Liverpool Life 3:14 March 3 2015

03 - 03 - 2015

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE...

NEWS

PAGE 5

Protests over Goodison stadium being built on Walton Hall Park

LIFEextra

PAGE 11

We celebrate British Pie Week with Liverpool’s best pie shop

BLOOMIN’ LOVELY

SPORT

Liverpool student to represent GB in the European athletics in Prague

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Triumph for Merseyside’s rail service as it is commended for outstanding customer satisfaction

By JAMES BUSBY and DANIEL WRIGHT

SPRING: It may be cold outside but the sun was shining on St Luke’s Church today, proving © Josie O’Sullivan spring is in full swing

PAGE 15

Merseyrail has been given the green light by commuters after it was crowned ‘Operator of the Year’ at the prestigious national rail business awards in London last night for its high customer satisfaction and performance.

The win does not come as a surprise considering its success as a high performer in the biannual National

Rail Passenger Survey, where 90 per cent of passengers were satisfied with the current service.

Alan Chaplin, interim managing director at Merseyrail, said: “Merseyrail has an enviable track record for winning awards, and it’s great to be recognised yet again. But, we remain determined to working hard and providing an excellence service for customers.

“This means constantly appraising and challenging the way we do things, innovating and applying the practice.”  Continued on page 5

Life|News|2

Mayoral bursary benefits students

Wirral fire stations consultation under way

By DANIEL WRIGHT A public consultation is underway regarding the potential closure of two Wirral fire stations as a result of government cuts.

The proposal from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA) is to build a new station in Saughall Massey as a result of closing down the West Kirby and Upton stations.

The MFRA official consultation report states: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority is responsible for providing fire and rescue

services for Merseyside’s 1.4 million people at 26 stations across the five districts.

“Over the last four years, MFRA has had to make savings of £20 million as a result of Government spending cuts and now the Authority is required to make a further £6.3 million savings in 2015/16.

It is also possible that future savings will be required, possibly up to £9.1 million in 2016/17 and potentially up to £20 million in total by 2020.” The consultation will last 12 weeks and three

public meetings will be held on Monday 20th April, Tuesday 28th April, and Tuesday 5th May. The process will also involve a joint forum as well as three focus groups. The MFRA have also recently confirmed the closure of Allerton fire station.

Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephen added: “We have to make structural changes to emergency response cover across Merseyside in order to deliver the savings required following the confirmation of further Government Grant cuts.”

By ALICE KERSHAW

CUTS: Allerton Fire Station

© Flickr/Colin Gould

HM Prison Liverpool is one of the city’s longest serving jails, having been open since the 19th century, and is located in Walton.

This comes after a turbulent start to the year for Hornby Road-based HM Prison Liverpool, as staff shortages and the prevalence of drugs has seen the jail put on lock-down on a regular basis.

A violent prison attack left three guards injured including a suspected broken eye socket, which was soon followed by an officer being stabbed in the chest by an inmate armed with a homemade knife.

Frances Crook, Howard League chief executive, said the prison service is currently in ‘crisis’.

“Caging men in squalor with nothing to do all day is never going to help them become lawabiding citizens on release.

“Far too many people are being sent into already overcrowded jails and the need to stem the flow is now urgent.

“Government must get a grip

on a prison system in crisis that is feeding the crime problem and creating more victims.”

The population of prisoners rose by over 600 within a twoyear period across the UK. However, within this same time scale, 12 prisons were either closed or re-roled and the number of places were cut from 78,935 to 75,374.

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous expressed that prison population levels were “safe” in an interview with the BBC. He said: “We always have enough space within our prisons to accommodate all offenders, and will never be in a position where we can’t imprison those sentenced by the courts.

“All prisons have safe population levels and published statistics show that crowding is at its lowest levels since 2007/08.

“This Government has considerably increased the adult male prison capacity from the level inherited at the end of the last Parliament.”

Overcrowded jails leads to prison crisis

By STEPHANIE BEWLEY

Merseyside’s overcrowded jails show the prison service in ‘crisis’, with three in four men’s jails holding more people than they are designed for across the UK. According to the Howard League, the prison charity who obtained the statistics, revealed more than 1,000 prisoners are being ‘doubled up’ in overcrowded cells across Greater Liverpool.

Due to jails closing and the rising amount of offenders, prisons have been forced to crunch numbers concerning prisoners in their cells.

Around 85% of category B/C men’s prisons in England in Wales exceed their population levels, compared to the Certified Normal Accommodation (CAN) levels, which is the prison service’s own measure of safety for prison numbers.

Category B/C adult men’s prison, HM Prison Liverpool, is holding prisoners more than the ‘safe and decent’ level determined by the prison service.

CRISIS: Overcrowded jails

© MK Feeney/Flickr

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Trees to hit streets for book School wants to make Walton scheme

Life Team Editor Josh Kelsall

More than 1800 students have been helped by a £900k “Mayoral Bursary” scheme offered by the City of Liverpool College and Liverpool City Council.

The bursary is designed to support 16 to 18-year-olds in their studies and has been running for the last three years, helping more than 1,800 students fund their education.

The bursary was set up after the scrapping of Education Maintenance Allowances as city and education leaders in Liverpool were concerned that students from less affluent backgrounds would be unable to afford higher education.

Students eligible for the scheme have to be under 19, study for at least 15 hours a week and come from a family that receives financial support.

Applicants receive £20 a week through the scheme, which is payable every week subject to students demonstrating their commitment to studies and required level of attendance.

Features Kieran Etoria-King Laura Schumann Rebecca Cookson Hannah Anderson Sports Editor Olivia SwayneAtherton Sports Amy Holdsworth Lauren Pulford

a top city attraction by 2020

By MATTHEW JUDGE An operational plan to put Walton on the map as one of the best thriving areas in Liverpool by 2020 has been launched by a host of community representatives.

Alsop High School and Walton Youth Project have outlined a detailed strategy to ensure Walton will be ‘visibly cleaner and safer’ in five years time and to see a variety of jobs made available due to inward investment, increased tourism and entrepreneurship.

The operational plan, which has been labelled as “2020 Vision”, has come off the back of Alsop and Walton Youth Project’s ‘L4 - Walton A Better Place Iniative’, which is aimed at getting youngsters aged seven to 19 more involved in their community.

Peter Bull, a teacher at Alsop and chair for the Walton Youth Project, said: “The Operational Plan demonstrates the commitment of the school to use education as a tool to regenerate North Liverpool.

“Young people, older residents and community partners have

MP: Steve Rotheram with students © Alsop High School made a real commitment to change and improve their local community.”

The plan first started in March 2014 when a group of concerned residents, organisations and charities met together with the shared desire to see Walton become a better place to live, learn and work and has since gone from strength to strength.

By reducing duplication, Alsop and Walton Youth Project aim to have more resources at their collective disposal for the benefit of

the Walton community and, in doing so, help relieve the causes of poverty and social exclusion, plus promote personal well-being in Walton.

Walton MP Steve Rotheram (above) has previously hailed the work being done on the project telling Liverpool Life: “It’s really good in respect that it’s them wanting to do something for their community and not another organisation telling them what would be best for their community.”

By STEPHANIE BEWLEY

Liverpool ONE is hosting Words on the Street with four wooden Reading Trees popping up around the shopping district.

As part of the City’s In Other Words literary festival, the 2.6m high trees will give shoppers the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle and lose themselves in a book, which runs from April 23rd to June 2nd 2015.

Taking inspiration from the joy found in reading a book under the shade of a tree on a sunny day, artists Laurie Crombie and Mike Lill have designed the Reading Trees.

Located on streets around Liverpool ONE, they will be constructed of wood with one Children’s Tree decorated in carvings of forest animals.

Donna Howitt, Marketing Director, Liverpool ONE said: “Liverpool ONE prides itself on offering our visitors more than a shopping experience The Reading Trees that have been created are beautiful and provide the perfect area to take a moment out of a busy day and indulge in a good read.”

Life|News|3

Clothes confidence for ex-offenders

By GEORGIE WHITWORTH

Women across Merseyside are joining together to provide work clothes for ex-offenders as part of a new campaign.

The ‘Dress It Forward’ initiative, to be launched by Councillor Erica Kemp at the Northern Power Women Conference on 12th March, aims to help female ex-offenders get back into employment.

The scheme was set up by Director of Sefton & Liverpool Women in Business, Stephanie Wright, who works closely with women at the ISIS Centre Merseyside and Tomorrow’s Women Wirral.

The women at the centres are

mainly ex-offenders who often have very little or no previous work experience and consequently no suitable clothes for interview, business meetings etc.

Speaking of the scheme, Stephanie Wright said: “It is tough for ex-offenders to get their lives back on track and it is simple things that we take for granted, such as owning appropriate work wear, that makes the struggle even harder.

“By setting up the Dress It Forward scheme we are hoping to encourage local women to donate their unwanted clothes, which ex-offenders can then keep and wear to interviews and business meetings. This will give these women a real confidence boost and help them realise their

own aspirations by knowing that other people care about them.”

Steph also hopes to find a suitable venue from which the women can run their own ‘Dress It Forward’ vintage boutique, providing a source of work experience for those looking for employment and a live business model for those looking to go into self-employment.

The campaign will be started with donations from female MP’s, councillors and local business leaders, though contributions from any women across the region are very welcome. MSB Solicitors, Business Room 52, and Merseyside Police are among those backing the campaign.

Lord Mayor, Cllr Erica Kemp, said: “I am thrilled to be launch-

ing the Dress It Forward campaign as it is an initiative that should boost employment rates and change the stigma that is often attached to employing ex-offenders. Liverpool is a charitable city, and one person donating one unused outfit can make a real difference to the community.”

The campaign will be officially launched at the Northern Power Women’s conference at Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel. The conference is designed to recognise the North of England as a force for good in achieving gender balance and harness ministerial support to promote positive change for women in business.

Simone Roche, Founder of Northern Power Women, said: “When Steph told me her ini-

tiative, I didn’t have any hesitation in offering Northern Power Women as a platform to engage with business women and leaders to support other women to get into work. This is a great example of women working collaboratively to make a positive impact.”

