Nursery leads way on cycling

CHILDREN, staff and parents at Everton Nursery School and Family Centre are at the forefront of the city's cycling revolution.

Members of staff have taken up the City Council's cycle to work scheme with enthusiasm; children use bikes in the school grounds throughout the week and are able to share experiences with staff, parents and carers and bike rides have been organised through Everton Park.

As well as cycling to work staff members have also been getting on their bikes for leisure taking part in sportives, criteriums and even cycling at the velodrome in Manchester.

Bikeright, the cycle training organisation, have also been involved at the centre through their Choose Freedom programme.

Headteacher, Dr Lesley Curtis and ICT Co-ordinator Matthew Farrell were the first staff members at the Centre; which has recently been judged by Ofsted to be outstanding for the fourth time since 2004; to take up the cycle to work offer.

To date, 9 members of staff from a team of 50 have accessed the scheme. Staff cycle from all directions to Everton, with the longest journeys being from Birkenhead and Crosby.

Matthew said:- "I have been using the Cycle to Work scheme for over three years now, before I accessed the scheme I had not really ridden a bike since childhood.  The scheme allowed me to purchase a road bike from Halfords which turned a 1 hour bus journey into a 15 minute cycle. Not only was I saving time and money, but I was also getting fitter and feeling healthier.  I started to cycle as a hobby during the summer months and slowly increased the distances I would cycle for fun.  I could not imagine not cycling to work.  I now have the same waist size I had when I was 16, my diet has improved and most of all I enjoy my commute to work, something I feel not many drivers or bus passengers could say. In the morning I feel refreshed and invigorated as I arrive at work and in the evening when I leave work I'm always thinking about taking a long way home to enjoy the sun!  I regularly now take part in long distance rides during the week of 40 plus miles and travel up to 100 miles a day at weekends. Cycling really has helped me!"

Merseyside Fire and Emergency Support Service - New Vehicle Appeal

IMAGINE, it is 3am and you've just woken to the sound of your smoke alarm and the smell of smoke; what would you do?  The fire service takes care of the fire, but who looks after the people? Many people's reality is that they're stood in their nightwear, perhaps with children and pets and any personal possessions they were able to save. Most are unable to return to their homes. Even the most resourceful of us would be shaken, upset and feeling emotional in this situation and if your car keys, mobile phone and purse are in the house then a lot of us are less resourceful than we think and that is how the British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service helps. For 25 years the British Red Cross has provided a specially equipped vehicle and trained volunteers to give practical and emotional support to victims of fires, floods and other emergencies in Merseyside. Unfortunately our current vehicle is 13 years old and is now really showing its age and we ask for your support to raise enough money to buy a new vehicle guaranteeing that we'll be able to help people in crisis for many years to come.

A new vehicle costs £40,000 however we have £20,000 from sales of other vehicles. We've received an amazing opportunity and we urgently need your help....  A very generous donor has offered to MATCH FUND all donations (up to the value of £10,000) received for this appeal by the end of August 2014. We have £10,000 to raise!  Please can you make a donation today?  No matter how small or large, the value of your donation will be doubled!  Maybe you could organise an event, take on a challenge or do something extravagant!   Donate online or Send a cheque to:- Merseyside FESS Appeal, British Red Cross, Bradbury House, Tower Street, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool, L3 4BJ.

Letter to the Editor:- "EU-US trade deal worry"

"FOLLOWING the food scandals of recent years, people are becoming much more aware of what goes into our food. The last thing we need is lower legal standards, but a deal being negotiated between the EU and the US could result in exactly that. The EU-US trade deal aims to 'harmonise' European and American rules in food safety and many other areas, which in practice may mean slashing European standards to match the much lower US levels. So, products like hormone treated beef and pork, and chicken washed in chlorine, sold by US companies but currently banned here, could appear on supermarket shelves in the UK. Food is just one area in which this deal would give multinational companies much more influence in our lives. Health care and education are among the others. The deal threatens our ability to run our society in the way we choose, and it must be stopped." Sarah Morris, Liverpool.