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Sefton gets ‘back to nature’ for Mental Health Awareness Week

12 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Organisations across Sefton are championing the benefits of the great outdoors during Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May), as well as sharing resources and services to help residents boost their mental health.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘nature’. Sefton Council, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are sharing a video encouraging residents to get outdoors and reap the health benefits of the borough’s bounty of beauty spots.

Sefton boasts outstanding green spaces such as Formby nature reserve, Rimrose Valley Country Park, many golf clubs and local parks throughout the borough. There are also miles of beautiful coastal trails and beaches stretching from Waterloo in the south to Marshside in the north.

You can view it on the Sefton Council YouTube channel

 

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer of the CCGs in Sefton, said:

“Spending time outdoors in green spaces, or bringing nature indoors into your home environment, can be of huge benefit to your mental health and wellbeing. We are lucky that, in Sefton, we are surrounded by fantastic  scenery that ranges from wide ocean views and coastal trails to local parks, trees and roadside planting in urban areas.

“Spending time in nature can help us stay physically active, connect us with other people and give us opportunities to learn new skills. It can also be useful to help us practice mindfulness, by paying more attention to the present moment, to our thoughts and feelings, and to the world around us. All of these can help positively change our mood and protect our mental health.”

 

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:

“From our stunning dunes to our leafy parks, Sefton is a borough bursting with nature. During this past year we’ve seen more people than ever spending time at these amazing spaces, reflecting on these challenging times but finding comfort from a connection with nature.  

“I know that for many of our residents, daily walks have kept them going and many have found beautiful places right on their doorstep that they hadn’t realised were so close to home.

“Spending time outdoors has been shown to really promote good mental health and I would encourage everyone to take a moment this week whether it’s listening to birdsong from your window or walking with a friend down your street to appreciate nature and talk about your mental health.”

 

As well as connecting with nature, there are many other activities and services across Sefton that are available to those seeking help or support with mental health concerns at any time. Many of these services in Sefton will be sharing advice, tips and resources on social media using the hashtag #SeftonInMind throughout the week.

Talking Matters Sefton, Sefton’s talking therapies service, is launching its first online workshop this month, focusing on ‘coping with low mood and depression’ for those aged over 16. You can find out more by calling 0300 303 2708 or online at: www.mhm.org.uk/talking-matters-sefton

Sefton Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), is using Mental Health Awareness Week to promote ‘walking for health’. It is asking Sefton residents to share photos on social media of ‘things that make them smile’ on their local walks, using the #SeftonInMind hashtag.

You can search for the #SeftonInMind online and follow the Sefton Council and Sefton CCGs on social media to see more content about Mental Health Awareness Week here:

Sefton Council: Facebook: www.facebook.com/onesefton  Twitter: @seftoncouncil

NHS South Sefton CCG Twitter: @NHSSSCCG

NHS Southport and Formby CCG Twitter: @NHSSFCCG

 

If you would like to find out more about the green spaces you can visit in Sefton, visit the Sefton Council website here: www.sefton.gov.uk/around-sefton/parks-and-greenspaces

Council leader responds to Borough’s Indian COVID-19 variant links

11 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

Responding to news that the Indian COVID variant, which has been classified by Public Health England as a ‘variant of concern’, has been linked with coronavirus cases in the Borough, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:

“We understand that while it has been detected locally, this variant does not seem to affect people more seriously or inhibit the effectiveness of the vaccines currently being rolled out across the UK.

“Also, it doesn’t appear to be more infectious than the Kent variant, which is now the dominant strain in Britain.

“Sefton Council will be working closely with Public Health England and other partners to provide all the local knowledge and expertise it can to support any work that is required to identify and contain the variant.”

Vaccination, testing and following rules

Cllr Maher continued: “Vaccination, testing and all of us following the rules on distancing, face-covering and handwashing are all still key to preventing the spread of COVID.

“It is vital that people go along to get their first and second vaccination jabs when they are offered them. You can now get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’re aged 40 or over or if your 40th birthday is between now and 1st July. You can book your appointment online or by phone.

