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sthelenscouncil | @sthelenscouncil | Spring 2018 | St Helens First 1

St Helens Council’s community magazine

Spring 2018

CULTURAL HUBS

PAGE 11

LINKWAY IMPROVEMENTS

PAGE 10

GLASS FUTURESPAGE 5

A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS ON THE BOROUGH’S 150TH BIRTHDAY

OUR BUDGET SET BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

PAGE 12 - 13

PAGE 6 - 9

sthelenscouncil | @sthelenscouncil | Spring 2018 | St Helens First St Helens First | Spring 2018 | www.sthelens.gov.uk

PESTCONTROLSERVICEGET RID OF UNWANTED VISITORS WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS

DOMESTIC SERVICES: Rats & Mice FREECockroaches, Fleas & Wasps £45.00Squirrels £80.00Bedbugs & Moles £100.00Prices subject to change from April 2018

COMMERCIAL SERVICES: We offer bespoke packages for commercial properties and businesses dependent on your needs. Please contact the Pest Control Service for further information.

01744 676338 [email protected] sthelens.gov.uk/pestcontrol

sthelenscouncil | @sthelenscouncil | Spring 2018 | St Helens First St Helens First | Spring 2018 | www.sthelens.gov.uk 3

Features11 Events abound with Cultural Hubs

16-17 Road safety partners tackle speed

20 Club rugby exhibition

News5 Bowling alley update

10 Linkway improvements underway

13 Council Tax rise

CONTACT USOnline: www.sthelens.gov.ukEmail: [email protected]: 01744 676789Minicom: 01744 671671Download the free, handy app – search St Helens Council on your app store. Or visit our Contact Centre, Wesley House, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HF.Please contact us to request translation of council information into Braille, audio transcription or a foreign language.Follow us on Twitter: @sthelenscouncilLike us on Facebook: sthelenscouncil

CONTACT ST HELENS FIRST MAGAZINEEmail: [email protected]: www.sthelens.gov.uk/newsTelephone: 01744 676164

TALKING PAGES St Helens First is now available in talking book form for visually impaired people, contact us for information. ADVERTISING St Helens Council does not warrant the accuracy of any description or statement, and does not endorse any product or service contained in any commercial advertisement featured in this publication. Environmentally-friendly paper.

COVER IMAGE Employees leaving work from the former Pilkington Head Office, Reflection Court, c1955.Photograph taken by Geoff Williams, at the junction of the modern A570 St Helens Linkway, byCineworld. Ref GWP/6/1/9/1. Image courtesy of St Helens Local History & Archives.

Reflection Court today

WelcomeSt Helens Council’s

community magazine

Spring2018

Follow us on Twitter:@sthelenscouncil

Like us on Facebook:sthelenscouncil

10

20

Welcome to the spring edition of St Helens First.

This year promises to be a very special one for our borough, in that it’s our 150th birthday! Yes, a century and a half ago

Queen Victoria granted the royal charter that established the municipal borough of St Helens, bringing together the townships of Eccleston, Parr, Sutton and Windle.

Fast forward a 150 years, and St Helens while acknowledging its past, is looking to its future, with a thrilling year-long programme which celebrates the town’s culture, creativity and community.

Over 12 memorable months, the St Helens 150 programme will see a variety of events and activities taking place, bringing together organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors. Read all about it here in the magazine (pages 6-9).

The buzz around the

borough isn’t just about our birthday. We’ve seen some brilliant news on local developments, with Glass Futures not least among them. This is a project with great potential, focusing on the research and development of new glass-making methods with a view to future-proofing the industry, and it could well begin here in St Helens. We’re hopeful that if the new centre of excellence in glass production comes to St Helens, we can create highly skilled local jobs and renew our position as a global leader in the industry (page 5).

While we’re excited about the year ahead, we’re also still in the grip of one of the toughest times in our history, having to meet savings of £9 million up to 2020 due to continuing

Government cuts. As a result, the council has agreed a rise in Council Tax of 5.99 per cent (pages 12-13). This is without doubt a national picture, with 95 per cent of local authorities proposing increases.

Unfortunately, having made all the efficiency savings we could in previous years, these savings have begun to impact the discretionary council services that residents care about. Raising Council Tax is not something that we relish doing, but we are left with little choice, and I hope that residents can understand the need to protect the vital services – like social care for elderly and vulnerable young people – that we must legally provide.

11 5

13

PESTCONTROLSERVICEGET RID OF UNWANTED VISITORS WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS

DOMESTIC SERVICES: Rats & Mice FREECockroaches, Fleas & Wasps £45.00Squirrels £80.00Bedbugs & Moles £100.00Prices subject to change from April 2018

COMMERCIAL SERVICES: We offer bespoke packages for commercial properties and businesses dependent on your needs. Please contact the Pest Control Service for further information.

01744 676338 [email protected] sthelens.gov.uk/pestcontrol

St Helens CouncilLeader’s columnCouncillor Barrie Grunewald

16

sthelenscouncil | @sthelenscouncil | Spring 2018 | St Helens First St Helens First | Spring 2018 | www.sthelens.gov.uk4

Picture perfect project to recognise borough’s history

Feature

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of St Helens becoming a municipal borough, St Helens Libraries Service will soon be

launching a new online ‘St Helens Community Archive’. This new website will encourage members of the community to upload their own photos, videos, stories and memories of St Helens to celebrate and explore the heritage and culture of the borough as a whole.

Have you got a favourite old family photograph you would like to share? Do you have a great memory of where you grew up? Got an interesting artefact you would like to submit a picture of? You could even upload your snaps from your weekend walk, community event or favourite place. Share your

St Helens story and help define the heritage of the borough for future generations.

The St Helens Community Archive has been made possible by a £86,400 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Coordinated by St Helens Local History and Archives, the project will also see the digitisation and preservation of historic oral cassette recordings and photographs from the borough collections as well as engagement activities for schools and other members of the community.

Commenting on the project, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Libraries Services, Councillor Sue Murphy said: “We are thrilled to bring this unique project to the people of St Helens and I would like to thank National

Lottery players for making this possible.“I for one am very much looking forward to

getting involved and would encourage residents to contribute to the archive so that in years to come, future generations can relive some of the most significant moments of the borough’s history thorough pictures and film."

The website launch takes place on 29 March at 3:30pm, Eccleston Library. Why not come along with your photos? Find out more about the launch at www.sthelens150.co.uk.

For more information on the project, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Project Archivist Victoria Brokenshire by emailing [email protected]


Residents are reminded that the current permit for garden waste collection will expire on 2 June 2018. You can sign up

or renew online or by phone from Monday 23 April.

The fortnightly garden waste collection service provides an easy and convenient way of disposing of your garden waste and we encourage residents to renew or subscribe to the service early to ensure your collections continue over the summer. Over 25,500 households signed up to our garden waste collection service in 2017.

The cost is £31 per year for each green bin if you sign up online, or £36 if you sign up by phone with a credit/debit card.Due to popular demand, we have extended the 2018/19 collection season to include an extra collection in December and restart (after a January break) the first week in February. This will provide three extra collections per year to each household.

To subscribe, please visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call the council’s Contact Centre on 01744 676789.

Centre of excellence for glass earmarked for St HelensAs St Helens First went to print, news

emerged that the mothballed line at the Pilkington Glass Watson Street works has

been earmarked as one of two potential sites in the North England to be used as a centre of excellence for glass.

The proposed industrial research hub – part of the £50m Glass Futures project – could create around 50 direct jobs and would focus on the ‘hot’ side of glass production, with a large experimental glass furnace capable of producing 30 tonnes of product per day for

windows, bottles or fibre glass.Research there would concentrate on raw

materials and alternative energy sources to reduce carbon and other emissions by over 80 per cent.

Glass Futures brings industry and academia together in a consortium including Guardian Glass (USA), the University of Leeds, Siemens and Swarovski, with many other major glass companies and universities.

“The announcement that this research facility could be coming to St Helens is really good

news for the local economy,” said St Helens Council Leader Barrie Grunewald.

“We can look back on a proud legacy of glass, but we also want to look to the future and be at the vanguard of new developments in the glass industry.”

Councillor Grunewald continued: “By combining the knowledge we have of the industry with the knowledge our university academics have, we can be part of that innovation.”

News

Renew your garden waste collection permit

Work begins on long-awaited bowling alley

St Helens residents will be soon bowledover by a fabulous new leisure facility. Work got underway last month to create a

bowling alley on the once derelict Linkway West site.

