Lancashire local issue 10

20p Where Sold

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Issue. 10

Inside This Issue: Out and About • Weddings • Home and Gardens • Care • Classified • Sports

Egg-citing cycling

activities this Easter

Saddle up and get down to Taylor Park over the Easter holidays for an egg-citing range of cycling activities brought to you by St Helens Council.

Organised by St Helens Council’s Cycling team, with Road Safety, Healthy Living and Ranger staff, along with national transport

charity, Sustrans, in attendance – the free event on Thursday 14 April allows cyclists young and old the opportunity to have their bike checked by a trained bike mechanic from 12:00pm -12:45pm before embarking on a guided Easter Egg Hunt Cycle around the park at 13:00pm.

Participants are then invited to put the pedal to the metal by taking part in a smoothie bike challenge to pedal their way to a refreshing, free smoothie made from a variety of fruit – before the day comes to an end with a cycle powered disco.

Helmets, hi vis jackets and bicycles for adults who wish to join in will

all be provided, however children will need to bring their own bikes and helmets.

Those interested in attending are asked to meet at the Ranger station at 11:30am for a 12:00pm start with the event scheduled to finish at approximately 15:30pm.

Please bring along a packed lunch. Food and refreshments can also be purchased from the Boathouse café.

Award Hat-Trick for Bury PC

One of Greater Manchester Police’s top officers has scooped three awards for his bravery, quick thinking and determination.

PC Mark Pickering, 29, was rewarded for being the best officer in Bury, and with his partner PC Graham Black received two awards including a Chief Constable’s Commendation for tackling an offender armed with a knife who was threatening his mother.

Mark has already shown he had a ‘nose for finding criminals’ in the Sky One documentary The Force: Manchester when he was

seen sniffing out drugs that had been thrown by an offender he had chased.

“There is no other job like it, and I have wanted to be a police officer since the age of about four or five,” said Mark from Radcliffe.

“I remember the community officer used to visit and the police came to school which I think sparked my interest.

“I am really pleased to have received the awards both for me and Graham.

I do try to be very proactive and I suppose I am focused which means I do find a lot of the crime and criminals cross my path.”

He joined GMP in 2008 after spending a short time in the Ministry of Defence Police and after completing probationary training and time on response policing spent time in plain clothes on the Offender Management Unit before moving to deal with emergency calls for the past five years.

Mark likes to train in the gym before starting his shift and when he arrives at work makes sure he has the details of vehicles used in crime or any updates so he is ready for action.

Mark received his commendation from Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.

Page 2. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

Local poet

launches new

book at

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Queen’s Park pupils keen on

green during Waste Week

St Helens

Central Library

As part of the new Cultural Hubs – Arts in Libraries programme, local poet, Lynn Gerrard, returned to St Helens Central Library on World Book Day to launch her new book ‘Musings and Mischief’.

Packed with her trademark mixture of black and comedic poems and stories, the evening was a great success, as Lynn, AKA, The Grumbling Gargoyle, treated fans of poetry and dark humour to readings from her new book which was available to buy on the evening and signed by Lynn.

Sue Williamson, head of library services for St Helens Council said: “It was a pleasure to welcome such a talented poet like Lynn back to Central Library on World Book Day, which was a great occasion for not only celebrating our love for literature, but also recognising the local talent we have here in St Helens.”

Cultural Hubs is an Arts Council England funded programme of work which allows us to enliven St Helens’ network of 13 Libraries with performances, plays, gigs, workshops, courses, events and exhibitions.

This fifth programme sees the team again working with local people to choose what they want to see in the borough’s libraries as well as focussing on working with local artists to exhibit their work.

In a bid to become a more sustainable and environmental friendly school, pupils at Queen’s Park Primary School got stuck into a week’s worth of challenges to help reduce school waste.

As part of ‘Waste Week’ – an annual national campaign run by EDF Energy's schools programme, the Pod - pupils on the school’s Eco Committee took it up upon themselves

to decide on behalf of the school that more needs to be done on tackling waste and protecting biodiversity.

As a result, the whole school got the bin bags and litter pickers out to take part in an organised litter pick after noticing an increase in the amount of litter on the school grounds.

To further highlight the problem of littering to the children, each class took part in Waste Week related

lessons with their class teacher and looked at waste and recycling at home through home work sheets and during class discussions.

PE teacher Matt Ward, who also runs the school’s Eco Club said: “Queens Park has recently started on its journey to becoming an Eco School and has made significant changes to the recycling of paper waste, thanks to the newly formed Eco Committee.

“By taking part in Waste Week, it has allowed the pupils of Queen’s Park to roll their sleeves up and get involved in helping reduce waste in and around their school, while also having fun.”

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning Councillor Jeanette Banks said: “By teaching our children the importance of sustainability and environmental awareness, we’re helping them to play an integral role in making our schools and communities better places – not just now but for generations to come.”

Front line workers to come together

to focus on supporting those who

suffer through self-neglect

An event is being held to help front-line services to recognise and help people who self-neglect.

The Self-Neglect workshop is being held by Warrington Safeguarding Adult Board and is aimed at those working in front-line services such as GPs, district nurses, police, social workers, housing officers and care service providers .

The workshop is being held on Thursday, 31 March, from 9.30am – 12.30pm, at the Gateway. There will be speakers and discussions.

As well as raising awareness the workshop aims to get feedback from practitioners as to what guidance and support tools they need and what the board needs to do next to develop further practice guidance.

The workshop will help understanding around what agencies individual responsibilities are, to support those that selfneglect to make positive changes to

reduce risk and harm. It will also clarify when such people need to be referred into the Warrington Safeguarding Team.

Cllr Pat Wright, executive board member for statutory health and adult social care, said: “We want people to become aware of self-neglect and where they can go to find more information.

“They need to be able to understand roles and responsibilities of staff across agencies in responding to people who self-neglect and this workshop will act as a stepping stone in achieving this.”

“Myself and fellow councillors have cases raised in our surgeries where residents are worried about a friend or neighbour not taking care of themselves but feel unable or are unsure about how best to help them.

“It is difficult because often people are torn between respecting a persons privacy and right to live how they want to but also desperately wanting to help them. The workshop will help provide guidance on the steps to take to help.”

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 3.

Young people perform at

Town Hall Spring Concerts

Aspiring young musicians, singers and their teachers gathered at the Town Hall to display their harmonious talents for the annual Spring Concerts, presented by the St Helens Music Education Hub. This year’s well-attended concerts, organised by St Helens Council’s Music Service, brought together over 400 children from schools and music groups across the borough, who took part in various ensembles, choirs and orchestras over four nights. For many, this was their first time performing with a group, and their first time in the Town Hall, but nerves didn’t hold the young performers back.

Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillors Steve and Lynn Glover were present for the woodwind and brass evening, but there were also evenings for string and percussion orchestras and vocal groups. The Mayor said: “It’s wonderful to see young musical talent encouraged by schools and the council, and showcased for all to enjoy. Through these events, we can cultivate a varied and vibrant culture for the borough and help to retain an interest and enthusiasm for music and singing in local children and young people.”

