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Council staff and foster carers from across the Borough  came together during Foster Care Fortnight (Thursday 18^th May) to celebrate with a virtual raffle.

Foster Care Fortnight is the biggest fostering campaign in the UK and is an opportunity for Sefton to encourage local people to think about taking up this rewarding role. It’s also a chance to say ‘thank you’ to Sefton fostering team and foster carers for the amazing work they do in helping to support and protect children and families.

With fostering team members revealing the winning tickets and prizes, the raffle was a way for the Fostering Service to show how much the Council values carers and to take the time to come together virtually, for a bit of fun.

Opening the event, Chief Executive of Sefton Council Dwayne Johnson said, “It’s an honour for me to open this event and say a massive ‘thank you’ to our dedicated carers doing an amazing job in supporting our children and to our staff who are doing amazing work in difficult times.

“I have met many of our carers personally and they are all very special people who each have their own stories about why they came into fostering and the difference they are making to children’s lives.

“I also want to thank members of Sefton Council and local businesses who have donated these great prizes. This really shows how much our communities value our carers and everything they do.”

Fostering Service Manager Lisa Cumming said;

“We hope that events like this show our carers how much we appreciate them and all they do to support our children. This last year has been hard for everyone and so we wanted to make this Foster Carer Fortnight celebration extra special.

“We have been overwhelmed by people’s kind words and generosity from across the council, friends and family of the fostering service and local businesses who have donated prizes.

“We want to send a clear message to anyone who is thinking about fostering to come forward and find out more. Our amazing fostering community are ready to welcome you with open arms.”

Foster Carer Ginny said:

“We had so much fun today catching up with people and having a good laugh. It was brilliant to see different carers and staff that we don’t see all the time especially because of lockdown restrictions. It’s also a great feeling to know you are part of one big family of like-minded people.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about fostering in Sefton can call free on 0800 923 2777, email fostering@sefton.gov.uk or visit www.seftonfostering.co.uk

Prizes were donated by; The Atkinson, Your Flower Company Southport, Golfing with Sefton Council, Il Capitano, Pride of Sefton Boat Trip (Sovini), Pranzo Café Crosby, Flowerworx, Dental Café, Ayuthaya Restaurant, By Shiovonne Make up Studios, Heaven Scents, Stencils by Design Bootle, Tesco, Dace Tea Rooms Crosby, Brewers Fair, Halo Hair Southport, Ocean Plaza Southport, Farmer Teds, Kkalash Divine Indian Restaurant, the Lawnmower Museum, Mustard and Co, Stable Lives, Beyoutiful Hair Salon, Sugar Brat Seaforth,  Buddylicious, Tesco Community Champions.

Over 90 cubic metres of concrete has been used to create the foundations of the new driving range at Sefton Council’s Bootle Golf Course.

Weighing 200 tons – the equivalent of up to 100 African elephants or approaching 4½ million golf balls – the concrete platform will provide the base for the new driving range’s 10-bay shed.

Work on the £240,000 development by contractors Davies Building & Maintenance started in March. New fencing has been erected and preparatory groundwork has been carried out.

Dedicated coaching

The new driving range will include practice facilities and a dedicated coaching bay and will enhance Sefton Council’s popular Bootle Golf Course. Golfers will be able to get more practise using the fully-floodlit facility during the evenings and winter months when it’s not possible to play on the course.

Future phases of the site’s development will include seeding the outfield and construction of the main shed.

Solid base

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “I’m pleased to see work progressing and this solid base being laid for our new driving range, which when completed will provide Sefton’s golfers with a firm foundation for their game.

“Practise facilities were one of the things local people told us they wanted to see when we consulted them, and the new driving range will help attract new players and make golf more accessible to all.”

Exciting project

Peter Davies, MD of Davies Building & Maintenance said:  “Having worked for Sefton over the last 20 years, we are looking forward to completing another exciting project for the local community”.

Since they re-opened in line with national lockdown easing in April, Green Sefton’s Bootle and Southport courses have been busy. Almost 13,000 golfers have taken advantage of a second year of frozen green fees, which mean adult prices start from just £13.

Also, an additional 90 under-16s signed up for junior memberships, which give them a year’s free play at the Council’s Bootle and Southport courses.

Over 60s can play for £9 Monday to Friday and a round for young people aged up to 16 is just £8.

Contract prices, which provide 12 months’ play, have also been frozen and start from just £110.

Find out more about these value offers and about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses.