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Bootle Town Hall is set to be bathed in red light this weekend (30 November- 1 December) to mark World AIDS Day.

The Town Hall will join landmarks from across the City Region in lighting up red to raise awareness of HIV and AIDs as part of a campaign by Sahir House, a Merseyside-based charity that provides care, support and practical assistance to people living with HIV, their partners, carers and dependants. The charity is also dedicated to improving public education about the effects of HIV.

Matthew Ashton, Sefton’s Director of Public Health, said: “We want to send out a positive message that as a community we can challenge and remove the stigma that still surrounds HIV and acknowledge the progress around treatment and prevention.

“World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.”

Sefton Sexual Health offers free HIV testing as well as advice and support to anyone who is concerned or affected by HIV. Find out more online at https://www.seftonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/. 

Sefton’s green fingered volunteers have been recognised for their hard work and dedication at a special awards evening in the borough.

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton team welcomed 29 volunteer groups to St Luke’s Church, Crosby to celebrate their continued efforts to maintain and improve a huge number of parks, community greenspaces and coastal areas across Sefton.

Each group was presented an award as a token of thanks by Sefton’s Mayor, Cllr June Burns and Sefton Council’s Chief Executive, Dwayne Johnson.

 The attendees included ‘Friends of’ groups, In Bloom Volunteers, community action groups and other community organisations.

Mark Shaw, Green Sefton’s Service Manager, said: “Thanks to our dedicated volunteers our parks, greenspaces and coastal areas continue to be clean, green and beautiful. They are true friends and advocates of Sefton and we have seen this highlighted time and time again especially during our Year of Friendship.

“Events like this are so important to help us to celebrate and honour the very special people who volunteer their time to help make Sefton a better place. We thank them every day for their hard work and dedication, we couldn’t do what we do without them.”

For more information about Green Sefton, or for details on how to get involved in a whole host of volunteering activities, visit www.sefton.gov.uk/greensefton.

Local people in Sefton are encouraged to support Sefton’s Food banks this festive period and help to back the final theme for the Year of Friendship, ‘Giving’.

This year, Sefton Food banks have launched a Reverse Advent Calendar which encourages more people to give, rather than receive, this Christmas. The calendar gives a suggested donation for each day of the Advent and includes essential items like tinned tomatoes, tinned potatoes, instant mash and tinned fruit as well as toiletries and Christmas items like chocolate, nuts, stuffing and gravy.

Many people can feel the extra pinch during the holidays which means that there is a higher demand for food banks. Residents are encouraged to donate what they can by choosing one of the days on the calendar or as many as they can afford to.

Donations can be made to one of the following donation points:

• All Sefton Leisure Centres – Bootle Leisure Centre, Meadows Leisure Centre, Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Netherton Activity Centre, Litherland Sports Park and Dunes Splash World Leisure Centre, Southport
• Bootle Town Hall
• Housing Standards reception on the second floor of Crown Buildings, Eastbank Street, Southport

For more information on how you can support Sefton’s Foodbank Network visit www.southport.foodbank.org.uk or www.southsefton.foodbank.org.uk

Here are the suggested items for each day of the Advent:

1 December- Tinned Potatoes

2 December- Tinned Tomatoes

3 December- Tinned Fruit

4 December- Instant Mash

5 December- Long Life Milk

6 December- Coffee

7 December- Tinned Tuna

8 December- Biscuits

9 December- Long Life Juice

10 December- Tinned Rice Pudding

11 December- Shower Gel

12 December- Shampoo

13 December-Christmas Items

14 December-Tinned Potatoes

15 December- Tinned Ham

16 December- Biscuits

17 December- Tinned Tomatoes

18 December- Noodles

19 December- Tinned Meat

20 December- Tinned Rice Pudding

21 December- Instant Mash

22 December- Tinned Tuna

23 December-Jam

24 December- Tinned Meat