The campaign is looking for clothes, coats accessories and shoes and you can drop off donations at the following places: Liverpool Town Hall: High Street, Liverpool L2 3SW Agent Marketing: 43 Jordan St, Liverpool, L1 0BW Mersey Youth Support Trust: Old St Lawrence School, Westminster Road, Kirkdale L4 3TQ Social Enterprise Network: 4th Floor, 151 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2AH

Work on Queen Mary school site begins

By ALICE KERSHAW

Work has started on the building of 200 new homes at the former Queen Mary School site on Long Lane, Fazakerley.

The brownfield development, Queen Mary Place, will see an investment of £26m, contributing to the Mayor’s 2012 commitment to deliver 5,000 new homes by 2016.

The new development is being built by Countryside Sigma, Regeneration Liverpool’s housing affiliate. 136 of the new homes will be available for sale through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, with the remaining 64 available for private rent.

Graeme Hogg, Chief Operating Officer at Sigma Capital, said: “We are very excited that this project is finally under construction. The mixture of rental and for sale is new for the area – and allows us to satisfy real market need. Customers will have a genuine choice whether to buy or rent these high quality family homes.

The pace of delivery at 10 per

© Queen Mary High School Long Lane Liverpool / Facebook month is unprecedented and will transform a site that has lain derelict for so long.”

Countryside is due to open the Queen Mary Place Show Village this summer, which will comprise four interior-decorated show homes to showcase the

Fears for online dogs bought to fight

By DANIEL WRIGHT

A local dog rescue charity has issued a warning regarding the sale of pets on websites such as Gumtree that may end up being purchased for illegal dog fights.

Lisa Rhodes, the founder of Liverpool Dog Rescue has suggested that such websites should be prohibited from selling live animals to ensure they do not end up in the hands of cruel owners looking to make money illegally.

She said: “It simply shouldn’t happen, and one of the first steps would be to not sell live

Henry the rescue dog © Lisa Rhodes

animals on Gumtree, but at least target the people endorsing this blood sport which has somehow become a big business. I’ve been personally doing dog rescue for 25 years, but we’re only a small place and this is what we are up against.

“We actually rescued a Staffie pup we saw online and took a screenshot of a conversation between certain individuals who were plotting to take him for all the wrong reasons.”

The charity also recently took in another dog with severe injuries named Henry, who was rescued from a place in Leeds.

The two-year-old cross bull mastiff is covered in scars from the top of his head to the tip of his tail which may even have to be amputated if it doesn’t heal.

The Gumtree website states that it keeps a “close eye” on the pets category and removes ads that may be incriminating or indicating signs of animal

range of three-bedroom house types available for sale.

Ian Kelley, Managing Director of Countryside’s Partnerships North division, said: “There is a real demand for high quality and affordable new homes across Liverpool and the Mayor’s

ambitious housing strategy for the city is going a long way in catering for this appetite.

“The success of NGV Liverpool and the transformation of Norris Green since 2011 is a powerful testament to what can be achieved through collabora-

tive working. We are very proud to be taking our partnership with Sigma and Liverpool City Council forward with the creation of Queen Mary Place and to further improving the quality and variety of homes across the city.”

‘Sea of Faces’ to be projected onto Liverpool’s Three Graces

By GEORGIE WHITWORTH

The public of Liverpool is being given the chance to have their faces emblazoned on to Liverpool’s iconic Three Graces.

With the arrival of the Cunard Queens set for May, arts organisation Hope Street Ltd will team up with technical experts The Colour Project to present Amazing Graces – a state-of-the-art projection exploring the spirit of Liverpool throughout the May Bank Holiday weekend (24, 25 and 26 May).

Part of the display will include a ‘Sea of Faces’ projected onto the buildings – and organisers are on the hunt for anyone who wants their face to be part of this unique project.

The team behind the event want as many people as possible

to be involved in the artwork and have organised three special photo shoots where people can come and explain why they think Liverpool is a magnificent city and then pose for a picture.

The sessions will take place on: • Thursday 5 March, 3pm to 6.30pm, Met Quarter, 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool L1 6DA •Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March, midday to 4pm, Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG Alternatively, people can take a head and shoulders picture of themselves and simply upload it to http://www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk/. The picture must be good quality and taken against a plain white background, and once again, in 100 words or less, the team wants to know why

Liverpool is magnificent. The deadline for online uploads is Friday 10 April.

Montserrat Gili, Creative Director at Hope Street: “This promises to be a once in a lifetime event that will show off the city in a magnificent light!

“We want as many people as possible to come forward and get involved and be in with the opportunity of gracing one of the Three Graces!”

Taking place each evening from 10pm, the Three Graces is one of the new commissions created especially for One Magnificent City which is the seven week programme of events celebrating Liverpool and its maritime links.  Read more about the line-up for One Magnificent City on page 13.

Green party set to go

By JOSH HANDSCOMB

The Green Party’s Spring Conference will be kicking off this weekend at ACC Liverpool.

The waterfront venue will see 1,500 delegates arriving on Friday ahead of the May General Election with 50% of attendees being new party members.

Martin Dobson, Green Party candidate for Liverpool Riverside constituency told Liverpool Life: “The numbers of young people getting involved is very hopeful. The Green party’s long term vision for the country and the planet has a deep resonance with the people who are going to be around to deal with the problems left by the previous generations. People are aware that the short term fixes put forward by the other parties, like fracking and nuclear power, will only leave a long term legacy of pollution and harm to the planet.”

The conference is set to be the biggest in the party’s history and was initially planned to be held at St George’s Hall, which hosted last year’s Spring Conference but a surge in demand for attendance meant the Green Party had to switch from the city centre venue.

Cllr Dobson also added: “Liverpool has for decades been the most deprived city in Britain.

The government has a measure of deprivation and consistently Liverpool has had the most areas of most severe deprivation of any local authority area in the country. On top of that Liverpool has suffered just about the deepest cuts to council funding of any local authority. The Green Party would restore funding to local authorities so that they in turn can restore public services. We would protect public services, spend on investment in the new green economy and create greater equality.”

Friday’s opening day will include speeches by Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, and England’s first Green MP, Caroline Lucas.

Cuts for asylum seekers

By ALICE KERSHAW Hair and Beauty students at Liverpool Community College ran a pampering day for asylum seekers living in poverty in the city.

After hearing that people who have come to Liverpool in search of safety often experience poverty and homelessness, students at Liverpool Community College, Duke Street, decided there was something they could do to help.

On Tuesday 24 February, they opened the doors to their training salon to offer free haircuts and relaxation treatments for those seeking asylum.

Alhagi, a refugee from Gambia, who chairs Liverpool Asylum and Refugee Association (LARA). “It’s very important the students of Liverpool are showing how much they welcome us” “This gives us courage and hope in life. On behalf of LARA and all the asylum seekers and refugees in Liverpool, we would like to thank the students of Duke Street for what they are offering us.”

The students said the turnout on the day was excellent and they hope to do similar events in the future.

Life|News|4

Allotment: Park Hill site confirmed © Groundwork

Local project seeds planted

Palestine activists in freedom march

by MELISSA MCFARLANE

by ALICE KERSHAW

Liverpool community allotments are to be created for the first time in decades.

The new allotment site will be created out of part of the Park Hill Recreation Ground in Dingle and will consist of 30 plots on raised planters with additional tree planting and a central hub with storage space and car parking.

The city council met with the Association of Liverpool Allotments who recommended that the allotments be moved to an area of the city where there is a higher demand and the site in the Dingle met these needs.

The cabinet will be asked at its meeting on March 6 to confirm the funding for the allotments with £75,000 being made available from the School Investment Programme and £33,000 contributions from planning obligations for development in Duke Street and Henry Street.

Councilor Steve Munby, said: “This is a site which is poorly used and has suffered from antisocial behavior. Converting part of the site into allotments will improve this area.

“We’ll be carrying out a consultation exercise with local children and parents on what they’d like to see on the adjacent Cockburn St. playground.”

The first phase of work is expected to be finished by the middle of April with the first portion of allotment plots allocated at the founding meeting of allotment holders on March 8.

Demonstration: Pro-Palestinian activists march to St. Luke’s church. © Melissa McFarlane

A group campaigning for Palestinian freedom have taken their protest to the steps of Liverpool’s iconic bombed out church.

The Rise 4 Palestine group claim they are defending the right of the Palestinian people in Israel, to allow them to be rulers of their own independent free state against Zionist domination.

However, local police have claimed that these protests are of anti-Semitic nature which are naturally illegal in the UK. The weekend’s march was campaigning for the right to protest in Liverpool and across the country, One 15 year-old college student, Alex, who joined the protest for the second time this year on Saturday told Liverpool Life: “We just want to free the Palestine people who are innocent victims in a corrupt nation. As long as their fight goes on, we will fight for their freedom.”

Campaigns like these have been held across the country over the past two years, In January several protesters united in Trafalgar Square, but the crowd was soon dispersed by the police who have started labelling these protests by Rise 4 Palestine as anti-social behaviour crimes and have said that as a result of members of the public have been ‘harassed, alarmed or distressed’ during these marches.

The new dispersal power is to be agreed with Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and other members of the local authority including Merseyside Police commissioner, Jane Kennedy, who is also a former char of Labour Friends of Israel.

The group also held a protest last September outside Joe Anderson’s home.

A spokesperson from Rise 4 Palestine said: “With these new powers first outlined against us in November when police tried to exclude protestors from their

right to protest in Liverpool, they haven’t deterred us they have just made us want to come back stronger. Resistance is existence.”

“The local authorities have called up on us to pay for a traffic management plan and private security - in order to protest. We can see that the right to protest faces serious threat.”

Rise 4 Palestine is determined to defend its right to protest.

They added: “We reject any accusation of anti-Semitism being used in any orchestrated attempt to criminalise those who defend the right of the Palestine people to a sovereign, independent state free and we will continue to fight for their freedom and democracy.”

