Liverpool Life 4:15 March 9 2016 by Steve Harrison

9- March -2015

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE... Planning approved for £100m LJMU campus

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Race for Life event set for Wirral

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NEWS

IT’S A RIP-OFF

Mersey MP demands end to pre-pay penalties By MICHAEL HENRY

Birkenhead MP Frank Field has called on the Government’s fuel poverty watchdog to take urgent action, after it was revealed that Merseyside is the nation’s ‘rip-off capital’ when it comes to charging for gas and electricity. A study released by the Liverpool City Region Child Poverty and Life Chances commission announced that pre-payment meters are more heavily relied upon in Merseyside than anywhere else in the UK. The study revealed that 23% of electricity customers and 21%

of gas customers are currently reliant on this payment method. Additionally, the group of Merseyside households which accounted for the 23% of electricity customers had the second highest bills on average across the whole nation. The data also suggested that more fortunate households and those who pay using Direct Debit are treated more favourably than poorer households who use a pre-payment meter. This was supported by the statistics, which stated that the average annual domestic gas bill for pre-payment customers was £759, £75 higher than the

average paid by Direct Debit customers. Similarly, the average annual domestic electricity bill for prepayment customers was £656, £55 higher than the average bills paid by Direct Debit customers. These are trends that Mr Field believes could drastically decrease the quality of life for many people in the Merseyside area, with some having to make a direct choice between fuel and food. He said: “In some cases people are left without both energy and food. A sizeable minority of those families who seek help from a food bank report that

they have no fuel with which to cook the contents of their food parcel. They simply cannot afford to top-up the meter once they get home.” In an effort to combat these damning statistics, Mr Field has proposed a plan that would see pre-payment installation and termination fees abolished. It also recommends that twoweek credit tokens should be provided to households relying on emergency food parcels, who may be unable to top up their meter, and rebates offered to pre-payment customers. Mr Field emphasised the urgency of the situation and

reiterated his belief that unless things change, the future could be bleak for those affected on Merseyside. He said: “I fear that, if the market carries on operating in its current form, Birkenhead’s food banks will continue to report that people are pleading for candles so they can have at least some light and warmth in their home. “With much of the information being shrouded in secrecy, we do not know how many companies may in fact be charging an even higher premium that extends beyond these operating costs.” • Continued on p4

CONCERNED: MP Frank Field ©Policy Exchange/ Wikimedia Commons

The New Brighteners clean for the Queen Find out more about the campaign on p2 © Jan E Peddle

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City Resort cleans up centre road for Queen’s big day closure By JESSICA ARNELL

LITTER: Bin bags in New Brighton

A litter-picking group from New Brighton are taking part in ‘Clean for the Queen’ which is being led by a number of litter charities from all over Britain. The New Brighteners own ‘Clean for the Queen’ event took place on Sunday and saw many of the group turn up to clear New Brighton beach of its litter. The aim is to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday this year by encouraging groups all over the country to spruce up their local area. It is appropriate timing as the first ever nationwide litter campaign took place in 1953, the year of the Queen’s coronation, and led to the establishment of Keep Britain Tidy. Manisha Pandya, a member of The New Brighteners, said: “We support the ‘Clean for the Queen’ event as we try to support as many litter picking events as we can. “Some of the group are Royalists and some aren’t but the over-

By JESSICA ARNELL

LIZZIE: Litter pickers pitching together © Jan E Peddie riding issue of litter is what is the most important for us.” The aim of the group is to brighten up New Brighton by keeping the area clear of litter and waste that others leave behind. Manisha told Liverpool Life: “As a group we love where we live and want to keep it looking clean for the residents and visitors. The main reason we litter pick is because we want to stop as much human made rubbish ending up

in the sea and in the animals living in it.” The New Brighteners will also be supporting the Surfers Against Sewage Spring beach clean in April. Manisha said: “We have done a few of the SAS cleans now and get people from all over the country coming to this clean. It’s quite amazing! We have new people joining our cleans all the time and we welcome anybody who is wanting to join us.”

Protests planned to save tax jobs By NATHAN BURGESS A planned demonstration is due to take place next week as campaigners fight to prevent the closure of a Bootle tax office. Announcements made last November in the ‘Building Our Future’ location strategy informed workers that all 170 HMRC tax offices will be closing nationwide within the next four years. The new plans will see 13 new

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regional tax centres and four specialist sites built in attempts to shift hundreds of millions of pounds from the budget. One tax office closure is planned for Bootle and according to local MP Peter Dowd, an estimated 3,000 jobs are at risk in the town centre. Protests have been set up by Battle for Bootle who are campaigning to stop the closure of all HMRC offices in Bootle and Netherton. Phil Dickens, a campaigner

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and Battle for Bootle Secretary, said: “If you work in HMRC, your job is at risk. If you live in the Bootle area, then your community is at risk; the removal of so many jobs from Bootle will see other businesses close, leading to jobs going in the private sector, and the running down of the area. HMRC’s own figures have estimated that 1 in 4 jobs will be lost in the North West alone and they have confirmed that they are planning on support-

ing other job roles for those who are unwilling to relocate. A HMRC Spokesperson said: “We have been clear for some time that this will mean fewer, but larger and more modern offices that will help us to deliver better services to our customers and bring in more tax revenue for public services. “These changes are part of an ongoing modernisation programme which begun several years ago and it will take place over the next 10 years.”

The planned protest is due to take place in South Park on March 16, the same day as the Chancellor George Osborne announces the Budget. Mr Dickens added: “Cuts are being justified on the basis that the country has no money, and on the same day that Osborne announces yet more cuts we’ll be making noise to highlight that while claiming we lack money he’s also running down the very department that could get us that money.”

Total fake-out alert By BETH HUGHES

Thousands of people in Merseyside have signed up for a non-existent Liverpool event for popular TV show Total Wipeout which has been confirmed as a scam.

More than 2,500 people signed up for the event and more than 11,000 registered their interest in attending on a bogus Facebook page. The Information Commissioner’s Office have warned Facebook users that the scam is being used

Sports Editor Connor Lynch Sports Sophie Sear SCAM: The fake Facebook page for Total Wipeout Liverpool © Facebook

as data mining, which is gathering information to sell on to marketing companies. They want to make people aware of the implications of giving any personal information and advise people to check a group’s privacy notice to find out what it intends to do with your data. One Facebook user commented on the page: “Total Scam!!! It’s just to get your details!!!! Scam!! Google it before you sign up!” Another said: “Oh no, I’d got my hopes up! I was really looking forward to this!” The page gave a short amount of details including a really brief description on the event: “A series of challenges like you may have seen on Total Wipeout.”

A main route into Liverpool City Centre will be closed for at least six months. The works are expected to cause major disruption to motorists, and local businesses fear they will be hit badly by the closure and they will lose out on passing trade. Liverpool council said it would do everything it could to minimise disruption and sign post diversions. The £32m project, paid by Department of Transport (DfT) funding, is designed to improve links from the city centre to to the Port of Liverpool, which has recently been expanded into a deep water port. The council said the works include making Great Howard Street a dual carriageway and replacing a bridge on the road which crosses a disused rail line. Replacing the bridge near Chadwick Street and Costco will cost £9.7m. The reason the bridge is being re-built at such expense is to allow possible future access to the port for freight trains.

