Knowsley Online

Kind Huyton Students up for national award

Kind hearted pupils from a Knowsley school have won an award for helping their neighbours fight crime and their fear of crime.

Anti social behaviour was causing some problems for residents of a sheltered housing scheme near Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning.

Some pupils had been using Marshfield Close as a short cut to and from school and this had caused some damage and made the residents anxious.

The students realised that fear of crime had become the problem and this  stemmed from a lack of any relationship between the two groups.

They set up a project to promote a positive image of young people and invited the residents to come to some of the after school activities.

The residents held sessions to teach the young people how to knit and the students entertained them with acting, singing and bingo.

Get in shape in 2011 - Free weight management clubs for the whole family in Knowsley

Christmas is a time to celebrate - watching what you eat and drink is the last thing on your mind. We all overindulge at Christmas, starting the New Year with the best of intentions to lose weight. It is a well known fact that most resolutions are out of the window by the third week in January. But CWM Health can help the whole family get back on track and make a fresh healthy start to 2011.

CWM Clubs, the FREE family weight management programme funded by Knowsley Health and Wellbeing, start on Saturday 22^nd January and will run every Saturday morning and afternoon in Kirkby and Huyton. It is a 10 week programme, followed by a 12 week follow up and exclusive online access to a member’s site.

The Clubs are for children aged 4-17 who are concerned about their weight, and attend with a parent or carer. They are a great way to kick start the New Year, meet new friends, take part in fun activities and learn about healthy lifestyles. So don’t miss out – join a CWM Club today!

Clubs are available at:

• Huyton Arts and Sports College, Seel Road, L36 6DG for 4-16 year olds from Saturday 22^nd January at 9:00 – 12:30pm

            and

• Kirkby Sports College, Bracknell Ave, L32 9PP for 4-16 year olds from Saturday 22^nd January at 1:30 – 5:00pm

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Clubs programme is invited to attend a FREE taster session at one of the venues below, healthcare professionals are also invited to learn more about the Clubs programme:

Saturday 15th January at 10:30 – 12:30am at Huyton Arts and Sports College, Seel Road, L36 6DG

and Saturday 15th January at 2 - 4pm at Ian Kirkby Sports College, Bracknell Ave, L32 9PP

To book your place at the drop in session or apply for a Clubs place, please call Claire Baldwin on 0151 443 4855 or email [email protected].  To secure a place on the January cluub, an application form can be completed which can be downloaded or filled in online visit: www.cwmhealth.com/knowsley.

Alternatively applications can be completed over the phone or sent in the post. You can text CLUBKNO6 and YOUR NAME to 88020 and we’ll call you back.

 

Listening Event for COPD Patients

A series of “Listening Events” are being held across Knowsley for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (sometimes called COPD or emphysema).

The events will give local people an opportunity to share their views with service providers and say how they feel patient experience could be improved. 

Discussion will focus on:

•  What services are available
• Patient experiences 
• The information provided to patients about COPD 
• What areas of service are good and what could be improved
• How people can stay involved with improving services

The events will take place on:

• 15 November at  The Kirkby Suite Cherryfield Drive, Kirkb
• 17 November at  Prescot Leisure Centre (opposite People’s Garage) 
• 26 November at  The Huyton Suite, (next to Huyton Town Centre Library)

All events will start at 10am and finish at 12.30 p.m.

If you would like to attend one of the Listening Events contact Kelly Jones on 0151 244 3457.  If you have mobility issues or transport needs this will be discussed with you.

The events are being organised by NHS Knowsley, in partnership with all local service providers and Hospital Trusts.

New plans for Kirkby: have your say

Plans for the redevelopment of Kirkby town centre will be going on display in the town for the entire community to view.

Knowsley Council is setting up a ‘Kirkby drop-in shop’ in the heart of the town centre to give the community a chance to come and view the proposals, ask questions and share their views on the application submitted by Spenhill, the regeneration subsidiary of Tesco.

The consultation will take place in the town centre at 24, St.Chad’s Parade on the following dates.

• Wednesday 20th October 2010 (10am – 3pm)
• Thursday 21st October 2010 (10am – 3pm) 
• Friday 22nd October 2010 (10am – 3pm) 
• Saturday 23rd October 2010 (10am – 3pm)

Nick Kavanagh, Knowsley Council’s Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy & Skills commented:

“The people of Kirkby have always been clear that they want to play a part in the redevelopment of their town and we are keen to let them do that. We have already asked the community for their views on what they would like to see in a new and improved town centre and now we are giving them a chance to see the proposals that have been submitted to redevelop the town centre.

