ARRIVAL OF ENTERPRISE HUB SIGNALS EXCITING CO-OPERATIVE FUTURE FOR SOUTHPORT BUSINESSES

FLEDGLING businesses in the North West were given a massive boost with the official launch of The Co-operative Enterprise Hub - a £5million support service designed to promote member-owned businesses - announced in Manchester.  Launched as a pilot scheme last year, the Enterprise Hub is part of The Co-operative Group’s substantial support for new and existing co-operative businesses.

As the focus of the UK economy moves from recession to recovery, co-operatives are being identified as an alternative, fair and sustainable approach to business. Consumers, commentators and politicians alike are debating the co-operative business model and considering it 'fashionable', 'in-vogue' and, even 'cool', to co-operate.

Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, said:- "The Co-operative business model has an exciting future in fostering business enterprise. It is no co-incidence that it is increasingly being championed as a long-term solution to many of the challenges facing the UK.  More than 11 million members belong to some 5,000 co-operatives in the UK. And, with a combined turnover exceeding £29 billion, it represents a significant contribution to society and the economy.  With the recent financial crisis highlighting deep flaws in economic and business practices, people are opening their eyes to the co-operative model and seeing its merits as a modern, effective and relevant way of doing business.  We welcome the debate about the part co-operatives can play in developing a more balanced UK economy.  That is why we have put our money where our mouth is and demonstrated our commitment to the sector with this £5 million, 3 year investment programme.”

The Hub, recognised for its integral role in establishing new co-operative start-ups, operates via a central website with a network of development professionals in regional 'hubs' delivering the service.

During 2010, this dedicated support service for co-operative enterprises will continue to rollout across the regions, sharing the same footprint as Regional Development Agencies (RDA).  A significant proportion of The Co-operative Group’s investment will be used to offer advice and training services to new and existing co-operative enterprises including, up to four days free business advice.  Having delivered the service, co-operative development advisors can then signpost clients to further support, and finance packages available through the enterprise hub.

For further information about The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and the advice, training and consultancy available through its regional and national network of experts, visit:- co-operative.coop or, telephone Angela Davies - co-operative development manager - on 0161 246 3020.

Owning a home a dream not a reality for young people

A staggering 80% of young adults in the North of England believe owning a home is more a dream than a reality according to a new poll.  The YouGov survey, commissioned by the National Housing Federation also revealed that the overwhelming number of young adults interviewed in the North (86%) said more homes should be built for young people and first time buyers.   The Federation believe 3 main political parties should commit to tackling the housing crisis by granting housing the same 'untouchable' status as the health, education and crime-fighting and protect it from spending cuts in order to address the problem.  A massive 82% of young people interviewed also thought their parents' generation had it far easier when it came to buying a home.

In the North the average house price is 8.1 times the average income according to the Federation's Home Truths report.

► In the North East the average house price is £141,674 (7.9 times the average income of £17,992)

► In the North West the average house price is £156,811 (8.1 times the average income of £19,313)

► In Yorkshire and Humberside the average house price is £156,041 (8.3 times the average income of £18,720)

The survey also revealed in the North high house prices were blamed by 59% by young people for not buying a home, with 41% also citing banks' reluctance to offer mortgages as another key factor.

The Federation said it was a scandal people were being forced to put their lives on hold indefinitely due to a chronic shortage of affordable homes and called on all political parties to commit to protecting the housing budget when spending cuts are made after the next election.

Federation head of North Derek Long said:- "Across the North of England young adults believe home ownership is more a dream than a reality. We are in danger of locking a whole generation of young people out of the housing market because prices are simply too high.   The shortage of new affordable homes in the North sent prices rocketing over the last decade. These are well out of reach of the vast majority of first time buyers. This poll shows young people are well aware of the real difficulty in getting a foot on the property ladder.   The three main political should give funding for the house building programme the same untouchable status as health, education and policing - and protect it from cuts."

MFH - JOHN JOHNSON

MERSEYSIDE Police are now becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of 53 year old John Johnson, who went missing from University Hospital Aintree on Tuesday, 20 April 2010.  Mr Johnson was last seen at about 8am this morning and has not been in touch with any family, friends or staff since then.  Mr Johnson is described as being white, 5ft 6 to 7 ins tall of stocky build with light brown hair thinning at the front. He is unshaven and was last seen wearing a red T-shirt and jeans. Anyone who has seen John or who has any information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 4548 or the Missing Persons Helpline in confidence:- on 0500 700 700.