Having enjoyed the success of the spring event, the Music Service and the young participants’ work will begin on the Summer Concerts, which are scheduled for 4-8 July 2016 at the Town Hall.

BRIGHT NEW VISION FOR HARRIS MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

Preston’s Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is looking to the future with a bright, new vision for this much loved icon.

Since opening its doors in 1893, the Harris has been the centre of arts, culture and learning for generations of Prestonians and Lancastrians.

Inscribed at the very top of the glorious, Grade I listed building are the words “the mental riches you may here acquire, abide with you always.” A legacy which today’s bosses at the Harris look to build on. Launching public consultation on the new vision for the Harris, Jon Finch, Project Leader for the ReImagining the Harris Project, said: “We are creating a new, ambitious future for the Harris. A future with the Harris at the centre of a creative Preston, and at the heart of

a thriving Lancashire. “We’re talking about broadening our appeal, yet also ensuring we continue to provide a vibrant offer and visitor experience.

It’s about seeking new investment and new opportunities to work more closely with communities and our burgeoning creative arts sector. It’s about being a supporter of future city centre re-development and a hub for cultural tourism and information.

“The vision is as ambitious as the challenges are real. Across Preston and Lancashire, council funding is being cut and, quite rightly, the Harris is not immune. So we have to be ambitious and look for new ways of funding and generating income – to make the Harris more sustainable.

This will help stimulate new, multimillion pound external investment into the Harris to make it even more

relevant in the 21st Century. “That’s why we need your views. It’s your Harris - whether you use the Museum, Art Gallery, Library or all parts of the building. It’s a hugely loved Preston and Lancashire institution. Whatever we do needs to be done with great care, affection and attention to detail. We’d love to hear from you about how you would like to see the Harris move forward into the future.”

Welcoming consultation on the new vision for the Harris, Councillor Peter Rankin, Leader of Preston Council, said: “This is an important moment for the Harris, an important moment for Preston and for Lancashire too.

Peoples’ views are crucial in helping to shape the future that we all want for the Harris. There has been a huge amount of work done to get us to this point. Yet, in many ways the

hard work starts now and the new vision is the first step on the way to a new future for the Harris.” County Councillor Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire County Council, added:“The Harris is a cultural icon for the whole of Lancashire. The Harris is also a beacon of arts and learning with over 500,000 visitors a year. It is a wonderful legacy for Preston and we have a duty to ensure the Harris legacy lives on for many, many generations to come. This new vision is crucial to ensuring multimillion pounds of external investment into the Harris that not only secures its future but enables the true potential of the Harris to be realised. The Harris is very special and has a special place in people’s hearts. I’m sure many people will be excited by the vision and keen to have their say too.”

Page 4. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

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Illicit tobacco trade targeted in trading standards operation

llegal tobacco and cigarettes have been seized from local shops by Bury’s trading standards officers.

A specialist tobacco detection dog, supplied by Wagtail UK, sniffed out concealed stashes of tobacco while visiting six premises in Radcliffe and Bury.

Working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and Immigration Enforcement, officers confiscated 4.45kg of tobacco and 3,768 illegal cigarettes worth more

than £3,000.Counterfeit postage stamps and drugs were also seized during the operation, and Immigration are now seeking to remove a Pakistani man for over-staying his leave in the UK, which could result in a £20,000 fine for the shop in which he was found.

The raids were part of the national Operation Henry 2, co-ordinated by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and supported by the Department of Health, to tackle illicit tobacco supplies in nine regions of

England. Angela Lomax from Bury Council’s trading standards team said: “We are working hard to keep these illegal products off the streets and are cracking down on the businesses and individuals that flout the law.

"Detection dogs can find tobacco and cigarettes in the most unlikely places and in addition to having their stock confiscated offenders could face unlimited fines and up to ten years in prison.” Leon Livermore, CTSI chief executive, said: "The illegal tobacco trade costs taxpayers about £2 billion

Becoming a Samaritan

Initial Training

I completed my training at Blackburn Samaritans starting in April 2015. Our initial ‘class’ was of 14 prospective volunteers. We were an extremely mixed bunch – women outnumbered men, our ages ranged from 19 to mid 60s.

There was also a wide spectrum of backgrounds including a few students, housewives, a warehouse worker, retired teacher.

Our ‘training team’ was made up of 3 experienced Samaritans who all do regular duties in the branch, they sometimes drafted in other volunteers to help. They were all without fail welcoming and reassuring. Given the very varied educational backgrounds of

the class I was extremely impressed by the quality of the training they gave us. We learnt about the aims of Samaritans- in summary to reduce deaths by suicide- and how trained volunteers can help callers. Focus was on listening skills, empathy and on dealing with callers in a nonjudgemental way.

There was a lot to cover- and some of the subject matter is of course sensitive and potentially upsetting, but the training team was always there to support.

Initially there were a series of six sessions of 2-3 hours held in the evenings at our branch after which we were introduced to the ‘duty room’.

The duty room is where experienced

Samaritans answer the phones to callers. After we completed our first set of training modules we were each allocated an experienced Samaritan as a mentor and started to our mentor on the phone with live callers.

Once I had completed a series of listening to my mentor taking live calls I then had to complete further training sessions. To be continued…..

If you are interested in becoming a Samaritans volunteer you can find out more by contacting Blackburn Samaritans on 01254 682266 or the national recruitment line on 03705 627282 or going online at www.samaritans.org/volunteer-us

per year in lost revenue and is known to fund organised crime networks and criminal gang activity.

“Together we are winning the battle and figures show that the market share of illicit cigarettes has dropped from 21 per cent to 9 per cent in the last decade.

"Intelligence-led investigations like Operation Henry 2 keep illegal cigarettes and tobacco off the market and away from children and young people." Operation Henry was launched last year and led to the seizure of more than 2.5 million cigarettes worth £614,488 with concealed tobacco products found in walls, under floorboards and inside furniture.

National Lottery support

to preserve historic images

St. Helens Council Library Service has been awarded a £69,700 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, ‘St Helens Through The Lens: The Jordan and Metcalfe Photography Collection’.

The project will engage St Helens residents in uncovering the local heritage contained in a collection of 3000 glass negatives, The Jordan and Metcalfe Photography Collection, rescued from a building which had previously been a photography studio. They include a variety of photos including weddings, portraits, sporting occasions, amateur dramatics and community celebrations dating between 1890 and 1970.

The discovery of the photographs is fascinating in itself.

Staff from St. Helens Local History and Archives Library rescued 4,000 glass negatives from the sealed-up backroom of a pet shop at 16 George Street, St Helens, in October 1984.

They discovered that while 1000 of the negatives were broken, 3000 remained intact.

Further research revealed that the shop had previously been a commercial photography studio owned by a number of professional photographers, from Fred Ash in 1885 to Geoff Williams in 1970, with various members of the Metcalfe family running the studio from 1847 – 1948.

