Knowsley Online

'Enough is Enough'- Message hits home as drug trafficker is charged

Stockbridge Village Partnership Group Action

Christopher Corfield, a 43 year old man with close links to Stockbridge village has now been charged with drug offences following Wednesday’s action by SOCA and Merseyside Police.  Four properties were searched and two people arrested during Wednesday’s dawn raids; a 27 year old woman has been bailed pending further enquiries.  
 
The action was in support of the Stockbridge Village Partnership Group which aims to tackle head on the people, places or groups that are having a detrimental effect on the area. The partnership’s message, 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH', reflects the sentiments of the community who are working together to help stamp out nuisance, disorder and even serious crime.

SOCA is supporting the activity of the SBV Partnership Group by targeting organised criminals who are either based in, or who prey on those who live in the village.

Don’t be fooled by doorstep traders

Residents in Knowsley are being encouraged not to fall victim to bogus doorstep traders.

The council’s Trading Standards team is backing a new ‘Your Doorstep, Your Decision’ campaign by the Office of Fair Trading, to reduce the problem of bogus traders offering home repairs or improvements.

It aims to help residents recognise the warning signs and have the confidence to say no.

New research from the Office of Fair Trading reveals that nearly three million people across the country have fallen victim to rogue doorstep traders, losing an average of £600 each.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer and Corporate Services, said: “Residents must never feel under pressure on their own doorstep to make decisions which could lead to unnecessary, expensive or poor quality work being carried out.

“I would encourage people to be extremely wary about any tradesmen who warn them about the condition of their home or offer supposedly special offers. You should never hand over a cash deposit and it is always a good idea to speak to someone you trust for a second opinion.

“If people are in any doubt, they should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.”

What to expect from your local bobby.

A campaign to let people know what they can expect from their police force has been launched in Knowsley.

The borough is one of sixty Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer Areas where extra efforts are being made to involve local people in the fight against crime.

The areas have crime and justice co-ordinators that make sure residents know who their local police officers are and what they are doing.

Now leaflets are to be distributed to all Knowsley residents to let them know their rights on crime and justice and who to contact if they need help.

There will also be details of help for victims and witnesses and how to nominate work that could be done by offenders as “community payback”

It is part of a national advertising campaign to let people know about the new Policing Pledge which sets out standards of service.

The marketing campaign focuses on two of the promises in the Pledge

• That local police officers will spend most of their time doing work in the community that people can see
• That residents can book in to see an officer within two days on something that is not an emergency.

The campaign also promotes a “one stop shop” for information on crime and justice at www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge.

Learn how to grow your own.

A new project is underway to teach local people how to grow their own and transform derelict land in Knowsley.

Knowsley Adult Learning Partnership (ALP) has been given £150,000 from the Government to teach adults how to grow vegetables, plants and flowers.

The Growing Places students will work on disused land across the borough in a free course that will last around six or seven months.

It is part of the Government’s Learning Revolution, to encourage adults to learn for pleasure rather than just for exams and in a relaxed setting.

“The students will learn how to grow things they can eat, exhibit or sell,” said Cllr Graham Wright, Knowsley’s cabinet member for Children and Family Services.

“Some of the students might simply be interested in turning a local eyesore into something better.

bogus callers in the area

Residents in Knowsley are urged to be on their guard about bogus callers claiming to be from the council.

It follows an incident in which a resident in Kirkby was telephoned at home by someone claiming to be from Knowsley Council and who asked for her bank details in order to pay a rebate.

Mike Harden, Executive Director of Corporate Resources at Knowsley Council said: “The council can assure residents that our staff will never ask them for their bank details over the telephone.

“If a resident is in any doubt about whether the caller is genuine, they should not give out any of their personal details, whether it is over the telephone or on the doorstep.

“We would advise residents in this situation to ask for the caller’s name and which council department they work for and then contact us on 0151 489 6000 to check if the call is genuine.”

Open invite for parents to be

Expectant mums and their partners are invited to an open morning packed with useful information and giveaways.

The event takes place at Hilltop Sure Start Children’s Centre on Saturday, November 28 from 10am – 12pm and is completely free of charge.

On hand will be visiting midwives and health visitors, able to answer any questions from pregnant women and their families, as well as stalls with information and advice on quitting smoking, healthy eating / lifestyles, contraception, childcare, and oral health

The event will also be a great opportunity to see what Sure Start Children’s Centres have to offer, both for pregnant mums to be, parents with young children and fathers. There are 15 centres across Knowsley, many of which offer childcare for parents returning to work.