Kelly Transard of Huyton told Liverpool Life: “It is ridiculous that the police are trying to stop our right to protest and are accusing us of anti-Semitism.

“We are fighting for the Palestine people.”

Girl Geeks inspire women to go for tech sector jobs

by STEPHANIE BEWLEY With the number of females working in the technology sector down 16% from 2014, a Liverpool group is pushing for women to get involved.

By 2040, it is estimated the sector will be made up of as little as 1% of women, according to Liverpool Girl Geeks (LGG) who are getting involved with International Women’s Day on March 8th.

Rebecca Jones from LGG told Liverpool Life: “In a recent government report Liverpool has been named as one of the fastest growing hubs for digital companies and we want to make sure that women have the skills

and confidence to go for jobs in these companies, or even, and this would be fantastic, start their own companies in this industry.”

The city- based company aims to inspire a community of all generations with technology, gaming, design, and all things digital.

Recognised as a national holiday in some countries, the company hope to use the hype of International Women’s Day to celebrate achievements of women. The official theme for 2015 is “Make it Happen” and many are wearing purple in recognition.

Rebecca spoke of the overwhelming support for the company, from both men and women.

“It depends which companies you look at, I’m absolutely certain that internationally there are some companies or departments in tech companies where it can be a bit of a Boys Club. Men and women have different skill sets and strengths - I’d argue its bad business not to be recruiting more women because of what they also bring to the table.”

Liverpool Girl Geeks are sup-

porting the mission to get more women involved in the technology industry and collaborate with organisations across the world on International Women’s Day. Located at Gostin Building on Hanover Street, DoES Liverpool will host a tech event to celebrate, including 3D printing and laser cutting demonstrations, all day networking, and collaborations with local digital/ tech companies.

Looking to the future, she said: “We want to promote opportunities and provide guidance, support, mentorship and training to women who either work in these industries already and would like to progress , are looking to enter these industries or simply would like to know more to help support and grow their own skills or business, if not directly in the tech world. We also want to highlight and promote the amazing work women are already doing - creating role models for the next generation of Geek Girls.”  Read more about International Women’s Day in Liverpool Life Extra, where Melissa McFarlane explores the facts and more events in the city - Page 10.

Clean-up begins

by ADRIAN SPEED

Walton is getting a fresh lease of life thanks to local residents, businesses and councillors beginning a spring clean to help transform the area.

Locals took to the streets clad in high visibility clothing with brushes and bin bags in a scheme which is funded by broadcaster and retail consultant Mary Portas.

Portas launched a charity to help save inner city areas affected by urban decay in a series

about the effect large supermarkets have on local businesses.

Skips have been placed along the street for residents to fill as well as fundraising events in the local Tesco car park this weekend.

Scheme organisers, The County High Street Innovation Group, said: “We are working with willing partners to demonstrate that we will do all we can to demonstrate that County Road is open for business and that we support businesses.”and others that want to open in the area.”

ECO-FRIENDLY: Citybike expansion aims to reduce Liverpool’s carbon footprint. © JMU Journalism

Citybike scheme in local expansion

by ALICE KERSHAW Citybike have provided 13 new stations across North Liverpool to help reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

The expansion is designed to connect North Liverpool to the existing Citybike network, providing a convenient, cheap, low carbon transport link across Liverpool for commuters, students, visitors and residents.

The cycle hire scheme is part-funded by £1.5 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. That money has been used to help make Liverpool’s transport more environmentally friendly.

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Climate Change said: “By extending the Citybike network people will now be able to cycle to work or their place of study more easily.

“It is cheap to use and there are stations across the city so wherever you are heading, be it for a job interview, to hand in some college work or simply to enjoy a leisurely ride to some of our city’s visitor attractions, you can get there by Citybike.

Stations have been installed at Lifestyles gyms in Walton, Ellergreen, Alsop, Everton Park and Lifestyles Peter Lloyd.

There are also new stations at Gardner’s Drive, Prescott Road in Kensington, Stanley Park Anfield Road, Mere Lane Neighbourhood Health Centre, Everton Road Hostel, Tesco Old Swan, Edge Lane Old Swan and The Rotunda.

Life |News|5

NEWS IN BRIEF Gas repairs causes city centre road chaos

by ALICE KERSHAW Hanover Street will be closed for eight weeks for essential gas main replacement works.

This project, which started on March 1, will see the Victorian cast-iron gas mains replaced with plastic mains to resolve a number of leaks on the main road and an ongoing leak at the junction with Seel Street.

The project aims to replace all cast-iron gas mains between Bold Street and Duke Street. The project will be divided into two phases to lessen the impact on gas supply to Liverpool One, Albert Dock and the Echo Arena.

Phase one, which will go from Bold Street to Gradwell Street, started on Sunday 1st March and estimated to finish on Sunday 26th April. Phase two which will go from Gradwell Street to Duke Street will start in September 2015 and is expected to last approximately five weeks.

Hanover Street will be closed during these works with access maintained along the closed section for businesses in the Liverpool One and Ropewalks area, where no other routes are available.

Merseytravel have been working with bus operators to divert buses around the closure utilising Liverpool One, Great Charlotte Street and Queen Square Bus Station for the majority of the diverted services.

Homegrown talent joins orchestra

Outrage at Walton Hall proposals

by KIERAN ETORIA-KING

A campaign group staged a protest at the Bombed Out Church on Saturday in an on going attempt to derail Everton’s new stadium ambitions.

The football club suggested the idea of building a 50,000-seat stadium in the Walton Hall Park last year, along with 1000 new homes and 30,000 square metres of leisure, retail and restaurant space.

No official planning application has been submitted to the city council, but the local residents have been vocal in their opposition to the suggestion.

Chrise Byrne, of the Friends of Walton Hall Park, said: “The area’s very built-up, the houses are all terraced so they don’t have any gardens, so Walton Hall Park is their garden for a lot of the residents.

“We’re not getting listened to.

Walton Hall Park is covered by three wards, and those wards all have three councillors, so that’s nine Labour councillors and not

by STEPHANIE BEWLEY Liverpool-born conductor Sir Simon Rattle (pictured) is to join the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), it has been confirmed.

Educated at Liverpool College, Sir Simon studied piano and violin, but his early work with orchestras was as a percussionist. He entered the Royal Academy of Music at the University of London in 1971.

Sir Simon, 60, said it was “a very obvious step - and the idea of coming home and having a position in this fantastic city is also a thrill for me”.

He is currently director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has been since 2002 and has three years left on his contract. He will take up the position at the LSO from September 2017.

and in my opinion there is widespread abuse commercially and otherwise.

“Parks are precious, and they’re for the public. They can’t be associated with property developers and commercial interests – once money comes into it, dirty tricks come into it. It’s just something that should never happen. They should be protected, full stop.”

Everton are expected to unveil official plans for the park within six months, and a report published in November claimed they would use 40-50% of the park’s green space while creating 1250 permanent jobs.

Asked how dedicated the Friends of Walton Park were to preventing the development, Ms Byrne added: “We’re really encouraged every single day by people that come forward with help and advice and support, the love for the park has been absolutely overwhelming and unbelievable. ANGRY: Protester’s fronted their campaign with a We will fight it all the way to the end - we’re even willing to chain large bilboard. © Liverpool Life ourselves to the diggers.”

Staying safe with a coffee

by ALICE KERSHAW

HOST: St David’s Childwall © SteHLiverpool / Wikipedia / Creative Commons

A local Church café is hosting an event to help the people of Liverpool keep their homes safe.

The Friday café at St David’s Church, which has run successfully for more than two years, has introduced a monthly community event which will be held on the first Friday of

each month, excluding Good Friday. The first of these events gave out around 70 information packs on keeping warm during winter time and getting the best value out of the fuel used. The session held this Friday will be offering advice on how to keep your home secure. It will feature advice from Trading Standards, Police, the fire service and

housing officers. The Reverend Robert Williams, Vicar of St David’s, said, “We intended the Friday café at St. David’s to be a place where people could meet socially, as well as a place that could be used as a meeting point where information could be accessed. “The first event was very successful and we want to build on that with future

Top industry honour for Merseyrail  Continued from Page 1

© Reinhard Kraasch

one of them is speaking up for us. They’re siding with the party and not with the residents. To be a ward councillor you are supposed to represent the views of the constituents, but they aren’t.”

The demonstration included campaign groups from other public parks threatened by development, including Sefton Meadows, Woolton Woods and Calderstones Park, and some of those in attendance expressed a broader opposition to the city’s leadership.

Patrick Duggan, of the Green Spaces Initiative, brought a billboard van bearing the words ‘Mayor Joe Must Go’. He said: “He’s selling parks, and personally I think he’s undemocratic, I think there’s a conspiracy, a collusion, a clique, a club in the mayor’s office there, they do anything they want. There’s no transparency, and there’s thousands of questions and zero answers of any quality. For me, it just doesn’t smell right, it doesn’t look right, it’s wide open to abuse in there,

Merseyrail carries 110,000 passengers every week day and has averaged 95 per cent for reliability and punctuality during the last 12 months.

The network currently runs one of the most intensively used networks in the UK with more than 800 trains per weekday. It operates a fleet of 59 trains, 67 stations and 75 miles of track which is all maintained and manned by its 1,200 employees.

Mersey Railway, was one of the world’s first underwater railway tunnels in 1886 and ran from James Street to Green Lane, Birkenhead. This route was later extended to Liverpool Central in 1890.

Councillor Mal Sharp, Merseytravel’s lead member for rail, added: “We’re really pleased that Merseyrail continues to receive national recognition for the quality of service it provides, which is testament to the locally managed arrangements in place.”

Liverpool Life took to the streets to get the reaction from the public...

Joan Robinson, 65, said:

Graeme Byrne, 24, said:

Derick Stanton, 38, said:

“The service is really great, it’s always on time, we use it a lot and it’s very clean, we both come from St Helens and have had no problems with the service what so ever.”

“I use it to get into town every weekday, as I live 15 minutes away, it’s just really convenient and a brilliant service”

“I find the service great, if you want to get anywhere the guards on duty will help you and will genuinely help anyone if you need it, the service is just brilliant.”

