Author: John McCabe

One Vision Housing have completed dementia-friendly refurbishments of three of their Independent Living schemes as part of a £1m plan to make all their schemes more energy efficient and inclusive for people living with dementia.

Included in these new developments is Kenyons Lodge in Maghull. The property has been given soft colour schemes, with feature walls, carpets and different wallpaper throughout to make each floor easily identifiable and therefore easier to navigate for those living with memory loss and visual impairments.

The residents were consulted throughout the refurbishment, and chose the fabrics and colours to create a sense of well being and luxury within the communal areas.

One Vision Housing and Sovini Property Services have been holding afternoon tea events to thank the residents for their patience and cooperation during the refurbishment works.

OVH Independent Living Manager, Suzanne Meylan said: “With dementia affecting more people in our communities, it’s important we respond to this need and create communal living environments which promote a sense of wellbeing and comfort for our customers.”

To find out more, visit the One Vision Housing website

Sefton Council is set deliver another busy schedule of affordable fun for children, young people and families during the May half-term (May 28 – June 1).

Active Sefton will host an action packed week of sporting activities for little charges and older children alike to let off steam and make new friends. The Be Active programme will be spread across the borough and activities will include Wave Rave pool parties in Splash World, water sports at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Everton Soccer School at Netherton Activity Centre and much more besides. Find out more at Be Active

Splash World, Southport’s splashtastic indoor all weather water park, will be open for thrills and spills in the water throughout the May half-term, 10am-5pm. Find out about the fantastic range of flames and water rides, as well as ticket prices at the Splash World website

Staying with water based fun, Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre will be taking it outdoors with adventurous activity camps, keeping children and young people active from 8.30am- 5.30pm every day, with a wide range of activities, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, climbing, archery, raft building and much more besides. Camps are priced at £27.50 for the day. Find out more at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre website

The light nights will make Sefton’s parks and green spaces the ideal place for young people to let loose and have fun. As well as activities throughout the day, they can enjoy evening sports with Active Sefton’s Park Nights programme. These drop-in, free sessions include:

• Dodgeball and games at Bowersdale Park in Seaforth (5-7pm) and street golf and football, Kirkstone Park, Litherland, May 29
• Ultimate frisbee and games, Derby Park in Bootle (5-7pm) and climbing wall at Netherton Activity Centre (6-8pm), May 30
• Street golf and football, Crosby Coastal Park (5-7pm) and ultimate frisbee and dodge at Kirkstone Park (5-7pm), May 31
• Street golf and football at North Park in Bootle (5-7pm), June 1

Rowan Park School in Litherland is the setting for a Family Fun Day for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Organised by Sefton Council’s Aiming High for Disabled Children Service, it takes place June 1, 10am-2pm and for a very small cost, children can enjoy donkey rides, face painting, tattoo making and more. To find out more, contact Aiming High on 0151 288 6811 or by email  To learn about support across Sefton for children and young people SEND age 0-19, visit Sefton’s Local Offer website

The Atkinson in Southport will open up its cultural pick ‘n’ mix for families with entertaining and interactive shows and exhibitions for children. Getting a head start before half-term, the programme kicks off with Keepy Uppy on May 26 (1pm & 3pm), a play for children age 3+ inspired by World Cup 2018. The rest of May half-term will include:

• Two performances of the timeless classic ‘Wind in the Willows’ for children age 6+ on May 29 (3pm & 6pm)
• The CBeebies award winning show ‘Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday on June 1 and
• Construction Club on June 2
• The popular Viking and Ancient Egypt exhibitions will also be open.

Find out more at The Atkinson website

Sefton’s libraries will continue to be a haven of learning and fun during the holiday.

Bootle Library will be helping Sefton to be ready for the future, as the next generation of techies take part in the Code Playground, May 26, 10.30am – 12.3opm. On May 30, children will gather round for Storytime at 10.15am then jump into a riot of colour at a drop-in colouring session, June 1, 2-4pm.

