Knowsley Online

Sign up for the Knowsley Active Challenge!

There’s still a couple of weeks left to enter this year’s Active Challenge at Knowsley Hall.

It’s on May 23 and includes a 3 and 8 kilometre walk, a 2 kilometre run for younger children and a 5 kilometre run or walk for adults.

It’s organised by Knowsley Council and NHS Knowsley and the closing date for entries is May 16.

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

They are also all 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.

Anybody can take part, regardless of their ability and they can enter as a team from their place of work, as a family or on their own.

 The challenge is an annual event but it’s being held in the evening for the first time this year and there’ll be free entertainment.

To find out more or get an entry form, call Peter Green on 443 2120 or email peter.green@knowsley.gov.uk

You can also download an entry form by going to http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/things-to-see-and-do/sport/active-challenge---2012.aspx

Badminton for just a pound

There’s a chance for youngsters aged 8 to 16 in Knowsley to try out badminton for just a pound.

The badminton sessions are at Halewood Leisure Centre in Bailey’s Lane in Halewood, on Tuesdays from 4pm to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 12noon

The £1 per session offer will run throughout the whole of May and the parents of those taking part can join in for free.

For more information, contact Peter Green on 443 5714 or Jean Dean on 280 8595

Council has agreed to waive the fees

Red tape won't get in the way of Knowsley residents who want to hold a street party to celebrate national events during summer 2012.  

In the vast majority of cases, people who wish to host a small community event that involves closing their street can go ahead just by following a simple process.

Knowsley Council has agreed to waive the fees for residents who wish to celebrate the momentous events taking place in 2012. This includes a whole weekend of celebrations at the beginning of June to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Big Lunch taking place on Sunday 3 June.

Residents may also want to use the opportunity of the Olympic and Paralympics later in the summer to celebrate the country hosting these major sporting events.

A number of enquiries have already been received and residents now have until Friday, 11 May 2012 to complete and return their application.

Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, commented “Whether it’s the Queens Diamond Jubilee or celebrating the Olympics or Paralympics, street parties are a great way for the whole community to come together.

“Now that we have made the process simpler, it’s now even easier for neighbours to come together and celebrate community spirit here in Knowsley.”

Application forms are available online at www.knowsley.gov.uk or by ringing 443 5942.

Old time bank holiday fun.

Looking for something to do over the bank holiday weekend?

In Prescot, you can sample the fun of yesteryear and buy yourself something fresh and local for tea at the same time.

The popular Prescot Elizabethan Fayre is in the town centre on Saturday May 5 from 10am until 2pm

This year, there’ll be the added attraction of the Prescot producers market from 9am until 2pm.

The Fayre will transport visitors back to the 14th century and they can enjoy traditional crafts such as candle and basket making and free horse and cart rides.

Children can get their faces painted, there will be birds of prey and some small animals from Knowsley Safari Park.

The festival recreates the old May Fayres that were held in Prescot, during the era of the first Queen Elizabeth.

It’ll take place in and around Prescot Parish Church in Church Street.

The producers market is in nearby Eccleston Street and showcases the best produce from local farmers, bakeries and businesses for people to buy.

It’s held on the first Saturday of every month.

To find out more about the Elizabethan Fayre or if you’d like to have a stall at the producers market, call Knowsley Arts and Heritage Service on 0151 443 5619.

Local people take a trip back in time at Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre.

Safari Park hosts grand celebration for the Olympic Torch.

There’s a huge celebration planned to welcome the Olympic Torch to Knowsley on June 1.

There’ll be a free, ticketed event at Knowsley Safari Park from 10am until 4.30pm to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the arrival of the Olympic Flame.

It includes a talent show hosted by Radio City and a chance to see the sights and sounds of the Safari Park.

The park will open at 10am and people with tickets will have full access to the whole of the Safari Park.

From 12.30pm onwards, local groups will have the chance to perform on the “Moment to Shine" stage which will be hosted by Radio City presenter, Claire Simonsen.

Then, at around 3pm, the Olympic Torch will arrive in the Park, carried by torchbearers from the community. 

