STUDENt
SURVIVAL
GUIDE LIVERPOOL 2010/11
CONTENTS 4:
YOUR CITY
History, Buildings, Tours, Transport, Headspace, Photo Competition, Religion . . .
52:
HEALTH & SAFETY
Fire Safety, Alcohol, Drugs, Counterfeit Goods, Contraception, STI . . .
96:
FITNESS & LIFESTYLE
Health & Fitness, Weight Problem?, C.A.L.M., Gyms & Sports Centres . . .
108:
ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE
Cafes, Bars, Clubs, Venues, Theatres, Comedy Clubs, Cinemas, Galleries . . .
162:
ACCOMMODATION
Your Home, Healthy Homes, Home Security, Emergency Planning, Landlords . . .
178:
YOUR CASH
Making The Most Of Your Money, Scams . . .
186:
ETHICAL LIVING
Sandals & Fair Trade Mungbeans, Energy Saving Tips, Second-hand Shops . . .
You Are Here Buildings
History
rules is rules
photo com 4
noise
Religion
YOUR CITY YOUR 6. 8. 12. 18. 22. 24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34. 36. 38. 39. 40. 48. 50.
CITY
You Are Here History Buildings 6. You Are Here 8.Tours History 12. Buildings Famous Scousers 18. Tours The Beatles 22. Famous Scousers 24. TheToday Beatles Liverpool 26. Liverpool Today Liverpool City Centre 28. Liverpool City Centre 30. Rules Is Rules Rules Is Rules 32. Noise Advice Noise Advice 34. Public Transport 36. PublicTaxis Transport 38. Bringing Your Car Taxis Weather 39. 40. Headspace Bringing Your Car 48. Photo Competition Weather 50. Religion Headspace Photo Competition Religion
Liverpool today
mpetition
e advice
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YOU ARE HERE YOUR CITY
YOU ARE HERE Welcome to Liverpool, one of Britain’s most vibrant cities. This is the UK’s only city outside London to boast three Universities and with over 50,000 enrolled, it’s safe to say you’ve arrived in student central. Church Street and the new ‘Liverpool One’ Centre offer hundreds of places to make use of your student discount.
Spirited nightlife means you won’t be short of a quality student night without the budgetary hangover, whether you want a quiet pint or a birthday to remember. A legendary musical scene continues to gain strength and Liverpool’s cosmopolitan outlook and diverse population can provide whatever your ears
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want, including some of Europe’s biggest musical events. Scousers are friendly and outgoing, proud of their city and known for their ready humour and quick wit. A cheerful and hospitable atmosphere means you’ll make friends quickly, both with locals and other freshers.
It takes time to get used to any new city, but Liverpool’s open atmosphere will make it easier than you may think, even for those living away from home for the first time. We hope this handy survival guide will help you settle in and this great city will feel like home before you know it. With the new experiences, people and good times ahead of you, the years at Uni’ will just fly by – make the most of them!
A New Perspective: View all of your new home city at once by taking a trip on Liverpool’s Big Wheel.
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HISTORY YOUR CITY
Hammer of the Gods: They came from the land of the ice and snow - to build huts and fish in the Mersey.
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HISTORY The history of Liverpool displays one of the most extraordinary instances of the rapidity with which some cities have risen from obscurity to the proud position of a colossal commercial city. From an insignificant fishing village Liverpool progressed to become, at its peak the most important city, other than London, in the British Empire. The city of Liverpool began on the banks of a tidal pool, which ran inland from the River Mersey. The mouth of the pool was roughly where the Albert Dock is situated and flowed inland (where Canning Place is located) for about a mile to where the entrance to the Birkenhead Queensway Tunnel is today.
Earliest Records The earliest records of Liverpool have been taken from the writings of Ptolemy, the geographer of Alexandria. He tells very little of Liverpool but refers to it as “Portus Segantiorum”. Later evidence such as the Calderstones of Wavertree, and some ancient pottery found at the Olive Mount undoubtedly indicate the presence of a primeval race, which seems to
have been the Ancient Britons, Norsemen and Saxons. These men built themselves huts, but gave no name to their habitation, and lived by hunting and fishing. The Mersey afforded an abundance of fish, which were large in size and extremely plentiful.
Place Names Many local places have names of Norse or Danish origin amongst which are “Hingwall” (Hill of Justice), “West Derby” (Wild Beast), “Kirkdale”, “Crosby”, “Ormskirk” and “Garston”. These invaders were forced to leave their dwelling place through the strenuous efforts of Princess Elfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, who built Runcorn Castle and a large fleet to resist their repeated invasions. One of the first mentions of Liverpool is in the writings of the Doomsday Commissions, who were sent to record the various estates in England. Thinly populated, with small clearings surrounded by forests, moors and marshes, with just a few serfs manning the lands. In 1089 a few huts developed into a village called Lyrpul or Lytherpul. There are a few possibilities for the name. The Old English word Liefer »
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HISTORY YOUR CITY
» which means ‘thick’ referring to thick, muddy or sluggish water, possibly because of the growth of seaweed around the edges. Or the Danish (Vikings) word lide or lithe meaning inlet by the marsh. Another alternative is that Liver is a corruption of a word used by the Ancient Britons of the area who spoke Welsh. To describe the geographical location Llether-pwll, slope by the creek. West Derby, Toxteth, Childwall and indeed Walton (all to become prominent areas within the city) were all royal manors and they were all mentioned in the Doomsday Book.
