Write On Liverpool

ROGAR McGough and Brian Patten will be among the stars of the show at the launch of a stunning exhibition celebrating Liverpool’s rich literary heritage.    ‘Write On Liverpool’ got underway at Liverpool Central Library on Friday, 7 November 2008, gathering together 5 decades of Liverpool poetry for the 1st time in a city exhibition. 

Exploring the unique contribution Liverpool poetry has made to English literature, ‘Write On Liverpool’ links some of this country’s best-loved and exciting writers with Liverpool, the city itself and its places: some iconic, some overlooked.    It features newly-commissioned portraits of 12 of the city’s leading poets since the 1960s, together with audio presentations of their memories of Liverpool and their sense of what its places have meant to their imaginations and their writing. 

The collection is a major part of Central Library’s contribution to the Capital of Culture programme.   It features Adrian Henri, Roger McGough, Brian Patten, Paul Farley, Levi Tafari, Jamie McKendrick, Dave Ward, Eleanor Rees, Matt Simpson, Deryn Rees-Jones, Michael Murphy, Dinesh Allirajah and Gladys Mary Coles. 

Award-winning Liverpool poet, Paul Farley, who is included in ‘Write On Liverpool’, said:- “This exhibition is a stopping of the frame, a pause in an ongoing movie.   It’s a taking stock and a celebration of Liverpool poetry over the last 5 decades.    As it reinvents itself again, this obsessive, awkward, outward-looking, insular city on the very edge of England… continues to attract, repel, seduce and provoke all kinds of writers and their traffic of words.   To different degrees, it defines them – and to some degree, their work imaginatively defines it.”

Write on Liverpool - associated with the Shipping Lines Liverpool Literary Festival 08, and supported by Arts Council, England and the Liverpool Culture Company, is presented by local artists Leila Romaya and Paul McCann.    Following Friday’s launch event, the exhibition officially opened to the public on Saturday, 8 November 2008.   It is FREE to view and runs until the end of December 2008. 

Councillor Keith Turner, the city council’s executive member for libraries, said:- “Liverpool has produced some of the country’s finest poets and it’s fitting that during our Capital of Culture year we are celebrating the pioneering and groundbreaking literature produced here in the city.    We have a lot to thank our remarkable poets for.   Their wonderful contributions have captured the essence of Liverpool, and helped put the city on the literary map.   Write On Liverpool is the perfect way to pay tribute to their lives and work – and I’m delighted that the poets themselves will be launching the exhibition.”

BBC Children in Need 2008 Event...

ON 14 November 2008 the annual BBC Children in Need Event is on through out the UK....  In Southport a charity night will be held at the Cafe Mateese in aid of the appeal. 

Live Band and Disco, with Buffet will keep people happy well in to the early hours of Saturday,,,  

So remember to come along from 8pm to late....  Ticket price £5.00 or £6.00 on the door....  For Tickets call in to Cafe Mateese or call Neil on 01704 874 851 or on 0770 443 1 250...   Fancy Dress is Optional, but the night will have a strong Disney Theme through out!

Recruits to help stamp out hate crime

LIVERPOOL people are being asked to help staff a national hate crime helpline. Citysafe, the crime and disorder reduction partnership, is funding a series of training sessions to recruit local volunteers to answer calls made to the Stop Hate line.

It provides 24 hour support for anyone who has suffered a crime due to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

In Liverpool, around 75 offences are reported every month, but it is thought this is just the tip of the iceberg and an estimated 80 percent of offences go unreported.

The helpline is an alternative to report directly to the police, and gives callers the chance to speak to a trained operator.

The volunteers can provide information about services and possible courses of action, or just listen. Information is only passed onto the police or relevant support agencies if the caller consents.

A recruitment session is being held on Thursday, 13 November 2008 from 6pm to 8pm in the Collingwood Room at Millennium House on Victoria Street in Liverpool city centre.

Councillor Marilyn Fielding, executive member for community safety, said:- “People are often scared to contact police when they are victims of crime, and the Stop Hate helpline is another way of finding out about the help and support which is available to them.  Any crime is completely unacceptable, but it is all the more shocking when it is personal and due to ignorance.  By supporting the Stop Hate line in Liverpool, we can send out a strong and clear message that it is unacceptable and offer people somewhere to turn when they don’t know what to do.”

It is one of a series of measures being taken to try and stop hate crime in Liverpool.

Funding of £60k has been provided this year by the city council and Citysafe for special hate crime advisors who can fully support victims through personal visits and advocacy delivered through Victim Support.

In some cases, extra security will be provided for people at risk of being attacked in their home, such as fire safety equipment, extra door locks, advice and protective glass where necessary.

The helpline can also be used to report incidents people witness, even if they do not have full details, or are acting on behalf of somebody else.

Potential volunteers will be given details of the work involved, and the type of training that is involved.

They must be able to speak English clearly, and be confident in dealing with callers in a sensitive and professional manner.

Once trained, they will be able to log on and answer calls from any landline, whether at home or at work, and will be able to claim for any expenses incurred. They can work for as many hours per week or month as they choose.

Anyone wishing to attend the recruitment session can simply turn up, or call Lynsey Hey on 225 4817, or email lynsey.hey@liverpool.gov.uk for more information.

The Stop Hate line was launched in 2006 by Doreen Lawrence.

The number to call for anyone who is a victim of hate crime is 0800 138 1625.