Kick off the bank holiday weekend with a trip to Knowsley Safari with 20% off all online bookings from Friday 25th March to Sunday 17th April 2016.
This Easter, families can come face-to-face with over 700 animals including rhino, zebra, lions, tigers and cheeky baboons – don’t worry, there’s a car friendly route!
With a safari space covering 550 acres, there is no shortage of animals to see. For a full day out stop by the daily Sea Lion Display, witness a majestic Birds of Prey Display, get up-close to our gentle giraffes and herd of elephants at the Giraffe Platform and Elephant Platform and dare to enter the lair of Egyptian Fruit Bats, as they swoop and dive in the nocturnal bat forest.
Enjoy the return of spring and get back to basics with nature in the Wild Trail, with a great deal to learn about the woodland environment and the species that inhabit it. Visitors can also expect to see Knowsley’s European moose, Froja and Bruce, feeding at the edge of the woods.
Knowsley Council’s contractor SSE (SSEC), has successfully completed the four year, multi-million pound, award-winning street lighting and traffic sign improvement programme.
The project started late 2011 and was a major investment for Knowsley. During the last four years, every street in the borough has been systematically reviewed and redesigned and lighting has been replaced with the latest energy efficient technology, helping the council to reduce its carbon emissions and fuel bills. Columns that did not need replacing received an upgrade to provide consistent lighting standards for all of our residents and businesses.
The street lighting and traffic sign replacement programme was a major investment for Knowsley, equipping the borough with street lighting and traffic signs fit for the 21st Century. Importantly in these tough financial times the programme has made the best use of limited public resources by reducing ongoing energy and maintenance costs which benefits residents and tax payers alike.
While work was underway the programme was awarded a Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and Department for Transport Award, recognising exemplar schemes which have reduced sign clutter on roads in England.
Studies have found excessive road signs have a detrimental impact on the environment and dilute important messages. Through the programme Knowsley has reduced by almost a third the number of traffic signs, whilst ensuring essential warnings and directions for road users are retained. In addition, removing unnecessary traffic signs has resulted in almost £650,000 being reinvested in new lighting and signage equipment.
The borough’s streets are now lit using ‘white’ light equipment that improves community safety by allowing better visibility and ensures the colour of vehicles and clothing can be seen during hours of darkness. Also, new remote monitoring technology allows us to detect and respond to faults more quickly.
The project has delivered significant energy savings with a reduction in energy consumption of over three million kilowatt hours of electricity, which has produced a permanent reduction in street lighting energy costs of 10%.
Replaced or upgraded as part of the programme
19,451 street lampposts
5,294 signs, bollards & belisha beacons
Removed or de-illuminated in accordance with latest Department of Transport guidelines:
1,898 signs removed
230 traffic signs/bollards de-illuminated
Kept the streets lit and safe
Made safe 99% of emergency faults within one hour of being reported and responded to 99% of non-emergency faults within five working days
Kind to the environment
Recycled 76% of waste, the equivalent of almost 3,000 small cars in weight
Saved C02 emissions equivalent to that absorbed by 350 acres of new forest, or planting approximately 150,000 new trees
SSEC will continue to manage and maintain the street lighting and traffic signs for the next 21 years.
A dedicated team committed to supporting and safeguarding adults at risk of neglect or abuse will join forces with other safeguarding professionals in Knowsley
A Safeguarding Adults Team has been established within the borough’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), based at Huyton Police Station.
The team will be a single point of contact providing safeguarding support to adults with care and support needs and those at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It is estimated there are more than 7,000 vulnerable adults in Knowsley.
The team will work closely with agencies such as the police, health and housing providers, ensuring vulnerable people are at the centre of all activity concerning their safety, health and well-being.
Victims of abuse, or those wanting to report the abuse of a vulnerable adult, can contact the team on 0151 443 2600.
The creation of the new team in the MASH followed a review of local safeguarding arrangements including consultations with people who use services, carers, families, providers of services and staff.
Julie Moss, Director of Adult Service at Knowsley Council: “Safeguarding is everyone’s business - we all have a responsibility to ensure that adults with care and support needs are safe and can live without fear of harassment or harm.