It is important that this heritage is preserved by digitising the images, as in time the images on the glass negatives will deteriorate and the photographs will be lost forever. Now, thanks to a grant from HLF, the Jordan and Metcalfe Photography Collection will at last be preserved and made accessible to the public.

Once all the images have been digitised, an

Artist in Residence will be the driving force in engaging the community in this journey, bringing the project to life whilst revealing hidden stories of St Helens.

Creative writing and reminiscence workshops for elderly residents, primary school activity and volunteering opportunities will all form part of the project.

The Library Service also calls for local help in identifying the St Helens people and places documented in this amazing collection of photographs.

Commenting on the award, Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council

Cabinet Member, Public Health and Wellbeing said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and really look forward to our residents helping us to identify the people and places in these previously unseen images from St Helens recent history.”

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this fascinating project will preserve the history of St Helens and provide digital access to this remarkable collection of photos and memories for future generations.”

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Preston Bedrooms Opened in 2014, Prestons’ store specialises in only the best bedroom furniture, beds and Kitchens. With so much choice available in this market, it can sometimes be overwhelming if not confusing for the buyer. Prestons have realised that this is an area where they can help. Using their extensive experience gained from years in both manufacturing and retailing, they offer a carefully chosen handpicked range noted for its’ quality and value.

Add to this a beautiful showroom and friendly personal service, Prestons feel they have put together the perfect recipe for the discerning buyer.

Top German brands, Innovative new ideas and Traditional British Made quality make up the range on offer.

Nolte, Nobilia, Mammoth, Burgess,

and Neff are just some of the leading names available at the right price.

Ideally positioned in the North West 5mins off Junction 31a with ample parking makes this site a breeze to get to without the usual parking struggles.

Following our successful Remodelling and Sale we are extending our sale for 2 more weeks, it will now end Saturday 9th of April, don’t miss your chance to grab a bargain!!

A STORMING OFFER! Battered by the weather over the last few months? Now could be the time to update your home with PRESTONS EARLY DOORS SPRING SALE! With a helpful 30% off RRP for all bedrooms and beds for a limited period. They will also deliver, install and plan for FREE. They are offering an amazing 25% off Kitchens and appliances with Free delivery and planning service.

Come and see the new 2016 range today and benefit from Real Discounts.

They are open Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm, they will even open outside these times by appointment including Sundays.

If you are travelling from the North of Preston leave the M6 at junction 32 for Preston, come down the slip road and keep to your left and following the Sign for Longridge, you then approach a roundabout with The Phantom Winger facing you, turn right taking the third exit, follow along Eastway turning left at the 4th roundabout again follow for Longridge. You are now travelling along Anderton Way at the 3rd roundabout turn right taking the 3rd exit. You will see a VW Van dealer ship on your right hand side turn into that road and follow round into Business Park. Address: Prestons, Unit 4 Wyder Court, Millenium City Park, off Bluebell Way, Preston, Lancs., PR2 5BW Contact Number: 01772 701993

Exciting times continue at

Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s Auctioneers

Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s Auctioneers in Penrith, Cumbria are a regional hub for auction sales of all manner of items – from general house clearance right through to Fine Art and Antiques.

PFK sell over 20,000 lots a year through a series of 26 auctions from their purpose built 1500 square metre warehouse saleroom close to Junction 40 M6. Their convenient access is a major asset, with clients travelling far to attend the auctions which can be viewed on Saturday mornings prior to the sales.

In addition, every lot is photographed and available to buy live online at www.ukauctioneers.com, reaching a worldwide audience.

Currently, PFK are working towards their April 13 Major Fine Art and Antiques auction and are inviting entries of valuable, interesting and unusual items of all types – from fine jewellery right through to furniture.

Free valuations are available throughout Lancashire and beyond.

In addition to the April Fine Art and Antiques auction, PFK are continually accepting entries for their popular

Fortnightly General auction. Items in this sale include interior design pieces, modern, vintage and retro furnishings and general household and good quality electrical items – a real treasure trove!

For further information, contact Saleroom Manager Michael Roberts directly on 01768 890781.

Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 5.

Page 6. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

Police recovered

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Award for taxi driver who

Land Rover stolen in Wigan helped vulnerable pensioner

Police recovered Land Rover stolen from a family in Wigan, hours before they emigrated to Barbados.

At 9.30am on Monday 14 March 2016, a family were loading their Land Rover Freelander outside their home on Bolton Road, Aspull, before they set off to Manchester Airport, as they are emigrating to Barbados.

As the woman went back inside the house, she left the keys in the Land Rover. A car pulled up alongside it, someone jumped out and jumped into the Land Rover and drove it away. Inside the Land Rover was

the family’s luggage and also their passports. Police were alerted and managed to trace the stolen vehicle and the luggage in Strangeways in Manchester. They discovered the Land Rover on Park Street, but it had been emptied of all the family’s luggage. Enquiries led officers round the corner to Carnarvon Street where they found a woman in a blue car, and all of the family’s possessions.

Officers drove the Land Rover to Manchester Airport where they reunited the family with it and all their possessions. One woman, aged

36, was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle and remains in police custody for questioning.

Police Sergeant Andrew Torkington of Greater Manchester Police’s Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit said: “I am pleased to say that we have been able to reunite the family with their Land Rover and all their possessions, so they can continue with their new life in Barbados. “This is excellent work by officers in the TVIU and I want to commend them for their quick thinking that led to the Land Rover being recovered.”

PUDDLE DUCKS EAST

LANCS HAS EXPANDED

Babies and toddlers will soon be learning unique swimming and lifesaving skills, as Puddle Ducks East Lancs, the local business that was launched by Chorley-based mum, Jo Gribben, in 2010 acquires a second franchise, doubling its number

of pools. Parents who sign up for Puddle Ducks swimming lessons will be able to take their children, who can start at any age from a few days to 8 years old, to the classes to have fun while they learn to swim in a safe, encouraging environment.

Jo, mum to two children herself took on her first franchise six years ago and is delighted with her new acquisition.

“I am very proud to have grown the business steadily over the last six years and I can’t wait to continue developing the Puddle Ducks’ brand across Lancashire.

“I firmly believe that swimming is a skill that all children should be taught from an early age. It’s fun, encourages interaction with other children and inspires them to lead a healthy life

style right from the start. A whopping 15% of UK children can’t swim, and we’re on a mission to change that, so it’s fantastic that we will be running classes in Bolton, Radcliffe, Swinton, Blackburn, Leigh, Chorley, St Helens and Wigan.” Puddle Ducks classes, which last 30 minutes, teach activities including swimming, submersion, floating, songs and games. Each session incorporates rhyme, music and movement with class soundtracks that have been written by professional musicians.

The focus is on fun and bonding for new and experienced parents and their little ones, meaning youngsters don’t even realise they’re learning to swim and are acquiring a skill that could save their lives.

A taxi driver has been honoured

by Greater Manchester Police’s Chief Constable for a glowing display of community spirit in caring for a vulnerable pensioner who was locked out of his home.

William Place (87), who retired as a police officer in 1984, had been visiting his wife, Moreen, in Manchester Royal Infirmary but lost track of time and left later than normal.

