Sidney Road Lights' Best Fundraising Year Ever!

FOR the 4th year in a row, Steve Henshall and his wife Jan raised funds for Freshfields by running a Christmas Lights display in their front garden in Sidney Road, Southport, between Saturday, 7 December 2019 until Monday, 6 January 2020. Steve and Jan spent a lovely couple of hours with the cats and all the other animals at Freshfields Animal Rescue on Friday, 17 January 2020, when they came down to present the cheque for the funds raised, a grand total of ₤1577.30.

Helen Stanbury, Director, said:- "We are very grateful to Steve, Jan and their family for their fantastic efforts in raising these funds to help us with our vital work with abused, abandoned and neglected animals. Every day we open our doors to more animals who are in desperate need of our care. The generosity of everyone who came along, enjoyed the stunning lights display, and dropped some change into the buckets will help us transform the lives of animals who have nowhere else to turn. Thank you so much from all the animals and humans at Freshfields!"

Steve Henshall said:- "We're very proud to be supporting Freshfields Animal Rescue with our light shows. The dedication and love they lavish on the animals is almost unbelievable. We met the three kittens who were dumped outside the rescue centre on Christmas Day. They're now safe, warm and well fed waiting for their forever homes. Everywhere is so clean and tidy; it's a credit to all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly day in, day out. But the biggest thanks must go to everyone who came to watch the lightshows and donated so generously, allowing us to better our target of ₤1500. Roll on Christmas 2020!!!"

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Your Armed Forces Forum needs your organisation!

DO you provide services and advice for former Armed Forces personnel within Liverpool? If so, Liverpool City Council wants to hear from you! Thursday, 30 January 2020, sees the 1st meeting of the new Armed Forces Forum for Liverpool that will give organisations offering services to people who have left the Armed Forces the chance to discuss issues, ask questions and share ideas. The City already has a long established strategic group for Armed Forces, chaired by the City's Armed Forces champion Cllr Roy Gladden, but it was felt there should be a wider group to capture the variety of services and support in the City. The 1st forum will be held at the:- Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT, from 10am to noon.

Cllr Roy Gladden, Liverpool's Armed Forces Champion, said:- "We're already very proud of how the City supports and engages with its residents who have served their country, but we are always looking for ways to do better. Leaving the Armed Forces is a big change for everyone, not least the wider family, and in the City it is vital that we offer a range of services for everyone whatever their experience may be. We know that sometimes that transition is harder for some than for others and our partners do an incredible job of supporting those who may be having a tougher time. But it is equally important that we're ready to offer a helping hand to service leavers who are ready to hit the ground running when they arrive on Civvy Street. The 1st meeting of the forum will not only give organisations a chance to get together and share ideas but we will be celebrating all the good work that the Council and its partners has been doing for many years."

Speakers at the event will include:-

► Colleen Martin, Assistant Director, supporting communities, Liverpool City Council, will speak about the City's commitment, vision and priorities for everyone who has left service.

► Major (Retd) Geoff Nuzam, Head of Engagement, the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association (NW RFCA) will share his own experiences of transitioning out of the Army and what he learnt working as welfare officer

► Lt Cdr Lee Paddock, retention, transition and resettlement Support, HQ NW, and Laura Horner, personnel support officer, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, will lead a mythbusting session about transition.

Geoff Nuzum, head of engagement at the NW RFCA, said:- "I'm delighted to have been asked to take part in Liverpool City Council's first stakeholder event. The support the City provides to its veteran community is already very good and I know first-hand from my experience as a former Army welfare officer how important Local Authority support can be to those service personnel, their families and veterans who need it at some time in their life. This stakeholder event is a great opportunity for the City's veterans' organisations to come together to share best practice and work together to further strengthen the City's commitment to the defence community."

Invitations to the forum have been sent directly to known organisations in the City, but the Council is keen to get as many services as possible involved. Please note, it is not open to members of the public.

If you would like to attend please register your interest via Eventbrite online. We also think it is worth adding that this event is free to attend!

It is anticipated that the forum will meet twice a year. Liverpool City Council currently holds the Armed Forces Covenant gold award of the Employer Recognition Scheme and also hosts the website.