Liverpool Life 4:9 December 9 2015 by Steve Harrison

09 - December - 2015

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE... NEWS

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JINGLES

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SPORT

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GIVE PEACE A CHANCE Shoebox donations for homeless

Christmas Jumper Day for Macmillan

Paralympic swimmer aims for Rio

Vigil to mark death of Lennon and to remember message By BETH HUGHES and EMILY CURREN

(Above) MOURNING: Fans gather to pay respects (Left) APPRECIATION: Beatles Appreciation Society members (Top right) STATUE: The new John Lennon Statue Pics © Beth Hughes and Emily Curren

A vigil to commemorate the day of John Lennon’s death, thirty-five years ago, was held yesterday by the Beatles Appreciation Society. Fans of the late superstar gathered at the Cavern Walks Shopping Centre to pay respects to Lennon with prayers for peace and the famous statue was decorated with cards and tributes. 130 candles were also lit to remember the victims of the recent Paris attacks. John James Chambers, founding President of the Beatles Appreciation Society International spoke about how Lennon’s message of peace is still paramount today. “We decided to light 130 candles to represent all the poor people that died. Our hearts go out to them. I believe if John would have lived he would have been a big peace activist. In John’s absence we send a message of love and peace all around

the world.” The scouse superstar was shot in New York City on December 8 outside his home. An American man named Mark Chapman shot him four times in the back and left shoulder. Two police officers called to the scene, rushed Lennon to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Mr Chambers spoke of the grief-stricken atmosphere around the city during that time: “It was like you had lost a brother or a member of your family. People could not take it and couldn’t understand why it happened. It was one terrible black day.” After thirty five years his messages still resonate with his fans that wish to keep his memory alive. Beatles tribute band, Made in Liverpool, who regularly play in the City, always sing John Lennon’s hit ‘Imagine’ in tribute to the late star. Richie Wynne, a member of the band reminisced about how

he felt after learning of Lennon’s death, 35 years ago: “I have loved the Beatles and their music all my life. “When I heard the news of John’s death it seemed like my world stood still, like a good friend had died. It ended all possibility of a Beatles reunion.” However he is determined to keep the magic of the Beatles’ music alive by being a member of the ‘Made in Liverpool’ tribute band. “The Beatles and John Lennon’s music is very important to us. They are the biggest influence on popular music and their iconic influence on society is immeasurable. John, Paul and George are to us, the greatest song writers in history.” John Lennon and the Beatles are still such a huge part of Liverpool. This week a statue of the four was unveiled at the Pier Head and sculptor Andy Edwards said he hoped his statue would become “a place of ritual” for people to come together.

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See you in February! Welcome to the Christmas edition of Liverpool Life! It’s such an exciting time for us, we’re preparing for the festive season as well as finalising our plans for work placements in January. This means that the next time you hear from us will be in February and we can’t wait to bring you more news, features and sports stories when we’re back. January will be a fantastic month for all third years with placements at companies including: The Independent on Sunday, Shortlist Magazine, SK Events, Merseyside Police Press Office, The Liverpool Echo, The Belfast Guardian and impressively, our very own Amber Pritchard will be spending a month in New York working at HFM Magazine! We thank you again for reading Liverpool Life and wish you a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year and 2016. See you next year!

Lisa Rimmer, Editor

Next month, all JMU Journalism and Liverpool Life students will be out and about in the working world, suiting up for life in the newsroom. Here’s what some of us will be up to before returning to study in February: Charlotte Mann has several work placements including those at two public relations companies, Smoking Gun and SK Events, as well as interning with Cancer Research and working at the press office of Merseyside Police. Looking forward to January, she said: “Hopefully I will learn more skills to set me on my path after graduation, to work in a professional environment. I will get useful experience to gain more contacts and become more confident in my role as a journalist and PR.” Leigh Kimmins will be off to work in London with sports magazine FourFourTwo. Before heading home to his final placement at the Irish Mirror in Belfast, Leigh will stay in Liverpool to work on the sports section of the Echo. He said: “I can’t wait to get into sports reporting in a real environment, I want to compare my skills with those at the top of the industry.” Christy Biggar has already been working with the Echo on their community reporting

team as well as interning at the Claire House public relations department. She will continue these placements as well as travelling down to London to work with the Independent on Sunday. Excited to work in the ‘big smoke’, she said: “It will be an adventure working in a national newspaper, that’s the dream for me. I’m looking forward to living as a Londoner for the week and experiencing a 9-5 job as a real life reporter.” Barry Rocks is also off to London to work with the Independent and a news-orientated magazine The Week. He said: “It will be exciting to be part of a publication as big as the Independent. At The Week I’m looking forward to discussing and reporting politics.” Amber Pritchard will be going a little further afield, to New York. She will be working with HFM a finance and business magazine as well as a new and upcoming magazine, yet to be released from Artnyny, a news organisation in Manhattan. With excitement brewing, she said: “I can’t wait to get out and working in my favourite city. “I hope to create as many contacts as possible and get my foot in the door at any opportunity.”

Sugary drinks campaign pops up

By JESSICA BOND

Liverpool’s Health Equalities Group has released a new film as part of the Give Up Loving Pop campaign, the first of its kind in England to raise awareness of the harmful effects of sugary drinks. ‘A Quick Swig’ shows how too many fizzy drinks can lead to terrible results for your health including obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay; and hopes to encourage the public to think twice before knocking back the sugar. The animated short film shows a boy taking a sip of pop which then cuts to large machines pouring liquid sugar to a large heart shaped area labelled ‘to the heart’ and ends with the boy finishing his sip; representing what happens every time we take a sip of a sugary drink.

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OBESITY: Jamie Oliver Robin Ireland, Director of the Give Up Loving Pop campaign, comments: “Coca-Cola and others really go out of their way during the festive season to push their products on the public. But our new animation ‘A quick swig’ hopes to counter this marketing and to show the sugary drinks companies for

Team

Bringing you the news every Wednesday

Editor Lisa Rimmer News Editor Amy Cole News Sophie Corcoran Sophie Sear Caoimhe Harkin James Gamble Features Editor Lucy Nixon

Features Steph Bocking Connor Lynch Ryan Jones Christmas Pullout Elle Spencer Sam Davies Callum Smyth Sports Barry Rocks Hannah Rogers

what they are- A Bad Santa; promoting products that can lead to long term health conditionswhich are not exactly the sort of presents that you want to receive at Christmas. “We’re working hard at Give Up Loving Pop to get the message out to the public that A Quick Swig of a sugary drink is not necessary this Christmas!” In an effort to imitate the marketing of large manufacturers of sugary drinks, ‘A Quick Swig’ aims to expose the detrimental effects of fizzy drinks on the public’s health. Industry representatives including the British Soft Drinks Association have defended their own efforts from the industry to promote public health. This follows hot on the heels of Jamie Oliver’s previous campaign to tax sugary drinks in order to fight obesity.

QUICK SWIG: Video shows effects of drinking ﬁzzy drinks

Feline great at Café Meow By STEPH SWEENEY

One of the UK’s only cat cafés is due to open its doors in Liverpool in spring 2016. David Howe, 21, and Laurasima Clinton, 20, who live in Tuebrook, are hoping to open the aptly named ‘Café Meow’ next year which will allow customers to come in and bond with around ten of their feline friends. Laurasima became interested in the business after meeting David at university. The concept originated from Japan and Taiwan and similar cafés have been appearing across Europe since. Laura said: “We saw a gap in the market here in the UK. When we were on our enterprise course with The Prince’s Trust we gained support

and we then knew that this was something people wanted” They are hoping their café will be a sanctuary for people to escape the stresses of daily life as cats have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. “The whole point is to provide feline company to those who may not have that in their homes due to their landlords or a busy lifestyle” The couple are currently looking for a premises for their café. “We have set up a crowdfunding page at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ cafemeownw. We hope that people can pledge funds towards the business venture and in return, we have various rewards depending on how much is pledged”

Purrfect: Cafe meow will open Pic © Steph Sweeney

Tarmac school to help trainees

By CHARLOTTE MANN

Kings construction based in Merseyside have plans to open ‘Tarmacademy’ to train unemployed people in road-laying. The centre will be the first of its type in the North West, supporting 1,000 trainees into jobs and apprenticeships over the next five years. The aim of this is to tackle a shortage of qualified staff with the necessary skills to take advantage of an estimated £250 million of highways work taking place in the city over the next five years. It will also include an asphalt plant operated by Cemex. This will help the environment by cutting out the need to transport to the company’s base in Manchester, which is currently where they have to travel to. A report to the cabinet on Friday 11 December is recommending the city council supports the firm to find a suitable site close to North Liverpool Docks on a 20 year lease which would provide training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities. The council has been investigating suitable accommodation for such a facility and will work with Kings Construction to further develop a sustainable accommodation for such a facility and will work with Kings Construction to further develop a sustainable business plan and secure a suitable secure site with easy access to the North Liverpool Docks. Trainees would gain necessary qualifications such as an NVQ in highways skills and reinstatement. Trainees would also gain a necessary certification to secure employment with local businesses that need to recruit qualified staff. The tarmac academy centre has a particular commitment to bring about regeneration in North Liverpool, the sites in this area would give Liverpool council a property interest and control in an area where it would give a greater influence in support and delivering regeneration.