When William arrived home, the entrance to the shared shelter housing had been locked with a padlock. He did not have a key and the housing is surrounded by 5ft metal fencing.

Unsure of what to do, a confused William wandered onto Stockport Road and sought shelter in a bus stop where he was spotted by taxidriver Kamaran Rasheed (44) at around 2:00am.

Knowing that the bus service had stopped for the evening, Kamaran dropped off his fare and returned to the bus stop to offer William a lift home free of charge.

Noticing that William was cold and disorientated, Kamaran took him to McDonalds to get him a hot drink before taking him to Longsight Police Station.

At this point PC Peter Crowe drove past and approached the pair thinking it was a dispute but soon found out that Kamaran intended to take William home for food and a warm bed, or to pay for a hotel room for him.

Kamaran then drove William home

with PC Crowe but the sheltered housing company did not have an out of hours service, so the lock needed to be removed by the officer.

In total, Kamaran stayed with William for around 4 hours, devoting his own working time to care for William.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “This is a glowing example of community spirit and a selfless display of care and compassion for others.

“Kamaran’s dedication ensured that this vulnerable man was looked after and rescued him from a potentially serious situation and I’m delighted that William is now safe and well.

“His actions that night deserve to be recognised. I am proud to be able to award him with a Chief Constable’s Commendation.”

Kamaran, who is also a foster carer, said: “At first I only stopped to tell

him that the buses had stopped, but he told me he wasn’t waiting for a bus. I offered him a lift and took him to get a warm drink before I took him to the station. I just did it because it was the right thing to do.

“It’s wonderful to receive this commendation. It was new experience and I never thought I would be recognised with anything like this so I’m really proud.”

PC Peter Crowe said: “I’ve met a lot of people, some good and some bad but the compassion and support Kameran offered William was truly heart-warming.

“It wasn't done for reward, praise or recognition, it was a plain and pure example of a genuinely caring man doing something for someone because it was the right thing to do."

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 7.

Page 8. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

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Say “I Do” At 450ft With A Sky High Wedding at British Airways i360

Imagine saying “I do” at 450 feet, high above the beach, as a breathtaking panorama of 26 miles of Sussex coastline gently unfolds around you. From September, happy couples will be able to do just that on British Airways i360, the world's tallest moving observation tower opening this summer on Brighton beach and one of the world's most unique wedding venues.

The futuristic looking pod, which can hold up to 198 people for wedding ceremonies, provides 360o views through hand-crafted curved Italian glass and glides slowly up the 162m tower.

There is even a Sky Bar on board where guests can toast the bride & groom with a glass of Champagne

before descending gently into the beach building where celebrations can continue. Couples can also take their vows in the heritage 1866 West Pier Toll Booth or choose the beachside event space, each with their own private terraces offering stunning views of the West Pier, Brighton beach and out to sea. The flexible spaces can cater for more intimate groups of 38 people to larger ceremonies of up to 202 people, including the bride and groom.

Wedding reception menus will use the finest local ingredients from the South Downs and Sussex region. For those wanting a more informal style celebration, British Airways i360 wedding packages include a BBQ and bowl food option or for a very special

touch, couples can book the talented duo of Josh Stanzl and Steven Edwards, winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2013. Wedding reception packages start at £70 per person.

Couples will benefit from the help of a dedicated wedding planner and the happy couple can even return to celebrate their first anniversary with a complimentary Champagne flight, courtesy of British Airways i360.

Said Eleanor Harris, CEO of British Airways i360, “Originally we intended to take wedding bookings from February 2017, but due to popular demand, we have brought this forward so that our first weddings will start from September 2016 and we have already got couples booked

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 9.

Page 10. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

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Crafting a Definition: Three in Five Brits Who

Buy Alcoholic Drinks Say It's Important That the Industry Defines What Is Meant by the Term 'Craft'

Whilst craft drinks have revolutionised the alcoholic drinks industry over the past decade, it seems that many Brits are still unsure as to what the term 'craft' actually means. New research from Mintel highlights strong demand for alcoholic drink companies to create a definition, as 59% of those who buy alcoholic drinks say it's important that the alcohol industry defines what is meant by the term 'craft drinks'.

Today, a third (33%) of Brits who buy alcoholic drinks say it is hard to tell which brands are 'craft'and 30% say they don't understand what the term 'craft' means. Despite this, over a third (38%) of Brits purchased a craft alcoholic drink in the three months to November 2015.

When it comes to their own definition, a unique flavour is most widely used to define an alcoholic drinks brand as 'craft', cited by 47% of Brits.

Other factors include a brand which uses high quality ingredients (42%), takes more time or care in production

(41%) and one which produces drinks in small volumes, for instance a microbrewer (41%).

And it seems that small is beautiful for craft drinkers. Over a third (35%) of Brits who buy alcoholic drinks say that brands cannot be 'craft' if they are acquired by large companies and 28% agree that brands cannot be 'craft' if they get too large in size. Indeed many Brits are keen to support the little guys, as over half (54%) of those who buy alcoholic drinks say that buying craft alcoholic drinks is a good way to support small businesses.

Chris Wisson, Senior Drinks Analyst at Mintel, said: “The lack of an industry-agreed definition has not hindered the growth of craft so far, but it has led to the term being misinterpreted and increasingly, misused. Consumers are likely to become increasingly demanding of brands which claim to be 'craft', and the onus is on these brands to ensure that they can provide clear evidence of their craft credentials.

The uncertainty around the term dilutes its ability to differentiate brands or justify a higher price. This suggests the need to reference other, more tangible points of difference to capture customers' attention.”

Indeed whilst there is strong interest in craft alcoholic drinks, Mintel research finds that excessively high pricing may hinder the growth of the sector in the future.

Two in five (41%) Brits who buy alcoholic drinks say that you often get less for your money with craft alcoholic drinks, for example smaller bottles for the same price, while only 28% say that craft drinks are worth paying more for.

What's more, just one in four (24%) beer buyers are willing to spend over £4 on a pint of craft beer in the ontrade and 21% are unprepared to even go above £3 per pint. On the other hand, there are a small number of consumers who clearly have strong beliefs in craft credentials as 5% of beer buyers are prepared to exceed £5 on a pint of craft beer.

“Many craft beers are justifiably more expensive than mainstream brands, reflecting economies of scale but also the ingredients used. While consumer interest in seeing a wider variety of beers in the on-trade should benefit craft variants, overpricing poses a potential barrier to the continued growth of the segment.” Chris adds.

Today, purchase of craft brands is common across a number of drinks.Over a third (38%) of adults purchased a craft alcoholic drink in the three months to November 2015, while 69% bought mainstream brands of alcoholic drinks.

And it seems that many are committed to the craft cause, as one in four (26%) Brits who buy alcoholic drinks say they like to go to craft drinks events and festivals, whilst 23% say they prefer buying craft drinks over mainstream drinks, rising to 34% of men aged 25-34. Indeed, Mintel research shows that the most likely craft buyers are men, with 46% of men buying a craft brand in the three months to November 2015.

