St Helens First magazine Summer 2018 by St Helens Unlimited

St Helens Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community magazine

Summer 2018

FREUNDSCHAFT! STUTTGART VISITS ST HELENS PAGE 6-7

OUR RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP BID PAGE 4

ST HELENS AT 150 PAGE 8-9

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@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

www.sthelens.gov.uk

St Helens Council’s community magazine

Summer 2018

Welcome

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

CONTACT ST HELENS FIRST MAGAZINE Email: mediateam@sthelens.gov.uk Online: www.sthelens.gov.uk/news Telephone: 01744 676164

TALKING PAGES

St Helens Council Leader’s column Councillor Derek Long

elcome to the Summer edition of St Helens First magazine. I hope you enjoy it. I’d like to start with the words I say before every Cabinet meeting. As your elected representatives, we are stewards of the communities of St Helens. We are links in a chain of democratic accountability that stretches back 150 years. In

every decision we make, our burden, and our privilege, is to balance the triple challenges of respecting and preserving our past; nurturing and enhancing our present; and laying the foundations for a successful future. Despite the most challenging times for local councils, we are working on delivering the pledges on which we were elected. For example, work continues by officers on the plans for the regeneration of St Helens town centre, and around the borough. Obviously, when we don’t own the shops, it takes time to make good the impact of the internet on places developed for a century of conventional shopping. Part of the transformation of the borough depends on building on our strengths. At Saints’ last regular home game, I presented a joint bid to host a team in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. If successful, we will see a number of games across

the men’s and women’s tournaments. Arguably, of even greater importance, from now until 2021 we will be working to build up the sporting legacy to improve the life chances and health of our young people. Our aim is to make St Helens a beacon for other councils. I am delighted to report that St Helens Cares – our integrated health and social care partnership – won the prestigious Municipal Journal National Award, defeating several large cities in the process. With now over three quarters of our spending going on care and education for adults and children, we continue to try to improve despite the budget cuts government is placing on northern councils. In making decisions about the Borough’s future growth, we need to balance our current unused land with the need for good jobs and affordable housing for current households and for

our children’s future. This is not made easier by having to work within a process set up by the former Coalition Government and nationally imposed housebuilding targets. Three quarters of our recent housebuilding has been on brownfield (preused) land. This is much better than the national average. But I want us to do more. So, we are pressing the government for the £40 million plus we need to decontaminate the remaining brownfield land in the borough. I have also called upon the borough’s residents to suggest brownfield sites that are not already on our register where development might take place. So, as you can see, in working on a balanced Local Plan for Whitehall to consider, we are trying to make real those important words I say before every Cabinet meeting.

St Helens First is now available in talking book form for visually impaired people, contact us for information.

ADVERTISING St Helens Council does not warrant the accuracy of any description or statement, and does not endorse any product or service contained in any commercial advertisement featured in this publication.

COVER IMAGE

Features

Competition artwork designed by 16-year old Cowley student Antonia Green on the occasion of the Stuttgart delegation visit. Antonia won a week’s holiday in the German city for her efforts!

Our bid to host Rugby League World Cup 2021

Artwork gives voice to refugees

Remembering Wood Pit Disaster

News 5

Windle Island works underway

Community rail projects on track

13 Follow us on Twitter: @sthelenscouncil

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Town Centre regeneration update

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature

Our bid to host Rugby League World Cup games in 2021

PHOTO: Bernard Platt 2018

e are pleased to confirm that a bid has been submitted for the borough to become a host venue at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. To be held in England in October-November, organisers are aiming to draw in record crowds at the 2021 tournament, with the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair competitions staged in a single, celebratory event – making it the biggest Rugby League World Cup yet. Earlier this year, St Helens Council and St Helens R.F.C – who currently sit top of the Super League table – were approached by the Rugby Football League (RFL) with a view for Saints’ 18,000 capacity Totally Wicked Stadium to bid to host group games at the men and women’s tournaments. Initial discussions with tournament organisers also resulted in the possibility of the borough hosting a team throughout the duration of the World Cup, using Ruskin Drive Sports Village and Saints’ training base at Cowley Language College as training bases. As part of the borough’s bid – which was officially announced during half-time of the Saints vs Warrington Wolves match late last month - St Helens would relish the opportunity to host a nation like Tonga, a rising world rugby league powerhouse currently ranked the fourth best international rugby league side in the world. Hosting the event in St Helens could have an economic benefit of between £2.4m-£4.5m and contribute to other strategic initiatives such as the St Helens town centre regeneration; raising the profile of St Helens; bring positive links to public health messages – and boost community

“Rugby League is in our DNA. That’s why I made winning a host venue a key priority in my first week as Council Leader.”

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engagement after 75 percent of local spectators felt that the World Cup enhanced community spirit when it was last in town in 2013. Commenting on the prospect of such a prestigious event returning to the borough, St Helens Council Leader Derek Long said: “Rugby League is in our DNA. That’s why I made winning a host venue a key priority in my first week as Council Leader. “This is a great bid founded on a great partnership with Saints. We will now work hard to use this to build a great sporting legacy for our clubs and communities across the borough. “ Saints Chief Executive Mike

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Rush added: “To host a team and stage games here at The Totally Wicked Stadium would be a huge privilege for all connected with the club and town. “A World Cup Tournament brings people together and embraces so many different cultures that to play a part as a venue and host town would be of great benefit from grass roots community rugby right through to the commercial benefits that such an event attracts. “I am sure the whole of St Helens will get right behind our bid and we can all look forward to a fantastic Rugby League World Cup in 2021.”

News

Junction improvement work at Windle Island begins

£7m investment to improve Windle Island – one of Merseyside’s busiest road junctions – is now underway. Taking 40 weeks to complete, the scheme started on Monday 6 August and will result in improved pedestrian safety, smoother traffic flow – and make for better access in and out of St Helens. Unavoidable permanent lane closures mean delays are likely, therefore motorists using the East Lancs (A580) and the Rainford ByPass (A570) may wish to alter their

commuting routes. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times via the permanent crossing route; however a diversion of the existing pathway if needed will be installed around the construction works, suitably signed. The scheme will cost a total of £7,247,000 – over half of which is being funded by the Local Growth Fund through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Single Investment Fund. The remainder is funded from St Helens Council’s own receipts, borrowing, and highways capital

programme. Central to the improvements will be: • A new four lane southbound approach to Windle Island Junction, providing a dedicated left turning lane to A580 eastbound towards Manchester and a dedicated right turning lane to A580 westbound towards Liverpool. • The reintroduction of two lanes southbound through the junction, with the left hand lane for St Helens Town Centre via Rainford Road (including Tesco and Starbucks access), and the right

hand lane for Eccleston and Prescot via Bleak Hill Road. • A new left turn deceleration lane from A580 westbound onto A570 southbound to reduce queue lengths and improve safety. • Two dedicated right turn lanes from the A580 westbound (towards Liverpool) onto the A570 northbound (towards Rainford). This will reduce queue lengths. • A new 40 mph speed limit around the junction to improve safety. The whole scheme is expected to be completed by spring 2019.

Better city connectivity Planning application submitted for Parkside Link Road for St Helens rail users

esidents near Lea Green and Newtonle-Willows stations are benefitting from new rail services, improved connectivity and faster journeys to both Liverpool and Manchester. In May, TransPennine Express trains began calling at Lea Green and Newton-le-Willows stations for the first time and journeys to both Manchester ABOVE: (Left to right) Cllr Derek Long, St Helens Council Leader, Conor Victoria and Liverpool McGinn, MP for St Helens North, Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Lime Street are now Mayor, Jerry Farquharson and Lucja Majewski, TransPennine Express, and Cllr Jeanie Bell, Newton. nearly ten minutes faster. The changes were made as part in Yorkshire and the North East of a transformational timetable including Huddersfield, Leeds, change, making it even easier for York, Scarborough, Durham and people to get to work or plan a day Newcastle, bringing the North out or weekend away with friends closer together. or family. Full details of all train times and Residents also gained direct fares can be found on line at www. connections to towns and cities tpexpress.co.uk

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t Helens Council has submitted a planning application for the link road that will support the proposed development on the site of the former Parkside Colliery. The proposed link road would run through the Parkside site, connecting the A49 to the M6 Junction 22. The planning application was submitted to St Helens and Warrington councils, and follows a thorough public consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the area last summer. Over 300 residents attended the consultation events with all feedback given consideration in developing

the designs for the planning application. The consultation presented residents with a range of options, and proposed the council’s preferred route for the link road, which has been designed to reduce congestion in the area. The proposed link road would help to divert traffic away from Newton le Willows, Winwick and Hermitage Green, including the potential lorries and heavy goods vehicles associated with phase 1 of the Parkside Regeneration scheme, if this were to receive planning permission. After thorough consideration by planning officers, a decision is expected in the autumn.

