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IS
LIVERPOOL A CREATIVE CITY?
MEMBERS of the
public are invited to join a debate about Liverpool’s identity as a
Creative City on Wednesday 20 February 2008, 1800 to 2000 hours at
Merseyside Maritime Museum. The discussion is the fourth in a series
of public forums giving people the opportunity to learn about and
comment on the main themes that the new Museum of Liverpool will
focus on.
o Phil Redmond, deputy chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company and
founder of Mersey Television will be asking whether Liverpool is a
creative city?
o Ray Physick, author
of Played in Liverpool will talk about the idea of sport as a form
of creative expression.
o Paul Du Noyer,
music journalist and author of Liverpool: Wondrous Place will be
discussing how creative outputs from Liverpool have informed
perceptions of the city.
Creative City is 1 of 4 main areas in the new museum and will
uncover the unique and creative character of Liverpool, exploring
why the city has produced such an amazing roll call of writers,
performers, comedians and sportsmen. The gallery will include some
unique Beatles objects, including the original stage on which John
Lennon’s band, The Quarrymen, played in 1957. The story of the
history of the Merseyside football clubs will explore how they have
become a cornerstone of the city’s identity and a special immersive
experience in the gallery will capture the excitement, passion and
intensity of the game through the fans’ eyes.
Free refreshments available from 5.45pm. Places are limited and
booking is essential, please call 0151 478 4543 to book.
SCAMS - TRICKS OF THE TRADE?
SEFTON Trading
Standards are backing the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) campaign to
alert residents in the borough to scams which swindle them out of
cash.
As part of February's Scams Awareness Month, the OFT is highlighting
the top five 'tricks of the trade' used by scammers to con the
public out of an estimated £3.5 billion a year.
Although there are many different types of scam delivered through
the post, by email, over the phone, or in person, most use the same
basic techniques to deceive three million UK consumers every year.
The top five tricks identified by the OFT are:-
1. Offering you the unattainable dream- scammers hook you by
promising to fulfil your dreams and aspirations. You are told that
you alone have been chosen because you are special, but in fact the
same scam has been sent to thousands of other people.
2. Using official sounding names and job titles or referring to
important sounding organisations to give a false impression that the
scam comes from someone in a position of high authority who can be
instantly trusted. This works by overcoming the initial gut feeling
that something is not quite right.
3. Using fake deadlines to create a sense of urgency and a fear of
missing out. You are told that if you don't reply immediately the
opportunity will be gone forever, triggering an impulse to respond
before you have the chance to think
the offer through properly.
4. Using fake testimonials from satisfied customers to reinforce the
impression that the scam offer is genuine, this exploits people's
normal tendency to follow the crowd and helps to validate what is
being offered.
5. Offering worthless 'money back guaarantees' to
convince you that you are dealing with a legitimate trader and that
there is no risk in sending off your money.
Sefton Council Trading Standards manager, Andrew Naisbitt, said:-
"Every year without fail someone in Sefton contacts us after
being caught up in a scam of some kind.
Scammers are
expert at exploiting people's fears. Anyone can be conned but by
learning to recognise the scammer's tricks we can all avoid becoming
their next victim'.
Just being
aware of the different types of scams and how fraudsters try and
trick you out of cash can really help in not becoming a victim."
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a
scam, call Consumer Direct for clear , practical consumer advice on
08454 04 05 06.
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Online safety fears keeping parents offline
FEARS about
online safety are keeping Mums and Dads across the North West up at
night, and could be keeping whole families offline. A
new survey from UK online centres has found that while at least 75%
of parents in our region know their kids are regular internet users,
around half of them don’t think their internet or IT skills are good
enough to supervise or assist with surfing.
All in all, 60% of parents taking part in the North West survey said
they worried about their children using the internet. Topping the
list of concerns were internet predators, inappropriate images and
fraudsters, but other worries included cyber-bullying and the
information children were sharing through social networking sites
like Bebo and MySpace. And it’s not just internet safety
that’s causing concern. Around a third of parents in the survey also
admitted to worrying about their lack of online know-how to help
with homework and school projects on the internet.
Helen Milner, Managing Director of UK online centres said:-
“Technology has already changed how we live, work and socialise. Now
it’s changing how we bring up our children. Being a 21st Century
parent increasingly requires new parenting skills it’s not just
about looking after your children in the real world, you’ve got to
look after them in the online world too.
With more and more homework
involving the internet, cyber-bullying and internet predators
hitting the headlines, it’s not surprising that parents are anxious
about their children’s internet activities, and about their own
ability to help out online.
If you’re worried about your children using the internet, the best
way to put your fears to rest is to find out more about it yourself.
That’s where UK online centres come in.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve
never even turned a computer on, with the right advice and support
you can make the most of the internet and help your kids make the
most of it; safely and happily. And it’s not just about supervising
the internet can be a useful tool for everyday family life.
Whether you’re getting the shopping delivered, renewing your tax
disc or booking a bargain holiday, the internet could help you save
time, hassle and even money.”
Mum of 3 Helen Boffey, 36, didn’t know much at all about computers,
let alone the internet, before she found her way into a nearby UK
online centre. She says:- “I don’t think you ever stop
worrying about your kids, because you want the best for them, it’s
instinct. But because I want the best for them I don’t want them to
miss out on all the good bits of the internet because of the bad
bits.
I know lots of parents who say they’re not going to let their
kids online because of all these internet monsters and things. It’s
easy to forget that there are risks in the real world too, and we
already help our kids steer clear of them and stay safe, that’s
what parents do. The trouble is you can’t do that on the internet
unless you know a bit about it.
Computers and the internet are going to be such a big part of our
kids’ lives. I’ve got an 18 year old who uses them all the time, and
even though my twin girls are only 5 they’re already using them in
the classroom! I’m so pleased I’ve now got the skills to help them,
monitor what they’re doing, and just talk to them about it. I often
pop into the UK online centre with Ellie and Emily before or after
school. They like to play the games on Cbeebies, and do drawings
with the mouse, which is great for their co-ordination. They also
like typing so we practise spellings on the computer, and even do
reading exercises I’ve found on the internet. Their teachers have
actually said to me how much the practice they get with me is
helping them, and that’s a really good feeling.
I’d say to other parents that learning about computers and the
internet is absolutely key. Like anything else, it’s not half as
scary once you know something about it!
You might never stop
worrying completely but you will feel more in control and if I can
get to grips with it all, anyone can!”
Don’t let safety fears hold you or your family back. To follow in
Helen’s footsteps and find your nearest UK online centre, call free
on 0800 77 1234. |