Indeed for the majority of drinkers, it seems it is more about what is in the glass rather than who makes it.

Approaching three quarters (70%) of Brits who buy alcoholic drinks say that taste is more important than the producer of the drink.

“The importance attached to taste is likely to be driving the interest in craft-style products from larger drink producers. This suggests that the large drinks companies can tap into the craft movement either by producing their own craft products or by acquiring smaller companies, with their success ultimately likely to be determined by the actual quality of the drinks,” Chris concludes.

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 11.

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OAPs (Older, Adventurous Paradiseseekers) flock to the hot springs of

Brazil for the holiday of a lifetime

Brazil's waterfalls, spas and cultural retreats make the perfect tropical getaway Following the relaxation around pension rules in the UK last year, British aged 55 (the minimum pension age) and over, have caught the travelling bug and are deciding to venture across the world with some of their newly accessible money.

The research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) reveals that almost a million Britons are now considering dipping into their pension pots, with taking a holiday or travelling being the most popular option to spend the money on.

59% of those surveyed plan to take a 'holiday of a lifetime' and over half (56%) said that they would spend more than usual on travelling. Brining a new meaning to the phrase OAP, these older adventurous paradiseseekers are looking for a destination that will provide them with an unforgettable trip, and where better to visit than a country rife with culture and natural beauty – Brazil.

From hot springs to spa towns, below are some of the must see destinations that Brazil has to offer for a truly illustrious trip.

Caldas Novas - Goiás Cadas Novas, in the state of Goias, is part of the hot waters region - one of the most popular destinations within Brazil. It is visited by more than three million tourists a year who come in search of the famous hot water that springs from the ground at temperatures ranging from 35°C to 52°C. This unique feature has led to Caldas Novas to be known as the largest hydrothermal resort in the world and is home to 86 active wells, pumping an average of 1,200 m³ an hour.

The waters are one of the earth's natural paradises and are known for their therapeutic properties. The water's temperature and chemical composition are renowned for relaxing tired muscles and eliminating stress, along with aiding in digestion and relief for rheumatic diseases.

Caldas Novas is located around

300km from Brasília, which is a nice gateway for travelers who can do a quick stop to see the beauties of the Capital.

Rio Quente – Goiás Rio Quente, a neighbouring city of the northern Caldas Novas, is another town within the hot water region of Goiás. Over 12 km in length, the 'City of the Warm River' is one of the largest river springs in the world.

The springs were discovered by Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva, a son of the famous Bandeirante Portuguese settlers in Brazil, in 1722 who were originally searching for gold. Since then people from across the world have flocked to the area to experience this natural phenomenon.

A four hour drive from Brasila and situated within a tropical region, the hot and humid weather reaches an annual average temperature of 28°C. This indulgent heat and the unique healing properties of the hot waters led to Hot Park being opened in 1997. Hot Park, is a water themed recreational area inside Rio Guente resort popular with adults and families and is now the largest hot water park in South America.

Water Circuit in Minas Gerais Another popular area for older travelers and holidaymakers is a cluster of spa towns knows as the Water Circuit in Minas Gerais.

Consisting of towns including Congonhas, Diamantina and Mariana, these areas are quiet and picturesque and popular with visitors who want to see the scenic waters and baths.

Each town is centered on a parque hidromineral, a park built around the springs, incorporating bathhouses and fountains. The spas are famous for their medicinal and therapeutic properties and they offer visitors moments of rest, reflection and wellbeing.

Lodges, hostels and hotels are positioned by lakes and waterfalls to give tourists a relaxing and peaceful stay. For tourists wishing to understand the regional identities of the state, personalised tours of over 50 circuits are on offer. Popular tour choices are ones that focus on the region's architecture, historical monuments and cultural surroundings

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 13.

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YEW-NIQUE MAP FOR TREE LOVERS

With spring walks in mind, The Conservation Foundation has produced a yew-nique online map featuring almost 1,000 ancient, venerable and notable yews around the UK as part of its We Love Yew campaign supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The UK has one of the greatest collections of yew trees in the world, which are widely dispersed around the country.

You can discover your local yew heritage on the map at: www. weloveyew.org/map.html No-one knows for sure just how old yew trees can be, even the experts disagree in the absence of age rings in the oldest yews which are hollow.

Many have been measured and recorded over the years and experts are confident of classifying yews as

being 'veteran' between 500 and 800 years old or 'ancient' - anything over 800 and possibly several thousand.

They are often one of the oldest living things in the landscape, witnessing centuries of changes.

The map helps to highlight the distribution of Britain's yews.

Churchyards for example are particularly important sites for Britain's yew tree heritage, holding almost 1,000 of our veteran and ancient yews, of which some 300 are ancient. There are no ancient yews in East Anglia.

The map has been produced with the help of the Ancient Yew Group which has records on veteran, ancient and notable yews across the UK. If you have a yew which should be recorded but isn't found on the map, you can contact the group at www. ancient-yew.org.

The Conservation

Foundation has been encouraging greater awareness of the long heritage of yew trees since 1987 and gave away almost 8000 cuttings taken from trees estimated to be at least 2000 years old to celebrate the year 2000.

In 2015 the Foundation launched We Love Yew to help communities celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta by planting young yews propagated from trees growing at the time of King John.

It is thought he brought together his Barons and Bishops to witness the sealing of the Magna Carta under an ancient yew still growing beside the Thames near Runnymead.

The Foundation is currently funding carbon dating of a piece of a yew growing by an ancient well in Wales which may help throw more light on the age of yews, and supporting churches and non-profit groups to care for and celebrate their yew trees.

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Parks right across Manchester

are hosting free activities for the whole family this Easter weekend

The wide range of events includes everything from falconry to fitness to face-painting to funfairs - so there’s something for residents of all ages to enjoy at one of the city’s green spaces.

Heaton Park plays host to a packed calendar of special Easter activities, including a free display of birds of prey from the Wildwings Centre.

This free event on Easter Sunday (27 March, noon - 4pm) gives you the chance to learn more about a range of beautiful owls, hawks and falcons.

Fitness activities at Heaton Park on Saturday 26 March include the Easter Park Run (9am) and the Easter Bunny Hop, which is being held to raise money for Epilepsy Action (11am).

And anyone wanting to give their fitness levels a serious test can try the free British Military Fitness Boot Camp, with sessions offered across the Easter Weekend, as part of the Manchester Community Games programme.

A traditional Easter Egg Hunt for young children is among the other free attractions on offer.

Other parks around the city are also offering special day out ideas.

Police-trained response dogs will be giving a demonstration of their amazing crime-fighting powers at Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield (Easter Monday, 2pm).

The dogs will show off all of their agility and obedience as they sniff out evidence, chase down ‘criminals’ and navigate their way around obstacles along the way.

Alexandra Park in Whalley Range plays host to a full, free programme of family and sporting activities on Easter Saturday (10am – 4pm).

Cycling and tennis coaching sessions are on offer, with Easter Egg colouring, cookie decoration and nest box making among the creative events happening at the Tea Hive Café.

