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GOLDEN OLDIES ARE FIRST CHOICE CELEBS TO ‘GET ON THEIR BIKES’
FOR NSPCC
AGE triumphs over youth when it comes to people in Southport
choosing the perfect celebrity partner… for a bicycle made for 2.
A survey commissioned by the NSPCC to launch the charity’s first
ever nationwide family fundraising event, the Big Bike Ride (30 June
to 2 July 2006), asked which celebrity would look sweet, upon the
seat, of a bicycle made for 2.
In the North West, veteran actors Sir Sean Connery and Dame Judi
Dench were the top male and female choice. The survey also
revealed that comedian Ricky Gervais, best known for his role as
David Brent in The Office, was the celebrity senior and middle
managers most want to ride in tandem with.
Steve Morton, head of community appeals for the NSPCC in the North
West, said:- “This is good news for those of us who are
maturing gracefully. Participants were offered a choice of young
bloods such as Ewan McGregor, David Beckham and Robbie Williams, but
they opted to be ‘shaken not stirred’ riding in tandem with
Sir Sean Connery. Similarly, the handsome maturity of Dame
Judi was preferred to the youth and beauty of female celebrities
such as Cat Deeley, Charlotte Church, Kate Winslet and Catherine
Zeta Jones. It also seems that many senior managers feel they
could pick up a few tips on management while cycling in tandem with
Ricky Gervais, alias David Brent.”
In the North West, Sir Sean Connery was in pole position for the
male celebrities with 20% of the public vote. Pop star Robbie
Williams was just behind with 19% and David Beckham was in 3rd place
with 17%. 4th place went to Ewan McGregor on 16% followed in 5th
place by Rick Gervais on 13%. Graham Norton and Eddie Irvine tied on
7% of the vote. Film star Colin Farrell, veteran singer Tom Jones
and Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson trailed with 5%, 4% and 2%
respectively.
In the North West public vote for a female cycling partner, Dame
Judi Dench was laps ahead with 27%, leaving Welsh singer Charlotte
Church (19%), TV presenter Cat Deeley (16%) and Welsh actress
Catherine Zeta-Jones (16%) behind in her tracks. The rest of the
voting was as follows: Kate Winslet 14%, Jordon 10%, KT Tunstall 7%,
Andrea Corr 7%, Victoria Beckham 7% and Nadine Coyle 4%.
Voters were allowed to suggest preferred celebrities of their own,
which accounts for the remaining percentage. One thing all the
voters agreed on was that getting on our bikes for the NSPCC is a
great idea this summer.
The NSPCC’s Steve Morton said:- “The Big Bike Ride is a simple
idea that enables all types of groups to come together to raise
money for the NSPCC, be it families, work colleagues or friends. We
need people to set up every kind of sponsored bike ride from small
family outings around the local park to events involving hundreds of
cyclists. If you don’t own a bike then why not clock up some miles
on the exercise bike in your local gym? As long as you’re on a bike,
you’re on the Big Bike Ride. Everyone, young and old, can get
involved and do their bit to end cruelty to children, so join me in
pedalling up the pounds for the NSPCC.”
The family friendly event aims to get people to organise and take
part in their own bike rides in their local communities, while
raising vital money for the children’s charity. Regardless of age,
fitness, ability or the speed of your bike, the emphasis over the
weekend (30 June to 2 July 2006) is to have fun and help make a
difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in
the country. All Big Bike Ride organisers will be sent a pack
chock-full of advice and handy cycling tips. To find out more about
getting involved in the Big Bike Ride call 0845 456 0001, or visit
this
website.
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Pioneering community project launching in Liverpool 8
AN INNOVATIVE project, EverybodyOnline, is launching in
Liverpool 8 to help local people access the Internet, learn new
skills and find out how technology could improve their lives.
The EverybodyOnline launch event will take place between 12.30 and
4.30pm on 5 April at Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, 4 Princes Rd,
Liverpool.
Lucy Ethell, the newly appointed EverybodyOnline Project
Coordinator, who will be permanently based in Liverpool 8, will be
on hand along with the EverybodyOnline team to run an Internet
taster session for local residents. As well as the opportunity to
experience the myriad of benefits of the World Wide Web, there will
also be refreshments, entertainment and give aways. The
project will be working in partnership with INclude for
Neighbourhood Regeneration who will be coming along on the day to
talk to clients about how they can improve their services and the
event will officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.
The EverybodyOnline project is an initiative run by the national
charity Citizens Online and is supported by BT. It aims to help
communities overcome any barriers they may have to technology so
residents can take advantage of the wealth of opportunities digital
technology and the Internet has to offer.
EverybodyOnline is unique in its approach, rather than simply
bringing in technology and walking away, Lucy will be working with
the community to overcome the issues that prevent access. For
example, setting up partnerships to provide childcare at computer
taster sessions so parents don’t miss out, or ensuring that current
community equipment is made available at the times that suit the
residents as opposed to the venue. EverybodyOnline is about giving
the community what they need.
Catherine Maxwell, Director of the EverybodyOnline Project said:-
“We’re delighted about launching this, our tenth EverybodyOnline
project. We believe EverybodyOnline is something very special. We’re
about building bridges and creating useful partnerships with local
organisations so people really get the skills and support they need
to start using technology. We’re really looking forward to meeting
the local community and helping people make those first important
steps into the digital world.”
Peter Connor, BT Regional Manager said:- “BT and
EverybodyOnline have been working in partnership since the projects’
inception in 2002 and we're delighted to be supporting the launch
and delivery of EverybodyOnline in Liverpool 8. Communication is at
the heart of our business and we believe that information and
communications technology (ICT) can really enrich people's lives,
that's why our digital inclusion campaign is a key part of our
community investment strategy."
MEAT
PRODUCTION HIT BY PENSIONS STRIKE ACTION
THE North
West’s livestock industry will face days of lost production as
UNISON members employed as inspectors by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS)
stage a 5 day strike over proposed cuts to the Local Government
Pension Scheme, from 12 midnight on Sunday 2 April till 12 midnight
on Friday 7 April 2006.
No meat plant is permitted to operate unless under close supervision
by the MHS and more than 125 inspectors in the North West will be
out. Abattoirs in Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester,
Merseyside and Cheshire will be hit, with some forced to close
completely.
UNISON members, who provide essential services such as meat
inspection, the people who make sure the meat on your plate is safe,
have been saving towards a pension that is threatened when it could
be protected at no additional cost to the tax payer.
UNISON Regional Manager, Steve Stott, said:- “Our members are
dedicated to the important role that they play in getting safe meat
to consumers. The decision to call them out on industrial action has
not been taken lightly- but they have risen to the challenge,
because they believe it is the only way to get the Government to
listen.
Consumers will see an impact on the meat available on the
supermarket shelves at Easter, when we buy more meat than at any
time, other than Christmas.”
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