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Celebrating 73 years of the NHS in Sefton

2 July 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council
A layered sponge cake iced with 'NHS' surrounded by cup cakes spelling out he words 'Thank You'.
NHS birthday cake

On Monday 5 July the NHS will celebrate its 73rd ‘birthday’. After a challenging year, health professionals in Sefton are encouraging everyone to join them in giving thanks for our national health service and recognising those who have worked hard to keep our borough safe.

Staff at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are marking the anniversary of the creation of the NHS by hosting a ‘Big Tea’ event, sharing a ‘Thank You’ video to staff and residents in Sefton and inviting everyone to join in to ‘light it blue’ at home this weekend.

Cuppa

Anyone can get involved in the ‘Big Tea’ to say thank you to our NHS by hosting their own tea party and collecting donations for NHS Charities Together. Alternatively, you can join in online by taking a 5 minute brew break, sharing a photo with your cuppa on social media with the hashtag #NHSBigTea and donating to the charity by texting TEA to 70207 to give £5.

Landmarks across the country will also be ‘lighting up blue’ this weekend to mark the occasion and show support for the NHS, while also remembering those who have lost their lives to COVID-19. The NHS in Sefton is encouraging everyone to join in this simple act at home from Saturday 3 July – Monday 5 July, to show support for our NHS and remember those we have lost.

Hope

Fiona Taylor, chief officer at NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “It has been an extremely challenging year for the NHS in Sefton and across the country, but it has also been one of hope. While caring for around 400,000 seriously ill COVID-19 patients, the NHS has rolled out the biggest vaccination programme in our history.”

“We could not have played our part in these achievements without the skill and dedication of our staff, volunteers, keyworkers and you, the public, who are supporting our efforts by following social distancing rules and turning up to get vaccinated.”

“We would like to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS by saying a huge thank you to those who have worked so hard to face these challenges or who have supported us over the last 12 months.”

Celebrations

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We would love for everyone in Sefton to join in the birthday celebrations at their own ‘Big Tea’ events with friends and family, while remembering that the ‘Rule of 6’, or two households, still applies indoors. It’s a great opportunity to ‘pour out our thanks’ to NHS teams all over the country who have worked so hard to care for and protect our communities this year.”

“You can also join in by ‘lighting up blue’ at home to show your support. Why not dig out the Christmas lights, hang something blue from your house, or simply place a lamp in your window as an act of respect to remember those who we have sadly lost to COVID-19.”

Cllr Maher also took part in a ‘thank you’ video, talking about how, in May, the Council’ s Cabinet agreed proposals to grant Aintree and Liverpool University NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in the light of the hard work and dedication the Trusts’ staff had shown during the ‘devastation of the Covid 19 Pandemic’.

The NHS ‘Big Tea’ is a national celebration and fundraising events organised by NHS Charities Together, the NHS’ national charity partner made up of 240 charity members based with hospitals, mental health, ambulance and community health services across the UK.

If you would like to host your own NHS ‘Big Tea’ event or find out how to support NHS Charities Together, visit their website here: www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/nhs-big-tea/

You can find out more about the NHS birthday and activities across the UK on the NHS website here: www.england.nhs.uk/nhsbirthday/.

Local young people are spreading the facts on vaccination

2 July 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News
Bottle containing COVID-19 vaccine dose

Vaccinated young people across Cheshire and Merseyside are adding their voices to the ‘Spread the Facts’ campaign to show how others can play their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

A local, independent survey conducted as part of the campaign found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of surveyed younger people in Cheshire and Merseyside agree the vaccination is necessary for a return to ‘normal’ life.

The survey also encouragingly uncovered a strong feeling that younger age groups still know they need to comply with guidelines even after having the vaccine, with 70% disagreeing that once you have the vaccine people don’t need to follow guidelines.

Facts

The ‘Spread the Facts’ initiative, which originally launched earlier this year, features young frontline health workers sharing their own personal stories and telling young people how they can play their part in stopping the spread of the virus.