Crosby Library hosts more popular Lego Club sessions, May 26 and June 2, 10.30am- 12.30pm; Baby Bounce sessions, May 29, 10.30am; craft sessions, May 30, 2pm and the buzz of the Bees Workshop, May 31, 2.30pm. Half-term will also see a special event take place at Crosby Library, as a young person’s photography publication is launched on June 1, 2-4pm.

Formby Library will host drop-in children’s craft sessions, May 29, 2-4pm, followed by a honey bee forage mapping workshop on June 2, 11am-1pm, although booking is required for this very popular event.

The May holiday will also see the launch of an exciting photography book titled ‘Our North’. A collaboration between local young people from Sefton and Runcorn and professional photographers, it explores the fashions, heritage and culture of the North. You can pick up a free copy at: Formby Library, May 29, 1-3pm; Southport Library, May 30, 1-3pm; Bootle Library, May 31, 1-3pm and Crosby Library, June 1, 2-4pm.

There really is something for everyone in #MySefton during half-term.

Sefton and Knowsley Council are teaming up as part of an annual celebration of fostering, raising awareness to attract more would be foster carers.

Organised by national charity The Fostering Network, Foster Care Fortnight takes place May 14 – 27, with this year’s theme of ‘fostering transforms lives’.

Under the banner of #StayTogether, Sefton and Knowsley will be taking the ‘Fostering bus’ on the road to meet the public and give them all of the information they need to consider fostering, especially for sibling groups where there is the greatest need.

The ‘Fostering bus’ reaches Sefton on May 18, 9am-6pm at Aintree Shopping Park.

Cllr. John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding said:

“Fostering really can change a child’s life. Foster carers offer supportive, caring and firm foundations to our vulnerable children and young; it is a hugely rewarding role. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about fostering to jump aboard the fostering bus and find out more”

Sefton Council’s fostering teams will also deliver the latest instalment of their popular information evenings shortly after Foster Care Fortnight. The next session, which are free, non-ticket events, will take place June 5, 6.30-8.30pm at The Vincent Hotel in Southport.

To find out more about fostering in Sefton, visit www.seftonfostering.co.uk or call 0800 923 2777.

Adoption in Merseyside (AiM) recently commissioned After Adoption to deliver adoption support services across the region. 

Recognising the impact adoption has, After Adoption, with over 28 years’ experience of supporting to all parties affected by adoption, will offer a proactive and flexible service.

This will include support for adopted adults seeking to trace their birth families, including search services and counselling, and counselling for adopted adults seeking to access their records post adoption.

It will also provide information, advice and support for birth parents and birth relatives who have had their child adopted – helping them navigate the complexities of the adoption process through a combination of information and advice and face-to-face counselling. This approach aims to help them deal with grief and loss, explore their own life story as part of this, and negotiate and maintain appropriate levels of post adoption contact. For birth parents and relatives who want to reconnect with adopted children who have reached adulthood, there will also be the ability to access search and intermediary services.

Iain Moore, Head of Business Development at After Adoption, commented: “We are passionate about ensuring everyone affected by adoption can access the support they need, so are delighted to have won this contract. We are confident that our expertise in this area will ensure we deliver a high quality service and make a real difference.”

The full list of services to be offered on behalf of the Adoption in Merseyside includes:

• Support for adopted adults seeking to trace their birth families
• Information, advice and support for birth parents and birth relatives who have had their children adopted
• Counselling for those seeking intermediary services
• Counselling for those seeking to access their records post adoption
• An intermediary service for birth relatives
• Access to Letterbox to maintain contact agreements (delivered on behalf of Liverpool by After Adoption and internally for other local authorities).

The service will be available in the geographical area covered by the newly formed Adoption in Merseyside (AiM), a regional adoption agency covering Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral.

Jenny Ness, Head of Service for AiM commented: “We are delighted that AiM will be working in partnership with After Adoption. This is a new contract covering the city region and will ensure adopted adult’s, birth parents and birth relatives will receive the advice and support needed with a prompt and empathic approach.”

To find out more or make a referral, call the After Adoption action line on 0800 056 8578 or email actionline@afteradoption.org.uk