TRAIN: Liverpool Central

Station smashes ratings

By NATHAN BURGESS Liverpool’s Central Station has scored 97% customer satisfaction rating after figures were released in the most recent National Rail Passenger Survey. The figure was published by Transport Focus as part of its most recent National Rail Passenger Survey. Central Station achieved the highest score for satisfaction among all the major stations in the UK. The station beat off competition from a number of flagship stations including London St Pancras. The score of 97% was the highest the train station has ever received and is one percent greater than 2012 when the station was given a major revamp.

Life|News|3

Fighting fit for world Women’s Day By JESSICA BOND and BETH HUGHES

ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES: Liverpool Ladies take part in ﬁtness class © Beth Hughes

International Women’s Day was celebrated worldwide yesterday and championed the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women across the world. National Museums Liverpool hosted special events throughout the month, after their successful Women on The Waterfront event last weekend that showcased local women’s achievements past and present. Women on The Waterfront included suffragette performances, roller derby demonstrations, as well as family craft activities and stories from influential women. Their International Women’s Day efforts saw the organiza-

tion holding one-off events at the Walker Art Gallery. The organizers hosted a history of influential women lecture at LJMU and a Cancer research information stall. One event staged at St George’s Hall yesterday by Liverpool City council was This Girl Can, a campaign to inspire women to get involved in sports and fitness. One participant, Michelle Edwards, said: “I never thought I’d enjoy sport but I really enjoyed this. It’s important for women to keep active and fit in later life. I’m glad I came and it’s a great way to celebrate being a woman. ” Janice McDonald, a fitness trainer based in the Lifestyles gym at Alsop, said: “Fitness

not only improves your physical state but also your mental state. When you exercise it releases endorphins which makes you more happy and positive. So it’s important for women to exercise so they feel empowered.” Julia Bryan, Senior Education Manager, National Museums Liverpool, said: “There is so much to showcase and celebrate International Women’s Day - it’s a really packed programme so everyone will find something to engage them.” Other events this week include International Women’s Day Business Roadshow, a range of advice and support sessions across the city to help women thinking about starting their own business.

Sound City returns with DJ emphasis

By JACK WHITEHEAD

Sound City is branching out to give the people what it wants. The festival returns this year for the fifth time with one its biggest line up so far. The headliners this year include Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Coral and Circa Waves. Whilst the festival line up also boasts a considerable DJ line up for the first time. Rebecca Ayres, head of Commercial Aspects at Sound City, believes this partnership with Club Freeze gives the festival chance to offer a different form of acts to music lovers. She told Liverpool Life: “With Sound City we’ve always been known for championing a lot of indie bands but we know the way people listen to music and the way peoples tastes are moving on so we wanted to really embrace

that dance element because it’s a really important part of the city.” Catfish and the Bottlemen top the bill this year, four years earlier they were at the bottom of the poster and warming up the crowd for headliners the Temper Trap. Rebecca paid tribute to the meteoric rise and puts it down to their mentality. She said: “From that early stage they were so, so, so good and because they just toured, practiced and gigged until they developed their live performance into what is now. I think to see where they have got to and to have them comeback and headline is a really big honour for us.” Acts from 29 countries turn up and play, lots of them are new upcoming artists who are looking for their first big break.

Acts who have used Sound City as a breakthrough performance include Royal Blood, Wolf Alice and Ed Sheeran. It’s an important philosophy that Rebecca is keen to continue. She added: “It’s so important to keep those artists coming through and to give them a platform because it’s often that Sound City is the first time that bands will have played in front of a big audience so it’s an important for us to do that as it is for us to book the headliners. This year the International Music Conference, that takes place the day before the festival, will take place at the Titanic Hotel with around three – and – a half thousand people expected to attend. The festival itself is expected to welcome up to 10,000 people each day on the city’s waterfront.

STACKED: Line-up for this year’s festival ©Sound City

‘Go Jojo’ picture campaign goes international By JESSICA ARNELL The family of a Wirral woman who lost her battle with breast cancer last month, have started a campaign aiming to send her photograph all around the world, in a bid to raise money for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. Jo Peers passed away on February 17th aged just 36. Her cousin Donna Webb started the photo campaign after a dream led her to consider all the places Jo never got to visit. Donna said: “It was a dream I had a few days after she passed away. I dreamt we were on holiday and when I woke I felt sad we wouldn’t be able to go on

such a holiday together, then I thought of all the photographs she would have been sending home of the places she'd visit and the people she would of met.” Knowing the power of social media, Donna asked her friends to share pictures of Jo from different locations around the world. An internet driven fundraising campaign has also been set up to raise money for Jo’s chosen charity. Donna said: “Clatterbridge and the teams there have been absolutely fantastic in their care and support of Jo. Jo could not speak more highly of them and

neither can I and the rest of her family. They weren't just her medical team they have cared for her and for us and gave much needed support in many other areas too.” An original target of £500 has now been reached and up to now £775 has been raised. So far Jo’s picture has been to the USA, Thailand, Africa, Australia, Europe, UK, India, the UAE and Australia. The Facebook page ‘Go Jojo’ has been made for people to follows Jo’s journey. Anyone who would like to donate should visit https://www. justgiving.com/Jojo-fuelledby-red-wine/

North West heaviest drinkers

By AMBER PRITCHARD

New data issued yesterday shows that the North West region are the heaviest drinkers in Great Britain. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released adult drinking habits based on research conducted in 2014. Although 21% of North West interviewees claimed to be teetotal, 10% admitted to drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a day. The most popular choice of alcohol being consumed overall was wine, yet those who said they drank more than 14 units a day drank beer, larger and cider. New UK government guidelines advised that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This is the equivalent to six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine. One factor which appears to have an impact on the amount the nation drink is how much they earn. According to statistics individuals with an annual income of £40,000 and over were more than twice as likely to be frequent drinkers compared with those with an annual income less than £10,000. The survey also found that London was the only area in Britain where more than a quarter did not drink at all. Jamie Jenkins, ONS statician, said: “It’s clear from these figures that although there are now more people who don’t drink alcohol at all, there is still a significant group of other people who are drinking well in excess of the latest health advice.”

Clayton Square sold

By CHARLOTTE MANN

WORLDWIDE: Fundraiser goes global ©Donna Webb

Clayton Square shopping centre has been sold in £38.4m deal. Previous Owners Infrared Capital Partners bought the city centre site in 2013 from Land Securities in for around £14m. It has been confirmed its disposal to Rockspring’s UK Value 2 Fund, after a major refurbishment of the 140,000 sq ft centre, adjacent to St Johns Shopping Centre

Life|News|4 MP’s anger at “rip off” payments  Continued from page 1 Mr Field added: “Hence my proposal to the regulator that it shines a bright light on the difference between each company’s operating costs and the prices they are charging the poorest customers on prepayment meters.” Lesley McLeod, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Energy UK, claimed the opposite to Mr Field, commenting that energy tariffs are falling and the onus is on the customers to find themselves the best deal. She said: “Energy tariffs are falling and deals are available today which are around £130 a year cheaper than last March. “There are more energy suppliers to choose from and switching is open to all customers - even people who owe money on their pre-payment meter can usually switch to get the right deal for them. “Energy companies know people may be struggling so they provide help and support. “Customers should contact their energy company if they are worried about their bills.”