Granby wins Turner Prize

By CHARLOTTE MANN

Liverpool campaigners are celebrating after the Granby 4 streets won this year’s prestigious Turner prize. The award is Europe’s most prestigious contemporary arts prize. Artists’ collective Assemble was the 2015 winner of £25,000 award at a ceremony in Glasgow. It beat fellow competition Bonnie Camplin, Janice Kerbel and Nicole Wermers to the 2015 title. Ronnie Hughes, a board member of the area’s Community Land Trust, said: “This is just tremendous. Once you’ve won the Turner Prize – you’ve won the Turner Prize! “It’s brilliant for all the people who have built up things and been involved in the regeneration of Granby, and who are bringing new life into the place.”

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Singer spreading smiles to homeless

By CHRISTY JADE BIGGAR

A Wirral singer has started a campaign to bring smiles to the homeless in Liverpool city centre this Christmas. Mandi Fisher, 23, from Leasowe, initially wrote a status on social media asking if friends would like to join her giving Christmas boxes out on the 20th December. Hopes are that if the campaign has enough donations, they will also cover the Birkenhead area. The status soon turned into a Facebook group, and now has support from 384 people and a team of district nurses who will give free health checks to the

homeless. Mandi told Liverpool Life: “I wrote a status about raising money to buy items for homeless this Christmas to create gift boxes. So many people came forward, we were able to get items donated and we’re all going out on the 20th to Liverpool city centre around 5pm. We’ll hand out coats, hot drinks, butties roast dinners and mince pies. Everyone deserves to feel happiness.” From the status on Facebook, there is now a group called ‘Make the Homeless Smile this Christmas’ for members to communicate their ideas, and for others to join. Mandi, who sings for Birkenhead Mecca Bingo, was first in-

spired to help the homeless after she befriended a man who slept outside her work. She said: “On my way into work I would buy a homeless man his lunch and a chocolate bar, and last Christmas he bought me a Christmas card. “He must have struggled to pay for it, but its little things like that which have pushed me to do this. I’d love to see if I can find him, and give him a Christmas box. He’s the jolliest person, who’s always so positive. “Ever since then I have always bought food and given gifts to the homeless. I truly want to let them know they’re not alone, I don’t want anyone to ever feel alone. We’re here to help.

“I’ve had donations dropped off to my house, of knitted socks and brand new coats. Some gifts even have personal messages inside. What does it for me is the reaction, I could hand them the smallest thing and they would be so grateful. If anything, they are the purest people around.” “If you want to see smiles on their faces, come and experience true happiness and change lives with us this Christmas.” In the future, Mandi wishes to raise around £200 to take a homeless person for the day of their dreams. She said: “I’ve launched the idea to raise enough money to take a person who is struggling to get their hair cut, a new outfit of their choice, a hot

By JACK WHITEHEAD DONATIONS: Ideal gifts collected for the homeless © Mandi Fisher meal, a trip to the cinema and a hotel room for the night. I want to make someone’s day.” Mandi has emailed local businesses asking for help in this venture.

Good Karma for Allerton bar aiming to give back By JACK WHITEHEAD

THE HANDOVER: Liverpool Life donating shoebox © Jessica Arnell

Shoeboxes full of love

By JESSICA ARNELL The Whitechapel Centre is reaching out to the people of Merseyside and appealing for donations to help those in need over the festive period. As temperatures plummet and the dark nights set in, most people cannot wait to get home and cosy up at the end of a long day but for those living on the streets, a long and lonely night awaits. The Shoe box Full of Love Appeal is a campaign that aims to share love and happiness to the homeless across Merseyside by encouraging people to donate a shoe box “filled with life’s little essentials” which is essentially a survival kit to help those most vulnerable at this time of year. Sarah Callan, from the Whitechapel Centre, said: “It’s great to have gifts to give out, we

don’t receive much funding so we really appreciate it when we get given donations like this. It means people don’t feel left out and we get to give them a nice meal as well as a gift on Christmas day.” The campaign aims to help adult males and females, children, teenagers, veterans and even homeless dogs. Some of the items that are suggested to include in the shoe boxes are: a card, hat, gloves, scarf, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel, shampoo, conditioner, socks, sweets, chocolate, nail clippers, hand sanitizer, moisturiser. For adult females, it is also suggested that boxes could include female hygiene or sanitary products and cosmetics. Shoe boxes made for children

may additionally include toys, comics or selection packs. The campaign is even collecting donations for homeless dogs which can include dog food, treats and a blanket. JMU Journalism took shoeboxes to the Whitechapel Centre as part of our Christmas fundraising activities, however there are drop off points throughout the city. The boxes donated will be distributed to refuges for adults and children fleeing domestic violence, homeless centres such as Whitechapel, the basement and Wirral Ark. A full list of drop off points is available at the ‘Shoebox Full of Love Homeless Appeals’ Facebook page.

£19m bid to bring the Bard to Prescot

A bar on Allerton Road is opening its doors to the homeless this Christmas to provide food and clothing for those in need. The initial idea came early last year when Mark Skeggs and Lee Campbell, owners of Karma Bar, wanted to give something back. Mark told Liverpool Life: “We are firm believers in good karma and we wanted to end the year with a bang and give something back.” They decided to open so those in need could receive food and shelter, serving hot scouse free of charge. Mark’s dad, Eddie Skeggs is behind the cooking and also provides a different range of soups for the guests, plus piping hot tea and coffee. The doors opened on December 1st and plan to close on Christmas Eve. Mark stressed all are welcome: “The homeless, the elderly, the lonely, anyone whose family are in need of dinner and are struggling, even if you just want company we are open.” The Karma Bar may be too far for some people to reach, so the pair decided to include scheduled drop offs in the city centre. A team of six delivery guys help them box up the food and clothes and transfer it to the people on the streets. Mark is asking anyone who sees someone sleeping rough to contact him via social media and he will make sure they are on his route. Mark feels himself and his partner can fully relate to the difficult situations in which the people they visit find themselves in. He added: “Two years ago we hit hard times ourselves, and when I say that, I mean seriously hard times. There were certain things going wrong in my life relating to cash problems.” The Whitechapel Centre have provided guidance for Mark and Lee. Plans are now being developed and the team are hoping to start producing hampers which will be delivered to families who are struggling to afford Christmas this year. Anyone who wants to donate can do so by dropping food or items of clothing off at the Karma Bar on Allerton Road.

A Knowsley MP has revealed plans to attempt to bring a £19 million Shakespeare-like theatre in Prescot. George Howarth said the Shakespeare North Trust is likely to re-apply for lottery funds to build the Playhouse. Original plans were rejected in 2007, even though it was backed by celebrities such as Helen Mirren and Patrick Stewart. Mr. Howarth, Labour MP for Knowsley, said the Playhouse project was an exciting opportunity to create a unique and renowned education facility and commemorative theatre. In those plans, he also revealed the site would be used for a proposed Knowsley international Shakespeare festival. The MP said: “Prescot was home to the only free-standing, purpose-built theatre outside London in the Elizabethan period, and there’s evidence some of Shakespeare’s earliest plays were performed in Prescot. If so, he would almost certainly have supervised such performances.” A decision on the application is expected in early 2016.

