Knowsley Online

TV stars joined award winning young film makers for premiere of anti gun and gang crime film

Acclaimed Knowsley actors Christine Tremarco and Margi Clarke last night attended the screening of an award winning anti gun and gang crime film produced by budding young film makers in Huyton.

The Knowsley premiere of the Clapperboard short film ‘Take the Rap’ and launch of the accompanying education resource pack took place at the Huyton Suite.

The short film was produced by young volunteers on Knowsley Youth Service’s Youth Development Programme (YDP) and young people from the Page Moss area, aimed at preventing young people’s involvement in gun and gang crime. It scooped two prizes at the recent North West Clapperboard awards event.

Local writer James McMartin (Dead Man’s Cards) helped with the script development process whilst Handstand Productions was at the helm to offer the new young film-makers production guidance.

The evening was a real celebration of all the work from across the borough with young people on the issue of gun and gang crime. Guests were treated to a performance from the Halewood Youth Theatre and Dance Group, rapping from Lewis Le Val Productions and screenings of two further films; ‘Childs Play’ and ‘The Canny Farm Rap’.

Knowsley and ASDA help kids get sporty for FREE

Knowsley has teamed up with ASDA to extend a helping hand to parents across the borough by offering FREE sports sessions for kids during the Summer school holidays , providing the perfect solution to keeping kids active while they're off school – at no extra cost to families!

By teaming up with ASDA, Knowsley is helping to get kids on the track to stardom – following on from the success of British athletes at the 2008 Olympics. The FREE sports sessions make sport accessible and affordable for families on a tight budget, gearing Knowsley’s kids up for a holiday jam packed with sport – swapping TV and video games for a variety of sporting sessions including festivals in each of the 4 locality areas on July 27th – 3 year countdown to London 2012 Olympics.

Kids from Knowsley will have access to a wide range of sports sessions over both the Easter holiday and the summer holiday, ranging from water polo, to Rugby and Badminton – a great choice of healthy, fun and FREE activities.

All parents need to do is…

• Pop into their local ASDA store during the holidays and pick up a Sporting Chance voucher
• OR download a voucher from www.asda-sportingchance.co.uk
• Book a place with the provider 
• Go along on the day with the free voucher

Phil Cantillon, Sport Development Manager for Knowsley, commented: “This is a fabulous opportunity which ensures that kids throughout Knowsley have access to our wide range of facilities for FREE. We hope that this initiative encourages parents and children to come down to the FREE sessions, and participate in sports they may not normally consider.”

The Sporting Chance initiative also identifies and provides financial support for the best emerging young talent the UK has to offer, with over 700 potential medallists supported by ASDA SportsAid grants every year for the next 5 years.

For further information visit www.asda-sportingchance.co.uk, or www.knowsley.gov.uk

Golf Cadet Summer Programme

Budding Tiger Woods’ in Knowsley have been invited to join the Golf Cadet Summer programme. The programme is open to 6-12 year olds and uses tri-golf, a 'mini' version of golf designed specifically for young children, to teach the basics of the game.

The Golf Cadet programme will run every Saturday from 4pm until 5pm until August 29th. Coaching is also available for 13 to 16 year olds from 5pm til 6pm on the same days.

Tuition is provided by Neil Price a PGA golf professional with support from members of Bowring Golf Club Committee.

For more information contact Bowring Park Golf Club on 0151 443 3074.

Life in the fast lane

Children from a Knowsley primary school learnt an important lesson about the dangers on the roads through a roadside assessment of driver and passenger behaviour.

Year 6 pupils at Whiston Willis Community Primary School, Whiston, carried out speed surveys using radar equipment at a busy road near their school, as part of the ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ scheme run by Knowsley’s Road Safety team.

The initiative also enabled them to compile seatbelt and stopping distance surveys. Local councillors Sandra and Ron Gaffney and Pauline Kelly joined the pupils as they returned to the classroom and the results were presented to them. Pupils learnt through DVDs and a class discussion what the outcomes meant to them in terms of their safety as pedestrians and car passengers.

The session was of particular importance to year six pupils as they prepare to make the transition from primary to secondary school. It is likely that they will have to make a longer journey, and be expected to cross busy roads to get to and from school.

Recycle your old argos catalogue

With the new Argos catalogue launched over the weekend (25 July), Knowsley Council is encouraging residents to recycle their old catalogue, rather than throwing it in the bin.

Each catalogue weighs 2kg and there are over 36 million in circulation across the UK each year - this is enough to fill over 14,000 bin lorries.

