Knowsley Online

Want to make a difference to the young people of Knowsley?

Are you aged 11 to 18? Would you like to represent the views of other young people in the borough and influence decision makers? 

If yes, why not stand for election in the Knowsley UK Youth Parliament Elections 2012?

Knowsley has one member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) and one Deputy (DMYP) who are elected by young people in Knowsley to represent young people at the UK Youth Parliament.

MYP’s voices are heard by some of the most important politicians and decision makers in the country.

If you would like to stand contact Sean Donnelly in the council’s Rights and Participation team on 0151 443 3254 or sean.donnelly@knowsley.gov.uk.

The closing date for nominations to stand for election is Friday 17 February.

The Big Event

Thousands of jobs will be available at a unique event to help the region’s young people find work.

The Big Event is a one of a kind recruitment fair organised by the Liverpool City Region’s six local authorities to tackle rising youth unemployment. It will bring together hundreds of employers for one day only, to promote their current job vacancies.

In April 2011 the Liverpool City Region’s business-led Employment and Skills Board called for a concerted effort by businesses in the region to create 10,000 apprenticeships for young people. The Big Event represents a big push by local authorities and local businesses to meet this ambitious target.

More than 220 companies will have thousands of jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities, in construction, hospitality, retail and more, available for 16-24 year olds who are looking for work.

World class orchestra at new culture centre in Knowsley

The award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is upping sticks and coming to Knowsley.

The world famous orchestra is performing a concert of hit songs from West End musicals at the new Knowsley Leisure and Cultural Park on Friday February 24, at 7.30pm.

“A Touch of the West End” features hits from shows, including Les Miserables, Cats, Evita, Chicago and Phantom of the Opera.

The concert is conducted by Anthony Gabriele with singers Rachel Barrel, Annalisa Rossi, Glyn Kerslake and Ian MacLarnon.

It is the first time the orchestra has played at the culture park in Longview Drive in Huyton which has facilities for an 850 seat performance space.

Home care social enterprise celebrates successful first year

A social enterprise offering home care services has created 33 jobs in Knowsley in its first 12 months.

Care and Share Associates (CASA) Knowsley set up in Huyton last year and in that time has boosted jobs and training while providing vital care services that allow vulnerable, elderly or disabled people to remain in their homes.

It now serves 131 people, delivering 1,222 hours of support each week. The business, a social enterprise that puts profits back into improving services and training, worked with numerous partners including Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) as well as the PCT and Knowsley Works to set up in the area with money from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF).

Louise Harris, Head of Social Responsibility at KHT, said: “Social enterprise is something we are passionate about supporting and growing in Knowsley. “It is a fantastic way of putting more control and choice over services in the hands of the local community, and creating much needed jobs and training.”

Marathon effort for cancer research.

Knowsley Council boss Andrew McCormick is aiming to raise £12,000 by running 12 marathons in 12 months during 2012. 

Andrew, service director for the Directorate of Wellbeing Services, is a keen runner and a regular marathon man. 

He is raising the money for research into prostate cancer. His father died from the condition last year. 

His first marathon was in January in Gloucester. That will be followed by Cambridge in March, Manchester in April and Belfast and Edinburgh in May. 

The events in June and July aren’t confirmed yet but he is planning to run the 26 miles of a marathon on a treadmill at the Knowsley Flower Show in August. 

He will run in Yorkshire in September, Liverpool and Dublin in October and possibly New York in November. 

Andrew said: “This is my Olympic effort for 2012. I ran three marathons in six weeks a few years ago, so this time I’ve upped my game. 

“My father died from a series of illnesses including prostate cancer and I wanted to do something to help others in the same situation.” 

If you’d like to sponsor Andrew in his Olympic effort go to his Just Giving website page at www.justgiving.com/Andy-McCormick

Get set, ready, grow!

Twelve year old champion gardener Rowan Williams says she hasn’t only got green fingers – she’s got green blood.

