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Sefton is joining up with local authorities from across the UK to form a new virtual team for the World Cup with the aim of achieving just one goal, to recruit more foster carers!

26 local authorities from across the UK have joined ‘Local Councils United’, a new virtual team which will share clips for each day of the World Cup highlighting the unique reasons why people should foster with their Local Council.

Football teams, carers, young people and families will all be featured in the clips during the World Cup campaign with the hashtag #FosterWithYourCouncil2022

Councillor Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care said “We are so proud to join forces with local councils across the UK to raise awareness about fostering and encourage people to think about taking up such an important role.

Fostering and football unites people and communities so we wanted to take the opportunity to come together as a fostering community, to emphasise the reasons why people should foster with your local authority.”

The campaign will kick off on the 21st of November with Northumberland County Council.

Sefton’s video, which will be shown on 3^rd of December, features some of our fostering families at an Liverpool FC Football Camp brought to Sefton in partnership with our Leisure Services.

Ginny has been fostering for 20 years and came along to the football camp with her two foster children and her daughter Maddie. Ginny said: “We’re so happy to be part of this campaign to highlight the amazing difference a foster carer can have on a child’s life.

Football plays a big part in our family as it gives us that time to sit, watch the game and talk about tactics or anything else. When a child or young person in foster care likes football, it really helps them to come out of their shell as we can all chat about a shared passion. They begin to bond as they’ll go out and play with the other children and it just helps them forget about other things that maybe going on in their lives.”

Sefton Council’s Fostering Facebook will share each video every day so please follow @Seftonfostering.

You can watch all the videos from the 26 councils by going to the Local Councils United webpage

Merseyrail has announced it will be running trains every day over the festive period, except on Christmas Day.

Once again Boxing Day trains will be running with a limited service between 09:00 and 18:30, calling at selected stations across the network, in collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Boxing Day Services will run every 30 minutes calling at the following stations.

Southport line: Southport, Birkdale, Ainsdale, Formby, Blundellsands and Crosby, Waterloo, Sandhills, Liverpool Central.

Ormskirk line: Ormskirk, Maghull, Aintree, Orrell Park, Kirkdale, Sandhills and Liverpool Central

Kirkby line: Kirkby, Fazakerley, Kirkdale, Sandhills and Liverpool Central

Hunts Cross line: Liverpool South Parkway, St Michaels and Liverpool Central

Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: Services will start and terminate at Hooton calling at Bromborough, Bebington, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead Central, James St and Liverpool Central. There will no services between Ellesmere Port or Chester and Hooton.

New Brighton line: New Brighton, Birkenhead North, Conway Park, James St and Liverpool Central.

West Kirby line: West Kirby, Leasowe, Birkenhead North, Conway Park, James St and Liverpool Central.

On New Year’s Day a 30-munute Sunday service will run.

As has been the case in previous years, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will see services finish at approximately 20:00.

A normal timetable will be in place on all other days.

A range of festive surprises also await those travelling over the Christmas period. From a bauble wall at Liverpool Central to Father Christmas and festive carol singers, Merseyrail will be going all out to spread festive cheer at its stations.

Suzanne Grant, Commercial Director at Merseyrail, said: “As people across the Liverpool City Region prepare to enjoy the festive season, we are thrilled to be able to offer Boxing Day services this Christmas.

“Only a very limited number of trains operate nationally on Boxing Day, and I’d encourage those thinking of travelling to the Boxing Day sales, festive or sporting events to consider using our services to get there”

Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport and Air Quality Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to work with Merseyrail once again to ensure a timetable will be operating on Boxing Day this year.

“By running these services, it allows city region residents the chance to travel for whatever reason, whether it’s shopping, leisure, sporting events or just to visit friends and family.

“We would encourage rail users to plan ahead for their journey and make the most of these services that don’t operate in many parts of the country on Boxing Day.”

You can find full Christmas timetable information, Christmas shopping and event guides here.

Sandway Homes has welcomed its first homeowners to properties at its prestigious Hey Farm Gardens and Meadow Lane developments in Sefton.

Completed

Twenty-three plots have now completed at its Hey Farm Gardens development in Crossens and at its Sandy Brook site in Ainsdale. Thirty-six have been sold to a range of buyers including families, couples, and first-time buyers.

As well as open market homes, Sandway is also providing homes for shared ownership and rent, which are managed by Registered Provider Together Housing. The company has been registered as part of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, which has also assisted first-time buyers secure a number of plots on its developments prior to the scheme ending in December.

