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Fields good
factor!
ONE of
Liverpool City Centre's green spaces will become a chilled-out haven
as thousands descend on the city during the August Bank Holiday
weekend.
For the first time in the 20 year history of the Mathew Street Music
Festival, a free family-friendly zone will be located on the site of
St John's Gardens. The area, which will be known as Strawberry
Fields, will be open on both days of the event (26 and 27 August)
from 12-5pm and will evoke the atmosphere of a traditional garden
party.
Aimed at families with young children, the alcohol-free zone will
have street theatre, craft workshops, face and body painting,
holistic therapies, drumming workshops, giant Beatles puppets,
healthy refreshment concessions and picnic areas. And there will be
a strawberry theme to all the decorations!
The special area has been funded by Liverpool Primary Care Trust
(PCT).
Liverpool City Council's Mayoral Lead for Community Safety
Councillor Peter Brennan, said:- "Strawberry Fields is the
perfect area for those who want to enjoy the festival, but with
young ones would rather not be among the huge crowds. This
zone will be the perfect place to relax, away from the hustle and
bustle, yet never be far away from the action. We always want to
make sure our events are family friendly and thanks to this
fantastic support from Liverpool PCT, for the first time we can give
people an option to enjoy a different experience at the event."
Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT said:- "The Matthew
Street Music Festival is one of the busiest dates in Liverpool's
calendar and I'm delighted this year we're able to provide an area
for visitors to take time-out from the event, relax and take
advantage of the many free activities that will be on offer
throughout both days.
The area has been specially designed to complement the main festival
but also support the 'Fiveways to Health and Wellbeing,' providing
an area for families to sit down together, access healthy
refreshments and holistic therapies, be entertained by the street
theatre or take part in one of the craft workshops."
Strawberry Fields is named after the iconic Beatles song which was
written by John Lennon. The song is an affectionate tribute to a
Salvation Army Children's Home called Strawberry Field where John
enjoyed garden parties as a youngster.
For the latest news why not visit about the festival's website:-
mathewstreetfestival.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can also follow the event on Twitter:- @mathewstreet or search
for Mathew Street Festival on Facebook! |
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NSPCC finds that
31% of sex offenders in Merseyside are related to their victims
THE majority of sexual
assaults against children are committed by someone they know, new
NSPCC research reveals. And in nearly 1 in 4 cases the offender is a
member of the child's immediate family.
Figures obtained by the charity from around half the police forces
in England and Wales reveal that in just 7% of reported sexual abuse
incidents last year a stranger was responsible. However, more than
seven out of 10 cases involved a relative, friend or someone else
close to the child. The remainder were committed by acquaintances.
Information provided by Merseyside Police shows that in 31% of
cases, the offender was related to the victim. That's almost 1 in 3
of all reported cases of sexual assaults against children in
Merseyside, for which the force was able to provide data on the
relationship.
A teenage female caller to the Liverpool ChildLine base earlier this
year said:- "I was sexually abused by my grandfather when I
was younger for 4 years. I don't see him anymore. I do understand
that it was not my fault. He manipulated me, saying it was our
secret, I know that was wrong.
The trouble is my parents don't believe me. I just feel like I
cannot take it anymore and have attempted suicide and self harm. I
don't sleep and have nightmares; I have tried everything to sleep
better including pills. I just want to move on with my life."
The NSPCC is now calling on the Government to collect and publish
this information centrally. While the focus on child sexual
exploitation and grooming gangs is welcome, most sexual abuse still
happens in the home and we need better data on this more widespread
type of sexual abuse. This is a major issue and earlier this year
figures obtained by the NSPCC showed there were more than 23,000 sex
crimes against children; the equivalent of 60 a day; reported in
England and Wales.
And the NSPCC is calling on adults to look out for signs of abuse
and for parents to talk to their children about this difficult
issue. They can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 if they need advice.
A better understanding of sexual abuse in the family is essential so
children are better equipped to protect themselves and report it
early.
Bernadette Oxley, regional head of service for the NSPCC in the
North West said:- "There is sometimes the perception that
child sex offenders are strangers; sinister figures lurking in the
shadows. But the reality is that most victims know their abusers.
They are more likely to be a relative, neighbour or family friend
rather than someone they have never met before.
Every year the lives of thousands of children are ruined by adults
who they think they can trust but who sexually abuse them. Many of
the victims are threatened or intimidated into silence with some
thinking no one will believe them or that their revelations will
break-up their family.
This means some offenders go unpunished and are at liberty to abuse
more youngsters. Understandably, it takes a lot of courage for a
child to talk about such awful events but speaking out is key to
ending the cycle of abuse and they must have support to do this. We
strongly urge children who think they have no one to turn to to
contact ChildLine." |
