Southport Scouts mark St George's Day 2018
Photographs by Viv Rathbone.

DID you know that St George's Day is on 23 April every year? Sadly, England does not mark this date with a National Holiday, unlike Scotland, with St Andrew's Day and St. David's Day, in Wales, and the most well known, St Patrick's Day, in both Ireland and Northern Ireland! But each year Scouts all over England celebrate it. In Southport, on Sunday, 22 April 2018, the Southport District Scouts held their annual parade from the DHQ Waterside Lodge to Holy Trinity Church, Southport. These photographs have been taken for us Viv Rathbone, of the parade.

Interestingly, St George’s Day falls in the UK on the same date as Shakespeare's birthday and also now the newest member of the British Royal Family; Welcome to Prince Louis!

The photos below, in the sunshine, are of the practice for this event, taken a few days before the main parade.

Did you know that it's widely believed St George was born Georgios and into a noble Christian family, who lived in Lydda (About 10 miles from Tel Aviv, in modern day Israel) a Roman province of Syria Palestina. He is thought to have died in 303 AD and is also reported to be buried in Lydda, having never set foot in England! St George was said to have been an Officer within the Guard of Roman Emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. The story about him slaying of the dragon seems to date from 11th Century, at the time of the Crusades.

Rapper Professor Green joins equality debate at University's 'Festival of Ideas 2018'

UK rapper Professor Green, who recently made the acclaimed documentary:- 'Working Class White Men' for Channel 4, will be 'in conversation' on the same subject at a free public event at Edge Hill University in June 2018.

In Conversation: Professor Green on Working Class White Males will be 1 of the highlights of the University's third annual  'Festival of Ideas,' which returns in May and June 2018, exploring a theme of Equalities.

At the event, on Thursday, 7 June 2018, Professor Green will be in conversation with Edge Hill's Dr Eleanor Peters and Grace Robinson about the difficulties today's youth face and what more can be done to bring about equality in society.

Dr Eleanor Peters is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She has worked for many years as a researcher in the voluntary sector and in local government and author or co-author of a number of publications on youth justice, parenting, social care issues and drug use. Eleanor is currently researching the connection between music and crime.

Grace Robinson is a current PhD candidate researching street gangs and joint enterprise across Merseyside, with a background in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. She has worked in a number of voluntary roles including offender mentoring and restorative justice panels for both adult and young offenders.

Chairing the conversation is Professor Roger Shannon, a renowned TV and Film Director and Producer and the director of Edge Hill's Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE).

The  'Festival of Ideas 2018' is a series of talks, exhibitions and performances to engage academics, students and members of the public in conversations upon a common theme. The festival is programmed by Edge Hill's 3 research institutes, The Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI), The Institute for Public Policy and Professional Practice (I4P), and The Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE).

Book your place on the University's website and also you can view the full programme for 'Festival of Ideas 2018' online now!

Local opticians supports people living with autism

STAFF members at Specsavers Southport and Formby have completed a course that will help provide support to customers with autism. The initiative, which was developed with The National Autistic Society and is being rolled out across Specsavers stores nationwide, aims to build the team's knowledge about the lifelong developmental disability, while helping to improve the customer experience for people with autism, and their carers.

The online learning modules cover understanding autism; communicating with people with autism; how autism can impact the senses, and adjustments that stores can make.

Victoria Rowe, optical assistant at the Southport store, is 1 of the team who has fully completed the training. On passing successfully, Victoria says:- "The training has made me more aware of the condition and helped me to recognise and adapt my behaviour accordingly, for example discussing the procedures and timescales of the eye examination and being aware of individual needs and preferences."

Retail director at Specsavers Southport and Formby, Victoria Dunn, says:- "Autism affects more than 1 in 100 people1 and as our store is such a big part of the community, it is vital that we are able to communicate and support someone with the condition in the most effective way possible.  We are very proud to be involved in supporting The National Autistic Society and hope this training will help make the optical experience easier for people who are living with the condition."

The National Autistic Society's business development manager, Sharlene Wright, says:- "This has been a great opportunity for us to increase awareness of autism in partnership with an organisation that is proactively seeking to enable autistic people to have a positive experience in its stores. It has been an inspiring collaboration and The National Autistic Society welcomes the open attitudes and minds with which Specsavers is seeking to enhance the lives of people on the autism spectrum."