King John But the first official reference to Liverpool (Lyrpul) is in the documents of 1192 where John Count of Mortain (later King John) granted lands including Liverpool to Henry Fitzwarine and confirmed the grant of Lordship of Liverpool. Early in 1207 King John acquired Liverpool again after realising its potential importance as a port in his planned Irish and Welsh campaigns. Though Chester was the recognised port in the area, John could not rely on it,
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The Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas. Liverpool’s Parish Church, said to have been a place of worship since 1257.
as it was in the hands of the powerful and independent Earl of Chester. So he created a new town with a Royal Charter, with free men, certain trading rights and other Royal privileges. On the 28th August 1207 Liverpool was actually born. Some 200 families responded to the King’s invitation to inhabit the area and a Royal borough was established.
Seven Streets The original street plan is said to have been designed by King John around this time. The plan was a simple H shape consisting of seven streets, Castle Street, Dale Street, Bank Street, Juggler Street, Chapel Street, Moor Street and Whiteacre Street; three of these have kept their original name to the present day, Castle Street, Chapel Street and Dale Street. King John divided the land into strips called burgages where people could build houses and grow food. To the south of the Pool was the waste where the townsmen dug for peat. The only access to the waste was via a ferry over the Pool. Mediaeval Liverpool was tiny, even relative to the time, and in the 14th century probably had a population of no more than 1200. Liverpool’s inhabitants were mainly farmers or fishermen, but some were craftsmen or tradesmen. Watermills
and windmills were present at the banks of the Pool providing grain for the townspeople’s bread. Liverpool’s main trading partner was Ireland, with skins and hides being imported and iron and wool exported. The first chapel in Liverpool was the Chapel of St Mary (Liverpool did not have its own parish church, and was officially part of the parish of Walton).
By the middle of the 14th century there was also the chapel of Our Lady and St Nicholas - St Nicholas being the patron saint of sailors. By 1235 , was given royal assent to build Liverpool castle. The castle was built on the site that today houses the Queen Victoria Monument in Castle Street/Derby Square.
Still Curious? The next chapter in the history of Liverpool can be found at the Student Survival Guide’s website, www.studentsurvivalproject.co.uk where you can read about everything that lead Liverpool to be the proud city it is today. You may be interested in taking one of the many history tours of Liverpool - some of which are outlined in this section of the guide.
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BUILDINGS YOUR CITY
BUILDINGS Liverpool’s rich and varied heritage is visible everywhere, but particularly in its buildings. A city built on trade from distant shores it draws on influences from far and wide. Take a walk around the city and look closely at the architecture and you will see for yourself. Here are some of the most impressive.
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The Three Graces Liverpool’s pier head is home to three of the most famous buildings in the city. “The Three Graces” as they are known consist of the Royal Liver building, the Cunard building and the Port of Liverpool building.
The Royal Liver Building The Royal Liver building was constructed between 1908 and 1911 and was designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas. The grade 1 listed building is known for its two clock towers on which stand mythical Liver Birds. There are numerous myths and legends surrounding the Liver birds. According to popular legend they are a male and female pair, the female looking out to sea, whilst the male looks towards the city.
Local legend has it that the birds face away from each other as, if they were to mate and fly away, the city would cease to exist. They are reputed to have been designed to watch the City (Our People) and the Sea (Our Prosperity). The building is the headquarters of the Royal Liver Friendly Society.
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BUILDINGS YOUR CITY
Cunard Building The Cunard building, former headquarters of the Cunard Line shipping company, was constructed between 1913 and 1916, and is a grade 2 listed building. Designed by William Edward Willink and Philip Coldwell Thicknesse the building’s style is a mix of Italian Renaissance and Greek Revival, and its development was particularly influenced by Italian palace design.
The building was the headquarters of Cunard until the 1960s, when they relocated their Global headquarters to New York. The building is owned by the Merseyside Pension Fund and is home to numerous public and private sector organisations.
Port of Liverpool Building Built between 1904 and 1907, it stands at an impressive 220ft tall. Designed in Edwardian Baroque style it is noted for the large dome, acting as the focal point
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Albert Dock: One of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions and the home of the Tate Gallery in Liverpool.
at the top of the building. The headquarters of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for 87 years, from 1907 to 1994 when they relocated to new premises, the building has seen major restoration and is now used as residential and office space.