In Knowsley, people can recycle old and unwanted Argos catalogues using their recycling collection service (grey bin), by visiting one of the borough’s household recycling centres (one in Huyton and one in Kirkby), or by using one of the many paper recycling banks that are located across the borough.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said “Recycling these catalogues is a simple thing people can do that will make a big difference. It will help to increase the amount of waste that is recycled in the borough, and reduce the amount that is sent to landfill. I hope that when people pick up their new catalogue they will remember to recycle their old one.”

Future jobs secured for thousands across the region

Thousands of unemployed young people and adults across the Liverpool City Region will be helped back into work thanks to a multi- million pound cash injection from the Government announced yesterday.

After a successful bid by the Liverpool City Region Cabinet and City Employment Strategy Board to Government, working on behalf of Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral and Liverpool, more than 6,000 jobs will be created across the six local authorities.

It means anyone aged 18-24 who has been out of work for at least 10 months, or over 25s unemployed for a year or more will be considered for a job created from the Future Jobs Fund, which will see them receive help and advice to apply for these positions, and training and support when they start working.

The councils in the City Region have worked together to identify different types of jobs in a range of sectors, including apprenticeships, the health service and working with children and young people.

Memorial garden officially opened in memory of Olivia

A special memorial garden has been officially opened in memory of an eight year old girl who died suddenly from leukaemia.

Teachers, school friends and governors joined the family of Olivia Hodgson at Westvale Primary School, Kirkby, where Olivia was a year three pupil, as the moving ceremony to officially open the memorial garden took place. ‘Olivia’s Garden’ was designed by the children and takes pride of place within the school grounds.

Pupils sang hymns and a local minister said a prayer as family and friends of Olivia, including her uncle, ex-Everton player Alan Stubbs, gathered to remember the little girl who died suddenly of leukaemia shortly before Christmas.

The garden was designed by Olivia’s school friends. They wanted to create a garden that reflected Olivia’s bright, friendly and caring personality. The magnificent memorial garden includes a waterfall feature, walk-through arch, benches, a heart-shaped floor design and even a stage - a fitting tribute to a girl who loved to sing and dance.

There is an array of beautiful, bright flowers and heartfelt written messages from Olivia’s classmates, to add to the lasting tribute to a friend who will be well missed.

Kirkby Small Business Forum began the fund for the memorial garden back in March when the plans were getting underway. Since then, many other local business and organisations have stepped in to help in any way they can to support the project. Some have borne heavy costs in order to see the garden completed.

Headteacher of the school, Gillian Holland says “The memorial garden is a celebration of the life of a lively and popular little girl.

Designing the garden has been a way for both the children and teachers to channel their grief and create a lasting memory of Olivia here at the school. Each time any of us enter the garden we will think of Olivia, and the bright spirit she brought into our lives.”

“We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of local businesses and the public; for the free giving of their time, effort, money and materials to help create this wonderful garden.”

Cllr Graham Wright, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services says “It is fantastic to see the community coming together to create such a beautiful and fitting memorial garden for Olivia. The children have done a great job designing the garden, and local businesses and traders have donated so much time and effort into helping make it a reality.”

‘Olivia’s Garden’ in the grounds of Westvale School, Friends, family and teachers during the emotional ceremony. Children sing on stage during the ceremony, led by local vicar.

Olivia’s parents, and teachers and friends at the school would like to thank the following for helping to create Olivia’s garden:

Alan McCulloch – 1st Choice  - Mike Kenny – Meldon Gears  - Mike Gowing – King Construction  - Alan Scott – Knowsley Metal Fabrications
Pauline Eliot – Knowsley Council Grounds Department  - Dave Dodds – Kirkby Small Business Forum  - John Huckstep – Sonae
Everton FC (donated a football for raffle), QVC, Frameline, Otis Elevators, Custom Glass, Kirkby Skips, Snow’s, Tyrewise, Cemex, Canter Levin and Berg Solicitors

Special thanks to the labourers without whom the garden would not have been possible:
Les – bricklayer, gardener  - James Donnelly – site manager  - Steve Sheridan – gardener, painter  - John Connors – joiner, painter

TV stars join award winning young film makers to launch anti gun and gang crime pack

Acclaimed Knowsley actors Christine Tremarco, John McArdle and Margi Clarke will attend the screening of an award winning anti gun and gang crime film produced by budding young film makers in Huyton at the launch of an education resource pack on Thursday.