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature

Stuttgart visits twin towns’ I

n celebration of 70 years of partnership between Stuttgart and St Helens, over 80 visitors from the German city visited St Helens between 5-9 July. The twinning dates back to 1948 and was particularly special as it was the first such partnership to be formed in Europe following World War Two. As a leading manufacturer of glass, St Helens was able to support the rebuilding of Stuttgart, parts of which had been destroyed or damaged by bombing during the conflict. Included within the delegation were Stuttgart’s Deputy Mayor, Dr Martin Schairer, along with councillors from the main political parties; CDU (Christian Democratic Union), Bündis 90/Die Grunen (Alliance 90/The Greens), SÖSLINKE-PluS, and Freie Wahler (Free Voters). The remainder of the 80 visitors was made up of representatives from the council; Kaufmännische Schule (KS1), a business school; Stuttgart University; two high schools, the Leibniz Gymnasium and the Ferdinand-PorscheGymnasium; and a football team, TSV Uhlbach. All delegates attended St Helens’ International Food and Drink Festival (6-7 July) as part of the borough’s 150th anniversary celebrations, as well as Cowley International College and a tree planting ceremony at Victoria Park. The International Food and Drink Festival in Church Square truly embraced the twinning

PHOTO: Stuttgart’s Deputy Mayor is presented with the laser cut artwork by Rhyannon Parry and fellow Yellow Door artist Naoise Johnson-Martin, with St Helens Mayor, Cllr Pat Ireland.

partnership. Special St HelensStuttgart anniversary wines were produced for the occasion as well as some traditional German food. And for fans of real ale, a special beer was available following its creation by Dinkelacker, a 130-year-old family-run Stuttgart brewery and popular local brewers Connoisseur Ales. The 4.1 per cent ale is called ‘Siebzig’ meaning ‘70.’ Visiting exchange students from Ferdinand-Porsche-Gymnasium Zuffenhausen (FPGZ) in Stuttgart, along with St Helens’ officials, were invited to a student-run baking session at Cowley International College, with the baked goods sold at the International Food and Drink Festival. Both countries’ students have also developed colouring books and designed flags which were handed out at the festival. The flags were designed as part of a school competition, with the winning entry featured on

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our magazine cover. 16 year-old Cowley student Antonia Green’s excellent design creatively blends elements of St Helens and Stuttgart. She won a £50 gift voucher, flower bouquet and an all-expenses-paid weeklong holiday in Stuttgart. The long-standing and successful relationship between the two schools has been maintained through a regular exchange programme. Other events on the itinerary included visits to Dream, the World of Glass museum and, in the spirit of the World Cup, a friendly match between the visiting Stuttgart football team TSV Uhlbach and St Helens Town AFC at Ruskin Sports Village. Council Leader Derek Long, said: “The visit was a great success and I’d like to thank all the staff and partners who ensured Stuttgart’s stay ran smoothly, and the residents who gave the

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delegation a very warm welcome. Such occasions are integral to strengthening these historic friendships we’ve fostered over the years, and I hope they will continue for decades to come. “These relationships are incredibly important as they allow us to showcase what St Helens has to offer on an international stage. In these uncertain times, I’m proud that we have nurtured such strong bonds with our twinning partners in Stuttgart.” To commemorate the visit, Rhyannon Parry, part of the local arts company Yellow Door, was commissioned to create a special plaque. Rhyannon used her innovative laser cutting technique to develop the piece which was presented to the Stuttgart delegation by the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Ireland during a civic dinner. The piece portrays the first meeting of the Mayors of St Helens and Stuttgart in 1948.

St Helens on the 70th anniversary

PHOTO: To commemorate the 70th twinning anniversary, visitors from Stuttgart gifted St Helens with a tree which was planted in the borough’s green flag award-winning Victoria Park.

In turn, St Helens was gifted with a large artwork depicting Stuttgart’s coat of arms – a rearing black horse against a yellow shield It’s not the only celebration for Stuttgart this year as they are actually celebrating three twinning anniversaries – 70 years with St Helens, 50 years with Mumbai, India and 20 years with Lodz in Poland. Stuttgart recently held a “Twin Towns in Action Day” with all ten of their twin towns represented. St Helens attended with an information stall as well as breakdancing group UC Crew and Cowley International College Choir who performed in Stuttgart City Centre. For more information on the St Helens 150 events programme, visit www.sthelens150.co.uk

PHOTO: Stuttgart’s Deputy Mayor presents the keg tapping ceremony at the International Food and Drink Festival

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@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature Feature Birthday

St Helens 150 events

t’s been a sensational start to the borough’s 150th year, which has seen thousands upon thousands of local people come out in force to support a number of successful community events. Highlights from the packed programme of St Helens 150 events so far include the annual Westfield Street Music Festival at the beginning of June which certainly hit the right notes with music fans who turned out in droves to support over 50 local music acts from across the region. A few weeks later, the borough paid tribute to its local armed forces community at the St Helens Armed Forces Day event in Victoria Park. Attractions on the day included live music from the Victoria Park bandstand from the Lancashire Artillery Pipes and Drum, the Lancashire Artillery Volunteers Band, and local school choirs – while vintage military vehicles, a funfair, climbing walls and an inflatable assault course also went down well with the thousands of visitors in attendance. In a bid to honour the unsung heroes of St Helens, arts organisation The Heart of Glass and performance

artists Eggs Collective led a colourful family-friendly procession across the town centre at the end of June. The day certainly had something for people of all ages to enjoy, from musical and street performances, to vintage vehicles from North West Museum of Road Transport. Not forgetting, of course, a special masskaraoke session. Then in July, St Helens town centre staged its first ever International Food and Drink Festival – an event which whet the appetite of thousands of visitors, including special civic guests over from Stuttgart to mark 70 years since the twinning of Stuttgart and St Helens – the first of its kind in Europe following World War Two. As St Helens First went to print, St Helens was recently involved in the Liverpool City Region-wide ‘Lost Castles’ project which saw volunteers and community groups come together in Victoria Square to construct Stuttgart’s 10th century castle using cardboard and tape. If you haven’t managed to get to a St Helens 150 event yet, don’t worry – there are still plenty of fantastic free events on between now and the end of the year. Visit www.sthelens150.co.uk

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start in style

PHOTO: Robbob

t Helensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new Mayor Councillor Pat Ireland and close friend Lynn Glover - this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mayoress - enjoying the St Helens Day festivities. Pat, who represents Thatto Heath ward, is hoping to raise money for the Diabetes Centre at St Helens Hospital and the Steve Prescott Foundation during her Mayoral year.

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@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature

Provocative artwork at libraries gives voice to refugees

rovocative artwork by Turner Prize nominee artist Mark Titchner that gives a voice to refugees recently visited local libraries. The artwork featured thoughtprovoking text messages taken directly from the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers living in the UK. Titchner met regularly in Manchester with a group of fifteen individuals, all of whom had fled countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Zimbabwe to find safety for themselves and their families. The creative project was originally developed as part of the ArtReach Journeys Festival International and the personal messages of the refugee experience give a voice and visibility to this community. Titchner’s work often explores the tensions between the different belief systems which inform society. The artwork was unveiled at Eccleston and Haydock libraries as part of St Helens’ events for Refugee Week and World Refugee

Day in June. The events, including a panel discussion led by acclaimed journalist-turned-author Vanessa Altin (The Pomegranate Tree), featured as part of the nationallyrenowned Cultural Hubs artsin-libraries programme. The programme is delivered by St Helens Council’s Library Service which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

Vanessa was joined by Julia Savage from Asylum Matters and Emily Hayes, Co-Artistic Director of Pathway Arts. This panel discussion, with residents, partners and artists, was designed to stimulate a wider conversation and raise awareness about refugees and the asylum process. Jane Beardsworth, Director North for Arts Council England, said: “St Helens Council Library

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Service is a welcome addition to our 2018-22 National Portfolio. I am impressed by their plans to mark Refugee Week. I hope that the works by renowned artist Mark Titchner will encourage visitors to reflect on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers and what it means to be displaced from home.” Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Based and Focused Services, said: “Our Library Service is one of only six such services nationwide to achieve the prestigious Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status, and events like this demonstrate why we’re considered among the best in the country at opening up a fantastic range of arts events to the public. “This thought-provoking artwork follows on from a really engaging and interesting discussion on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers – one of the most momentous issues facing the world today.”

