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Southport & Mersey Reporter® covering the news on Merseyside.

Date:- 12 November 2007

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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

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