Anglican Cathedral Completed in 1978 after 74 years, the largest cathedral in the UK and the fifth largest in the world towers over the city and can be seen from miles around. In 1902 an open competition was held to design the cathedral. This attracted great interest from architects as not only was it one of the largest building projects of the 20th century, but this was only the third opportunity to build an Anglican cathedral in England following the Reformation of the 16th century. Entrants included noted architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Charles Herbert Reilly. However it was controversially won by 22-year-old student Giles Gilbert Scott who not only had no previous buildings to his credit but was also a Roman Catholic.
Metropolitan Cathedral Sometimes known locally as “Paddy’s Wigwam” or the “Mersey Funnel”, the original designs for
the cathedral were completed on commission by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1930s.
Lutyens design would have created a massive structure that would have become the second-largest church in the world. Work began on the cathedral in 1933 however by 1941 the restrictions of World War II and rising costs forced construction to stop. In 1956 work recommenced on the crypt which was completed in 1958 but the project was deemed too expensive and the crypt remains the only part of Lutyens design to be completed. In 1959 a competition was held to design a cathedral to accommodate the existing crypt and the winning design, by Sir Frederick Gibberd was that of the cathedral we see today.
Albert Dock These 19th century warehouse buildings are the biggest group of grade 1 listed buildings in Britain and have been converted into an award-winning attraction. The Albert Dock is a truly stunning architectural triumph. Opened in 1846, it soon became a treasure house of precious cargoes from all over the world. Today’s redevelopment has seen »
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BUILDINGS YOUR CITY
» it transformed into a top heritage attraction. Stop for a break in one of the restaurants, bars and cafes that punctuate this attraction.
St George’s Hall In the early 1800s, a venues for music festivals was sought by the people of Liverpool. At the same time, the Civil and Crown Courts were due to be built and it was decided that one building would serve both purposes.
Now regarded as one of the finest Neo-Classical buildings in the world, St George’s Hall is a grade I listed building. St George’s Hall fell into disrepair in the 1980s however, after refurbishment it is now a focal point for cultural, community, civic, corporate and performing arts activities.
The Imperial Arch This arch is the largest outside China at 15 metres tall. It was shipped from Shanghai piece by piece and placed at the entrance to Chinatown in accordance with the principals of Feng Shui.
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TOURS YOUR CITY
TOURS Taking a walking tour of the city or hopping on a tour bus will give you a knowledge of the city as well as helping you find your way around. Liverpool’s tourism is forever expanding and offering more unique ways to view, and learn about the city. The Yellow Duckmarine amphibious tour will take you on both land and water to see the sights, whilst the Shiverpool tour takes you on a chilling journey around Liverpool’s most haunted spots.
The Slavery History Trail offers the chance to see the city through the eyes of those whose trade helped to build it. In addition to city tours, it is worth visiting the many landmarks and attractions which offer their own tours. From Cains brewery to the former homes of The Beatles, the city has a wealth of experiences for you to enjoy, whilst also engaging in the stories of the people of Liverpool.
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Yellow Duckmarine If you’ve spent any time in Liverpool then the enormous, bright yellow ‘duckmarine’ is unlikely to have escaped your notice. Looking like something from one of The Beatles more psychedelic videos the Yellow Duckmarine offers “a unique one hour amphibious city sightseeing tour of Liverpool’s historic waterfront, city and docks”.
City Explorer The city explorer tour takes place on an open topped bus, allowing a great vantage point on your way around the city. With stops including the Albert Dock, the Cathedrals and the Cavern, and the ability to ‘hop’ on and off the bus during your tour this is a great way to see the city.
Williamson’s Tunnels This Labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Edge Hill area was built under the direction of the eccentric and wealthy businessman Joseph Williamson between the early 1800s and 1840. It is believed that he wanted to provide a source of income and a focus for local men struggling to find work. The tunnels were excavated and opened to the public in the late 1990s and the tour provides a fascinating insight into the mind of this well meaning individual.
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TOURS YOUR CITY
Red Jack Tour A traditional walking tour taking in all the main sights, this 3.5 miles 2 hour long tour is a leisurely way to see the city.
The Shiverpool Ghost Tour Shiverpool ghost tours are taking the tour industry by storm with their “guided ghost walks revealing Liverpool’s hidden mysteries and supernatural secrets”. Visiting a variety of ‘haunted’ sights around the city they use a combination of storytelling and performance to bring the tales to life and “dare you not to be scared”.
59 Rodney Street Step back in time on a tour of Liverpool photographer E. Chambre Hardman’s Rodney Street studio and home. This incredible time capsule tells the tale of an outstanding local photographer, his loyal and likeminded wife and their life together from photographing Liverpool’s elite to burying boiled eggs in the sand.
This is a tour you should not miss. 20
Radio City Tower: The former revolving Tower Restaurant is now home to Liverpool’s biggest commercial radio station.
