of Coronavirus on our communities. It helps people to keep working their way through courses, stay in touch with learning providers, search for jobs and gain skills that will be crucial in the future. So much has had to be put on hold this year and it's essential these opportunities can be taken up, allowing eligible Households into Work and Job Centre Plus clients to move back towards employment."

Peter Jamieson, Group Director for the North West and North Central Region at the Department for Work and Pensions said:- "Our partnership with Pathways to Work and the LCR Households into Work programme has provided a lifeline for people who are socially excluded during the Pandemic due to not having the skills and equipment to get online. Many training and job search activities have moved online. So if you do not have access to a device and WIFI, along with digital skills, your chances of getting a job are much smaller. We are delighted that Jobcentre Plus was able to fund this project through our Flexible Support Fund and are so pleased to hear the difference it has made to so many people."

Jamie Bills from Pathways into Work has overseen the conversion of the bus into a mobile learning unit. He said:- "We have seen the landscape of teaching and delivery change dramatically over the last 6 months. We have found it imperative to have a joined up tactical approach to combat digital exclusion across the Region. Pathways to Work is working closely with the Households to Work team at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and DWP to collectively make a measurable difference."

Households into Work has supported more than 1600 people over the last 3 years. With a team of 25 advocates based in all 6 Liverpool City Region Local Authority areas, they work with disenfranchised, long term unemployed people who, because of their circumstances, have difficulty finding and sustaining employment.  Lucy from Knowsley took her Level 1 assessment on the bus today. She said:- "The computer is allowing me to complete online courses which are going to help me back into the workplace and to be able to have the bus come practically to your door to be able to take the assessment in a Covid safe setting is brilliant. It's really made a difference to me."

Pathways to Work is running until March 2021. For more information on the Households into Work programme or to find out how you can be referred go to:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK.

THE phased transition of Liverpool's Covid Testing Sites from the military to civilian staff is getting under way. Around 2,000 troops have facilitated 200,000 Covid tests at almost 50 Testing Centres in the City over the last month, with around a third of the population getting tested. The Covid infection rate in the City has reduced from 680 per 100,000 people to under 100 in the space of around 6 weeks. It means Liverpool and the wider City Region became the 1st area in the country to move down from Tier 3 to Tier 2 when Lockdown ended, enabling many businesses to reopen for the 1st time in months. Members of 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, have been training around 140 civilian staff in the use of PPE, administering lateral flow tests and processing results to allow for a smooth transition to a community testing programme.

Director of Public Health, Matthew Ashton, said:- "We are hugely grateful to the Army for their support in setting up and staffing Testing Centres across the City over the last month, and they will remain with us for the transition period. Their unfailing professionalism has shone through every single day, and I have received many compliments about how polite and helpful they have been to people visiting the Test Centres. We simply could not have done this at such scale and speed without their support, and they should be really proud of the role they have played in helping Liverpool and the wider City Region come out of the Lockdown in a lower Tier than we entered it. We are asking people without symptoms to continue using the remaining centres to get tested and build it in to their routine before they do things such as going shopping, visiting the theatre, a football match, the hairdressers, the cinema, a night out and so on. The more people who get tested, the more chance we have of continuing the decline in positive cases we have seen in recent weeks, and getting life going again in the City up to Christmas and beyond."

They will be operating a reduced number of centres across the City which will concentrate on what is known as SMART community testing (Systematic Meaningful Asymptomatic Repeated Testing) focused on enabling people to go about their everyday lives safely, opening up the economy and getting life going again in Liverpool. The focus will be around encouraging people to get tested before they mix with others, such going for a night out at the cinema or a theatre, go Christmas shopping, attend a business event or football match and see their family over the festive season. A total of 5 main static sites for people without symptoms to get tested are now operating 7 days per week, from 7am to 7pm.

The locations are as follows:-

►  Aintree Baptist Church, Longmoor Lane, L9 0EH

►  Exhibition Centre Liverpool, King's Dock, L3 4FP (7am to 2pm on Sunday)

►  Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Conleach Road, Speke, L24 0TR

►  Liverpool Tennis Centre, Wavertree Sports Park, Wellington Road, L15 4LE

►  Liverpool FC Anfield Stadium, Anfield Road, L4 0TH (7am to 2pm on Sunday)

►  Croxteth Hall is also open as a testing site, from 9am to 4pm, each day, currently.

The 'hubs' will be further supported by a number of smaller:- 'pop up' Testing Sites which will appear around the City in key community locations on a rotation basis.

City Centre sites are coming on stream, on Saturday, 5 December 2020, in order to support the retail and hospitality sectors so visitors and customers can:- 'Test and Go' before going shopping or for a meal.  They are:-

►  The former FatFace unit, at Liverpool ONE, on Upper South John Street; open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm, on Sunday.

