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Your Sefton

Sefton’s Year of Friendship celebrates diversity this July

15 July 2019
Sophie Corless
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Categories: 2019 - Sefton's Year of friendship, Featured Friendship News, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Your Sefton

This July, Sefton Council’s Year Of Friendship campaign is celebrating diversity across our borough.

In the same month that will see the first Liverpool City Region Pride event take place in Liverpool on Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28, extending the values and reach of Pride across the whole Liverpool City Region, we’ll be shining a light on the many groups, teams, individuals and organisations who promote diversity across Sefton.

From a pioneering transgender employability course which provides support and advice to transgender people looking for work, to specialist classes offered to refugees to help them speak English, Sefton provides a range of support to people from diverse backgrounds to help them make new friends and build new networks.

Keep your eyes on this website and on Sefton Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and information about how you can get involved in the many groups and initiatives operating across our communities.

Offering learning opportunities to refugees living across the borough

Sefton Council offers a number of courses to refugees in the borough to support them on their journey of learning English and integrating in to our communities.

Classes are accessed through the council’s Sefton Community Learning Service, which provides educational courses to communities across the borough. The service offers high quality adult learning programmes to help people make positive changes, support personal development and help communities thrive.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “Developing communication skills has given refugee learners in Sefton independence and confidence. This has allowed them to meet new friends and increased their chances of gaining work experience and employment.

“Learners say they feel welcomed and believe tutors have not only supported them with their English skills but with all aspects of UK life and British values.”

To find out more about our refugee programme, or any other courses at the Sefton Community Learning Service, visit https://mysefton.co.uk/2019/06/21/7931/ or contact us on 0151 934 4546.

Transgender Employability Course piloted in Sefton

A bespoke initiative to help unemployed transgender and transitioning people back in to work is being piloted in Sefton this month (July 2019).

The Butterflies Programme, the first ever Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)-funded transgender eligibility course, is being held in Southport.

The course has been commissioned by DWP following feedback from members of the transgender community and people undergoing transition, to provide support and advice to address additional barriers faced by transgender people when looking for work.

The free two-week programme began on Monday, July 1 and involves one-to-one and group sessions to offer support with:

  • Confidence building and personal development
  • Employment skills and tools
  • Handling difficult questions and situations
  • Preparing for interviews

It is open to any Merseyside resident, aged over 18, who is unemployed and in receipt of one of the following benefits; Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance. The course begins in July 2019 in Southport and all travel costs will be covered.

For more information about the course contact Jan Morrell on 0788 027 5733 / Janice.morrell@dwp.gov.uk or Gary Bell on 0755 725 4010 / gary.j.bell@dwp.gov.uk

LCR Pride Foundation to lead Liverpool City Region bid for Gay Games 2026

Earlier this year Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation revealed its intention to bid for the Liverpool City Region to host the 2026 Gay Games, a move that was backed by the region’s Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram.

The news came alongside the announcement of British Paralympian, Claire Harvey MBE, as its newest Patron. Recognised as a world leader in diversity and inclusion and culture, the former LJMU student is currently the Director of Culture and Inclusion for EDIT Development.

The Gay Games is a worldwide sport and cultural event that takes place every four years, welcoming more than 10,000 athletes competing in 30+ sports. It attracts tens of thousands of spectators who also attend to take part in the event’s extensive cultural programme, which includes music, visual arts and mass participation events such as fun runs.

Bids will be submitted in 2020 and the successful city will be announced by the event’s sanctioning body, the Federation of Gay Games, at its Annual General Meeting in Hong Kong in 2021.

Speaking in support of the bid, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Diversity, respect, equality, and solidarity for all are the foundation blocks on which the Games are built, and they are values we share.

“Our region is well accustomed to holding sporting events that attract a worldwide audience. The Merseyside Derby, Rugby Super League, The Open and the Grand National are regular features in our sporting calendar but never before have we held anything on the scale of the Gay Games.

“I relish the opportunity to build on our strong track record of supporting LGBT+ rights, empowering communities and creating lasting social change. And that is why I am proud to support this bid.”

Find out more at https://mysefton.co.uk/2019/03/12/lcr-pride-foundation-to-lead-liverpool-city-region-bid-for-gay-games-2026/ , visit www.LCRGayGames.com or follow @LCRGayGames on Twitter or Facebook at LCR Gay Games 2026.

Sefton Council has once again marked Srebrenica Memorial Day, July 11 at Waterloo Town Hall

12 July 2019
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Your Sefton

Since 2016 the local authority has remembered the 1995 Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw over 8,000 Muslim men and boys killed by Serbian nationalist forces.

 To mark the date, a special flag was flying at Waterloo Town Hall as a mark of remembrance. 

 Sefton’s libraries in Crosby, Formby and Southport also displayed literary materials to help educate future generations about Srebrenica.

 Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Srebrenica was a terrible atrocity and it is only right that we remember those affected every year and support memorial events as part of the UK-wide Remembering Srebrenica Memorial Week.

“Each memorial marks an opportunity for us all to pledge to creating a better, stronger and more cohesive society in Sefton and across the whole of the UK.

“The lessons we learn from Srebrenica are that hatred and intolerance can flourish if left unchallenged. We must all understand the consequences of leaving hatred and intolerance unchallenged.

