Lend An Elfing Hand in the North West

LOOKING for a way to give something back this festive season? This December, the British Heart Foundation is launching Project Elf, its latest volunteering campaign encouraging the public to 'lend an elfing hand' over the Christmas period. This December the BHF is calling on the general public to take some time out of their busy lives, even just for an afternoon, and donate the gift of time to their local store. Whether you want to volunteer as a 1 off, pick up a few festive shifts or explore volunteering longer term, the BHF can help. It couldn't be easier; just choose a date that works for you, pick your local BHF branch, sign up and start spreading the festive joy by volunteering as a BHF elf. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than supporting a charity whilst sporting a Santa hat and tinsel?

Linda Fenn, Head of Volunteering at the BHF said:- "Volunteering over the Christmas period is a fantastic way to give back to your local community and be part of a fantastic team, whilst also helping us to raise vital funds into heart and circulatory diseases, such as stroke, diabetes and vascular dementia. Each year heart and circulatory diseases kill around 18,000 people in the North West and currently 850,000 people in the region are living with these conditions. It's essential that we continue to accelerate research into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them. Our volunteers have a huge impact on raising money through our shops and with your support we can keep hearts beating and blood flowing."

At this busy time of year volunteers will be able to help with a wide range of tasks such as sorting donations, speaking to customers and creating imaginative window displays. Volunteering can make a real difference to your CV, help you meet people from all walks of life and most importantly you will be helping the British Heart Foundation to beat the heartbreak caused by heart and circulatory diseases.

For more information on how to get involved please visit:- BHF.Org.UK.

Bike and Go launches FreeWheel Tuesdays

BIKE hire scheme Bike and Go is bringing Christmas early to its Ormskirk and Southport customers; by giving them free bike hire every Tuesday between 4 December 2018 and 15 January 2019. The offer, which covers every Tuesday except Christmas Day and is open to all subscribers, is worth almost ₤23, and provides an opportunity to escape the Christmas madness while enjoying some outdoor exercise in the run up to the festive period and beyond.

The physical and mental health benefits of cycling have been well documented, with 1 study published in the official journal of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine revealing that, after pedalling a Stationary bike for 15 minutes, participants' levels of stress hormone cortisol significantly decreased. And with so many beautiful places to ride in the area, Bike and Go believes FreeWheel Tuesdays could provide the perfect antidote to the stresses of the festive period.

Suzanne Grant, Bike and Go director said:- "December is such a busy month for most people that they tend to forget about the importance of looking after their mental and physical health.  Cycling has proven health benefits and provides an excellent way to get away from it all while getting a workout too. Whether it's cycling from the train Station to home and back again, or fitting a ride into your lunch hour, we're hoping that as many people as possible will take advantage of our FreeWheel Tuesdays and sign up to enjoy free cycling on those days."

Bike and Go offers bike hire facilities from 23 participating train Stations across the Merseyrail network, including:- Ormskirk, Southport, Liverpool Central, Moorfields, Aigburth, Hoylake and West Kirby, in addition to a further 49 participating Train Stations across much of the North West, North East and Yorkshire, East and South East of England, and Scotland.

There are also a bike hire facilities at:- Seacombe Ferry Terminal and Leasowe Castle. 

To hire a Bike and Go bike, users simply need to register their card details online, which they can do via smart phones, tablets, or at home, and pay the annual ₤10 subscription fee.

They will then receive a user number via email which will allow immediate bike hire at just ₤3.80 per 24 hours, whilst they wait for their Bike and Go membership card.

Bikes can then be returned to any participating Train Station.