The £1.8m scheme, constructed by Orbit Developments, will see the arrival of a twelve lane, ten pin bowling facility and family entertainment centre operated by national bowling brand, Superbowl UK.

Complete with a brand-new social active leisure concept in the form of a ‘Ninja Tag Active Assault Course’ - Superbowl UK St Helens will also host a 'SEGA Prize Zone' arcade where visitors can experience certain video games a good six months before they are released in the UK.

Orbit Developments have worked closely with St Helens Council through the ‘Invest in St Helens’ initiative to further drive the leisure and retail economy in the Linkway West area, where Superbowl UK will join an Aldi supermarket,

a drive-thru Costa Costa and a new concept Frankie and Benny’s restaurant which is set to open this May.

Welcoming the news, St Helens Council Leader Barrie Grunewald said: “I’ve wanted a bowling alley to enhance the town’s leisure offer for some time now, so to see work finally get underway is very exciting indeed and is a significant milestone in steering the town centre towards more positive and promising times.

“We know that the regeneration of our town centre is top of most residents’ wish lists and I can assure those residents that this is one of the council’s biggest priorities as we look to attract more families from inside and outside the borough to spend time in our town to support the local economy. I believe a bowling alley is a perfect piece of the puzzle in allowing us to do this.”

Superbowl UK is scheduled to open in St Helens early next year.

BELOW: How the bowling alley might look


For a start it’s the 150th anniversary of the formation of the borough of St Helens

and the 70th anniversary of the towns twinning with the German city of Stuttgart.150 years ago – on the 2nd February 1868, Queen Victoria granted the charter that formed the municipal borough of St Helens.

Fast forward a 150 years, and St Helens, while acknowledging its past, is looking to its future

with a thrilling year-long programme which celebrates the town’s culture, creativity and community.

Over 12 memorable months, St Helens will see a variety of events and activities taking place.

From unforgettable cultural experiences such as ‘Helen’ - which explores the role of women through history until modern day, or a spectacular light and projection

extravaganza entitled We Are Still Here, to a fun packed and informative Heritage Weekend bringing to life the experiences of the past 150 years.

With creative artistic projects such as Takeover Fest including pop-up art exhibitions across the borough, the launch of Bliss Park, an artwork and skate park commissioned and produced by young people, and In the Streets and programme of interactive music and performance based

events.To events that create a sense

of community spirit such as St Helens Day – a civic parade, led by the Mayor, to celebrate the people of the borough, or Armed Forces Day – a commemorative ceremony to take place in Victoria Park, and an International Food and Drink Festival to celebrate our twinning with Stuttgart and Chalon-su-Saone.

Birthday Feature

Happy Birthday!

2018 promises to be a very special year for all of us…



A year-long cultural celebrationThe St Helens 150

programme brings together organisations

from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The programme has been developed by The Heart of Glass, a collaborative arts organisation based in St Helens, and is supported by St Helens Council, together with other local arts and cultural partners including the World of Glass and The Citadel. Various

artists, writers, performers and producers will be working together with the programme developers to create a year of events and artistic interventions right across St Helens.

Some events are new to the calendar, such as an International Food and Drink Festival, a heritage weekend - and wonderful light show projections on iconic sites around the borough - while more established events like

the annual Westfield Street Music Festival, Summer Streets event, and Armed Forces Day commemorations will be built on to be made bigger and better.

The programme started in style earlier this year when hundreds of people braved the cold weather as Heart of Glass launched its ‘Where Things Are Different’ project.

Created by artist Stephen King, Where Things Are

Different saw a number of lightboxes containing images relevant to the industrial heritage of St Helens installed along the banks of the Sankey Canal, close to the World of Glass Museum.

The exhibition will remain on display until 22 April, so why not pay it a visit while you still can.

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St Helens at 150


Feature

What are we celebrating?

A ccording to local history records, on 2 February, 1868, Queen Victoria granted the charter that incorporated the municipal borough of St

Helens, bringing together the townships of Eccleston, Parr, Sutton and Windle.

Prior to this, St Helens did not exist as a town in its own right.

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that the charter arrived in the borough, but the original document remains on display at the World of Glass Museum to this day.

In May that year, the first election of councillors took place, followed shortly after by the very first town council meeting led by our very first civic Mayor, Sir David Gamble, a local chemical magnate who would go on to gift the borough with the Gamble Institute, designed initially to house a library and technical school for vocational industrial qualifications.

In 1868 St Helens was responsible for the administration of the four townships and manors of Eccleston, Parr, Sutton and Windle. In 1887 this role was expanded to a County Borough, which was superseded in 1974 by the larger Metropolitan Borough.

Of course, if can often be forgotten that the borough of St Helens was indeed the place where several notable groundbreaking ‘firsts’ were founded, including the world’s first industrial canal, Sankey Canal; the first mass-produced household painkiller, produced by Beechams - while the village of Rainhill staged the 1829 Rainfall Trails to confirm its status as the birthplace of the railway.

Maybe it was these firsts that were the inspiration behind this very publication’s title - who knows?

The borough has also produced some pretty incredible people in various industries, too. Not least Johnny Vegas and Bernie Clifton from the world of comedy and entertainment; George Groves, who was another ‘first’ in the sense that he introduced sound to film; Harry Potter Director, David Yates; Lily Parr, arguably the country’s finest ever female footballer; music icons Rick Astley and Jackie Abbott - as well as the many rugby league greats to don the red V for the world famous St Helens RFC. The list goes on…

2018 will be all about recognising these achievements, celebrating 150 years of heritage and innovation with the community.

How you can get involvedA s the emphasis of the programme will be

people and place driven, local communities are being encouraged to get involved.

Any local community groups or associations looking to host an event in the borough over the next year - whether it is sports, arts and cultural, or community related - can get in touch if they wish to link their event up with St Helens 150 celebrations. The council would also like to hear from any groups who are interested in offering their time to volunteer at any of planned events taking place over the next year.

Looking forward to the year ahead, Councillor Gill Neal, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing with responsibility for arts and culture, said: “With the focus of these celebrations not only being an opportunity to look back on St Helens’ illustrious past, but also a chance to look to the future and showcase the talents of our young people, we are particularly interested in hearing from any youth groups or associations that would like to take part in the celebrations, either by holding an event in association with the St Helens 150 programme, or by volunteering

to help and take in these events.“This programme of events promises to have

something for everyone - and it would be great if more local people would get behind it, get involved, and made 2018 a year to remember.”

If you’re hosting an event this year and would like to tie it in with the borough’s 150th anniversary celebration plans, or if you are interested in volunteering, you can express an interest or find out more information by emailing [email protected]

Birthday Feature

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Sinfonietta Musical CelebrationsSaturday 24 MarchSt Helens Town Hall

Take Over Festival, Episode OneSunday 1 April – Thursday 31 May

Location: Across the borough

Beating the BoundsSunday 13 May

Haydock Park Racecourse

PentecostSunday 20 MayChurch Square

St Helens DaySaturday 2 June

Across the town centre

Westfield Street Music FestivalSunday 3 JuneWestfield Street

Armed Forces Day – We Stand TogetherSaturday 23 June

Victoria Park

International Food & Drink FestivalFriday 6 – Saturday 7 July

Victoria Square

St Helens 150 events March to July, 2018

For more information and to view the full list of events scheduled for this year, visit sthelens150.co.uk


Feature

A planning application to turn a former distribution depot into hundreds of homes has

been submitted.The Suttons Group unveiled

plans last autumn to create up to 352 mixed-size homes at the former depot on the Linkway Distribution Park adjacent to Elton Head Road.

Proposals have now been submitted to the council, in

the form of a hybrid planning application seeking permission for the demolition of the existing buildings and structures and an outline application for the residential development.

These will include two, three and four-bedroom homes and one and two-bedroom apartments.

Proposals also include the creation of new areas of open space and green infrastructure,

Plans for new homes submitted

St Helens Council will soon put forward its planning application for the link road that will support the proposed development on

the site of the former Parkside Colliery.The proposed link road would run through

the Parkside site, connecting the A49 to the M6 Junction 22.

As St Helens First went to print, the planning application was expected in early March to St Helens and Warrington councils, and follows a thorough public consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the area last summer. Over 300 residents attended the

consultation events with all feedback given consideration in developing the designs for the planning application.

The consultation presented residents with a range of options, and proposed the council’s preferred route for the link road, which has been designed to reduce congestion in the area.

