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Author: Martin Driver

Extra time to submit Sefton nominations for City Region Culture & Creativity awards

12 November 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Borough Of Culture, Front Page, Latest News

Arts organisations, community groups and individuals across Sefton now have until midnight on Monday 16th November to submit their nominations for the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

As this year’s Borough of Culture, people across Sefton also have the chance to put forward an individual, group or organisation for Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year’, to celebrate a shining star who has made a significant contribution.

Judges will be keen to hear how the nominees have contributed to the Borough of Culture year and those submitting nominations are urged to outline how and what has been done by nominees.

Make a nomination for ‘Star of the Year’ online here.

The Awards will celebrate Liverpool City Region’s thriving culture and creativity, even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 continues to have a massive impact on the cultural and creative sector, despite this, people have found new and innovative ways to be creative, so in addition there are two new categories this year to recognise these special contributions: Creative Response to COVID-19 (individual) and (organisation).

Visit this website to read about the 15 award categories and to nominate. Don’t forget that there are now an extra few days to make submissions but nominations will close on Monday 16th November at 12 midnight. 

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s main Borough of Culture sponsor, said: “When the COVID-19 restrictions hit, individuals and organisations behind the planned Borough of Culture 2020 reacted swiftly. They adapted their projects and made them digital so that people could enjoy them and take part in the activities online, through home-based activities or even by post.

“The 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards and particularly the Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year’ category, are an ideal way to recognise this adaptability and determination to deliver projects that have helped lift local people’s spirits and provided fun things for people of all ages to do.”

Finalists will be announced on Monday 5th January 2021 and the Liverpool City Region community will be able to vote for their chosen winner for the People’s Choice Award. The Awards ceremony, which will be a digital event with presenters still to be announced, will take place on Friday 19th February 2021.

Good Luck!

Vaccine breakthrough presents hope but it’s important to stick to restrictions and get tested says Sefton’s health chief.

12 November 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, Margaret Jones, has welcomed this week’s positive announcement about a coronavirus vaccine. But she has reminded people that if it is going to be effective, the vast majority of people need to take it.

Freedoms and friendships

Mrs Jones said: “For the vaccine to work and help pave the way back to a level of greater normality in the future, as many of us as possible need to get the vaccination as soon as it is available to us.

“By getting vaccinated, and I certainly will be, we are not only protecting ourselves but everyone else around us and the freedoms and friendships which we are all missing so much now.

“Although, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the NHS could be ready from December to roll out the new vaccine until we have reached a blanket level of coverage, it is important that for the sake of our families, our friends, our colleagues and our communities that we all stick to whatever guidelines are in place.”

Details of the current restriction can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/nationallockdown.

Transmission

Mrs Jones echoed Sefton Council leader Cllr Ian Maher’s in welcoming the news that up to 10% of people across the Borough are going to be able to take the new Lateral flow tests that have a turnaround time of under an hour, which will help reduce the transmission rate.

However, she went on to say booking a Coronavirus test as soon people show symptoms is still vital.

Symptoms

She continued: “As soon as anyone feels any of the symptoms of coronavirus coming on, whether that’s a high temperature, a new cough or they lose their sense of smell or taste, it’s time to get a test.

“The sooner people do this, the quicker they can find out if they are COVID positive and the more quickly they can start taking measures isolate and protect the people around them who they care about and who may be vulnerable to this dangerous virus.”

Test centres

To make an appointment for a test people can call 119 or visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Sefton has four walk-through test centres for people who are showing coronavirus symptoms, at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. And now, extra Mobile Coronavirus Testing Units are being deployed across the Borough.

Mobile Units are on site at Southport Esplanade Coach Park and in Litherland Sports Park and Aintree Race Course until Friday 20th November, apart from on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th, and also at Maghull Town hall on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November.

Details of Sefton’s walk-through and mobile test centres.  

Coronavirus testing for people without symptoms, coming to Sefton

10 November 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

Borough Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher has welcomed the news that Sefton is one of the local authorities where mass coronavirus testing for people without symptoms is to be rolled out.

Cllr Maher said: “I am delighted that people across our Borough are going to benefit from the new Lateral flow tests, have a turnaround time of under an hour.

“Although we have been limited with the number of tests and will only be able to test 10% of the population it’s another way of identifying people who have coronavirus before they show symptoms. This will help reduce the number of people they might spread it to and in turn the overall the transmission rate.

“Sefton residents and people who work here who don’t have coronavirus symptoms will be able to go and get a test. They will quickly receive a result, which hopefully confirms they don’t have COVID-19 and are not infectious.

“Those people who don’t have symptoms but who receive a positive test result, meaning they are infectious and could prevent a risk to any of their family, friends and colleagues who may be vulnerable, will then be able to isolate for the required period.

“By taking the tests regularly, people across the Borough will be able to monitor their condition, which will help to reduce infections rates and help pave the way back to some kind of normality in the future.

Lateral flow tests have been available since Friday for people who live or are employed in Liverpool, including Sefton residents who work in the city.

Cllr Maher added: “We have already secured significant walk-through and drive-through testing facilities in Sefton.

“Over the coming days we will learn lessons from Liverpool and decide how we deploy the tests.”