Crème Egg heaven in a jar Nutella? Old news. It’s all about Crème Egg Nut Butter now. With Easter just around the corner local Liverpool Company Funky Nut have blessed us with this spreadable delicacy, made from cashew nut butter and crushed crème eggs. Julian Campbell, founder of the company said they made the nut butter because of their love of crème eggs, and the desire to mix things up for Easter. All Funky Nut products are handmade at home by roasting and grounding the nuts fresh to order. It’s £8 a tub and available on Funky Nut’s website.

The Tate launches its new ‘Art Gym’ By AMBER PRITCHARD

Turner Prize award winners Assemble have teamed up with Tate Collective to create a gym inspired programme called ‘Art Gym’. The three-week programme started on Monday and is held at a new and specially designed space at the Tate Liverpool. Art Gym offers visitors of all ages and abilities the chance to make a personal training programme, designed to learn new creative skills or develop existing ones. Tate Collective Liverpool, a youth art initiative, invited Assemble, an art, architecture and design collective, to collaborate and co-design the gym-like environment. Art Gym aims to offer everyone of all ages and abilities the chance to learn new creative

skills or develop existing ones. Instead of kettlebells and treadmills, visitors can enjoy a wide range of free drop-in classes, lectures, workshops and art stations teaching everything from traditional craft work to digital art production. There will be a ‘Wellness Clinic’ where visitors can book a creative diagnosis session to receive a unique letterpress printed prescription card. The programme is co-funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, as part of Collaborative Arts Partnership Programme, with support from Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University and Tate Liverpool Corporate Members and Patrons. Full story online at: http:// www.jmu-journalism.org.uk

STYLISH: ‘Art gym’ comes to The Tate

Green light for new £100m LJMU site By JESSICA ARNELL Plans have been approved for a former postal sorting office to become a new £100 million Liverpool John Moores University campus. The former Royal Mail base on Copperas Hill will become a large university hub, uniting existing campuses together as part of the university’s vision for the future. The decision was made by Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee at Liverpool Town Hall yesterday. The site space will be increased from its existing 280,000 sq.ft. to 355,000 sq.ft, making it more than twice the size of the Redmonds Building on Brownlow Hill. The development is intended to bring together all university campuses and its 37 different locations, creating a site for students to unite.

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The site will have a diverse range of functions and activities. Predominantly it will be an education facility for LJMU to deliver academic programmes. It is proposed that the site will form a central university hub comprising of a library, teaching, study areas, sports, welfare and officer accommodation with retail and leisure facilities. The different type of uses within building will also include, the student union, teaching and learning academy as well as self-directed learning areas. LJMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Weatherill said he believes that students require more than just a classroom to achieve a true university experience. He said: “Sometimes the term ‘transformational’ is overused but the impact of the

STYLISH: An artist’s impression of what Copperas Hill could look like new development at Copperas Hill cannot be over-estimated. Importantly for LJMU it will revolutionise the student expe-

rience and the physical shape of the university but it will also have a highly positive effect on the city itself ”.

LJMU is aiming for the building to be ready for use at the start of the academic year in 2018.

Hitting right note at Florrie By AMBER PRITCHARD It’s true, you too can learn to play guitar where local legend Gerry Marsden did – at The Florrie. The Florence Institute, or ‘The Florrie’ as it’s known to most, was built in 1889 by local philanthropist, Magistrate and Mayor of Liverpool, Bernard Hall. It’s where Gerry Marsden learnt to play the guitar and held his very first skiffle gig in The Great Hall before his band ‘Gerry and the Pacemakers’ became a global sensation with hits including ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey’, ‘I Like It’ and legend-

ary Liverpool FC anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. On Tuesday nights, Timo Tierney, a Liverpool man, wellknown for the alternative sound waves he created with The Tea Street Band, has started a guitar class called “Guitar at the Florrie”. Bernard wanted to create ‘an acceptable place of recreation and instruction for the poor and working boys of this district of the City’ and named the building in memory of his daughter, Florence, who died at the untimely age of just 22. As a magistrate he was aware of the links between poverty and anti-social behaviour and he saw

HERITAGE: The Florrie The Florrie as a way of keeping idle hands constructively occupied but its popularity spread further than the immediate community.

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Dockside deli launches fairtrade bingo scheme By NATHAN BURGESS

Liverpool Museum © wikimedia commons

Museums named most visited in England By BETH HUGHES

Liverpool museums have been named the most visited museum group in England outside of London. The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions released the visitor’s figures for 2015 and National Museums Liverpool’s eight venues were included in this. The Museum of Liverpool is the most visited venue and the number of visitors has increased by 6% from last year. The museums are also the most popular attraction in the city. Not too far away, Chester Zoo also had a high amount of recorded visitors and is the most popular zoo outside London. The Director of National Museums Liverpool, David Fleming, said: “In 2015, more than 2.7million people visited our museums and galleries. It’s incredibly rewarding to see visitors coming through the doors each day, and that we’re part of a fantastic cultural scene in Liverpool, which draws people from far and wide. “National Museums Liverpool makes a significant economic impact on the city region, with more than half our visitors coming from outside Liverpool. “It’s great to know people are visiting and re-visiting our museums and galleries to be inspired and excited by our collections and the exhibitions and events programmes that our staff work so hard to create.”

Horse show set to return By JESSICA ARNELL

Bingo: Delifonseca’s bingo scheme

A new Fairtrade bingo scheme has been launched at Delifonseca Dockside to highlight Fairtrade Fortnight. The retailer, which is situated on Brunswick Way, is encouraging people to shop in a responsible way by introducing a bingo style card scheme. Spokesperson Stephanie Wynne said: “The overall aim of the scheme, which takes place between February 29 and March 13, is to highlight the importance of Fairtrade products and increase sales for marginalised producers. “As an independent retailer,

Delifonseca Dockside understands the importance of such initiatives that guarantee a fair deal for everybody involved including the consumer.” Fairtrade Fortnight was established in 1995 to highlight the importance of paying producers a fairer price and to promote a better way of doing business. Customers can win a selection of edible prizes during the twoweek period. Their bingo cards will be stamped every time a particular Fairtrade product is purchased from the store. Once customers have completed a line they have

the chance of winning a 100g Divine Chocolate bar. For completing a full house, customers can get their hands on a Divine Chocolate Goodie Box. Stephanie added: “Delifonseca Dockside prides itself on its extensive selection of Fairtrade products and in recent years has noticed the popularity of these products increase as consumers are becoming more aware of what’s on their plate. “Once customers get a taste for Fairtrade products, it is hoped that it will inspire them to continue the habit of choosing the responsible option long into the future.”