Sean Lafferty, 67, said: “It’s a good service, I live in Shropshire so I come to Liverpool once a week, and I like to go down to the waterfront and see Hilbre Island. It’s really easy to do this trip due to Merseyrail so it’s a good service in that way. “

Life|Focus|6

The cancer threat that one in eight men will face in their life The month of March is dedicatied to raising awareness of Prostate Cancer which is currently the most common cancer in men in the UK with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year, James Busby explores

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hroughout March, Liverpool will be raising awareness for Prostate Cancer via the Liverpool Community Health (LCH) while the NHS Trust will be supporting the awareness month by providing health talks.

Currently Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The campaign aims to raise greater understanding of how to spot the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer amongst men.

Maureen Sayer, Health Promotion Specialist for Cancer in Liverpool will be on hand at Cycle for Health and Walk for Health sessions to give advice about how to check for signs and symptoms.

She told Liverpool Life: “I will be targeting Cycle for Health and Walk for Health groups with information about the signs and symptoms of Prostate cancer and the PSA test.

The reason these groups were chosen are because they are activists they are more likely to take the message back to their

84% survive more than 10 years

13% of all cancer cases

THE DATES: Cycle for Health sessions take place at the following locations: • Monday 9th March at 10.00am, Liverpool Cricket Club • Tuesday 17th March at 10.00am and 11.00am, Croxteth Park • Tuesday 17th March at 1.00pm, Bellevale Park • Thursday 19th March at 10.00am, Sefton Park WALK FOR HEALTH SESSIONS TAKE PLACE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: • Wednesday 18th March at 12.00pm Albert Dock • Friday 20th March at 1.30pm Walton Park • Thursday 26th March at 10:30am, Calderstones Park THE FACTS FROM CANCER RESEARCH •41,736 men in the UK were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011.

•There were 10,837 deaths from prostate cancer in the UK in 2012.

•84% of adult prostate cancer patients diagnosed in 2010-2011 in England and Wales are predicted to survive ten or more years.

•Prostate cancer is not clearly linked to any preventable risk factors

families and communities.

Men are more reluctant to seek help but sometimes they just don’t know what symptoms should take them to the GP.” If you have any of the above you are urged to see your local GP. Men can also request a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test from their GP, this is an annual blood test and suitable for men aged 50 and over.

The health specialist added: “Currently no screening exists for men so the only things that are available are the PSA blood test which men, 50 and over can request from their GP which is a blood test that they can have yearly.

“If they present to their GP with symptoms he can do a digital rectal examination.

“It is important to highlight the issue as one in eight men will develop Prostate Cancer in their lifetime.”

The main symptoms to look out for: • Needing to pee more frequently, especially at night • Difficulty in starting to pee or taking a longer time to finish peeing • Speed of pee becomes weaker or slower • Bladder still feels full even when you have just been to the toilet • Pain during sex • Pain in back, hips or pelvis • Blood in the urine or semen

Liverpool world leader in research for rare genetic condition

By DANIEL WRIGHT

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iverpool is the world leader in research into black bone disease according to renowned public health adviser, Dr Edmund Jessop.

The disease, also known as Alkaptonuria (AKU), is a rare genetic condition which damages the bones and cartilage and affects one in every 250,000 people worldwide - eventually confining patients to a wheelchair.

Clinical trials of the drug Nitisinone have been carried out at The Royal Liverpool Hospital aiming to reduce homogentisic acid levels by almost 99 per cent, resulting in patients reporting significantly reduced joint and back pain.

Researchers believe that if Nitisinone is administered early enough it could prevent the toxic acid from building up, allowing sufferers to lead a normal, pain-free life.

Dr Jessop, who is a national lead for the NHS in monitoring rare diseases, was full of praise for the unit at The Royal and the pioneering clinical trials which have indicated a major breakthrough may be made in future.

“Although rare, this is a particularly nasty disease for which there is currently no cure.”

He said: “Although rare, this is a particularly nasty disease for which there is currently no cure. The set-up here in Liverpool is excellent - it’s an expert centre with the advantage of having different specialist metabolic support services, for example, ophthalmic, cardiology and orthopaedic surgery are all available in close proximity.

“This all really helps as the doctors are able to identify similaritieswith AKU patients - capture the information and knowledge - then understand the best way to treat or operate on future patients.”

BONES: Genetic condition that affects thousands ©Flickr

Life|Arts|7

Sheena’s passion leads to dream job ANGHARAD MILLINGTON talks to LJMU journalism graduate Sheena McStravick

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ursuing a career in journalism was always the dream for former journalism student Sheena McStravick.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to be a journalist! I know that sounds cliché but I genuinely knew from when I was in my early teens that I wanted to work in the media.

“I have always had a passion for news and always loved to know what was going on around the world.

“It has definitely lived up to what I expected, although honestly I never expected to have so much fun whilst working! Journalism is really is what you make it and if you have the passion for it, you won’t mind what hours you work!” added the 25-year-old.

Sheena has recently left multimedia company Johnston Press to take up a new role with Trinity Mirror where she is a ‘Live News Journalist’ for Belfast Live, a brand new website which launched just last week.

She said: “It’s been a very exciting few weeks and I have been out covering events live across the city, including being ringside for the Carl Frampton vs Chris

Avalos fight last weekend which was an unforgettable experience.”

Whilst in Liverpool, Sheena specialised in Online Journalism and eventually graduated with a 2:1 for her BA Hons Degree.

“It has equipped me so well with so many skills that I am now using on a daily basis as I am mostly writing for the web, which I love.

“Working on the Liverpool Life website whilst at University also helped me immensely to really know what you need to be doing to get the most hits out of a story online, for example SEO tips, social media and such” she added.

reer and taking a huge step from working for a weekly newspaper and website to working for Trinity Mirror, a huge organisation which I have always admired.”

Since leaving JMU though, it’s not just Sheena’s career that has been a highlight.

On New Year’s Eve this year, Sheena’s long-term boyfriend popped the question and they are set to marry in September next year.

Sheena, from Coalisland, Co ifelong Liverpool FC fan Tyrone, Northern Sheena specifically remem- Ireland, also has bers her night at Anfield some excellent in the press box as a particular advice for future highlight. journalists as well.

She said: “As a huge Liverpool “Simply, try fan, this was a dream come true and gain as much experience and one that I will experience as you never forget. I am so grateful to possibly can!” she JMU Journalism for giving me said. that opportunity.”

“Work for free, Speaking about her successvolunteer, write ful career, she said: “My most articles and send them to newsmemorable achievement so far is papers, just be persistent! It’s not probably progressing in my ca- fun working for free, but in such a competitive industry you need

‘Work for free, volunteer, write articles and send them to newspapers, just be persistent!’

HAPPY: Sheena (above) on the day of her graduation

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to be able to showcase skills that set you aside from your competitors!”

CRITICS’ CHOICE

THEATRE Twopence to cross the Mersey – Epstein Theatre, starting a three-week run on Tuesday 10th March as part of a six week tour across four Merseyside theatre. Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey tells the true story of a young girl and her formerly wealthy family as they are suddenly thrown into poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Leaving behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the South West of England, they uproot their shattered lives and choose Liverpool as the place to start again to rebuild their dreams and fortune. Unbeknown to them however, a terrible shock awaits them. Booking Hotline 0151 666 0000.

ALL SMILES: Sheena (left) and fellow student Angie Brooks

ENTERTAINMENT In conversation with Ricky Tomlinson – St. Georges Hall, Wednesday March 4th, 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm. The acting and entertainment legend Ricky Tomlinson will be the twelfth guest in the special series and interviewed by Mike Neary. Joining country legend Charlie Landsborough to perform Ricky’s five favourite pieces of music will be Bootle-born soprano Rachael Russell, female ukulele duo The Mersey Belles, singer songwriter Sam Westhead and the twenty-strong Formby Brass Band. As always with the successful and well-loved In Conversation format the special guest is asked in advance of the event to choose their five pieces of music.

‘I have always had a passion for news and always loved to know what was going on around the world’

MUSIC X-Factor Live tour – Liverpool Echo Arena Sunday 8th March. You’ve taken the journey with them from the room to the arena, sat on the edge of your sofa during the dramatic six-seat challenge at boot camp, travelled to judges’ houses and will be tuning in to the studio shows; now is your chance to see The X Factor live. Attended by over three million people, The X Factor Live Tour has been one of the most successful annual arena tours in the UK for the past ten years- so don’t miss the opportunity to catch this year’s stars live at Echo Arena on 8 March 2015. For booking information Tel: 0844 8000 400.

FILM Newly released blockbuster follows Nicky, played by Will Smith, an accomplished con artist who tries to teach Jess, played by ‘Wolf of Wallstreet star Margot Robbie, the tricks of the trade. Things get complicated when they become romantically involved.

It’s not long before they’re trying to pull off the big con that will allow them to retire.

But in their confidence, they’ve picked the wrong mark this time. Playing at all major Liverpool Cinemas.

Michael Glynn

Life|Politics|8

2015:

Election Fever

With LiverpoolSU’s student officer elections weeks away, Angharad Millington speaks to presidential candidate Lorraine Sebastian-Francois about her ambitions...

I

n the next few weeks, Liverpool SU will be holding their Student Officer Elections.

From Monday 16th to Friday 20th March, students will be able to vote for who they want to represent them in their Student Union. This year, the voting process will be faster and easier and students are encouraged to use their vote wisely as whoever is chosen will represent students’ views, needs, expectations and wishes at LJMU over the coming year.

Lorraine Sebastian-Francois is currently Vice President Academic Quality and is running for President in this year’s elections.

She graduated at LJMU with a

2:1 in Media, Culture and Communications last year.

The 24-year-old said: “I wanted to become President because I can see how much the SU can change students’ lives. If I had known how much work the SU does when I was a student, I definitely would’ve enjoyed my experience more at LJMU. This is why I want to run, so I can make sure we support even more students next year.”

Following the closure of the student union offices, mini SU’s were setup in the main university buildings and the SU representatives can be seen on campus regularly.