The proposed link road would help to divert traffic away from Newton le Willows, Winwick and Hermitage Green, including the potential lorries and heavy goods vehicles associated with phase 1 of the Parkside Regeneration scheme, if this were to receive planning permission.

Planning application expected for Parkside Link Road

Work has begun on the A570 St Helens Linkway, which will

create a safer and more efficient junction at Elton Head Road.

The A570 St Helens Linkway came into operation in 1994 but more recently, the Linkway has become a severely congested corridor,

particularly at Elton Head Road and Sherdley Road roundabouts at peak times, and issues concerning poor pedestrian and cyclist facilit ies have developed.

To begin solving these problems, the current roundabout by Mere Grange and the Cooperative Food distribution Centre will

be replaced with a signal controlled crossroads with full pedestrian crossing facilit ies, creating a more balanced and measured traffic flow, and reducing peak time queues.

Pedestrian and cycle crossing facilit ies will also be introduced onto all arms of the junction that link to existing pedestrian routes, and speed

limits will be modified on the approaches, fur ther improving safety for all road users.

The project has benefitted from funding from the £232 mill ion Liverpool City Region (LCR) Growth Deal, secured from Government in 2014 by the LCR LEP. Work is expected to take around 8 months.

Linkway improvements underway

PHOTO by Robbob


C ultural Cultural Hubs, the nationally renownedarts in libraries programme - deliveredby St Helens Council’s Library Service

and funded by National Lottery money through Arts Council England - launched a brand new programme in January.Midway through there are still plenty of greatevents to see, as exciting as they are diverse.If you’ve ever walked across the Steve Prescott Bridge towards the Saints stadium, you’ll likely have seen a dilapidated, red brick building among the trees and foliage. Perhaps you wondered about its history?

This is Cannington Shaw, and in the 19th Century it was part of the largest glass bottle-making factory in the world. Community group Friends of Cannington Shaw has partnered with St Helens Council’s Arts and Libraries Services to celebrate the building and its heritage with a new performance – A Day in the Life of a Bottlehand – celebrating the lives and stories (some real and some imagined) of the people who worked there centuries past. It’s especially poignant given St Helens’ 150th anniversary festivities. See it on Thursday 15 March in Garswood, Rainford or Thatto Heath libraries.

Fish and chips. It’s the one of the most iconic British treats, one which people around the nation come together to share, habitually on a Friday night. In a mouth-watering twist, Box of Tricks theatre company has incorporated the beloved chippy tea into an immersive theatre experience.

Take a seat in Booth & Son’s Fish and Chip Shop and tuck in to a hearty meal of fish and

chips (in the library!) while on the tables around you a story of young love and old flames plays out, set to a soundtrack of Northern Soul. Chip Shop Chips comes to Parr Library on Saturday 17 March.

It’s said that laughter is the best medicine, and there’s plenty to go round with Bookish, a collection of five brand new comedy shows from performers and comedians Laura Mugridge and Tom Adams. Each mini-show is inspired by a different book, with the audience in control of which two are performed. Think you can imagine a performance based on The London A-Z, The Dairy Book of Family Cookery, or Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day? Bookish has been called unique and unexpected for a reason! Each performance is a blend of comedy, live original music and quizzes. Come along to Newton-le-Willows or Billinge libraries on Thursday 22 March.

And if you’re looking to learn a new skill Get Creative might be just the thing. It’s a national festival that will be celebrated locally in Haydock Library on Saturday 24 March, where participants will get to try their hand at lots of new activities, delivered by a range of volunteers. If you have a skill to share, why not share it? From making music to creative crafts, scoring penalties to cake decorating, everyone is good at something. To volunteer contact Jess in the Arts Service on 01744 677067.

For full details of these fantastic events and more, see the full brochure online by searching ‘Cultural Hubs’ at issuu.com, or pick one up in any St Helens library.

Cultural Hubs launches exciting spring programme

Feature

“...there are still plenty of great events to see, as exciting as they are diverse.”

Chip Shop Chips

A Day in the Life of a Bottlehand

Bookish


Feature

Your council provides a wide range of services to a growing population of more than 177,600 people in 82,000 households. Each year St Helens Council delivers hundreds of services to each and every one of them. You probably know that your council does things like empty your

bins, fix potholes, maintain the parks and keep the streets clean, but most importantly we also provide life changing support for older people, people with disabilities and children who are in need of care, among other services. We legally have to deliver these services, and balance the budget each

year.Like many other councils across the country, we’ve been hit

hard by Government cuts. Since 2010 we’ve had our central funding reduced by well over 50 per cent – meaning we’ve had to find savings of £81 million. This has led to big changes in the way our services have been delivered.

Over the next two years we will have to face further funding cuts totalling £9m.

That’s £90 million of funding cuts over the ten-year period which equates to £507 less per person to spend on your services, than we did in 2010.

A budget under pressure…

Budget Challenge

£81million £9

million

Over the last 7 years wehave suffered cuts of:

Over the next 2 years we will need to save a further:

£90million

By 2020 we will have lost since

2010:


Your Council Tax contribution

W e are legally required to provide a number of statutory services including adult and children’s social care. There are also

services which we legally have to provide but it is not specified how we deliver them, such as waste collection, road maintenance and library services. Some services are discretionary, meaning the council can choose to provide them but does not have to, like leisure services.

St Helens has an aging population causing pressure on health and social care services such as home carers, respite provision and support to people with long term health conditions like dementia. Demand and risk is also increasing within children and young people’s services with

an increase in looked after children, as well as a rise in the number of children with disabilities or experiencing severe learning difficulties. St Helens is the 36th most deprived local authority area in England with worklessness rates significantly above national and North West averages, resulting in a greater impact from welfare reforms and inequalities across wards.

The simple truth is we can no longer continue to pay for all the services we have traditionally provided. We must prioritise resources towards those services which we are legally required to provide and review how we offer them.

We will continue to care for vulnerable adults in need, protect children, and

maintain the roads, pavements and street lighting – but this may be to a more basic standard.

There’s no doubt that people will be losing some of the discretionary services that they’ve come to expect. If we are not legally required to carry out a service, then it is possible that it may no longer be available.

We have had to start charging for services that only some people require such as garden waste, as other councils do. We are also continuing to review how we provide services such as libraries, parks and leisure centres, in order to meet £9 million of savings up to 2020.

…Yet demand for services increases

Council Tax is set to rise in April by 5.99 per cent, consisting of 2.99 per cent Council Tax increase with an additional 3 per cent Social Care

Precept.Government has given councils that provide

adult social care the power to increase Council Tax by up to an additional 3 per cent in 2017-18 and 2018-19 to contribute towards these services. If they do this, they can’t charge the precept again in 2019-20.

When you pay your Council Tax you are contributing towards funding local services such as social care for vulnerable people, and support for children and the elderly. It also pays for waste and recycling, street cleaning, parks and much more.

Therefore, Council Tax is not a direct payment for a direct service, like a meal at a restaurant, or a haircut. Your Council Tax is a contribution to the cost of services that your council has to legally provide.

This is why you can’t “opt-out” of paying Council Tax – put simply if you don’t contribute your share, local children can’t be kept safe, the vulnerable can’t be cared for and the roads can’t be maintained. Increasingly as budget cuts bite, almost all of the funds available go to the services we must legally provide – and what we must legally offer may not be services you personally access. However, one day a family member of yours might need care, or a child in your street may need protecting. Your Council Tax is what allows that to happen.

Budget Challenge


News

I n the last edition of St Helens First we caught up with Edward Hodgson and Sam

McQuiggan to hear about their involvement in the St Helens Youth Council.

Now St Helens’ Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) has spoken of his support for the initiative which enables the young people of St Helens to have a voice in local decision making and to take part in projects to address issues that affect them.

For just under a year, 14-year-old Kian Jepson from Newton-le-Willows has represented the St Helens Youth Council in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) since being elected MYP by his peers.

This has seen him sit in the House of Commons and vote on issues the UKYP has been campaigning on, such as ‘votes at 16’ which gives young people the opportunity

to have their voices heard and be included in the democratic process.

During his time on the Youth Council, the Hope Academy pupil - who aspires to persue a future career in politics or law – has undertaken the role as leader of the health group

and has met with health chiefs from St Helens Council to discuss how the health system in St Helens can be improved to help young people’s mental and physical health

In a bid to encourage other young people to come forward and join the St Helens Youth

Council, Kian said: “The Youth Council is a fantastic organisation which is run by young people for young people. It is fulfilling and you can help make the town you live in a better place for everyone.”