At Boggart Hole Clough, Blackley, nature-lovers can learn how to identify the different types of birdsong all around them – from Robins to Blackbirds to Wrens, our park-loving birds will all be singing as they seek to attract a mate and defend their territory against rivals.

Staff from the Greater Manchester Local Record Centre will be on hand to help budding birders pick out all the different woodland sounds (Easter Saturday, 8 – 10am).

Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Rosa Battle, said: “The Easter weekend is the perfect opportunity to enjoy spending time

in your local park. Whether you're looking to get fit, or have fun enjoying free activities with all the family, the range of events this Easter is really imaginative and gives residents of all ages plenty to choose from.”

For a full rundown of events in Manchester parks this Easter, go to www.manchester.gov.uk/parks.

Many of the fitness events taking place are part of the Manchester Community Games programme.

Manchester Community Games is a citywide day of free sporting activities, held on Easter Saturday.

To find the full programme, go to www.mcrgames.com.

A public consultation on a proposed strategy for the future of Manchester’s parks is currently underway.

The consultation, found at www. manchester.gov.uk/consultations, gives everyone the chance to have their say on how they would like to see city parks develop over the next decade.

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READY, STEADY ROLL!

EGG ROLLING RETURNS THIS EASTER

Egg Rolling is a fantastic Lancashire tradition that attracts visitors from across the county, keeping this great family custom alive. The wellestablished event regularly attracts 20,000 visitors throughout the day making Egg Rolling one of Preston’s largest.

The event boasts a wide range of top quality, nationally touring outdoor performances and this year is no exception. Performances from north west based Dynamic New Animation presenting their new puppet show Tom Thumb; Whalley Range All Stars’ unique performance inside a giant pig; and CBeebies TV star Joe Chambers (from the Rhyme Rocket) and Mr Yipadee with their high energy Easter Bounce Off show.

Over 40 local artists are brought in to help us deliver this fantastic family day out. From a range of free creative workshops - including Easter origami; sculpture making; storytelling; henna painting; and, of course, bonnet making - to live music and local performers.

With Easter being early this year, some of the park is still wet from all the rain, so don’t forget to bring your wellies! Everything is still planned to go ahead but some performances may be relocated around the park; check the information boards on the day for the latest details.

Councillor Veronica Afrin, Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “No two Egg Rolling events are ever the same, with something new and different featuring in the programme each year, while still ensuring the

traditions remain central to the event.

“It’s a wonderful day out for all the family, so don’t forget to bring your eggs for rolling!”

Around forty thousand visitors are expected to flood into Preston over the Easter weekend, providing a boast to the local economy and putting Preston firmly on the map as Lancashire’s premier visitor destination.

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Getaway to Cumbria

Following on from Virgin Trains announcing a 30% discount off advanced fares to Cumbria until April 2016, now is a great time to book a weekend, half-term or Easter trip to Linthwaite. Linthwaite has a variety of special offers available, plus a few suggestions of things to do in the area throughout March.

Suggestions of things to do in the area: 1. Bracing Walk and Pub Lunch There's nothing better than enjoying a hearty lunch in a pub with a roaring

log fire after a bracing walk. We recommend trying the Kirkstone Pass Inn; the fourth highest pub in England at 1,480 ft. If you can manage another 1,000ft after lunch, you will be rewarded with some of the best views in the Lake District.

2. Wet Weather Excursion – Discover the best hand crafted real ales in the Lake District at Hawskshead Micro Brewery in Staveley. Enjoy a lunch of tapas or some earthy classic fare in their light and airy beer hall, followed by a brewery tour to see how the ales

are created with tasting opportunities.

4. Beatrix Potter Gallery – Beatrix Potter, author of the popular children's book Peter Rabbit, artist, major landowner and business woman is one of the region's most admired residents and 2016 is the 150th anniversary since her birth.

The Romance and Realism exhibition takes place 12 Mar – 6 Nov and is an exhibition of Beatrix's original watercolours and illustrations which explore the inspiration she found in the natural world.

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 19.

Wigan care home makes ‘Time for a

Cuppa’ and supports dementia charity

Residents at Ash Tree House care home in Wigan made ‘Time for a Cuppa’ on 7th March by hosting an event to raise money for Dementia UK. Ash Tree House, operated by Ideal Carehomes, opened its doors to the local community providing hot drinks, home-made cakes and a good old natter, all for a very worthy cause.

Dementia UK offers specialist oneto-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia. Sarah Austin, Community Fundraising Manager at Dementia UK, said “We want to thank Ash Tree House for

their support and for raising funds for Dementia UK by making ‘Time for a Cuppa’ – we hope that the residents and staff enjoyed themselves!”

The ‘Time for a Cuppa’ week ran from 1st to 8th March and is a UK wide event to raise money for families facing dementia. With the help of their Regional Activity Executive, Natalie Ravenscroft, Ash Tree House also put together several hampers which were raffled off and the event raised a grand total of £125 for the charity. One of the visitors to the home commented that “this has been a lovely event, a very enjoyable

afternoon and for a very good cause”.

Home Manager, Kathryn Disley, said: “We were all really excited about this event and had a great time. There is always something going on at Ash Tree House but you can’t beat a cuppa and a natter, especially when it is for such a good cause. Our residents always enjoy meeting new people and are delighted to invite guests to enjoy our beautiful home.”

Ash Tree House is a high quality residential and dementia care home which provides a great place to live, making a real difference to the lives of the people who live there.

Warrington's children's care homes 'Outstanding' Warrington Borough Council’s children’s care homes have all been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted with ‘children making excellent progress in a very high quality of care’. The reports on the six homes included comments such as: ‘the young people benefit from excellent relationships with each other and the support from a committed, knowledgeable and caring staff team’; ‘young people’s views are central to the care provided…. they are empowered to take a greater role in any decisions made about their lives.

They have made excellent progress in their education and in gaining employment.’

One young person said: “I love it here you wouldn’t believe what I was like before, I was rock bottom, look at me now. I’ve got a job and I’m moving into my own flat

next week.” Another said: “I love it here, the staff are brilliant. I feel very safe here.” And “I love the staff and after I have left I know they will still look out for me because they care.”

Cllr Jean Carter, executive board member for children’s services said: “The council’s children’s homes have been on a journey of improvement for some years and the inspection results are a culmination of hard work and commitment alongside high quality care to some of our most vulnerable children. “The children in our homes are receiving outstanding levels of care and this has improved the outcomes for these young people and prepared them for successful adulthood. “I am delighted that

the homes have all achieved the rating of Outstanding from Ofsted and I would like to recognise the high calibre of staff and managers working in our homes.

“The council is supporting the campaign for residential care to be extended to the age of 21, fully funded by the government. The campaign is gathering momentum and the more councils that follow Warrington’s lead, the closer we get to our goal of ensuring that the best services and measures are in place for youngsters.” There are currently 11 children living in the six homes including one respite home for children with disabilities. The age range is 9-17 years

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 21.

