Knowsley Online

KHT signs Respect charter

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has shown its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour by signing up to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Respect Charter.

By signing the voluntary Charter KHT has joined hundreds of housing associations across the country in promising to address the causes of ASB in neighbourhoods and the negative effect it has on whole communities.

KHT Chief Executive Bob Taylor said: “Tackling ASB has been at the heart of our services for many years and joining the Respect charter strengthens our commitment.

“ASB causes untold misery and the Charter gives us the platform to stand up together as an industry and say we will not tolerate it in our communities.”

The Charter outlines seven key areas that housing associations commit to; providing an accessible and accountable service, taking swift action to protect communities, supporting victims and witnesses, encouraging individual and community responsibility, prevention and early intervention and value for money.

Park volunteers get online

A group of volunteers who help to maintain a local park are now online thanks to Knowsley Housing Trust.

KHT provided a grant for the Halewood Park Volunteers so they could buy a laptop and set up a website.

The group hopes that by getting online, more people will be attracted to use the park and the Knowsley Council-ran Environment Centre, and to give up their time with the volunteers.

Group treasurer Paul Long, 53, from Hunts Cross, said: “We are keen to get more people to use the park and the Environment Centre, and to help the volunteers if they can.

“We wanted to set up a website because these days a lot of people, both young and old, use the internet when they are looking for places to go and things to do locally.”

Report of Consultation Available

Earlier in the year, Knowsley residents and businesses were asked for their views on the Council’s proposals for the future development of the borough.  The results of this major consultation exercise have now been published.

The proposals for Knowsley’s Local Development Framework will shape the way Knowsley develops to 2027 and beyond

Residents were consulted on these proposals, set out within a “Core Strategy Preferred Options Report”, over 10 weeks during the summer. This set out the potential to create more than 7,000 new homes and increase employment opportunities for local people.

The findings of the consultation are now available in a Report of Consultation. This will be used to input into the final stages of preparation of the Core Strategy and a further consultation exercise will take place mid 2012.

More information and the full Report of Consultation is available on the website at www.knowsley.gov.uk/LDF.

Strengthening local family bonds and links

Parents are celebrating after completing a course aimed at helping them to strengthen their family bonds and links with the local community.

Thirteen parents, carers and grandparents attended the ‘Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities’ programme, run by Knowsley Council.

During the 13-week course, families learned how they can improve on their communication skills with one another, encourage self-esteem amongst family members and develop life skills as a family.

Those who completed the programme, which included families from across the borough, attended a celebration event where they were presented with certificates in recognition of their work and dedication.

Partnering with local business to provide new homes

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has partnered with local construction company Fairtree Homes as part of a drive to support local business.

KHT worked with the Knowsley-based business on the project to build 10 new homes at Hillingden Avenue in Halewood.

The development has just been completed several months ahead of schedule, thanks to the effective partnership working between KHT and Fairtree.

Craig McKibbin, Managing Director of Fairtree Homes said: “We have delivered the scheme around three months ahead of schedule, mainly because there has been such a good flow of information from KHT.

“Whenever we have needed their input, they have given us an answer within 72 hours, which meant we could get on with the job. It has been a superb partnership.”

KHT teamed up with Fairtree Homes as part of its focus on working with local businesses, to help boost the economy and jobs market within Knowsley.

Top notch teacher takes a bow.

Prescot primary teacher Patricia Holden retires after 38 years in the same school.

The first person in Knowsley to get the Government’s Excellent Teacher status is retiring after four decades in the same school.

Patricia Holden, from Huyton, has taught around 1500 children in 38 years at Prescot Primary in Maryville Road.

The 60 year old has taught all ages and was twice described by Ofsted inspectors as “more than outstanding”.

Knowsley youngsters ‘step up’ for children’s rights

Two young people visited 10 Downing Street on Friday to raise awareness of children’s rights on behalf of all young people

Claire Lyons, 17, and Christopher Browne, 17, delivered messages written on footprints from children across the country telling the Prime Minister why children’s rights are important to them.

The trip marked the start of a year of action on children’s rights.

The Knowsley youngsters joined a group of 17 young people visiting Downing Street. The footprints they handed over to the Government featured messages from over 3,500 children on why children’s rights are important to them.

Claire 17, said, “Children’s rights are important because without rights we are not equal. We don’t want to feel voiceless just because we are young. We shouldn’t have to defend our rights. We want adults to take responsibility and be as passionate as we are about having and respecting children’s rights.

Two thirds of pregnant women in Merseyside still at risk of flu

Latest figures reveal that over 4,000 pregnant women across Merseyside have heeded advice from health experts and taken advantage of their free flu vaccination. This means that 1,500 more pregnant women have been vaccinated already compared with last winter. 

With winter now firmly upon us, midwives and GPs across Merseyside are urging all pregnant women in the region to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible.

Cathy Atherton, head of midwifery at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, said: “It is extremely important that all pregnant women get a flu vaccination to protect themselves, and their unborn babies. In the UK last year we tragically saw nine deaths among pregnant women as a result of flu complications, and we do not want to see a repeat of this again this year.

Halewood youngsters clean-up

Children are not always a tidy bunch, but youngsters in Halewood have taken to the streets to help clean up their neighbourhood.

A group of seven children from the Torrington Drive area took part in a litterpick at a local park with help from Knowsley Housing Trust staff.

Volunteers filled 10 bin bags with rubbish – and even found an old shopping trolley and shoes.

The day was organised by Torrington Drive Community Association, as part of the Love Where You Live campaign which has been launched by Keep Britain Tidy.

Knowsley leads the way developing youth services

Knowsley has been selected to establish one of the country’s first Youth Innovation Zones (YIZ).

Knowsley is one of four areas chosen by the government to develop this radical new way of delivering youth services.

The local authority has developed a vision for a YIZ; a radical new way of delivering cost effective services which meet the needs of young people and are sustainable into the future.

Knowsley’s proposed Zone devolves power to frontline professionals and places young people at the centre of decision making and the delivery of services.

The approach builds on the success of the recently opened £5m OurPlace youth facility which was developed by young people for young people and has been recognised nationally as an exemplar model of youth involvement. 

Knowsley’s YIZ would transform both universal and targeted youth provision across the borough.