ROSS KEMP ON GANGS - LIVERPOOL

WILL the Sky1 BAFTA-winning documentary series called 'Ross Kemp on Gangs' set back all the good work Liverpool has done over 2008 and the run up to it?  A press release sent out to us by BSKYB about the program aired on Tuesday, 6 January 2008 on Sky1 and Sky1 HD said that:- "Ross in the program asks whether this questions that if Liverpool, over Capital of Culture deserved its reputation as a hub of gun and gang crime.  Ross Kemp on Gangs - Liverpool, asks whether the city deserves it's reputation for gang and gun violence and, seeks to discover what lies behind the code of silence that makes police work so difficult in the city, a code so strong that it is actually influencing the way police and the law operates in gang-related cases."

We also got told that:- "The program visited Liverpool to investigate the infamous L11 gangs with Ross Kemp as he went in search of the youth gangs said to be causing mayhem on Liverpool’s streets.  In August 2008, the news of the senseless killing of 11 year old Rhys Jones sent shock waves throughout the country.  Prime Minister Gordon Brown described it as a "heinous crime that shocked the whole of the country".  The murder of an 11 year old boy in a Liverpool suburb in 2008 alerted the country to the city’s escalating gang culture.  Rhys Jones was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of gang war.  That is why we came to Liverpool.  In this programme Ross Kemp meets some of the main players involved in the gang warfare and tries to understand what motivates their murderous hatred for one another.  He meets an ex-gangster turned anti-gun campaigner and speaks to the police trying to combat the problem on the streets; a young man trying to leave the gang life behind; the mother of a teenager shot dead in an argument over a £200 debt and the person charged with sorting the whole problem out, Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith."

Ross commented that:- “Liverpool is a fantastic city and I fell in love with it.  The story there relates to many inner-city areas in the UK.  Because it's in the UK, Liverpool is never going to have the extremes you find in other countries, and we're very fortunate for that.  But it's an eye-opening film, the gang wars in Norris Green and Croxteth aren't really based on anything, it's just tit-for-tat violence and that's sad.  And it's not just Liverpool that has these issues; it's a growing problem in nearly every city across the UK.

In Liverpool the lads were saying that they wouldn't be in gangs if there was more for them to do when they were growing up.  There were football pitches and slides and swings there, but they couldn't cross the road to get to them because of the hatred from the gang on the other side of the road.  That’s sad and that gets me angry.  Because of the tit-for-tat violence, they're actually excluding themselves.”

If you watched the program or have any views on this topic, please do email our newsroom now and we will, if you request it, forward your views on to Sky.  Our newsroom email address is:- news24@southportreporter.com.  If you do not want your name and/or contact information kept on record please note it in your email.

Website for more information:- www.sky.com/rosskemps.

Swimming is the new Running in 2009

DO you fancy a new challenge? 

Would you like to raise funds to help people in crisis? 

The Red Cross is looking for individuals or teams who want to join the Red Cross in its latest exciting challenge – The Great North Swim on Saturday, 12 September 2009 (date to be confirmed). Given the success of last years event places are filling up fast, apply now to avoid missing out on the opportunity to be part of this new, exciting and very different event.

The Great North Swim is a one-mile open-water swim, taking place in Lake Windermere in the heart of the Lake District.

This scenic venue boasts panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Senior Fundraiser, Laura Cooper says:- "What a fantastic event this is - it is very different from other events and I don’t think there’s ever been such an idyllic backdrop to a challenge event before."

As a member of the Red Cross team, you will be in good hands, including race support from start to finish, a full and comprehensive sponsorship pack and a Red Cross t-shirt to put on after your swim!

Entry fee is just £25 with a £150 sponsorship target.

To apply for one of our guaranteed places please contact Senior Fundraiser Laura Cooper today on 0161 888 8915 or email lcooper@redcross.org.uk to join our team!

Swim with the Red Cross and help us reach every emergency that needs us.  For more information please go online via:- www.redcross.org.uk/events_page.asp?id=81511.

Liverpool is getting more active

TTHOUSANDS more people in Liverpool are taking part in sport and physical activity, according to a new survey.

The second national Active People Survey by Sport England shows that an additional 5,139 people are exercising at least three times per week, compared to the last time the research was carried out in 2006.

It means the percentage of the population keeping fit has increased from 18 to 19.4 percent in the last two years – compared to a national rise of just 0.3 percent.

Liverpool has closed the gap on the national figure of 20.3 percent to less than one percent, despite being a large city with major barriers to improving fitness such as deprivation and poor health.

The success is being put down to the Active City campaign run by the city council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT), which encourages people to build exercise into their daily lives.

Council leader Warren Bradley said:- “We are now starting to see the benefits of the tremendous amount of work which is going in to encouraging people to keep fit.

We are committed to doing everything we can to get everyone as fit and healthy as possible and helping reduce heart disease and obesity - the biggest killers among older people.

Our new Lifestyle Seniors programme is encouraging thousands of over 60s to get and stay fit and active, and is sure to help boost the figures even more when the next survey takes place.”

John Marsden from Active City said:- “I am delighted with the results of this survey, which shows that we are starting to see a difference in the number of people taking steps to improve their health and fitness levels.

Improved physical health can also bring benefits to mental well-being through participants having fun and making new friends so it is tremendously important."

Gideon Ben-Tovim, chair of Liverpool Primary Care Trust, said:- “Liverpool Active City is already one of the leading programmes in the country and this survey demonstrates that it is starting to have an impact.

This is another example of the significant sustained investment by Liverpool PCT to tackle some of the city’s major health problems, such as obesity, alcohol issues, smoking and health inequalities.

By undertaking healthy lifestyle changes, such as becoming more active, can help to lengthen your life and reduce the chances of falling ill later in life.

We are also having success with Liverpool’s Challenge, a year long campaign being managed by the PCT, which is asking the city to join together to collectively pledge to lose a million pounds of weight and adopt healthier lifestyles.”

Among the thousands of people who are getting fitter is Colin Cooper, a member of Lifestyles Garston. He won his initial membership with the ‘Real Life Challenge’ on Radio City 96.7 after being dubbed the city’s ‘unhealthiest man’ in November 2007.

In a year he has lost 4.5 inches off his chest, 8 inches off his waist, an inch off his arms and 3 inches from his thighs through exercise programmes and circuit training.

Gideon Ben-Tovim said:- “I really enjoy the classes, and the other people I get fit with really inspire and support each other.

I feel fitter, have lost weight and feel healthier, and my resolution for 2009 is to change my eating habits.”

The Sport England survey was carried out before the city introduced its ambitious drive to improve the health and fitness of the city’s 70,000 over 60s through its Lifestyles Seniors programme at the beginning of December 2008.

They are now entitled to free use of all 13 city council Lifestyles Centres including swimming pools, gyms and squash, badminton and tennis courts.

So far almost 3,000 people have signed up – and around half are new users who had not been using the gym previously.

The city council also offers free leisure facilities to 60,000 under 17s in Liverpool. Since it was launched in 2006, the “Lifestyle Futures” programme increased the number of young people using leisure centres by a massive 60 percent.

Full unlimited membership of the city’s 13 Lifestyles Fitness Centres costs just £28 per month and more information is available by calling 0151 233 5433 or visiting www.liverpool.gov.uk/lifestyles.

More information about Liverpool Active City is available at www.liverpoolactivecity.co.uk, and people can sign up to the Challenge by calling 0800 012 1733 or by visiting www.liverpoolchallenge.nhs.uk.