Tourists rate city in top four By JESSICA ARNELL

Liverpool has been ranked fourth in TripAdvisor’s ‘Destinations on the Rise’, beating Valencia and Santorini. The vibrant city came fourth in TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations on the Rise. The annual awards identify destinations growing in popularity according to feedback from millions of TripAdvisor travellers. Spanish cities, including Valencia and Granada, and one of the most romantic islands in the world, Santorini in Greece, fell behind Liverpool. Portugal’s coastal city of Porto, famous for its cobbled streets and merchant houses and cafes, was ranked number one, following by Moscow and Brighton. Award-winners were determined by using a procedure that measured the year-over-year increase in positive TripAdvisor traveler feedback and interest in accommodations, restaurants and attractions across destinations worldwide.

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Small Business Saturday success By STEPHANIE SWEENEY Small businesses had their chance to shine on Saturday with a special event to celebrate their work and highlight their value to the community. Last year it is estimated that 16.5m adults supported small firms on Small Business Saturday, with 64% awareness of the campaign throughout the UK. Britain’s five million small businesses are finding the public are turning to them and choosing to shop locally when they can, with the desire to buy British and not follow the mainstream major brands by supporting the ‘little man’ Rachel Gilbertson, 22, owns a jewellery shop in Crosby and she said being part of this year’s campaign provided her with an ideal opportunity to meet other local business owners and connect with the local community.

Green future revealed

Council staff fear for jobs amid cuts By JESSICA BOND

Liverpool council staff fear for their jobs as cuts continue to affect the city after Chancellor George Osborne revealed the autumn statement and spending review for 2015/16. At a city cabinet meeting Mayor Joe Anderson said George Osborne’s Autumn Statement “has not given us any joy or comfort” and that the new round of cuts will “decimate us”. Liverpool City Council has had to save £156 million, in addition to the £173 million

which has been cut over the previous three years. The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had to take a cut of nearly 30% in its budget, leading to anticipation about future cuts that are due to be announced next month. Mayor Anderson said: “It is perverse that we have a chancellor who consistently misses his deficit reduction targets and then punishes councils by simply passing on eye-watering savings to patch up the holes in the govern-

ment’s coffers. “So far we have risen to the challenge with a combination of local leadership, innovation and ingenuity. “However, despite working hard to find innovative ways of keeping our libraries and children’s centres open, we cannot absorb such a scale of further cuts without it having a deep and lasting effect. “But there is only so far we can stretch and the next wave will decimate us. Although it is not possible to put an exact figure

problems for Liverpool Council

St George’s hosts winter-time market By CHRISTY JADE BIGGAR

By STEPHANIE SWEENEY Actor and environmentalist Simon O’Brien has released his interim report on the future of Liverpool’s green spaces. Everton’s idea of building its new ground Walton Hall Park could be prevented if recommendations made to Liverpool council are approved. A green spaces report by Simon O’Brien says all the city’s public parks should be withdrawn from all development lists. Everton’s vision for the park included 1,000 new homes and 30,000 square metres of leisure, retail and restaurant space, which could take up to half of the 120 acre parkland.

on it yet, I am in no doubt that it will mean more job losses in addition to the 2,200 workers who have left the council since 2010. “These numbers are horrifying to contemplate but they are real without political scaremongering. “As always, I make the offer to anyone who wants to come into the council and inspect the accounts and see it for themselves. “I have made the same offer to government ministers and none have been MONEY: Osbourne’s cuts could cause willing.”

MARKET: The Winter market stalls in St. George’s hall

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Merseyside’s largest arts and crafts market, The Winter Arts Market, returned this weekend to St George’s Hall. The Grade 1 listed building transformed into a bustling festive market with work from more than 200 artists, designers and makers. Marianthi Lainas, a professional photographer from Hoylake, told Liverpool Life that the Winter Arts Market is a big earning event in the run up to Christmas: “It’s a big one for the calendar and the footfall is in the thousands. This is the fourth year I’ve done it, and it gets bigger and better every year. “I’m making a living as a full time landscape photographer. But to make that successful you need five or six different income streams, one of which is selling prints and cards either at events and fairs like this or in galleries. Marianthi is featured in

Staacks, a gallery in West Kirby on the Wirral. She said: “If you told me ten years ago I’d be a full time landscape photographer, I’d have said ‘No way!’ Photography was initially a hobby and a passion, and gradually came to be something I could make money out of. “A photographer is really a frustrated painter. I tried watercolour painting, I couldn’t do that at all and then my brother gave me his old camera and as soon as I picked it up, I look a few shots of the landscape. I felt the need to start creating.” Laura James, a milliner from Huyton, aims to bring back vintage 1940’s-inspired head wear to everyone’s wardrobe. She told Liverpool Life: “I started doing tiny vintage fairs in Southport, and I’ve tried some fairs in London too. This is my fourth year of doing the Winter Arts Market in St George’s Hall and it’s probably the best one that I do. It’s advertised so well

and there’s so many stalls.” Laura, a fluent Spanish speaker, first explored the possibility of trading and designing in vintage wear when she was studying her Spanish and Linguistics degree. She said: “I sold vintage clothes when I was at university, and I started wearing 1940’s vintage scarfs around my head, but I’d get so annoyed because every time I tied the bow it would never tie the same. So I sewed it together myself. After then I started making and selling them. I took a course and from then on I taught myself.” Organised by Liverpool enterprise Open Culture, the market started in 2009. Open Culture said: “It’s the best independent shopping experience in the city. The market aims to provide the public with a chance to purchase affordable, unique work directly from artists and makers, helping to support independent businesses.”

Tate brings life to new gallery By AMBER PRITCHARD

WARHOL: Flowers (1990)

curators, art historians, artists, students, community groups and members of the public. The Tate will breathe life into its most The Tate are currently inviting the public to recent exhibition ‘An Imagined Museum’ in take part in the event and embody an artwork. the New Year. Those who are interested can email: alivingmuThe unique event will see the art work from seum@tate.org.uk to apply. They will then work the Centre Pompidou, Tate and MMK collec- closely with art curators and artists at workshops tions vanish and be replaced by an army of running from now up until the end of January to performers reenacting the pieces with song, learn the art ready to be re-enacted. dance and spoken word. As of February 20th 2016, the exhibition will become the ‘2053: A Living Museum’ and each previous artwork from internationally significant artists will be remembered one at a time. Each performance will express the unique impact and values that only art brings into our lives. Highlights include dance performances orchestrated by acclaimed artistchoreographers Alexandra Pirici and Manuel Pelmuş, alongside contemporary classical ROOM 202: Dorothea Tanning, Poppy ensemble Epiphany, and a host of invited

Hotel, Room 202 on show at the Tate

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Fourth tree honour by LUCY NIXON

A Liverpool company has been given the honour of decorating Bethlehem’s Christmas tree for the fourth year. The Christmas Decorators based in Wavertree are a decorating company who offer services to decorate client’s trees and homes at Christmas and are currently in Manger Square, Bethlehem, to decorate one of the most famous trees in the world. The company, who count Wayne and Colleen Rooney among their celebrity clients, have chosen a more contemporary design for this year’s tree. Ged Comerford, from the Christmas Decorators, told Liverpool Life of the company’s pride at decorating such a prestigious Christmas tree. “It is not possible to achieve any greater accolade than to decorate the birthplace of Christianity and Christmas. The people of Palestine are the kindest and warmest people I have ever met,” he said. Once this year’s tree is finished, the company will be hoping it receives the same praise as last year’s, which was voted the ‘12th Best Tree in the World’ by US The Wall Street Journal. “This year will have a completely different look to it, slightly more contemporary,” Ged added. When the company was first asked to decorate the tree in 2012, Ged admits that he thought it was all a wind-up. “At first I thought it was a prank call, I emailed back and asked them to call me - which to my surprise she did.” The company’s work in Bethlehem has been so successful they have now opened a branch in the Holy Land due to high demand and the company has expanded to offices across the country.

Hospice’s fayre fun is better than ever by CHRISTY JADE

BIGGAR

Claire House Children’s Hospice welcomed more than 2,500 supporters to their Christmas fayre at Thornton Manor, Wirral, to celebrate Christmas and to raise money for the much-needed charity. Volunteers staffed stalls full of glittery Christmas-themed gifts to sell for the hospice. One of these volunteers, Barbara Hunt, has given up her time to help the hospice over the past six years. She told Liverpool Life: “You always get more back than you give, it’s just so rewarding. You see the children in the hospice and you’re drawn to help.” Barbara remembers the hospice played a video last Christmas fayre, and a group of bikers who had volunteered on the day were reduced to tears. The fayre, which has been running for over ten years, gave those who donate, and volunteers who raise money, a chance to meet the families they continue to support.

