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Author: Martin Driver

Sefton Council retains Navajo Charter Mark at annual awards ceremony

5 October 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

Three Sefton Council employees stand with the Navajo Charter Mark certificateAt the annual Navajo Awards Ceremony, held at The City of Liverpool College on Friday 1 October 2021, Sefton Council was once again awarded the Navajo Charter Mark for displaying good practice and commitment towards its LGBT+ staff and community.

Sefton became the first local authority to receive the charter mark back in 2018, marking its commitment to LGBT+ people across the Borough.

The Navajo Merseyside & Cheshire LGBT+ Charter Mark is an equality mark sponsored by In-Trust Merseyside and supported by the LGBT+ community networks across Merseyside– a signifier of good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBT+ people across Merseyside.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:

“Sefton Council is committed to ensuring that our Borough enables everybody to be their true selves. In retaining our Navajo Charter Mark for the second time, we are once again sending a strong message to LGBT+ people across Sefton and beyond that we are an organisation that values them, understands their needs and will continue to make sure we do everything we can to support them.

“Although receiving the Navajo Charter Mark is a signifier of good practice, we know there is always more work to do. As part of the Navajo assessment process, four independent assessors met with various colleagues, partners and service users to gather evidence, enabling them to produce a report that the council will review and act upon to improve services.”

The process to receive the Navajo Charter Mark consists of ten assessment criteria, each asking for supporting resources. These resources include documents such as the Equality & Diversity Policy, an equality monitoring form, or brief details of working procedures, for example specific staff policies.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said:

“The Navajo Charter Mark assessment process is not an easy one, but I would urge all organisations across Sefton, big and small, to work to become Navajo accredited.”

Organisations wanting to find out more about the free Navajo Charter Mark and the process involved can visit the website.

Sefton Council are also reminding people to complete LCR Pride Foundation’s Sefton LGBT+ Survey, which has been extended until Friday 15 October. Those wanting to have their views can click here.

Join InvestSefton’s latest business webinar on all things finance

5 October 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, InvestSefton, Latest News

InvestSefton, the Council’s business growth team, is hosting a finance focused webinar with the LCR Finance Hub and the Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF).

Taking place on Thursday 14th October 2021, 10am – 11am via Zoom, local businesses will have the chance to further their finance knowledge and between 11am and 12noon they can also pre-book an advice session just for them.

The wider workshop will cover:

  • Different types of finance
  • Accessing the right type of finance for your business now, and in the future
  • Business planning
  • Building your personal and professional brand
  • Management and people
  • Q & A session

Any business, of any size, within any sector – as long as they are located in Sefton – are eligible to attend.

To book a place, businesses can contact Dom or Sharon from the InvestSefton team on 0151 934 3452 or via email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk. A Zoom link will be sent to you once your booking has been confirmed.

To find out how InvestSefton, Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service, can help your business contact 0151 934 3452 or email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk or visit www.investsefton.com 

Sefton Council reminding people where they can find advice and support ahead of this week’s Universal Credit cut by Government

5 October 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

With the Government going ahead with ÂŁ20 per week cut in Universal Credit payment this week, Sefton Council is reminding people where they can find advice and support.

A high proportion of households across Sefton, including many working families, rely on Universal Credit and this number has increased as a result of the pandemic and the effect it has had locally on jobs.

Poorest

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Despite widespread calls for the Government not to make this cut that will affect the poorest families still trying to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic, it is going ahead and those families face losing £1,040 per year as a result.

It will see many Sefton households and working families facing some difficult financial conditions.

“This cut combined with increasing household fuel bills and other rising prices could be disastrous for some, including those in rented accommodation, and the Council is urging them to contact us for advice and support.

“People facing housing difficulties that could put their home at risk, who have received an eviction notice or have rent arrears should get in touch with our Homeless Prevention Service at homeless.prevention@sefton.gov.uk or by calling 0151 934 3541.