“Vulnerable people at risk of abuse may include the elderly and those with a physical or learning disability. They may be at risk from a relative, friend, neighbour, carer – or even a stranger. Abuse can happen anywhere - in a person’s home, a residential or nursing home or in a day centre or hospital.
“It’s simple and easy to report concerns about the welfare of any adult with care or support needs. All safeguarding concerns will be dealt with swiftly and in a responsive way – keeping the adult at the centre of the process.”
SATURDAY 19TH March 2016 EVO-STIK DIVISION ONE NORTH
Prescot Cables were defeated by league leaders Warrington Town at Hope Street in a game in which the Wires were comfortable winners.
Cables welcomed back captain Jamie McCulloch after a long absence through injury, but even his presence could not prevent the Wires from coasting to yet another victory to put them 16 points clear at the top of the table.
Cables kicked off playing towards the Knowsley End and Jamie McCulloch wasted an opportunity to put Cables in front after only three minutes when he headed wide from Phil Bannister’s corner. Cables had started brightly, and a good move between Nicholson, Dean and Doran ended with Doran shooting wide from outside the penalty area.
Warrington struggled to get hold of the ball on a heavy pitch with the Cables midfield dominating possession in the early stages. Jamie McCulloch came to Cables rescue when he intercepted a long ball for Warrington’s speedy winger Scott Metcalfe putting the ball out for a throw in. Metcalfe was soon on the attack again, his cross from the left being headed out by Jonah O’Reilly for a corner which the Cables defence cleared comfortably.
Cables won a corner taken by Bannister after a cross from Lloyd Dean was blocked, but the Warrington defence cleared the corner. Bannister then produced a fine cross from the right which just evaded the head of Rob Doran and sailed out of play. Warrington were resorting to the long ball game and a long ball from Danny Ventre was headed clear by Anthony Shinks. Another long ball put Ged Kinsella clear drew Marcus Burgess and passed inside to Steve Gillespie who fired towards goal only for Flood to clear off the goal line. Flood came to Cables rescue again with a good tackle on Joe Holt to concede a corner. The corner taken by Ventre sailed over the top of the Cables cross bar.
Knowsley and Sefton Councils have agreed to “share” a Director of Public Health in a move which is likely to see both local authorities collaborating on key health and wellbeing initiatives.
The new arrangement will commence from immediate effect, and will see Matthew Ashton, the current Director of Public Health and Assistant Executive Director (Health and Wellbeing) in Knowsley take on a joint position spanning both areas. Matthew will split his time across both areas, providing visible leadership across the patch and encouraging a more ‘joined up’ approach to tackling health issues.
The role will be funded equally between both councils and will therefore also result in savings for both authorities.
Both councils have confirmed their commitment to making this new arrangement work for the benefit of residents in both Knowsley and Sefton and said they would not rule out further collaboration in the future.
Councillor Eddie Connor, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, commented:
If you or someone you know wants to find out more about becoming an apprentice, don’t miss the chance to meet the Knowsley Apprentice team.
There is a drop in event on Monday 14 March 2-6pm at Poco Coffee in Kirkby.
Organised as part of National Apprenticeship Week (14-18 March) you will have the opportunity to meet the Apprentice team, find out more about current vacancies and sign up to be notified about future opportunities. You can sit with an Advisor over a free coffee and discuss how you can get a fantastic job with apprenticeship training.
Since 2008, 947 young people have secured a position as a Knowsley Apprentice and many have been offered permanent positions at the end of their placements.
Cllr Mike Murphy, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said: “The Knowsley Apprentice is a fantastic programme which has given hundreds of young people the opportunity to secure a job, while working towards qualifications and earning a good wage.
“If you’re interested in finding out more about apprenticeships you should definitely come along to this drop in event and take the opportunity to talk to the team and get some practical advice and guidance for the application process.”
Richard Sutton of Poco Coffee said: "I’m a huge supporter of the apprentice programme. We have achieved some very notable success in identifying and employing apprentices and four individuals have gained a full time position at the end of their apprenticeships. Holly and Emma are a great example of this and they are now key members of our team.
“My advice to other employers would be to put time aside to interview prospective apprentices and don’t just rely on education or work experience. If you are prepared to invest in training and educating these young people it will pay massive dividends in the long run."
The drop in event is happening on Monday 14 March, 2-6pm at Poco Coffee in the Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby.