As part of the latest phase of the campaign, they are being joined by young people across the region who have already stepped up to take the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Experience

Ellie Longman holding her vaccination certificate
Ellie Longman

One supporter is 24-year-old care worker Ellie Longman from Liverpool. After losing a family member to COVID-19 and working closely throughout the pandemic with those most affected, she is eager to share her story about how young people like her can make a difference.

She said: “I have seen, both in my job as a care assistant and through my own experience with COVID-19, exactly how important vaccinations are in helping stop the spread and serious illness due to the virus. I was able to access the vaccination in February due to my job, which involves working with people more susceptible to the harsher effects of coronavirus, and was happy to go forward for it in order to play my part in protecting the most vulnerable in my community.

“I would absolutely recommend anyone to go and get the vaccine if they are able to. I think it’s important to remember that, just because we are in the younger age bracket, it doesn’t mean we are automatically safe from the effects of virus and, after losing a family member to COVID-19, I know the immense devastation the virus can cause to families and communities. Even though I did experience some mild side effects around 24 hours after both vaccinations, they were easily manageable with pain killers, fluids and some rest, which is a lot better than the potential side effects of contracting COVID or even long COVID.

“At the end of the day, science doesn’t lie, and the figures show that vaccinations work in helping to significantly reduce serious illness and deaths due coronavirus, and ultimately getting back to enjoying life out of lockdown and without restrictions. Before the pandemic I enjoyed travelling and meeting new people, and I’m really excited to be able to do those things again.”

No question

Adam Cureton, 24, from Prenton, who suffers with asthma, has had both vaccinations and is now keen to encourage others to get their jab.

He said: “I’ve suffered from asthma since I was a child and I know that, while I’m otherwise fit and healthy, catching COVID could severely affect me.

“So, when I was invited to take up the jab a few months ago, there wasn’t a question in my mind about whether I should do it or not. My girlfriend, who also has asthma, is a frontline worker as a trainee pharmacist, so we both feel very strongly about not only protecting ourselves, but protecting our families too. We’re all so desperate for life to get back to normal and to be able to do the things we previously took for granted – the vaccine is our way to do this and hopefully our route out of lockdowns and further restrictions.”

Since the vaccination programme was opened up to over 18 year olds, public health chiefs across the country have been amazed at the positive response and are continuing to praise younger people for stepping up in the fight against the virus.

Example

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council's Director of Public Health
Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health

Margaret Jones, Director of Public Health in Sefton said:  “I’m pleased to see young people like Ellie and Adam speaking up about the importance of vaccinations and am glad that high levels of young people are following their example and getting vaccinated.

“It’s simple for anyone aged over 18 to book a vaccination appointment and every time someone does they are helping the whole country make its way out of the COVID pandemic and return to the normalities we all want to see.”

Stepping up

Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool and lead Director for Communications and Marketing in Cheshire & Merseyside, added: “It is very encouraging to see the high levels of younger people already stepping up and taking the vaccine to protect themselves, as well as their family and wider community. It shows that younger people understand how instrumental they are in the fight against the virus and are prepared to take action to save lives.

“Our latest programme of activity for ‘Spread the Facts’ will continue to speak directly to young people and address any misinformation or misconceptions out there. The young NHS workers in our campaign are witnessing first-hand the big difference that the vaccine is making in the fight against COVID-19 and are extremely passionate about sharing their stories, so others can understand the real facts and reasons behind why it is so important for all of us to get vaccinated.

“We should all be incredibly proud of our younger people for stepping up to ensure we can continue on our road out of lockdown and back to normality.”

Healthcare community

The ‘Spread the Facts’ campaign, which is a collaboration between the NHS and local councils in Cheshire and Merseyside, features young people working across the healthcare community in the local area. NHS workers, including young doctors, nurses and support workers, share their experiences of working throughout the pandemic.

The real life health care heroes impart facts and recommend simple behaviours that will cut the spread of the virus and stop the spread of misinformation among young people. www.spreadthefacts.co.uk holds the facts and signposts to other official sites for further reading.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to anyone aged 18 or over. People in Cheshire and Merseyside are also encouraged to take part in regular COVID-19 testing, and home testing kits can be ordered at: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Those in Cheshire and Merseyside who are struggling with their mental health can visit Kind to Your Mind, which contains a variety of mental health and wellbeing resources, including online therapy and crisis phone numbers: https://www.kindtoyourmind.org.

