Charitable holidaymakers can now help to raise money for a leading suicide prevention charity

NORTH West based PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide will receive a donation from bookings made through the new social enterprise Charitable Travel. The travel agency says it hopes the "spirit of community and kindness" seen during lockdown will be reflected in future holiday planning. Melissa Tilling, founder and Chief Executive of Charitable Travel, said:- "We think the work PAPYRUS does across the UK is incredible and we are delighted to offer people the chance to show their support simply by booking a holiday. If we have created1 positive out of Covid-19 then it is learning new ways of thinking, sharing a spirit of community and kindness. Suicide has been too hidden over the years, almost a taboo. Why shouldn't we consider and talk about these things in everyday life? If that means talking about suicide prevention when you are planning and booking a holiday, why not?"

Customers donate 5% of their holiday price directly to Warrington based PAPYRUS through the JustGiving fundraising platform. Once that donation has been made Charitable Travel deducts the same amount from the price of the holiday, meaning the customer's donation is free.  For example a package holiday costing ₤1,500 would raise ₤75 for PAPYRUS or a charity of the holidaymaker's choice. Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS, said:- "The past few months have been incredibly difficult especially for vulnerable young people. Throughout, many individuals, companies and organisations like Charitable Travel have continued to find original, inventive and generous ways of raising money for us. A donation from the cost of your next holiday could pay for potentially life saving calls, texts or emails to our HOPELINEUK service, support the training we offer, assist our work engaging with young people in local communities, help our volunteers and a lot more. So let's all work together to continue giving hope to a young person who is struggling with life."

Charitable Travel says the initiative is all about giving something back to the community. Melissa Tilling added:- "We are the UK's 1st and only social enterprise which is fundraising across the charity sector. As a corporate supporter of PAPYRUS we hope this purposeful relationship will raise funds and increase awareness of the incredible work they do."

For more details about Charitable Travel go to:- Charitable.Travel and for information on how you can donate to PAPYRUS or become a funding partner visit:- Papyrus-UK.Org. For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact the PAPYRUS HOPE LINE UK on:- 08000684141, text:- 07860039967 or send an email to:- Pat@Papyrus-UK.Org.

Failing Police collaborations cost forces money, time and effort - HMICFRS

COLLABORATION between Police Forces when done well can save money, reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency and effectiveness. However, too many Police collaborations are failing, or not giving the results they should. This is costing Forces money, time and effort, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has said in a report that has recently been published.  The report The Hard Yards: Police to Police Collaboration; looks specifically at how Forces collaborate in order to provide better, more efficient services to the public. The Hard Yards:- Police to Police Collaboration is based on findings, from HMICFRS's Integrated PEEL Assessments (IPA) inspections, for 2018/19.  Inspectors found that:-

► Too many collaborations do not have a clear purpose or objective that is understood by all involved.

► Some forces are not tracking the benefits of collaboration and fail to think beyond financial savings.

► Complicated and bureaucratic decision-making undermines the effectiveness of many collaborations.

► Some forces are failing to put people with the right skills in their collaborations and are not effectively sharing learning.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:- "Nationally forces are spending over a quarter of a billion pounds on collaboration every year. Collaboration done well can save money, reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency and effectiveness. It also allows forces to club together to provide specialist services that they couldn't provide individually, and they help forces to learn from best practice. Ultimately, collaborations can improve the service that forces give to the public. But too many Police collaborations are failing, or not giving the results they should, costing forces money, time and effort. In this report we make recommendations about what forces can do to collaborate successfully and productively. We have also made recommendations to national organisations to improve the support given to Police Forces as they collaborate. We urge forces and the national organisations that support their vital work to reflect on these recommendations and put them into action to improve Police efficiency and effectiveness."

Report recommends Southport's St Teresa's should remain open

SEFTON Council's Cabinet is set to consider a report which will recommend that St Teresa's School in Southport remains open. The Council has always been keen to explore every avenue and, recognising the impact of Covid-19, would want to give the School more time to work on plans for them to remain open and achieve the best outcomes. The School's Governing Body has given the Council assurances that they are determined to make their plan work. If the report is approved at the Cabinet Meeting, on 30 July 2020, and the School remains open, Sefton Council will continue to support the School Governors and leadership to monitor the School's financial position and progress against the Governing Body's plan which would ensure the sustainability of the School for the future. St Teresa's School is rated as a Good School by OFSTED. A full copy of the agenda and the report can be found on the Sefton Council website.

LGA's response to the UK Government's Flu vaccination programme statement

RESPONDING to the expansion of the flu vaccination programme, Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Vice Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "Extending the free winter flu jab to as many people as possible is essential if we are to tackle 2 potentially deadly viruses head on and prevent 1seasonable and predictable virus creating the conditions for a 2nd, more serious and unpredictable deadly 2nd Wave of COVID-19. We are pleased the Government has widened the criteria for a free jab and urge it to consider whether a free flu jab can also be offered to everyone else in the country this year. It is absolutely critical that all our health and care workers get themselves vaccinated, to protect both themselves and the people they look after including our elderly and most vulnerable, from a potentially devastating 2nd Wave of infections. Councils' Directors of Public Health should oversee the wider rollout of the flu jab in their areas in order to use their local knowledge and expertise to ensure as many people as possible can get themselves vaccinated."