Dismay at plans to relocate hospital

By BETH HUGHES

The people of Merseyside have taken to social media to express their concern for the relocation of the Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Last week it was revealed that the Toxteth-based hospital’s maternity services could be relocated to the Royal Liverpool Hospital or Aintree. Social media users described the NHS shake up as ‘dreadful news’ and ‘disgraceful’. Ruth Williams commented on Facebook saying: “What a fiasco. There has been a dedicated women’s hospital in the city for so long. Moving half a mile to the new smaller Royal or the back of beyond at Aintree is madness. “Mismanagement by hospital bosses should not impact on the health of women and babies.” Last year Merseyside was warned the hospital could become “financially unviable” in 2016/17. The hospital has a £7.3m deficit, with 4% cuts annually across the NHS. Jayne O’Toole also commented:

“There’s always been a woman’s hospital in Liverpool and separate maternity hospitals. “Twenty years ago they said it would be better for them to be under one roof, what’s changed? Money!!! “We should be proud of our Woman’s hospital, not dismantling it and sticking a ward in the Royal. Bring back the local maternity ward in the North End if that’s what’s needed but don’t take away this great hospital.” Pam Spall commented on Facebook, saying: “The women of Merseyside deserve to have a Liverpool Women’s Hospital. We have to fight to save it.” Dr Fiona Lemmens from NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group defended the move and said: “The way that services for women and babies are currently organised in the city was put in place more than twenty years ago. “The health needs of our population have changed during this time so it’s important that we look at how services might be delivered differently for the benefit of patients.”

RELOCATION: Liverpool Women’s Hospital © wikimedia commons

Modern day treasure hunt launched By STEPHANIE SWEENEY

The Liverpool International Horse Show will be making a return after the success of the first event in January. The three-day show, made its debut at the Echo Arena with a winning combination of showjumping action and family entertainment. Now organisers have confirmed it will return to the city from December 31-January 2 2017, with tickets going on sale this Friday. Tickets are available via the shows website website www. liverpoolhorseshow.com including a new family ticket, priced at £49.48 for two adults and two children in the bronze category, and £99.48 in the silver category. TREASURE HUNT: Treats from independant businesses

A modern day treasure hunt has started up in and around the city. Cryptic clues are being tweeted alongside a hashtag and whoever can solve the puzzle will be rewarded with a box full of treats from local independent businesses. The initiative, dubbed the ‘#findmybox’ gift hunt, was devised by Adam Gilbert and his partner Jade Scott over a drink in a local independent restaurant. Adam devised the slogan, ‘Find It, Tweet It, Keep It’ and #findmybox was born. Their boxes have been hidden in charity shops, barbers, salons and dog groomers. Their next

box will be available to find from this Saturday March 12. The scheme aims to engage with local independent businesses to encourage them to showcase some of their products in their hidden boxes. Whoever finds a box will have to walk into the premises and state the hashtag, then they will get to enjoy the treats inside and tweet about what they have found. So far there have been several winners, including Liverpool socialite Chelsey Harwood. The organisers are currently in talks with the vegan community and are hoping to have a special independent vegan edition soon, full of vegan-friendly treats. The businesses that participate receive an information sheet and appear on the scheme’s website.

It’s hoping that by participating in the scheme small, ‘under the radar’ independent businesses will gain a new following. The scheme will dedicate a full week to promote the businesses across their social media. Founder of the initiative, Adam, said: “The aim of all this is to get people out exploring independent Liverpool businesses. “We always receive calls, emails and tweets once the box is hidden, from companies who have had seekers come into their shop and use the phrase but of course it’s not there and the business has no idea. The seekers usually explain they’re on a treasure hunt and it’s nice to hear from businesses when seekers still end up buying something from their shop, this is the whole idea.”

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Students aim to change the face of feminism Michael Henry speaks to Liverpool John Moores University students who are trying to change the face of feminism in the city

group of nine LJMU second year Drama students have started a project which aims to challenge subjects that are often seen as social taboos, such as slut-shaming, gender equality and double standards – and they want your help. The project is designed to tackle feminist stereotypes and consists of an immersive experience that takes place in university halls. Audience

members are guided through the dorms with the help of a headset that presents personal experiences from people who have been the victim of slut-shaming. The stories portray different aspects and perspectives of shaming and come from a wide range of individuals. Each room has something different for the audience to experience. It promotes empathy, relation and reflection

from the audience through the use of the audio. Once they have completed the ‘Halls of Shame’ they are given the opportunity to write a reflection, confession or apology which is added to the ‘Wall of No Shame’. Drama student and project founder Grace Gallagher believes the project is an effective outlet that enables the group to tackle important social issues. She said: “The main issue

Four of the cast members (l-r) John Taylor, Jade Crosbee, Jenny Slack, Bethany Marshall and Grace Gallagher. ©JMU Journalism we have to think about is the current idea people have of feminism, its hard because there is such a stigma around feminism. Some people back off when you talk about feminism because they feel it’s a bad word.

“The reason we want to teach this to young people is to try and prevent the stigma from spreading. We feel this is something that everybody should be educated so that people can begin to feel

comfortable talking about it.” The final project will be completed by April 15th, but if you would like to get involved before then please contact Grace Gallagher at gracegallagher3@ gmail.com.

Campaign of friendship for those who need it By TIERNAN MCGEE A campaign has been launched aimed at helping local authorities tackle the problems of loneliness. According to statistics revealed by the Local Government Associations (LGA), loneliness increases the risk of developing dementia by 64 per cent and doubles the risk of developing an Alzheimer’s related disease or disability. It can cause higher blood pressure and depression with a higher rate of mortality, more damaging than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Now the Local Government Association (LGA), in association with Age UK, has launched the ‘Combatting Loneliness Campaign’, a guide for local authorities to highlight the problem of loneliness among the UK’s older generation and show the detrimental effect this can have on mental and physical health. Loneliness is also much worse in poorer urban areas. It’s prevalent in people who live alone and in rented accommodation. Studies also show that lonely people make more use of health and social care services. For Liverpool, the City Council is working together with partners to help tackle this issue. City Council Mayoral Lead of Older People and Age Friendly City, Gerard Woodhouse has highlighted the LGA’s report and plans to develop schemes in

• Loneliness increases the risk of dementia by two thirds • Doubles the chance of developing an alzheimer’s related disease • Can cause high blood pressure and depression • One million people over 65 are often or always lonely helping to eliminate loneliness among Liverpool’s elders. Councillor Woodhouse said: “Studies also show that lonely people make more use of health and social care services. With estimates that over one million people aged over 65 are often or always lonely, it increases the pressure on council and health services through referrals to adult social care services, GP and hospital visits and early entry into residential or nursing care. “Loneliness is also much worse in poorer urban areas, in people who live alone and in rented accommodation.” Councillor Woodhouse is looking towards partnerships that will provide activities and events for older people to combat loneliness. Ideas include cabaret afternoons and holidays to stop social isolation, shopping trips so people have independence, and buddy schemes for those who have lost their confidence.

Monday’s Older People Conference at the Devonshire Hotel was to allow for the Mayoral Lead of Older People to hear the views of our older people and also begin the process of gaining WHO Age Friendly Accreditation. Discovering the views of Liverpool’s elders, Councillor Woodhouse said: “At every event, it’s great to hear the success stories from our older people and any issues that need to be resolved. “I heard from a seventy-threeyear-old lady from Walton who hadn’t been anywhere outside the city in decades, but has joined the holidays to Blackpool and day trips to market towns. She has made friends and is finding a new lease of life. I also heard from another lady who was lonely vulnerable after losing her husband. “We provided her with a buddy to help develop her confidence and encouraged her to come along to our cabaret afternoons.

