Rover the moon for culture!

TRANMERE ROVERS' promotion bid has won some brand new supporters. Rovers kick-off in the league one play-offs tomorrow night, and they will be wearing a special kit with Liverpool's '08 Capital of Culture logo on.

Liverpool City Council Leader Mike Storey said:- "Tranmere play cultured football, so it's only right that the Liverpool Culture Company throws its support behind the team! It's a great way for the whole city to cheer Tranmere on, and to show that culture doesn't stop on the Liverpool banks of the Mersey."

Logos representing Liverpool's European Capital of Culture win will appear on the back of the team shirts and on the sides of the shorts on Friday 13 May, in time for the team's promotion play-offs semi final against Hartlepool United

Chief Operating Officer of the Liverpool Culture Company, Jason Harborow said:- "This support shows how Liverpool's cultural impact can spread across the whole region. Using the logo on kit will help to tell people from Wirral that they are very much included in the plans and celebrations for 2008, as well as the legacy beyond. We wish Tranmere the best of luck in their bid for promotion and look forward to working with them in the future. We'll be in the audience of 3 million people cheering the team on tomorrow."

Creative Sport Manager at the Liverpool Culture Company, John Moore, said:- "In the build up to 2008 we're working hard to strengthen the links between culture and sport because physical activity is such an important part of Liverpool's society. This support of Tranmere Rovers is another very positive step on that road."

Chairman of Tranmere Rovers football club, Lorraine Rogers said:- "Winning the title of European Capital of Culture in 2008 has been a great boost for the whole area not just Liverpool city centre and we're proud to be associated with Liverpool 08. Tranmere Rovers is delighted to have the support of people and organisations both sides of the River Mersey for these crucial Play Off games."

The 08 logo design which symbolises Liverpool's European Capital of Culture win was developed by Liverpool advertising agency Finch Ltd with London-based international brand specialist BBH and is an impressionistic representation of Liverpool's World Heritage waterfront, unveiled on September 3, 2004.

More than 100 organisations are licensed to use the 08 brand, as its value is protected by monitoring where it is used. The 08 logo features on a range of products from pens to T-shirts, and even replicas of the city's famous SuperlambBanana, available from tourist information centres and visitor attractions throughout Liverpool.

DISABILITY WINS WITH RECYCLING

SCOPE, the disability organisation in England and Wales whose focus is people with cerebral palsy, hopes that their new recycling initiative will generate much needed monies for campaigning for disability equality whilst raising awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling.

The Recycling Appeal, the charity recycling specialists, is working with all 300 Scope shops to raise money for Scope through donations of mobile phones and printer cartridges. 

Scope's 'Time to Get Equal' campaign aims to achieve equality for disabled people by tackling disablism. Visit the website and sign the equality pledge at www.timetogetequal.org.uk to get behind the campaign. 

George Eracleous, Scope Recycling Manager said:- "There are an estimated 90 million redundant mobile phones in cupboards and drawers across the UK - enough to stretch along the Great Wall of China more than five times! If yours is one of them, please drop into one of our stores and donate it to our recycling appeal. If you use a printer with your home computer, or even in the office, we would gratefully accept your old cartridges too. Phones are worth, on average, £2.50 and cartridges are worth 90p for Scope."

Recycling not only helps the charity but it also helps the environment too. Mobiles and ...continued...

...continued... cartridges end up in landfill sites if they are binned, causing toxic substances to pollute the land.  The Scope Recycling Appeal prevents this, so if you've got an empty cartridge or mobile to donate, drop in to a Scope shop today.

Businesses can also support the charity by regularly donating used cartridges or phones and individuals who want to get involved can also request a Freepost envelope from the Recycling Appeal.

To find out where your local Scope shop is, simply call 0870 120 4120. 

For further information on the Scope Recycling Appeal, just log on to www.recyclingappeal.com/scope

LIVERPOOL IN THE CANNES!

LIVERPOOL will be in the frame at this year's Cannes Film Festival! The city council's Film Office will be meeting with international film industry professionals and promoting Liverpool's diverse filming locations as well as its first class facilities and creative talent.
Head of the Film Office Lynn Saunders is flying out this week with colleagues from North West Vision, the agency set up to promote filming in the region.

Commenting on her trip to Cannes, Lynn said:- "Producers and directors from around the world travel to Cannes with the intention of finding locations to film their next project. I will be pitching Liverpool to them. As well as fabulous locations, Liverpool now has its own film studios and a talented base of local crew. We have a huge choice of creative talent available from internationally known actors to fabulous set designers. We are developing a worldwide reputation as a great place to come and make movies. It is vital we capitalise on that - and Cannes is the place to do it."

North West Vision will be promoting its Merseyside Film and TV Fund (MFTVF), primarily made up of Objective One money from Europe. The fund has already been beneficial in creating jobs and bringing investment into the region, including the ITV1 series Big Dippers, starring Jimmy Nesbitt.

Accompanying the delegation will be 5 of Liverpool's finest up and coming filmmakers. Supported by North West Vision and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the filmmakers will get a chance to showcase their work and network with industry professionals.

Councillor Warren Bradley, executive member for leisure and culture, said:- "The film industry in Liverpool is thriving and it is essential that the city builds upon the infrastructure which is now in place. Cannes is the film industry's biggest trade event and if the city wants to attract more producers and directors to Liverpool then the Film Office can't afford not to be there."

Recent figures show that Liverpool's film and television industry contributes up to £12 million to the economy of Merseyside annually.Productions shot in Liverpool over the last year include:-

* Casanova - an Elizabethan costume drama for BBC One, starring Peter O'Toole filmed at St George's Hall and Stanley Dock

* A feature film called 'Fated' starring Craig Charles, Michael Angelis and Kate Robbins 

* BBC One children's TV series Grange Hill 

Many other TV programmes have used Liverpool as a backdrop, including the BBC's Top Gear, Songs of Praise and Bargain Hunt. And Channel Five used the city as the base for its Five Arts Cities series. 

The city's popularity as a tourist destination also led to an increase in the number of overseas TV travel programmes coming here to film, particularly from Asia. 

Over the past year, Liverpool has also become popular with advertisers. Television company Sky, bread maker Kingsmill, retail giant Matalan, soap powder manufacturer Persil, Barclays Bank and car firm Skoda all used the city as a backdrop for promo's. 

The Film Office is also planning to place its entire locations database online during 2005, allowing producers from around the world to see what Liverpool has to offer at the click of a mouse.