Over 400,000 people over the age of 70 struggling to make ends meet

NEW research commissioned for debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has found that hundreds of thousands of people over the age of 70 are struggling to make ends meet, many with debt problems. The charity is warning that the plight of older people with financial problems is particularly challenging due to their limited options in increasing income and social care costs.

Financially vulnerable:- Conducted for the charity by the Financial Inclusion Centre, the research identified 427,000 households in the over-70 age groups as ‘already in financial difficulty’, either three months behind with a debt repayment or subject to some form of debt action such as insolvency or ‘at risk’ of falling behind.

Buckling budgets of the over 70s:- Analysis of CCCS’s clients found a significant number of those over the age of 70 to be barely making ends meet. It found that 13% of its clients aged 70 to 74, 9% of those aged 75 to 79 and 8% of those over the age of 80, have no money to repay their debts once they have covered the cost of their living expenses.

CCCS says that the situation among the over 70s is likely to deteriorate considerably over the next year as they struggle with continuing budget pressures such as inflation. The research found that 30% of its clients aged 70 to 74, 23% of those aged 75 to 79 and 22% of those aged 80 and over would have no money to repay their debts once they have covered the cost of living expenses at the end of the month if their monthly income was reduced by £50.

Commenting on the findings, CCCS director of external affairs Delroy Corinaldi said:- “Not only are money problems difficult to deal with at any age, they are particularly hard at an age when you will find it hard to increase your income. While most people would hope to have paid off their mortgage and other debts by the time they are 70, this is a distant dream for a significant number of older people.  Old age brings its own added expenses, and so the key message for anyone retired who is struggling to cope with existing debts is to seek free advice from a debt charity as soon as possible.”

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Usdaw launches campaign against Police Cuts

THE shopworkers union Usdaw has launched a campaign against the Police Cuts in England and Wales and has branded the Tory-led coalition’s attack on police budgets a threat to the safety of all shopworkers.  Usdaw has produced a leaflet and petition against the cuts and union activists and members will be out in force during Respect for Shopworkers Week, ending on 11 November 2011, are urging shoppers and members of the public to back their campaign and to sign the Union’s petition.  Usdaw’s latest Freedom from Fear survey revealed that in the previous 12 months, 6% of shopworkers surveyed had been subjected to violent attack, 37% had been threatened with harm and a massive 70% had suffered verbal abuse. Usdaw’s petition against the Police Cuts can be signed online. Completed petitions will be presented to individual Members of Parliament in the run up to Christmas or early in the New Year.   John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said:- “Every minute of every day a shopworker is assaulted, threatened or abused. While our Freedom From Fear campaign has helped raise awareness of the problem and reduced the number of incidents, the level of violence and abuse faced by shopworkers remains shocking and totally unacceptable.  Thankfully, incidents of physical violence against shopworkers halved in the past decade, but a key factor in this was Labour’s investment in the Police and crime prevention. The Tory-led coalition’s 20% cut to Police budgets will take16,000 Police officers and 1,800 PCSOs off the street and this represents a real threat to the safety of all shopworkers. Does anyone really believe that by cutting frontline policing, crime will continue to fall and people will be safer? I fear that when these cuts bite we will be left with a much less effective Police force that is grossly under-staffed and terribly demoralised. Usdaw members are genuinely worried about the impact the cuts will have on their working lives and in the communities where they live and I’m sure the vast majority of people feel exactly the same.”

Finos At The Waterfront brings taste of the Med to The Waterfront

A Southport Waterfront scheme heralded as creating the catalyst for a new destination of quality restaurant, café bar and leisure operators has officially launched with Finos At The Waterfront tapas, bar & grill opening as the first of many new tenants promised. And Director Bob Warrior believes his brand’s offer will attract guests from around the region, helping to increase Southport’s profile on the North West culinary map. "The scheme has allowed us to create an ambience and location that matches the strength of our food and drink offer. We overlook the resort’s dramatic coastline and marine lake and I know Southport extremely well. I felt that the area had a nascent leisure scene in terms of opportunities to increase the mid to upmarket offer of wining, dining and entertainment and that’s what we’ve created. Our aim now is to help drive the local economy through being part of a burgeoning new leisure circuit for this classic resort."  Mr. Warrior added:- "The record number of bed nights enjoyed by the adjacent four star Ramada Plaza Hotel, the eleven million annual shoppers to the area and the level of annual day visitor spend equating to in excess of £150m according to the most recent figures speaks volumes about the potential of Southport."