St Helens Cares scoops major award

n innovative partnership programme which improves people’s lives in St Helens has won a prestigious national award. Established to improve the care of residents and address the growing pressures on health and social care, St Helens Cares beat two cities and a strong shortlist to top the Care and Health Integration category at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Achievement Awards 2018 in London at the end of June. Made up of a wide number of public sector providers including St Helens Council, NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and housing group, Torus – St Helens Cares is an integrated approach in supporting people to live well, with a focus on preventing the need for health and social care by supporting people to remain independent for as long as possible. The St Helens model – which could save residents in St Helens £80m by 2020 – is unique as it also includes services and support such as housing, education and

PHOTO: Representatives take to the stage to collect the MJ award

arts and culture. One of the key elements of St Helens Cares is the development of a Shared Care Record for each resident in the borough which gives health and care professionals across organisations an overview of the patient’s health and care record, including GP appointments, medication and hospital referrals.

This reduces the need for patients to repeat information, giving clinicians the full picture when treating patients – especially in emergency situations where understanding the full medical history of a person is vital. While the formation of a new Contact Cares Team – made up of a number of services including occupational therapy,

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reablement, discharge team, community nurses, physiotherapy and adult and social services – is also contributing to a number of benefits including closer communication, quicker response times, reduced hospital admissions and memory screening training to spot the early signs of dementia. St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Marlene Quinn, said: “This award is testimony to the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes from our dedicated team who have created a great model to sustainably manage health and care cost and demand at a time when people are living longer, and budgets are tight. “Of course, the main reward we hope to get out of St Helens Cares is the satisfaction of knowing that we are working to improve the lives of people in St Helens, helping them to lead healthier lifestyles and remain as independent as possible for longer – but it’s obviously nice to see national recognition, and I’m hopeful it will be the first award of many.”

Council welcomes public suggestions for scrutiny review

t Helens Council’s Overview and Scrutiny panels are calling on members of the public to share their views on which council services and other public services they would like to see under the spotlight as they set out their work programmes for the 2018/19 municipal year. There are five panels with eight councillors on each who involve local people in identifying issues that impact the quality of life of people in St Helens. These issues are then reviewed by gathering information and making recommendations to the Cabinet based on the evidence found. The panels are: Overview and Scrutiny Commission; Health and Adult Social Care; Children and Young People’s Services; Safer Communities, Environment, Regeneration, Housing, Culture and Leisure; and Audit and Financial Monitoring.

directors. “Scrutiny serves an important role in the council as we can help to make sure services are effective and efficient,” said Councillor David Baines, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission. “In the extremely challenging environment we find ourselves in at the moment – delivering essential services in the context of huge annual budget cuts – our role is arguably more important than ever. “It was great to see the public at recent meetings of the recycling and waste review, and ideally we’d like residents to engage all year round.” A number of success stories have come out of the work produced by the panels over the past year, including a paper on food provision during school holidays – and the establishment of a fairer funerals pledge with local funeral

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To get in touch with any suggestions you have for the panels, please call Scrutiny Manager Joanne Heron on 01744 676277, or email joanneheron@sthelens.gov.uk

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature

Haydock Library concert commemorates tragic 1878 colliery disaster

deeply moving choral homage to a terrible local colliery disaster featured at Haydock Library 140 years on, as part of the award-winning Cultural Hubs, arts-in-libraries programme. The concerts at Haydock Library, led by the Haydock Male Voice Choir, commemorated the tragic disaster that occurred at the Wood Pit in Haydock on 7 June 1878 – considered one of the worst mining disasters in the Lancashire coalfield. It is thought that flammable gases referred to as firedamp by miners, which build up as a natural by-product of coal, were released from a pocket in the coal seam. The ensuing explosion took the lives of 204 men and boys, and left 93 widows and 282 orphans. Official records state that the explosion happened just before 11am. There were many incredible acts of bravery following the explosion, none more than the manager of the pit, John Turton. John descended the shaft immediately after the explosion working to ventilate the mine, saving the lives of at least 27 men and boys who were rescued from the poisonous

effects of afterdamp – resultant gases of the explosion, primarily carbon monoxide. In the wake of the tragedy, the grieving community showed great strength under very difficult circumstances to come together in support of each other. A fund was set up by Lord Derby which raised about £25,000 – roughly £2 million in today’s money. Alan Gaskell, of the Haydock Male Voice Choir said: “This concert is really important to us as our choir was formed by miners from Haydock in 1923

St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

and many of the members worked in the pit before it was closed. The concert provides us with an opportunity to pay our respects in song to all the men, families and friends who were affected by the disaster.” Special commemorative events also took place on the 140th anniversary of the disaster on Thursday 7 June, with a short rededication ceremony at the disaster’s memorial at St James the Great Church, Church Road, Haydock. Attendees then gathered

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at Haydock Library for an afternoon of commemorative events including a reading and performance by St Augustine’s Catholic High School Choir, a talk on Haydock’s mining heritage, an exhibition of archives from the borough’s collection and artefacts from the World of Glass. Cultural Hubs, the nationallyrenowned arts-in-libraries programme, is delivered by St Helens Council’s Library Service which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Rainhill Rocket 190 events

t’s full steam ahead with the planning for the 190th anniversary of the 1829 Rainhill Railway engine trials in 2019. The “Rainhill Trials” carved a permanent place for Rainhill village in world transport history, as the global birthplace of intercity passenger railways. Rainhill Parish Council and the Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society are working together with the Gala Committee, Rotary, the Civic Society and many other local organisations to make these celebrations truly special. The parish council is negotiating with the National Railway Museum to hire a full-sized replica Stephenson’s Rocket for display over the weekend of Saturday 25 May 2019, with a parade on Sunday 26 May 2019. Other

News

proposals are a model railway exhibition, a village street party after the parade, themed theatrical and musical performances, a sports tournament and a period costume weekend leading up to the Gala itself on Monday 27 May 2019. Precise details and timings are still being finalised, so if you want to play your part in celebrating Rainhill’s rail heritage, please contact the Parish Clerk by emailing rainhillpc@hotmail.co.uk. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about Rainhill’s rail heritage, including the Trials and Robert Stephenson’s pioneering work, Rainhill Library houses a unique rail exhibition within a real railway carriage. The exhibit is open through library hours, and is free to visit.

Urwin Loco on Universal Credit track for Vulcan changes – what return you need to know

he fundraising target to bring the Walter Urwin Loco back to the former Vulcan Works has been smashed thanks to a special wine and gin tasting night held at St Peter’s Church, Newton-le-Willows earlier this summer. Hosted by the Riddling Rack – a new bar set for the high street – the special event was advertised on Facebook and all 150 tickets sold within three hours. On the night guests were able to sample a variety of wines and gins from the suppliers of the new bar as well enter a raffle with over 100 prizes donated by local businesses. Newton & Earlestown Community Group (NECG) is organising the restoration and transportation of the locomotive which was made at Vulcan in 1976, with a series

of previous fundraising initiatives. This latest event raised over £700; finally surpassing the £25,000 mark needed to bring Walter Urwin home. Speaking of his pride, Newtonle-Willows ward councillor and vice chairman of the Newton & Earlestown Community Group, Seve Gomez-Aspron, said: “The investment from Alex and the team at the Riddling Rack shows an ever increasing confidence from investors in Newton-le-Willows high street, which is fantastic for our town. It’s even better when these new businesses support community causes such as this. Great work all round from the Riddling Rack and NECG in helping preserve our proud town’s historic identity.” For more information about the loco project visit necg.weebly. com/future-projects

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niversal Credit Full Service is now available in St Helens, replacing six in and out of work benefits. If you are below pension credit age and need to make a new claim for either Job Seekers Allowance; Employment and Support Allowance; Income Support; Housing Benefit or Tax Credits you will normally be required to claim Universal Credit instead. Universal Credit Full Service is a fully digital service. To make a claim you’ll need to create an online account. If you need help getting started visit St Helens Job Centre Plus, Central Street, or the council’s Contact Centre, Wesley House, Corporation Street.