Four-year-old Luke Campbell has been involved with Claire House after he was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot and hyperplastic pulmonary artery syndrome, a terminal heart condition. Mum, Sarah, and dad, Graeme, brought Luke to the Christmas fayre to meet Father Christmas and to show their support for the hospice. Although his illness is terminal, Luke has fun running around and playing with his sisters much like any other child his age. He and younger sister Hope were given presents from Father Christmas in the snowy grotto, and were running around playing with Disney Princesses Anna and Elsa of Frozen. Luke’s mum, Sarah, told Liverpool Life: “His left artery has gone now, so his right one is the only one sustaining him, but you would never know it to look at him. It’s only when you compare him to anothe four-year-old. Luke’s paler, smaller and he gets tired very quickly. He started half-days in school this Sep-

tember, four days per week, but when he gets home he sleeps for the rest of the day. “If you lift up his top you can see his war wounds. Luke calls them his ‘shark bites’. “In 2013 we were told that Luke was terminal. We had a meeting with Alder Hey and then Claire House stepped in, and ever since then we’ve been a regular. “We always come to each fayre and to the Christmas party, we went to Blakemere Winter Wonderland last week, which was amazing. “We’re always a part of Claire House. Over Christmas they offer a respite service, so I can get my Christmas shopping done which is such a help.” A spokesperson for Claire House told Liverpool Life: “There was around £10,500 raised for Claire House which is probably one of the best years we have had. We had over 80 stalls on the day with a variety of things including food, chocolates, candles, crafts, homeware and some very festive stalls.”

City concern over fruit machines addiction by LEWIS PRICE

Liverpool City Council is

Walk for hero PC by JESSICA ARNELL

More than 1,500 people are set to take to the streets of New Brighton and Seacombe on Sunday in memory of Constable Dave Phillips. A run/walk will be taking place along the bank of the river Mersey on the promenade between New Brighton and Seacombe. Father-of-two PC Phillips died when he was hit by a stolen Mitsubishi pick-up truck in the early hours of October 5. The charity run is being supported by Dave’s family and his closest work colleagues, some of whom will be taking part. Anyone taking part will have booked in by 8.30am to allow sufficient time to make to the start/finish which will be on the prom.

SMILES: Little Luke Campbell meets some of his favourite Frozen characters © Dean Vance

BETTING: Bookmakers in Liverpool city centre

becoming increasingly concerned over the effects that fruit machines are having on locals across Merseyside. The machines, also known as Fixed Odd Betting Terminals (FOBTs) can be found in most bookmakers across the United Kingdom and allow punters to stake a maximum of £100 per bet within the space of ten seconds, Which means that a person could lose up to £1000 in as little as three minutes. Following a meeting in 2013, the council is keen on revisiting the issue and is looking into ways of tackling FOBTs in Liverpool. Councillor Carol Sung, of Tuebrook and Stonycroft, believes that the machines are having a negative effect across Liverpool and said that there has been an increase in the amount of people begging for money on the street as a result of their addiction. “I have a long history of working in the bookmaking industry

and I have never seen anything this destructive until now. Gambling is a form of entertainment that is being tainted by these machines.” She also added that young people are being affected and said: “The machines are a magnet for the young and there is evidence that the machines are highly addictive which is why they have increased them in the shops.” A spokesperson from Coral told Liverpool Life: “We are not aware of any large increase in terminal numbers as we are limited to four per shop by legal legislation. “We have implemented an alert system to ensure that the customer is aware of how much that they are gambling. The last thing that we want is our machines causing stress or financial strains on consumers.” The council is set to meet up next week to discuss the issue, and believes that the government should introduce a law to reduce the amount of money on a person can bet at a time.

Opening night for wellbeing hub by CHARLOTTE MANN

An event to help shape Everton’s new health and wellbeing hub open evening is taking place this evening. Liverpool has been a leader in the development of health and wellbeing partnerships that have

worked together to address the city’s health and wellbeing concerns. With deprivation levels worse in the north of liverpool where most of the neighbour hoods are deprived, Everton is an area contained within the most deprived one per cent nationally.

The health service is approaching a critical time, inequalities in health care are as prelevantas ever and with the expnding aging population demand is ever increasing. Simon Stevens, the chief executive of the NHS, is calling for new models of care. NHS

England has awarded priority status for a new health and well-being hub on Great Homer Street in Everton. The new hub will be an example where primary care and the third sector can work together providing health and wellbeing services in an integrated way.

There is an agenda for the night including an introduction from Dr. Simon Abrams who is a GP working in Everton, Liverpool. He is also part of the family doctor association, he has championed health inequalities and continuity of care through his work at the practice.

Life|Focus|6

All change for the waterfront Liverpool’s £5.5 billion Waterfront regeneration scheme will be regarded as one of Europe’s most ambitious developments as Liverpool Waters introduces their vision in transforming the city’s docks. TIERNAN McGEE reports.

iverpool Waters plans to change the city’s skyline forever with the redevelopment of the Northern Docks, Clearance Dock, Central Docks and Princes Dock. Once the scheme is completed, it will include homes, offices, parking spaces, hotels and new restaurants and cafés and the work could be starting at last in

2017. Liverpool Waters is currently waiting for further planning permission and funding to be available before any work can begin. Ian Pollitt, a Development Surveyor at Liverpool Waters, said: “We have just got planning permission for an office scheme, but the three residential schemes

©Liverpool Waters

are currently going under planning. If it was pushed on when you would think, you’d see a spade in the ground and it will probably be early in 2017.” It is a complex plan for a complex site, as Mr Pollitt highlighted. “There are a number of projects but Liverpool Waters have outline consent for the whole site which is 150 acres and has a 32-year outline planning consent. “Before we do development in areas, we have to create a detailed master plan for that area and then following from that there would be individual applications for specific projects.”

he master plan will extend to over two kilometres along the banks of the River Mersey and planning permission will extend to 1.7 million square meters of mixed use development floor space across 60 hectares. The project offers a variety of opportunities for developers, investors, land purchasers and occupiers. Liverpool City Council has planned for a cruise liner terminal to be added to Liverpool Water’s waterfront master plan, however investors have yet to back the £40 million plus development. Mr Pollitt said that a hurdle

AMBITIOUS: The Liverpool Waters development would redesign the shape of the city’s skyline ©Liverpool Waters

was the Liverpool City Council’s plans for the Cruise Liner Terminal, which would cost £50m to build and complicate the overall masterplan for the regeneration of the waterfront. He said: “Now, we have a temporary facility within Princes Dock and we turn round about 50 ships at the moment and the size of turn-round ships is a thousand passengers.” This setback will temporarily stop Liverpool Waters achieve their dreamed waterfront

within their original timeframe, although the development firm will continue to work alongside with the council. Mr Pollitt said: “The aspiration is long-term, we will be turning a 100 ships with over 3,000 passengers, so we have got a temporary facility that runs now and we can cope with the demand there is. “In future, the ambition of the city and the company is to see that grow for a possible Cruise Liner Terminal for the North

West. “At the moment, we’re working with the Liverpool City Council on a plan to build a permanent facility. “We have identified a couple of sites within our ownership, until that location is confirmed and the reality that the funds are there to take that project forward, we can’t start the master planning because there is a lot of work to do in the master plan if there is going to be a Cruise Liner Terminal in it.”

©Liverpool Waters

FIVE TOP TIPS TO KEEP your home secure during the winter break! By EMILY CURREN

Whether you’re going back to your home town or going on holiday for some winter sun this Christmas, make sure you keep your home secure. Student homes in particular are at risk as they often house several students who usually each have their

Lock every door/ window possible.

This may seem like the most obvious one, but burglars will take any opportunity to sneak in. Leaving anything unlocked makes it easier for them to get into your house. So before you leave the house, do a final check and make sure everything is locked. If there are any spare keys lying around, put them in a safe place!

Leave a light on.

If a light is on, it looks like someone’s in the house which will deter any potential thieves. If you don’t fancy the massive electricity bill, invest in a plug-in timer, so you can plan for a lamp to turn on and off at certain times of day.

own laptop, mobile phone, tablets, and various other valuables, making them an expensive haul for a potential burglar! So if you’re leaving anything valuable in your house or flat while you’re away, here are some tips on how to keep your stuff safe:

Friendly neighbours.