This lady hadn’t been out socially for years and felt afraid to even leave the house. That lady now volunteers at our events, helping those who feel how she used to feel, alone and afraid.” Mayor Joe Anderson’s pledge in making Liverpool “the best city to live and grow old in” has the backing and support of Councillor Woodhouse. He expressed: “We’re working hard with all our partners to gain accreditation from World Health Organisation (WHO). An age friendly city is not just a city friendly towards older people, but all our residents, whatever their age, ability or social status. “It is a city which includes our oldest and youngest residents to build strong, inclusive communities. It is a city that is connected, not only physically by sustainable public transport, but also digitally. It is a city that is enjoyable to live in, raise a family in and grow old in.”

LONELINESS CAN CAUSE ILLNESS: Councillor Gerard Woodhouse supports the Combatting Loneliness Campaign © Liverpool City Council

‘An age friendly city is not just a city friendly towards older people, but all our residents, whatever their age, ability or social status.’

Life|Arts|7

Reaching for the sky in the Radio City tower

HANNAH ROGERS spoke to graduate Adam Phillips about life after LJMU and his radio career.

rom the top of Duke Street to the top of the Radio City tower, Adam Phillips has worked at radio stations all over the North West before settling into his current role as Merseyside news and sports reporter for Radio City. He graduated in 2010, starting off with unpaid work to get himself noticed in the job market and freelancing on the side to earn money. “It took me the best part of a year to get a job. I took on a regular unpaid position at Radio City for the best part of a year, after that I spent six months travelling. I’d say do it if you can, you can come back more relaxed and it doesn’t hold you back. I soon found myself in a position to get a job.” His work took him all over the North West with various radio shows, from Rock FM to Wish FM, Wire FM and at Radio Wave in Blackpool for a year. Radio Wave gave him his first full time paid position in the media

industry and he hasn’t looked back since. Adam said: “Radio Wave is where I learned my trade. I learned more in the working world. Nothing beats hands on experience with people that are currently working in the

“Nothing beats hands on experience with people that are currently working in the industry “ industry because they are doing it every day and they know what is expected and Radio Wave is a good place. Doing work experience and having someone give you a chance to be a part of it is so valuable.” Although working in radio wasn’t something he’d ever

considered until coming to Liverpool John Moores University, he fell in love with it and says he can’t imagine doing anything else at the moment. He wants to be the best he can be before he even thinks about venturing down a different path and he’s enjoying it immensely, saying it’s chaotic and stressful but also really rewarding.

is passion for his job certainly was rewarded when he was nominated for Scoop of the Year at the 2015 North West Media Awards, for his investigation into a woman who was faking an illness. He worked to expose her in a sensitive way and even managed to get an apology from her. “Scoop of the year is probably the biggest achievement of my career. The award ceremony was a bit surreal. In a way you feel really proud because you were actually considered against some of the big names in the media. “For ages you think that you’ve got a long way to go and then to actually have the opportunity to be in the business is quite a proud and surreal moment. Sometimes you still have to pinch yourself and say ‘I can’t believe I’m actually working here’.” He went on to stress the

CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS: Adam had the opportunity to interview Elvis Costello ©Twitter/@AdamPhilllips importance of just keeping on going, no matter how hard it seems to get yourself noticed, saying that it is competitive and you really do have to work hard to get to the place you want to be. Adam says that getting work

experience is one of the most important things you can do to break into the world of journalism, and making sure your writing is up to scratch, being able to say to an employer ‘I can write confidently’ really

What’s On

keeps you step ahead. But his most important advice has a more personal focus: “Do whatever makes you happy, if you enjoy what you do keep on doing it. It’s not worth doing if you don’t enjoy it”

Entertainment

Theatre

Education

Culture

MCM Liverpool Comic Con March 12-13, Exhibition Centre

Snow White March 24 - April 6, Epstein Theatre

Live a Better Life fair March 11, St Georges Hall

Exhibition Centre Liverpool will transform into a huge celebration of modern pop cultures. You can take part in eSports competitions, explore a comic village packed with artists and writers, enjoy colourful costumes in the Cosplay Masquerade and meet special guests from the world of TV and film.  Cool Costumes: See page 10 for Cosplay inspiration

One of the world’s favourite fairytales, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is this year’s Easter Pantomime at the Epstein Theature The Apprentice and winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2015, James Hill stars as Prince Charming. Broadcaster Debi Jones returns to the stage as the Wicked Queen with Georgina Austin as the beautiful Snow White and Liverpool favourite, Michael Chapman, will return as the panto dame.

Postgraduate Open Day March 11, Liverpool John Moores University LJMU’s Redmonds building will be open for students to discuss postgraduate courses within the Faculty of Arts and Professional Studies and the Faculty of Education, health and Community. In the Lower James Parsons Building tutors from the Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Engineering and Technology will be available.

120 stalls offering everything from delicious vegan food and drink to natural beauty and handmade gifts. Cookery demonstrations, film screenings, talks and demonstrations will also take place Delicious hot and cold food will be served throughout the day, all 100% vegan (meat, dairy and egg free) Admission is just £2, under 5’s free

Life|Charity|8

Down & Dirty

Climbing t o the top

e slide On th

omen from all over Wirral are being invited to join in with Race for Life’s newest addition: Pretty Muddy. The event will be hosted at Brimstage Maze in Bromborough on Sunday 3rd July starting at 10 am. Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series with over 300 events around the UK from May to the end of September and across the country including 65 Pretty Muddy events. The Race for Life family of events also includes the much-loved 5k and 10k, which thousands of women will take on in Birkenhead Park on Sunday 26 June to raise money for life-saving research. Pretty Muddy is a womenonly, non-competitive 5k obstacle course with added mud. Each Pretty Muddy event will have 8-10 obstacles, plus a few surprises in between. There will be a combination of messy and muddy obstacles, climbing obstacles and crawling obstacles Rhian Coathup, Cancer

CHARLOTTE MANN takes a look at the latest event coming to the Wirral, all for Cancer Research UK

Research UK’s Wirral Event Manager, said: “We’re so excited about launching Race for Life Pretty Muddy in Wirral. The event is taking place in Wirral for the first time and we’re calling on local ladies to muck in to make it a huge success. We’ve no doubt that they’ve got the fighting spirit to get down and dirty in the bid to beat cancer sooner. “Pretty Muddy has all the fun and camaraderie of our much loved 5k and 10k events – with an opportunity to mess about in mud. “Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast. Women can complete the Pretty Muddy course at their own pace, climbing, jumping, walking and laughing their way around. It’s about an army of women coming together in the fight against cancer.” Rhian continued: “But for women who want to push themselves to achieve a goal and join the pink army signing up now is a perfect opportunity to raise money for life-saving research to help

beat over 200 types of cancers. This is a great opportunity to be stronger, braver and pinker in 2016.” Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring womenonly series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and marathon events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding life-saving research. Last year, 2575 women took part in Race for Life in Wirral and raised a fantastic £129,574. This year, organisers need 2350 women and girls to stride out to help raise £115,000. Across the country Cancer Research UK hopes to recruit 554,000 women and raise £55m to help fund life-saving work.