Carers UK joins Minister and national charities to launch campaign to build communities that value and support carers

Life

Over 50

From sky diving at 75 to meeting the love of our lives and finally travelling the world, longer life expectancy means that life in our fifties has increasingly become the mid-life with a great deal still to achieve as we head into our sixties, seventies and beyond.

At the turning point of our lives, an in depth study of UK adults aged 50 plus discovers that attitudes to this time of life vary vastly with age.

Our findings highlight that for some reaching the goal of retirement is a struggle. The challenge of supporting family, clearing debts and saving for the future has delayed a fifth from meeting their retirement dreams.

For others, the decision not to retire is a lifestyle choice with work viewed as a way of keeping young and staying connected to communities and friends.

Beyond retirement, this report questions whether the later stages of adults lives can still be viewed as the “Golden Years” and asks what contentment means for the over50 generation today. Clue - with just 15% saying their retirement is as they expected – it’s definitely not all allotments, knitting and babysitting the grandkids.

Carers UK and six other major charities launched Carers Week 2016 – a nationwide awareness campaign to improve public understanding about caring and the unique challenges carers face. Carers Week will run from 6-12 June 2016. Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Social Care and Community, joined the Carers Week charities to call on individuals and organisations

from across the UK to sign-up to the campaign and do what they can to support carers in their community. 6.5 million people in the UK currently care, unpaid, for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend.

Research for Carers Week 2015 revealed that carers are experiencing huge variations in the level of support

and recognition they get from their local community. As a result, this is putting their health and ability to look after the person they care for at serious risk1. With this in mind, Carers Week 2016 will continue to focus on helping individuals, services and businesses to build Carer Friendly Communities – places where local

people and services support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that carers are individuals with needs of their own. Carers Week 2016 is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society.

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Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 23.

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Grandad's mission to raise over £2,000 for Sick Children's Charity A first-time grandad is hoping to raise £2,720 for a charity that supported his son and daughter-in-law when their tiny baby was seriously ill in Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Denham Hughes, 51 from Langtoft, is fundraising for The Sick Children's Trust after it supported his family when doctors discovered his granddaughter had two holes in her heart. Layla, born last September weighing a tiny 4lbs 12oz, was diagnosed at just two weeks old and required specialist surgery in December 2015.

Following surgery, Layla made a miraculous recovery within 36 hours – six days earlier than expected.

However, despite this great news Layla's parents Tom and Chelsey had the added stress of finding accommodation so that they could continue to be with Layla throughout the rest of her treatment.

Fortunately, on Christmas Day, the couple were given a room at The Sick Children's Trust's 'Home from Home' Rainbow House. Denham, who has already raised £1,000 through a bake sale at work, says: “It was mid-morning on Christmas Day when we got the news that Layla had exceeded expectations and was out of intensive care, which was brilliant!

The only thing was that – due to the high intake of sick children at GOSH, once a child is out of intensive care, the hospital can only accommodate

one parent with a bed on the ward.

Tom therefore found himself stranded on Christmas Day in an unfamiliar city far from home.

There were no trains, buses or anything to allow him to travel back home to Northborough– and to be honest, he just wanted to stay with his baby. He was very lucky that The Sick Children's Trust stepped in and gave him a place to stay so that he could be with Layla and Chelsey “Rainbow House meant they could be

by Layla's side throughout it all. And the house certainly achieved what it sets out to do – to aid the recovery of a seriously ill child. Layla's recovery was absolutely astonishing and we think that was partly down to the fact her Mum and Dad were so close by and could be there every day.

Layla made it home just five days after her operation, and has been doing incredibly well. She doesn't have a feeding tube anymore and we can take her out in the pram and show her off to the world without worrying she could get ill.

“It's been a stressful situation – as a grandad and a dad I always want to be able to fix things and this was something that I couldn't. But Rainbow House helped us all with managing that stress and worry.

The charity helped so much in my son's biggest time of need. I am determined to hit my fundraising target because of that – I'll just keep going until I do.” In May, Denham

will host a charity day at Deepings RUFC which will consist of a club lunch, a veteran's memorial rugby game, a president's game, a sponsored touch rugby game, an auction of signed sports memorabilia and curry night alongside live music. Rainbow House Manager Sandra Williams says: “Denham is a very determined

grandad and has set his mind to reaching his fundraising target. It costs the charity around £28 per night to support a family, so by raising an incredible £2,720 that will support a family for 30 days in Rainbow House. This will have a huge impact on helping families who need to stay together.”

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Awarding the healthiest schools and early years

settings around

St Helens Council’s Healthy Living Team hosted an awards evening for those early years settings, primary schools and childminders that demonstrate a commitment to improving the health of local children and their families.

The annual presentation evening at the Town Hall saw successful applicants receive the St Helens Healthy Early Years Status (HEYS), Tasty Tuck and Childminders’ Healthy Eating awards.

The HEYS Award is accredited by the Healthy Living Team and commissioned by St Helens Council’s Public Health department, and was this time presented to nine early years settings.

The award highlights the ones in which everyone works together to provide children, staff and the wider community with opportunities that promote and protect their health.

Councillor Jeanie Bell, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “There is increasing evidence that early years settings can play a key role in improving children’s health by setting strong

foundations to help them and their families make healthy choices both in early life and in the future.

“Encouraging healthy living at this early stage will reduce dental and weight problems in childhood, help children to learn and will build good habits for later in life.”

A setting must demonstrate it is promoting four themes to achieve a HEYS Award, which are Personal, Social and Health Education, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Healthy Eating and Active Play.

Also accredited by the Healthy Living Team, the Tasty Tuck Award was presented to 14 primary schools that encourage the positive health of children and young people by promoting healthier snacks and drinks during the school day.

The Tasty Tuck award is supported by the Healthy Living Team’s Community Food Workers, the programme’s lion mascot Captain Tuck and his crab nemesis, Captain Snack-Barrel.

This year’s awards evening introduced the Childminders’ Healthy Eating Award, given to 19

of the borough’s childminders who provide healthy food for the children in their care and work with parents to further encourage children’s healthy eating within the family.

St Helens’ Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors Steve and Lynn Glover, were on hand with Councillor Jeanie Bell to present the awards. The Mayor said: “So much hard work goes on behind the scenes in keeping the borough’s children and young people healthy outside of the family unit and it’s important that we recognise and applaud this.

I’d like to thank all the schools, nurseries and childminders for their commitment and determination.”

Cllr Bell added: “All the effort put in by council teams and partners has contributed to some national recognition for the borough at the Local Government Chronicle Awards in London, where our Public Health department was shortlisted for the ‘Pirates, Pop and Pupils’ programmes, aimed at tackling childhood obesity.”

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Employers running out of

options in race to hire

More than eight in ten businesses permanent staff in the next latest JobsOutlooksurvey by the Confederation (REC). Almost three in ten employers (82 per cent) plan to hire more three months, according to the Recruitment and Employment (29 per cent) have taken on more staff in the last year, helping to push UK employment to its highest on record (74.1 per cent). With 95 per cent of businesses operating close to full capacity, the data indicates that it will become increasingly difficult for employers to find staff. Almost half of UK employers (47 per cent) have awarded pay rises in the last 12 months to help attract and retain talent.