Black Belts for three Halewood young students

Three of their young students who have just achieved their 1st Degree Black Belts in the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon-Do.

Faye Clifton (10), Max Cunnah (9) and Callum McDonald (10) began training at Halewood Tae Kwon-Do Club in mid-2008, under instructor Chris Davies (28). During that time they have all excelled in the art, particularly at tournaments, where they have chalked up a number of victories – including a World Championship title for Faye.

Max, Faye & Callum photgrphed with their certificates

Woodland Safari and Brotish Bats

Knowsley Safari Park goes batty for British wildlife

Do you know your badger hole from your rabbit warren, how to encourage hedgehogs into your garden or where to spot a sleeping bat?

Knowsley Safari Park is encouraging wannabe explorers to learn about the animals that live in our local woodlands as part of a British Wildlife Bonanza weekend from Friday 27 – Sunday 29 April.

Conservation experts will be leading woodland safaris exploring the local woodland, hunting for adders, fallow deer, badgers and foxes. The experts will give simple tips about how visitors can encourage wildlife into their own back garden.

Then, visitors who dare are invited to ‘Go-Batty’ with a special dusk time bat safari around the lake and woods. Experts guide visitors in the art of bat-spotting and creating a welcoming environment for theses protected animals.

First Ark wins bronze for health and safety

The First Ark Group, which includes Knowsley Housing Trust, is celebrating after receiving a bronze award for its commitment to health and safety.

The group’s health and safety performance and management system  has been recognised in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2012.

The award, which recognises commitment to accident and ill-health prevention, will be presented at a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, on Thursday, May 17.

Steve Heverin, Operational Director of Investment at the First Ark Group, said: “Health and safety in the workplace is something we take very seriously and we are very pleased to be recognised in these awards.

“A commitment to health and safety cuts down on lost work days through injury and sickness and creates a workforce that knows its welfare is looked after, which benefits every staff member and the whole organisation.”

David Rawlins, awards manager at RoSPA, said: “The RoSPA Awards programme provides well-deserved recognition for the winners and spurs on other organisations to raise their standards of accident and ill health prevention.

“We congratulate the First Ark Group on its success and encourage it, and all our other winners, to remain committed to safety and health, an approach that is well recognised to be good for workers and the bottom line.”

 

Community Evening

To celebrate the work of the many unpaid volunteers in Halewood.

The Annual Meeting Evening of the Town Council will also host a “Community Evening” when the Town Council pay tribute, and say thank you, to the many people who do unpaid work within the Community either with an organisation, or as a “good neighbour”. The evening will also see the award of the annual “Community Achievement awards” for 2012.

The event will take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday 10 May 2012, at the arncliffe Sports & Community Centre, and representatives from the press are duly invited.

Councillor Norman Hogg, Leader of the Town Council said, “Halewood Town Council are pleased to recognise the importance of the many good citizens within Halewood, who contribute so much to so many people in the community”.

Olympic Street Party Banners

 Would you like to make a fabulous banner with a professional artist for when the Olympic torch comes to Knowsley?

On Friday 1^st June 2012 the Olympic Flame will be passing through Prescot and Huyton and we would like to help you to make a banner for the day!

Knowsley Council will be providing a workshop where a representative from your school or community group, e.g. dance groups, cubs, scouts, art groups etc can get involved in making  colourful and vibrant banners, flags and bunting  to help celebrate this exciting day.

 We are inviting different groups to come along and explore different designs and techniques to create your very own personalised

Olympic Street Party Banner!

The sessions will take place

on Saturday 12^th May 2012

at

Knowsley Park Centre for Learning, Prescot

from 10.00am -12.30pm

and 1.15pm- 4.15pm

This will be a brilliant opportunity to work with a professional artist to learn how to make a street party themed banner that we will then display at Knowsley Safari Park when the torch arrives there for a big celebration day!

If you are interested in booking a place for a community group leader and up to 4 members of your group then please contact Knowsley Arts & Heritage Service on 0151 443 5649 or email Jo.dry@knowsley.gov.uk   by Wednesday May 9.

Places are free so book now!