Wigan unites to Keep Britain Tidy

AS the home of Keep Britain Tidy for 23 years, Wigan is hosting the country’s largest Big Tidy Up on Friday, 23 April 2010, attracting business including Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s, schools and volunteers. Litter blights our local areas and there is no better celebration than St George’s Day to rally the nation as over 1000 Big Tidy Up’s are taking place this week alone – with Wigan as the main event.  4 hotspots across the town have been identified as litter pick sites including; the Saddle Junction and the DW Stadium, and volunteers will be highly recognisable in their luminous Big Tidy Up tabards!  Keep Britain Tidy has also hired a distinctive double decker bus that will transport tired litter pickers to Alexandra Park at lunch time for a celebration event with ticket giveaways for Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic, face painting and food. The bus will then be stuffed with the litter collected on the day. The turn out will be an example to other towns and cities to do the same and to reinforce the campaign’s main message that everyone can get out and do a litter pick to improve their local area.  Niki Holt from Keep Britain Tidy said:- “It is fantastic to have the full support of Wigan. As well as litter picking, The Big Tidy Up is about people coming together, doing something positive and making a commitment to respect and maintain the local places we all call home.”  People who want to join in on the day can pledge their interest by emailing:- wigantidyup@keepbritaintidy.org.

Elderly people in Knowsley get fit without leaving their armchairs

KNOWSLEY Housing Trust (KHT) has donated around £2,000 to support the Happy Hours group over the last two years, which encourages people over the age of 50 to have fun and exercise.

Residents meet up every week to make friends, have fun and take part in arm chair exercises

“We were concerned about the number of elderly people who were sat in all day, seven days a week, just watching TV. When we talked to older people we found that they didn’t want a boring OAP social club, they wanted something fun and active.” said Wendy Ferguson, who helps run the Happy Hours group.

The group has been running for two years and is organised by IKAN – a support service for older people in Knowlsey – and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Sport Development Team.

Up to 38 people meet every Tuesday at 10am at the Towerhill Community Centre in Kirkby, with KHT providing funding for an
instructor to teach armchair-based exercise classes.

“The difference the group has made to people’s lives is amazing. We have one couple who had not left the house for nearly six years, but now regularly attend Happy Hours. It’s not only physical health we improve, but also mental wellbeing. It gives people the chance to socialize and make new friends.” said Wendy Ferguson

Happy Hours was named after one of its founder members Mary Stone, who described her time with the group as ‘the happiest
hours of my life.’

Sandra Williams, KHT’s Neighbourhood Manager for Kirkby, said:- “This goes to show the kind of impact the sessions are having. It’s fantastic news for people across Knowsley and we are delighted to be able to show our support.”

For more information on Happy Hours call:- 0800 694 0270.

What else are people eating, snorting and injecting when they take illegal drugs?

THE Centre for Public Health has publishing a new report:- "CUT: A Guide to the Adulterants, Bulking agents and other Contaminants found in illicit drugs." Almost all illicit drugs contain other substances, in addition to the drug itself. CUT looks at different pharmaceutical products, chemicals and even infectious agents that are deliberately and sometimes accidentally added to different drugs; examining their potential effects on health and the importance of improving knowledge about, and reducing the dangers represented by, such adulterants.

Since the beginning of the 21st century there has been an identified trend of increases in the adulteration of cocaine with phenacetin (most probably due to its similarity to the properties of cocaine).

However, phenacetin is banned in many countries due to its links to causing cancer and kidney-damage.

Key findings from the report include:-

• Illicit drugs are commonly adulterated using substances that: o simply add bulk, such as sugars in heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine;

• Enhance or mimic the effects of illicit drugs, such as quinine in heroin, which has a similar bitter taste to heroin and is thought to mimic the respiratory ‘rush’ experienced by injecting heroin;

• Make it easier for the drug to be taken, such as caffeine in heroin and cocaine which make these drugs easier to smoke by vaporizing the drug at a lower temperature.

• While adulterants are routinely found in illicit drugs, reports of substances cut with household cleaning products, brick dust and ground glass are often inaccurate. Dealers usually avoid adding such substances as their ‘business’ thrives on repeat custom.

• Covert, illicit and often unhygienic drug production means that poor production techniques can result in the presence of adulterants, for example lead can be present in finished batches of heroin.

• adulterants can be introduced during the manufacture of illicit drugs, such as procaine during the manufacture of heroin and cocaine. Procaine can cause central nervous system damage, tremors, convulsions and anxiety. Bacteria like Clostridium novyi have also appeared in drugs such as heroin and resulted in drug user deaths in the UK and elsewhere.