Iâd like to start off our Black History Month celebrations by saying how much I am looking forward to hearing about the outstanding history, achievements and contributions of black people in our communities in Sefton, Merseyside and the whole world.
Throughout the month we will be highlighting some of the great work that is going on in our Borough to promote equality, inclusion and empowerment within the BAME community. These stories will be posted on our website and across our social media channels so please keep an eye out.
Responding to further restrictions announced for the region today, Council Leaders, the City Region Metro Mayor and MPs of the Liverpool City Region said:
âAs the elected leaders and MPs of the Liverpool City Region, our first priority is to protect the health and wellbeing of the 1.6 million people that we represent.
âItâs absolutely right that we do everything we can to stop the spread of Coronavirus and keep as many people safe as possible. Over the past few days, we have engaged in talks with minsters over their proposals for greater restrictions.
âThe measures announced today are a step in the right direction but we need to understand whether they are enough to really address the escalating cases in our city region.
“Therefore, we are requesting that the government provide us with the scientific evidence so we can understand if these measures will be sufficient to prevent the spread of the virus.
âIn addition, we are also aware that without appropriate financial support from the government, restrictions will damage businesses and industries â in many cases irretrievably â when in normal times they are perfectly viable.
âOur region is an international destination, and our visitor economy is worth almost ÂŁ5bn to the city region economy every year and employs over 50,000 people. Over recent years, our hospitality and retail industries have been vibrant and growing. But we have already seen some businesses go under in the face of COVID and, without Government assistance over the past few months, many more would have followed.
âThese new restrictions mean that we will also need an immediate substantial additional package of economic support from the Government urgently and, so far, it is not clear that this is being provided.
âWe will now seek further urgent talks with the Government on these measures, any further measures, and what their response is to our request for a financial support package.”
Sefton Council lights up civic buildings to support awareness of event production industries
Sefton Council lit up Bootle Town Hall and Crosby Library in red last night, Wednesday 30 September, in support of the Global Industry Awareness Day for the Production Services and Live Events sector.
Buildings across the City Region were illuminated red as part of the event to highlight to the public and the government what the industry does and its huge economic and cultural value. It was part of a global campaign to draw attention and gain government recognition that the industry still urgently needs support. The campaign is supported by Sefton, who are the Liverpool City Regionâs Borough of Culture for 2020.
As part of the event, organised by #WeMakeEvents, 60 beams of white light were pointed into the sky across the UK, each beam representing 10,000 jobs at risk.
Cllr Trish Hardy Sefton Councilâs main Borough of Culture sponsor said: âThese âback-stageâ production-related industries are hugely important to our cultural life and to our economy but are largely unseen. We are proud to be the Liverpool City Regionâs Borough of Culture for 2020, despite the impact of current circumstances on our programme, and Sefton Council is pleased to be able to join this event and support them.â
Jane Dawe, Community Partnership Manager at SAFE Regeneration Ltd said: âLive music events are not just about the economic impact and how they contribute to the visitor economy. They can be optimised in order to achieve economic, social and cultural goals, by increasing social capital, encouraging public engagement and help create a sense of identity and belonging. They contribute to a thriving cultural environment, enhancing musical creativity, cultural vibrancy and developing and nurturing talent.
“They are the beating heart of a community and support for those directly and indirectly affected is essential.â
Responding today to speculation that the Government is going to announce further COVID-19 restrictions across Merseyside Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Ian Maher said:
âAs a result of the continued rise in numbers of confirmed COVID-19 infections, both regionally and nationally, we understand that the Government is planning on imposing further restrictions across Merseyside.
âThis could mean that households will not be able to mix and we await clarification about any other possible restrictions. This is despite the further measured introduced across Merseyside on 22 September.
âWhile, along with other Merseyside leaders, I would have liked to have seen enforcement of current restrictions before new ones are added, I will support any measures that will protect vulnerable people in our communities.
âHowever, I have joined Merseyside leaders in writing to the Government to seek clarity on what resources they will make available for us and the Police to enforce these measures.
âWe want the Government to extend the furlough scheme, and to provide further financial support for our businesses and their employees, particularly in the leisure, hospitality and sport industries.
âWe will await the governmentâs guidelines on mixing and we have highlighted the potential effects of separating children from key workers in school and early years settings as we as stressing the importance of maintaining resilience in the health and public sectors to minimise isolation.
“Once again, I would like to thank Seftonâs residents and businesses for all the efforts and sacrifices they have made during the pandemic.
âI would also stress how important it is that people stick to the current guidelines and any new regulations, not just to avoid the heavy fines they could face but to protect our communities, our vulnerable, our economy and our future.â
Ellenâs inspirational website helps give young people in Sefton a voice
Seftonâs Early Help team are delighted to help an inspirational young person, who struggles with a communication disorder, to make her voice heard and support others through her own website.
Sixteen-year-old Ellen from Crosby has been diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) which is a type of speech, language and communication need that affects the way children understand and use language. It is more common than autism with up to two children in every classroom having the disorder.
Living with DLD has meant that through her life Ellen has struggled to express herself and process complex sentences and to feel heard, preferring to communicate by writing words down or making videos.
Hannah Howard from Seftonâs Early Help team said: âLike many other young people with a similar condition, Ellen feels that she is not heard because she can’t communicate easily, and peopleâs patience, belief in her and understanding is varied and often limited.
âThis has had an effect on her education as well as her social and emotion
Ellen’s website ‘This is DLD’ gives help and advice to people who have difficulties expressing themselves.
al wellbeing, however Ellen has said that having the support from people who have really listened has made a massive difference.â
âI have been absolutely inspired by Ellen. As a professional I have always strived to listen and put every child at the centre of what I do.
âEllen has reminded me of the importance of us all taking the time to increase our understanding and knowledge around individual needs and that taking extra time to ensure a child has a voice is paramount.â
Ellenâs mum Roisin said: âEllen has received support from Seftonâs Early Help team who have been there to help stop us getting to crisis point and their support has been immeasurable.
âThe way they put Ellen first shines through, and they always come back to âwhat does Ellen wantâ. They have been Ellen’s voice and she really feels they have enabled her to be heard.
âWe have also received amazing support from the Venus Centre in Sefton (which provides counselling), her head teacher at Holy Family Catholic High School and Speech and language therapists at Alder Hey Childrenâs Hospital.
âThey are helping to empower Ellen so she can achieve her full potential by continuing to promote communication and give practical advice and encouragement while    putting Ellenâs voice at the centre of everything they do.â
With her support network on board, Ellen has used her own experiences to help others by developing a website.
âThis is DLDâ, not only gives a personal insight into Ellenâs experience of living with the disorder but also gives help and advice to people who have difficulties expressing themselves.
The website contains videos and pictures giving advice to practitioners and teachers on how they can help a child with DLD, such as taking enough time to respond and using pictures sometimes instead of words.
Ellen said: âWhen you struggle with communication life can be hard for you and your family as you need words for everything.
âOften, I have felt invisible. However, over the last year I have had Alison from Sefton Speech and Language therapy, Paula from Venus and Hannah from Early Help supporting me and my family.
âThey listened and followed things through. They believed in me and helped me find my voice and speak out about the things that mattered to me.
âI wanted to help give a voice to all those children and families in the same situation as us. It is important that they too are seen and heard, so with my Uncleâs help I have created a website to try and get the message out to the right people so things can change.
âI want people to understand what it is like growing up in a place without a voice and how they can help make life easier. None of this costs money, only time. Everyone deserves a fair chance.â
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