You can find out about the parenting courses, drop in advice sessions, early years activities, health sessions, access to training and much more that is offered at your local Children’s Centres. .

As well as all this, visitors can enter a free raffle with the chance to win a 3D scan, family swimming pass or a trip to Knowsley Safari Park.

For more information about the event call 0151 443 5301.

Knowsley’s Sure Start Children’s Centres are open to everyone and regularly host activities including:

Antenatal and postnatal health services including, breast feeding support, and support for young mums

• Early education and childcare
• After school clubs 
• Baby yoga and baby massage 
• Baby and toddler groups, Messy Play, Mini Movers, Sensory Baby 
• Adult Courses (which include free crèche facilities) 
• Volunteer opportunities for parents

For more information on events at your local centre check the council’s website www.knowsley.gov.uk or call 443 5301.

A video which explains more about Knowsley’s Children’s Centres can be viewed on the council’s YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4uzFazp49Q

Radcliffe Borough 1 Prescot Cables 2

Saturday 21 November 2009

Prescot managed to secure victory in a nervy finish to this Unibond Division One North encounter at a wet and windy Stainton Park.

16 minutes had passed when Aaron Rey turned his marker inside the penalty area and fired a shot past a startled keeper Rigby who could only palm the ball into the net.

Another Radcliffe defensive mistake saw the ball swirling in the gale.  Phil Cooney was allowed to control the ball and his strike zipped past Rigby in the 42nd minute.

Cables failed to add to their goal tally in the second period and this almost proved costly.   Calland impeded Stanford just outside the Cables area in the 88th minute.  Banim’s quick free kick found an empty goal. 

The goal was allowed and Cables thoughts returned to a similar incident last weekend that turned the match.  Fortunately keeper Paxton was at hand again to save Prescot as he deflected a shot over the bar in stoppage time.

Prescot Cables : Paxton, Calland, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Gibiliru, Cooney, Wright, Thurston, Rey, Lundon.  Subs – Riley, Cliff (for Thurston, 85), Kirkbride (for Rey, 85), Ridler (for Morgan, 90)

Video: Whiston writer Tommy Kearney on his new hit play

Below: Whiston-born-and-bred Tommy Kearney talks about Little Boy, his latest play, which had its Liverpool premiere at the Homotopia festival this week.

Knowsley youngsters tackle unemployment and kick start careers

A group of eleven young people from Knowsley have completed a four-day FA level 1 coaching course at Everton Football Club to gain the skills and confidence to get back into work.

The week-long course is part of The Prince’s Trust Football Initiative supported by the Premier League, PFA and Football Foundation.

The group has worked hard to gain child protection certificates, first aid training and coaching skills.

The 16-24-year-olds picked up FA Level 1 coaching certificates which will enable them to manage football teams aged 6-11 without supervision. This can lead to paid coaching work at places like Camp America and volunteering opportunities at football clubs, schools and sporting organisations.

The group were inspired after gaining junior football trainer awards on a range of Prince's Trust courses funded by Knowsley Housing Trust. Knowsley Housing Trust kindly donated the funds to support disadvantaged young people. At least 69 young people will benefit from a range of programmes including two Get Started with Music programmes and three Get Started with Football programmes at Liverpool FC and Everton FC.

Special school is sporting success

A school for disabled children in Knowsley has swept the board in a host of championships and secured Olympic success.

Springfield school in Kirkby caters for pupils with a wide variety of complex learning and physical needs.

Dedicated work by staff, pupils and parents has lead to success at local and national level in cricket and boccia contests and gold, silver and bronze medals at the Special Olympics.

“This is about people going the extra mile to make sure the children can make the most of any opportunities,” said John Parkes, Springfield’s head teacher

“It’s a combination of staff using their expertise to find out what activities are available and the willingness of the parents to take these up.

“The pupils here have a lot of barriers to overcome in their lives. This success is a testament to the dedication of everyone.”

The school has taken up the Spanish sport of Boccia which is similar to the French game Boules. The children use adjustable ramps to help them target the balls.

They have done so well that two pupils, both aged 14, gained gold, silver and bronze in the event at the Special Olympics in Leicester.

A class team from the school also won the Regional Riding for the Disabled Art Competition and were runners up in the national finals.

Two other pupils are also now part of the national disabled athletics team.

“We are very proud of everyone and it has been an incredible year, “said John, “but it is the result of years of hard work.