The Beatles’ Houses 20 Forthlin Road and Mendips, the childhood homes of Sir Paul McCartney and John Lennon, are now looked after by The National trust and the tours provide an insight into the early lives of two of the four most famous sons of the city.
Old Dock Experience Preserved beneath the Liverpool ONE development is the world’s first commercial enclosed wet dock, discovered during excavations in 2001 after being buried since 1826. The tour gives the first opportunity in centuries to see the bed of the ‘pool’ from which Liverpool took its name.
Everton FC & Liverpool FC Stadium Tours
Whether you’re a Red or a Blue (or neither) the Anfield and Goodison Park stadium tours allow behind the scenes access to the city’s football clubs. A must for any visiting fans.
Cains Brewery Tour
Mersey Tunnels Tour This behind the scenes tour is a unique opportunity to view an engineering masterpiece first hand. The 2-3 hour tour takes you beneath the city to view the inner workings of the Queensway Mersey Tunnel.
Slavery History Trail It is universally acknowledged that, as a large shipping port, much of Liverpool’s wealth is derived from slavery. This tour will give you an opportunity to see how slavery shaped the city and “view history through the eyes of the oppressed”.
A fascinating insight into Merseyside’s rich brewing heritage. Take a tour around this Victorian brewery, learn about a process which has remained largely unchanged for centuries, then round it off by enjoying your complimentary pint of Cains award winning ale.
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FAMOUS SCOUSERS YOUR CITY
Famous Scousers Despite being a relatively small city Liverpool has had more than its fair share of influence in World affairs. From politicians to pop stars, footballers to filmmakers, there seems to be a Scouser on every page of the history books.
Politics William Ewart Gladstone served as Prime Minister several times during his political career, and his Liberal values made him popular throughout the World. In recent times Merseyside has given us politicians such as former actress Glenda Jackson MP, born in Birkenhead, and the current Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP.
Music Even if there had never been a band called The Beatles Liverpool musicians would probably have made it into most people’s record collections. Before the Merseybeat sound of the 60s Billy Fury and Frankie Vaughan were the idols of the day. Since then Merseyside has given us great music from the likes of The La’s, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Zutons.
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Scouse Elvis: Billy Fury was a local lad and a star of pre-Beatles era Rock & Roll.
Sport Whether you’re a Red or a Blue, there will be something in your team’s history to make you proud. Liverpool FC and Everton FC have been playing top class football for over 50 years. Everton FC, formed in 1878, was a founding member of the Football League in 1888, while Liverpool FC is the most successful team in the history of English football.
Television Television wouldn’t be the same without the contributions of Merseyside actors. Leonard Rossiter, one of TVs finest comic actors, was from Liverpool, as are the comedian Alexei Sayle, former Dr Who Tom Baker and ‘Skins’ stars Stephen Walters and Joe Dempsie. Oh, and Derek Acorah.
Film & Theatre James Bond star Daniel Craig was born in Chester and raised in Hoylake, on the Wirral. Other stars from the region include Margi Clarke, Pete Postlethwaite and Ian Hart. Liverpool’s Everyman and Playhouse Theatres have been the birthplace of many careers. Legendary writers such as Carla Lane and Willy Russell began their writing careers here, as did newer playwrights such as Michael McLean and Diane Samuels.
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THE BEATLES YOUR CITY
THE BEATLES Music is part of the fabric that makes up Liverpool. Everyone you meet is either in a band or is friends with a band. It’s no surprise then that the Guinness Book of Records described Liverpool as the ‘Capital of Pop’. The city has produced many hugely influential artists down the years and even now has a buzzing music scene with more than two hundred aspiring acts. No band has been more influential than The Beatles.
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Tens of thousands of people visit Liverpool every year in pilgrimage to the world’s most successful act. You are fortunate to have on your doorstep many sites, tours, venues, houses and museums that people from all over the world travel many thousands of miles to see. It would be a shame if you stayed in Liverpool for three or four years and knew nothing of The Beatles after your stay. With this in mind here are just a few
titbits of information to hopefully ignite some interest in ‘The four lads who shook the world’.
The Beatles were formed in 1960, after spending the late fifties trialling different line-ups and band names. From 1962, after ditching Pete Best (the girls favourite), they settled on the line up we are most familiar with of John Lennon, Paul
McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. From the release of their first single ‘Love me do’ in late 1962 to their final studio session as a band in August 1969, The Beatles produced 13 albums recording over 200 songs and had 17 number ones (many of which didn’t appear on albums). To this day their music continues to be popular and they are certified to have sold more albums in the US than any other artist. Not bad for seven years work eh?
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LIVERPOOLTODAY YOUR CITY
LIVERPOOL TODAY Today the population of Liverpool is 439,000. In 2007 the city celebrated its 800th birthday marking the occasion when King John created a new town with a Royal Charter on the 28th August 1207. Liverpool held the tenure of European Capital of Culture in 2008 with the events and festivities to celebrate the year widely accepted as being a huge success.