Be alarmed!

If your house has an alarm installed, then make the most of it and set it when the house is going to be empty. If you don’t have one or can’t get one installed, a cheap alternative is to buy a magnetic door alarm – you can get a couple on Amazon or eBay for around £10. All you have to do is put one half of the alarm on the door frame, and the other half on the door so they line up when the door is shut. When the door is opened, the magnets separate and sounds the alarm noise! These are also useful if you have any large ground floor windows, or a cat-flap on a door.

Keep valuables out of sight.

If you can’t take all your electronics or valuables with you when you go away over the holidays at least make sure you keep them well hidden. Make sure nothing of value is visible through any doors or windows so no burglars can be tempted by a sneak peek of your fancy printer or coffee machine!

If you’re friends with any neighbours or people in your block of flats who will be around while you’re away, you could ask them to keep an eye on your place. If they see anything suspicious then they can call the police. If you’re really friendly with them and trust them with a key to your house or flat, you could give them a spare key. This is also handy in case your alarm goes off for any reason, then they can go and reset it and not annoy your other neighbours! But ONLY do this if you know your neighbour really well.

Christmas Life

With Love from Liverpool Life

‘Tis the season for giving By Leigh Kimmins

from a certain member of staff.

As we get ready for Christmas, JMU Journalism and

There was also a sweet smell emanating around the

Liverpool Life have been getting in the festive mood

corridors as students put their baking skills to the test,

with a series of events all raising money for MacMillan

offering up Oreo cupcakes, mini donughts and ginger

cancer support.

bread Christmas trees among other sweet treats.

The bottom floor of The Redmonds building was awash with festive jumpers on Monday and Tuesday as students and staff alike offered up their best Christmas clobber to raise some funds. Seasonal jumpers were the order of the day although there were reports of some questionable pyjama bottoms

The treats were auctioned off around the University with everyone donating very generously. One unlucky but generous student offered up his own blood, sweat and tears in the name of charity. Leigh Kimmims, who will be getting his legs waxed to raise funds for MacMillan, said: “I was scared, the only

good thing about it was that it was quick. Once the legs recover from the pain they should look great, so I’m happy, also we raised a lot of money for a great charity!” The second of December saw the first annual journalism Christmas Ball, which was hugely successful. Nathan Archer, 19, who organised the event, said: “I’m really happy with how the ball went. It was a fantastic atmosphere and I was very humbled by all of the positive comments from fellow students. “The amount we raised for the charity was brilliant, I know that all the money will be going to a good cause.”

Life|Jingles|8

SEASON’S Stars show support for ‘A Dog is For Life’ campaign

This Christmas, a number of celebrities have teamed up to promote a Merseyside Dogs Trust campaign. JENNY KIRKHAM reports.

oney, gifts and awareness have been raised as a result of the Merseyside Dogs Trust Christmas Fair, but for 84 dogs Christmas will be spent at the Huyton centre. All the money that was raised at the festive fair will go towards looking after the dogs over the holiday season. Merseyside Dogs Trust Supporter Relations Officer, Aimee Best said: “We are always overwhelmed by the support we receive. Every penny we raise goes towards helping us give the dogs the best care possible.” St Helens comedian Johnny Vegas has got involved with

the trust’s campaign, ‘A Dog is For Life, Not Just For Christmas.’ Johnny Vegas said: “I was shocked when the Dogs Trust told me some of the bizarre reasons that people handed their dogs into them. Did they think owning a dog would be easy? “Dogs are brilliant, sadly it seems that people still need reminding of that.” Other stars involved are Sky News’s Eamonn Holmes, Sherlock’s Amanda Abbington, Great British Bake Off ’s Mel Giedroyc and comedian Jon Richardson who have all expressed their shock at the ridiculous excuses given by people who no longer want their dogs. ‘He’s too perfect’, ‘he’s scared of tin foil’ and ‘he doesn’t bark’ are some of the excuses that have been given to Dogs Trust Merseyside in the last 12 months.

ogs Trust’s Chief Executive, Adrian Burder explains: “We are immensely grateful to the star-studded cast

who so enthusiastically volunteered their time to share such a valuable message. “Sadly, there are many understandable reasons why people have to give up their dogs but we cannot fathom that dogs should lose their security, comfort and home for reasons like ‘he sat in front of the TV when the football was on.” The dogs at the Huyton centre will be given a traditional Christmas dinner thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers. They will receive a dog-friendly Christmas dinner and will get to open their donated gifts after Santa-Paws has passed over Merseyside.

“Dogs are brilliant, sadly it seems that people still need reminding of that.”

MESSAGE: Above, Johnny Vegas poses with a new friend. On the left is Freddy, a fox hound and on the right is Siberian Huskey are both waiting for a new home, Lobo. All photos © Merseyside Dogs Trust.

Prezzies for your pets - Liverpool Life picks the top 5 Selected by EMILY CURREN Elf ears hat for dogs - £2.99 from petplanet.com

Hamster gingerbread hideaway £2 from Pets at Home.

Christmas cat treats - £2 from Pets at Home. Christmas puddings for dogs £3 from Pets at Home.

Cat scratching DJ deck - £20 from notonthehighstreet.com

Life|Jingles|9

GREETINGS 1 2 3 4

Our guide to the Top 10 Christmas toys of all time

Barbie

Barbie sales remain at £2 billion per year, and considering that the pint-sized princess has been a mainstay in little-girl culture for more than 50 years, we’d be willing to bet she’ll be around for a long time to come.

The Yo-Yo

It is impossible to tell how many yo-yos have been produced since their invention around 2,500 years ago, but anything with that kind of staying power has to be considered one of the best selling toys of all time.

Lego

The simplistic nature of Lego contradicted their incredible durability, and it has become universally regarded as one of the most idolized toys in history.

Silly Putty

Originally created by accident, Silly Putty has long been a favourite for children at Christmas. The Silly Putty revolution really took off in 1950 when large America retailers agreed to stock it and even saw Apollo 8 astronauts take it with them to lunar orbit in 1968. With tens of millions of these little eggs sold every year for the last 50 years, the little accident that could has become one of the most popular toys ever.

Cabbage Patch Kids These adorable melon-faced dolls made their debut for the Christmas holiday shopping season in 1983 and proceeded to rewrite the book on popular fads for all time. By their 30th anniversary in 2013, over 130 million Cabbage Patch dolls had been sold.

6 7

Slinky

Who knew that 80 feet of wire coiled into a 2-inch spiral would become so popular? Created by mechanical engineer Richard James, the cheap and fun toy got its big break during Christmas 1945 and even to this day: “Everyone knows it’s Slinky!”

G.I. Joe

By JENNY KIRKHAM & LEIGH MCMANUS

Rubik’s Cube

For years, you couldn’t walk around without seeing someone engaged in this devilish little brain crusher whose popularity has never waned, as its over 350 million units sold worldwide can attest to.

Etch A Sketch

The magic drawing toy was first introduced in 1959 at the International Toy Fair in Germany, but it flopped. The toy’s inventor, Frenchman Arthur Granjean, then sold it to The Ohio Art Co. in America in the 1960s and it became a hit.

Nintendo

10 Panto season rolls into town At the dawn of the Cold War, a new action figure was born in the form of G.I. Joe (Government Issued Joe). Tough and manly, G.I. Joe was to boys what Barbie was to girls. The first action figures that were available were Action Soldier, Pilot, Marine and Sailor.

By JENNY KIRKHAM

Panto season is upon us and, as always, Liverpool has an array of festive favourites for you to pick from. Old favourite Dick Whittington has begun at the Empire theatre and will run until January 3rd. Coronation Street’s Sally Lindsay will star as ‘Fairy Fazakerley’ and the panto promises a barrel of laughs. Rapunzel Rock ‘n’ Roll panto returns to the Everyman Playhouse until January 23rd. The panto comes home with more music, mayhem - and water! - than ever before. Stephanie Hockley portrays Rapunzel in a hair-dropping adventure for all the family. Following the huge success of last year’s family panto Sleeping Beauty, the Floral Pavilion proudly present another spectacular show jam-packed with smash-hit songs, stunning sets, fabulous costumes and an effervescent cast which includes Coronation Street’s Vicky Entwistle as ‘Carabosse’. Amy Thompson

from Channel 5’s Milkshake plays ‘Princess Briar Rose’, and Hollyoaks actress Sarah-Jane Buckley is ‘The Good Fairy’. Running until January 3rd, tickets are £1. The enchanting story of Cinderella arrives in Liverpool this week transforming the Epstein Theatre stage into a fairy-tale ballroom. Returning to the theatre for his fourth festive season, producer Lee Kelly’s line-up includes heartthrob Calum Best who makes his panto debut alongside much-loved Merseybeat legend Beryl Marsden. Panto fans can enjoy the show until January 3rd. Unity Threate presents The Princess and the Pea until January 9th with a funny, inventive show for families filled with music, dance and song. Continuing Unity’s successful partnership with top children’s theatre company Action Transport Theatre, and directed by acclaimed director Nina Hajiyianni, don’t miss this special family festive feast of theatre.