With fewer candidates on the market, employers say that temporary workers have become increasingly important.

Ninety per cent of businesses need temporary workers to provide ‘key strategic skills’, while six in ten (58 per cent) need temps to ‘respond to growth’.

REC chief executive Kevin Green says: “Options are running out for organisations that want to take on more staff. Schools and hospitals are already facing enormous problems because of a shortage of teachers and nurses. SMEs and big businesses are both feeling the pressure. The need for people to do the jobs available is driving firms to become more innovative and creative in their recruitment strategies.

“As campaigning begins in earnest around the EU referendum, jobs will be high on the agenda. We urge both sides of the argument to keep in mind that UK businesses must have sufficient access to the global labour market in order to thrive. We need more skilled people to fill job vacancies in the UK, not fewer.”

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Derelict properties

brought back into use

A row of derelict properties in Radcliffe is being brought back into use by Bury Council and Six Town Housing.

The four homes, in Albion Street, have lain empty for years and have blighted the neighbourhood, with complaints ranging from arson and fly-tipping to anti-social behaviour.

Previous owners continuously failed to bring them back into use, despite numerous attempts by the council to bring about a sensible resolution.

The council has now used Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy the properties, and is selling them to Six Town Housing – the arm’s length organisation which manages the council’s housing stock – to renovate them to be used for affordable accommodation.

Councillor Rishi Shori, cabinet member for finance and housing, said: “It’s disgraceful that decent local residents have had to put up with all the problems that leaving empty properties to rot can cause.

“It’s been a long process, but we have finally been able to acquire these houses which will help the ongoing regeneration of Radcliffe.

There are around 3,500 people on the council’s housing waiting list, and this is an excellent example of partnership working, bringing long-

term empty properties back into use for much needed housing.”

Emma Richman, Six Town Housing’s director of assets, said: “Six Town

Housing is committed to acquiring They will be transformed into decent, and refurbishing these four properties, affordable homes to rent, supporting which have remained a blight in the Bury Council’s housing strategy.” neighbourhood for several years.

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Paul Lambert was furious with his side's

performance as they slipped to a 2-0

away defeat at Ipswich Town Two second half goals from Daryl Murphy made it an evening to forget with a disappointing display at Portman Road.

Lambert made five changes from the side that faced Leeds at the weekend, but he expected much better than what was on show. "It was rotten, it wasn't good enough," said the Rovers manager. "Not with the standards that we have set.

"I thought it was a nothing game, Ipswich are a good side and are deservedly up there on merit but I thought there was nothing in the game." After first half in which Rovers had the better of the chances, they fell behind just past the hour mark as Murphy converted from the spot after Hope Akpan had pushed Luke Chambers. The Irishman then doubled the home side's advantage three minutes from time to condemn Rovers to defeat.

He added: "The penalty was shocking, you don't raise your hands in the penalty box. To be fair to Hope he's admitted it was his fault.

"But we never looked like we were going to get back into it once we fell behind to the penalty. "I made changes for the right reasons but I expect better from the ones who come in. That is the first time I've been disappointed with them in the last few months.

"Over the last few months we've been in good form, but maybe the changes did play a part but it is not an excuse as we should have been better than that."

The 11th annual Preston Guild Hall Sports Awards once again showcased some of the city’s finest coaches, volunteers and

athletes from clubs across Preston

The awards recognize the commitment and dedication to sport and this year the judging panel felt short listing for the awards was a particularly difficult task with the panel having to award joint winners in a couple of categories. Kathryn Greenslade (Preston Swimming Club) and Ross Cullen (Preston Pirates BMX club) were two athletes the panel just could not

split with both individuals excelling in their own sports, demonstrating exceptional performances at the highest level.

The evening was opened with an outstanding performance from City of Preston Gymnastics Club, which gave a real taster of the quality of the athletes Preston has to offer. The evening was hosted by Granada Tonight’s Paul Crone, with

a fantastic guest speaker Craig Heap, Commonwealth Games Gold Winning Gymnast, giving an energetic and inspirational speech.

The finale saw Tony Rigby from Preston Table Tennis Association being awarded the lifetime achievement award for his 50 plus years of involvement in the development of Table tennis across the city; a truly worthy winner.

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Greg Cunningham insists

North End won't be slowing

down now they have met the 'magic number' of 50

Reaching 50 points is often regarded as safety in the Championship, and though the target at the start of the season was survival, the boys won't be relaxing now they have all but achieved that.

With PNE sitting in tenth place, just seven points off the Play-Off places, there's plenty to play for in the final nine games of the season but Simon Grayson's men will continue to take each game as it comes.

"It's that magic number isn't it, but obviously as the season has gone on we have reached that so we want to make sure that we can keep kicking on.

"Without being to naive, we don't know where our season can go still.

There's still nine games left to play, there's a lot of points to play for, so we will take each game as it comes and see where we are come the end of the season and maybe nick in that last place, but we will keep pushing on. "We don't want our season to just fizzle out now we've reached

that magic number. We are in a position where we still have a lot to play for.

"The gaffer and the coaching staff keep reiterating that so we have nine games to go, we have a lot to play for and we will give it everything until the end of the season and see where we end up.

"We need to be solid at the back and build from that like we have done all season, I don't think we need to change too much because it's got us to the position that we are in now.

"I don't think our tactics or our game plan can go out of the window now we've reached that magic number but I suppose you could say we could now play with a little bit more freedom now that we are sort of safe.

"We will keep playing the way we are playing and keep picking up results and see where it takes us."

Clarets Show

Racism The Red Card

Over 50 children from Springfield Primary County Primary School and St James’ Lanehead Church of England school took part in a ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ workshop day at Turf Moor last week as part of the anti-racism charity’s 20th anniversary year.

After a morning spent tackling issues such as racism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia through interactive activities and discussions, the Year 5 children engaged in a Q&A session with first team players, Tendayi Darikwa, Fredrik Ulvestad and James Tarkowski.

Posing questions to the Burnley stars of their experiences of on-

the-pitch racism and the challenges facing footballers in a multi-cultural sport, awards were later presented to the children who had asked the best questions to the panel. Pupils also had the chance to snap up an autograph from the players.

The workshops were delivered in partnership with Burnley FC in the Community, Burnley FC’s official charity.

As an organisation, Show Racism the Red Card works alongside football clubs and both current and former players to educate over 50,000 people a year on how to tackle racism in football.

The charity is currently touring 20

league clubs to tie in with its 20th anniversary, and representatives of the organisation expressed their delight to be working with the Clarets again.

Matt Hargreaves, Head of Education at Burnley FC in the Community, said: “Here at Burnley FC, we’re proud to work closely with local young people to educate on the importance of challenging racism and discrimination in all its forms, and to promote a message of understanding.

"It was fantastic to work with Show Racism the Red Card and great for the children to put their learning into practice by pitching their questions to Tendayi, Fredrik and James.”

Lancashire Local. Issue 10. Page 31.

Page 32. Issue 10. Lancashire Local

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