Highlights included a concert headlined by Sir Paul McCartney, the spectacular sculpture La Princesse and the city-wide Superlambananas. There has been massive investment into the city centre. Liverpool has become one of the most sought after locations in the country for property investment. The port has accommodated record numbers of vessels. The city boasts firms that are leading industry innovators in graphic design, internet services, fashion and marketing.
Largely due to the city’s unrivalled architecture and the drive of determined locals, Liverpool also enjoys a burgeoning film industry, leading to the nickname of ‘the Hollywood of the North’, with many major films having been produced here. And in July 2004 UNESCO awarded Liverpool the status of World Heritage Site, an honour also awarded to the Taj Mahal and The Pyramids. Through its chequered role down the centuries as a major gateway to the world and its subsequent position as a melting pot of cultures, Liverpool has evolved a character and complexion unique to the banks of the Mersey. Today the city is world famous for its sense of humour, its musical heritage, its footballing success, its position as a cutting-edge club mecca, and also as a major innovator. But Liverpool is probably most proud to be seen as a place of cultural achievement and endeavour, a city of generosity, and a city of great spirit.
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LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE YOUR CITY
Retail Heaven: Liverpool 1 has landed - replacing our traditional city centre streets with a brand new shopping experience.
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LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE Liverpool city centre is an exciting city centre with over 1,200 retail outlets, 4 theatres, 3 museums, 2 art galleries and a thriving nighttime economy. It is also one of the safest city centres in the UK and has the lowest recorded crime figures for 10 years.
13% to 81% of people rating it positively.
Each year Liverpool City Council and partners commission an annual perception survey whereby some 1,600 people are asked how they perceive the city centre in terms of cleanliness, safety, lighting and travel.
91% positively rate the retail shops in Liverpool city centre. Liverpool is in the top five retail destinations in the UK
This year the feedback was more positive than ever; 81% if people interviewed during the day positively rated the cleanliness of the city, representing a 51% annual increase. Perception about maintenance of pedestrian areas increased by
Feelings of safety across all times of the day have again increased. The percentage of people who feel safe during the day is now 99%. 93% believe that Liverpool city centre is a vibrant place.
8 out of 10 people believe that Liverpool city centre has improved over the last twelve months and 9 out of 10 are confident about its future. 8 out of 10 people agree that pedestrian areas in the city centre are well lit at night. The result was even higher among people who say that they use the city centre at night (91%). 84% agree that the pedestrian areas in the city centre are welcoming which represents a 33% increase since the question was first asked in 2007.
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RULES IS RULES YOUR CITY
RULES IS RULES Like any major city Liverpool has its rules. Here are a few of the major rules we think you should know about.
Smoking If you are a smoker you’ll probably be spending quite a bit of your time outside. All public buildings including all bars clubs and venues in Liverpool adhere to the law unequivocally. Luckily, most buildings do have designated outside smoking areas and these are usually sheltered – won’t stop you getting cold though.
Littering Spot fines are issued to anyone caught littering. Even if you throw a cigarette butt on the street you can be charged £75 by one of the many litter patrol officers. This is non-negotiable. And rightly so, we don’t want to live in a pig sty now do we?
Fly Posting & Flyering If you decide to run an event and you think it’s a good idea to flypost the walls of Liverpool then think again, this can
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generate a fine up to £2,000 per poster. Liverpool runs a legal fly posting scheme so if it’s something you need to do it’s best to go down that route. Giving out flyers on the street can carry a fine of £150.
Drinking In Public Carrying bottles and drinking alcohol in between bars in Liverpool city centre is quite a serious offence and can carry a fine of up to £500. Make sure you either finish your drink or leave it - never be tempted to take it with you or it could turn out to be the most expensive night out you’ve ever had.
Parking If you drive the chances are from time to time you will be faced with that age old conundrum - shall I just leave my car unattended for a few minutes while I pop in this shop or shall I put some money in the meter to be sure?
Double Yellow Lines If you leave your car unattended you can be ticketed immediately. In fact you can be given a ticket just for waiting - it does happen.
Single Yellow Lines These lines are usually accompanied by a sign on a nearest lamp post suggesting a timed parking restriction. If you leave your car unattended within the restricted times you can be given an instant ticket - just like with double yellow lines. And the same rules for waiting - you can be given a ticket - but usually on a single yellow you will be told to move on.
Parking Zones If you are caught in one of the parking zones without a valid ticket you can be given an instant ticket.
Bus Stops & Disabled Zones Never park or even stop in either bus stops or disabled zones. Get caught in either and you can forget traffic wardens, the police themselves will gladly stop and paper your windscreen.
Driving Liverpool has its fair share of bus lanes and speed cameras. Special permanent cameras are set throughout the city to catch speeders and bus lane users and mobile cameras are often set up at busy times. The advice is simple - don’t speed and keep out of bus lanes, or your driving will get much more expensive.