An ancestor of today’s video game consoles, Nintendo took the world by storm when it was released in 1988. With popular games like Super Mario Bros. 2 and the classic Pac-Man, Nintendo revenue during the year of its release totaled $1.7 billion.

THE BALL: The cast of Cinderella

PRINCESS: The cast of Sleeping Beauty

Pic © Bond

FORKLORE: The cast of Dick Whittington

Life|Jingles|10

All I want for Christmas is... Liverpool Life finds out what’s on your Christmas list

“A nice watch, an expensive Rolex or an Omega.” – Biren Jethwa, 38, America

“A new phone, because mine is battered!” – Siubhán MaCauley, 20, Newry, Northern Ireland

“I’d like to win the lottery and go visit my son in New Zealand and bring him a big cheque!” Edward Shaw, Anfield, 81

“For me, I’d pick ice climbing axes and hit the mountains in Norway with them!” Kirsty Smith, 21, Scotland

“I’d love a sausage dog because I’d have pure comedy for about 15 years, I checked on Gumtree once but they’re too expensive.” Colette Kellgren, 23, Liverpool John Moores University

“I’d buy a nice house for me and boyfriend. It would be in Oxford because I want to go to university there.” – Becky Andrews, 19, Wirral

What’s on this Christmas Liverpool is always a lively city but when the festive period rolls around locals and visitors alike are over taken by the Christmas spirit. And there’s plenty on to feed their festive hunger!

The Liverpool One Ice Festival runs until the 3rd of January and it boasts an Ice rink, Ice slide and Ice bar, why not go down and chill out?

Jack Frost is a villainous figure but his snowflake trail is fun for all the family. It’s an alternative journey of familiar streets and it will see Britain’s biggest snowflake land in the heart of Liverpool!

Liverpool Anglican

Cathedral is one of the city’s most spectacular buildings and each Christmas it comes alive with a series of festive events for us to feast on. The cathedral boast quite a spread of carols, concerts and much more. Why not catch tonight’s Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Christmas carols for free? That starts at 7:30 and will run for one hour. Thursday will see the cathedral host another free event, the

Alder Centre Candle Service, also starting at 7:30. The Alder Centre, part of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child. Children’s names are read out and there are specially-chosen readings and music

Merseyside schools will descend on the main stage on Friday the 11th for a rendition

of ‘The Grinch who Nearly Stole Christmas’. This cute performance kicks off at 7pm and tickets costs £2 and can be bought from the cathedral’s website. The performance boasts 300 musical elves, 30 dancing elves, illusions and Christmas musical favourites provided by a live band!

Events will run right up until Boxing Day with

Radio City’s ‘Cash for Kids’ carol concert preceding the NSPCC and ECHO carol concerts, the culmination of events begin at 11:15am with an organ recital that’s £5 at the door. Constellations in the Baltic area of Liverpool hosts their square pegs festival, this aims to bring your child’s creativity out this Christmas. Christmasinspired workshops start at 11am and end at 5pm on the 12th of December.

Life|Arts|11

LIFE EXTRA Chris goes from aprés- ski to ITV ELLE SPENCER talks to Chris Cunningham about his journey after LJMU, exploring his passions for snowboarding and his determination to ﬁnally land his dream job.

aving already succeeded in a career as a pro-snowboarder, Chris Cunningham set his sights on fulfilling his other dream –to become a journalist. After working in ITV’s newsroom for only 14 months, Chris has now secured himself a job as a sports reporter for ITV. After he finished school, Chris took to the slopes and even had a hand in setting up EROONE Films – one of the most successful European snowboarding video companies. It was in doing this that he discovered his love of journalism and made the decision to enrol in university at the age of 24. Born in England and raised in the French Alps, Chris took every opportunity available to him at LJMU and graduated in 2014 with a 1st class degree in

International Journalism. The documentaries he made while at university, including one he shot himself in the Ukraine, were not only selected at various film festivals but earned him a spot on the ITV News Traineeship Scheme based in the Granada Newsroom. Chris told Liverpool Life: “I have no idea how I managed it. Someone who went back to study at 24, never having studied in English, competing against Oxford and Cambridge graduates. But there were a few oddballs there – including myself and it was fantastic. “It was just a brilliant place to learn. I honestly can’t stress how good the scheme is. It was like the best Masters I could ask for and I was getting paid to do it!” When asked what the best thing he had done in his career so far was, he struggled to

Class of 2014 answer. After some deliberation, he said: “It doesn’t matter if it’s a super ‘newsy’ story or something that’s bottom of the programme. Seeing something through from beginning to end is so satisfying. “Giving yourself a daunting task and meeting it, well that’s a very nice feeling when you get home.”

hris never envisioned himself as a sports reporter but reflects that he never saw himself in television either – until he picked up a camera in first year and it “just felt right”. His life had always been very much rooted in sport and so it seemed a natural progression to become a sports correspondent. “Working in the newsroom, doing sports stories and suddenly it clicked, I knew what I

SUCCESS: Chris left LJMU with a ﬁrstst class degree and has now progressed to work as a sports reporter for ITV Granada © ITV was.” Looking forward to working for ITV, he notes it will be a “big step up” for him and can’t help but reflect on how far he has come in such a short period of time. “When you start out, every little thing you do feels amazing. You cut together a 20-second piece and there’s no credit in that but seeing it on screen for the first time – there’s no better feeling. “Then as your career goes on you start to measure in bigger accomplishments but that doesn’t mean you should take it for granted. “You don’t go in to journalism for money. You go into it for pride, for taking pride in what

you do and that stays with you throughout your career.” When asked what advice he had for student looking to follow in his footsteps, Chris had this to say: “You’re in the right place at the right time and if you’ve got the initiative, it’s there for the taking. You’re in a region, a city, that’s full of life and full of stories. “Get work experience, fire off emails, call newsrooms, call editors, pester people –think outside the box. Take pride in your work as your work will only be as good as the effort you put into it. “There is no reason why JMU students can’t go on to be some of the best journalists in the world.”

‘Take pride in your work

as it will only be as good as the effort you put into it’

Life|Community|12

An Awesome way to spread goodwill

‘We know not everyone with a small or interesting idea will actually apply for our funding, but they might spend the fiver in a cool or interesting way.’ - Zarino Zappia, Awesome Liverpool By Leigh Kimmins

hat can you get for a fiver these days? A magazine, a coffee? You can’t even get a cinema ticket anymore! Well in Liverpool you can get a whole lot more. ‘Awesome Liverpool’ is a non-profit organisation with awesome intentions. Based in the city’s Baltic triangle, the foundation is an offshoot of an idea originating in Boston and its making waves on our own shores. The concept is a unique perspective on funding dubbed ‘micro financing’ and was the brain child of a group of friends from Boston who wanted to give people with cool and jovial ideas the kick start they needed to get their projects off the ground. In 2009 the idea came to Liverpool and the cities branch has a board of 12 trustees who each donate £50 a month to be put into the project that they agree on, with the winner being announced at their monthly prize giving night. It’s that simple. JMU Journalism sat down with Zarino Zappia, one of the two deans for the fledgling organisation here in the city. “I’m one of the 12 trustees who are from all walks of life here in Liverpool. We’ve got one who’s a councillor for the city council, we’ve got business people, we’ve got all sorts.” “You could come up with some idea and it might not have a business case behind it, it might not be like a big art project either, it could just be something fun.” The idea can be as convivial as you like but if it meets the criteria that previous winners

have met then you’re in with a better chance of scooping the cash – that can sometimes roll over to £1000! “When you’re applying we have four criteria we hope projects can hit. You don’t have to, but if you do then it’s a good sign. Firstly, if you’ve thought about your budget, what you’ll do with the cash, then that’s good. The other is, there has to be a problem that you’re solving, ideally it should also benefit the local community. Lastly, we ask that your idea brings joy! That’s the hardest one.” Last year the foundation ran a fun scheme named ‘Awesome fivers’ which saw them take to the streets of Liverpool armed with crisp five pound notes to hand out to the public. “The idea was to take the £500 and rather than giving it to somebody with a cool idea we handed them out to people on the streets, because we know not everyone with a small or interesting idea will actually apply for our funding, but they might spend the fiver in a cool or interesting way.

