Ahead of Sefton’s Borough of Culture year, we want residents and visitors to tell us what stories they want us to celebrate throughout 2020.
After much deliberation, a list of 10 stories has been chosen to vote on with at least 4 more being added to the final list. A blank box has also been added enabling people to champion stories or individuals they think we have missed and one of these will be included as well.
Vote now!
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Community groups and local organisations can now apply for support to help run projects as part of
Sefton’s Borough of Culture year.
The Borough of Culture initiative is part of the Metro Mayor’s Culture programme which saw
Liverpool City Region become the first in the country to commit to spending the equivalent of 1% of
its annual ÂŁ30 million devolution funding from government to stimulate cultural and creative
activities.
Groups can now express interest in securing support from Sefton Council with their proposals. This
may include bidding for money to help them organize events throughout 2020 with two different tiers
of funding available – up to £5K and £5k-£15K.
It may also include support with such areas as event management, communications and marketing, or connections with other partner organisations.
Forms are available to download at www.sefton.gov.uk/sefton2020 and once completed, will be
reviewed and if support is allocated, groups will be notified within 4 weeks for non-financial support
and for support up to ÂŁ5K and 10 weeks for ÂŁ5K-ÂŁ15K applications.
The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to
one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a
rotating, annual basis.
2019 was Wirral’s year while 2020 will be dedicated to Sefton with a raft of new, existing and
community led events planned for the year.
The focus of Sefton’s year will be on stories, looking at two key elements, local history and the
environment.
Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member Communities and Housing, and lead sponsor for the Borough of
Culture Year, is asking community groups to really consider applying for funding.
She said: “While we are looking at organising some spectacular larger scale events as part of our
Borough of Culture Year, the foundation of our year will be the smaller events organised by our
valued communities.
“This is where this support and the funding pot comes in really helpful as it can enable more
localised community groups and organisations to give them a boost in arranging something to
celebrate Borough of Culture.
“2020 and the Borough of Culture will be all about engaging with our communities and making sure
as many people as possible get involved and embrace all cultural elements our wonderful borough has to offer.
“If you are group and are thinking of running something during 2020, please get in touch, download
the form and tell us your plans! This way we can make sure our year of events appeals to everyone
right across Sefton.”
For more information and to download the forms, visit sefton.gov.uk/sefton2020 or email
BOC2020@sefton.gov.uk.
Fantastic fireworks, tasty treats and astounding aerial displays will once again delight thousands of people in 2020.
Ahead of schedule, Sefton Council is delighted to confirm the incredibly popular line up of major events in Southport for 2020.
Officers from Sefton Council’s Tourism team work tirelessly throughout the year to plan the Southport Air Show, Food & Drink Festival and the British Musical Fireworks Championship, among many other fantastic events.
Alongside Sefton’s annual tourism calendar, a number of unique community events, talks and displays will be taking place as part of the Borough Of Culture 2020 celebrations
Sefton will be Liverpool City Region’s Borough Of Culture for 2020 which will focus on celebrating our local history and environment.
Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Every year we host an incredible line up of events and 2020 is set to be even bigger than ever before thanks to our Borough of Culture status.
“Our teams work incredibly hard to put on shows, festivals and displays which are renowned up and down the country, drawing in crowds from across the UK time after time.
“Make sure you put these dates in your diary and keep your eyes peeled for more news about each event by visiting www.visitsouthport.com.”
Dates have been announced for the following events:
Southport Food and Drink Festival (May 29-31)
Southport Air Show (September 11-13)
British Musical Fireworks Championship (September 25-27)
For more information about the Sefton 2020 Borough Of Culture project, visit www.sefton.gov.uk/sefton2020
More than 44,000 spring flowering bulbs have been planted by primary school children in locations across the borough as part of Sefton’s Borough of Culture celebrations.
The huge number of bulbs dug into the ground almost replicates a bulb for every primary school child in Sefton.
The crocus and daffodil bulbs have been planted during November and December through the Council’s Green Sefton team and will burst into life next Spring during the Borough of Culture year.
Some of the sites involved in the planting are: North Park, Bootle, Crescent Garden, Alexandra Park and Moorside Park all in Crosby, Victoria Park, Waterloo, Botanic Gardens, Preston New Road, Bedford Park, King’s Gardens, Devonshire Road and Ainsdale Village park, all in Southport, Merrilocks Park, Blundellsands, Marian Square Gardens, Netherton and Mellanear Park, Litherland.
Some of the primary schools involved include All Saints, St Edmonds, St Thomas, Linacre Primary, St Monica’s, Ursuline Primary, Great Crosby, Churchtown, Hillside Park, St Elizabeth’s, Lander Road, Christ Church, St Oswald’s and St Mary’s prep.
The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a rotating, annual basis.
2019 is currently Wirral’s year while 2020 will be dedicated to Sefton with a raft of new, existing and community led events planned for the year.
The focus of Sefton’s year will be on stories, looking at two key elements, local history and the environment.
Mark Shaw from Green Sefton, said: “The activity is to help highlight the launch of the Borough of Culture and to celebrate the wonderful parks and greenspaces we have in Sefton.
“Through our Green Sefton Rangers, we have planted more than 44,000 bulbs and believe the planting is a great way to get school children interested and passionate about their environment.
“During 2020 we will watch the bulbs spring to live adding beautiful colour to our amazing parks and greenspaces as part of our Borough of Culture year and they’ll keep on flowering for many years to come.”
Ahead of Sefton’s Borough of Culture year, we want residents and visitors to tell us what stories they want us to celebrate throughout 2020.
To vote for this Sefton figure in our public poll please click here
The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a rotating, annual basis.
2019 is currently Wirral’s year while 2020 will be dedicated to Sefton with a raft of new, existing and community led events planned for the year.
The focus of Sefton’s year will be on stories, looking at two key elements, local history and the environment.
Through the Sefton Stories Project, we are already planning to celebrate narrative around the Bootle Blitz, Red Rum and the Grand National, the borough’s amazing coastline, Southport’s tourism and Maghull amateur astronomer Isaac Roberts.
But as the borough is blessed with so many other different and unique stories and individuals behind them, we want the public to decide on who else to celebrate in 2020.
After much deliberation, a list of 10 stories has been chosen to vote on with at least 4 more being added to the final list. A blank box has also been added enabling people to champion stories or individuals they think we have missed and one of these will be included as well.
An online poll has now been set up on www.mysefton.co.uk for people to cast their votes and we are encouraging groups and individuals to champion different stories telling us why they should be celebrated.
The poll will run until January 13, 2020 with the full list for the Sefton Stories Project announced shortly afterwards.
The list to vote for includes:
Spotlight On: Sefton’s Maritime History:
The Heroes of the Lusitania and Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic
Spotlight On: Frederick J Hooper:
Polar explorer, member of Scott expedition
Spotlight On: Dame Beryl Bainbridge
Acclaimed British writer
Spotlight On: Thomas Fresh:
Pioneer in British environmental health
Spotlight On: Kenny Everett:
Comedian and radio disc jockey
Spotlight On: Sir Henry Segrave:
Made the land speed record in 1926
Spotlight On: Frank Hornby:
Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys
Spotlight On: Albert Pierrepoint:
The last hangman in Britain
Spotlight On: James Dunwoody Bullock:
Confederacy’s chief foreign agent during the US Civil War
Spotlight On: Christiana Hartley:
Social and welfare rights activist, philanthropist