“We have two outstanding government inspections behind us, an incredibly active school council that has helped with the design of a major playground imitative in the borough and one of our pupils represents Knowsley in the National Youth Parliament.”

Making chatter matter in Kirkby

Children's communication charity ' I Can ' joined forces with the Knowsley partnership to improve local children's communication skills.

500 local Kirkby families helped Make Chatter Matter with children’s communication charity   I CAN on Saturday 14th November 2009, in the area by the bandstand in Newtown Gardens, Kirkby Town Centre.

This family fun day event took place from 10am – 5pm and was organised in partnership with The Knowsley Partnership, Knowsley Council and Knowsley Health & Wellbeing Services who provided information and advice to local families about developing all children’s speech, language and communication skills in the early years.

Representatives from these agencies presided over a jam-packed day of free children’s magic, face painting and singing and rhyming sessions delivered by local staff from South Kirkby & Northwood Children’s Centres.

Parents and carers were given ‘communication’ goodie bags filled with information and resources that help develop children’s communication skills. This includes I CAN’s Chatter Matters DVD, which shows parents how to turn everyday situations, such as food shopping, into fun and interactive communication opportunities.

Knowsley Residents Get Energy Smart

Knowsley residents can learn how to stay warm, keep fuel bills low and deal with debt at local ‘Get Energy Smart’ events.

Knowsley Council and its partners are using the ‘Get Energy Smart’ events to raise awareness of the problems facing local people who may struggle to affordably heat their homes and the role that energy efficiency can play in making their homes warmer, more comfortable and easier to heat.

Residents will have access to energy saving hints and tips, fuel switching information and fuel debt advice. There will also be information to help people to stay healthy in the cold weather, keep their home warm and advice on benefit entitlement.

There will also be the chance to sample some soup and learn how to eat healthy on a budget, with help of goody bags from Squash Nutrition.

The events will take place in Halewood, Stockbridge Village and Prescot on:

• Tuesday 17 November 10am – 2pm, New Hutte Community Centre, Lichfield Road, Halewood
• Thursday 19 November, 10am to 3pm, The Space Building, Waterpark Drive, (next to St Brigid’s School), Stockbridge Village.
• Thursday 26 November, 11am to 2pm, Cables Football Club, Eaton Street, Prescot.

For more information about the Get Energy Smart events please contact Sally Carter on 443 2216 or sally.carter@knowsley.gov.uk

Prescot Cables 0 Leigh Genesis 4

Saturday 14 November 2009

Prescot wished that this Unibond Division One North game had been called off near the kick off time as heavy rain made conditions problematic.

Cables squandered the opportunity of opening the scoring when Thurston shot into the side netting with Rey and Green unmarked by the penalty spot.

A controversial incident ended the match in the 75th minute.  Keeper Paxton was adjudged to have handled the ball from an unexpected back pass.  Baguley blasted the indirect free kick, from the wrong position, through a sea of players into the net as tempers flared.

Cables day turned sour like the weather. An outrageous run of the ball was accepted by Ince who made it 2 nil in the 81st minute. 

Morgan then brought down Dorney in the box.  Stepien slid home a penalty on 84 minutes.  Whitham then scored Leigh’s fourth in the 89th minute.

The final score by no means represented the match at a sodden Hope Street.

Prescot Cables :  Paxton, Sayer, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Lundon, Wright, Cooney, Green, Rey, Thurston.  Subs – Calland (for Cooney, 79), Cliff (for Green, 85), Kirkbride, Riley, Gibiliru

Festive Family Fun in Knowsley

Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy some festive family activities in Huyton, Kirkby and Prescot.

To mark the start of Knowsley’s festive season special celebrations are planned for the Christmas light switch on events.

Children will be able to enjoy an ice rink, fairground rides, there will be special guests, and of course a visit from Father Christmas! For adults, there will be music and entertainment and a Christmas craft fair.

The fun starts at 3pm and the lights will be switched on at 5pm.

• Thursday 19 November Huyton Town Centre
• Friday 20 November Kirkby Town Centre 
• Friday 27 November Prescot Town Centre

Don’t forget your Christmas shopping while you enjoy the festive fun. Knowsley’s town centres and Kirkby market are once again serving up a bumper yuletide shopping offer with extended shopping hours and entertainment for kids.

In addition to the usual Tuesday, Friday and Saturdays, Kirkby market will be open all week from Friday 18th December providing plenty of chance to stock up on Christmas gifts and essentials, many at hugely reduced prices.

