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Two Sefton charities, who provide support for Ukrainian families arriving in the area, have been boosted by generous donations from the Crosby and District Lions. Sefton 4 Good’s Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal and Crosby Methodist Circuit’s Ukraine Welcome Centre have both received £245 from the club.

Vital support

Earlier this year, Sefton 4 Good, in partnership with Sefton Council and local VCF sector organisations set up their Ukraine appeal.

Their fundraising efforts have helped to support families from Ukraine with clothing, equipment, travel cards and other needs. They provide support within the community by creating social and cultural networks for those moving to the borough.

Angela White OBE, Chief Executive of Sefton CVS, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Crosby & District Lions for this donation to our appeal which supports Ukrainian guests settling in Sefton.

“This fund is enabling us to supply them with items including SIM cards, digital equipment, books, new clothing and toys, taking into account their individual needs as they arrive.”

Community assistance

Meanwhile, the Blundellsands-based Ukraine Welcome Centre provides practical support to families moving from Ukraine.

The centre, based in the Methodist Church, provides a communal kitchen, leisure areas and IT access for families. They also take donations of clothing, household goods and toiletries to support those affected by the war.

Generosity

Ukraine Welcome Centre Co-ordinator, Alan Lewis, said: “Members of the Lions have visited the centre on several occasions and have been really supportive. This donation will assist greatly in improving our children’s facilities. Thank you so much Lions for your generosity.”

Commenting on the donations Sue Tyson, President of Crosby & District Lions, said: “We are so pleased to be able to help these local groups in their important work.

“Lions Clubs International has already donated funding of over £100,000 to Lions serving in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Austria and the Slovak Republic to help support Ukrainian refugees who have crossed their borders, as well as those people within the Ukraine.”

Other donations to the two appeals are always welcome. You can donate to the Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal by visiting sefton4good.org.uk and the Ukraine Welcome Centre by contacting crosbyuacentre@gmail.com.

To find out more about Sefton Council’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which helps to provide support for those in the borough offering housing to people fleeing Ukraine, visit Homes for Ukraine.

Once again, Sefton Council will be supporting local families over the forthcoming half-term holiday by providing meal vouchers.

Eligible Sefton families can use the vouchers, worth £15 per child per week, to buy food in-store and online at local supermarkets.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:

“With local families struggling to cope with the spiralling cost-of-living, I am pleased that Sefton Council has again been able to act decisively by stepping in to provide them with direct help through these holiday vouchers.

“This additional £15 per week for each eligible child will help families manage over this difficult period but if people are experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency, details of our Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/elas.”

Sefton Families that don’t receive free school meals at the moment but think they might qualify should visit www.sefton.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals.

The half-term vouchers, which the Council is providing through its Household Support Grant funding allocation from the Department of Work and Pensions, are for buying food and essentials only. They cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, phone top-ups or stamps.

Cllr Hardy added:

“In addition to the school meals vouchers, we have now paid out over £9.8 million of the one-off, £150 Council Tax Energy rebate payments to the almost 67,000 eligible Council Tax Band A to D households, which will also provide them with some help.

“And, over 20,600 households have responded to the letter we sent them by using the secure code to provide their details and register to receive the payment.

“I would urge anyone who has received the letter to register today, and if they have any concerns about the process to visit www.sefton.gov.uk/energyrebate where they can find out more.”

As Sefton residents prepare to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, NHS leaders are sharing information on how to get healthcare help while enjoying the long bank holiday weekend.

Think 111 first

Anyone in need of urgent NHS care, but it is not a 999 emergency, is advised to contact NHS 111 which is staffed by trained professionals and clinicians who will direct you to the most appropriate health service, including appointments with a GP outside of your practice’s regular opening hours.

Dr Pete Chamberlain, chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on bank holidays.

“You can visit 111.nhs.uk online or call 111 over the phone to get healthcare support. You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.”

Plan ahead for prescriptions

Residents are also advised to order their repeat prescriptions early, to make sure they have enough supply while some services are closed over the bank holiday weekend.

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “Pharmacies and GP practices may change their opening hours over the bank holiday, so it’s best to be prepared and plan ahead.

“Your local pharmacists are highly qualified and can give free, confidential advice on many healthcare concerns, as well as help you get your medicine cabinet stocked up with treatments for common ailments.”

Jubilee bank holiday pharmacy opening times

A number of pharmacies in Sefton are open on the bank holiday Thursday and Friday. Opening times for these pharmacies can be found on the link below when they become available. Residents are advised to call ahead to their local pharmacy before travelling, to confirm that they are open as advertised.

• southseftonccg.nhs.uk/jubilee-bank-hol-2022
• southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk/jubilee-bank-hol-2022

Booking GP appointments

Anyone registered with a GP surgery in Sefton can book a routine, non urgent evening and weekend appointment with a doctor, practice nurse or other healthcare professional through the ‘GP Extra’ service in south Sefton and the ‘7 day GP service’ in Southport and Formby. The opening hours for these services over the bank holiday weekend are:

7 day GP service – The Family Surgery, 107 Liverpool Rd, Birkdale

Thursday 2 June: 5pm-9pm

Friday 3 June: 9am-1pm

Saturday 4 June: 9am-1pm

Sunday 5 June: 9am-1pm

GP Extra – Litherland Town Hall, Hatton Hill Rd, Litherland

Thursday 2 June: 10am-1pm

Friday 3 June: 10am-1pm (Physiotherapist available 7pm-8pm)

Saturday 4 June: 10am-1pm

Sunday 5 June: 10am-1pm

Patients can pre-book routine appointments with these services by calling their own GP practice during their usual practice opening hours. Find out more about the ‘GP Extra’ service and ‘7 day GP service’ and their usual opening hours at:

• southseftonccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/gp-extra
• southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/7-day-gp-service