Sefton kids and Council staff help coastal scientists make a splash with YouTube channel

1 July 2021
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Coastal scientists at Edge Hill University are making waves on the internet after launching their own YouTube channel in a bid to inspire the next generation of learners to protect the world’s coastlines.

Professor Irene Delgado-Fernandez, from the Department of Geography and Geology, has co-ordinated and produced Coasts for Kids, a series of short, educational videos to teach primary school children aged six to eight about the vital role that coasts play in our ecosystem.

Developed in partnership with Sefton Council and Southport Eco Visitor Centre, the Coasts for Kids videos have attracted global attention from across the international coastal community. Coastal scientists from other universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, and Mexico were involved in the project, as well as teachers and community artists.

The series of five videos have been narrated by school children in Sefton and are designed to empower children to understand the often complex language used in coastal science, in the hope that they will develop a greater awareness and interest in the challenges facing the world’s coastlines from an early age.

Prof Irene Delgado-Fernandez is a coastal geomorphologist and marine geoscientist and lead researcher on the Coasts to Kids project.

 

Prof Delgado-Fernandez said: “Our coastlines are under serious threat from rising sea levels, coastal erosion and flooding. These are significant challenges for our global community, and it’s critical that we educate children about this issue from an early age.

“One day this will be their world and their responsibility, so it’s vital that they are empowered with the knowledge to understand and enjoy learning about the precious and irreplaceable landscapes that make up our coasts.

“These children hold the potential within them to one day be the scientists and leaders with the power to influence the policies and decision-making that can protect our coastlines. It has been a wonderful experience to work with the children and to help them learn the language we use so often in our research. Not only has it bettered their understanding of our coasts, but it has reinforced our own knowledge and process on how we communicate our work to young people.”

 

Coasts for Kids is a collaborative experience between children and their parents, coastal scientists, community artists, teachers, animators and coastal managers.

Michelle Barnes, Lead Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Officer for Sefton Council’s Green Sefton Service, said: “In Sefton we have 22-miles of stunning dynamic coastline, constantly changing with tides, winds, waves, storms and people. It is important that we understand how these have shaped our coast over the years and will continue to do so into the future and with the threat of climate change.

“The Council’s Green Sefton team are incredibly proud to have supported this project, with my own son Henry, taking part to record a voiceover for episode two of the series. I know that these lasting resources will help to inform children and adults alike across the globe about how our coasts work, how precious they are, and I hope they will encourage and inspire more people into roles like my own where we are doing all we can to better understand and manage our changing coastline now and in the future.”

 

Darren Lloyd, Resident Teacher and Education Projects Co-ordinator at Southport’s Eco Centre, said: “Throughout much of our work the main ethos has always been about creating platforms to equip our young people with the skills and confidence to become educators in their own right. The Coast for Kids series is a fantastic tool to allow both teachers and parents to nurture this. As ambassadors for the future it is paramount that they understand the impact, both negative and positive, we can have on our environment.”

 

The series is also available via the Eco Centre’s website for download in high resolution and supporting teacher/parent notes and the education team will be working on curriculum focussed resources to support the series in the near future.

This latest project builds on from a series of important coastal research projects undertaken by Edge Hill’s Geography and Geology department. In 2020 the University was awarded £25,000 from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) to explore how coastal communities in Thailand can use data to manage risks around climate change.

Launch date confirmed for fantastic new look Southport Market

1 July 2021
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

The brand new Southport Market will officially open its doors in mid-July, in time for a scorching summer of tasty treats, thirst quenching drinks and much more.

A host of traders, including a newly revealed Pacific Rim & Sushi inspired food stall by the Vincent Hotel, will be ready to welcome visitors to the incredible market space the week commencing July 19, following months of planning and refurbishment works.

All ten stalls and traders, as well as a feature bar and drinks space, have now been confirmed as residents of the North West’s newest food and drink experience, combining an incredible mix of local talent from across Southport and an array of international delicacies at the heart of the resort’s revamped market quarter.