“The Homeless Prevention team work with tenants to help them maintain their tenancy or with moving on to more affordable and suitable accommodation, and they can also assist landlords that are facing issues such as rent arrears and late or inconsistent rent payments.

“Landlords who have concerns about vulnerable tenants can also contact the team for support in resolving the situation.”

Free school meals

Cllr Hardy said that during the COIVID-19 pandemic Sefton Council has given out over 4,800 payments for emergency help and made over 2,700 Discretionary Housing Payments to help people struggling with rents and bills. She also said that more Sefton families have fallen into the absolute or relative low-income category during the pandemic and that the Council has seen a rise in eligibility for free school meals.

She continued: “Sefton’s high proportion of jobs that fall into the lower paid bracket means the despite the £20 Universal Credit uplift, many working families have found themselves facing poverty.

“Our website contains information for people on Universal Credit, benefits and a range of related topics including help with rent and Council Tax and the Borough’s Foodbank Network at www.sefton.gov.uk/advice-benefits”.

The Government is ending the Coronavirus Uplift Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit on Wednesday 6th October. All Universal Credit claimants will be affected apart from those affected by the Benefit Cap who did not benefit from the uplift.

This means that from Wednesday, standard Universal Credit allowances return to

  • ÂŁ257.33 – single claimant under 25
  • ÂŁ324.84 – single claimant age 25+
  • ÂŁ403.93 – couple both under 25
  • ÂŁ509.91 – couple one or both age 25+

Useful links

Swab Squad latest!

30 September 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

Our Swab Squads are out at Sefton’s rail stations and other venues over the week, providing free, rapid COVID tests, information and advice.

They will be at:

  • Friday 1st October 2021 – Asda Aintree – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Saturday 2nd October 2021 – Blundellsands Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Sunday 3rd October 2021 – Blundellsands Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Monday 4th October 2021- Aintree Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Tuesday 5th October 2021 – Blundellsands Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Wednesday 6th October 2021 – Asda Aintree – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Thursday 7th September 2021 – Waterloo Town Hall – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Friday 8th October 2021 – Asda Aintree – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Saturday 9th October 2021 – Blundellsands Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm
  • Sunday 10th October 2021 – Blundellsands Station – 08:30am until 4:30pm

Mobile testing units are also deployed at locations across the Borough on most days in September.

 

Bootle-based healthcare company awarded major American contract

30 September 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, InvestSefton, Latest News

Bootle-based company, Richardsons Healthcare Ltd, has been awarded a major contract with a US company.

The contract means that Richardsons will supply its pressure reducing medical operating table mattresses to one of the world’s largest medical device companies.

The contract valued at $1 million per year will create six new jobs and help secure 22 existing jobs.

Managing Director Michael Gould said:

“I can’t deny that Brexit has been very challenging for our company, with goods held up for weeks in warehouses waiting to be cleared. Covid was also a blow because elected surgery was cancelled, and the bulk of our product are used in operating theatres.

“The market post-Covid lockdown has exploded with hospitals throughout the world trying to play catch up. This new contract will give us a very solid base in the United States, and we expect further large contracts to follow.”

Richardsons has been supported by Sefton Council’s InvestSefton advisors for a number of years. InvestSefton is the enterprise, business support and inward investment service of the Council, taking a lead on and supporting economic growth across the Borough.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:

“It’s just brilliant to see a Sefton-based firm securing a major contract like this, really putting our Borough on the map as a place for successful businesses to thrive. Our InvestSefton team can help to provide advice and support to help any other local company achieve similar success – simply get in touch, they can’t wait to hear from you.”

To find out how InvestSefton, Sefton Council’s business growth team, can help your business contact 0151 934 3452 or email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk or visit www.investsefton.com

The company was a 2019 winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, an accolade that has helped them to attract larger foreign clients.

Michael added:

“The Queen’s Award for Enterprise has given our company real legitimacy in the eyes of large overseas potential customers and has been a big help in expanding our overseas sales.”

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