The Dome announces its first line-up of shows before end of year!

LIVERPOOL'S new 1200 capacity live performance venue The Dome, situated in Grand Central on Renshaw Street has announced an opening line-up of acts to take place in 2011. A larger line-up of acts for the New Year will be announced in the coming weeks.

10 top live touring acts have been announced and have promised to rock The Dome to the core with its hi-tech sound system and electric performances. Opening the doors to The Dome is the ultimate PINK tribute act I’m Not Pink on Saturday  19 November, folloWednesdayby Guns & Roses the new excellent tribute band to Guns n’ Roses consisting of the finest members of the last few GnR tributes on Friday 25 November, the popular UK touring show Back For Good the finest Take That tribute on Saturday  26 November, a double bill of legendary 80’s bands The Blockheads and The Boomtown Rats on Sun 27 November, new Irish rock band Bipolar Empire on Thu 8 December, 80’s band The Beat on Friday 9 December, Metal band Live Wire (ACDC Tribute) on Saturday  10 December, TV Smith and The Valentines on Monday 12 December, Scottish dance act QFX on Friday, 16 December and finally the Irish rock sell-out on Saturday, Aslan on Wednesday 21 December.

The Dome owner Sean Finnerty said:- “The venue is starting to roll and it is exciting to see such a diverse group of initial shows on sale, watch this space for our next announcement of names for 2012 which will be our main booking year”

The ticketing solution for the venue will be processed by the Echo Arena Box Office that will offer an online, telephone and personal caller service to The Dome customers.

The Dome offers theatre style seating on two levels with 500 fixed circle seats and an option of 700 standing or 500 seating downstairs in the stalls (Cabaret style tables is also an option), A huge organ installed in 1907 acts as an impressive back drop and stands proud behind the main stage. The venue has an inbuilt hi-tech lighting and sound system, 2 bars, catering facilities and an in-house promotions and production team. The Dome will offer a wide range of affordable daytime hire rates to welcome local community groups through to full-scale conferences.

The Dome Grand Central is set to become a hub of creativity and set to be one of Liverpool’s leading live music, theatre, cabaret, variety and vaudeville venues.

	LISTING INFORMATION
	Saturday 19 November - I’m Not Pink (Pink Tribute Act) Doors Open 7pm £7.00 adv, £10.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
Friday 25 November Guns & Roses (Guns N’ Roses Tribute Act) Doors Open 7pm £6.00 adv, £9.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs	Saturday 26 November Back For Good (Take That Tribute Act) Doors Open 7pm £12.00 adv, £15.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
	Sunday 27 November The Blockheads and The Boomtown Rats Doors Open 7pm £18.00 adv, £23.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
Thursday 8 December Bipolar Empire Doors Open 7pm £8.00 adv, £11.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs	Friday 9 December The Beat Doors Open 7pm £12.00 adv, £15 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
Saturday 10 December Live Wire (ACDC Tribute) Doors Open 7pm £12.00 adv, £15.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs	Monday 12 December TV Smith and The Valentines ‘Best of the Adverts Tour’ Doors Open 7pm £5.00 adv £8.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
Friday 16 December QFX + DJ Doors Open 7pm £10.00 adv, £15.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs
Wednesday 21 December Aslan Doors Open 7pm £15 adv, £20.00 door Standing – Downstairs Seated – Upstairs	THE DOME Grand Central 35 Renshaw Street Liverpool L1 2SF
You can book now in person at:- Liverpool Echo Arena box office, on The Dome Grand Central hotline on:- 0844 809 4620, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday,10am to 4pm, or by going online on:- thedomegrandcentral.com.

Next of kin Appeal - Josephine Allen, aged 70 from Croxtheth.

LIVERPOOL Coroner's Office are appealing for the next of kin of a woman who died on Sunday, 6 November 2011, to come forward. Josephine Allen, aged 70, was found dead at her home in Brompton House, Croxteth Gate, near Sefton Park. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. The coroner's office is now trying to trace her next of kin. Any next of kin, or anyone who knows of their whereabouts, is asked to call Liverpool Coroner's Office on:- 0151 233 4706.