Lorraine added: “I believe we could go even further in terms

‘LiverpoolSU changes lives. I’ve actually seen it happen’

of the activity that can be done to help students feel part of Liverpool SU and what it stands for.”

If Lorraine‘s campaign is successful, she has high hopes for the Student Union.

She said: “I want to continue the work on equality and diversity I have been doing this year.

Making sure that everybody is represented, heard and understood as well as making sure there are policies and events in place to help celebrate diversity at LJMU and the Union.

“I would love more support for post-graduate students in terms of them feeling a sense of identity with LJMU and not feeling invisible as well as more on offer for students to stay here or come to LJMU.”

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orraine is a firm believer that Liverpool SU can hugely impact students’ lives and urges everyone to get involved.

She said: “Anybody involved in the SU whether that be a club or a society, one of our staff members or a course rep, Liverpool SU changes lives. I’ve actually seen

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it happen. People should want to be part of such a great organisation for themselves and for the greater good of LJMU students - future candidates, give it a go and give it your all.”

Candidates for each of the roles will be campaigning vigorously for the coming elections so expect to see campaigners popping into lectures and around the campus asking for your vote She

said: “These people will be the voice for you at university level over the next year and we can be the change you need. It’s not so much about voting for your mates, it’s for voting for people that actually know how to represent all students and not just a small cohort. I believe I am the

As the Green Party’s NHS policies gain popularity, Kaltun Abdillahi meets the activists who are adamant that it should remain an untouchable institution ...

of HSBC tax dodging scandal.

The 38 Degree group members based themselves in different parts of the city on Saturday in a bid to remind people the NHS is precious as a free life saving service and asked members of the public to join them in ensuring it remains as it is.

Member of the group and Liverpool-born Anne Moore, 59, described the personal connection she has with the health service.

She told Liverpool Life: “I feel very strongly about saving the NHS from being privatised because the NHS has saved my life and I don’t want to see it disappear and I think it would under privatisation.

“I think if we don’t do something to stop it (privatisation) it’s going to bit by bit be dissolved and privatised and I just don’t want to see that happen.”

In the lead-up to this year’s general election, the two main parties - Labour and the Conservatives - have both been ac-

person to do that as president next year.”

The full list of candidates along with their manifestoes can be found online at http://so-elections.com/

”

“Save our hat makes profit a dirty word? In the case of the NHS, it is the risk of privatising and profiting from what is essentially one of Britain’s biggest and most vital of institutions.

Last weekend campaigning group 38 Degrees came together for a ‘Save Our NHS’ day of action across Liverpool and the country.

Its members took to the streets with a petition for the public to sign to prevent cuts and to raise awareness of the threats the health service faces.

38 Degrees is an independent activism organisation that aims to put the “power into people’s hands”.

It is a not-for-profit group that is run by its 2.5m members and receives donations from them as well as charities. The organisation leads campaigns for a variety of issues such as zero-hour contracts and the recent revelations

YOUR SU NEEDS YOU: Lorraine’s campaign photo © LiverpoolSU

cused of playing politics with the NHS and using it as a weapon during the election campaign.

Although 38 Degrees is nonpolitical, the talk of parties was present during the day of action on Saturday.

3

8 Degrees member Kali Pragita, 47, who is originally from Liverpool but now lives in Huddersfield, has no faith in the current system of politics but believes there is one party that has the best interest of the NHS at heart.

She said: “I do hope that there is a future for the NHS because as I say it is massively valuable and the only party I think that maybe it would be secure with, would be the Green Party.

“I won’t be voting in the next election myself because I have no faith whatsoever in the system.

“I was quite radical - well, I still am - I voted in every single election I possibly could, it was a matter of people dying to get me to vote as far as I was concerned

PROUD: campaigners are passionate about preventing NHS privatisation © Kaltun Abdillahi and the way I see it now is that gling to cope with the high de- Degrees because they are not affiliated with any political party, the vote is actually now worth- mands of patients. less, it’s valueless, it counts for The new figures shows that there is no financial motivation nothing.” some of the regions hospitals are for us to be here, this is just peoAnother 38 Degrees mem- coming close to breaking point, ple who care.

“It is wonderful, we have had ber, Gladys Williams, 62, spoke as they surpass the NHS guideabout the importance of sav- lines occupancy rates not to ex- a street full of people who care ing and having the National ceed 85 per cent - approaching enough to come here.”

Rosie is able to see first-hand Health Service secured for future 100 per cent occupancy rates. generations.

The figures which have the amount of work local nurses She told Liverpool Life: “I emerged also highlight how the are undertaking in hospitals with think it’s very important to save city’s Royal and Broadgreen Hos- little time and pressure on ever the NHS, my parents and their pitals had an occupancy rate of stretching services.

She explained to Liverpool parents grew up with no NHS, I 98.9 per cent with just nine spare grew up with an NHS and a wel- beds between them in the latter Life: “The wonderful thing about being a student is when you are fare state and it’s so important, it half of January. on placement you can spend a has made all the difference. osie Auckland, 29, lot more time with your patients “Why shouldn’t wealth be originally from Sheffield, but you can also see that the peoshared, why should it be kept in has been living in Liver- ple that you are training to work the hands of a few people.

“I think the NHS is vital, it is pool for the past 10 years and is with have huge demands on their time.” one of the most excellent services a student nurse.

She said: “The NHS is a cause According to Rosie, the arin this country, it is of the most excellent organisations in the very close to my heart anyway gument that the NHS is ‘not world and it should not be in pri- as I’m currently studying to be a sustainable’ is not one to make a campaign on, because there have vate hands and it should not be nurse.

“I’m very aware the constraints been hundreds of thousands of run for profit – absolutely not.”

The campaign came just days put on health care profession- people treated every day for 67 before a new report revealed that als all across the country and I years – and to her that is “fairly Merseyside hospitals are strug- am attracted to working with 38 sustainable”.

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Life|Family|9

Could you be a

Hero?

Families in Merseyside are being urged to foster children under a new campaign. Imogen Sweeney reports

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ith more than a thousand foster families needed across Merseyside, this year will see child-friendly campaigns gearing up to provide stable homes for over 3,000 children, including teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups. Figures released by the Fostering Network, reveal last year over 7,000 families were approved in England alone, however the report says 13% of foster carers retired or left the service, over half of foster carers left due to the pressures of fulfilling the role whilst less than a third felt underpaid.

Liverpool Life spoke to the Fostering Network director of public affairs, Jackie Sanders, about the issues surrounding foster care and why so many people are leaving this line of work.

She said: “Fostering can be an incredibly rewarding career and

lifestyle choice for those who do come forward. However, fostering is also a challenging job, and when the match between foster family and child is not right, it becomes even more difficult.

“Fostering is not for everyone, it tests your ability to bring up a child in the right environment and care for the well-being of another person. We encourage people to research into the matter before making any decisions.”

Jackie explained how important it is for people to discuss their decision in depth with family and friends.

“Having a new family member can have an extreme effect on everyone, therefore we advise the choice to be made with everyone”.

The Network is planning to reduce the amount of children needing homes by 2018 and is encouraging local new and existing carers to consider taking up this role.

She added: “A wider pool of foster carers enables fostering services to be able to match the needs of each child more closely with the skills that each foster carer brings, and to find the right home for each child, first time.”

One campaign is channelling #innersuperhero run by Sefton Fostering Service, who are looking for 30 new foster carers in Sefton and the wider Liverpool area to bring out the inner superhero in

SUPERHEROES: Sefton Council’s poster campaign aimed at attracting potential foster families in the area

children and young people. Running from February to May, the images will be displayed on the web, social media and outdoor advertising at local railway stations.

Joanne Lee, care leaver and National Inspirational Young Woman of the Year 2014 said: “The inner super hero theme really speaks to me as someone who has been fostered. I always felt cared for, loved and valued by my foster carer. They had high aspirations for me and always encouraged me to do more and be better, to never settle for anything less than my best; find my inner super hero.”

Last month saw the wider launch of ‘Fostering February’ hosted by the National Fostering Agency designed to raise the profile of the shortage of foster care. The campaign involved a roadshow tour, making its way across the UK and provided an opportunity to speak to experts and get information.

Michelle Barton, 44, from Liverpool is a mum of two and is now looking to foster young children, as her two sons are now grown up with families of their own.

She said of the tour: “It was a great insight into the process of becoming a foster carer.

“I am delighted that there is support out there from organisations and campaigns such as this.”

Life|Focus|10

Girl Power

International women’s day will sweep across the world on Sunday 8 March, but Liverpool will be well ahead of the game with celebrations set to take place throughout the city all week.

Thur (2:00 sday 5th M pm to a 4:30 p rch – The W m Jam This e es Str omen’s Org eet) anisat ments mpowering ion succe of women event will ed as h a n i g d h o l a wom ig ff an in er some ad ht the achi busin e ess. vice on how veto

t Singers – Liverpool Socialis Friday 6th March l & Radical Liverpoo rcy Street) Pe s, ide Br St pm .30 (7 Singers, featurLiverpool Socialist Benefit concert for Morals and other local artists. r ing the Singers, Ou

Sunday (2pm-4p 8th March – Sa hir m 60 Ho pe Stree House Aftern t tickets oon Tea Treat so £20) with cha meone you kno w vintage mpagne on arriv to a fundraisin ukulele duo Nan al and entertain g afternoon, Belles. cy and P m earl, The ent by the Mersey

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Words by Melissa McFarlane

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nd ace a in Pe ersity) n e m Univ - Wo arch 5pm Hope M osth t and p oris day 4 rence (9am r s e e n n t o d titi g the his e We t Confe , prac c ic emics o identifyin en in pea Confl d a c a m t r o e w w h e t oge with a vi ement of ring t v s Will b ate student orary invol u p d m gra d conte cal an onflict. and c

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Merseyside Women’s Movement have created a schedule for the week AKA Liverpool Women’s Week. The aim is to celebrate female achievements and call for greater equality

m t emJa h – F on Moun c r a M ents h t 8 d f Stu nday & Su l Guild o h ar t 7 om f rpoo rday sts fr nce in Satu at Live i n i em nfere m ol to ent f (11 a nt) stud assive co Liverpo Day a o s t a e en ar’s m ted in n’s Pl ome is op e s 2015 on last y ill be ho ational W m a J Fem ide, and m 2015 w ’s Intern w and s, FemJa h the city Leed cide wit . coin brations cele

#makeithappen

Tackling prejudice, celebrating diversity

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his week Liverpool Student Union have launched a campaign aimed at tackling equality and diversity. Student Union staff across the city will be speaking to students from all walks of life to discuss the how the issues affect them.