“And, whether vaccinated or not, it’s still important that those of us going to work or out and about regularly continue to take the rapid tests, which are free and widely available across the Borough, twice a week.”

Cllr Maher went on to add that anyone with the coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell, should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Face coverings

With some pupil groups having been sent home from Sefton schools this week, Cllr Maher also stressed the importance of pupils and staff in secondary schools wearing face covering in schools.

Cllr Maher continued: “As well as in secondary schools, the rest of us need to remember the need to wear face coverings when we go into shops and other locations and use public transport.

“We all need to be taking care in inside spaces and sticking closely to the 2m distancing to protect ourselves and those around us including our friends and family, who may be vulnerable to the serious effects of COVID-19.”

Sefton has two SMART test sites for people without symptoms, at Bootle Leisure Centre and at Splash World in Southport which are open 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

Home testing

Rapid home test kits can be collected from Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

Rapid tests for people without coronavirus symptoms usually provide a result in around 30 minutes. Rapid testing involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Kits can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

Pharmacies

They are available from all Sefton’s pharmacies and they can be ordered online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

People can also choose to have assisted testing at one of Sefton’s SMART test sites, which are also open 8am to 8pm seven days a week and located at Bootle Leisure Centre and at Splash World in Southport.

Anyone who gets a positive result from a rapid test can book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Healthcare company finds new home in Aintree and creates 25 jobs for the Borough

11 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, InvestSefton, Latest News

Preventative healthcare company PAM Group has made a ÂŁ3m investment in new premises in Aintree, bringing 25 new job opportunities to the Borough.

PAM Group has acquired Fortune House, a 30,750sq ft warehouse on the Sefton Business Park at Aintree. It was built in 1989 as a call centre for Vernon’s Pools. The site on Deltic Way includes an area earmarked for seven smaller units covering a further 18,700 sq ft. Plans for these additional units have been submitted to Sefton Council’s Planning Department.

Fortune House in Aintree
Fortune House in Aintree

InvestSefton, the Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service, will be assisting the company to help recruit new employees through its Sefton@Work advisors. InvestSefton will also establish a strong working relationship that supports the business as they establish their new home in Sefton.

The warehouse will be the main storage and distribution centre for PAM Health, which sells exercise, fitness, sports, ergonomic, physiotherapy and rehabilitation equipment.

Fast-growing PAM Health supplies consumers as well as professionals such as physiotherapists, and healthcare providers. It has expanded through acquisitions as well as organically, with revenues on track to reach ÂŁ5m this year.

Following a fit-out of the warehouse, the company plans to install video recording and photographic studios there alongside a technical support unit.

James Murphy, founder and chief executive of PAM Group, said the investment would initially generate 25 new jobs across PAM Health’s warehousing, sales and customer service operations, rising to 50 over the next couple of years.

James said: “We are delighted to have completed the purchase of this site, which doubles our existing warehouse capacity and will enable us to support the expansion of PAM Health.

“There is a huge increase in demand for its vast range of products, particularly as people work more from home and have more neurodiversity needs.

“Our new warehouse means we will be able to hold more stock and ensure continuity of supply for our growing customer base.

“The site is ideally located, being near to the motorway network and a large population from which to recruit talented staff as we bring employment opportunities to the area.

“This investment marks the latest exciting chapter in the growth and development of PAM Group as we continue to build for the future.

“We look forward to progressing plans for the seven smaller units at the site, which will be used for further PAM Health operations including a specialist clinical laboratory, creating more jobs in the area.”

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “It is great news for the Borough that another successful business has chosen to expand its footprint here in Sefton and we’re extending a very warm welcome to them right here in Aintree.

“Not only is this a great asset in terms of creating new jobs for our area but it also demonstrates that businesses can really thrive here.

“InvestSefton play a key role in supporting businesses moving into the Borough like PAM Group, which is vital for Sefton’s future economic growth. Our specialist officers will be providing their expert local knowledge to aid staff recruitment and support the business as they expand their offer from their new Sefton based home.”