oney raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across Merseyside and the UK. Rhian continued: “We’re

calling on the brave ladies of Wirral to harness their fighting spirit once more and really show cancer whose boss. “Race for Life is an amazing way to celebrate everyone we love who has survived cancer. It’s also an emotional and moving way to pay tribute to those dear to us whose lives have been cut short by the disease. “Our participants make Race for Life a truly uplifting, inspiring experience. That’s why we’re calling on women of all ages to sign up now to their event in Wirral and pledge to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, on the front line against cancer. Together, we can unleash a powerful fighting spirit to stop cancer in its tracks.” To join up for the Pretty Muddy the entry fee is £19.99 for adults and £10 for girls under 16. This covers the costs of staging the event series and means that money raised in sponsorship can go to help beat cancer. To enter Race for Life today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

n Bouncing with fu

All pi cs © Ca : ncer Resea rc

h UK

Claire paints the picture of success

Bringing you the news every Tuesday By LEWIS PRICE Claire Holtaway is living proof that nothing can ever limit you in life. When she was born, Claire, who lives in Upton, Wirral, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that can affect a person’s movement, co-ordination and sometimes speech. With a strong passion for art and design, Claire always dreamed of creating her own artwork and after completing a college course, Claire went on to study Art at the University

of Chester. Not only did Claire pass her degree, she was did so well in her studeis that she achieved a first class honours classification. “Art has been a passion of mine for a long time as I have always wanted to pursue a career as an artist. “ I first went to college to study Art at Wirral Met and then I went to university as it was something that I always wanted to do and I achieved a first. “I did not expect to get my first, I will always treasure it

because it showed me that nothing can ever hold me back.” Claire is now focussing on her future and has dedicated her success to her mother, Paula Holtaway, and Stick and Step, a self-funded Wirral based charity which provides free support for children with Cerebral Palsy. “I have lived with my mum all my life, our relationship is special and I cannot put into words how thankful I am of everything. “Stick and Step have helped me in so many ways so much

so that now I am even learning to drive. I cannot thank them enough for the work and support that they gave me.” Sarah Smithson, operations manager of Stick and Step, said: “We started in 2002 operating in New Ferry, providing free conductive education services to children with cerebral palsy. Around 1 in 400 children are born with Cerebral Palsy and we need to raise £375,000 per annum to keep running as we receive no government funding or NHS funding. “The muscles of children

with cerebral palsy don’t always work as well as they should meaning simple day to day tasks, like walking and talking, can be a big challenge. “Claire gives many childreninspiration. It is something that we instil here at Stick and Step with high hopes of allowing the children to be able to live the fullest of lives.” You can find more information about Stick and Step and how you can get involved with the charity on their website web site www.sticknstep.org or alternatively you can contact them on 0151 638 0888.

©Claire Holtaway

Life|Arts|9

Ray Quinn saves Peter Pan-to As the Dancing on Ice star returns to the stage in St Helens later this month, JENNY KIRKHAM visited him to find out more

iverpool performer Ray Quinn has swooped in to save the day and star as Peter Pan in this year’s Easter panto at St Helen’s Theatre Royal. After The Only Way Is Essex star Lewis Bloor jumped ship, panto veteran Ray has joined the fantastic cast and crew for the Regal Entertainment production. Talking to Liverpool Life about returning to the stage in the middle of recording his new album, Ray was excited about playing Peter Pan again. He said;

“I’ve done Peter Pan before and it feels like a comfortable role to get back into. My friends and family call me Peter Pan all the time because I’m the real life version of the boy who never grew up.” Ray has travelled far and wide with his acting and music career and expressed his excitement to be back in Liverpool. He said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to this theatre, but I love it and it’ll be good to work with these talented Liverpool actors.” Putting his music on hold for the next few weeks, Ray

Castaway: The cast prepare for opening night © Jenny Kirkham

told Liverpool Life what fans can expect from his upcoming album. “It’s all original songs, mostly pop music and I’m really very proud of it. It feels good to go back to what I know I’m good at. I recorded a swing album in New York a little while back and when I got home I just wasn’t connected to it the way I am to this album. I’m in talks with a few record companies at the minute so it’s just about finding the right deal that is going to do right by the music.”

roducer Chantelle Nolan is credited with pioneering the ‘Easter panto’ in the North West for over 15 years and is very excited to be working with Ray. She told Liverpool Life: “He is perfect for the role of Peter as he has plenty of charm.” Ray tells us what makes pantomime so special: “The greatest thing is the audience interaction and the opportunities it allows for ad lib and improvisation. The more you do it, the more funny little elements you pick up on. It evolves very organically as the cast get more in tune with each

ALL ABOARD: Ray Quinn in his Peter Pan outﬁt aboard a pirate ship © Jenny Kirkham other through rehearsals.” Ray will be joining a Pantasting cast of panto regulars including Radio City’s Claire Simmo as Tinkerbell. Although this will be her fourth time performing as Tinkerbell, it will be the first time she has ever played the part with a speaking role. She said: “I absolutely love Tink as a character, not just because she farts glitter. She's naughty and playful and it makes for some great audience reaction! “The story has been rewritten and developed purposely to give Tink a speaking role and I’m so excited to see what I can do with the character now.” The show will see the return

of much-loved stage duo Liam Mellor and Simon Foster as Mr and Mrs Smee. On the run up to their fourth year working as a duo the pair told Liverpool Life what it’s like being the main source of comedy in a pantomime. Liam said: “With us the comedy just naturally flows. A lot of people in our situation will try to top each other for laughs but with us we bounce off each other and I think that ultimately gets a better reaction from the audience.” Simon, who will be playing Mrs Smee this Easter said: “Everyday is different and every audience is different so we can adapt our jokes to suit them. A lot of people can't work with

another actor that way but we seem to get a great reaction when we work together.” For Liverpool actress Charlotte Gallagher, who has taken on the role of Tiger Lily, the pantomime is hopefully going to be one more step to stardom: “My absolute dream is to be in a show on the West End. My Theatre Royal family as so supportive and it’s great to be back working with Ray who can hopefully give me some insider tips.” Having recently signed with girl band ‘Girl Talk’, Charlotte will have plenty of questions for music star Ray, who is hoping to release his new album this August.  Peter Pan runs from 25th March – 17th April.

Blow out the candles for Breakout’s first birthday By EMILY CURREN

any people who are fans of puzzles and riddles may have already heard of the unusual novelty of escape game centres; you get locked in a room for an hour, and must escape by working out the sequence of clues. One of these local to Merseyside is Breakout Liverpool, which celebrated its first birthday on March 7. In a few weeks, the centre will be opening its sixth room, making it one of the biggest escape room locations in the UK and will be able to accommodate up to 30 people at once. In groups of two to five people, potential escapees can choose from a different themed rooms with varying levels of difficulty to be locked in, such as Cowboys and Indians, pirates, secret agents, and a mad scientist’s laboratory. Since opening its doors for the first time a year ago, Breakout has been host to almost 15,000 people attempting to escape the rooms – with some groups being more successful than others!

