Hoodies take to Liverpool’s streets

A gang of ‘hoodies’ will be taking to the streets in Liverpool’s city centre, Saturday 6 December (12am to 2pm) as part of a national campaign revealing issues young people want to tackle to give them a better future.  The ‘Don’t Write Us Off’ event is being spearheaded by young Agents4Change volunteers across the country, aged 16 to 25, who between them have consulted hundreds of young people on their top concerns.

The information they have canvassed will be used by the young people to set up volunteering projects to help tackle these issues. It will also form a platform for young people to lobby for increased involvement of young people in public services overseen by both local and national government.  Instead of terrorising the public, shoppers will be challenged by the ‘hoodies’ to ‘earn’ unique fortune cookies in return for contributing their own views on tackling issues such as crime, teenage pregnancy, drink, drugs, gangs and education. Some of these concerns are included in the fortune cookies.

Agents4Change, is a project coordinated by UK volunteering charity CSV with support from Tesco and youth volunteering charity v. It aims to empower young people to take positive action in their communities.

This campaign is being backed by pop mogul Pete Waterman.  For more information visit agents4changecampaign.org.uk.

DO NOT FORGET THE...

THESE years festive spirit hits the streets of Liverpool running, yet again as the Santa Dash 2008 will be taking place on Sunday, 7 December 2007, in Liverpool City Centre. The Liverpool Santa Dash has the BBC Radio Merseyside Trust and CLIC Sargent (Century Radio) as official event charities for 2008. Registration has now closed, but it looks like this year will be bigger than ever before.

Santa dash car parking will be available in the following car parks:-

NCP Moorfields Multi-Storey Car Park, Vernon Street, Liverpool L2 2AY

NCP Rumford Street Pay & Display Car Park, Rumford Street, Liverpool L2 8SZ

NCP Smithfield Street Pay & Display Car Park, Smithfield Street, Liverpool L3 6AF

Murder enquiry launch after discovery of human remains

A murder enquiry has been launched following discovery of human remains at house in Norwood Crescent, Southport. Police discovered the remains in a freezer while conducting a search of the property, on Friday, 28 November 2008.

Merseyside Police told the media that the search was being conducted after they had found they had found the owner of the house, 45 year old Gavin Tomlinson, dead on Monday, 24 November 2008. It is reported that the Police had entered the house after work colleagues called the police when Mr Tomlinson did not turned up for his office job on the Monday.

DCI Nikki Holland said:- "Mr Tomlinson's death is not believed to be suspicious and the matter has been referred to the coroner.

We are not looking for anyone else in connection to the murder at the moment.

We are keen to speak to friends and family of Mr Tomlinson and are keen to trace anyone who may have seen or spoken to him in the days leading up to his death or has any information regarding this incident. 

If you do have information please contact Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

LIPA claim hat-trick at MBF Songwriting Awards

FABLES from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) are the winners of the MBF Songwriting Award 2008. Their performance at the Showcase Final on Tuesday 25 November was the 1st ever by the 5-piece band, formed by songwriter Michael Halls. Fables will be using the £5000 award to cover the costs of recording, promoting and touring 2 EPs of original music. Fables’ win marks a return to form for LIPA at the awards after wins in 2005 with The Wombats and in 2006 with Hannah Rei.

6 talented young songwriters were selected to perform at The Bedford in London for a world-class judging panel which was chaired by songwriting legend Joan Armatrading MBE. The finalists were shortlisted from applicants on pop and commercial music degree courses at universities and colleges across the UK.

Joan Armatrading was joined by platinum selling singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas and Nik Kershaw, musical icon of the 1980s and more recently a collaborator with artists including Ronan Keating, Lulu, Imogen Heap and Gary Barlow. The panel also included David Stark, Editor/Publisher of SongLink International magazine, and musician, presenter and Musical Director of The Bedford, Tony Moore.

Joan Armatrading said:- ‘Fables were the unanimous winners, they are a fantastic band and they did a great job’. Lucie Silvas joined the praise saying, ‘They were the most unique and stood out, they were captivating to watch and the timing of the songs, the arrangement of the songs and the melodies were beautiful. It was really interesting and exciting and something we wanted to hear more of’. Nik Kershaw added, ‘Fables just had that little bit extra, they had huge potential and there are so many different directions that their music could go. It’s just such an interesting basis they’ve got for everything they do and the 2 songs were very impressive both lyrically and musically’.

On collecting their award Michael Halls from Fables said:- ‘I am just speechless. It feels absolutely amazing. Thanks very much. It was our 1st gig as a band and it’s been amazing and I hope this award will be the 1st of many’.

The judges also awarded an additional £2000 MBF Development Award to promising singer-songwriter Alex Lipinski from the University of Westminster, who will use the award to showcase his work in America.

This year the MBF is also working closely with the Musicians Union (MU) and is able to offer all finalists free attendance on two professional development courses, seminars or workshops organised by the MU and the opportunity to meet with their regional MU representative to receive specialist advice and career guidance.