envelopes all over the city, but the looks of surprise, disbelief, and joy on the recipients’ faces were exactly what the Awesome Foundation is about. “I was surprised to see the number of people who did something charitable with their fivers this year. Even in tough economic times, the people of Liverpool clearly have hearts of gold. Many spent their fiver on food and a hot drink for one of Liverpool’s homeless. And others donated to local causes like

the Bluecoat, St Joseph’s Hospice, and Liverpool Women’s Hospital, as well as national charities like the Samaritans and Breast Cancer Research,” he added. Zarino and the gang in the Baltic triangle and across Liverpool are aiming for an ‘Awesome’ set up in every town and city in the U.K. “Every day is your day to make our city even better” is the unifying banner of this wonderful new concept.”

Happy: Christmas shoppers receiving their envelopes

e hid them in bushes in pink envelopes and handed them out and what was really interesting was seeing how people spent them. There was a kid who bought lunch for a homeless person and people who donated them to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.” The hand-out was a huge success and on Saturday they did it again, Zarino told Liverpool Life: “It’s safe to say this year’s Awesome Fivers was an unmitigated success. “Not only did the trustees have fun with their friends and families, hiding and distributing

Famous: Moores brothers statue on Church Street

Life|Arts|13

Sophie Corcoran opens the cover of New Brighton’s hidden gem to reveal the secrets that are inside ...

Literally -a great bookshop

Kathy Grant in her reading chair “I check the news to see if there’s anything I can try to incorporate into my stories. I’m never sure of what I’m actually going to say”. A few years ago, the audience started ringing the BBC to ask if Kathy was bringing her book out. “We’ve sold it purely on word of mouth, and now there will be a musical at the Unity Theatre.” As well as modern books, there are some which date back further. The oldest book in Literally is The Twelve Caesars, this version of which was published in 1687. Literally also hosts many book fairs and guest readers. Kathy said, “We’ve had Willy Russel in to read and Ken Dodd opened the shop last year”.

athy also ventures out into schools to share her passion for reading and this year hosted a summer school for children who have difficulty engaging with books. She said: “There were batches of ten children and we did a pirate theme with us being in New Brighton. One of the exercises was for the kids to imagine themselves as pirates and what would happen to them if they were to be marooned and what they would write in their message in a bottle. The outcome was quite emotional.” It’s clear to see Kathy’s passion for reading and writing and she counts Damon Runyon and Oscar Wilde amongst her favourite writers, meaning it’s not suprise to see these authors filling the shelves of Literally. She said: “I will read absolutely

anything once.“If something makes me laugh out loud it is a gift in these troubled times. Knowledge is the only way forward.” Literally also seems to be a community hub, as many faces from the New Brighton area pop into the shop for either a chat or a quick browse. This little book shop tucked in the middle of a quiet New Brighton street seems to be going from strength to strength and hosts at least one book fair every few months at The Floral Pavilion, the next one being held on Saturday, December 12th, giving book lovers the chance to savour the glorious atmosphere of New Brighton’s hidden gem.

ucked away in the middle of a street across from New Brighton’s train station stands a cave of knowledge, a place likely to trap you in for at least an hour and somewhere that will entice you in with its cute window displays. This is Literally, the bookshop owned by Liverpool Echo columnist Peter Grant and his wife Kathy. Peter and Kathy currently live on a tugboat on Liverpool’s Albert Dock and share the duty of running their beloved bookshop in the day. In Literally Kathy sells her very own children’s book, The Merseyside Moggies, which is currently under production to be turned into a stage show. Literally is the only place you can get your hands on this book at the moment and Kathy is pleased to see her own book proving popular with the locals. The bookshop itself is a wonderland of knowledge with books laid upon books, laid upon every surface. Collectables, Shakespeare and self-help books from the 1950’s to name but a few are some featured in this cavern of words. The only place free from the piles of books is Kathy’s storytelling chair. The chair is sentimental to Kathy and is made from the same driftwood as New Brighton’s Pirate ship situated on the beach. It is here Kathy entertains the public with her own sometimes made up on the spot, stories. “I present a radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside and I tell stories on it, I tend to make them up on the way there”, she told Liverpool Life,

Best books of the year

Go Set a Watchman BY HARPER LEE

The Story of The Lost Child BY ELENA FERRANTE

The Shepherds crown BY TERRY PRATCHETT

The Buried Giant BY KAZUO ISHIGURO

A God in Ruins BY KATE ATKINSON

According to The Guardian bestsellers list

Life|Focus|14

Gemma’s model way to break down barriers By LEIGH KIMMINS

mid a social media backlash against Kylie Jenner for posing in a wheelchair for a shoot, Gemma Flanagan - a model from Liverpool who has a disability - is on a mission to break down barriers in the fashion industry. Gemma is 32 and since 2011 she has been living with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare and serious condition that attacks the peripheral nervous system and has left her unable to walk unaided, needing a wheelchair to get around. The 5’8 model has not let the syndrome dictate her life however and has instead opted to change the negatives into positives, she told Liverpool Life: “My life completely changed in 2011, when I was diagnosed with GBS. I was cabin crew for many years previous to this and absolutely loved my job. My illness came from nowhere, with no real warning. Within a week I went from being active, fit and healthy to being unable to move anything. I could no longer do my job as cabin crew and needed a new passion.” After coming to terms with her illness, Gemma decided to channel her efforts into making a mark on the fashion industry, not just a dent either, she wants to completely re-shape it for the better. She said: “I discovered models of diversity, which gave me the drive and passion I needed. I am now proud to

say I am using a negative experience and how it has left me as a positive to help change things for disability within fashion. My life is completely different now, but I am also the happiest I’ve ever been, despite my disabilities and pain.” Gemma is a proud ambassador for Models of Diversity, a non-profit organisation set up in 2008 by Angel Sinclair. Fellow model, Angel, noticed the short comings in the fashion industry in terms of representation for disabled models, not to mention the lack of shapes, sizes, ethnicities and genders too. Since her illness, Gemma, Angel and many others have been striving to redefine what the industry sees as beautiful and have had many notable successes along the way. “Angel together with an amazing team, have had great successes over the last few years, from having disabled models invited to New York and Milan fashion weeks, holding a vast range of diverse fashion shows and amazing events, to having fantastic support from celebrities and worldwide recognition” said Gemma of her college, Angels success. But what about her own victories?

for the issue of the non-representation of disabled models to be debated in parliament, their petition has amassed 895 signatures so far, admittedly there is still work to do but Gemma and co plan to take to the nation’s high streets to rally support. Gemma thinks slow change is happening in the industry and there’s no doubt Models of Diversity is part of the driving force behind that,“I am so proud to be an Ambassador for Models

emma and her fellow models were invited to a major casting in London and although none of them were picked, it represented a victory for what they’re ultimately trying to achieve. It was the first time Clothes Show Live had opened their castings up to disabled models after Models of Diversity approaching them on several occasions. They have been tirelessly campaigning © Gemma Flanagan: Facebook

of Diversity, and will continue to be so. It is great to be part of a movement that could make a massive change within fashion. Change is happening very slowly, and we will get there. We all have the belief that we will achieve our targets. I would love to have as much support from my home city as I possibly can. I am sure everyone knows someone who this may affect and would hope that it would lean you to supporting what we are trying to achieve.”