“By doing this, we give ourselves hope of illuminating the darkness and creating a better, safer and stronger society for all.”

 For more information about Srebrenica Memorial Week, visit www.srebrenica.org.uk. 

Operation Target – arrests and drugs, weapons, scrambler bikes and recovered following day of action in Bootle

11 July 2019
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Your Sefton

A multi-agency day of action in Bootle yesterday (Wednesday 10 July) has seen seven warrants, and the recovery of drugs, weapons and scrambler bikes as authorities in the area continue to take action following recent incidents in the community.

 Working alongside Sefton Council and local housing trusts, officers have been working in areas of Bootle which have seen serious incidents of violence recently, including gun crime, arson and violence.

 As a result of today’s action, seven warrants were carried out and a number of arrests made, including a 34-year-old man from Litherland arrested on suspicion of theft of a motorbike, a 35-year-old woman from Bootle arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and possession of cannabis; and others voluntarily attending police stations in relation to drug and money laundering offences.

 Supported by dog units and underwater search teams, we have carried out searches of the canal area and other areas including Derby Park, resulting in the seizure of knives, a baseball bat and shotgun cartridges.

 Superintendent Graeme Robson, Area Commander for Sefton, explains the reasons behind today’s activity: “We know that the Bootle community have seen a lot of police activity in their area recently, both as a response to incidents, and with warrants being carried out. Today we are stepping this up, and will keep doing so when necessary, in Bootle and any areas which require action.

“We have had some great recent success, in arresting and charging those we suspect of dealing drugs, and I want to reassure everyone locally that we will continue working alongside our partners to act on all the information you provide.

“But this week isn’t all about enforcement. Tomorrow we will also be in the area with a mobile police station to speak to residents, and working with our partners to carry out repairs and cleaning. Come and speak to us, see what is going on, and we can and will make the difference to Bootle. We want these streets to be hostile to criminals and safe and welcoming to everyone else.

 Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We are committed to reducing and preventing anti-social behaviour right across the borough in order to make our thriving communities even safer.

“It’s important that we work closely with our partners including Merseyside Police, to reduce crime in Sefton and welcome the operations taking place.”

 Your help and information leads to such positive activity, so have the confidence to speak to us directly or if you don’t feel able to call police, come forward anonymously via Crimestoppers, a charity which is independent of police, on 0800 555 111.

Alleyway flytipping is becoming a ‘Riddock-ulous’ health risk

9 July 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Regeneration, Waste & Recycling, Your Sefton

Residents and businesses who continue to fly-tip despite constant warnings are putting their own health at serious risk.

That is the message from Sefton Council’s Public Protection team following a recent investigation of gated alleyways in South Sefton, which have been filled with flytipped rubbish.

 Teams from Sefton Council’s Cleansing unit recently joined officers from Public Protection, along with ward councillors on Riddock Road, Litherland to assess the growing issue.

Evidence from the investigation has now been viewed and action will be taken against those who have been found to have dumped rubbish illegally in the area. 

Each year Sefton’s cleansing teams have to remove thousands of tonnes of rubbish from alleyways across the borough, costing the Council more than ÂŁ800,000 a year to clear up and dispose of.

On average 20 tonnes of flytipped rubbish is left in rear alleyways and passageways each week, running up bills of ÂŁ2,600 in disposal costs alone.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, said: “We know that this rubbish is being dumped illegally by residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity but they do not realise how damaging this is to their own health.

“Riddock Road is just one of hundreds of gated alleyways across South Sefton where flytipping is a real issue. 

“Not only is it incredibly costly to clean up, it can cause serious health issues and directly affect both the culprits and those innocent residents who live nearby. 

“No matter if its a small bin bag or a huge pile of household waste, it’s still flytipping and you will be fined heavily for irresponsibly disposing of your rubbish.

“Flytipping carries a ÂŁ400 fixed penalty notice and failure to pay will land you in court. We won’t hesitate to issue a fine if we catch people doing it.”

If any residents have any concerns regarding flytipping or wish to report an offence, they should contact us on 0345 140 0845 or report it via our website www.sefton.gov.uk.

Have your say on proposed Netherton housing development

9 July 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Your Sefton

A consultation by Sefton Council has now begun to gauge residents’ views on a proposed housing development in the Buckley Hill Lane area of Netherton.

The site under consideration is the land to the east of Buckley Hill Lane and west of Higher End Park, which was the site of the former ‘Z-Blocks’ residential development.

The site was allocated for housing in Sefton’s Local Plan adopted in April 2017.

The proposed development would consist of approximately 40 homes would consist of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties, including both market sale and affordable houses.

Residents in the area are being asked to give their views via public consultation ahead of any planning proposals being submitted for consideration.

Residents have until July 20 to give their views in writing or via email on the proposal.

There will also be an opportunity for residents to attend a drop-in session to discuss the proposal with both Sefton Council and project agents GL Hearn.

The drop-in session will take place at Netherton Activity Centre from 5pm on Thursday July 11.

Letters have already been sent out to residents who are directly affected by the proposals but all views are welcomed.

To submit your views on the proposals please email sefton.info@glhearn.com or write to GL Hearn, The Observatory, 8th Floor, The Observatory Chapel Walks, Manchester, M2 1HL.

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