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NOISE ADVICE YOUR CITY
NOISE ADVICE It is a fact of life that we all make noise: whether we are talking to others, playing music, entertaining, driving in our cars or just going about our daily business. What is a nuisance to one person may be pleasurable to another. But too much noise can reduce people’s quality of life and, in some extreme cases, even destroy it entirely. Taking some time to read the info in this section may help to keep you out of trouble.
Everyday Living Take into account who your neighbours are. Some may lead lives very different from yours and may keep very different hours. The elderly may go to bed very early and families with children will be very unhappy if the kids are woken up by you playing music late at night. Remember that a room you use for living, working and socialising in may be next to one your neighbours sleep in. This, of course, cuts both ways. There are times you might be disturbed by neighbours whilst you are trying to work or revise for exams. It is always worth getting to
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know your neighbours so that you can understand each other better and iron out difficulties as they arise, or better still, avoid them.
Noise In The Street Be thoughtful as you go home after a night out. Laughing and talking loudly in the street at night when everything else is quiet can cause a lot of distress to some residents. It is easy to wake people up, but harder for them to get back to sleep. Some people who live on routes between pubs and clubs and areas of student housing are very long suffering. Since the introduction of the smoking ban many smokers have been forced to stand and smoke outside the many bars and clubs. This can result in noise nuisance from any boisterous behaviour, particularly at late night premises operating in the City Centre.
The Law Noise is a very subjective thing, and affects people in different ways. At the moment there is no legal level at which noise becomes a “nuisance”. Any
noise which is loud or obtrusive enough enough to affect someone else’s enjoyment of their property can be a nuisance. If Environmental Health Services have evidence that you are causing statutory nuisance a legal notice may be served on you under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If you carry on in breach of this notice you can be taken to court and fined up to £5000. Your sound equipment can also be confiscated.
Parties If you’re having a party. . . Tell your neighbours in advance. You could even invite them! Suggest that they let you know if they have any problems whilst the party is on. Tell them what time the party will end (or at least when the music will be turned right down). Make sure you stick to this time. Control noise levels as much as you can and position speakers carefully away from noise sensitive rooms. Keep all windows and doors closed if possible. Control your guests – particularly at the end of the party. Don’t let the party overflow into the street. If you get a visit from the Police or Environmental Health Services, do as they ask.
If you require any information of the work of the environmental health services please visit their website: www.liverpool. gov.uk/environment/ pollution/noise
PUBLIC TRANSPORT YOUR CITY
PUBLIC TRANSPORT Getting around is important and Liverpool, like all big cities, has a wealth of public transport to get you from A to B.
Buses Liverpool City Centre has two major bus stations - Paradise Street Bus Station and the Queen Square Bus Station. Other main bus stops can be found at Victoria Street, Sir Thomas Street, London Road and Renshaw Street. Some services run all night. For details of Merseytravel’s night buses go a look at their website: www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Trains Liverpool has one of the most frequent commuter services outside London. The Northern Line connects Liverpool with Ormskirk, Kirkby, Southport and Hunts Cross, while the Wirral Line links Liverpool with West Kirby, Ellesmere Port, New Brighton and Chester. The local trains serve Liverpool City
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Centre at four stations: Liverpool Central, Moorfields, James Street and Lime Street, which is the City’s main train station, serving local and national routes.
Tickets If you are going to be using public transport regularly then it’s worth considering buying passes which will make your travel cheaper. Saveaways are cheap, one day tickets that you can use for travel on buses, trains and ferries in Merseyside at off-peak times.
Season Tickets Depending on the type of transport you use, Merseytravel has a variety of season ticket options:
Bus journeys only A Solo ticket lets you travel on any bus at any time of the day (excluding night buses). You can buy Solo tickets weekly, monthly or annually, the longer you buy, the more you’ll save. The areas
travel, and at the right price. They can even cover all of Merseyside.
Rail journeys only If you frequently travel on the Merseyrail network then a Railpass is just the ticket for you, saving you time and money. Like other tickets, a Railpass can be bought to use in zones and areas, weekly, monthly and yearly, letting you tailor the ticket to suit you best. Tickets can be bought from any staffed Merseyrail station.
Bus, rail or Mersey Ferries journeys A Trio pass can be used on buses, trains and Mersey Ferries (excluding river cruises) in Merseyside. Tickets can be bought for a week, month or year – the longer you buy it for, the more you save. You can buy one from any staffed Merseyrail station or Merseytravel Centre. Information courtesy of Liverpool City Council and Merseytravel. Go to www.merseytravel.gov.uk
TAXIS YOUR CITY
TAXIS The taxi service in Liverpool is fast, reliable and most of all cheap. It’s been estimated that there are more taxis in Liverpool per head of population than any other city in the UK, so there are more than enough to go around. Although there are a lot of reputable taxi firms in Liverpool, none of them are perfect. Cars are not always available for any number of reasons.
