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Author: Martin Driver

Young people invited to join the Metro Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group to tackle Coronavirus impact

10 June 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Young people from Sefton are being invited to join the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Youth Advisory Group

Open to young people aged from 13 to 18 or 25 if they have special educational needs and/or a disability, the group will be part of the City Region’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on young people.

Feedback from the new group will be used to inform policy-making as the city region starts to rebuild after the Coronavirus pandemic. It will also be used for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s discussions with Government in response to the significant social and economic challenges caused by the crisis.

Established during a virtual meeting on Wednesday 3 June where young people from across the city region discussed their experiences of the Coronavirus with the Metro Mayor, the group will consider and advise on a host of other relevant issues. These will include employment, skills, the environment, culture, transport, mental health and wellbeing.

Fourteen-year-old Alex Leedham who took part in the virtual conversation and is planning to join the Metro Mayor’s Advisory Group said: “I’m concerned about how long it is going to take for our schools and extra-curricular activities such as drama groups or sport to recover from this crisis and consequently how that is going to affect me and other young people as we look towards careers, apprenticeships and further education.

“I welcome the opportunity to have my opinions heard as a young person planning my future.”

Cllr John Joseph Kelly, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding said: “Coronavirus has had and is having a huge impact on the lives of our young people and we will all be dealing with its after-effects for a long time so it is vital that they are able to play an active role in shaping Sefton’s and the City Region’s future.

“I would urge any young people who want to have a say about how they want their world to look beyond Covid-19 to get involved.”

Find out more including how to join the Metro Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group.

Or you can email education@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Too often young people are excluded from the debate when politicians are making decisions. Yet they have to live with the consequences of those choices the longest.

“As Metro Mayor, I want to do things differently and ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear when it comes to shaping the future of our region.”

Find out more including how to join the Metro Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group.

Sefton Council recommending Monday 22nd June for schools re-opening

9 June 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized, Young People

In the light of the recent announcement that the R number in the North West had risen above 1, Sefton Council is recommending that schools delay wider opening for  Nursery, Reception and Years 1, 6, 10 and 12 until Monday 22nd June.

The significant publicity about the R number over the weekend has created considerable uncertainty among parents, pupils and staff about the safety of any opening of schools beyond the current arrangements.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “Sefton Council’s approach has been to work with headteachers and staff focusing on making safe and sensible decisions and maintaining, wherever possible a collective approach to the re-opening of our schools.  This has resulted in excellent preparatory work undertaking and completing risk assessments and we were intending to open all our schools from Monday 15th June to Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils in line with government guidance.

“However, the news about the R number in our region means we are undertaking more work on this locally and has led us to review our local position.

“We appreciate all the work that has been undertaken aimed at achieving a Monday 15th June opening date but feel sure everyone involved will understand that with safety remaining paramount, we have to respond to new information as it becomes available.”

Cllr Maher went on to thank headteachers, staff, school governors and childcare providers for their fantastic work in supporting children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cllr Maher added: “All settings will continue to remain open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers as they have been since the start of the national lockdown.

“We will review the public health information we receive and will communicate our updated position next week.”

In mid-May, Sefton Council announced it was suggesting school re-open to in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 from 15th June rather than 1st June as proposed by the Government.

This was to allow for time for appropriate risk assessment, including staff availability and to ensure tests set out by the Government and Trade Unions were met.

Since 23rd March many schools in Sefton have remained open to children of key workers and vulnerable children. Teachers and support staff have ensured children have been supported during this challenging period.

Mobile Coronavirus Test Centre returns to Litherland this week

8 June 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Litherland will once again be the venue for a Coronavirus Mobile Test Centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11th, 12th and 13th June.

Located at Litherland Sports Park, the site will provide clinical diagnosis tests that tell people if they currently have the Covid-19 virus. Tests are available for anyone but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.  Essential workers still need to book through www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers.