You’ll need to provide evidence to make a new claim, including a bank or credit union account; documents to support your identity e.g. passport or driving licence; proof of your rent, earnings and childcare costs if you have any. It’s very important to provide all the evidence required to support your claim promptly as it may delay your fist payment. You will normally be paid monthly in arrears. This will mean that you won’t receive your first payment until at least five weeks. If you require financial help during this period you’ll be able to claim an advance which can be paid back over 12 months. If you’re in receipt of Universal Credit you may still be entitled to help with your Council Tax (Council Tax Reduction), free school meals and other services. Be sure to declare any changes in your circumstances, such as a new baby, becoming unemployed, or a partner moving in or out. Call 01744 676789 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk for further information. To find out more about Universal Credit, visit www. understandinguniversalcredit. gov.uk or call the Universal Credit Helpline 0800 328 5644

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

News

Securing stability in the Town Centre

he announcement by Marks & Spencer to relocate to the Ravenshead Retail Park has been a hot topic in recent weeks, but it’s one that many towns across England must grapple with now. The council’s ‘Transforming our Town’ vision for St Helens town centre reflected this undeniable change in retail and set out how the council intended to respond. Since then the town has seen a number of new investors start to show their confidence – with local business people buying into what the town could be. A number of new food premises are springing up, including a new family run Tex-Mex restaurant, Sabroso, located in George Street. Meanwhile, prominent local fashion retailer OD’s Designer Clothing has been nominated for two prestigious national honours, and hopes to bring

home Multichannel Independent Retailer of the Year and Kidswear Independent Retailer of the Year at The Drapers Independent Awards in September. Over at Church Square Shopping Centre the appointment of new asset managers has already seen new leases signed by a number of tenants. The council now has more control over the type of businesses that come to the centre. A number of major retailers such as Boots, River Island, Thomas Cook and Savers have shown their commitment to the town by signing new leases, and in June travel agent’s Hays Travel opened a new branch in the town. There is still a long way to go, but the immediate plan was to stabilise any decline, before bringing forward the long-term redevelopment options. Those plans must now consider the long-term future of the market.

A decision has also been taken by the council to move major events into the main retail area to drive up footfall – providing people with a new reason to visit the town and see what is on offer. The

International Food and Drink Festival was an example of just that with thousands of people coming in to the town centre using the shops and staying around to sample what the festival could offer.

Get active this autumn with popular Couch to 5k

t Helens Sports Development’s awardwinning ‘Couch to 5k’ programme which gets people off their couch to completing a full 5k in just ten weeks is set to return this October. Since launching in 2015, Couch to 5k has seen thousands of inactive local

people get involved in physical activity by attending weekly running sessions at Sutton Leisure Centre’s athletics track, where they have slowly built up their fitness over ten weeks. At a cost of just £12 for the ten weeks, or 40p a session if attended three times a week, runners confident enough can then progress on to one of

the many local jogging groups available. Sessions take place every Monday and Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm, and Saturdays 9:15am to 10am, with week one commencing on 1st October. For more information and to find out how to register, email gemmaharkness@sthelens. gov.uk

A Prayer for St Helens at 150

embers of local faith communities and churches have banded together on a spiritual campaign for St Helens. Prayer 150 is a yearlong project on the borough’s 150th anniversary that invites residents to pray in their homes and churches, with a different focus of prayer each month.

The themes include local government, business and industry, culture and arts, sport, education, health and social care, community safety, family, the voluntary sector and the future of St Helens. The campaign is running through a dedicated website (www.prayerforsthelens. org), Facebook page (@

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prayerforsthelens) and Twitter (@praysthelens). Each month a video is published online which features an introduction from someone engaged in the themed area, followed by a positive declaration about what they are praying for and a prayer from a member of the community. Philip Fell, Senior Leader for the Christian Life Centre, said: “Through the early part of the year we developed a Prayer for St Helens based on comments we received from members of the community who were

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asked what their hopes are for St Helens in the next 10-15 years. School children, young people and adults as well as older people from across the community contributed, with their comments crafted in to the Prayer for St Helens. “We believe prayer can make a positive difference to the life and future of our borough. The Prayer 150 campaign is open to all to join whether you’re part of a local church or not.” See the Prayer for St Helens online at www. prayerforsthelens.org.

Marri e d Civil Partnership? Thinking of getting

or forming a

St.Helens Town Hall could be the perfect place to host your big day. The stunning Victorian building hosts a multitude of beautiful features that will make your special day perfect. For more information or to book a viewing, call 01744 676789 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/marriage

Now taking bookings for 2020

Book online at:

www.sthelens.gov.uk sthelenscouncil |

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

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St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

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@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

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Council Leader announces new Cabinet St Helens Council Leader Derek Long has confirmed his new Cabinet for 2018-2019.

he announcement of a new look Cabinet sees a change to all portfolio titles, a strengthening of the borough’s commitment to its residents and communities, and a focus on a balanced economic growth agenda. Councillor Long pledged that residents – especially vulnerable groups – will be ‘at the heart’ of every decision the council takes. He pointed to the creation of a new Developing Young People portfolio, which will look to raise aspirations across St Helens specifically in young people through education. A Better Health and Building Arts & Culture portfolio will ‘put people first’, bringing a sharper focus on health and social care and also more closely aligning arts and culture with people’s wellbeing. A new ‘community based’ portfolio has been developed which will see services delivered in the community brought together, and will include services such as libraries, leisure and community safety. Changes have also been made to the number of portfolios, with a reduction from ten to eight.

Community Based and Focused Services Councillor Anthony Burns • Libraries • Leisure • Community Safety • Housing Services

Adult Social Care Councillor Marlene Quinn • Adult Care and Support

Leader of the Council Councillor Derek Long • Council Strategy and Policy, Audit and Governance • Budget Strategy • Communications • Partner and Stakeholder Engagement

Balanced Development, Housing and Economic Opportunity Councillor Andy Bowden (Deputy Leader) • Planning • Economic Development • Housing Strategy • Town Centres

Better Neighbourhoods Councillor Lynn Clarke • Recycling & Waste • Traded Services • Engineering • Environmental Health • Trading Standards • Parking • Licensing

Better Health and Building Arts & Culture Councillor Gill Neal • St Helens Cares Strategic Overview • Public Health • Arts & Culture

Developing Young People Councillor Joe Pearson • Children’s Services • Education • SEND • Youth Services • Adult and Community Learning

Collaborative Services Councillor Anthony Johnson • Corporate Governance • Finance • Local Taxation and Benefits • Organisational Development • Legal Services • IT • Democratic Service/Civic Events

OTHER KEY APPOINTMENTS INCLUDE COUNCILLOR JEANIE BELL, CHAIR OF LICENSING COMMITTEE COUNCILLOR SEVE GOMEZ-ASPRON, CHAIR OF PLANNING COMMITTEE

St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

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St Helens company praised for staff mental health pledge

ith statistics showing that half of construction workers in the UK find their work quite or very stressful, a St Helens-based business has come in for high praise for the work it has been doing to tackle the stigma of mental health in the work place. As a way of showing how highly it values employees - Longworth Building Services Ltd, based on the Haydock Industrial Estate - has recently signed the ‘time to change’ pledge which allows staff to come forward with ideas on what they can do to help end the stigma of mental health and help colleagues. Since the pledge was signed during Mental Health Awareness Week in May, it has led to over 50 per cent of the 68 employee-strong business committing to a pledge on the day, with pledges still being returned. While 10 members of staff, including members of the board, have signed up as mental health champions which involves holding monthly meetings for any members of staff who can benefit from them. The company’s new SHEQ manager, Melissa Fazackerley, who is passionately taking the lead for Longworth to tackle the stigma of mental health in the workplace, said:

“We invest in looking after the health and safety of our employees and mental health is a valuable part of that investment. “It isn’t just about sending leaflets, it is about engaging and empowering our employees to become an even better place to work in an industry where pressure is high and deadlines are tight. It’s about understanding our colleagues and providing support when it’s needed, listening to each other and giving our employer feedback on what works for us and what our needs are. “I can confidently say we are well on our way to fighting the stigma and becoming an understanding and supportive employer.” St Helens Council’s Business Liaison Officer Sue Waller, who was invited to visit Longworth Building Services Ltd to discuss the support for workplace health available for local St Helens companies, added: “Mental health is an issue businesses can’t afford to ignore as it the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK, costing an average of £1,035 per employee per year. “I’m delighted to see companies like this stand up and realise how precious mental health is - and St Helens Council will always be there to offer a helping hand to companies

by informing them of workplace health opportunities open to them.” Praising Longworth for its approach to raising awareness of mental health, St Helens Council’s portfolio holder for economic opportunity, Councillor Andy Bowden, said: “I applaud the fantastic work that has been carried out by this particular business and Sue, which underlines the council’s commitment to addressing mental health. I hope this will now pave the way for more companies to adopt the time to change pledge which will help create a healthier and happier workplace.” In St Helens, there’s a unique opportunity for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to wellbeing in the workforce through a funded resource providing advice and practical support available, from benchmarking to free health checks. For more information contact Sue Waller on 01744 676001 or email susanwaller@sthelens.gov.uk A wide range of services are available in St Helens for anyone wanting to talk about their mental health and wellbeing. For more information, visit www. sthelens.gov.uk/public-health-andwellbeing

News Children’s charity looks for local volunteers

ational children’s charity Barnardo’s is looking for volunteers in St Helens for its universal online support service,

BOSS. BOSS is free, safe and confidential, and has been designed for 11-19 year olds, parents, carers and professionals, to promote young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Volunteers will need to be really good listeners! Volunteering can be highly flexible and rewarding – personally and professionally – with full training given by Barnardo’s. BOSS has a range of highly accessible services for young people, including live chat, online counselling and self-help information on topics as diverse as anxiety, depression, bereavement, low mood, anger, self-esteem, friendship and relationship problems, self-harm and eating problems. And it’s all specific to services available right here in St Helens. Check it out at www.boss-sthelens.co.uk. Find out more about volunteering opportunities by emailing Barnardo’s volunteer coordinator Karen.burman@barnardos.org.uk

Home Improvement Services for Everyone!

ou may have heard of the St.Helens Home Improvement Agency (HIA) –a council service who specialise in making homes accessible for elderly and vulnerable residents - but did you know that their home improvement services are also available to all residents of St.Helens, regardless of whether you need help to improve independence, or whether you own your own home or rent? The HIA’s Handyperson service can help with jobs like repairing gates and fences, plumbing works, internal joinery or improving home security. The benefit of the service is that you’ll be guaranteed upfront and honest advice from a reliable, governed trade person. The call out service is free and they will provide a quote before any work is completed. If you decide you want to look for another trader, the HIA can even help you with that! The Care and Repair Service costs £12.60 - they

will go out for quotes from reputable traders, liaise with them on your behalf and organise final payment upon satisfactory completion of the work. It’s great if you’re not sure where to begin, or are worried about rogue traders. If you find testimonials helpful when employing traders, the HIA regularly publishes feedback received from residents on their website and social media pages. A Sutton resident who recently had a door bell, grab rails and a loop system fitted said: “I have peace of mind using this service knowing a good job will be done!” While another resident from Thatto Heath said: “Everyone was professional and polite and they wasted no time doing what was needed.” So if you’re in need of home improvements, whether it’s for you, a relative or a friend, give the HIA a try. Call: 01744 676555.

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@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

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Millennium Centre helps local charities to realise dreams PHOTO: Clair (right) and the team with Anthony Richards MBE (centre).

or nearly two decades, the Millennium Centre has been a driving force in the support of voluntary organisations in St Helens. Many people still think of the facility as just the walk-in centre, but that’s only one service among dozens that the Millennium Centre offers to local people. Conveniently located next to the town centre’s bus and railway stations, the Millennium Centre is at the heart of St Helens. Established to bring together health and social care organisations in St Helens, the Millennium Centre supports other charities and voluntary organisations through the provision of office accommodation and meeting room facilities. Over seventy different organisations now use the rooms for meetings, training, conferences, counselling, therapy and group sessions – all provided free of charge. Now, the centre and its founder, Anthony Richards MBE, are eager to help more groups and individuals realise their visions – as they have been doing for nearly 20 years. One such group is Clair’s Parents Meeting Parents ADHD Support Group, founded in 2015 by local woman Clair Hodgson.

Having lived much of her life with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) but without diagnosis, and noticing the same traits in her child, Clair found there was a lack of specialised support locally for those living with the condition, particularly among children. So Clair took it upon herself to provide that support, contacting the Millennium Centre for help, where she was given a rent-free base for her group. Later, as the group began to grow Clair moved the group away, but given the accessibility of the Millennium Centre, parents and carers found the change difficult. The centre was eager to help, and supported Clair to host the group sessions in the evenings in a larger space instead. Clair said: “It was when I thought I needed guidance that I thought to start a support group of my own. After thinking long and hard I decided to contact the Millennium Centre to ask for help. The people I spoke to couldn’t do enough for me and offered me a meeting room – all I had to do was to pay for refreshments! I was so excited that people actually wanted to help me with my group. The Millennium Centre also helped us to advertise the group

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through the online Gateway, which was a massive help for me and the group. “As parents and carers of children with ADHD, we know everyday life can sometimes be a struggle. The support group gives us a place to let off some steam with crafts and fundraising events, but we also have guest talks by ADHD specialists, helping us to learn more about the condition. “We often organise days trips too, as it can be daunting for families to go out alone with a child with ADHD in case of ‘meltdowns’! As most parents with experience of the condition know, it can be a difficult experience, but by having a larger group, we can support each other.” Contact Clair and the group by calling 07480 824 868, email clairsparentsmeetingparents41 @gmail.com or find the group on Facebook by searching ‘Clair’s Parents Meeting Parents ADHD Support Group’. Founder and Executive Chairman, Anthony Richards MBE, said: “It is gratifying that the Millennium Centre is fulfilling its original aims and objectives by facilitating a combination of charitable, voluntary and statutory organisations. The uptake of use

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by external organisations in the charitable and voluntary sector, such as Clair’s ADHD support group, has enhanced the centre as a strategically located central resource and I’m eager that we help even more groups to realise their vision, and support even more local people!” Call 01744 675 131 or visit www.tmcsh.org.uk for more information.

t was always the intention that the Millennium Centre be a service gateway, with a multitude of them accessible under one roof. Among the services offered, the Millennium Centre is particularly proud of its new mediation service, which looks to resolve domestic disputes through conflict resolution – doing so quickly, confidentially and often without the need for costly solicitors. The service will cover Merseyside, West Lancashire and North Cheshire, and particularly the towns of St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and Widnes, using highly trained and accredited mediators.

Feature News

Replica milestone represents new phase in canal restoration

As part of the borough’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Dr Barrie Pennington of the Milestone Society has donated a replica canal milestone to St Helens Council. Measuring 80 centimetres high, 45 centimetres across and 15 centimetres deep, the replica is made from Fletcher Bank stone sourced from Ramsbottom and now stands proudly near Bradley Lock in Newton-leWillows. Barrie, from Crank, had read in a copy of ‘Canal Cuttings’ – the journal of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCARS) – of the poor condition of the canal’s only remaining milestone languishing in the garden of the Sankey Valley Heritage Centre in Blackbrook, where it was moved to when the centre was opened. The author of the article hoped that, one day, replicas could be put in place along the waterway as part of the Society’s continuing work to renovate the country’s first canal of the industrial era. Taking up the challenge, Barrie began work with SCARS to determine the dimensions and design of possible replicas. Identifying the exact location of the original milestone at Bradley Lock was made easy by the existence of photographs from 1963 and it can also be seen in the drama ‘Faith and Henry’ filmed locally, which can be

PHOTO: Pete Morris, Greenspace Inspector for St Helens Council (left) with Colin Greenall, Chairman of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.

downloaded from the British Film Institute website. Barrie arranged for a local stonemason to cut the replica and co-ordinated with St Helens Council’s Service Manager, Dave Bloor, to install it. Dave, who has worked with Barrie before on the successful move of two milestones from Balker Drive to Victoria and Taylor parks, said: “It is pleasing to work with interested parties

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and societies to maintain our proud industrial heritage. “St Helens contributed significantly to the Industrial Revolution and helping to keep that history alive is very rewarding.” Barrie added: “Once again, I would like to thank Dave Bloor, Greenspace Inspector Pete Morris and the installation team for their expertise in this heritage project. Without the council’s kind assistance and invaluable support, such schemes would prove nearly impossible.” Colin Greenall, Chairman of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society said: “We are delighted that our work is reaching so many people and inspiring contributions to the ongoing renovation of the canal.” Although grammatically incorrect in that an ‘s’ has been missed off ‘mile’, it is likely that the stonemason who worked on the original milestone in the eighteenth century was simply following common local dialect. Even now, it is quite usual to hear a St Helener drop the letter ‘s’ when describing distances in miles. With the replica, it was decided to copy the original as accurately as possible – mistakes and all. The Sankey Canal Restoration Society is now working with its partners in the Canal and River Trust, St Helens, Halton and Warrington councils on the production of more replicas to be placed wherever possible along the canal.