Vice President of Academic Quality, Lorraine Sebastian-Francois, decided to create the event after her own personal experiences at university.

She told Liverpool life: “Sometimes people don't feel comfortable correcting people through fear of being rude or seen as over sensitive. So I thought what better campaign to do than #itsnotok to let everyone know what is not okay to do or say to people who identify as these groups.”

The campaign is aimed at students who identify with any of these groups including BME (Black and Ethnic Minorities), LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer), Women, Faith and Disability.

Each day of the week staff working on SU sites are approaching students with a different topic to discuss, allowing them to share their experiences, whilst making others aware of what’s not okay to say on race, gender, religion, disability etc.

The project is set to be beneficial and educational as SU staff encourage students to voice their opinions which are then shared on social media. Lorraine hopes that students and staff find the week useful and is encouraging people to take part in diversity quizzes held throughout the week by offering prizes and incentives.

She added: “I hope that students and staff members gain an understanding of differences as well as everyone taking a look at their own behaviour and interactions. I hope people just get involved on campus as it would be a fun activity at each mini SU! At Redmonds on Tuesday the diversity and equality campaign is celebrating women, and as it is international women’s day on Sunday, we are taking a look at the most powerful women hoping to empower even more women.”

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he topic of women being paid the same as their male counterparts is an important one. Liverpool City Councilor James Roberts told Liverpool Life: “Diversity week is an important way of recognising that there is still a significant way to go before we have equality in this country.”

He added: “Women in the UK still only earn 82p for every pound earned by a man, people from ethnic minority backgrounds still only make up 5% of FTSE 100 boards despite making up 14% of the population and LGBT people are still far more likely to be assaulted for who they are. I will be encouraging my council colleagues to attend and take part in as many events as possible."

International Journalism and Masters Student John Mallon is delighted that the Student Union has arranged a whole week to engage with students on equality and diversity. John who suffers from Cerebral Palsy told Liverpool Life: “I think it is a great idea everyone from all walks of life getting involved and yes I would get involved and I think it is a good idea for JMU because it will knock down any perceived barriers.”

Words: Melissa McFarlane and Kaltun Abdillahi

Life|Food|11

pies

All eyes on the

© David McLeish Flickr

Sweet, savoury, hot or cold, thin crust or thick, we all love a pie. As Liverpool Life celebrates National Pie Week, Imogen Sweeney visits a Merseyside bakery that is proud of its perfect pastry treats

People from Wigan are commonly known as ‘pie eaters’ after the miners from Wigan and Leigh went on strike for better pay and working conditions. The Wiganers were starved back to work whilst the miners from Leigh got better pay and conditions, therefore eating humble pie.

A European ‘protected designation of origins laws’ means only pies made within a certain distance of the village of Melton are allowed to carry the Melton Mowbray label on their pork pies. A very popular picnic snack, the sale of pork pies makes up £145 million of a £1 billion pie industry which exists in the UK. ‘Sing a song of sixpence’ is a popular nursery rhyme which dates back to the 16th century that involved a pie of birds being made for a feast.

©Sarah Wills

Pie facts:

New research reveals that that 75% of people enjoy a pie at least once a month so it is not surprising that the UK has a week dedicated to one of our favourite delicacies. But for a Crosby bakery pie week lasts 365 days a year.

Family business Satterthwaites Bakehouse has provided over 102 years of pleasure for pie-lovers. After bidding a brief farewell in 2012, the bakery opened its doors once again last year complete with fresh new flavours and recipes.

Parents of three John and Sarah Wills have brought back their ‘famous pork pies’ much to the delight of their regulars, and honoured local requests with their hearty Scouse Pie, a meaty stew commonly made with lamb or beef topped with crisp puff pastry.

In preparation for this week the couple are keen to showcase their new pie inventions in style. They told Liverpool Life: “We are excited to promote all of our new flavoured pies this week including pork with chorizo, pork and haggis and it wouldn’t be a great British Pie Week without our famous Scouse pies!

We have also produced a new beef wellington pie with our delicious mushrooms, carrots and onions which we started to sell last Friday, which have

Best pies:

The Wills

proved to be extremely popular with our customers!”

With the hope of expanding bakeries across Liverpool City Centre the pair describe how their British pies are the ideal comfort dish. They said: “Our speciality is the classic pork pie, we sell around 5,000 per week. We freshly bake our pies each morning and we only use the highest quality ingredients which makes them so delicious. Our pork is sourced from a local butcher and our seasoning is made especially for us.”

With a queue of people waiting to get their hands on one of Liverpool’s famous pies, the nation’s most debatable food question is brought to light this British Pie week: when is a pie really a pie? A petition arguing that a pie with a pastry lid is really just a casserole has gained around 5,000 signatures. If 100,000 people sign, it must considered for debate in Parliament.

The people of Liverpool participated in a poll asking is putting a pastry lid on a casserole/stew enough to make it pie or does the filling need to be entirely encase in pastry. The results showed that 70% agreed that a pie doesn’t always needs a pastry base whilst more than 30% said of course you need pastry and filling to make it a pie.

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Life|Fashion|12

Words: LAURA SCHUMANN Step into spring in style with the latest must-haves on the high street. Florals are out in force once again, with bold prints seen in almost every shop, whether it’s blazers, shoes or tops.

This season’s essential colours are pastels. Anything with a pastel print on will be bang on trend this spring. The tailored look is also all over the high street. Trench and collarless coats are a great way to stay warm while it’s still chilly, but still look sassy in spring.

High heels with floral print are walking all over the catwalk throughout S/S ‘15, with Beyonce and Taylor Swift already spotted in a pair this week. Grab yourself a pair while they’re hot. Hawaii prints are covering men’s shirts this season - so guys, don’t be afraid of splashing on colour. Remember, real men wear pink!

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Life|Arts|13 On the anniversary of its re-opening, James Tomlinson looks back at a year of the renovated

O

ne year ago the new Everyman Theatre opened its doors to an awaiting public.

A staple on Hope Street, the theatre underwent a £28m renovation, and after two years of construction the award-winning building was complete on March 2nd 2014.

The Everyman is no stranger to radical transformation. It was founded in 1964 in the Hope Hall, once a chapel, then a cinema, in an area of Liverpool noted for its bohemian environment and political edge, and quickly built a reputation for ground-breaking work.

In its early years it played host to a succession of visionary directors, exciting writers, and bold acting companies.

The theatrical flame has been kept well and truly alive in a building drenched in theatre history.

It’s seen talent from the likes of Julie Walters and Bill Nighy to home-grown writer Willy Russell.

The new Everyman is set to see future talent and hone their skills to produce the next generation of theatre-makers.

Everyman & Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz and Executive Director Deborah Aydon said: “The last year has been an incredible journey which we’re delighted to have shared

© Bs0u10e01/Wikimedia Commons with so many people; from first time visitors to those who were regulars in the old building, our artists and young people to architects and our contemporaries in theatre.”

The auditorium, which lies at the heart of the new Everyman, was re-launched with Gemma Bodinetz’s ‘Twelfth Night’, and a year on it’s currently playing host to Nick Bagnall’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

But what’s been going on in the interim?

Since its completion it’s sold more than 60,000 tickets for a variety of shows, from world premieres to a rock ‘n’ roll panto.

Michael Wynne’s ‘Hope Place’ was the theatre’s highest selling new play for over a decade, ‘Dead Dog in a Suitcase’, created with Kneehigh, has been awarded with a tour across the country this autumn following a successful run at the theatre, while critically acclaimed ‘Bright Phoenix’

by Jeff Young contributed to the sale of tickets to over 15,000 bookers, 52% of which are new to the theatre.

Alongside the main auditorium, the Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) space was named Theatre School of the Year by The Stage for their ‘unique’ approach to providing young people with the skills to become theatre-makers of the future.

With two productions in the Everyman and collaborations

with Liverpool’s Flux Young People’s Festival and Young DaDa Fest, technicians from YEP worked on lighting the Royal De Luxe family of giants across the city in July.

But it’s not just theatre accolades the new Everyman has collected over the past year, the building itself has found itself centre stage.

It’s received three regional, eight national and two international awards for architecture including the RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK’s most prestigious architectural award and is the first time it has gone to Liverpool triumphing over the Shard, Birmingham Library and the London Aquatic Centre.

Gemma and Deborah added: “Haworth Tompkins delivered us a building which had so much potential but could only be realised by all those people filling it, using it and taking it to their hearts.

“After a year of working in it, thriving in it, sharing in it and celebrating in it we know it truly is the theatre of dreams.”

The new Everyman was made possible by major investment, with £16.8m of public funding by the National Lottery from Arts Council England and donations from trusts, foundations and over 1,000 individual supporters.

LAND HO! REGAL: Queen Victoria and its sister ships will meet in Liverpool. © Joost J. Bakker/Wikimedia Commons DIVERSE: Light Night will also be part of the festivities. © Matt Ford/ Open Culture

PROGRESS: The Everyman was a building site in 2012 © Joshua Killner, JMU Journalism

LANDMARK: The theatre as it looks today © JMU Journalism

Cunard will come home to Liverpool as part of a seven-week long programme of cultural and public events this summer. James Tomlinson delves into the line-up...

T

he line-up for the One Magnificent City festivaal has been announced, and it will include a variety of events across May, June and July.

The seven week programme sees a range of events from annual festivals to street events with the visit of Cunard’s Three Queens being a staple part of the one-time event.