Game development manager Stephanie Hall, who as well as running games and helping groups with puzzles, keeps up to date with the design of the rooms, updating anything that needs changing, as well as helping to come up with new puzzle ideas. Stephanie said: “Room and puzzle design is both fun and chaotic. Ideas tend to come from abstracts and refined by a team. We can start with one concept and end up with something totally different, but better. We try to shoot high and see what we can actually achieve.” Working at Breakout is possibly one of the most unusual occupations someone can have, with the day-to-day task of locking people up, watching them solve the room over CCTV, and sending them helpful hints whenever needed, it’s not your average job! Game operator Chloe Sinclair said: “My favourite part about being a game operator is seeing the varied reactions of customers at the end of each game. “Whether they have escaped and they are screaming the building down with excitement, or whether they don’t quite make it but still make light of the situation by celebrating how close they were to escaping.”

Life|Fashion10

Lace up, look sharp T

This year’s Laces Out Festival took place in the Camp & Furnace on Saturday with a record crowd in attendance, writes Liverpool Life’s Jack Whitehead

he ‘Laces Out’ festival came to Liverpool’s Camp and Furnace on Satur-

day. The trainer convention gives ‘sneaker lovers’ the chance to look, discuss and buy shoes that are often not on the shelves of major retailers. Now in its fourth year, the event has seen its production values rise and adding a DJ into the midst made sure the upbeat mood was kept going throughout the day. Liverpool is a city renowned for its fashion, and one thing in particular – its trainer lovers. Rob May, who is the curator of Laces Out, spoke of the

strong passion that he, and the city have towards shoes. He said: “Liverpool was at the forefront of the casual movement in the late seventies and early eighties and it still resonates in the city today. A lot of people love their trainers in this city so I just think it’s only right that we have an event like this.” The trainer festival gives individuals or well-known fashion suppliers, such as Scotts menswear, the chance to set up their own stalls with their own trainers – with people attending from Liverpool, London, Manchester and Glasgow. The hours that have gone

into putting on an event like this are vast, for Rob and his team it’s a busy schedule and even busier day. He added: “It took us around three months of planning to get it ready and then on the day we were here at seven in the morning and we will be here all night clearing everything away. It’s a really long day.” The long hours and the extra preparation seem to be working for them though, with this latest event smashing any previous attendance that they’ve had in previous shows. Rob said “It has definitely grown. We sold 400 tickets at the first one that we did and

now we’ve got around a thousand people through the door today, which shows it’s really catching on.” This Laces out festival had a special showcase showing by the people behind Adidas Spezial.

he 20-minute film showed how them designers behind the label, and Stone Roses lead singer and Adidas lover Ian Brown, embarked on a journey to Argentina where they met a local shoe shop owner. The shop owner, Carloz Ruiz, had a huge collection of Adidas classic shoes that he eventually parted with and

Adidas went on to design a shoe in his name, which was on display in the Camp & Furnace. The message in the short film was echoed by all those who work for Laces Out – that trainers are an important part of everybody’s life. There were many different brands on show for the public to see.

However there was a predominance of eighties casual style on display, a trend that Rob said he wasn’t surprised to see, and he feels that sort of culture is once again the main type of fashion. He said: “The terrace culture is big again, looks go and do come back like swings and roundabouts and at the minute it’s on its way back.”

Meanwhile, at Comic Con ... By EMILY CURREN

omic Con is coming to Liverpool Exhibition Centre this weekend, with thousands of people expected to attend - many of whom will be dressed up as their favourite comic book or film characters. Around 20,000 people are expected to attend the twoday event, and there will be Cosplay Masquerades on both of the days. Dave Axbey, press officer for MCM Expo group, which runs the exhibition centre, said: “I don’t know what we’ll see in the competitions themselves, but I expect that there’ll be quite a few people dressed as Deadpool at Comic Con this weekend!” Some of the featured guest speakers include Bionic

Woman Lindsay Wagner, voice actress Jessica DiCicco, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate voice actors Paul Amos and Victoria Atkin, S-Club 7 star turned actress Hannah Spearritt and Red Dwarf ’s Robert Llewellyn and Danny JohnJules. There will be prizes awarded for ‘Best Costume’ and ‘Best performance, with the three judging criteria being: Accuracy - correct colours, details, patterns, hair style, etc. Construction - good workmanship, for the variety and complexity of techniques used, and for the costume’s finish. Stage presence - how well the cosplayer affects the character’s mannerisms, for flourishes that engage the audience and for how well the costume is presented on stage.

P S A G

Planning on going but don’t have an outfit? Here are some Instagram examples of costumes: @Crazedcosplay as Harley Quinn @Lexyandra96 as Harley Quinn

@Superrobotninja Deadpool Mask

! M O

@Imperialslayer as Nick Fury

PO W!

‘People’s race’ gets new sponsor deal

By JACK WHITEHEAD

The Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world, has a new sponsor after Crabbies ended their three year association with the competition. New sponsors Randox Health are a global-sized company who specialise in healthcare and providing private healthcare services. They will be officially taking over the Grand National for the 2017 meeting. Randox Health is a world leader in healthcare diagnostics with more than 370 million people using its services across 145 countries Dr FitzGerald, founder and managing Director of Randox,

is delighted to have joined forces with the Grand National. He said: “The Randox Health team is extremely pleased to partner the world’s greatest race. “The Grand National offers us a major public platform to raise awareness of preventative healthcare and to encourage people to take control of their health and wellbeing. “We see this partnership as a natural fit, as both organisations invest heavily in the future and we aim to use our partnership to promote a positive lifestyle and to bring enjoyment to millions of people. “We care about people’s health and this is the people’s race.” Jockey Club Racecourses, who own Aintree Racecourse, have

THE RACES: Randox Health places bet ©Wikimedia Commons announced Randox Health have agreed to become the partner of the famous steeplechase, and the three days surrounding it for the

next five years after this year’s race. They take over from Liverpool based company Crabbies, who took over from Beer maker

John Smiths in 2014. Crabbies, who specialise in Ginger beer, have thanked Aintree Racecourse for the partnership. With around 9 million people tuning in each year in the UK, the £1million Grand National currently attracts one of the largest live TV audiences in sport and Channel 4’s largest audience of the year. It’s not only a change of sponsor for the famous race as from 2017, the race will be broadcast on ITV. The racing event attracts an estimated television audience of around 600 million, with more than 150,000 people enjoying the action at the racecourse over the three days. Last year’s race was won by Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell.