Key NHS and care workers can now attend the regional testing sites at Haydock and Manchester Airport without the need for an appointment.

Testing is vital to the ongoing work to overcome COVID-19 and enable key workers who test negative to return to that work. Almost 3,200 people have already been tested at the Borough’s previous Mobile Test Sites, including 695 over 3 days in Litherland last week.

The Government has said that through its NHS Test and Trace service, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.

Those people identified as having been in close contact with someone who has had a positive test result will then be required to stay at home for 14 days. They must do this even if they do not have symptoms, to prevent them spreading the virus without knowing.

People in isolation who develop symptoms can book their own test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. If they test positive, they must continue to stay at home for 7 days or until their symptoms have passed. If they test negative, they must complete the 14-day isolation period.

With the news last week that the R- infection rate in the North West of England is around 1, Sefton Council is reminding people that if they do have to leave the house they should stay 2 metres (approximately 4 steps) away from those who aren’t members of their household. And the Government has announced that from next Monday, anyone using public transport will be required to wear a face covering.

Questions & Answers on Test and Trace and Antibody testing.

Council providing door-to-door support to residents shielding from Coronavirus

1 June 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council’s Area Coordinators and ward councillors are out knocking on doors across the Borough to identify people who are shielding due to Coronavirus and who may need help.

There are almost 3,000 Sefton residents the NHS says should be shielding due to Coronavirus whom the national contact centre has been unable to contact and has referred to the Council to follow-up.

Sefton’s door-to-door approach aims to make contact with these local residents and identify any needs or support they may have. This is particularly the case for those who may be vulnerable due to age or underlying health conditions.

Sefton Council is reminding residents that anyone carrying out these calls will be wearing ID and will also be happy to provide a telephone number residents can use to check if they are unsure or concerned.

Cllr Paul Cummins, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “We have names and addresses for these people who should be shielding due to Coronavirus but the national contact centre has told us it has not been able to get in touch with them and has passed their details onto us.

“So, the Council’s Area Coordinators and ward councillors are out pounding the streets, knocking on doors to make sure these people are managing OK or to offer help and support they might need.”

Cllr Cummins has been among the Sefton ward councillors who have been carrying out these visits.

Cllr Cummins added: “In my experience, even where the people we’ve contacted have been receiving support from family and friends and are doing OK, which has been the case with most I’ve spoken to, they have really appreciated us calling, which has been heart-warming.”

Anyone who is shielding from Coronavirus and needs support can contact Sefton Council’s team, who are working closely with Sefton CVS (Community Volunteer Service), on 0345 140 0845.

They can help with things like food deliveries, loneliness, prescription collection and assistance with getting online.

Find more about the local support available.  

Coronavirus Mobile Test Centre in Litherland this week

1 June 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

After several successful sessions in Southport and Maghull, Litherland will play host to its first Coronavirus Mobile Test Centre this week.

Located at Litherland Sports Park on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th June, the site will provide clinical diagnosis tests that tell people if they currently have the Covid-19 virus.

Tests will be available for anyone but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or by calling 119.  Essential workers still need to book through www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers.

Through the Government’s new NHS Test and Trace service, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.

Those people identified as having been in close contact with someone who has had a positive test result will then be required to stay at home for 14 days. They must do this even if they do not have symptoms, to prevent them spreading the virus without knowing.

People in isolation who develop symptoms can book their own test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or by calling 119. If they test positive, they must continue to stay at home for 7 days or until their symptoms have passed. If they test negative, they must complete the 14-day isolation period.

Last week, the Government announced it was starting to provide Antibody tests, which indicates whether someone has previously had the virus but this is currently only for NHS workers and patients.

Testing is vital to the ongoing work to overcome COVID-19 and enable key workers who test negative to return to that work and almost 2,500 people have already been tested at the Borough’s previous Mobile Test Sites.

Questions & Answers on Test and Trace and Antibody testing.

 

 

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