Knowsley Online

Charlotte has the recipe for success

It was second time lucky for school cook Charlotte Baker when she entered the Knowsley heat of the School Chef of the Year competition.

Charlotte – catering supervisor at Nine Tree Primary School, Stockbridge Village, beat off the competition to take the top spot in the Knowsley heat held at Kirkby Sports College Centre for Learning. Having entered the competition once before, Charlotte was delighted when judges named her the winner – with a guaranteed place in the regional final in spring next year.

The competition called on the school chefs to produce, in just one and a half hours, a healthy, balanced main course meal and dessert that would appeal to 11 year olds in school. A maximum of £1.20 per head was allowed for the food.

And Charlotte wowed the judges with her Spanish themed meal of Frittatas for the main dish and Seville orange mousse for the delicious dessert.

Knowsley benefits cheat given suspended jail term

A Knowsley woman who fraudulently claimed £48,000 in benefits has been given a suspended nine-month jail sentence.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the sentence against 44 year old Michelle Crosbie will be suspended for 18 months.

Ms Crosbie claimed housing benefit, income support and council tax benefit on the basis that she was a lone parent with two dependent children living at Hollowcroft, Stockbridge Village.

Knowsley Council carried out a joint investigation with Merseyside Police and the Department for Work and Pensions and found that Crosbie’s partner was living at the property most of the time.

At an earlier court hearing, Ms Crosbie pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming £48,000 in benefits from September 2004.

A Knowsley Council spokesperson, said: “The result of this prosecution sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate cheats in Knowsley.

“Money claimed by fraudsters is money that could be invested in council services that benefit the whole community. Knowsley Council will always push for the toughest penalties for people found to be acting dishonestly.

“We would remind genuine claimants that they must always let us know if their circumstances change or they too could find themselves in court.”

Anyone with information about benefit fraud in Knowsley can call the council’s Fraud Hotline on 0800 073 0532. If you need to inform Knowsley Council about a change of circumstances, please call 0151 443 4042 or call into your nearest One Stop Shop.

Meanwhile, Knowsley Council has also successfully brought prosecutions in a further three cases of benefit fraud totalling more than £20,000. At Huyton Magistrates Court:

37 year old Sarah Jane Caldwell was given a two year conditional discharge for failing to declare her partner was living with her at an address in Custley Hey, Stockbridge Village. She claimed £11,712 housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support on the basis she was a lone parent with two dependent children.

40 year old Delroy Williams of Wimborne Road, Huyton received 120 hours community punishment order and 12 month supervision order for failing to declare his partner lived at the address. He claimed £4,129 housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseekers allowance on the basis he was a single person living alone at the address.

28 year old Claire Louise Dodd claimed £4,596 benefits on the basis she was a lone parent living with two dependent children at Cherry Gardens, Kirkby. She received a 12 month conditional discharge for failing to declare her partner was living at the address.

'Enough is Enough'- Message hits home as drug trafficker is charged

Stockbridge Village Partnership Group Action

Christopher Corfield, a 43 year old man with close links to Stockbridge village has now been charged with drug offences following Wednesday’s action by SOCA and Merseyside Police.  Four properties were searched and two people arrested during Wednesday’s dawn raids; a 27 year old woman has been bailed pending further enquiries.  
 
The action was in support of the Stockbridge Village Partnership Group which aims to tackle head on the people, places or groups that are having a detrimental effect on the area. The partnership’s message, 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH', reflects the sentiments of the community who are working together to help stamp out nuisance, disorder and even serious crime.

SOCA is supporting the activity of the SBV Partnership Group by targeting organised criminals who are either based in, or who prey on those who live in the village.

Knowsley Residents Get Energy Smart

Knowsley residents can learn how to stay warm, keep fuel bills low and deal with debt at local ‘Get Energy Smart’ events.

Knowsley Council and its partners are using the ‘Get Energy Smart’ events to raise awareness of the problems facing local people who may struggle to affordably heat their homes and the role that energy efficiency can play in making their homes warmer, more comfortable and easier to heat.

Residents will have access to energy saving hints and tips, fuel switching information and fuel debt advice. There will also be information to help people to stay healthy in the cold weather, keep their home warm and advice on benefit entitlement.

There will also be the chance to sample some soup and learn how to eat healthy on a budget, with help of goody bags from Squash Nutrition.

The events will take place in Halewood, Stockbridge Village and Prescot on:

• Tuesday 17 November 10am – 2pm, New Hutte Community Centre, Lichfield Road, Halewood
• Thursday 19 November, 10am to 3pm, The Space Building, Waterpark Drive, (next to St Brigid’s School), Stockbridge Village.
• Thursday 26 November, 11am to 2pm, Cables Football Club, Eaton Street, Prescot.