“My grandfather was called William Green and he was a prize winning gardener,” said Rowan, who lives in Huyton in Knowsley.

“I’ve been gardening since I was two and grow everything from plants and flowers to vegetables.

“Everything is organic – I gather my own seeds and make my own plant feed. I just love growing things. It makes me feel happy.”

Rowan’s a regular entrant in the Knowsley Flower Show and last year won every category in the children’s section and was overall winner.

Spring into Sport Relief.

Its time to start limbering up for a charity run through Knowsley in March.

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile starts at Stadt Moers Park in Pottery Lane, Whiston on Sunday March 25.

It is one of a series of events throughout the country for the charity Sport Relief, which raises money for a variety of causes at home and abroad.

People taking part do not have to be regular runners and can choose to complete 1, 3 or 6 miles, depending on their ability.

“This is the first time the Sport Relief Mile has taken place in Knowsley,” said Cllr Eddie Connor, KMBC cabinet member for Leisure Community and Culture.

“March might seem a long way off, but now’s the time to get out the trainers and start getting in shape.

“This event is open to everyone, from children to grannies and Sport Relief does some fantastic things for some of the neediest people.”

There is a weekend of Sport Relief events, starting off on Friday March 23, with a night of Sport Relief fun and information on BBC One.

There will be more coverage throughout the weekend on BBC radio, online and TV and it will be rounded off by the Sport Relief Mile.

To enter the Knowsley Mile visit www.sportrelief.com.

Take the Challenge to get fit.

Do you feel like your fitness has slipped over the winter? Feel tired and run down?

Why not set yourself the target of taking part in this year’s Knowsley Active Challenge?

The event is on May 23 at Knowsley Hall so there is plenty of time to get fit beforehand.

The event includes a 3 and 8 kilometre walk, a 2 kilometre run for young children only and a 5 kilometre run for adults.

All are free to enter, apart from the 5 kilometre event for adults, which costs £7 per person.

All of the activities are wheelchair and pushchair friendly, apart from the 8 kilometre walk, which is suitable for keen walkers only.

The 2k run is for children in years 3 to 11 at school.

`How’s My Driving’?

A housing trust is asking residents ‘How’s My Driving?’ in a new campaign to increase road safety.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has launched the campaign to encourage residents to report bad and good drivers when its fleet of vehicles is on the roads in communities.

A dedicated phone number is now live and is displayed on the back of all KHT vehicles.

HT is working with Knowsley Council’s Road Safety Team to help make roads safer and improve driving standards within the borough by all road users.

“Serious traffic incidents should always be reported to the police. We are encouraging people to report incidents where a KHT driver may not have broken the law but has acted in an unprofessional manner, as well as reports of good driving,” said Russell Thompson, KHT Executive Director for Maintenance Services.

“The ‘How’s My Driving’ campaign is just a small part of how we intend to develop skills, knowledge and promote road safety within our organisation and also in the local community.”

To contact the ‘How’s My Driving’ campaign call 0800 561 0007.

Halewood Village Fair

An event not to be missed - our Village Fair on 5th February at the Hollies Hall, Halewood Village, from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm.

This fair follows our successful Christmas event, regarded by one shopper as “the best fair of that type I’ve ever been to … so varied and such quality...” It brings to the village a selection of local producers of homeware, crafts, delicacies and more; giving them a much needed outlet in these tough financial times.

Our aim is to help small and local producers in this way, whilst offering shoppers an interesting and varied range of quality products within a warm and friendly local environment.

Hopefully, this will encourage other local people to develop their own creative talents and join us at future events.

To book a stall or for further information please contact Lynne:- 07545 704617

Councillor Gary See says “It is fantastic that we are working in partnership to organise this Fair to continue the success of previous events.  Events such as this are a great way for local producers to showcase their produce to the residents of the Halewood Community.  We look forward to seeing you on the day”.