Author: Bridie Finnan

Registered nursing and residential homes in Sefton are now eligible to apply for up to £20,000 to make physical improvements or purchase technology. The aim of the grant is to make care homes more dementia friendly, improve health and wellbeing and to enhance outcomes for residents.

Round One saw 38 care homes receive £400k in grant funding and Round Two is open now and runs until Friday 17^th December 2021.

Cllr Paul Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Sefton Council said:

“I am delighted to see the launch the Capital Improvement Programme Round Two and encourage Care Home Providers to engage with this exciting opportunity.

“The programme will help the sector to further enhance the quality of life of their residents and shows the continued commitment the Council has to supporting and developing these important services.”

Round 1 of the funding has led to providers successfully implementing a wide range of projects which have improved the environment for residents. Projects included the installation of sensory spaces both indoors and outdoors, artwork, summer houses and conservatory refurbishments, cool touch radiators, and dementia friendly technology such as interactive tables.

One Sefton Care Home said:

“There is a noticeable difference already in the amount of service users that are spending longer periods of time in the dining areas due to the increase suitability and comfort of the chairs. Staff have found it easier to serve meals to the residents and assist those who need help during mealtimes.”

Another Sefton Care Home said:

“I would like to thank Sefton Council for providing us the opportunity and the grant to make the Home more Dementia-friendly. The council is heading in the right direction in terms of offering support to people with dementia.”

All care homes in Sefton will now have received an application form. For further information and an application form please email asc.development@sefton.gov.uk

On Regions and Cities day of COP26, Sefton Council has called on the government to provide more support to local government to tackle the issue of climate change at a local level, empower community led action and address crucial adaptation concerns.

Sefton Council has declared a climate emergency and has pledged to be net zero carbon by 2030 for all council activities.

The Council has now urged the government to revise it’s 2050 target for net zero to reflect the emergency we currently face and to provide more support to local authorities to be net zero carbon much sooner.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory and Corporate Services said:

“COP26 has been a big moment for the UK and the international community and we have seen political will across the world to tackle one of the biggest issues facing humanity. Now that COP26 is drawing to a close, we call on the government to tackle this problem together, across all levels of government, right down to our local authorities.

“We want the Government to see the opportunities for bottom-up, locally led climate action to be of equal importance as the Levelling Up agenda and to invest in our regions to enable us to truly lead on this work.

“We need to see greater investment in adaptation measures, particularly for coastal areas and areas at risk of flooding. The carbon we emit will stay in the atmosphere for around 100 years and therefore the effects of climate change will have an impact on us. As a coastal borough, Sefton will be affected more than most by extreme weather events to come and we must be prepared.  

“There is no one thing that the Government alone can do to end this climate emergency and we must approach this problem as a problem for all, to be solved by all. Everything we do has a cumulative positive effect and the Government must provide more support to local authorities to ensure that we can protect our communities from climate change and invest in net zero ambitions.”

Sefton schools are being urged to sign up to the WOW Living Streets project and walk to school to save on emissions.

Day 10 of COP26 shines a light on transport and urges people to consider ‘green’ options and nothing is greener than walking.

Anyone who is able to walk to school could make a big difference to their own carbon footprint as well as helping to cut air pollution and staying active.

WOW is Living Streets’ “Walk To School Challenge” where pupils log their daily journeys to school each day on the WOW Travel Tracker. Those that walk to school at least once a week for a month earn a WOW badge, with 11 to collect across the year.

Each badge is made in the UK from recycled yoghurt-pot material.

WOW encourages more families to be active on their journey to school, resulting in a 23% average increase in walking rates and up to 30% fewer cars and less air pollution outside the school gates

Link to downloadable WOW leaflet

Find out more or secure a place by registering here www.livingstreets.org.uk/freewow

Cllr Diane Roscoe, Cabinet Member for Education said: 

“Walking to school, even once a week can be of huge benefit to us all. Not only does it cut emissions and pollution around our schools, but also a walk to school is good for the mind and body.

“Our kids here in Sefton are passionate about the future of our planet so this is a great scheme to get involved with.

“I would urge schools in Sefton to sign up and get walking to save our planet!”

Sefton Council is inviting residents and stakeholders to share their thoughts on the future of Bootle as it launches the first stage of consultation on a new 20-year plan for the town.

‘Our Future, Our Bootle’ is an Area Action Plan that will set out a clear vision for the town for the next two decades and beyond.

The Plan will act as a catalyst for further investment in the town, creating more opportunities for local people and businesses. It will also help to secure the homes that people need and want, help address the challenge of climate change, provide good-quality open spaces and facilities and seek local environmental improvements, as well as securing job opportunities.

The Council wants residents and other stakeholders to play a key role in shaping the plans which, once adopted, will form part of the Development Plan for Sefton alongside the Local Plan.

Councillor Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “A lot is happening in Bootle right now, including the repurposing of the Strand. We are really excited about ‘Our Future, Our Bootle’ and want everyone in Bootle to get involved in this amazing opportunity to shape the future of our town.”

Councillor Daren Veidman, Cabinet Member for Planning added: “There has been a lot of talk about the regeneration of Bootle over the past few years and the Area Action Plan gives us the opportunity to reflect on all of the positives and provide greater certainty to residents, developers and local businesses about the future of the town.”

This first phase of a multi-staged consultation on the Plan is the ‘Issues and Options’ phase. Over the coming weeks, a newsletter containing details how to get involved in the consultation will be circulated to all homes and businesses in Bootle. .

The Issues and Options document and an online feedback form are available online now at www.sefton.gov.uk/bootleAAP. There will also be a number of in-person, drop-in and online events. Drop-in events will nbe held at:

• The Bootle Strand (Pop-up shop on Medway) : Saturday 20th November, between 10am – 2pm
• The Bootle Strand (Pop-up shop on Medway): Wednesday 24th November, between 10am – 2pm
• Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, 104 Marsh Ln: Wednesday 24^th November, between 4 – 6.30pm
• The Bootle Strand (Pop-up shop on Medway): Friday 3rd December, between 10am – 2pm
• Community By Nature, 40-42 Hertford Rd: Friday 3rd December, between 4 – 7pm

There will also be online workshops on:

• Tuesday 23rd November between 6pm and 7pm
• Wednesday 1st December between 1pm and 2pm

People can register to attend the online workshops at www.sefton.gov.uk/bootleAAP. There is no need to register to attend the in-person drop in events.

The Issues and Options document will be available to read in full at Bootle Library, Stanley Road; Magdalen House, Trinity Road and Bootle Town Hall, Oriel Road. Feedback forms are available to complete at these locations.

The consultation is due to run until Friday 7th January 2022. All feedback received will be reviewed and used to develop the ‘preferred options’. This will be the next stage of consultation in June and July 2022.