Free parking is available in all Knowsley town centres at Christmas time and all year round, or you can easily use the bus or train, making your Christmas shopping trips hassle free.

Making Chatter matter in Kirkby

Children's communication Charity 'I Can 'joins forces with the Knowsley partnership to improve local children's communication skills.

Local Kirkby families are being invited to Make Chatter Matter with children’s communication charity I CAN on Saturday 14th November 2009, in the area by the bandstand in Newtown Gardens, Kirkby Town Centre.

This family fun day event, taking place from 10am – 5pm, has been organised in partnership with The Knowsley Partnership, Knowsley Council and Knowsley Health & Wellbeing Services to provide information and advice to local families about developing all children’s speech, language and communication skills in the early years.

Representatives from these agencies will be presiding over a jam-packed day of free children’s magic, face painting and singing and rhyming sessions delivered by local staff from South Kirkby & Northwood Children’s Centre and South Kirkby Childcare and Early Years Team. 

Parents and carers will be given ‘communication’ goodie bags filled with information and resources that help develop children’s communication skills. This includes I CAN’s Chatter Matters DVD, which shows parents how to turn everyday situations - such as food shopping - into fun and interactive communication opportunities.

Local Kirkby speech and language therapists and I CAN’s expert professional advisors will be on hand all day to support families and answer questions. Representatives from The Communication Trust, a 35 strong coalition of community and voluntary organisations with expertise on speech, language and communication, will also be supporting the event to find out what children and young people in Kirkby think makes a good communicator.

This event marks the launch of a co-ordinated approach from partners in Kirkby to provide children with the best chance of future success.

‘Making Chatter Matter in Kirkby’ will include a range of creative activities to develop speech and language at children’s centres, as well as better access to speech and language services and information for families.

Damian Allen, Executive Director for Knowsley’s Children and Family Services, said: “Good communication skills are an important foundation upon which all future learning and social interaction is built. The importance of promoting a child’s communication abilities and confidence cannot be underestimated. This fun event is a unique way of getting important information to parents, and directing them to the best place should they need help, whilst their children have a really good time and are entertained.”

I CAN Regional Communication Advisor for the North West, Louisa Reeves, says; “Communication skills are the bedrock learning skills for the 21st century. Children need to possess the ability to speak, listen and understand. Starting this ‘communication’ journey as early as possible really helps children to make friends, learn and achieve their potential in life.

We are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners in Kirkby to address the speech, language and communication needs of local children in Kirkby and beyond. Supporting parents to develop children’s communication skills and identify children who require extra support is a passion that we all share. We want to ensure that Kirkby is building future generations of little chatterboxes!”

Communication difficulties are life limiting. A child who struggles to speak will find it hard to read, write and make friends. In Kirkby, one in ten children will have more severe communication difficulties that may require long-term support. Evidence suggests that in socially deprived parts of the UK, upwards of 50% of children are starting school without the communication skills they need to learn, thrive and make friends.

I CAN is the children’s communication charity. www.ican.org.uk or www.talkingpoint.org.uk

A primary school in Halewood has been praised by education inspectors.

The Holy Family Catholic School in Arncliffe Road had two inspections, to look at the way religious education and science are taught.

Inspectors for the Archdiocese of Liverpool gave it top marks for religious education and said “teaching and learning is outstanding overall”

Their report also said leadership and management were “outstanding” and that there was a clear vision for the subject.

It added: “The learning needs of all children, including those who are more able, are addressed through outstanding use of creative learning and teaching strategies”

Their report states that the 245-pupil school, “has policies with clear aims and practical objectives, to support spiritual and moral development..

“These are very obviously lived out in the daily life of the school.”

A report by the Government inspection body OFSTED into the way science was taught, said the school was effective and the pupils achieved good results that were above the national average.

It said that all groups of children - boys, girls and ethnic minorities - made equal progress and their work was good and assessed well.

The report added: “Pupils’ behaviour in class is very good. They listen well to each other, co-operate well and work with enthusiasm.”

Holy Family head teacher Carroll Hamilton said: “I am delighted that two inspections have praised the education we are giving our pupils in these two important areas”.

“A lot of hard work goes on throughout the year, from the teachers, pupils and governors and to have our achievements recognised makes a real difference.”

Underage crackdown on alcohol

Knowsley Council’s crackdown on the underage sale of alcohol is working – after another successful operation.