St Helens Youth Council was established in March 2016 as a way of getting the borough’s young people to work alongside council members and officers on matters important to them.

Elected youth councillors regularly participate in discussions and debates surrounding topics that relate to agenda objectives, and have been invited on more than one occasion to offer input and advice to senior St Helens councillors.

For more information or to get involved with the youth council, email [email protected]

Making young voices heard

St Helens Council’s Healthy Living mascot, Captain Tuck, was on hand to

help educate local children and families on the importance of healthier snacks as part of Public Health England’s new Change4Life campaign.

To help families get more active and eat healthier, the Healthy Living Team – along with Captain Tuck - began their new year Fit4All programme at the home of St Helens RFC, where families took part in a range of activities and learnt about healthier meals and snacks.

At the session, the Change4Life campaign key message of '100 calorie snacks two a day max' was also promoted to help cut children’s sugar intake which, nationally, currently stands at around seven cubes a day.

As part of the Change4Life campaign, parents will be signposted and given special offers on a range of healthier snacks, including fruit and vegetables at selected supermarkets. They can also get money-off vouchers to help them try healthier snack

options.“Changing our children’s

snacking habits can be a real challenge and we want to make it easier for families to find healthier options,” said St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Gill Neal.

“By asking parents to look for two 100 calorie snacks a day, maximum, children are

still able to enjoy a couple of snacks a day, but less frequently.”

If you and your family would like to get more active and learn more about healthier meals and snacks, contact the Healthy Living Team today and sign up to their Fit4All programme by calling 0300 300 0103 or email [email protected]

ABOVE: Children and parents; Healthy Living staff; Saints in the Community workers and Saints Mascot, Boots, joined Captain Tuck at the Totally Wicked Stadium to support Public Health England’s new Change4Life campaign.

Tuck into healthier snacksTea and talkLooking for a natter with great company – all while enjoying a nice cup of tea? Why not attend St Helens Council Healthy Living’s new ‘Get Together’ sessions.Held at Wesley Methodist Church in Vincent Street, the free weekly sessions bring the local community together and are a great way for attendees to discover what other exciting opportunities they can get involved in. Healthy Living’s ‘Get Together’ sessions take place every Tuesday afternoon from 1pm-3pm.For more information, call the Healthy Living Team on 0300 300 0103.

“You can make the town you live in a better place for everyone”


St Helens Council’s Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAAT) is inviting parents and guardians to demonstrate

their commitment towards keeping young people safe from the effects of underage drinking and alcohol misuse - by making a personal pledge.

A small number of young people can start to experience difficulties as a result of alcohol use, which can lead to a number of unplanned, unwanted and serious consequences; including overdose - and can put young people in vulnerable situations

With this in mind, YPDAAT is encouraging parents and guardians to show their support by following the ACE pledge which advises parents to Avoid giving alcohol to children (especially if aged under 15); to be Clued up about their children’s whereabouts at all times - and Educate their children about the risks of alcohol.

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Gill Neal, said: “With evenings staying lighter for longer and house parties becoming more-and-more popular among our young people, we want

to raise awareness of the advice given by Chief Medical Officers - that young people should avoid all alcohol until the age of at least 16, and that an alcohol free childhood is always the best option.

“We want to get as many parents as possible to sign the pledge and demonstrate how ACE they are when it comes to educating their children about underage drinking and alcohol misuse.

“I would also call on the general public to be vigilant and not feel intimidated into purchasing alcohol for anyone underage. Sales of alcohol to or for anyone underage could result in a criminal conviction, hefty fine, and the loss of a licence which is simply not worth the risk.”

To make your pledge, visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/ace

Top-tips on what to do if you suspect your child is consuming alcohol or drugs can be found by visiting www.sthelens.gov.uk/ypdaat

If you are worried about a young person’s drinking and need advice about what to do, call YPDAAT on: 01744 675 605 or email: [email protected]

Are you an ACE parent or guardian? Take the pledge to put a lid on underage drinking!

30 hours free childcare – don’t delay!

T he deadline to apply for FREE 30 hours’ childcare for your 3 or 4 year old for an April start is the end of

March – so don’t delay! Everything you need to know is online at

www.sthelens.gov.uk/30hours including eligibility and how to apply as the purpose of this childcare offer is to better support parents who want to work, or want to be able to increase their hours, but until now, haven’t been able to afford to do so.

Before you start the application, make sure that the childcare provider with which you would like to use the free hours is participating.

If you’re already in receipt of this benefit, you must renew your details every 3 months by logging in to your childcare account, otherwise you’ll have to start the process again! For more information call 01744 676542 or email [email protected]


A special Speed Awareness Seminar was held at the town hall for drivers caught speeding in

a recent traffic enforcement operation between Merseyside Police and St Helens Council’s Road Safety team.

The operation was carried out on roads across St Helens during National Road Safety Week by members of the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, which includes councils across the region, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Merseytravel and Highways England.

During the operation – attended by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy – police officers used speed radar guns to check drivers were adhering to the 30mph speed limit and stop those who weren’t. They

also stopped drivers using mobile phones and anyone observed not wearing seat belts.

30 drivers were caught excessively speeding and handed traffic offence reports, while 80 caught at lower speeds (up to and including 35mph) were given the option of attending the Speed Awareness Seminar, instead of the report and the fines incurred.

The interactive seminar was designed as a cautionary experience, with speakers including St Helens Local Policing Chief Inspector Steve Brizell and Constable Neil McEwan; George Houghton, St Helens Council’s Head of Traffic and Road Safety; David Midmer of national charity RoadPeace, and local approved driving instructor Laith Chapman. Speakers covered road safety topics from the perspectives of

enforcement, engineering and education.

Concluding the seminar, Rebecca and Glenn Youens – the parents of Violet-Grace who was tragically killed by a speeding car last year – made an emotional plea for motorists to drive safely, highlighting the devastating impact such carelessness by drivers can have, and sharing their harrowing ordeal.

Rebecca said: “We would like to thank Merseyside Police and St Helens Council for giving us the opportunity to tell Violet’s Story, and hopefully change perspectives on speeding. Even a few miles per hour over the limit can make a huge difference to whether there is a casualty or a death. We would like people to sit back and think about their driving, and what impact that can have on

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Youens family and Merseyside Road Safety Partnership cautions drivers to slow down at town hall seminar

“Even afew miles per hour over the limit can make a huge difference towhether there is a casualty or a death.”

ABOVE: PCC Jane Kennedy attended the traffic enforcement operation.


other people.“Drivers are not the only people

on the road, and it’s sometimes just thinking outside the box. Violet should be playing with her little brother, and we should see the special bond they have grow and develop.

“Instead, our daughter has been killed by a speeding driver, and

our poor son doesn’t understand where his big sister, and best friend has gone. We have to try and be positive for our son, even though our hearts are broken inside. Hopefully, by telling Violet’s Story, she will go on to save more lives. We miss our beautiful, sweet and kind daughter, every single minute, of every day; the pain is

unbearable.“All we ask people to do is to consider their driving style and speed. Hopefully then there will be less fatalities and injuries on the road, and other families willnot have to experience the painand heartbreak we do now. Violet has a life sentence, we have alife sentence – this is permanent,irreversible.”

Rebecca also touched on how Violet-Grace went on to save two lives after her

death through organ donation.Attendees were given packs to

take home, containing information from all the partnership agencies, a free copy of the Highway Code, which many drivers don’t review after passing their test.

Chief Inspector Steve Brizell said: “The death of Violet-Grace was an avoidable tragedy and

the devastating impact of this incident and all serious collisions is deeply felt by family, friends and the wider community. An event like this allows Merseyside Police and our partners to highlight the consequences of driving at excess speeds, both for the victims and the drivers themselves.

“We want to educate people about the dangers of speeding, not simply enforce action against road users, and if people left the seminar with a greater understanding of the potential consequences of their actions, then we have succeeded and we will continue to do everything in our power to reduce incidents.”

Councillor Terry Shields, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Green, Smart and Sustainable , Borough, with responsibility for road safety, said: “Every death or serious injury on the roads ofour borough is one too many. The death of Violet-Grace is a tragedy still fresh in our memory as a community and I’m certain that nobody wishes to see a day ,like that again. I’d urge drivers to be more aware of their speed and take greater care, as even a few miles per hour above the speed limit can make a big difference in a collision.”

ABOVE: Glenn and Becky Youens joined the Road Safety Partnership at the seminar.