Dream

Among the first to move in is one of the shared ownership residents Jackie who said: “I cannot say how thankful I am to Sandway Homes, Together Housing, and Dashing Mortgages for helping me to achieve a dream I thought was beyond my grasp – finally having a place to call my own. It has been life changing.

“As with everything in life, it wasn’t all plain sailing but Together Housing and Sandway were always there, at the end on the phone, with positive encouragements.

“Turning the key, opening the door, and stepping into my new life at Sandy Brook, made the journey worthwhile. Thank you all, again, from the bottom of my heart.”

Thrilled

Sandway Head of Business Operations and Marketing, Sandra Coventry said: “We are thrilled to finally be handing our customers the keys to their brand new homes.

“Volatility within the construction sector has been a challenge at times, with some homes being delayed, but the team continues to work around the clock to ensure that completions are taking place as quickly as possible.

“It is rewarding to have received some great feedback from our customers, and we look forward to the sites further contributing to the thriving communities within Sefton.”

Award

In recognition of the popularity of its first phase of homes, the Company has been shortlisted for the ‘Emerging Developer of the Year award’ at the forthcoming Your Move Awards in Liverpool at the end of November. The Emerging Developer category recognises the rising stars of property development, who have started in the industry in the last three years and gone on to deliver new homes within the region.

In July, Sefton Councils confirmed that it will acquire 13 apartments from Sandway homes as part of its next scheme. These will be the first new properties to be used as council housing since 2006.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:“I am pleased to see Sandway Homes reaching another key milestone by providing people with keys to new, high-quality homes in Sefton.

“It confirms that the Council’s decision to establish Sandway to redevelop sites across the Borough to provide new and affordable housing, including properties for those taking their firsts steps onto the property ladder was the right one.”

Sandway’s approach is to provide a variety of house types for the modern-day buyer featuring open-plan layouts, contemporary fitted kitchens and bathrooms, home office space, as well as turfed gardens, e-charging points, and well-proportioned parking throughout.

You can find out more about Sandway Homes’ developments here. 

Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board is marking the start of Safeguarding Adults Week with the launch of its new website. 

The Board brings together leaders and representatives from local organisations to ensure that safeguarding services for adults across Sefton are high quality.

The partnership includes representatives from Merseyside Police, Sefton Council, Merseyside Fire & Rescue, the Probation Service, NHS agencies and a number of voluntary sector groups. 

Together, the partners have created a brand-new website at https://seftonsab.org.uk. The site contains advice and guidance for members of the public and professionals across Sefton. It has been developed as a central hub for all safeguarding resources across the Borough.

If people are struggling, or are concerned about someone they know, the website has details of lots of organisations they can get in touch with to receive support.

Speaking about the launch of the website, Michelle Creed, Independent Chair for the Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board said: “I am delighted that Sefton Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board’s website has launched in time for Safeguarding Adults Week so that we can raise awareness of this crucial issue.

“Our new website is incredibly easy to navigate and has a wealth of important information, whether you work with adults, have concerns about someone you know or are worried about your own situation.

“The Board works hard to oversee the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of partner agencies to help our residents to live free from fear or harm.”

Joan Coupe, Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board Manager added: “By launching the website during Safeguarding Adults Week, we recognise the importance of everyone understanding that abuse of adults will not be tolerated.  

“We want to raise awareness of how everyone can be involved in safeguarding and to reinforce to all that we need to eradicate abusive practices.

“Our partners will be sharing useful information all week to make it easier to spot abuse and neglect as well as explaining how to seek support.”

Through Safeguarding Adults Week, which runs from Monday 21st to Sunday 27th November, the Board will be sharing messages to improve understanding of its role. These will be centred around the theme ‘Responding to Contemporary Safeguarding Challenges’. This covers topics such as elder abuse, self-neglect and domestic abuse in a technological society. 

Cllr Paul Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “I am very pleased that Safeguarding Adults Week is getting the support that it so richly deserves. 

“We make it our priority to keep our residents safe all year round, but this week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight how we can protect others and ourselves.

“It can be hard to recognise signs of abuse or neglect and even harder to take action, but safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We should always speak up if we see signs of abuse and neglect.”

To stay up to date with Safeguarding Adults Week, visit the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board website at https://seftonsab.org.uk or follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SeftonSAB.