InvestSefton leads on and supports economic growth in the Borough. To find out how InvestSefton can support a local business contact 0151 934 3452 or email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk 

For further information visit www.investsefton.com

For more information on PAM Group, visit www.pamgroup.co.uk

Council celebrates success of COVID-safe election procedures

11 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council
Election Counting at Aintree Racecourse's Equestrian Centre
Election Counting at Aintree Racecourse’s Equestrian Centre

Sefton Council has declared its revised, COVID-safe arrangements for the local election a success.

To ensure safety at the Borough’s 132 polling stations and for everyone involved in counting the votes, the Council put a wide range of measure in place.

Postal votes

This included publicising postal votes which resulted in an extra 9,000-plus local residents signing up. This meant that over 28% of those eligible to vote in Sefton were able to do so without needing to visit a polling station.

Numbers signing up for proxy voting so that someone else could attend a polling station for them were also up on previous years.

On election day itself, Sefton Council made sure there were extra staff on hand to help with social distancing and mask wearing. Voters were also asked to bring their own pen or pencil and be prepared for a short wait at busy times.

After polling

After polling closed at 10pm on Thursday evening, over 69,000 ballots in 132 ballot boxes were delivered to the Equestrian Centre at Aintree Racecourse for counting to begin the next day.

Votes were counted at over 132 spaced work stations arranged across the Equestrian Centre in line with a requirement for staff to be two metres apart. All Sefton Council staff working on the count were required to take a rapid COVID test before attending and wore masks. Everyone else attending was also asked to follow these measures.

To help everyone present follow the results, they were displayed on two large screens as well as being added promptly to the Council’s website.

Safety key

Dwayne Johnson, Sefton Council’s Chief Executive and its Returning Officer said: “With COVID-19 safety measures still being key, we knew we would have to revise our arrangements for the whole elections process this year.

“Paramount to all the arrangements was our commitment to ensuring the democratic process went ahead in a way that was safe for everyone involved, which took a lot of detailed planning.

“I would also like to thank everyone who visited a polling station to vote, for following the requirements, even though they sometimes meant voting took a little longer. And a big thanks to all the staff who worked at those polling stations from 7am to 10pm on Thursday.

First time

Mr Johnson explained that, due to COVID, all the Borough’s ballot papers were counted in one place for the first time.

He said: “The logistics of gathering, verifying and counting all Sefton’s ballots in one place were challenging but I am pleased at how well it went, and I would like to thank all the Sefton Council teams involved in making the process successful and safe.

“Although it has been a challenge, I think we have also learnt a lot of useful lessons, some of which we will be able to use to ensure the continued smooth running of the election process in future years.”

Find out more about elections in Sefton.

Safeguarding professionals in Sefton support ICON

11 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Health and safeguarding professionals have been working together to support new parents as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Being a new parent can be a very stressful time and can have an impact on parents’ mental health. That’s why Sefton’s safeguarding professionals have come together this week to support ICON.

ICON is an evidenced-based programme designed to help parents and carers understand the normal crying pattern of young infants and help them develop successful coping mechanisms to manage the stresses which can be caused by normal infant crying.

Research suggests that some parents can lose control when a baby’s crying becomes too much.  Some can go on to shake a baby with devastating consequences.  Research suggests that the simple ICON message can support parents/carers to cope with infant crying.

The ICON programme delivers four simple messages before the birth and in the first few months of a baby’s life:

  • I – Infant crying is normal
  • C –Comforting methods can help
  • O – It’s OK to walk away
  • N – Never, ever shake a baby

Sefton is the first local partnership in the country to use Fire Engines to help raise awareness of the ICON campaign.

The campaign is being supported by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and North West Boroughs Healthcare.

You can find out more information on the national ICON website which can be visited here – https://iconcope.org/

Photo: L-R – Steven Thomas (Merseyside Fire Service), Dr Wendy Hewitt (Sefton CCGs), Angi Cullen (Southport and Ormskirk Hospital), Jan France (NorthWest Boroughs Healthcare)

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