“In the meantime, I would urge anyone who feels any of the symptoms of coronavirus coming on, whether that’s a high temperature, a new cough or they lose their sense of smell or taste, it’s time to get a test straight away.

“The sooner people do this, the quicker they can find out if they are COVID positive and the more quickly they can start taking measures to isolate and protect the people around them.”

To make an appointment for a test people can call 119 or visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Sefton has four walk-through test centres for people who are showing coronavirus symptoms, at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. And now, extra Mobile Coronavirus Testing Units are being deployed across the Borough.

Mobile Units are on site at Southport Esplanade Coach Park and in Litherland Sports Park and Aintree Race Course until Friday 20th November, apart from on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th, and also at Maghull Town hall on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November.

Find out more about where and when tests are available in Sefton.

Where to get tested for coronavirus in Sefton this November

9 November 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

This November, Sefton Council will continue to support coronavirus testing, seven days a week, at locations across the Borough – ensuring an easy and straightforward process for those with symptoms to book a test.

Mobile Testing Units, where residents can drive in for their booked tests, and local walk-through test centres will operate at various locations in Sefton.

You should only get a test if you have any of these COVID-19 symptoms:

  • A high temperature
  • Persistent cough
  • Loss of taste or smell

Mobile Testing Units

Tests at mobile centres are available for anyone with symptoms but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

Remaining planned dates and locations for November are:

  • Thurs 26 – Southport
  • Fri 27 – Southport
  • Sat 28 – Maghull
  • Sun 29 – Maghull
  • Mon 30 – Southport

Please do note that these planned dates and sites may need to change at short notice if testing is required in other locations across Merseyside.

Mobile Testing Units, which are supported by Sefton Council, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS South Sefton CCG, have visited locations across the Borough on most days since July.

Local Test Centres

Local walk-through test centres continue to operate seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. You need an appointment from www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 or the Council’s Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845.

The four local test centres are located at:

  • Bootle Town Hall L20 7AA (Front Car Park)
  • Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road L22 OLQ
  • Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Land L30 3TL
  • Southport Town Hall (Community Room) PR81DA

Margaret Jones, Sefton’s Director of Public Health, said: “By taking a test as soon as we have any of the coronavirus symptoms, a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of our sense of taste or smell, we can reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others.

“We have almost daily mobile testing site facilities and four walk-through sites in Sefton, and there is now more lab capacity to process test results and speed up responses.

“I would encourage anyone who needs a test to book one, by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus and help protect the lives and livelihoods of our families, our friends and our communities.”

Liverpool Mass Testing

Sefton residents who work or study in Liverpool can now access a coronavirus test even if they don’t have symptoms.  As a result of the support Sefton Council is providing, local residents who qualify under Liverpool’s new mass testing system, because they work or study in the city, can get tests closer to home. Their results will be available in 24 to 48 hours.

Book one of these COVID-19 tests.

 

Guide produced to help young people with special educational needs get ready for adulthood

7 November 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton CVS, Sefton Stories, Young People, Your Sefton

A guide to help young people with special educational needs (SEND) get ready for adulthood has been published following feedback from young people, parents and carers across Sefton.

The ‘Preparing for Adulthood Guide’ was produced by staff from Sefton Council, Buddy Up and Sefton Carers Centre in partnership with young people and the Sefton Parent Carer Forum.

Aimed at young people with SEND who are approaching their latter school years, it gives information on the preparing-for-adulthood process, what to expect, what they should be considering at each stage and who to contact for support and information.

Parents and carers can also use the guide to find more information about the future options for young people in their care.

Topics covered in the guide include further education, training and employment, independent living, healthy lifestyle choices and how to participate in our communities.

The new guide has been developed following feedback from young people, parents and carers across Sefton.

Tanya Wilcock, Head of Communities for Sefton Council, said: “This guide has been co-produced and co-designed with young people and their families and will be a valuable resource for them.

“I’d like to thank our partners across the social care, voluntary, education and health sectors for their contributions. Thanks also to the team for coordinating and supporting all the work that went into its production.”

Andrew Jennings, from Sefton Council’s Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Team, said: “This guide has been produced to help children and young people with SEND enjoy meaningful, independent and fulfilling lives and give them useful information and resources to help them achieve as much as they possibly can.

“We’re really proud of it and we hope that children and young people across Sefton find it helpful as they transition in to adulthood.”

The guide can be accessed and downloaded at Sefton’s Local Offer website . It will also be made available to schools and colleges.

Stephen Evans, Preparing for Adulthood Manager for Sefton Council’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion Service, said: “The Sefton ‘Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Guide’ provides key information on the four key PfA themes – Community, Health, Independent Living and Employment.

“Developed in conjunction with Sefton Parent Carer Forum, the guide will help young people and their families prepare for the transition to adulthood.

“It gives information on the preparing-for-adulthood process, what to expect, what young people should be considering at each stage and who to contact for support and information.”

Emma Lambert, Sefton CVS Buddy Up Coordinator, said: “Sefton’s ‘Preparing for Adulthood Guide’ is a useful tool to help young people and their families think about what they want their future to look like and find out what support is available to get them there.

“Having the right Information and being made aware of their options is the key to these young people reaching their full potential.”

 

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