The £1.4m scheme, which is a key enabler and an early part of Sefton Council’s Covid-19 recovery plan for Southport, is also supported by a flexible events area able to host high-quality pop-up markets along with other events.

Paul Adams, owner of the Vincent Hotel, said he was delighted to reveal an expansion to his team of talented chefs will be taking up residency at Southport Market.

He said: “There’s a new Vincent in town! We have been working hard with Sefton Council to open a new food offering within the market.

“Pacific by Vincent will open alongside 9 other local vendors and we are so excited to welcome residents and visitors to what is an amazing regeneration of the market.

“Pacific will be serving many of our popular Vincent speciality dishes, from our beautiful salmon sushi rolls to our ‘gringo’ Sushi range (for non-fish lovers) and Pacific Rim inspired food including our award winning duck spring rolls.

“We cannot wait to welcome our existing regulars and hopefully many more new customers to this exciting venture which is a great step in boosting the local economy and tourism in Southport.”

The full list of confirmed traders is as follows:

Blackhurst Butchers
600 degrees (Pizzas, Italian)
Hector’s Mexicana (Mexican street food)
Pacific By Vincent (Pacific Rim inspired foods)
Down and Oot (Canadian steaks, poutine, hot sandwiches)
King St. Bakery (Portuguese tarts)
Messy Moments (Desserts)
Birkdale Pie & Mash (Assorted pies)
Allotment – (American Burgers et al)
Pitamu (Greek & Mediterranean)

An incredible feature bar, described as the centrepiece of the new Southport Market crown, will be managed by the Mikhail Leisure group, famous for the successful Bold Hotel, Punch Tarmey’s and much more.

Andrew Mikhail, owner of The Mikhail group, said: “Yet again, the great team at Sefton Council have had fabulous vision with their regeneration plans for the market.

“Not only creating jobs for locals but I am certain that this will bring people from far and wide to Southport.”

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “July will be a very exciting time and we cannot wait to welcome thousands of visitors through the Market’s gates.

“We are delighted to see all the hard work of our Tourism team and partners coming to fruition and to be able to complete this project on time and to such an incredible standard is a testament to our commitment to Southport and Sefton.

“Every single trader comes to the market with a passion and desire to ensure this project is a success and we are confident this will be one of the North West’s best food & drink gems.

“We look forward to working with our traders and stall holders at what is an iconic location in the heart of Southport and, most importantly, welcoming residents and visitors to enjoy the space we have worked so hard to create.”

The Southport Market project has been led by Sefton Council and partners, supported by funding from the Liverpool City Region and Southport Town Deal.

While we are working towards this opening, the date is subject to change pending any further changes to easing of lockdown restrictions by Public Health England and Central Government.

Sefton Council confirms free school meal vouchers scheme for summer holidays

1 July 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Uncategorized
Cllr Trish Hardy
Cllr Trish Hardy

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing has today written to the Borough’s headteachers to confirm funding for free school meals over the six-week school summer holidays.

In her letter, Cllr Hardy explains that the scheme to support children and families who receive free school meals will, once again, work through the provision of supermarket vouchers. As with previous holiday vouchers, they will be valid to buy food in store and online at local supermarkets.

Difficulties

Cllr Hardy said: “We know that many families across the Borough will be facing difficulties in the long summer holidays, particularly with the additional challenges that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up for people over the last year or more.

“I am pleased that Sefton Council is able to help ease at least some of these difficulties by providing this support to families over the six-week.”

The scheme is available to children and families across Sefton who currently receive free school meals. Any that do not receive free school meals now but think they might be eligible can visit www.sefton.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals to find out whether they qualify and how to apply.

Thanks

In her letter, Cllr Hardy thanks headteachers and their staff you all their hard work in the past 12 months doing their best to keep our children safe and to continue to delivering education and emotional support. But she also explains that this is likely the last time that the Council can use fund free school meals in this way.

Cllr Hardy said: “This time we are, once again, using the Covid Local Support Grant, formerly known as Covid Winter Grant Funding to fund free school meal vouchers over the summer.

“However, we have received some funding from the Department for Education to put in place a Holiday Activity and Food Programme through future Christmas and summer for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. The programme will be optional for eligible children to attend.”

 

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