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Citizens Advice – a helping hand when you need it mostS t Helens’ Citizens Advice Bureau

(CAB) can give free, confidential information and guidance to assist people with legal and consumer

problems, but many people don’t know about the range of grants the service can help you apply for if you’re struggling with money.

And while the worst of the cold weather might be behind us, many of us may still be feeling the impact of those larger energy bills.

There are many charitable trusts and organisations, including British Gas, that provide free grants to people in such financial difficulties. Citizens Advice can help you find them.

Take Paul, a 52 year-old from Haydock. Paul lives alone, is unemployed and claims Job Seekers Allowance as his sole income. Paul was engaged with CAB’s ‘Better Off Finance’ project – helping him

to search for work – when his washing machine broke, and he couldn’t afford to fix or replace it.

Paul was referred to CAB’s grants team, who helped Paul apply to the United Utilities Trust Fund who paid his water debt of £190 allowing him to get back-on-track with his payments, while the Glasspool Charity Trust awarded him a brand new washing machine.

As Paul was only receiving £73 per week in income he was finding it difficult to top-up his pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters, and with winter approaching, CAB stepped in to help him through.

CAB was able to issue him with two £28 energy vouchers from the British Gas Energy Trust Emergency Utility Credit Scheme and helped him apply for the Warm Home Discount 2017/18, receiving a payment of £140 on his electricity meter.

To help Paul through the winter period

Citizens Advice also obtained £120 from the crowdfunding website Acts 435 to put credit on his gas and electricity meters.

Paul was able to afford to keep his heating on, meaning he no longer had to wear a winter coat inside his home to keep warm.

Based centrally in the town centre’s Millennium Centre, the service is easily accessible, and also provides drop-in sessions in handy locations across the borough, including St Helens Hospital.

For more information, visit www.sthelenscab.org.uk.

For debt or grants advice, call 01744 751380 open Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm.

General drop in sessions are available between 10am – 12:30pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For general advice ring 03448 269 694, open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.


F ive of the borough’s most inspiring charities have received a share of

£10,000 thanks to recyclers registered to St Helens Council’s award-winning Recycling Rewards scheme.

St Helens Recycling Rewards, launched in 2015, sees members earn points for their community for recycling. The more materials they save from the brown bin, the more points they earn.

As well as individual prizes up for grabs, any points residents earn go towards the ‘community’ total.

After 12 months, the more points a community has collected the more influence they will have on how £10,000 is donated to local charities.

This year, Willowbrook Hospice received over 50 per cent of the votes to receive a donation of £3,500; St Helens Carers Centre was handed £2,500; £2,000 was awarded to the St Helens Food Bank – while the HoneyRose

Foundation and Isabella Rose Foundation each received £1,000.

If you haven’t already signed up to the Recycling Reward

scheme, you can request an information pack.

The pack will contain everything you need to start participating in the scheme.

For further information, please call: 01744 676789 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/recyclingrewards

Local charities receive a share of £10,000 thanks to council’s green scheme

News

ADHD support group could help youC lair’s Parents Meeting

Parents St Helens ADHD Support Group is a local

group that provides support and guidance through monthly meetings to families caring for children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Parents and carers meet to share their experiences, and hear from speakers on a range of related topics that affect their families, such as sleep issues, oral hygiene, understanding ADHD and reducing stress.

The group is run by a motivated committee, led by local woman Clair Hodgson, who founded

the group in 2015. They all have experience of ADHD through caring for children with the condition, or personally having

ADHD. The group also offers

a range of fun activities and days out with families, helping those parents and carers who may not feel confident taking their child out alone, promoting

independence and opening up new experiences to children with ADHD.

Find out how the group could help your family today. Call 07480 824 868 or email [email protected], or find the group on Facebook.

Safer in TownS t Helens’ Coalition of

Disabled People (CPD) has re-launched the Safer

in Town initiative which aims to protect and give confidence to vulnerable people when visiting St Helens town centre.

As part of the initiative, a number of town centre buildings including Atlas House, the Millennium Centre, St Helens Police Station and the Citadel Arts Centre have signed up as ‘safe haven’ venues where vulnerable people can visit if they require assistance, if they have been involved in an accident, or been the victim of crime.

Those who sign up to the free scheme will be able to identify a participating venue

by looking out for a Safer in Town logo displayed around the building which they can than enter and present a Safer in Town card or keyring which contains emergency contact details.

Information and maps pinpointing where participating venues are located are set to be displayed in the public notice board outside St Helens Town Hall for peace of mind.

For more information, or to sign up to Safer in Town, please call David Webster at St Helens CDP on 01744 730266, or email [email protected]


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With the Six Nations Championship in full flow, why not brush up on your

local rugby union knowledge by visiting an exhibition on the oldest open rugby union club in the world – Liverpool St Helens FC.

Made possible by a £75,700 grant, awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), ‘The Birth of Club Rugby’ project focuses on telling the story of the formation, development, trials, tribulations and triumphs of Liverpool St Helens FC during its history which traces back over 160 years when Liverpool Football Club was formed.

Working in partnership with St Helens and Liverpool Libraries, St Helens College, Edge Hill University, the Liverpool Record Office and Cowley International College, the club has established a comprehensive archive, cataloguing and preserving documents and photographs, and has created a touring exhibition which will be displayed in several of the borough’s libraries from now until May.

In addition to this, a learning resource pack has also been created for primary school pupils.

The Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor Joe Pearson and wife Sylvia Pearson, joined current Liverpool St Helens Club President, Ray French, MBE, for the official launch at Parr Library last month.

Showing her support, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services and Libraries, Councillor Sue Murphy, said: “Rugby is a massive part of the borough’s heritage so I’m delighted that such an interesting exhibition like this will be on display in a number of our libraries for the public to view.

“The Birth of Club Rugby exhibition promises to be an intriguing experience for any rugby enthusiast and I would encourage anyone who may be interested to pay it a visit while it’s around.”

The Birth of Club Rugby exhibition will be on display in the following St Helens libraries on the dates listed to the right:

Oldest open rugby club tells its story through libraries exhibition

ABOVE: Ray French MBE delivers a talk at the exhibition launch.

ABOVE: The Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Joe Pearson (centre) pictured with LSH elder statesmen Ron Hall, John Tandy and John Robertson (left-right). St Helens Council’s Arts Development Manager, Cath Shea helped write the funding bid.

RAINFORD LIBRARYNOW UNTIL 16 MARCH

CHESTER LANE LIBRARY: 19 MARCH – 6 APRIL

NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS LIBRARY: 9 APRIL – 27 APRIL

ECCLESTON LIBRARY: 30 APRIL – 25 MAY

The Birth of Club Rugby exhibition:


TOP: The group of long-serving foster carers pictured with the Mayor and Mayoress and Coun-cillor Jeanette Banks (end left) in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Foster carers from across the borough have been rewarded for their years of service

in providing caring and loving homes to some of St Helens’ most vulnerable children and young people.

The group, who have a combined total of nearly 50 years’ experience as foster carers, were welcomed into St Helens Town Hall where they were presented with certificates from the Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor Joe Pearson and wife,

Sylvia Pearson.Praising the group for their

efforts, Councillor Pearson, said:“As a former social worker

myself, I know the importance of having good quality foster carers for the children we support.

“I invited a small group of our foster carers to the town hall as a gesture of our appreciation for the work that they do in offering a safe, caring environment for some of the most vulnerable children in our area.”

Also in attendance to show

her appreciation was St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Young People and Education, Councillor Jeanette Banks who added:

“We value greatly the sterling work that this group of incredible people do at a time when children and young people are in most need of love and attention.

“We have some very vulnerable children here in St Helens who require our support, and a good home with a caring foster family will go a long way in ensuring that

a child or young person achieves their potential. We need more foster carers to make sure that even more children and young people get this opportunity.

“If you think you can help by fostering a child or young person, I would urge you to contact our fostering team who will support you every step of the way.”

Think you’ve got what it takes to foster a child or young person? Visit youcanfoster.org/st-helens today to fill in your enquiry form.

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Long-serving foster carers rewarded by St Helens Council

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Young people showcase artistic talentThis year’s Youth Open Art

Competition is helping to celebrate the borough’s

150th anniversary by offering entrants the chance to win a one-off special award, “Out of the Earth Came Light.”

Submissions have now closed for 2018, but there’s still plenty of time to see all of this year’s artwork, including paintings, drawings, pottery, photography and more, at The World of Glass. The exhibition is open from Saturday 17 March until Friday 4 May, and if you visit within the first week, you can have your say by voting for the Audience Choice Award, sponsored by

St Augsutine of Canterbury Catholic High School.

