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Liverpool Culture Cafe overcomes a Dragon
A unique
attempt to bring the community of Liverpool together in order to
launch a Culture Cafe in the heart of the City has been pitched to
Dragon's Den star Peter Jones, Tim Campbell (The Apprentice winner)
and Emily Eavis of Glastonbury Festival Fame. The pitch was for the
semi-finals of the Make Your Mark in 60 seconds award to celebrate
Social Enterprise Week which is the 12 - 18 November.
Mark Bowness, 28, from West Kirby, Wirral, founder of Liverpool
Culture Cafe found himself standing before the judges this week as
he passionately offered his pitch which successfully saw the project
go through to the finals. Both Tim Campbell and Peter Jones stated
that they believed that The Liverpool Culture Cafe has 'huge
potential'.
The Liverpool Culture Cafe aims to bring 25,000 people together who
will pledge support of £20 in order to launch the Culture Cafe. The
Cafe has 3 aims, firstly, to provide continuous training and
employment for disadvantaged young people across Liverpool.
Secondly, to provide a platform for grassroots culture found across
the City which will be reflected in comedy and music nights and also
through the food menu. Thirdly, all profit from the Cafe will go
back into the communities across the City in order to provide
further platforms for opportunity and talent for the people of
Liverpool. Already the project has resulted in more than 500 people
pledging their support, offers of £1000's worth of Coffee equipment
from Mozzo Coffee and sponsorship to help promote the project. The
project is currently run by 8 volunteers from across Liverpool, from
all backgrounds of life.
Bowness explained:- “It was daunting standing in front of the
judges, especially the ruthless Peter Jones, nevertheless, I believe
in the Liverpool Culture Cafe, it's hopes and it's aims. There was
no way that they could not put this project through!”
The Liverpool Culture Cafe is now against three other finalist, the
winner is purely chosen by the public vote. Voting begins on the 8
November and Bowness will travel to London on the 15 of November
where he will spend the day with Ministers, M.P's and journalists
and the winner will be announced in the evening. As well as a prize
fund of £5,000 the winner will receive huge media exposure.
Bowness commented further:- “Already we have received interest
from groups of people from Cities across the UK and beyond with the
desire of launching their own Culture Cafe, even a New York Culture
Cafe! I want to create a model in Liverpool which will take the
brand around the World and see many lives changed. In order to do
this I desperately need the people of Liverpool to vote for the
Liverpool Culture Cafe, vote, tell your friends, your family and
your colleagues – this could be huge for Liverpool so please get
behind us!”
When the Peter Jones asked why Bowness had launched this project
Bowness responded:- “2 years ago, I tried to take my own life
and in doing so I realised just how precious life is. I want to
rescue the young people from the streets of Liverpool and give them
a platform to change the World.”
It is with such
honesty, drive and passion that the Liverpool Culture Cafe team
believe they are heading for success, but your help is required
first. Please vote for the Liverpool Culture Cafe from the 8
November onwards at:-
www.bebo.com/60seconds.
Please also register your support for free at:-
www.liverpoolculturecafe.com. |
Housing Crisis Set To Deepen According To New Report
AVERAGE
House Prices are 8 times average salaries in Merseyside according to
a new report by the National Housing Federation.
With the
average house price of over £140,800 and average salaries of around
£17,600 there is a massive affordability gap. The report Home
Truths:- The real cost of housing 2007 – 2012 warns this is likely to
widen even further over the next 5 years.
Forecasts by Oxford Economics predict that despite a brief dip over
the next 2 years prices are likely increase by 30% by 2012. The huge
affordability gap has led to over 43,250 households on waiting lists
for an affordable home in Merseyside.
The report paints a bleak picture for the North West:-
• Since 1997 house prices have risen more than 150% while incomes
have risen just 33%.
• House prices in the
region have risen faster than the national average over both 1 and 5
years.
• The North West has
a 13% share of national waiting lists but receives less than 6% of
national expenditure in new social housing.
• About half a
million people in 217,400 households are now on social housing
waiting lists.
• Waiting lists have
grown 93% in 5 years, the highest increase in the country.
The Government has made affordable housing a top political priority,
the Federation are calling on them to keep their promise, invest
more in social rented housing, speed up the planning system and
ensure the North West receives its fair share of funding. To abate
this crisis around 4,000 new social homes are needed each year in
the region.
Housing associations are stepping forward to double the
supply of much needed affordable housing in the North West, this can
only be achieved with greater investment and better planning.
Sallie Bridgen, National Housing Federation North West Regional
Manager said:- “It is time to face up to a few home truths.
Without urgent action the housing crisis in Merseyside will deepen
further.
The Home Truths report reveals that almost 45,000
households are now waiting for an affordable home and despite a
brief dip in house prices, there will continue to be rapid house
price rises.
The supply and demand mismatch must be addressed.
Housing associations are doing all they can to address this serious
problem but need more investment and additional support to end the
regions housing crisis.
The shortage of affordable homes is
not only affecting the lowest earners but those on middle incomes.
The Government has to deliver the promise of substantially more
investment in affordable housing to end the housing misery blighting
Merseyside.”
Regional Breakdown
|
Area |
Average House Price
|
Average Income
|
House Price affordability
Ratio |
Households on waiting
lists |
|
North West |
£149,743 |
£17,924 |
8.4 |
217,397 |
|
Merseyside |
£140,825 |
£17,638 |
8 |
43,257 |
|
Knowsley |
£124,706 |
£16,598 |
7.5 |
3,075 |
|
Liverpool |
£126,591 |
£17,337 |
7.3 |
12,924 |
|
St. Helens |
£127,922 |
£17,930 |
7.1 |
1,312 |
|
Sefton |
£164,497 |
£16,411 |
10 |
12,694 |
|
Wirral |
£154,095 |
£18,814 |
8.2 |
13,252 |
|
