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Author: Martin Driver

Sefton’s SME leaders urged to sign up for Digital Growth Programme to maximise performance and growth

15 February 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Person using a laptop and drinking tea

Sefton SME business leaders now have the opportunity to join the City Region Digital Growth Peer Network to discover how technology can have a positive impact on their company’s performance and growth.

Starting on Thursday 10th March, the free programme is for City Region SME business leaders who do not have a technical background but do have a responsibility for driving technology innovation within their organisation.

Knowledge, clarity and understanding

It is designed to help participants gain knowledge, clarity and understanding around five key business issues where technology can influence board level attitudes for change, security and stability of technology, data analytics and reporting accessibility, customer experience, and attracting and retaining talent.

Places on the programme are strictly limited to 15, and one person per company, so Sefton Council is urging local business leaders to sign up now by visiting www.aabyss.uk/sme-digital-growth-peer-network. The application process takes less than two minutes.

Focused

Run by Liverpool-based independent IT Consultancy, Aabyss, the programme consists of five, 90-minute in-person learning sessions over six months. Through focused learning and peer-to-peer support, the programme will provide participants with the tools and support to understand the impact and direction technology has on your business now and how to identify areas for positive change.

Signing up for the City Region Digital Growth Peer Network also provides a free optional one-to-one consultancy and action planning session and free membership to the Digital Growth Alumni events.

Specialist advice

Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher, who is also Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfoilio holder for Digital Connectivity & Inclusion said: “This is a great opportunity for some of Sefton’s small and medium employers to ensure they are making the most of technology to drive and expand their business through specialist advice and learning from their peers.

“The Network will mean they can hear the latest thinking of thought leaders, have access to learning materials and the ability to set up action planning meetings with industry experts or other community members.

“There are only 15 places available on the Programme’s first cohort so I would urge Sefton business leaders who want to develop a strong plan for digital growth to sign up now.”

The free City Region Digital Growth Peer Network is funded by independent IT Consultancy, Aabyss. As a privately funded initiative it has no restrictions attached to it.

Sign up today.

Sefton health bosses’ MMR vaccination reminder

15 February 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Photograph of child having MMR vaccination injectionWith national reports of a “significant drop” in the number of children being vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), health bosses are urging parents and guardians to make sure their children are protected.

As many as one in 10 eligible children under the age of five in England have not yet had both MMR vaccines.

Serious effects

These children are not properly protected, which means they are at risk of the serious effects these diseases can have.

Chest and ear infections, fits, diarrhoea, and even brain damage can result from complications with measles. Mumps can cause viral meningitis, encephalitis and temporary hearing loss, while rubella can have very serious consequences if caught during pregnancy and can result in babies being born with heart problems or brain damage.

Disability

Dr Pete Chamberlain, chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local GP, said: “Measles, mumps and rubella are serious infections on the rise that can cause death or long-term disability. If your child is between one and five years old, we would ask that you make sure they get two doses of the MMR vaccine before their fifth birthday.

“Your GP practice will provide these vaccines free of charge to all children, to provide them with the best start in life.”

Please contact your GP to book your child’s first or second dose. You can also visit www.nhs.uk/MMR to find out more about the vaccination and when your children should have them.

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG and local GP, said: “If your child hasn’t yet had both of their MMR vaccines, no matter what age they are, it’s not too late.

To ensure the ongoing protection from measles, mumps and rubella across the whole community, it is important that 95% of people have the MMR vaccination.

Dangerous

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “Vaccinations are vitally important to protect individuals and our wider community by driving down rates of infection.

“Although sometime dismissed along with mumps and rubella as a childhood disease, measles is dangerous, unpleasant to catch and can cause very serious complications, in otherwise healthy people. Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK.

“The more people who have the MMR vaccination, the safer we all are, and I would urge parents and guardians in Sefton to ensure their children are immunised. If you are not sure if your child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations check their Red Book (personal child health record) ”

Protect and nurture

Abigail Cattlin, Chair of the Southport Ormskirk Sefton (SOS) Maternity Voices Partnership, said: “Our aim as parents and guardians is to protect and nurture our children, and vaccinations against terrible diseases like measles, mumps and rubella are so important to keep them safe and healthy. Let’s work together to keep every child safe.”