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature News

Council backs World War One Centenary campaigns

t Helens Council is supporting two poignant campaigns to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One. Organised by the Royal British Legion, ‘There But Not There’ and ‘The Silent Soldier’ projects aim to commemorate those who died in the First World War, educate today’s younger generation, and heal today’s veterans who are suffering from mental health and physical wounds, by raising substantial funds through the sale of ‘Tommies’. To symbolise more than 1.1 million British and Empire service men and women that didn’t make it home, the council has sponsored a ‘There But Not There’ Perspex silhouette of a soldier which will be displayed at every full council meeting between now and January 2019. Meanwhile, as part of ‘The Silent Soldier’ campaign – a four-foot silhouette of a ‘Tommy’ soldier is to be placed in each ward around the borough over the coming weeks as a tribute to those who gave their lives for their country, or

returned home during or after the dreadful darkness of war. An additional Tommy has been sponsored by the council to stand by the Steve Prescott Bridge, while Rainhill and Bold Parish Councils have also sponsored a Tommy each – taking the number of Silent Soldiers to be displayed in the borough up to 19. Showing her support to the campaigns, St Helens Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Lynn Clarke, added: “As a council, we are committed to supporting our Armed Forces personnel, past and present – so I’m delighted that we’re sponsoring these Tommies which will help raise funds for veterans who have given so much for our safety and freedom. “Seeing the silhouette at a recent council meeting was an emotionally moving moment, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the Silent Soldiers installed in our communities to act as fitting reminders that their brave efforts will never be forgotten – and most importantly, we will remember them.”

Annual Canvass 2018 – Don’t lose your voice!

esidents in St Helens should look out for their voter registration details in the post. Local residents are being advised to complete their annual canvass form online or by returning it to their local authority as soon as possible – to ensure they don’t lose their voice on matters that affect them. With Local and Parish elections taking place in St Helens in May 2019, this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can vote, simply check the form when it arrives and respond as soon as you can. Checking the form is one of the easiest ways to find out if you are already registered.

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People who have moved address recently are particularly encouraged to keep an eye out for the form and check the details. Research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time. If you are not currently registered, your name will not appear on the form. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov. uk/register-to-vote, or we will send you information explaining how to do this in the post. Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at 01744 676464.

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Schools celebrate St Helens 150

chools across the borough have been getting in the spirt of St Helens’ 150 anniversary celebrations by taking part in a number of exciting educational projects throughout the year. Penkford School and Bleak Hill Primary School contacted St Helens First to share their news…

ton Glass in the town over the years.” As ADHD Friendly School of the Year, Penkford has received national recognition for its tireless commitment to championing the needs of pupils who have social, emotional and mental health issues – and Anita believes the project has helped improve pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. Anita added: “Pupils with ADHD face lots of challenges but often excel in creative arts. Our Glass Kiln Project has channelled imaginative creativity in a positive manner and enabled us to say happy birthday to St Helens in a special and original way.” Bleak Hill journeys through time

Penkford School celebrates with a touch of glass Pupils at Penkford School in Newton-le-Willows have been celebrating St Helens’ 150th birthday in a novel way by crafting beautiful glass tiles in homage to the borough’s wonderful glass making heritage. Made using a glass kiln, the colourful designs were inspired by a trip to the World of Glass Museum and have attracted the interest of visitors who have placed advanced orders. “Each tile is different and is unique,” explained Anita Johnson, Art Teacher. “Pupils have learned how to implement glass fusion techniques and also learned lots of local history about the very important role played by Pilking-

During the past academic year, pupils at Bleak Hill Primary School have been taking part in lots of different learning activities around the theme of St Helens’ 150th anniversary. Projects included pupils working with Artist in Residence, Nyree Waters, to make a fantastic mosaic featuring the many things St Helens is famous for, as well making their very own ‘Dream’ sculptures with a personal dream for the future; and clay tea light holders depicting ‘Ex Terra Lucem’ or ‘out of the earth came light’ – the borough’s motto based on its proud coal heritage. As the Windle school was about to break up for summer, a special celebration assembly was held in the school hall where a culmination of activities, including poems and music relating to St Helens, were performed in front of the whole school.

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Pupils from years 2, 3, 4 and 6 then shared interesting local information with their peers, explaining the borough’s historic links with the farming, coal, glass and pharmaceuticals industries – as well as St Helens’ success in both rugby codes, with the borough being home to the oldest rugby union club in the world, Liverpool St Helens – and of course, the world-famous Saints rugby league team. Headteacher Ian Wellens said: “There was a tremendous amount of pride in St Helens which is still evident today, and we hope the assembly is something the children will look back upon in years to come with fond memories.” Bleak Hill will unveil the final mosaic, made up of images of Beechams, Pilkington, Saints, railways, Sankey Canal, and The Dream – at a special event in the autumn term.

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

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Jessica’s incredible weight loss journey With data showing that 71 per cent of adults in the borough are classed as overweight or obese, one local woman has spoken out about her incredible weight loss journey – and revealed some of the personal factors that can lead to weight gain in the first place. Through most of her life, 24-yearold Jessica Barrett from Windle has struggled to control her weight, having been a size 18 at just 13 years of age – only to then lose it all by dropping to a size 10 for her mum’s wedding. However, things took a turn for the worse when she was preparing for her GCSE exams when her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour – and then the sudden death of her stepfather two years

“Making these changes has definitely made me feel like a different person ”

later. “I began to comfort eat to cope with the shock and stress of it all,” said Jess. “I found myself ordering takeaways most nights and eating ready meals for the convenience in order to juggle my day-to-day job and being a carer for mum, as

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well as looking after my younger brother.” Deciding enough was enough after once reaching a weight of 20 stone, Jess took it upon herself to do something about her weight, and contacted the St Helens Council commissioned ABL Health service, where she now attends monthly maintain sessions at Lowe House Health Centre. Through a combination of healthy eating and exercising twice a week at the council-managed Queen’s Park Health and Fitness Centre on Boundary Road, Jess has managed to shift a whopping 5 stone since February last year, and is happy with the results. In a bid to try and inspire others looking to lose weight that may

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lack the motivation, Jess said: “I knew I had to do something about my weight and I certainly couldn’t keep making excuses for not doing so. “Making these changes has definitely made me feel like a different person for the better as I’m now happier, healthier and more outgoing because it’s done wonders for my confidence.” St Helens Council is committed to reducing obesity rates in the borough and a wide range of healthy lifestyle initiatives is available to help residents along the way. To find out more, contact the Healthy Living Team by calling 0300 300 0103 – or visit www. healthysthelens.co.uk

News

Blooming Brookfield receives refurbishment

rookfield Support Centre has undergone a blooming transformation to further improve its positive approach to the health and wellbeing of service users. Located on Park Road, Blackbrook, Brookfield is a community provision that gives intermediate care to residents who have recently been discharged from hospital but aren’t quite ready to return to their own home. Earlier this year, the former Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor Joe Pearson and his wife Sylvia, were invited down as special guests to officially open the new-look Brookfield which saw improvements made to its beautiful garden area to encourage participation in outdoor activities – as well as the addition of a community hub which provides patients access to a number of community-based services. St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Marlene Quinn, said: “As a council, one of our main

priorities is to protect the health and wellbeing of our more elderly residents to ensure they can live as much of an independent life as possible to reduce pressures on our hospitals – and services like Brookfield are a shining example of this.