If you call a taxi at 9.30pm on a Saturday night wanting to be in town for 10pm chances are you’re going to be late. Pre book if you need to get somewhere urgently (if you’re catching a plane or train etc) and allow yourself an hour’s grace. Planes and trains won’t wait for you so it’s better to arrive early. Never call more than one firm and jump in the first car that arrives. This may work a few times but your address will soon be blacklisted by the taxi firms meaning that you will have
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either a lower priority or no priority at all. If the embarrassing situation of two taxis turning up arises both will leave and you will be stranded.
Seatbelts Always wear your seat belt, even if you’re in a hackney cab. If there is an accident not only does it reduce your chances of serious injury but not wearing a seat belt will affect your ability to claim accident compensation afterwards. Never pick up a private hire taxi from the street without pre-booking it. Not only is it illegal but you will also be uninsured.
Accidents We all have few too many drinks from time to time. But what happens if you are sick in a taxi?
Well, you shouldn’t be driven to the nearest cashpoint and relieved of £100+ for ruining their night! There’s a standard fee, usually about £35, which covers the cost of cleaning the taxi.
Black Taxis You can pick up a Hackney cab at designated ranks or you can pick one up off the street. If a black taxi has its orange light on the driver is obliged to pick up anyone who flags the cab down.
Some cab drivers use busy periods or bad weather to try to negotiate with potential customers before a journey. Usually they pretend to be waiting for someone else, but they will take you if you give them X amount (usually a highly inflated price). This is illegal and should be reported - you can find their plate number on the back of the taxi.
Fares On the top left corner of a black cab’s meter you will see the number (or “Trap”) 1,2 or 3. These numbers are very important. They represent the speed of the price change on the meter: 1 being the slowest and 3 the quickest rate of change. Trap 1 is the daytime rate, Trap 2 the night time rate (after midnight) and Trap 3 the out of town rate. Some drivers might try and switch to a rate that increases your fare, especially if you are a bit drunk.
If you are unhappy with your driver for any reason either call the taxi firm or the taxi police on 0151 233 3000 and report them. Their taxi badge showing the driver’s photograph and number, should be displayed on the dashboard or in the panel behind the driver’s seat.
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BRINGING YOUR CAR + WEATHER YOUR CITY
BRINGING YOUR CAR Believe it or not, most cars are stolen because they are unlocked. Don’t make it easy for thieves. Keep valuables out of sight and avoid parking in quiet back streets with poor lighting.
Older Cars It may be your pride and joy, but cars made before April 1998 are easier to steal and therefore more attractive to thieves so always use a stop lock.
Newer Cars No car made after April 1998 can be stolen without the keys - so your key is as valuable as your car. Never leave keys lying around on view or in the ignition, even if you’re just paying for petrol.
LIVERPOOL WEATHER Well I hope you brought your umbrella! The North West receives more than its fair share of precipitation and Liverpool is no exception.
The good news is that being on the coast Liverpool tends to miss out on temperature extremes. The cool breeze from the sea tames the hot weather and the warmer influence takes the edge off the cold snaps. The difference can range anywhere between 2 and 7 degrees compared to inland. That said, if it’s -7 degrees Celsius inland and -2 degrees Celsius in Liverpool you’re still going to freeze your behind off if you go out wearing just a T shirt. In summer don’t forget to wear sunscreen. Don’t be fooled by the nice sea breeze, or you’ll end up looking like a lobster and could end up developing skin cancer. Use shade, clothing and SPF 15+ sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
HEADSPACE YOUR CITY
HEADSPACE Liverpool is a vibrant and lively city, with lots to offer in the name of entertainment, culture, nightlife and shopping. But what if you don’t want to be entertained from dusk ‘til dawn, and beyond? What if you fancy some peace and quiet? As a student you’ll be lucky if your accommodation has any outside space at all, but don’t worry - the city has some great open spaces (many of them significant parts of Liverpool’s rich history) for you to relax in. You are also lucky enough to have moved to (or grown up in) a city surrounded by beautiful
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countryside and a dramatic coastline, which doubles up as an exhibition space for Anthony Gormley’s “Another Place” installation. The Wirral peninsula is also just a bus, train or ferry ride away. There you’ll find open countryside and great beaches. West Kirby is a particular favourite for anyone looking to chill out with an ice cream - or even walk across to Hilbre Island. So, whether it’s green space, beautiful woodland or beaches you’re looking for you’ll find them all easily within your reach.
Abercromby Square Abercromby Square is a square at the heart of the University of Liverpool, bordered by Oxford Road, in the city centre. Abercromby Square Gardens sits at the center of the square and is often used by students as a place to meet and hang out or study with friends in the sunshine.
Falkner Square Falkner Square is an area of great historic value and interest, as it was one of the earliest public open spaces within the city.It still retains its original elegance and similarity to many London squares and is a
great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and just relax, or do a bit of reading.