►  Liverpool Town Hall, from 9am to 6pm, initially as a 1 day trial, aimed at people using the hospitality businesses around Castle Street.

An up to date list of currently open sites can be found at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/smarttesting, along with more details about the testing programme.

Brigadier Joe Fossey, Commander of the 8th Engineer Brigade, said:- "It has been a real privilege to help and support Liverpool deliver the 1st ever UK City wide testing pilot, and prove how community testing can help in the fight against Covid19. The success in Liverpool has helped support testing roll out elsewhere. We have been inundated with support, well wishes and positivity from every corner of the City. All of my soldiers are extremely grateful for the warm reception and generosity shown by the people of Liverpool. Thank you. It has made our job so much easier and we remain indebted to the many volunteers, community leaders and businesses that helped us deliver things so quickly. I would like to congratulate the superb team of teams who orchestrated the logistics and testing delivery. To my Liverpool City Council, NHS, Emergency Services and Academic colleagues, I want you to know it has been a pleasure to work alongside you. You are a formidable team."

LANDMARKS across Liverpool will join dozens more across the UK in lighting up green this week in support of the NSPCC's Christmas appeal. 2020 has been tough for everyone, as the Pandemic changed the way we live and Christmas is often a difficult time for children suffering abuse, neglect and poor mental health, with the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic expected to put even more children at risk this year. By lighting up sites across the country in the run up to the festive period, the NSPCC wants to remind the public that the children's charity is here for children, whenever they need support. Liverpool City Council have agreed to light up the Town Hall, St George's Hall and the Cunard Building green for the NSPCC on December 7, with Liverpool ONE and World Museum also going green for the charity. The Merseyside venues join sites across the UK including the North East's Tyne Bridge, York bar walls, Cardiff Castle, Alexandra Palace and Battersea Power Station in lighting up to support the NSPCC.

Deborah Sefton, fundraiser for the NSPCC, said:- "It's really terrific to see Liverpool going green again for us this year, the sites really look amazing and serve as a reminder that the NSPCC is here for children, like a beacon of light at what can be a dark time of year. For thousands of children, being stuck at home for the holidays is a terrifying thought; and they urgently need their voices to be heard. We're here for children this Christmas, protecting them from abuse and supporting them when they feel like they have nowhere else to turn. On the phone, online, wherever they need us to be, the NSPCC is here."

Deputy Mayor and Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan said:- "Liverpool City Council is pleased to support the NSPCC again this year by having our historic buildings go green. The NSPCC and Childline staff and volunteers at the Great Homer Street centre and across the country do an incredible job all year round to support young people and families across the country, and we hope that by going green on December 7 we'll encourage more people to support them in 2021 and beyond."

Donna Howitt, Marketing Director at Liverpool ONE, said:- "We're proud to be turning our lights green as a tribute to the fantastic work which the NSPCC does, helping to raise much needed awareness of how children up and down the country really do rely on the charity's vital services."

Laura Pye, Director, National Museums Liverpool, which comprises 8 venues including World Museum said:- "It has never been more important to support our communities and look after the most vulnerable. 2020 has been such a difficult year but we are shining a ray of hope for the way forward. It is so sad to hear that Coronavirus has put even more children at risk of abuse, neglect and poor mental health. Together, we are raising awareness of this. We admire the vital work of the NSPCC and are proud to support them, and the children they help, at this time. Christmas can be a difficult time for children suffering abuse, neglect and poor mental health, and the impact of the Coronavirus looks likely to put even more children at risk this year. Since Lockdown began, Childline counsellors have delivered almost 43,000 sessions to young people concerned about their mental or emotional health, experiencing loneliness and low self esteem or who felt they didn't fit in or feel 'normal,' and as the Pandemic continues, we continue to hear from children who are struggling about all kinds of topics."

The NSPCC said:- "Last Christmas, there were 6,566 Childline counselling sessions (between December 24, 2019 and January 4, 2020), with a 26% increase in counselling sessions about suicidal thoughts and feelings compared to the previous Christmas. We don't yet know how many children and young people will need us this year, but we'll be there, ready to support them however we can. We're calling on the public to donate ₤20 to the NSPCC so ensure services like Childline can be here to hear children's troubles at a time of year when it's all too easy to feel isolated. Every ₤4 donated means a Childline counsellor can answer a call, email or message from a young person when they need us most, so a ₤20 donation will help five children this Christmas. To find out how you can support the NSPCC this Christmas, to ensure we're here for children when they need us most, go to:- NSPCC.Org.UK."