Life|Sport|15

Body builder looks to lift gold By LEWIS PRICE A young Merseyside bodybuilder is looking to strike gold in future international competitions having already succeeded in regional competitions. Connor Igoe, from Moreton, began his bodybuilding journey two years ago when he joined Bodytech Fitness Gym, who compete in bodybuilding competitions nationwide. The 20-year-old has worked hard on his body and won the Mr Southport competition earlier this year and also finished second in the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA) 2015 competition. His second place finish allowed him to qualify for NABBA Universe 2015, an international bodybuilding tournament. Speaking of his success Connor told Liverpool Life: “To walk away with the trophies that I have is testament to my hard work and determination. “I never took a first place in my most recent competition but I was honoured to have even been there as it was the NABBA Universe which is an international competition so I was competing against some of the top junior bodybuilders in the world.” The young bodybuilder had to stick to a strict training schedule to ensure he was ready for his competitions. “The lead-up to competitions are all about consistency so I was on a strict diet day-to-day without a moment off and I was spending at least three hours in the gym each day, getting my cardio and weight training in, no matter what with no excuses. “I am now looking forward to being back preparing for competitions come January, qualifying for some of the biggest international bodybuilding competitions and bringing home the gold.”

Anfield redevelopment: One year later By MICHAEL HENRY Twelve months after construction work began on one of the world’s most famous football stadiums, the main stand at Anfield is nearing completion ahead of its target date of the summer of 2016. The plan is to completely regenerate the stadium to accommodate Liverpool’s vast support, including the expansion of the seating capacity, which is set to rise from 41,000 to 54,000 seats. The entire scheme is set to cost the club over £260m in total and will eventually comprise of three tiers alongside the expansion of the existing lower tier to implement a widened player tunnel. Further additions to the stadium will consist of new team benches, a modern media platform and wheelchair viewing positions in order to accommodate more disabled supporters. All work is being carried out by building company Carillion, who are also behind the £335m rebuild

of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Most of the work is taking place on the Main Stand in an effort to increase its capacity to over 20,000, and houses situated in the streets behind the stand have also finally been demolished after a lengthy process which included petitions and protests against the destruction. The work officially started on the stadium on December 8, 2014 and a landmark moment in July allowed fans the chance to watch a 650 tonne roof russ being lifted into position by two of the country’s biggest cranes. By August, there were signs of serious progress as the new staircases became visible, allowing fans a glimpse of the walkways many of them will climb whenever they travel to Anfield to watch their team. The redevelopment also includes a relocation of the Hillsborough Memorial and Shankly Gates, along with new lounges, ticket offices, shops and corporate boxes.

© Nick Parrot STATE OF PLAY: The current state of the main stand development Liverpool fans are understandably excited about the new project, and Liverpool Life spoke to James McKenna, chairman of the Spirit of Shankly supporters club about the redevelopment. He said: “Finally we will have the stadium that our club and fans deserve. United and Arsenal have huge stadiums to accommodate huge fan bases, and Liverpool should be no different. I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.”

Merseyside clubs fed minnows in the FA CUP By MICHAEL HENRY The draw for this year’s FA Cup third round took place on Monday evening and both of the remaining Merseyside representatives were handed tricky ties against lower league opposition. Everton will play at home to the winners of the replay between League Two Dagenham and Redbridge and sixth-tier Whitehawk, whereas Liverpool will travel to the south coast to take on League Two side Exeter City at St. James’ Park. It will be the second time that Liverpool have played Exeter, with the previous meeting ending in a 3-1 away victory for the reds in a League Cup encounter in August 2011. On the other hand, regard-

less of the result of the replay between Dagenham and Redbridge and Whitehawk, it will be the first time the Toffees have taken on either team. Both ties will take place on Saturday 9th January. There is still plenty of football to be played before the FA Cup third round begins though, as the next few days sees all Merseyside teams in action in a variety of competitions. Liverpool will be looking to bounce back after Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle as they travel to Switzerland to play FC Sion in the Europa League on Thursday. The final round of group fixtures sees both teams neck in neck at the top of the table, although the Reds will clinch top spot in the group as long as they avoid defeat.

Next up for Everton is a trip to Norwich for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. The Toffees have been in fine form recently after going seven games unbeaten, and also boast one of the league’s form players in Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku who has scored in his last six games in a row. Tranmere Rovers take on fellow National League side Wrexham at Prenton Park on Saturday in the first round of the FA Trophy. The Welsh side have a rich history in the competition, having won the trophy in 2013 and losing out to North Ferriby in last season’s final after a dramatic penalty shootout. Rovers are under pressure as their strong start to the season has tailed off in recent weeks.

Hitting the big league Danny Roberts, an up-andcoming fighter who made his trade in Merseyside will fight in the UFC for the first time this week. Roberts, is a 28-year-old welterweight fighter with one loss in 11 fights. He was planned to fight Michael Graves however the unbeaten American was forced to withdraw from the fight through injury. Graves’ replacement is fellow newcomer Nathan Coy. The fighter was initially

raised in Bristol however he has become known as somewhat of an adopted scouser after moving to the city at the age of 20 when he officially turned professional. He trained for a number of years at the Next Generation MMA in the city centre under the guidance of Paul Rimmer. The fight which is on the preliminary card will take place in Las Vegas in the early hours of Friday morning, viewers will require a UFC Fight Pass to gain TV access.

TOP DOGS: UFC Is the premier organisation for MMA

Liverpool

LifeSPORT MATTIE AIMS FOR RIO 2016 9 December 2015

Wirral teen set to make a splash

By LEWIS PRICE A teenage Wirral swimmer is continuing to be a success despite undergoing major back surgery last year. Mattie Harding, from Wirral, began his love of swimming after he was inspired by his older brother Will, who was also successful in the sport. Mattie is 15 and was born with Achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism, and has had to undergo a series of operations since birth.

The young swimmer uses the pool to help with his confidence and also to recover from his operations. Mattie has had nine operations since birth but that has not stopped the teenage swimmer from being a sensation in the water, as he struck gold at the Para-international Swimming Championship in Glasgow earlier this year in the 50 metre butterfly event. Overwhelmed by his accomplishments, he said: “The swimming pool is one of my favourite places, I have swum from a very young age and did not expect to be competing at a high level. “This was my first international medal, it meant a lot because the competition was very fierce and I did not expect to win.” Not only did Mattie win the gold medal, he also smashed his personal best time which was enough to win against Paralympic swimmers who were a lot

WINNER: Mattie won gold in Glasgow this year. © Facebook/Mattie Harding older than him. Mattie also swims for Wirral Metro swimming club and because of his success he has been awarded a place with the England Talent Programme. But the young swimmer could not have succeeded without the help of his doctor, Dr Nigam. Mattie said: “I could barely walk let alone run. All my family were concerned about my future.

Inside Sport Anfield development: a year of work later

CHAMP: Mattie’s gold medal was in the 50m Then an absolute hero entered into my life. Eleven operations later and I am on the pathway to Rio Paralympic games in 2016.” Overall it has been a hectic year for Mattie, he has bro-

Britain for future competitions. Despite his operations he has overcome all of the obstacles that were set against him and he could well be on his way to Rio 2016 for the Paralympic games.

REFS ARE VICTIMS OF REGULAR ABUSE By NATHAN BURGESS

Bodybuilder sets sight on international stage

ken two British records and swum against a number of pro Paralympic swimmers. He has represented the North West in regional competitions and has been scouted to represent Great

Nearly two-thirds of referees in England suffer verbal abuse regularly, a survey has revealed this week. The findings revealed that 22% have experienced verbal abuse at every match they officiate in. 38% said they were abused every couple of games and a total of 19% have admitted they have been a victim of physical abuse at least once. A total of 2,026 referees took part in the survey across England, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. Thirty-two percent of responses were from junior referees aged 16 or over at Level 7 and thirty percent of responses were received from

senior county referees at Level 5. Referees who are currently working within the Barclays Premier League and the Sky Bet Football League also took part. Jonny Bradley, from Liverpool, a referee at grassroots-level, has taken charge of over 50 football matches He said: “I don’t think referees at grassroots level get anywhere near as much respect as they deserve. Being a referee at any level is a thankless task. At grassroots level it isn’t the players who are the problem, a lot of the time, especially in junior football, it’s the parents who are the issue. Shouting at the children, shouting at the referee. They need to remember the game is about enjoy-

ment and it’s only grass roots level and everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes.” An FA spokesperson said that in an estimated 1.2 million games last season the number of extreme incidents with referees was 1%, or 12,000 of these matches, and the FA’s current Respect Programme has seen a 23% decline in dissent cautions over the last seven seasons. Bradley added: “The worst abuse I suffered was when I was 14 and doing one of my first games. I was punched by a player from a team who had just lost and it made me think a lot whether I wanted to continue refereeing grassroots football. I would probably say it has helped me, I am more assertive in my decisions.”