The consultation, which will run for 4 days, will give everyone a chance to view the plans and see for themselves how their town centre could be developed. We have always been committed to the regeneration of Kirkby and in the current economic climate we are really encouraged to see companies like Tesco keen to invest in Knowsley.”

The outline planning application includes a new Tesco superstore, new retail units, food and drink outlets, offices, new public buildings including health centre and library, and a new petrol station. The proposal also includes improvements to highways, pedestrian and cycle routes and enhanced landscaping in the town centre.

Nick continued: “This is an exciting time for the people of Kirkby and I am really keen for them to come along and see the proposals for themselves. The drop in shop will be set up in the heart of the town centre and will be open to the public throughout the week so that as many people as possible can view the proposals and share their views.”

In addition to the consultation event, you can view the full application online by visiting the planning section of the council’s website www.knowsley.gov.uk and searching in the public access section.

Art at the heart of a new Kirkby

A community’s hopes for their home town are being brought to life in an art project in Knowsley.

Workshops have been held across Kirkby to create artwork showing what local people would like from a revitalised town centre. Residents were asked to think about how they feel about the town centre, their aspirations and activities they would like to do.

The huge art panels will be used to brighten up the hoardings around the site of the town’s former swimming pool which is being demolished.

Everyone from pensioners to parent and toddler groups took part in the sessions which were run by Knowsley Council and Collage Marketing.

  “It’s been boss,” said 11 year old Sophie Fairfield from Towerhill Youth group.

“I’ve been an artist for the morning, making lots of drawings and words which will be put up for everybody to see.

“I’ll be really proud seeing it and so will my mum and my family”.

The final artwork will be installed onto the hoardings in late September.

“We know local people feel passionately about Kirkby," said Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills.

“We’ve been consulting with them about our ambitions to regenerate the area and know they have a lot of ideas.

“The art work they’ve created means they can share their vision with others and improve the look of the town centre. The involvement of the local community in all regeneration programmes is essential for the delivery of improvements to the neighbourhoods they live, work and play in.”

  Nancie Price, from Collage, said: “Local people have had the chance to work with trained artists to create something that makes their ambitions for the town real.

“Getting the community to create something together is great fun and people pick up skills that can lead on to other things.”

Talented artists showcase work at local exhibition

Many local residents turned up to show their support at the opening of Knowsley’s Open Art Exhibition 2010 held at Kirkby Gallery on Thursday 9th September.

The exhibition gives local artists of all ages the opportunity to showcase their work to the general public and this year’s exhibition is the biggest yet with over 200 fantastic art works for the community to see and buy.

New to this year was the Young Artists Exhibition, in the Mezzanine Gallery, which showcased approximately 30 entries from juniors, aged 11 to 17.  Taking part in this section of competition were brother and sister, Georgia and Will from Kirkby.

 Will, aged 7 said, “We love to paint and came to Kirkby gallery every week during the school holidays to create our artwork for the competition.

“I am very proud to see my piece of artwork on the wall, I’ve been really excited to see it, it looks great and I hope I win.”

This exhibition is unique as it is free to enter and does not operate on a selection process, so all artwork entered goes on display, making for an extremely diverse exhibition.  And for many participating artists this is their first ever opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional, public gallery.

Representing the adult section of the competition was Lesley Quinn who said “I have only recently started to paint, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I chose to paint my grand daughter this year, and I think I have done a great job!

“This exhibition is fantastic for amateur artists, to get their artwork out there for everyone to see in such a professional environment.”

The Exhibition runs until the 14th November and Knowsley Arts and Heritage Service would like to know your favourite piece of art at the exhibition and to take part in the visitor’s choice vote, with winners being announced at the end of the exhibition.

New support groups for Heart Disease and Stroke

Knowsley people who have suffered, or care for someone who has, Heart Disease or a Stroke, can join the new community – run support groups operating across the borough.

Knowsley Chest, Heart and Stroke Support Groups (CHASS) enhance current support services available in the borough and were created following requests to Knowsley Health & Wellbeing from local people.

The support groups hold regular meetings with a range of activities, giving people the chance to socialise with others with similar experiences.