£1m boost for historic Wirral sports centre By LEWIS PRICE The Oval sports centre in Bebington, Wirral, is set to receive a £1million investment to upgrade the leisure facilities. The historic location, which was featured in the 1981 Oscar-winning classic ‘Chariots of Fire’, will get the £1 million upgrade as part of work to enhance leisure services in the borough. The funding will be used to build a new fitness suite, exercise studio and catering facilities, following similar redevelopments at West Kirby Concourse and Guinea Gap Leisure Centre in Seacombe. Work will also be undertaken

to improve disabled access to the facility. Wirral council has already invested £2 million in other leisure assets and the authority has now agreed to invest another £2 million for 2016/17. Cllr Chris Meaden, Wirral’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “This is the latest stage of our major investment in our leisure facilities, aimed at driving up use and creating the sustainable, state-of-the-art services our residents deserve. “This investment will give people in Wirral South added incentives to take up our Invigor8 leisure memberships, enhancing their health and

wellbeing at a very competitive price. “I am delighted to be able to say that we as a local authority are making targeted investments in our infrastructure that will enable us to continue to offer high quality, affordable services, in line with our 2020 Vision.” The Oval, Bebington will receive £986,000 of investment, with a target of increasing revenue, tackling obesity and raising life expectancy in the local area. Residents in and around Bebington believe that the investment will attract more business to the leisure center. Callum Mccquade is a regular

It was disappointment for Tranmere last night after they were twice pegged back as they could only draw 2-2 at Guiseley. Rovers took the lead on both occasions thanks to an own goal and a Jake Kirby strike, but it was sadly not enough as the defence couldn’t hold out. Guiseley have James Hurst to thank for the salvaging of a point as he notched up two goals for the boys from West Yorkshire. Tranmere had started brightly and they struck the

World ﬁrst for Red’s fans

By NATHAN BURGESS

Liverpool FC have set up a partnership to provide Reds fans with a new way to engage with their club. Vixlet, a social media network platform which is based in Los Angeles, has partnered with the Merseyside club to revamp their magazine website into a “next generation social network app” called LFC Xtra. Currently, the site is an online version of the printed LFC magazine. Founders of Vixlet, Krishna Gopala and Lisa Gopala, said: “Liverpool FC marks the first ever football club on Vixlet, and we are thrilled to welcome its incredibly rich history of achievements and very passionate fan-base. “The entire LFC team demonstrates every single place as a market leader in technology and sports entertainment and we look forward to transforming the fan experience for the team.” Liverpool FC are the first football club in the world on the social media platform and the new partnership gives fans around the world an insight into what the future could holds. club and connect with other fans from around the world.

Klopp’s fully ﬁt luxury

The Oval, Bebington sports centre user of the facilities at the Oval. He told Liverpool Life: “I think the upgrade is much

©Wirral Coun-

needed, some of the facilities are run down and it will benefit the Bebington area in a good

Careless Rovers pegged back at the double By JACK WHITEHEAD

Life|Sport|11

woodwork in the 8th minute through Higdon. They were, however, rewarded for the early pressure when on 34 minutes a wicked ball in from the left saw Guiseley defender Rob Atkinson turn the ball into his own net. The lead was short-lived as James Hunt equalised after a cool finish from the 18-yard box. Rovers were lucky not to fall behind, as Guiseley struck the bar just before the Whites took the lead again. The goal itself was a cracking 20-yarder from Jake Kirby. However, once again Rovers struggled to hang on and they relinquished their lead as James Hunt scored a stun-

ning 25-yard shot only two minutes after Tranmere had re-taken the lead. The Whites did push hard for a winner as James Norwood saw several decent efforts thwarted and then he missed the target with a volley in the closing stages. It meant the game finished as a draw, with Rovers staying fifth in the National League, 19 points off league leaders Cheltenham. Elsewhere, Chester were in fine goal scoring form as they thrashed Aldershot 8-2 at the Lookers Vauxhall stadium with James Alabi bagging four of the goals. Southport will be disappointed as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Grimsby.

By LEWIS PRICE Liverpool will be looking to continue their good form when they take on arch-rivals Manchester United in the Europa League tomorrow evening at Anfield. The Reds left it late against Crystal Palace on the weekend and took all three points courtesy of a Christian Benteke penalty. Jürgen Klopp has the luxury of a fully fit squad going into tomorrow’s matchup. Louis Van Gaal’s side are hampered with injuries as Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Bastian Schweinsteiger will all miss the trip to Anfield. The last time the two sides met was in January when Manchester United scraped a 1-0 victory as Wayne Rooney’s 78th minute headed winner was enough to claim all three points for United.

Liverpool

LifeSPORT Wednesday 9th March 2016

ROWERS’ JOY

Inside Sport

Women’s team take on the Thames

By TIERNAN McGEE

LJMU rowers made club history in London last weekend as they competed in the 76th Women’s Eights Head of the River, a first achievement for Liverpool John Moores University Rowing Club. More than 320 universities and clubs across the UK competed in the annual processional race. The course is world-renowned for staging the Boat Race of Oxford and Cambridge. Completing the 6.8 km course with a solid finishing time of 22 minutes and 55 seconds, the LJMU team placed 198th. The LJMURC Women’s Captain and Coxswain, Lily Ferguson, shared the emotions the women’s crew were going through to the build-up of the

London race. Lily said: “The girls were nervous, I know I certainly was. It was just such a big event, bigger than we had ever been to so nerves were definitely there. But they were also really excited as the atmosphere was pretty great. “It was a chance to make a name for LJMU women’s rowing and we all wanted to do well and show what we are capable of.” Lily believes that the race was a success for a first attempt, “The girls rowed well and dealt with the pressure and conditions that faced them. We didn’t realise the size of the event so when we got there it was quite unbelievable but they dealt with it really well.” With Varsity ahead this weekend, the pinnacle race for the rowing season is on everyone’s minds as Liverpool John Moores

University take on their arch-rivals University of Liverpool. The Women’s Captain said: “I thought the Women’s Eights Head of the River was good preparation for Varsity, our crew is the best it’s ever been in recent memory and we’re looking forward to the big race on Saturday.” Discussing the men’s preparation and prediction against University of Liverpool, Men’s Captain Michael Greenop said: “The crew are doing really well, pulling the fastest times of any LJMU boat. We’re focused on making the most of our potential come Varsity and feel ready for the day. “We have a couple of sessions spare to tweak a few things, looking forward to the weekend and showing what we can do.”

Liverpool Football Club have announced they will hire 1,000 people in the biggest recruitment drives in the club’s history. With a further 8,500 seats being added to the stand as part of a £260m expansion project, the new staff will work on match-days at Anfield. This will involve roles in its kitchen, catering, hospitality, tours and museum teams. Lise Jenkins, the club’s human resources director, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that the expansion of the Main Stand will give a huge number of people an opportunity to be part of our football family. “This recruitment drive supports our commitment to creating opportunities for local people and giving fans in the stadium the best possible experience.” Barry Kushner, Chair of the Employability and Skills Select Committee on Liverpool city council, said: “This is a good opportunity for people living in Anfield and North Liverpool to earn money and get on a

career ladder.” Councillor Kushner also defended the temporary jobs, saying: “This reflects the parttime nature of the business operation, with games usually once a fortnight. “Part-time jobs are not ideal, but if LFC is working with the council then we can make this part of a career path. “That is completely different to other big businesses which have full-time regular hours of opening, but still insist on offering zero hours and irregular hours of working. “Too many of these zero

Famous race gets new sponsor

Liverpool’s new stand to create 1,000 jobs by STEPHANIE SWEENEY

hours do not support progression into further employment.” When completed later this year, the Main Stand will be one of the largest all-seater single stands in European football. The expanded stadium will also have more places to buy food, larger catering facilities and conference and events spaces. Councillor Kushner continued: “When organisations like LFC work with us we can target these opportunities at people who need them and offer them the training that they need to

turn this part-time opportunity into progression into full time work elsewhere. “This can create a sense of hope and confidence in the local community, and creates a trust in a local business that with the support of the council can work to their benefit.” The new Main Stand will be one of the largest all-seater single stands in European football, as well as offering fans more places to buy food, larger catering facilities and events spaces.  Reds announce unique technology link-up

Sports centre gets a re-vamp