“These improvements will provide a broad range of activities within a safe and accessible environment where people from the community and service users can take advantage of services that promote active ageing and a positive approach to wellbeing.”

Council’s independent MOT service

OT. It’s something most motorists dread, as it can often mean costly repairs. And while there are plenty of trustworthy garages out there, where MOTs are concerned, many of us wouldn’t know if these costly repairs were necessary or fairly priced. But now you can rest assured, with a cost-effective, independent MOT service provided by St Helens Council. Your MOT test will be carried out by a team of qualified, experienced

technicians and fully authorised DVSA testers, who rigorously test the borough’s licensed vehicles and taxis. The team does not carry out servicing or repairs, so the result you receive will be free from bias as there’s no vested interest to fail you in the hope you’ll spend – giving you peace of mind. The one-hour test costs £40 for cars (Class 4) and light commercial vehicles (Class 7) and if a vehicle fails and a retest is needed following repair, there is no

charge for a retest. The MOT station, based at the Hardshaw Brook Depot off Parr Street, is open Monday to Friday, 7:30am-4pm. Book your test today by calling 01744 676753. For more information on getting your MOT done right, as well as new Government changes to MOT testing, visit www. moneysavingexpert.com/travel/ cheap-mot

Have your say on crime and anti-social behaviour

public consultation has opened to allow residents to have their say on crime and anti-social behaviour. Created by St Helens Council, with support from Merseyside Police and other crime reduction partners, the survey asks participants a number of simple multiple choice questions, including what crimes are an issue in a particular area of the borough;

what type of crimes should be made a priority; and should CCTV be clearly visible to make people feel safer - while there will also be the opportunity for residents to leave their own comments. The views of residents help to determine policies and actions to fight crime and keep St Helens a safe place to live, work and visit for everyone.

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The council and its community safety partners are committed to tackling the issue of crime and anti-social behaviour in communities and the public can play a big part in this by bringing any incidents to our attention though the #Ready2Report campaign which explains what action to take if you witness crime and antisocial behaviour taking place. To contribute to the crime and

anti-social behaviour survey, which closes later this year on 30 November and will take roughly two minutes to complete, visit our online Consultation Suite via www. sthelens.gov.uk/council/publicconsultation For more information on #Ready2Report visit: www. safersthelens.org.uk/ready2report

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

News

Zero Suicide Alliance Training

free online training course has been launched to help prevent suicide. Launched by the Zero Suicide Alliance, the training helps people identify when someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviour, and enables them to support that person and signpost them to support services. To help promote the training, a catchy summer anthem has been released by the Zero Suicide Alliance. Written and performed by mental health worker Zorro Rundasumbwa, the song is called Talk 2 Me and encourages people to reach out to those in need. The music video is available on Youtube by searching ‘Zorro – Talk2Me.’ Urging the public to take part in the training, Councillor

Gill Neal, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Better Health and Building Arts and Culture, said: “I would like to encourage everyone to complete the training. It takes just 20 minutes and it could save someone’s life. We can all make a difference to someone. “If you’re worried about a friend, colleague or family member, this training can help you to start a conversation and encourage them to seek support. If we can all help each other, we can hopefully make St Helens a zero suicide borough.” To complete the training, visit www.zerosuicidealliance.com If you or someone you know needs further support, visit www.sthelens.gov. uk/mentalhealthsupport for information on local and national support services.

Picnic in the Park for World Suicide Prevention Day To mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday 8 September, St Helens Council’s Healthy Living Team is holding a family fun day in Taylor Park. Residents are encouraged to pack a picnic and head down to Taylor where they can take part in family games and discover how to keep

themselves well through Healthy Living taster sessions and general information which will be available from a number of stalls. ‘Healthy Living’s Picnic in the Park event - which forms part of the Heritage Open Day events - will take place between 11:30am4:30pm on Saturday 8 September.

Cap off Healthy Living’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing logo in style As part of a creative project to promote their ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ campaign, St Helens Council’s Healthy Living Team is calling on residents to collect bottle tops which are the same colours as the campaign’s logo (left). The campaign was launched in January last year to highlight five steps that can be built

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into everyday life which can significantly improve health and wellbeing. Bottle tops can be handed into any library in the borough before the deadline date of Friday 31 August. For more information on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing campaign, visit: www.healthysthelens. co.uk/time-to-talk

News

Outstanding Abbeyford celebrates Ofsted result

council-run children’s home has come in for high praise after achieving an outstanding Ofsted

report. Abbeyford on Rainford Road, Dentons Green – which provides short breaks for children and young people with complex health, learning and social communication needs - was visited by inspectors earlier this year and scored

outstanding in all areas. Key findings from the report found that children make tremendous progress during their stays at the home – and that care plans provide a detailed account of each child’s needs and how the home is meeting them. In addition, the inspector was full of praise for the ‘inspirational’ and ‘ambitious’ leadership and management team who support

their ‘high calibre’ staff in providing an excellent quality of care to ensure the children and young people benefit greatly from the time that they spend at the home. Speaking of his pride at a celebration party for service users and their families earlier this summer, Registered Manager Paul Spencer said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the service, which

over a five year period has seen several changes to service delivery. “Our challenge now is to aspire to maintaining our outstanding status and continue to offer a quality service in the future to people in St Helens. “Congratulations to all children and young people who attend the service, their parents and to a team who are without doubt key to this success.”

Become a Dementia Friend

Therapy sessions are a work of art As part of ongoing work centred on raising awareness of mental health, St Helens Council’s Healthy Living Team teamed up with Burrows Lane Farm Equestrian Centre to host a number of successful equine therapy sessions. Through the ‘Time to Change’ and ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ campaigns, groups made up of children and young people with complex and medical needs – and service users of Bereavement UK – learned the importance of living

a healthy lifestyle and discovered how horses can foster change. Highlights of the therapy sessions included horse grooming which involved visitors painting horses using wash-away paint; an activity thoroughly relaxing for both human and horse. A wide range of services are available in St Helens for anyone wanting to talk about their mental health and wellbeing. For more information, visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/ mentalhealthsupport

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St Helens Council’s Public Health team and St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are building on a successful campaign which looks to make St Helens an even more dementia-friendly place to live and work. Launched in 2013, ‘Dementia Friends’ is an initiative set up by the Alzheimer’s Society which seeks to educate people about the condition that currently affects

850,000 people in the UK alone, and to remove the stigma and misconceptions associated with it. In just two years, over 12,400 people have signed-up to be a Dementia Friend in St Helens, but with this year marking the 150th anniversary of St Helens becoming a municipal borough, health chiefs are hoping to hit the 15,000 mark. Urging more people to become Dementia Friends, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Better Health and Building Arts & Culture, Councillor Gill Neal said: “With the number of people living with dementia set to rise over the next few years, the chances of someone we know developing the condition are fairly strong. It’s crucial that we learn all about dementia so that we can put our understanding into practice – every action counts.” Become a Dementia Friend today by visiting www. dementiafriends.org.uk

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

St Helens Council’s community magazine

Summer 2018

What’s on

AUGUST PERFORMANCE OF LITTLE RED RIDING

HOOD Friday 17 August – 11am & 1pm Newton-le-Willows Library Free to attend, but places must be booked in advance by calling 01744 677885 ANIMAL ARTS AND CRAFTS & FACE PAINTING Saturday 18 August Church Square Shopping Centre MUSIC FOR A SUMMER’S AFTERNOON: ST HELENS CONCERT BAND Sunday 19 August - 2pm Victoria Park HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2018 ON STAGE Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 August St Helens Theatre Royal T-REX WALKABOUT ACT & DINOSAUR MASK MAKING WORKSHOP Saturday 25 August Church Square Shopping Centre SMALL CINEMA: DISPICABLE ME Friday 31 August – 3pm Celebrate the end of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge with the ultimate Mischief Makers – Minions! Enjoy a fabulous family film with popcorn and juice. Newton-le-Willows Library Tickets: £4 adults, £3 children - £10 family tickets (2 adults and 2 children)

SEPTEMBER CLEAN UP EVENT WITH THE RANGERS

Sunday 2 September – 10am to 12pm Victoria Park, meeting place: St Marks Gate Lodge A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BOTTLEHAND Friday 7 September – 7pm The Citadel CLASSIC CAR SHOW Saturday 8 September – 10am to 4pm Church Square