People are welcome to attend the following support groups:

Prescot: Every Wednesday, 2pm – 4pm at Greenwood Close Community Hall, Greenwood Close, Prescot, L34 2SL. For more information contact Jimmy Jordan on ph: 0151 289 5703.

Huyton: First and third Thursday of the month, 7pm – 9pm, Connaughton Resource Centre, Tarbock Road, Huyton, L36 5XW.  For more information contact Isobel McBain on ph: 0151 449 1702.
 
Halewood: Second and fourth Thursday of the month, 7.30pm – 9.30pm, St Mary’s Church Care Centre, Hillingden Avenue, Halewood, Liverpool L26 9TZ.  For more information contact Pauline Dooley on ph: 0151 486 1213.

Kirkby: Every Friday, 2pm – 4pm, YWCA, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, L32 8SA. For more information contact Jimmy Jordan on ph: 0151 289 5703

If you are interested in volunteering your time at one of the groups, please contact Jimmy Jordan on 0151 289 5703.

Kirkby market goes retro

Stall holders will scoop the best bargain of the day when Kirkby market celebrates its fiftieth birthday.

Knowsley Council has agreed to charge the traders the same rent they would have paid when the market opened in 1960.

That will send the price they pay to sell their wares tumbling from £17.50 to just £1.15.

The council has also arranged a family fun day to celebrate the market’s golden anniversary.

Children’s entertainers, donkey rides and music from the KCC Live station will mark the centre’s special day.

“We want the traders to enjoy the day as much as the public,” said Cllr Dave Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills.

“Everyone’s counting the pennies at the moment so we thought the stall holders might appreciate a bit of retro pricing!”

Kirkby Market opened on 6 September 1960 and has 130 stalls. It is open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and sells a wide variety of goods.

The fun day will run from 11am until 4pm on Saturday August 28.

Fun day marks Kirkby Market’s golden anniversary.

Fun for all the family has been laid on to mark the fiftieth birthday of Kirkby Market.

The market opened on September 6, 1960 and has grown in popularity ever since.

A day of entertainment on Saturday, August 28 will mark half a century of trading with children’s entertainers, donkey rides and a Punch and Judy show.

The KCC Live radio station will also be broadcasting from there on the day and there will a coconut shy, face painting and a “walkabout dinosaur”.

Fruit and veg seller Peter Taker has been working at the market since it opened and is the longest serving trader.

He said: “I have always done Kirkby Market and I love being here. I’ve no intention of retiring.

“I think I must have sold more fruit and veg and served more customers than any other independent retailer on Merseyside.

“My son still works in the business and my daughters have too. I’d love some of my grandchildren to join the trade

“When I was making my way to the market on the first day, I asked someone for directions and the fella I stopped still comes here today.”

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said: “Kirkby Market is at the heart of the town centre and has become a regular shopping and meeting place for people from all around.

“I’m thrilled it has reached this golden anniversary and I would also like to pay tribute to the achievement and dedication of our traders, particularly Peter Taker.”

Kirkby Market is open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and has 130 stalls selling everything from food and clothes to wallpaper and plants.

The fun day will run at the market from 11am to 4pm.

Robert makes another splash at Mill Farm

Keen Kirkby anglers had their rods at the ready for the Junior Fishing and Fun Day held at Mill Farm on Thursday 5th August.

A record breaking 42 young fishermen from all over Knowsley cast off in pursuit of the title, but it was Robert Tune from Whiston who bagged first place for the second year running. Robert retained his title of ‘Knowsley Junior Angler of the Year for 2010’ with a catch weighing in at 2lb 7oz.

Second place went to Thomas Heron from Huyton with a catch of 2lb and third place went to Jack Martin from Kirkby with a catch of 1lb 14oz.

Robert said “I really enjoy fishing and I am very happy to have won the competition for the second year running, I will defiantly be back next year to try and make it a hat trick!.”

Back on dry land, spectators and anglers enjoyed the fun games on offer which included face painting, bouncy castle and craft workshops.

The day was funded and organised by Knowsley Sports Development Team and Kirkby Area Development Team in an attempt to provide a fun packed day for children and teenagers during the summer holidays.

The competition will be back again next year at Mill Farm on Thursday 4th August, to see who will be making a splash in 2011 and see if Robert can make it three in a row.

For more information on activities taking place for juniors contact Steve Guy from the Sports Development Team on 0151 443 3870

The picture attached shows (left to right) winners of the competition, Jack Martin, Robert Tune, Thomas Heron.