W a y n e Hemingway, special festival director of the event, said the plans are to bring together music, culture and fashion.

The sixth annual LightNight festival marks the beginning of One Magnificent City, it’s a one-night festival that sees hundreds of culture venues across the city keeping their doors open late into the night, taking place on Friday 15th May. It includes light projections onto the sides of iconic buildings across the city, such as the three graces at the pier head. Music, drama, crafts and art events and

activities will also be open for festival goers.

The 23rd to the 25th of May sees the arrival of the Three Queens.

Saturday evening continues the theme of projections with images lighting up the Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool building with music and fireworks at the pier head. The images, known as ‘Sea of Faces’ projects the faces of the people of Liverpool as a welcome to the city. An estimated 2,000 people are thought to attend the waterfront during the event.

Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria make up the Three Cunard Queens. Over the weekend they’ll arrive before performing a ‘ballet’ together on the water, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend.

The visit is part of the Mersey River Festival.

Projections and fireworks will continue into the evening marking the once in a lifetime occasion of the Three Queens meeting on the historical docks.

Claire McColgan, Liverpool’s director of culture, said: “This is all about this city and its partners working together to use the opportunity of Cunard visits to bookend an incredible cultural

offer unsurpassed by any other city in the UK.” One Magnificent City culminates in Cunard 175 or Transatlantic 175, a vintage themed weekend celebration of Cunard’s 175th anniversary of the first transatlantic crossing, sailing from Liverpool to New York City, tying in with American Independence Day. As part of Cunard 175, Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 sets sail for America on July 4th itself from the Cruise Liner Terminal, recreating the original voyage of Britannia back in 1840.

Vintage stalls will be across the pier head, with the Very Big Catwalk where all people are invited to put their name to join in.

Liverpool models will be used to try and take the world record of the longest catwalk from current holders Mexico. Choreography will come from key players involved with London Fashion Week with Liverpool DJ Greg Wilson providing the soundtrack.

Across the seven-week period maritime lectures, events and street art will be happening across the city, with the docks thought to be the cultural hub of One Magnificent City.

Life|Sport|14

Final farewell to Fury’s graduates

By LAUREN PULFORD and KIERAN ETORIA-KING

LJMU Fury’s last game of the season was something of a disappointment - but it failed to dampen the spirits of the 12 graduating players.

After their defeat against Lancaster Bombers, the team were given a moving send-off and were given commemorative shot glasses to mark the occasion.

The defeat to Lancaster saw the Fury’s season finish with four wins and four defeats. However, the team are hopeful of keeping their returning squad together and complementing it with a strong recruitment in September.

Though they had hoped to reach the national promotion play-offs after the only teams in their division to beat them last season (Sheffield Sabres and Derby Braves) were moved by a league re-shuffle, head coach Craig Pennington said they were satisfied with what they had achieved, considering many of their players this season had never played the sport before.

Speaking at the team’s Senior

Day reception after the game, Pennington said: “We had a hard time this season, when we started we weren’t sure how it was going to go.

“What you guys did this season, who have come in having never played before, and started to learn this sport, to go 4-4 with so many new guys playing football was really impressive. The coaches appreciate that work.

“For some of you, it’s your last game for the Fury. We hope you go off and play for senior teams, but we wish you all the best wherever you go and whatever you do.”

Although beaten, the team had something to celebrate when wide receiver Richard Bosworth scored his first touchdown after three years with the team.

Richard said: “To score my first touchdown with the last play of my last game was perfect.

“My favourite memories will be the away trips. The laughs on those long journeys back on the bus, they’re the best.

“I think I speak for all the senior players when I say that I can’t thank all the coaches and players

enough for everything they have done for me the past three years, this has seriously been the best team I have ever been apart of and I don’t know what I’m going to do on Sundays now!”

The Fury are planning to unveil their 2015 promotional at their awards night this weekend, which they hope will gain them the attention they need to continue their growth and recruit another strong team.

Last year’s video featured Al Pacino’s famous ‘fight for every inch’ speech from the movie Any Given Sunday.

Last September’s recruitment season saw the most sign-ups in the team’s history.

Fury’s head of media Lloyd King was excited to release the video and hopes that it will help to drive more interest in the team: “American football is an exciting sport and I want to convince as many people as possible that there is no better place to play or watch it than LJMU.” LJMU Fury are losing 12 key players this summer, so they are keen to bring in as many new faces as possible.

LJMU Gaelic team kick up a storm

By ANGHARAD MILLINGTON Defending their title, the LJMU Gaelic team are set to kick up a storm this weekend as they take part in the British University GAA (BUGAA) championships.

Last year saw the team winning the 9th British Championship and expectations are high for this year’s competition.

President for the LJMU Gaelic team, Mark Forde, said: “Everyone’s been feeling positive for the weekend! It will be tough as we have a few injuries but we are quietly confident.

COMPETITION: LJMU Gaelic team ©Niall McGovern

Liverpool Hope are still the team to beat through as they have great strength and depth in their panel.”

The championship will be held in Manchester and Liverpool and JMU will compete alongside teams from Birmingham, Dundee and Northumbria.

Last month saw the team loose to their local rivals by four points in the All Britain final but the team are confident that they will bounce back.

Captain Mylie McBride said: “After the loss, we took a week off as the training we had done prior was at a very high intensity. In the past two weeks, numbers have been good and the intensity has hit the same highs as before.”

“This will be my last weekend pulling on the John Moores jersey and is our last chance as a team to win a trophy this year. We hope that our county players will play an influential role in retaining the British championship,” he added.

The semi-final takes place on Saturday whilst the final will be played Sunday in Manchester.

TOUCHDOWN: Richard Bosworth ©John Maher

Boxer Bellew in Rocky brawl

By LAUREN PULFORD

Liverpool boxer Tony Bellew has landed himself a major film role in a Rocky spin off.

The 32 year-old will star alongside Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone who will repeat his role as Rocky Balboa, Creed’s trainer.

Bellew will play ‘Pretty Ricky’, an opponent of Creeds, in the film.

It is claimed that Stallone had to intervene in a brawl between Bellew and another actor on set as a fight broke out off camera.

Bellew has since denied the story by tweeting: “Despite ridiculous media reports I’ve not been involved in any kind of “fight” on set of #Creed! Or anywhere else for that matter #Pathetic.”

It is likely that Evertonians will also get their own starring role in the film too as they were filmed at Goodison Park back in January.

However, there will be no continuation of filming in the city as filmmakers have chosen to use Philadelphia as a stand in for Liverpool instead.

Sugar Ray Taekwondo mum to visit opens sport centre St Helens

By JAMES BUSBY

A Merseyside mum with a black belt in taekwondo aims to get children away from crime by opening up her own community centre.

Joanne Lawson, 24 along with her partner Ashley Nicholas, 24 have been teaching taekwondo to Merseyside children for six years in Litherland in order to keep local kids off the street.

Joanne, told JMU Journalism: “We aim to get kids off the street by allowing them to take part in a range of sporting activities like boxing and judo.

We will be taking the kids to do various activities like going to theme parks to get them out-and-about.”

When asked why she wanted to set up the community centre she, said: “My little boy is two years old and I don’t want him growing up around all the crime.

“I’d rather him have somewhere safe that he can play.”

Joanne’s current taekwondo club has been very popular amongst young people in the area and last year one of her pupils,

Josh Tickle a 12-year-old was selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Championships in 2014 where he earned silver medal in Taekwondo.

Pupils Kevin Booth, 8, and Demi Molly, 16, earned bronze medals in Taekwondo at the British Nationals last year.

The black belt added: “The current taekwondo club is fantastic, I have members that have been there for years and I think there should be more clubs like this in Liverpool as it keeps kids off the streets and prevents them from getting involved in acts like gun crime.”

The new centre on Linacre Road is due to open to the public in four weeks after its refurbishment and those who sign up for classes at the centre will get the first one free.

The non-profit club works in co-ordination with Bootle charity, YKids which helps give young people the best opportunities, training and employment to help them for the future.

It is hoped that clubs and centres like Joanne’s will keep minors off the streets and out of trouble.

By LAUREN PULFORD Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard is coming to Merseyside.

The famous fighter will be a special guest at an afternoon lunch for the Steve Prescott Foundation (SFP).

SFP was set up by Steve Prescott seven years ago after he was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei - a form of terminal cancer.

The 1976 Olympic Gold Medallist, who was named ‘Boxer of the Decade’ for the 1980s Ring Magazine, will be appearing at the event on March 22.

The 58-year-old was world champion in five different weight categories and is one of the most famous sporting names in the world.

The event will be held in St Helens and Sugar Ray will be appearing alongside Merseyside’s own Martin Murray.

SFP promises to hold a knockout Sunday Lunch, with top Master of Ceremonies Pete Emmett along with Comedian Lester Crabtree and a host of SPF Charity ambassadors.

Alex gets chance to run for team GB

Life|Sport|15

Pic © LJMU Men’s Rugby

LJMU take league title

By Georgie Whitworth

The LJMU Men’s Rugby Union 1st team were in high spirits after they won the BUCS Northern 4A league on Wednesday.

The team, who are undefeated this season, beat the Lancaster University Men’s 3rd team in a 65-0 away win to become champions. Despite having two games of the league yet to play, the team have gained enough points to beat to the top-spot.

Viking victory

By JOSH HANDSCOMB

RELAY: Alex Boyce in action

By JOSIE O’ SULLIVAN A Liverpool born athlete and full-time student has high hopes of success after being selected to represent Great Britain at the European Indoor Athletics in Prague starting this Thursday.

Relay runner Alex Boyce, a 20-year old student studying architecture at The University of Liverpool will take part in the 4x400m as one out of five for team GB, replacing athlete Rory Evans who had to withdraw his

place at the event following an injury.

Running with his first senior team, and with his sights originally set on the under 23 outdoor championships in July, Alex told Liverpool Life: “I’m really excited at the moment as it has all come out the blue really, it wasn’t even a championships I was targeting this year so it’s a big shock but I’m just really excited to get there and be in the team atmosphere.”