At the event you will also be able to collect a free bus pass to get you to the Liverpool City Region apprentice events that are happening in Liverpool One on Tuesday 15 – Thursday 17 March.
Children’s Centre Volunteers who gave more than 17,000 hours to help run services for local families last year were given a resounding message of thank you at a celebration event.
Volunteers from centres across Knowsley gathered at New Hutte in Halewood to share good practice and find out about the difference their volunteering hours had made to local families.
The event also coincided with a visit from Cllr Michael Pavey, deputy leader of Brent Council, who came to Knowsley to see how the borough has continued to support and develop its Children’s Centres in the face of budget cuts.
Speaking at the event, Cllr See told the volunteers: “I know the value of what you bring to our Children’s Centres, and that most of what the teams deliver across the borough would not happen without you. You’ve made our Children’s Centres what they are and I’m here to tell you how much you are valued.
He went on: “I strongly believe that Children’s Centres should be the first stop for every child – even before they are born the centres have plenty to offer an expectant mum. Once the baby arrives they are a place where mum, dad, carer and child will all find something to help support them - even if it’s just knowing that there is a network of people out there that they can turn to.”
He told the volunteers: “You make a massive contribution to the wellbeing and the quality of lives of many families in the borough – probably more so than you realise.”
In each of the past three years there have been an average of 118 volunteers working across Knowsley’s Children’s Centres giving around 17,300 hours to the Children’s Centres annually.
Pictured: Cllr Michael Pavey, of Brent Council, with Cllr Gary See, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, with Children’s Centres volunteers at the celebration event at New Hutte.
A service which helps families cope day-to-day with dementia has seen such a success in Knowsley that it is now expanding into Halton.
The Admiral Nurse Service, which is provided by specialist dementia nurses, will be based in the community and the nurses will work with local families to ensure they are better able to understand and cope with the changes which can occur with dementia. They will work with the family to make informed decisions about their future needs, to enable the family to stay together for as long as possible.
Admiral nurses play a unique role in care management by joining up the different parts of the health and social care system, and help address the needs of family carers and people with dementia in a coordinated way.
The Admiral Nurse Service is delivered by 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and works in partnership with Dementia UK which governs and monitors the service. The service has been running in Knowsley since 2011.
SATURDAY 27TH February 2016 - EVO-STIK DIVISION ONE NORTH
Prescot Cables defeated Droylsden in five goal thriller at Hope Street.
Cables Manager Andy Paxton made just two changes from the team which had drawn away to Bamber Bridge in midweek, Anthony Shinks and Rob Doran replacing Jacob Jones and Andy Scarisbrick.
Cables kicked off playing towards the Knowsley End and there was an early opportunity when Staunton-Turner played Lloyd Dean through on goal, but he was adjudged offside. Doran, Dean and Josh Nichoslon then linked up on the left with Doran crossing into the penalty area but his cross was cleared by the Droylsden defence. Cables were dominating possession in the early stages of the game and another good passing move between Doran and Dean set up an opportunity for Staunton-turner whose shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. Bannister took the corner which Droylsden keeper Steve James collected comfortably.
Cables won another corner shortly afterwards again taken by Bannister, Doran having his first shot blocked then hitting his second attempt over the bar. On a rare excursion into the Cables half, Barber crossed form deep into the penalty area for Hasler Cregg who shot wide of the far post. Bram Johnstone caused Cables hearts to flutter when he headed the ball back to Marcus Burgess who just managed to collect it in time from Droylsden striker Brandon Zibaka.
Knowsley band Skylights are through to the semi-finals of Liverpool Rocks, Battle of the Bands.
The group have been competing with 40 bands, over four rounds and two venues to reach the semi-finals.
They are now hoping to get through to the finals, which take place on Friday, 22 April at Liverpool’s O2 Academy. The winners will receive £1,000 as well as performing at the X&Y Festival this year.
The semi-finals take place on 11 and 20 March from 7pm at the O2 Academy. Tickets on the door are £7.
Skylights are part of EnChord – a group of musicians and singers from Stockbridge Village - who meet weekly in Knowsley. The group is for anyone who is aged 13-19 who lives in Knowsley and has a passion for music. For more information about Enchord, or if you’d like to get involved, contact Eliza on 0151 443 5628 or email [email protected]
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