The council’s Trading Standards team has carried out a series of visits to licensed premises across the borough, with underage volunteers attempting to buy alcohol.

A total of 17 premises were visited, with 16 of them refusing to sell alcohol to the volunteers.

Unfortunately, one premises – The Local, Liverpool Road, Page Moss – sold a 700ml bottle of WKD to a 15 year old female volunteer. The council is investigating the sale.

Knowsley Council is running a very successful, high-profile ‘Get Real” campaign to make retailers aware of their responsibilities and the law relating to the sale of age-restricted goods.

A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The fact that all but one of these retailers refused to sell alcohol to our underage volunteer is a positive sign that the message of our Get Real campaign is hitting home and we thank these businesses who continue to act responsibly. “However, it is not acceptable for the one retailer to sell alcohol to an underage person and we are currently looking into why this sale was made.

“We take this matter extremely seriously and will take robust action when premises break the law. We will continue to carry out these test purchasing initiatives across the borough for the benefit of local people.”

Prescot Cables 1 FC Halifax Town 0

Saturday 7 November 2009

This Unibond Division One North match was the first encounter between the clubs and concluded with a surprise result.

In an entertaining first period, returnee Dean Thurston’s attempt at goal was blocked by keeper Hedge after a flowing move.  Moments later, Phil Cooney was undecided whether head or kick the ball when he met Aaron Rey’s looping cross at the far post.  Cooney could only hit the stand wall from 5 yards.

The second half became a war of attrition.

The breakthrough arrived after Prescot was awarded a free kick on 74 minutes.  Dale Wright floated the ball into the box.  As players went up to contest there may have been the slightest of touches as the ball nestled in the far corner of the net.

Andy Paxton then produced two miraculous saves in the 90th minute to keep Prescot noses in front.Following seven minutes of added time Prescot held out to inflict a first league defeat on Halifax.

Prescot Cables : 

Paxton, Sayer, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Lundon, Wright, Cooney, Green, Rey, Thurston.  Subs – Ridler (for Rey, 86), Owens, Cliff, Gifford, Kirkbride (for Wright, 92)

Are you registered to vote?

Residents in Halewood are encouraged to make sure they are eligible to vote in a forthcoming by-election.

A councillor for the Halewood South ward will be elected on Thursday 26 November 2009.

Electors who are eligible to vote should now have received their polling card. If not, residents can check they are on the electoral register by contacting the helpline number below.

People who wish to vote by post in this by-election need to request a postal vote application form in time to complete and return it by the deadline, Wednesday 11 November 2009.

All residents who wish to apply for a postal vote or have any queries about voting in this by-election should telephone the helpline on 0151 443 2222.

Knowsley Council is reminding residents who wish to vote by post to be aware of the potential delays in the postal service, as a result of the industrial action currently being taken by members of the Communication Workers Union.

Postal votes can be taken in person to Knowsley Council’s One Stop Shop in Halewood and Huyton.

The candidates in the Halewood South By-election are:

Carl Robert Cross (Conservative)
Allan Harvey (Labour)
Eric Arthur McIntosh (TUSP)
Tommy Moretta (Liberal Democrat)
Andy Thompson (Independent)
Tony Ward (British National Party)

Knowsley youngster makes history in the Commons

A fifteen year old schoolboy from Kirkby joined over 300 Members of the UK Youth Parliament to make history when they took over the House of Commons Chamber in Westminster on Friday.

It is first time in 300 years that anyone other than MPs have debated in the Commons and sat on the green benches.

This historic move saw Chris Browne a pupil at Springfield Special School and 12-18 year olds from across the country debate on issues of concern to young people.

The five issues being debated were:

1. Youth crime and how to tackle it
2. Public transport for young people 
3. Jobs for young people and the economy 
4. Lowering the voting age to 16  
5. University fees

Chris Browne, Member of Youth Parliament for Knowsley, said:

“I was very excited to visit the Palace of Westminster and felt really privileged to speak in the House of Commons on this ground breaking occasion, raising the voice of Knowsley’s young people.

“Having Members of Youth Parliament in the House of Commons shows young people do care about politics. It was fantastic to debate the issues which are really important to children and young people in Knowsley and throughout the country.”

Damian Allen, Executive Director for Children and Family Services, said:

“This historic trip to the House of Commons gives young people first-hand experience of what life is like in Parliament, perhaps inspiring Chris and the other Members of the UK Youth Parliament to become a future parliamentarian and certainly improving young people’s interest, involvement and engagement with both local and national politics.”