The Knowsley premiere of the Clapperboard short film ‘Take the Rap’ will take place at the Huyton Suite at 6pm on 30 July.

The short film was produced by young volunteers on Knowsley Youth Service’s Youth Development Programme (YDP) and young people from the Page Moss area, aimed at preventing young people’s involvement in gun and gang crime. It scooped two prizes at the recent North West Clapperboard awards event.

Local writer James McMartin (Dead Man’s Cards) helped with the script development process whilst Handstand Productions was at the helm to offer the new young film-makers production guidance.

Cllr Graham Wright, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services, said:

“Clapperboard worked alongside young people from the Knowsley Youth Service Youth Development Programme to create this hard hitting film that aims to highlight the consequences of involvement in gun and gang crime in a way which some young people can really relate too.

‘Take the Rap’ will be used alongside an educational resource pack also created by our young people to help prevent involvement in gun and gang crime. The young people had a fantastic learning experience and thoroughly enjoyed the filming process which is largely down to the skills and expertise of the Clapperboard Team”.

Maureen Sinclair, Clapperboard Director said “Clapperboard relies on the support of funding and volunteers but we try our best to promote the creative work produced by new young film-makers. I’m delighted that one of our shorts, Take the Rap is being used in an education resource pack that will be distributed widely. It’s also great that the event is being supported by such highly acclaimed Knowsley actors”.

Clapperboard’s forthcoming project will concentrate on issues such as sexuality and gender, teenagers and alcohol abuse and the environment will begin on Merseyside in September.

Clapperboard Youth Project was launched in 2005 initially supported by BAFTA and Merseyside Creative Partnerships.

Partners, sponsors include Capital of Culture, Bermans Solicitors, Lime Pictures, Knowsley Housing Trust, Knowsley Youth Development Service, Merseytravel, National Museums Liverpool, Bananafish Management, Bill Elms Associates, Pinewood Studios, ACME, Liverpool Echo, Government Office North West, Community Foundation for Merseyside, Merseyside Police, Forward Culture, EventSinc.

Industry supporters include Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ricky Tomlinson, Alison Steadman, Craig Cash, Johnny Vegas, Carolyn Reynolds, Paul Abbott, David Morrissey, Chris Eccleston, Nicola Shindler, John Henshaw, Hilary Bevan Jones.

Recycling made easy in Knowsley

“Recycling is so easy!” - that’s the message from Knowsley Council as part of their latest campaign.

The message will be seen on buses, taxis, billboards and bus shelters over the coming months and aims to encourage even more residents to recycle.

Since the introduction of the grey bin recycling service last year, Knowsley residents have recycled more than a quarter of their household waste. But Government targets, rising waste disposal costs and pressure on landfill sites means more needs to be done.

This latest campaign emphasises just how easy it is to do your bit for the environment.

The grey recycling bins can take everything from empty boxes, tin cans, glass bottles and jars to plastic bottles, paper, newspapers and phone books.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Delivery, said: “Residents can play a big part in helping to increase the amount of waste that is recycled in Knowsley and in doing so will be helping us to reduce the amount we send to landfill.”

“I hope that this latest campaign encourages people to use their grey bins more and recycle as much of their waste as possible”.

In addition, Knowsley Council is also introducing a new food waste recycling service. Call 0151 443 2400 to sign up today!

Back to school in the summer!

If you are looking for something fun to do during the school holidays, going back to school might not be the first thing you think of.

But in Knowsley, the centres for learning are just the place to be to find a fantastic variety of summer activities for all the family.

Huyton’s Christ the King Centre for Learning, and Halewood Centre for Learning are offering residents a whole range of free activities for all ages throughout the summer holidays.

Whatever you are into, there’s sure to be something for everyone. From card making and family cookery, to sign language and DJ sessions, you can try your hand at a new skill or enjoy a favourite pastime. By simply attending any of the activities, you will have the chance to enter a prize draw where you and your family could win mountain bikes.

Cllr Wright, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services said “The new Centres for Learning are there for the benefit of all ages. Each centre boasts excellent facilities for a range of activities and it seems a shame to keep these closed during the holidays.”

“By opening the centres throughout the summer, it not only makes best use out of them, but will hopefully bring families together, learning a new skill or hobby along the way”.

For more information, please ring 443 4561 for adult education or 443 4687 for other enquiries. Also ring this number if you are interested in booking a facility for your group, club, class or meeting. Excellent discounts apply.

You can also find out about events taking place in Knowsley during the summer holidays by following www.twitter.com/plingsknowsley.