32RED SPRINT CUP DAY Saturday 8 September Haydock Park Racecourse THE SMITHS LTD Saturday 8 September– 7:30pm The Citadel THE HANDEPAY ST HELENS TRIATHLON Sunday 9 September Eccleston Mere WILLY RUSSELL’S BLOOD BROTHERS Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 September St Helens Theatre Royal WILLOWBROOK HOSPICE GOLF DAY Thursday 13 September Blundells Hill Golf Club ABIGAIL’S TEA PARTY Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 September – 7:30pm The Citadel QUIZ AND ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT Friday 14 September - 7:30pm Haydock Conservative Club £6 - contact Jeanette 07954139821 FAMILY DAY Sunday 16 September – 10am to 4pm North West Museum of Road Transport, 51 Hall Street, St Helens BING LIVE Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 September St Helens Theatre Royal MAGIC OF THE BEATLES Saturday 22 September St Helens Theatre Royal RAINHILL 10K Sunday 23 September – 10am www.rainhillgala.com

OCTOBER DAVE SPIKEY: JUGGLING ON A MOTORBIKE Friday 5 October St Helens Theatre Royal

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www.sthelens.gov.uk

WILLOWBROOK HOSPICE: SUNFLOWER MEMORIES Saturday 6 October – 10am The Living Well, Borough Road HAYDOCK MALE VOICE CHOIR CONCERT Wednesday 10 October – 7:30pm St Paul’s Church, Chain Lane MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Friday 12 October The Mansion House, Victoria Park Tickets: £45 and available to purchase by calling 01744 752 644 WILLOWBROOK HOSPICE: AN EVENING WITH RAY FRENCH Thursday 18 October – 7pm Greenall’s Social Club, Alder Hey Road Tickets: £10 and available to purchase by emailing events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk RACING WELFARE CHARITY DAY Friday 19 October Haydock Park Racecourse ST HELENS COMIC CON Saturday 20 October – 9:30am ticket entry or 10:30am pay on door entry St Helens Town Hall https://www.sthelenscomiccon.co.uk/ PANTOMIME: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Saturday 20 October – Sunday 28 October St Helens Theatre Royal WEDDING BRIDAL FAYRE Sunday 21 October The Mansion House, Victoria Park HONEYROSE FOUNDATION CHILDREN AND ADULTS’ HALLOWEEN PARTIES Saturday 27 October – 12:00pm to 3pm (children’s party), 7pm until late (adults’ party) Tickets cost £10 for both events which includes entertainment, party games and sweets at the children’s event – and a disco and hotpot at the adults’ party. Wishes Function Room, Cotham Street, WA10 1SA

WHAT’S ON

WALKING NETBALL Fancy a wiggle and a giggle? Then get down to Peter Street Community Centre every Monday for walking netball. Sessions take place every Monday morning from 11:15am until 12pm and first time visitors will receive their first session for free – so what is there to lose? For more information call Karen McVeigh on 07854090639 or email Karen.mcveigh@ englandnetball.co.uk HAYDOCK MALE VOICE CHOIR CONCERT: BLESS EM’ ALL To celebrate the centenary of the armistice in 1918, the Haydock Male Choir will perform a special show in St Helens Town Hall on Saturday 10 November. The lovely and talented Ellie Hull will sing Vera Lynn numbers and there will be a chance for audience participation. The Royal British Legion and army and navy cadets will join in for a “Last Night of the Proms” type grand finale.

HEALTHY LIVING GET TOGETHER SESSIONS Get Together sessions take place every Tuesday afternoon, 1pm to 3pm, at Wesley Methodist Church in Vincent Street. Attendees can enjoy a nice cup of tea and a chat – and discover all the exciting opportunities they can get involved in. For more information, call the Healthy Living Team on 0300 300 0103. ST HELENS PARK RUN Saturday mornings – 9am Victoria Park A great community event which invites people of all ages and abilities to take part in a 5k run around Victoria Park. Sign up for free here: www. parkrun.org.uk/sthelens SUMMER BEACH A large beach area and a fantastic children’s funfair are on display in Church Square until Saturday 1 September, open daily from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Then: 17 August - Superhero vs Princess, crafts, shows, dance 31 August - Greatest Showman, circus workshop, glitter tattoos and face painting, shows, dance

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ST HELENS 150 events SPARK IN THE PARK Monday 5 November – Sherdley Park Annual free fireworks display to celebrate Bonfire Night. ST HELENS HERITAGE WEEKEND Friday 7 – Sunday 9 September www.sthelens150.co.uk HELEN Monday 1 – Wednesday 31 October Free, immersive and explosive art experiences focused on women.

BATTLE’S OVER: BEACON OF LIGHT TRIBUTE Sunday 11 November – 7pm Taylor Park National tribute event to commemorate the end of World War One. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Sunday 11 November – 10:45am Victoria Square

www.sthelens150.co.uk/events/ For more events and details, and regular updates, like our facebook.com/whatsoninsthelens page, and follow us on Twitter @whatsonsthelens

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

Feature

Former Mayor to trial new driving assistance technology

he former Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Joe Pearson is to become one of the first motorists in Merseyside to trial an innovative technology designed to help senior drivers to stay safely on the road during their later years. In conjunction with Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, Councillor Pearson will trial the new ‘SATSAFE’ box in his own vehicle for a period of 6 months. Satsafe combines the latest after-market in-vehicle technologies to act as a ‘virtual driving assistant’ for motorists, feeding back information on how well you are driving and even providing critical alerts to relatives, friends or in worst-case scenarios, emergency services when you may need urgent assistance, for example immediately following a serious collision. Councillor Pearson, who represents Billinge and Seneley

Green in St Helens, is one of the early adopters of this technology and it is hoped that his involvement will encourage even greater take up across Merseyside and beyond. The Satsafe black box and dash cam solution is being pioneered to particularly assist senior drivers by helping to monitor their driving and also flag up agerelated diminishing driver ability caused by failing eyesight and changes in driving behavior, such as increasing harsh braking events at junctions. This will not only provide reassurance to both drivers and their families but may also enable drivers to take remedial action such as having an eye test enabling them to continue to drive safely for as long as possible. Steve Pang, Spokesperson for Merseyside Road Safety Partnership said: “Satsafe uses the very latest technology to give drivers that extra reassurance when

St Helens First | Summer 2018 |

they are on the road, whilst also helping to alert family members to any potential health issues. This can be particularly important for example with older relatives who may not currently be aware of any problems with their driving. “With this pilot initiative we are hoping to show just how effective the new technology can be in helping to improve safety for its users while also giving older drivers the confidence to keep driving.” Councillor Pearson said: “As we get older, it can be easy for us to become complacent or stuck in our ways when on the roads. But if we’re honest with ourselves, there’s always something we could learn and some way we could improve our driving. “That’s why I’m supporting the Satsafe initiative, and why I’ve been happy to see in my year of Mayoral office the great work done by the Merseyside Road Safety

www.sthelens.gov.uk

Partnership. I look forward to seeing and sharing the results of my black box trial, and discovering ways to improve my driving.” The company behind the Satsafe technology is also currently in discussions with one of the UK’s leading providers of insurance for older drivers to explore whether those drivers that demonstrate a consistent safe driver score could benefit from reduced insurance premiums in a similar way to young drivers who opt for black box telematics insurance policies. Stuart Millward, founder and CEO of Satsafe Technologies said: “My team and I at Satsafe are delighted to be working with Merseyside Road Safety Partnership in welcoming the former Mayor of St Helens Council in his trial of the Satsafe and the Drive Safely for Longer initiative.” For further information on the Satsafe scheme, visit www. satsafe.com/seniors

Being away from their parents is hard enough. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to lose each other too.

Too many children across St.Helens are in need of a good home and safe environment, but in particular brothers & sisters and older children. If you think you could offer these children care and stability, or just want some more information: Call: 01744 671199 Email: dutyfostering@sthelens.gov.uk Visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/fostering sthelenscouncil |

@sthelenscouncil | Summer 2018 | St Helens First

ADVERTISING FEATURE

STAY IN THE HOME YOU LOVE, WITH A STAIRLIFT FROM ABLEWORLD

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