For more information about the Get Energy Smart events please contact Sally Carter on 443 2216 or sally.carter@knowsley.gov.uk

Stockbridge Village Golf Society

Our little society started in 1984 when 6 men sitting drinking in the Stockbridge Village country club decided to start their own golf society.

Within 2 years the society was fully established providing golf for anybody wishing to join.

Our home course is Hoylake municipal. We have reserved tee times every Sunday morning, (9.54 onwards)

We have upstairs in the clubhouse, all our honours boards to commemorate all the past winners of our major competitions.

The 1st round of our Championship is donated to charity.  In addition in July we run our Happy Larry’s day were we raise money for charity in a betterball open to everyone usually raising over £1000

Our president is Liverpool legend Ron Yeats

Some 24 years ago while playing golf in Glasgow the jewel in our fixture was born the FRIENDS ACROSS THE BORDER.

Each year 20 golfers from Merseyside play against the 20 golfers of the Malletsheugh GC of Glasgow over 2 days Ryder Cup style. This September we will travel to Scotland to defend our trophy at the Darley & Lochgreen.

As the society has evolved over the years those who lived in Stockbridge village slowly moved on until we find ourselves with 29 members living in Liverpool, Wirral, & Skelmersdale, but sadly none in Stockbridge or surrounding areas.

With guaranteed Sunday morning tee time, offering competitive golf every week, presentation night, and  a yearly golf weekend.

We have members from 18 to 77 years old and would love new members from all over Merseyside.  We are looking for new members to join our society if you are interested

Contact Mike Rainsford 07930471240

It was back to the Swinging Sixties for a birthday party with a difference at a Knowsley School

Brookside primary celebrated forty years of success with a Flower Power street party and 1960’s Playground.

The day began with a research session on family and school life back in 1969 and ended with a competition to match the Sixties baby pictures to the relevant member of staff.

Trestle tables, balloons and bunting filled the school car park for a Hippie street party, with food and equipment supplied by Knowsley Council.

All staff and pupils at the school had dressed up in Sixties gear for the event and enjoyed post party games from the era, such as Oranges and Lemons.

“It’s a wonderful school,” said Deputy Head teacher Trish Lewis.

“The day has been a real team effort and the decision to make it a Sixties theme and for us all to dress up was made by all the staff.”

“The school is due to amalgamate in two years time and it will be rehoused in a new, multi purpose centre in the heart of Stockbridge Village so there are exciting times ahead as well”

Knowsley cabinet member for Children’s Services, Cllr Graham Wright congratulated Brookside on its celebration and ongoing success

He said: "This school has had a number of very good Ofsted inspections and the behaviour of the pupils has always been highlighted as impeccable.

“They deserve to take time out to celebrate what they have achieved and they have a great future ahead as well.”

Staff and pupils at Brookside Community Primary School, Stockbridge Village, celebrate the school's 40th anniversary with a 60's party

Kicking knives into touch

A team of young footballers in Knowsley are taking the battle against knife crime on to the pitch.

A squad from the Stockbridge Village Kickz project have won their way through to the North West final of the ‘It Doesn’t Have to Happen’ tournament.

It is part of a Government campaign, to give young people an understanding of the consequences of knife crime, encouraging them to ‘say no to knives’.

The ‘It Doesn’t Have to Happen’ project was conceived by the Home Office but developed by young people themselves.

It has been backed by the Kickz football scheme which provides coaching and matches for young people.

Regional football tournaments were arranged to raise awareness of the anti-knife crime campaign.

Twelve to sixteen year olds from across the country put on the strips of professional clubs to represent their local communities in a national competition.

The Stockbridge youngsters took part in the regional competition in Blackburn and have won a place in the final which will probably be played at Derby County’s Pride Park ground in May.

Cllr Bill Weightman represents the Stockbridge Village ward and has been a strong supporter of the Kickz project.

He said: “The power of football and premiership clubs in young people’s lives is tremendous.

“It is a great idea to link this appeal to a crucial campaign to let them know just how dangerous knives and carrying knives can be.

“The Kickz coaches said our local lads behaved excellently during the competition, both on and off the pitch and that the campaign had a really positive effect on them.”

The Kickz programme is backed by the Football Foundation, Premier League, Metropolitan Police and other forces around the country.