Find out more.

Sefton Council providing half-term meal vouchers to support local families faced with rising costs

11 February 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Image of children eating school dinnerOver this week’s school half-term break, Sefton Council will once again be providing eligible local families with holiday meal vouchers.

In-store and online

Now worth £25 per week for each child, the vouchers can be used to buy food in-store and online at local supermarkets. They also include £10 to support people’s expenditure on fuel and energy in the face of rocketing prices.

The vouchers, which the Council is providing through its Household Support Grant funding allocation from the Department of Work and Pensions, cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, phone top ups or stamps.

Sefton Council provided similar voucher schemes over last year’s school holiday periods and will be doing so again during the Easter holidays in April.

Step in

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “I am pleased that the Council is once again able to step in and support families through this week’s half term holiday at a time when many are facing rising prices in the shops, a huge jump in fuel costs and, in many cases, still coping with the Government’s £20 a week cut in Universal Credit payments.

“Since the start of the COIVID-19 pandemic the Council has seen a steep rise in the numbers of children eligible for free school meals.

“Sefton Families that don’t receive free school meals at the moment but think they might qualify should visit www.sefton.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals.”

Find out more here.

Free bucket of balls for under 16s in half-term offer at Bootle Golf Course Driving Range

10 February 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News, Young People

Golf balls spilling out of a basket.Under-16s will have the chance to try out the new driving range at Bootle Golf Course, for free during next week’s half-term holiday.

Between 9am and and 3pm from Sunday 13th to Sunday 20th February, under-16s accompanied by a paying adult will qualify for a free bucket of balls to hit.

Swing

Sefton Council opened the new, ÂŁ240,000, floodlit driving range at Bootle Golf Course on Monday 31st January. Players can use its 10-bays to practise their swing between 8am and 9pm Sunday to Friday and from 8am to 7pm on Saturdays.

Prices are just ÂŁ6 for 100 balls or ÂŁ4 for 50 and people can just turn up to the course shop, pay and play.

Great-value

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing said: “One of the reasons we developed the new driving range was to give people new to golf, a chance to try it out so I’m delighted we can provide this great-value offer to under-16s, just weeks after its opening.”

Sefton Council’s built the new Bootle Golf Course after carrying out a consultation with golfers and local residents. People who responded supported the provision of better practise facilities at the Council-run course.

Positive feedback

Cllr Moncur added: “The new driving range will mean golfers in Sefton will be able to practise all year round and well into the evenings during the darker winter months when short days can make fitting a round in a bit difficult.

“I am pleased to see that despite the bad weather since we opened, we have had a steady stream of players at the driving range and some positive feedback.”

Bootle Driving Range has a dedicated coaching bay and the Council’s Green Sefton team will be advertising for a course professional to provide training.

Prices

Adult prices to play a round at Bootle Golf Course start at just £13. Information about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses, including prices, can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/golf.

People can also contact the Bootle Golf course office on 0151 928 1371 to book tee times.

Last month, Sefton Council welcomed the news that the Cazoo Classic will be held at Hillside, on Sefton’s glorious Golf Coast, in July.

Sefton Council supporting Children’s Mental Health Week 2022.

8 February 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Young People

Spread the Word ad for Children's Mental Health WeekSefton Council is joining the Borough’s CCGs and the CAMHS partnership in Sefton to support Children’s Mental Health Week 2022.

Taking place from Monday 7th to Sunday 13th February, this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week has a theme of ‘Growing Together’. Children and adults across the Borough are being asked to consider how they have grown, and how they can help others to grow.

In the UK, social workers have warned that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children with mental health problems has risen steeply. Official figures show a 25% increase as the effects of successive lockdowns and school closures take hold.

As many as one in six children and young people have a diagnosable mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement. Growing Together is about developing emotionally and using challenges and setbacks as starting point to adapt and trying new things.

Moving beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential but this emotional growth process is often a gradual one that sometimes leaves us feeling a bit ‘stuck’. That’s where the local support services can help.

The Council and its partners will be using the week to signpost links to the Borough’s mental health and emotional support services using the #SeftonGrowingTogether hashtag.

Find out about Sefton CAMHS.

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