The annual competition is open to anyone aged 16 or under, who lives or studies in St Helens. There are categories available for nursery-aged children right through to Year 11, as well as specific awards available for those who choose digital and graphic design pieces.

For more information on the Youth Open Art Competition or on the upcoming St Helens Open Art Competition, for those aged 16 or over, head to www.sthelens.gov.uk/openart or call The World of Glass on 01744 22766.

Oldest open rugby club tells its story through libraries exhibition


An outstanding start to the year at Cowley

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Once again, Cowley International College is proud to highlight another

outstanding start to the year at the school, filled with incredible academic and extra-curricular achievements. The previous academic year started with a whole community celebration as Ofsted judged Cowley to be a “good” school. The momentum for maintaining the highest standards has continued into the new year with sell-out performances of Sister Act the Musical and the college raising £2,347.97 for Children in Need amongst the success stories.

In addition to an enviable extra-curricular timetable, Cowley offers a wide range of opportunities within the classroom, including the introduction of Mandarin Chinese for Year 7 students; a new language programme supported by the UCL Institute of Education in partnership with the British

Council. Since September 2017, 41 students have been studying Mandarin for four hours per week, with the goal of achieving a qualification in the subject and visiting Cowley’s sister school in Ningbo, China. During December, Pan Lin from the UCL visited the College; she sat in on a lesson and was delighted with the progress students are making on the programme. By being taught Mandarin, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, Cowley students have the chance to become true global citizens.

This year has also seen the introduction of exciting, new courses for Sixth Form students: Animal Care, the Nursing Cadetship and Construction. The college’s Nursing Cadets, who are currently undertaking practical work experience placements in various NHS establishments, recently delivered presentations to the St Helens Clinical

Commissioning Group (CCG) about the benefits of using social media to provide health care information to younger members of the community. Their aim is to reduce the number of wasted and unnecessary appointments and to help raise awareness of the different NHS services available. During October, as part of this ongoing project for the CCG’s “TalkFest Winter”, the nurses took over the college timetable and created their own health day where Sixth Form students had access to information from visiting Healthy Living advisors, a variety of workshops and demonstrations from a RESUS team. Earlier in the year, the students visited Whiston Hospital’s interactive training suite where they practised CPR and first aid. They have also visited Eccleston Court Nursing Home over the course of a week to engage with dementia patients;

they provided hand massages, quizzes and helped the residents to compile their own scrapbooks.

Every year, the Cowley Institute of Performing Arts goes above, and beyond, to ensure that the shows they produce live up to the school’s incredibly high standards and this year was no exception. Each of the four sell-out performances of Sister Act the Musical captivated and enthralled the crowds. Mr Watkins, who led the show and who has previously been nominated for a Pride of St Helens Award for his work, said: “We were extremely excited to be one of the first schools in St Helens to stage this show and it was a huge success.”

The college’s senior rugby squad, the Cowley Saints, have had a fantastic season, winning 12 out of 12 of their rugby league games and scoring over 520 points in the process.

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An outstanding start to the year at Cowley

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They currently top the North West Division One Colleges’ League, representing Saints as their category 3 team - six players selected from Cowley Saints are to attend the England Colleges’ training camp with a view to representing their country. Other triumphs include the girls’ badminton team reaching the National Finals and the Year 7 boys’ athletics team representing St Helens at the Merseyside Schools Indoor Athletics Championships. The impressive performances of two of the college’s Sixth Form students during the Saints Academy tour

of Australia, has resulted in them receiving offers of part-time Academy contracts.

The year has started exceptionally and Cowley looks forward to continued successes as it heads into the exam season.

For more information on any of our courses, or to apply for Cowley International College Sixth Form, please contact the college directly on 01744 678030 or visit the website: www.cowley.st-helens.sch.uk


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St Helens Council’s Adult and Community Learning (ACL) team is celebrating

after receiving a ‘Good’ further education and skills inspection report by Ofsted.

The Park Road-based service - which offers residents a variety of different courses, including maths and English - welcomed education watchdog Ofsted in December, two years after their previous inspection which agreed several areas for improvement.

Key findings from the report found that learners ‘enjoy learning, become more self-confident, self-assured, and make good progress’, all while receiving a good level of support from their tutors.

In addition, the inspector was full of praise for managers and course

leaders who have ‘addressed most of the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection successfully’; have ‘high expectations of both staff and learners’ and are ‘clearly ambitious to provide an

outstanding service to learners.’ Passing on her congratulations,

Councillor Sue Murphy, St Helens Council’s portfolio holder and Chair of Governors for ACL said: “To go from ‘requires improvement’ to a good-rated service is a great achievement, and I would encourage anyone who may benefit from signing up for a course - many of which are free – to get in touch with the team who will help you find the right one and make you feel at ease.”

Earlier this year, the service held a successful ‘New Year, New Skills’ event in St Helens Town Hall earlier aimed at members of the public looking to improve their skills to go back to work, gain a qualification, volunteer or make a lifestyle change. This led to just under 90 new expressions of

interest.So what better time to do

something new and positive? Who knows where it might lead you!

The friendly team will help you to identify what you want to achieve and the steps you need to get there. Don’t let your lack of confidence or skills hold you back.

There is something to suit everyone: from Positive Thinking, Mindfulness and Stress Busting, to taster sessions and qualifications in Adult Social Care, Ready for Work courses, Working with Children, maths, English, Digital Skills - and much more.

Book on an Advice and Guidance session today or, for further course information, call 01744 677315 or email [email protected]

Praise for Adult and Community Learning service after ‘Good’ rated Ofsted report

ABOVE: Members of the Adult and Community Learning team pictured at the service’s recent ‘New Year, New Skills’ event in St Helens Town Hall.

“To go from ‘requires improvement’ to a good-rated service is a great achievement”


News

Get splashed with colour at hospice walk

Following a successful bid from YMCA St Helens - with support from St Helens Sports

Development - a total of £674,935 has been awarded to organise and deliver a youth sports engagement programme over the next three years.

Funded by the Big Lottery and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, The ‘Y Sports’ programme will engage with 50,000 young people aged 10 to 18 years and offer a minimum of 20 free weekly sports and physical activity sessions, holiday programmes and sessions for young people with additional needs.

There will also be an opportunity to access projects organised by the Saints Community Foundation, and as the programme develops, there will be six apprenticeship opportunities in years two and three.

At the official launch at Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium last month, stakeholders from across St Helens were given the opportunity to hear about the development of Y Sports, while hundreds of young people met members of the Saints first team, and enjoyed a free day of fantastic sports with dedicated coach

“Sport and exercise is not only proven to do wonders for our health - both physically and mentally - but can also instill

discipline into our lifestyle, “said St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services and Libraries, Councillor Sue Murphy.

“I’m delighted that such a huge amount of funding has been secured to support this programme which is a fantastic chance for so many of the borough’s young people to engage in these free services and participate in sports activities in a safe environment.”

For more information and updates on the Youth Sports Engagement Programme, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/culture-sport-leisure/sports-development/ or ‘like’ and ‘follow’ YMCA St Helens and St Helens Sports Development on social media.Facebook: Youth Sports STH / YMCA Youth SportsTwitter: @YouthSportsSTH / @YMCA_YSP

Grant secures future of youth sports engagement in St Helens

ABOVE: Youngster breaks through during a rugby session with Saints stars at the launch of the ‘Y Sports’ programme.

Registration is now open for this year’s Willowbrook Hospice Moonlight Colour Walk.

The walk, which is on Saturday 9 June, is the charity’s most colourful fundraising event with people of all ages and abilities encouraged to join in the fun as they take on either a 6.5k or 10k route with the option of being showered by rainbow coloured powder paint.

Entry for children under 16 is £5 and £15 for adults.

All walkers will receive a T shirt, a medal and a well-earned bacon butty (or alternative) at the end of walk.

To register, either go online at willowbrookhospice.charitycheckout.co.uk/MLW, ring Willowbrook’s Fundraising team on 01744 453798 or pop into The Living Well on Borough Road, St Helens

Leaflet launched to help make arranging a funeral that little bit easierSt Helens Council’s

Bereavement Services team has been working in

partnership Citizens Advice St Helens to produce a one stop leaflet for bereaved families to help guide them through the process of arranging a funeral for a loved one. The ‘Arranging a Funeral?’ leaflet aims to provide help and advice - from registering a death to

arranging a funeral in the United Kingdom - and lists useful contact details where residents can get more information to support them with costs, choosing a funeral director – and even advice on arranging a funeral themselves.

