NORTH WEST MARINE WILDLIFE PROJECT GETS TIMELY BOOST

AS part of its first birthday celebrations P1 Marine Foundation presented a special award in Liverpool last weekend to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust for its Shoresearch Project.

An award of £1,500 was made to Cheryl Nicholson, Marine Conversation Officer, Lancashire Wildlife Trust by the Right Honourable Member of Parliament Keith Vaz on the final day of the P1 SuperStock powerboat racing season in Liverpool. The funds will support the Trust’s new Shoresearch project which recruits local volunteers to raise awareness of the North West’s highly diverse marine wildlife and coastline.

"This P1 Marine Foundation award could not have come at a better time as we are officially launching Shoresearch in the North West next month and the funding is needed now for training volunteers in species identification and to buy vital equipment for recording data." commented Cheryl.

The funding will enable local people to help by monitoring the North West’s coastline and engage with its amazing sea-life, including basking sharks, porpoises, dolphins and leather back turtles. Volunteers get involved by going along the shoreline and recording vital data for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

"Much of Britain’s coastline is unprotected which is why we need to gather information about areas such as our mud flats and honeycomb worm reefs as we seek to create marine conservation zones in the future." added Cheryl.

In its first year, the P1 Marine Foundation has partnered and worked closely with a number of environmental organisations and universities. It was established in September 2010 with the aim of preserving and improving the marine environment through education, public awareness and networking. "We are looking to create further partnerships which will also seek to communicate the importance of the marine environment to coastal communities and beyond", said Sabrina Taseer, Projects and Development Manager from P1 Marine Foundation.

For further information on how to become involved in the North West Wildlife Trust’s Shoresearch project please contact Cheryl Nicholson on:- 01539 816324.

Don’t miss the NSPCC’s Safe Place Appeal Ball

PREPARATIONS are firmly underway for the NSPCC’s Safe Place Appeal Ball in Merseyside on Saturday 8 October and people across the region are being urged to get their tickets today.  Held at the stunning Liverpool’s Cathedral Lutyens Crypt the black tie ball will raise money for the NSPCC Safe Place Appeal on Merseyside, which funds the NSPCC’s Hargreaves Centre in Everton.

This is the 2nd Safe Place Appeal Ball to be held in the region since the launch of the NSPCC Safe Place Appeal by John Hargreaves in 2004. The evening will begin from 7pm when guests will enjoy a 3 course banquet, accompanied by live music from band Good Times. There will also be a tombola and grand auction with some fantastic prizes up for grabs. CityTalk presenter Pete Price will be compare during the evening.

Cathy Frost is the Chair on the organising committee of the ball. She commented:- "The Safe Place Appeal Ball is the perfect opportunity to get together and enjoy a fantastic evening of great food and brilliant entertainment. Don’t miss your chance to come along to one of the most exciting charity event’s this year and help us raise valuable funds for vulnerable and abused children across Merseyside and around the UK!"

The charity ball is set to be a night not to be missed in Liverpool’s social calendar and tickets are on sale now. Tickets are priced at £950 for a table of 10. Get your tickets today by calling:- 07971 291323 or email.  For more information about supporting the NSPCC’s work in Merseyside call:- 0161 628 1209 or email.

HOME BARGAINS OPENS NEW STORE IN SOUTHPORT

HOME Bargains, the top brand, bottom price retailer, is investing approximately £500,000 in a new store opening in Southport bringing with it up to 30 new jobs to the area.  This newest store opens in Meols Cop Retail Park on Saturday 24 September 2011 and will replace a former JJB Sports.  As other retailers are closing and leaving the UK’s high streets deserted, Home Bargains is bucking the trend with plans to open 50 new stores across the UK in the next twelve months. The company has also launched an ecommerce website, where customers around the country can buy larger items online.  TJ Morris, which operates as Home Bargains, has acquired 30 former Woolworths outlets from the administrator, most of which are already open for trading and plans to purchase further stores directly from the landlords.  Joe Morris, operations director at Home Bargains, commented:- "We have been trying to find a suitable store in Southport for many, many years. Meols Cop Retail Park will be a great location for us and we’re thrilled that we can now bring Top Brands at Bottom Prices to Southport."

Shoppers can get their hands on the latest bargains, including a great selection of homewares, with a range of other top brand goods also on offer. These include: health & beauty, household, sweets & snacks, home style and drinks & alcohol.  With more than 250 stores across the UK and over two million customers per week, Home Bargains is one of the country’s best-loved discount retailers, stocking top quality, branded goods at low, low prices 7 days a week.