Author: Bridie Finnan

Sefton Council is supporting the Food Standards Agency’s new ‘Speak Up For Allergies’ campaign.

‘Speak Up For Allergies’ has been developed to encourage young adults to speak up about their food allergies when they order a takeaway.

Research shows that young people and children are at a higher risk of experiencing food allergy reactions.

While many are confident about managing their food allergy themselves, they can be less likely to tell a café or restaurant about their allergy. This is particularly the case if they have eaten a meal from the same place before.

Young people should call directly to make sure the person taking the order fully understands their food allergy, says the FSA. This is better than relying on online or in-app allergen information.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“While most young people, who are aware they have food allergies are very good at managing them, they may forget to mention them or be less confident about raising them when ordering a takeaway.

“This Food Standards Agency ‘Speak Up For Allergies’ campaign information at www.food.gov.uk/SpeakUpForAllergies provides young with some useful advice for staying safe by living with, managing and communicating their food allergy.”

Rebecca Sudworth, Director of Policy at the Food Standards Agency said:

‘Our research has revealed that young people are eating takeaways more often than before lockdown. With eating-in being the new eating out, it is vital that young people with food allergies and their friends remember to speak to the restaurant every time they make an order. Even if it’s a meal they’ve eaten before, because ingredients, recipes and staff can change.

‘If you, or your friends or family have a food allergy, it’s important to never be complacent. That’s why we’re reminding people to be allergy aware and remember to ask, even when ordering the usual.”

#SpeakUpForAllergies is being promoted on social media and is supported by food delivery platforms such as Just Eat and Uber Eats.

Sefton Council have been awarded £122,000 by the DEFRA Air Quality Grant fund to help in the fight against air pollution.

The money will be used to deliver a project centred around education and engagement on the issue of air quality and wider climate issues.

A new public interactive immersive room will be built at Southport Eco Centre to teach children about air quality. The design will ensure that all children and families will be able to engage in the topic in a fun, vibrant and educational way.

The grant will also be used to enhance the existing ‘Clean Air Crew’ website which can be accessed by everyone in Sefton and has some excellent resources for Sefton’s Primary schools. This will be expanded to provide resources for secondary school age pupils in Sefton.

Schools will get further benefit from their involvement in NO₂ monitoring to fully engage with the topic of air quality, from taking measurements to finding solutions.

In addition to this, we will be developing higher level online air quality training for Parents/ Teachers/ Sefton Staff/ Residents to ensure our education and engagement programme reaches as widely as possible.

This funding will ensure that over 24,000 children, teachers and parents are engaged on the issue of air quality; resulting in positive behaviour change and air quality benefits in the years to come.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:

“Improving air quality in Sefton is a top priority. It is vital that we protect and the improve the health and wellbeing of our community

“I am delighted that Sefton has been awarded this money to educate young people about the issue of air quality and its impact on society.

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

“A key part of our climate emergency strategy is engagement and education and I know this money will be used to make a positive impact on our contribution to climate change and ensure Sefton is cleaner and greener.”

The news of this grant comes as Sefton sees improvements in air quality at monitoring stations throughout the borough, likely as a result of reductions in traffic associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sefton is currently looking at a number of different options to improve air quality as part of a wider Clean Air Plan which includes considering the potential use of Clean Air Zones in the Borough. Further details regarding this work is due to be released shortly.

Officers are also investigating the opportunities around improving traffic signals across Sefton and utilising lower cost air pollution sensors to supplement our air quality monitoring capabilities.

For more information on Air Quality in Sefton, go to our website or the Eco Centre’s education resource

Sefton Council have joined the international campaign of recognition for our social workers which is celebrated every year in March

The 16^th March marks World Social Work Day and provides an opportunity for social work practitioners to reflect and recognise the valuable work they achieve and the positive impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable members and families within our communities, particularly over this last extraordinary year.

It is also a time to acknowledge the many hardships and challenges faced by the community, particularly through this exceptional year.

The focus is celebrating our commitment to well-being, dignity, safeguarding, social justice, human rights and putting people at the heart of what we do .

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

“Reflecting over the twelve months  I have been so pleased to see an increase in the number of compliments from families, who have taken the time to express their thanks.

“They are obviously really grateful not just for what Social Workers have done but for the way they have gone about this work.

“My Best wishes for World Social Work Day!”

The day cannot be marked with large celebrations due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions, however, this day is marked by appreciation and recognition of hard work and resilience seen in our social workers and our community.

Our #SeftonSaysThanks campaign has run throughout the year as our community came together during the COVID-19 pandemic; today is dedicated to our brilliant social work team.