Knowsley Online

New primary schools open

Delighted pupils and staff are enjoying their new homes as the final three primary schools in Knowsley’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme are now open. 

The state-of-the-art buildings and world class facilities of Stockbridge Village, Park Brow (Kirkby) and Yew Tree (Halewood) opened their doors to pupils at the start of the new term.  

The schools are a major step forward, providing learning environments and educational delivery to reflect the demands of 21st century learning.

Dream win for a dreamer.

Ten year old Marium Omar from Prescot is the proud owner of a new mountain bike after winning a competition to design her dream cycle.

Marium, who goes to St Luke’s Primary in Prescot, was joint winner with Jack Flaherty from Halsnead Primary in Whiston.

The two were given brand new bikes and several accessories including a helmet, lock and bike lights.

The competition was run by Knowsley’s Road Safety and Travel Plan Team as part of a campaign to encourage more children to cycle to and from school.

“We think nine and ten is about the age when pupils start to feel confident enough to cycle to school,” said Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills.

“We encourage them to come on their bikes after they’ve done a cycle training course, provided at the schools by Bike Right.

“The whole process increases their independence, their awareness of road safety and their overall health.”

For more information about Knowsley’s cycling promotion activities, contact Knowsley’s Travel Plan Advisor, Joanne Spencer, on 0151 443 2239 or email her at joanne.spencer@knowsley.gov.uk.

 St Luke’s primary pupil, Marium Omar,who’s 10 and from Prescot, her parents Ahamad and Amal and her road safety prize – a new mountain bike.

Shop a Shark project makes award shortlist

A housing trust has been shortlisted in national awards for its work to crack down on loan sharks.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has been recognised in the Guardian Public Services Awards 2011, in the Innovation and Progress: Customer Service category, after impressing with its Shop a Shark project.

Shop a Shark was launched last year to tackle problems KHT tenants were experiencing with illegal money lenders.

Steve Heverin, Operational Director for Investment at KHT, said: “Our customers told us this was a problem, so we did something about it.

“Staff have worked incredibly hard on this project and so this recognition is fantastic.”

Keeping your bike on the road.

Children across Knowsley have been taught how to fix their own bikes as part of a cycling campaign.

Organisers say children are often enthusiastic cyclists but come unstuck when something goes wrong, such as a puncture.

The bike maintenance workshops, which have been organised by Knowsley’s Travel Plan and Road Safety Team, show children how to do minor repairs themselves.

Feedback from similar events shows this to be more effective in the long term than having the bikes repaired by someone else.

World Record attempt a success

Liverpool Futsal Club have broken the Guinness World Record for the longest Futsal match at Knowsley’s new leisure and culture park.

Liverpool Futsal Club who took part in the world record breaking attempt

The team played continuously for 36 hours and 31 minutes throughout Friday and Saturday (23 and 24 September), breaking the previous confirmed record of 32 hours and 20 minutes.

Knowsley Open Art Exhibition 2011

Artists, students and individuals with artistic flair are invited to pick up their paintbrushes, pencils and cameras to show off their talent in the annual Open Art Exhibition.

Local artists of all ages and abilities are invited to submit their artwork for this prestigious exhibition held at Kirkby Gallery from 24 October 2011 through to 5 January 2012.

This year, a new ‘Schools Open’ category will be introduced for Knowsley’s primary schools, where their work will be showcased in the Kirkby Foyer gallery.

In addition, the Young Artists’ Open exhibition will be on display in the mezzanine area of Kirkby Library, specifically dedicated to talented young artists between the ages of 11 – 17 years.

Marathon Man in Knowsley

A Knowsley man has met his target to run100 marathons as the spirit of the Olympics starts to take hold.

The borough is hosting  a whole series of events to inspire people to do more sport in the lead up to the London Games.

Andy Glen, 49, from Huyton, has been running marathons for 28 years, after he made a bet in a pub that he could.

He had never run anything like the 26 miles of a marathon before and set himself the challenge to do it just once.

His first attempt was in 1983 at the Mersey Marathon and he completed the race in 3 hours, 39 minutes.

World-class leisure and culture park opens in Knowsley

A world-class centre with everything from cycle tracks and fitness suites to spa rooms and day care has opened in Knowsley.

The multi-million pound leisure and culture park, on Longview Drive in Huyton, has a steam room and sauna, a six court sports hall, beauty rooms and a gym with up to 110 stations, plus a separate spinning studio with 25 bikes.

There are two swimming pools, one with a floor that can be raised or lowered for younger people and those with special needs.

The centre is open seven days a week and will also be hosting a range of events and performances for up to 850 spectators.

There are a wide range of up to the minute classes, such as Zumba and Aqua Zumba, spinning classes, an aqua boot camp, kick fit and aerobics.

It is already attracting some of the region’s top sports people. The UK’s top professional basketball team, the Mersey Tigers, will play most of their home matches there.

There will also be a day care area for adults with special needs, with a variety of activities.

“It’s great that we are now able to offer such fantastic facilities in Knowsley,” said Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley’s cabinet member for Leisure, Community and Culture.

“Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park really does offer world class facilities and I’d encourage everyone to have a look around and use what’s on offer.”

World-class leisure and culture park opens in Knowsley

A world-class centre with everything from cycle tracks and fitness suites to spa rooms and day care has opened in Knowsley.

The multi-million pound leisure and culture park, on Longview Drive in Huyton, has a steam room and sauna, a six court sports hall, beauty rooms and a gym with up to 110 stations, plus a separate spinning studio with 25 bikes.

There are two swimming pools, one with a floor that can be raised or lowered for younger people and those with special needs.

The centre is open seven days a week and will also be hosting a range of events and performances for up to 850 spectators.

Have fun getting fit!

The very latest fitness classes are on offer at the new, world class Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park.

Zumba, Tai Chi, Yoga and Boxercise are on the timetable at the centre in Longview Drive in Huyton.

There are classes throughout the day, seven days a week and for all levels of fitness in state of the art studios and a sports hall.

Step classes, aerobics and zumba are all on offer, or you could choose a relaxing yoga session.  In addition, a variety of spinning classes, for all abilities, will be available in the dedicated spinning studio with 25 bikes.

There will be a sports club for people over 50, kickfit classes, line dancing and body conditioning.

The multi-million pound Leisure and Culture Park also has a steam room and sauna, a six court sports hall, beauty rooms and a gym with 110 stations.

There are two swimming pools, one with a floor that can be raised or lowered for younger people and those with special needs.

A 400 metre outdoor velodrome with a BMX track in the middle will open later in the year. 

A range of membership deals are available, starting from just £13 a month.

For more details, contact the Get Active Team on 0151 443 2200 or call into the centre.