The anti-knife crime campaign has a dedicated website on the social networking site Bebo: www.itdoesnthavetohappen.co.uk

Pic Caption : The Stockbridge Kickz team wins through to the final of the ‘It doesn’t have to happen’ anti-knife crime tournament.

Knowsley special school is top of the class.

Education inspectors have given a Knowsley special school top marks.

The Elms school in Stockbridge Village is described as an “outstanding school in which pupils thrive” by the Government education watchdog, Ofsted.

The inspection, carried out at the school on Whitethorn Drive, found it to be outstanding in almost all areas.

The report said: “Each pupil is treated as an individual and relationships between pupils and staff are excellent.

“As a result, pupils make excellent progress in their personal development. They are happy, confident and gain a great deal of enjoyment from all that the school has to offer.”

The curriculum is outstanding and the school’s effectiveness is explained by excellent leadership and management.

The ages of the pupils range from 3 to 19 and the teaching, guidance and support given to those in the sixth form is said to be outstanding.

Teachers at the school, “know exactly what every individual needs to gain from the lesson and do their very best to ensure that these goals are reached”.

Pupils’ progress in literacy and numeracy is also said to be first rate.

But the inspector calls on the school to work on achieving similar progress in science.

The “wide range” of extra curricular activities is also said to be good and every effort is made to keep the pupils safe.

The report concludes, “Although looking to the future, the school's leaders and staff never lose sight of their current pupils and remain determined to provide them with the best possible quality of education.”

Chair of governors at the time of the inspection, Mike Birchall said: "We are all absolutely delighted with this report that pays tribute to the hard work that everybody who is involved with the school puts in, day in, day out.”

Cllr Graham Wright, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services said:” The Elms school works with pupils with severe and complex needs and this report shows that this is done with excellence and understanding.”

Knowsley’s mayor Cllr Michael Foulkes celebrates The Elms outstanding Ofsted report with head teacher Linda Lowe and pupils.

Hednesford Town 4 Prescot Cables 1

Saturday 20 December 2008

A tale of mixed fortunes in this Unibond Premier League encounter as there were six occasions when the attacker had only the keeper to beat – Hednesford scored three times, Cables failed in their three attempts.

As early as the 5^th minute Prescot’s Williams ‘one on one’ situation with Brock saw the Hednesford keeper parry the ball away.  Tommy Taylor also had opportunities gifted to him by the home defence.  On each occasion the net could not be found with only the keeper in front him. 

In between Hednesford took the lead on 35 minutes when a Cables free kick was cleared down field.  Draper evaded the Prescot offside calls to provide top scorer Barnett with his first goal.

 

Hednesford increased their lead on 52 minutes following a Cables corner that was booted away.  Barnett rounded keeper Jones to stroke the ball into the net.

The home sides’ third goal followed a similar pattern as a Prescot free kick was cleared away towards Durrell who raced towards Jones and calmly found the bottom corner in the 72^nd minute.

Cables pulled a goal back when Byers converted a cross from Flood on 83 minutes.  Hednesford restored their superiority two minutes later when Durrell scored his second.

 

Cables travel to Crosby to play Marine on Boxing Day followed by the return match at on New Years Day. Both games are 3pm kick offs.

 

Multi-million pound Stockbridge Village regeneration plan unveiled

People who live and work in Stockbridge Village are being invited to share their views on the first draft of a multi-million pound plan to transform and improve the area.

The consultation event on Tuesday 25 November (3pm - 7pm) will provide Stockbridge Village residents with an opportunity to have their say on the initial proposals.

It follows a consultation event organised by Knowsley Council in March this year, attended by nearly 300 local people who live, work or own their own business in Stockbridge Village. They gave their views on how they want the area to develop in the future.

Residents asked for improved sports and leisure facilities as well as more activities for children and young people. The council and its partners have used all the feedback from the event to help form the multi-million pound preliminary plan.

Cllr Bill Weightman, Stockbridge Village councillor, said:

"We want the community to be at the heart of the plans for Stockbridge Village and are now sharing with local people some initial proposals so they can give us their views on the plan.

"The consultation event in March was a tremendous success and we are now urging local people to work with us again so we can ensure the redevelopment meets the needs of the people who live and work in Stockbridge.

"The proposals include new leisure facilities and a new hub building with library, café and community space. Residents asked for more activities for children and young people so the proposals include a new primary school with a children's centre and nursery as well as an outdoor play area.

"We are at the beginning of a long term journey to transform the area, one which will bring about social change as well as physical regeneration.

"Knowsley Council and its partners are committed to consulting with local people every step of the way. The wishes of the Stockbridge Village community are key to the success of this multi-million pound investment in the area."