The leaflet is available to collect for free from the cemetery and crematorium office at St Helens Crematorium in Rainford Road

- as well as public libraries and buildings within the borough.

A PDF version is also available to download by searching ‘Arranging a Funeral St Helens Council’ into your internet browser.

For more help and advice, contact a member of the Bereavement Services team on 01744 677406/7.

Fun enough to make a difference?National children’s charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) - which provides support and legal representation to children and vulnerable adults - is looking for new volunteers to join their Independent Visitor Scheme in St Helens.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who is matched with a looked after child or young person. They meet once a month and go out on activities such as bowling, shopping, trips to the theatre, and fun days out.

Full training and support is given as well as reimbursement of activity and travel expenses.

No specific experience is needed; children and young people only request that volunteers are fun, willing to try new things, enjoy the visits and are good listeners.

Got what it takes to get involved with this personally rewarding role? Contact Di Watmough by emailing [email protected] or call/text on 07899 961539.

For more information on NYAS, check out their website www.nyas.net/services/independent-visitors

ABOVE: Bereavement Services Manager, Sonia Neighbour (right) with Kath Inkpen and Michael Egan from Citizens Advice St Helens.


MarchTHE ELO EXPERIENCEFriday 16 March - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

SAINTS VS LEEDS RHINOSFriday 16 March - 7:45pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

SOW, GROW AND EAT READ & RHYME SESSIONWednesday 21 March - 10:30amThatto Health Library

HONEYROSE FOUNDATION TEA DANCEFriday 23 March - 1pm-4pm£4 entrance Wishes Function Room

CINDERELLASaturday 24 March - Sunday 15 AprilSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

THE JONI MITCHELL SONG BOOKSaturday 24 March - 7:30pmThe Citadelwww.citadel.org.uk

EASTER CRAFT AND EGG HUNT SESSIONMonday 26 March - 3:30pm-4:30pmGarswood Library

EASTER CRAFT AND EGG HUNT SESSIONMonday 26 March - 3:30pm-4:30pmHaydock Library

FOUR-MILE HEALTH WALK WITH THE RANGERSTuesday 27 March - 1:30pmBankes Park, BillingeMeet at Bankes Park car park, Main Street, WN5 7HRFor more information, call 01744 677772.

ADULT CRAFTSThursday 29 March - 10:30am-12pmBillinge Library

SAINTS VS WIGAN WARRIORSFriday 30 March Totally Wicked Stadium www.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

THE SMARKETS EASTER FAMILY DAY Saturday 31 March - 12pmHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk


Spring2018

AprilSPRING CRAFTS Wednesday 4 April - 2:30pm-3:30pmBillinge Library

EASTER CRAFTSThursday 5 April - 3pm-4pmEccleston Library

SHOWING OF ‘THE PARTY’Friday 6 April - 7pmLucem House Community Cinema+www.lucemhouse.co.uk

SAINTS VS HULL FCFriday 6 April - 7:45pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

EASTER CRAFTSMonday 9 April - 2pm-3pmRainford Library

DISNEY CRAFTSWednesday 11 April - 2:30pm-3:30pmBillinge Library

SAINTS VS HUDDERSFIELD GIANTSFriday 20 April - 8pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

HELLO AGAIN… THE STORY OF NEIL DIAMONDFriday 20 April - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

THE DOORS ALIVE (THE DOORS TRIBUTE BAND)Saturday 21 April - 7:30pmThe Citadelwww.citadel.org.uk

AMERICAN WRESTING SHOWSaturday 21 April - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

DEREK ACORAH 2018Wednesday 25 April - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

188BET SUMMER SATURDAY SEASON OPENERSaturday 28 April - 11:30amHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

CAR BOOT SALE AT WILLOWBROOKSaturday 28 AprilThe Living Well, Borough Road£10 a pitchRing 01744 453798 or call into The Living Well

DEFINITELY OASIS (OASIS TRIBUTE BAND)Friday 27 April - 7:30pmThe Citadelwww.citadel.org.uk

THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCESaturday 28 April - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

THE FUREYS 2018Sunday 29 April - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

MaySAINTS VS CATALAN DRAGONSThursday 3 May - 7:45pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

SHOWING OF ‘HOTEL SALVATION’Friday 4 May - 7:30pmLucem House Community Cinema Plus+www.lucemhouse.co.uk

ED BYRNE: SPOILER ALERT 2018Wednesday 9 May - 8pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

DALISO CHAPONDA Friday 11 May – 8pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

PERTEMPS SWINTON HURDLE DAYSaturday 12 May - 11:55amHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

CHAMPIONS OF ROCK 2018: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO QUEENThursday 17 May - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

THE PRINCE EXPERIENCE Friday 18 May - 7:30pmThe Citadelwww.citadel.org.uk

What’s on


For more events and details, and regular updates, like our facebook.com/whatsoninsthelens page, and follow us on Twitter @whatsonsthelens

SINFONIETTA MUSICAL CELEBRATIONSSaturday 24 MarchSt Helens Town HallTAKE OVER FESTIVAL, EPISODE ONESunday 1 April - Thursday 31 MayAcross the boroughBEATING THE BOUNDSSunday 13 MayHaydock Park RacecourseST HELENS DAYSaturday 19 MayAcross the town centre

PENTECOSTSunday 20 MayChurch SquareWESTFIELD STREET MUSIC FESTIVALSunday 3 JuneWestfield StreetARMED FORCES DAY – WE STAND TOGETHERSaturday 23 JuneVictoria ParkINTERNATIONAL FOOD & DRINK FESTIVALFriday 6 - Saturday 7 JulyVictoria Square

For more information and updates on St Helens 150 events, please visit www.sthelens150.co.uk

SING-A-LONG BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Saturday 19 May - 2pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

SAINTS VS WIDNES VIKINGSSaturday 19 May - 3pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

FAMILY DAY WITH THE FORCES, FT ARMSTRONG GROUP TEMPLE STAKESSaturday 26 May - 12:15pmHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

HALF-TERM CRAFT SESSIONTuesday 29 May - 2:30pm-3:30pmThatto Health Library

JuneSHOWING OF ‘LAND OF MINE’Friday 1 June - 7:30pmLucem House Community Cinema Plus+www.lucemhouse.co.uk

SAINTS VS HULL KRFriday 8 June - 8pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

BETWAY SPARKING SATURDAYSaturday 9 June - 11:40pmHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

CILLA & THE SHADES OF THE 60sThursday 14 June - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

AN AUDIENCE WITH JOHN BARNES, JAN MOLBY AND NEIL RUDDOCKFriday 15 JuneSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

WILLOWBROOK AFTERNOON TEA PARTY Wednesday 20 June - 1pm-3pmLiving Well Centre, Borough RoadTickets £7.50, book early to avoid disappointment.Ring 01744 453798 or call into The Living Well Centre

JANE MCDONALD: 20th ANNIVERSARY TOURFriday 22 June - 7:30pmSt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

SAINTS VS WAKEFIELD TRINITYFriday 29 June - 8pmTotally Wicked Stadiumwww.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

DIRE STRAIGHTS UK: (DIRE STRAIGHTS TRIBUTE BAND) Saturday 30 June - 7:30pmThe Citadel www.citadel.org.uk

JulyGIOVANNI PERNICE – BORN TO WINSunday 1 JulySt Helens Theatre Royalwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

SAINTS VS WIDNES VIKINGSFriday 6 July - 8:00pmTotally Wicked Stadiumhttps://www.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

BET 365 OLD NEWTON CUPSaturday 7 July - 12:05pmHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

CLONEFESTSaturday 21 July - 2pm-11pmSherdley Parkwww.clonefest.co.uk

AN EVENING AT THE RACES WITH PLAN BSaturday 21 July - 15:55pmHaydock Park Racecoursehaydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk

SAINTS VS WARRINGTON WOLVESThursday 26 July - 7:45pmTotally Wicked Stadiumhttps://www.saintsrlfc.com/matches/first-team/

ST HELENS 1502018 promises to be a very special year because 150 years ago, Queen Victoria granted the charter that incorporated the municipal borough of St Helens.To commemorate this, a variety of events and activities will take place across the borough.


Spring2018


News

Drink less, enjoy more

S t Helens Council is supporting a regional awareness campaign

about the alcohol laws some people forget.

DrinkLessEnjoyMore reminds people that it is illegal to serve someone who is drunk and it is illegal to buy a drink for someone who is drunk.