Training since 2009, with his personal best being 47.49 in-

doors and 47.03 outdoors and training four times a week at Wavertree track, Alex has his sights

set on winning a medal whilst in Prague. He added: “Britain always do well in the relay so I’d

hope to finish in the top three to get a medal”.

Fellow contestants and Liverpudlians competing in the athletics event which will be running until the eighth of March, also include Katarina JohnsonThompson, a heptathlon athlete who also holds British records in the long jump and was also a contender at the London 2012 Olympics.

Allerton born student Alex hopes that his next move could go the same way with the Olym-

missed a critical spot-kick which knocked them out of the running to reach the round of 16.

On the contrary, the Anfield faithful will be aiming to continue their 11-match unbeaten run in their home game against Burnley tomorrow evening after their 2-1 win against title contenders, Manchester City, last Sunday.

An early goal from Jordan Henderson and a world-class strike from Brazilian midfielder Phillipe Coutinho put the Merseyside team in front after an Edin Dzeko equaliser, leaving them fifth in the table.

Manager Brendan Rogers commented on the threat Burnley pose and praised Sean Dyche’s managerial ability.

He said: “Sean has got them very well organised. They have got great motivation when they play, great motivation to stay in the league and they are fighting - so they are team that we’re wary of. We are getting back to the form that we have had for about 18 months, which is going into every game with confidence, respecting the opponent but believing that we can win – Burnley will be no different.”

Captain Stephen Gerrard could

also be returning from injury for Wednesday’s game, which has caused him to miss the team’s last five matches.

Liverpool will also face Championship side, Blackburn Rovers, this Sunday in a bid to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Goals from Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge secured their place in the quarters with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

The last time Liverpool and Blackburn met was at Ewood Park in the 2012 Premier League, where Andy Carroll scored a 90th minute winner in a 3-2 victory.

‘I hope to finish in the top three to get a medal.’

Europa KO fires up Rogers

By JOSH HANDSCOMB

Liverpool are be looking to channel their focus this week following a tense Europa league exit.

The Reds were knocked out of the Europa League last Thursday after they lost their first European penalty shootout against Turkish side, Besiktas, at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

Liverpool’s memories of Istanbul were fond until now, as the venue is where the team won a penalty shootout against AC Milan to win the Champions League in 2005. In the end of Thursday’s game, centre-back Dejan Lovren,

Paralympian shorlisted for award

By JOSH HANDSCOMB

A Liverpool Paralympian has been shortlisted for an award that commends his role in wheelchair basketball.

Abdi Jama, 32, from Toxteth, represented Team GB in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 where he brought back a bronze medal and also competed in London’s Paralympics, narrowly missing out on a podium position after a loss to the USA. Somalian-born Jama has now been shortlisted for the Faezeh Hashemi Award for Excellence in Sport after being nominated by readers of The Muslim News.

Speaking to Liverpool Life, Abdi said: “I’m very proud to be nominated for this award especially with all the hard work I have put in for all these years.

“Im very proud to nominated for this award specially with all hard work ave put in for all these yearsIm very proud to nominated for this award specially with all hard work ave put in for all these years.

Bronze medallist, Abdi, broke his back at the age of 14 and feared he would not be able to take part in sports again. Little did he know that he would be introduced to wheelchair basketball by friend Ade Orogbemi, who also competed in the Beijing bronze medal campaign.

The Toxteth raised athlete is currently Im playing,training here in the Spanish league with mideba teamin Spain playing for Spanish league team, Mideba Extremadura, and offered his advice for youngsters or other disabled people who are thinking about entering the sport.

He added: “All I would say is give it a go and be patient with yourself. You will get there in the end and have fun doing it.”All I would say is give it a go and be patient with yourself u will get there in the end just and have fun doing it.

Sue Peel, a former teammate, is a coach at St Helens-based Vikings Wheelchair Basketball Club where Abdi Jama first

began his fruitful career as an athlete.

She told Liverpool Life: “I hope he gets the award. He has never forgotten what it was like to start at the bottom and always stayed behind to get involved with newcomers. He never got too big for his boots.”

Mrs Peel, who played with the Team GB athlete for around 3 years in his time at Vikings, emphasised his generous and humorous nature.

She added: “He is a proper joker, especially with the younger ones and getting them involved. And also the ones with not much confidence.

Even the players who weren’t going to reach GB standard.”

pics approaching in 2015. He said: “Prague will be a really good stepping stone into the senior team for me and will definitely help me progress towards a place in a senior team outdoors whether that be the Olympics in 2016 or the world championships this year.”

Boyce has previously competed in the world youth championships in 2011 and European junior championships in 2013 where his accolade of a bronze medal was bagged in the 4x400m relay.

Widnes Vikings will be aiming to have a repeat of last week’s performance when they visit Huddersfield.

The Vikings earned their first Super League victory of the season with an impressive 58-16 Wakefield Wildcats on Sunday.

Huddersfield Giants have not yet managed to win a game this season despite a near comeback against Leeds over the weekend so Widnes will be looking to extend their time with no points on the scoreboard.

Stand-off, Lloyd White, scored an impressive four tries in the Vikings victory.

Reds are back in the black

By MICHAEL GLYNN

Liverpool have made a profit for the first time in seven years as the club finally begins to bear the fruits of ownership group Fenway Sport Group’s financial strategy and huge Premier League TV deals.

The figures show that during the period up to May 31st 2014 after a season that saw Brendan Rodgers’ Reds nearly win the Premier League, the club made a profit of £0.9 million, compared to the previous year’s £50 million loss.

Current owners FSG bought the club in October 2010, when crippling interest payments on £300m worth of debt left the club on brink of administration following the disastrous reign of fellow Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The current owners, who are led by John W Henry, and also own the Boston Red Sox

set about increasing the clubs revenue both commercially and through Stadium investment. The accounts are expected to improve even more in the next year but as of 9 months ago Liverpool’s revenue had increased by 19% to £255.6m, media and commercial revenue also increased by 46% and 5% respectively. The begging of the £100m re-development of the Anfield Main Stand to increase capacity to around 53,000 has already begun and is set to be ready for the start of the 2016/17 season.

The period also covers the existing £3 billion Premier League TV deal, with the new £5 billion deal set to come into place for the 2016/17 season. The results cap off an excellent week both on and off the field for the Reds as they improved their hopes of a return to the Champions League by beating champions Man City 2-1 at Anfield.

Tranmere in action

By JOSIE O’ SULLIVAN

Tranmere Rovers face promotion hopefuls Wycombe tonight at Prenton Park, still stinging after their 2-0 defeat last time out against Cheltenham Town.

The league two strugglers will be looking to turn around their

mixed performances that have been seen them slip periously close to the drop zone.

Rovers are currently standing three places and one point away from relegation, while Wycombe are pushing for a play-off place.

On Saturday, Rovers host fellow strugglers Dagenham and Redbridge.

Liverpool

LifeSPORT

SHAMED 3rd - March - 2015

Inside Sport

New report reveals shock rise in football discrimination

By STEPHANIE BEWLEY

The FA and Kick It Out have revealed figures uncovering a huge 70% rise in reporting discrimination in football.

As Liverpool Life revealed last week, the disappointment on the issue of abuse circulated around the city. Critics claimed the football governing bodies are failing to do enough to stop it.

Reported incidents of racist abuse, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination have sharply increased at all levels of football this season says the game’s anti-discrimination campaign, Kick It Out, and the Football Association.

The FA’s head of judicial services, Mark Ives, said that the

rise is more to do with people being confident enough to report the abuse, rather than an increase in the number of incidents.

He said: “It may seem strange to say that it is good to see cases increase from 477 last year at grassroots level to probably 800 this year, but we believe anecdotally the problem itself is not increasing, and that this represents people feeling more confident about reporting abuse.”

The organisation says 184 reports of discrimination were submitted to them from August to 28 December 2014.

That is 48 more than the 136 grievances received by Kick It Out in the same period during the 2013-14 season.

Racism (117) and anti-Se-

mitic abuse (32) were the most common forms of discrimination reported.

Director of Kick IT Out, Roison Wood said the number of complaints does not reflect the true scale of the issue.

“The reality of the level of complaints submitted to us this season, despite showing a leap from 136 to 184 when compared to the midway point of the 2013-14 campaign, barely scratch the surface of a widespread problem.”

The incidents happened at all levels of English football and also involved professional players and social media, where there were 73 reports of football-related hate crime.

Police are currently investigating racist chanting at St Pancras station by men

thought to be Chelsea fans and after an incident of alleged racism by Blues supporters on the Paris Metro.

© John Maher

JMU FURY CROSS FINISH LINE P14

© @TonyBellew/Twitter

SHOCKED: These images were taken from a Youtube clip that made headlines around the world. The footage shows the man trying to board the train in Paris while Chelsea fans push him off while allegedly making racist comments. The incident is currently under investigation.

REVEALED: Our report last week

Student Harry’s golden debut

ROCKY SPIN-OFF FOR BELLEW P14

By JOSIE O’SULLIVAN

Liverpool John Moores University student Harry Scarff has taken home a gold medal after his first fight at The British Universities Colleges and Sport (BCUS) national finals at the weekend.

The BCUS nationals, held in Sheffield, saw 6,000 students attend over the weekend of 20-22 February, where Harry’s successful fight gained him a gold medal against his opponent from University of the West of England, Robert Dark.

Harry, who has to train twice a day, told Liverpool Life: “It was a good fight, I just came out strong and kept the pressure on for the round, hurting him to head and body, he was given a

BOXER: Harry Scarff ©

standing count by the ref and then the bout was stopped at the end of the first round.

“It was good to win it because it’s another title to go with my ABA (amateur boxing association) national title.”

Harry, who has been boxing for eight years, first took to the sport when he was introduced to it by his dad in his hometown, Derby.

He said: “My dad took me down to a gym in Derby and then I just stuck at it really.”

The 21-year-old sport and exercise student is currently training for the ABA championships at the end of the month.

© Alex Boyce

JOY FOR TEAM GB RELAY ATHLETE P15