What does this mean for

you? If you are drunk, you could be refused service at a bar or club, and if you buy a drink for someone who is drunk you personally could be fined £1,000.

Merseyside Police are actively enforcing these laws across the region and in St Helens, where bar staff have been engaged in the awareness campaign.

Reduce the chances of your night getting cut short. For more information visit www.drinklessenjoymore.co.uk

!

Health watchdog makes local voices heard

C ould you help to make a real difference to health and social care in your

community? Healthwatch is the local watchdog that gives you a voice about the services you use.

Healthwatch gathers views and experiences of local people and passes them on, anonymously, to the people who design and commission services in St Helens – helping to make improvements in health and social care services.

Healthwatch is always looking for new people to come on board and share their views. It’s free and anyone can join. Having more people involved makes Healthwatch stronger and more diverse, which in turn helps to create better services.

Becoming a member is easy – fill in the form and you’ll receive monthly mailings,

keeping you informed of what’s happening and how you can help.

Or you can become more involved as a Healthwatch Volunteer, giving as much or as little time as you like, attending events, coffee mornings and completing questionnaires. Maybe you’d like to join the Enter and View Team, directly assessing local services?

Or maybe you’d like to apply to be a Healthwatch Representative and attend meetings on our behalf to make sure the voices of local people are heard.

Learn more about what Healthwatch does and how you can become involved by emailing Gail Hughes at [email protected] or telephone 0300 111 0007.

A service of reflection will be held at Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium on Wednesday 28 March for anyone affected by suicide.

The event runs from 7:30pm-9pm and is being hosted by Listening Ear’s AMPARO service, with support from St Helens Council; Survivors of

Bereavement by Suicide; sports mental health charity, State of Mind; and St Helens College.

If you would like to attend the memorial service, please book your place in advance by visiting www.listening-ear.co.uk/Event/st-helens-memorial-service

Memorial service for those affected by suicide

Free digital lifestyle check kiosk launched in town centreY ou can now undergo

a free lifestyle check without the need of

booking an appointment after the installation of a digital health kiosk in St Helens town centre.

Located in the Smokefree St Helens Hub in the Hardshaw Shopping Centre, the ‘Wellpoint’ health kiosk asks users several questions about their lifestyle habits before allowing them to find out their main vitals such as weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, blood pressure and heart rate, with results produced instantly.

At the end of the assessment, Wellpoint will indicate how likely the user is

to develop heart disease in the next 10 years and offers tips and advice on how health and wellbeing can be improved.

Results are recorded into a personal profile which can be accessed online or on a smartphone each time the health kiosk is visited, and users can record and track their results.

Wellpoint is available to use 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am – 2pm on Saturdays.

If you’re aged between 40-74 with no pre-existing conditions, you may be eligible for a free full NHS Health Check. Contact your General Practice or the Healthy Living Team on 0300 300 0103 to find out more.

ABOVE: Cllr Gill Neal tries out the Wellpoint kiosk.


Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour– What do YOU think?

q White British

q White Irish

q Other White Background

q Indian

q Chinese

q Pakistani

q Bangladeshi

q Other Asian Background

q Caribbean

q African

q Other Black Background

q White & Black Caribbean

q White & Black African

q White & Asian

q Other Mixed Background

q Other Ethnic Group

q Not Stated

Do you consider yourself disabled? q Yes q NoAbout You - Your Gender: q Female q Male

Your Age: q 16-24 q 25-34 q 35-44 q 45-54 q 55-64 q 65-74 q 75+

Survey

St.Helens Council, Merseyside Police and other local agencies which form the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) want to know what you think about crime andanti-social behaviour where you live. Simply fill in this quick survey and send it back to us freepost at the following address.Safer Communities,St.Helens Council,Freepost, NAT 22039,Atlas House,St.Helens WA10 1LDYour views are important to us, and will be used to determine policies and actions to help fight crime and keep St.Helens a safe place to live, work and visit for everyone!

Your Details ....................................................................

Name: ..............................................................................

Address: ..........................................................................

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Postcode: ........................................................................

Ethnicity, please select one:

1. How important do you think it is for us to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour where you live? (Please tick one)

2. How well do you think St.Helens Council and its partners are doing in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood? (Please tick one)

3. How well-informed do you feel about the work that St.Helens Council and its partners are doing to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour where you live? (Please tick one)

4. How safe do you feel in the areawhere you live? (Please tick one)

Very important q Fairly important qFairly unimportant qVery unimportant qNeither important nor qunimportant

Very well qFairly well qVery poorly qNeither well nor poorly q

Very well-informed qFairly well-informed qFairly poorly informed qVery poorly informed qNeither well nor qpoorly informed

Very safe qFairly safe q Fairly unsafe q Very unsafe qNeither safe nor unsafe q

Have your say (additional comments).....................................................................................

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SurveyHow much of a problem are the following types of antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood? (Please tick one box for each type)

Nuisance neighbours or loud parties ........................................................ q q q q qTeenagers hanging around on the streets ............................................... q q q q qVandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage .................................... q q q q qPeople using or dealing drugs ................................................................... q q q q qPeople being drunk or rowdy in public places ........................................ q q q q qRubbish and litter lying around .................................................................. q q q q qAbandoned or burnt out cars ..................................................................... q q q q qStreet prostitution .......................................................................................... q q q q qBegging/rough sleeping .............................................................................. q q q q qNuisance vehicles in public spaces (off-road motor bikes etc.) .......... q q q q qDog Fouling .................................................................................................... q q q q qPeople being abused because of their skin colour ................................ q q q q qPeople being abused because of their sexuality .................................... q q q q qPeople being abused because of their disability .................................... q q q q qPeople being abused because of their age ............................................. q q q q q

5.

Very

big

Fairl

y big

Not ve

ry b

ig

Not a

t all

Don’t

know

We take all crime and disorder issues seriously, but we would like to know what you think we should be prioritising? (Please tick three in total)

Anti-Social Behaviour qBusiness Crime qChild Exploitation qDomestic Burglary qDomestic Violence & Abuse q

Drugs qHate Crime qShop Lifting qVehicle Crime q Violent Crime q

6.

7. St.Helens Council should useCCTV cameras to openly monitor activity in public places for the purpose of reducing, deterring and detecting crime.

Clear visible CCTV monitoringin public places reduces crime.

Clear visible CCTV in publicplaces makes me feel safer.

Clear visible CCTV in public places does not impact upon my right to privacy.

Strongly Agree qAgree qNeither Agree or Disagree qDisagree qStrongly Disagree qDon’t Know q




8.

9.

Information provided on this form will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will be treated as confidential and used only for the reduction of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. By completing and submitting this form you are consenting to your details being used to let you know about future community safety surveys or news, unless you have indicated an objection by ticking the box here.

q

CCTVThe Council’s CCTV service makes an important contribution towards delivering Community Safety Partnerships’ Strategy by helping the Council and Police to prevent and tackle priority issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence and burglary and by making a significant impact on residents’ perceptions of safety.

Public responses helps to ensure that we continue to operate an effective CCTV system whilst taking into account the right of privacy of our residents. There are more than 100 CCTV cameras across St.Helens which are constantly monitored 24 hours a day. Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following:

10.


St.Helens Town Hall could be the perfect place to host your big day.

The stunning Victorian building hosts a multitude of beautiful features that will make your special day perfect.

Our high standard catering and bar team provide a range of delicious food and drink menus to suit all tastes and budgets.

Get in touch to discuss your requirements.

For more information or to book a viewing, call 01744 676789 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/marriage

Thinking of getting

or forming a

MarriedCivil Partnership?

32 St Helens First | Spring 2017 | www.sthelens.gov.uk

Our A Level Academy at St Helens College encourages individuality, independent thinking and maturity and is a place where our students thrive and master their chosen subjects. It is an aspirational environment, complemented by exceptional tutors providing the very best support.

Department for Education A level performance tables recognise our A Level Academy as the best General Further Education College in Merseyside for the progress that students make whilst studying A levels with us.

Choose three A levels from an impressive range of subjects or one of several, unique and exclusive Professional Skills Programmes, which combine academic knowledge with professional skills and valuable work experience.

Apply now to secure your place for this September!

St Helens CollegeA Level Academy

Small class sizes

Tailored and focused support

Dedicated study environment

Free bus travel for all students

Shannon Heatonfrom Rainford High

A* - PsychologyA* - SociologyB - Law

www.sthelens.ac.uk/apply

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