St James’ Gardens Occupying ten acres of cemetery land behind the Anglican Cathedral, this beautifully idyllic space is the ultimate city centre hideaway, accessed by a winding walkway that curls under the cathedral grounds and brings you out into a secluded, walled garden. It really doesn’t feel like you’re in town at all, and you may lose hours enjoying its calming and restorative effects.
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HEADSPACE YOUR CITY
OUT OF TOWN Princes Park A grade 2* listed historic park at the end of Princes Avenue, in Toxteth, Princes Park is a real green haven just outside the city centre. The park is probably the only one in town with a donkey’s gravestone; commemorating ‘Judy’ who, during her 21 years service, gave rides to many local children.
Sefton Park Sefton Park is arguably the best known and most loved park in the city. This magnificent 200 acre Park looks like a natural
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landscape rather than a manmade park, and is always a popular spot with students.
Calderstones Park This 94 acre park is a favourite with its variety of attractions including a botanical garden and places of historical interest. The botanical garden contains almost 4000 species of plants brought from all over the world by merchants and travellers.
Otterspool
A favourite with kite fliers, this wide open space is perfect for a picnic with a view of the Mersey.
Crosby Beach
Formby
Crosby beach forms part of the now permanent residence of Antony Gormley’s “Another Place”: 100 cast-iron, life-size figures made from casts of the artist’s own body are spread out along three kilometers of the foreshore, stretching almost one kilometre out to sea. They appear to bestaring at the horizon.
Whether it’s a walk in the pine woods, a stroll across the sand dunes, relaxing on the beach or maybe even catching a glimpse of the rare red squirrel, it’s all on offer at Formby. Owned by The National Trust, this beautiful and well looked after part of the coastline is well worth a visit.
The work is seen as a poetic response to the individual and universal sentiments associated with emigration - sadness at leaving, but the hope of a new future in another place.
With attractions including a fun fair, beaches, indoor water park, marine lake, miniature railway and not forgetting the British Lawnmower museum Southport has something for everyone.
Southport
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HEADSPACE YOUR CITY
THE MYSTERY Known locally as The Mystery, Wavertree Playground was one of the first purpose-built public playgrounds in the UK. In May 1895, a stately home called “The Grange” was demolished and it looked like the estate it was based within would used to build houses on. However, it was announced that an anonymous donor had purchased the Grange estate, together with some adjoining properties, and was presenting
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the whole 108 acres to the City of Liverpool. The donor had grassed the area and suggested the name ‘Wavertree Playground’. It was to be a venue for organised sports and a place for the city’s children to run about in, not a park for ‘promenading’ in the Victorian tradition. The mysterious donor’s offer was accepted by the Council and the Playground was opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool
by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool amid great celebrations on 7 September 1895. There was a march past of 12,000 children, after which, the Daily Post reported, “The children were liberally regaled with cakes and milk�. A gymnastics exhibition and Morris Dancing followed, and finally a fireworks display watched by an estimated 60,000 people. The new park was immediately nicknamed The Mystery. At the time the Press speculated that
the donor might be Philip Holt, a local ship owner who lived near Sefton Park, but this was neither confirmed nor denied. In addition to the playground, the land is now home to a Wavertree Athletics Centre with many sports facilities including tennis courts, an all weather pitch, a bowling green and an athletic track. The Mystery sits between Grant Avenue, Prince Alfred Road and Wellington Road, in Wavertree.
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HEADSPACE YOUR CITY
THE WIRRAL Parkgate This 18th century port, no longer used since the River Dee silted up, is the perfect place to catch a magnificent sunset whilst eating regionally famous homemade ice cream. If that doesn’t appeal then maybe the many welcoming pubs or the fresh local seafood, including shrimps and cockles will.
New Brighton New Brighton carries all the hallmarkings of a traditional seaside town such as arcades, rock shops, ice cream shops, fun fair and floral pavilion. This,
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along with the easily accessible beach offers a slightly more ‘kiss me quick’ alternative to some of the more sedate towns on the Wirral coastline.
Birkenhead Park Widely acknowledged as the first publicly funded park in Britain, Birkenhead Park is traditionally Victorian and contains winding paths threading around its many lakes. This vast park, designed by Joseph Paxton and opened in 1847, is most notable for having influenced the design of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park in New York.
West Kirby As well numerous cafes and shops and a picturesque beach, West Kirby is also home to the ‘Marine Lake’. The man-made structure is large enough to hold sailing events, windsurfing and other water related activities including: canoeing; kayaking; and powerboating. The Wirral Sailing school is based alongside the lake and they offer a choice of water sports.
Hilbre Island To really get away from it all leave the mainland behind you and take a walk to Hilbre Island at low tide. Here you can get back to nature on
deserted sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes with squirrels and birds for company. Just be sure to plan your return journey making a note of tide times to avoid being stranded.
Getting There You can access the many attractions of the Wirral Peninsula by bus, train or ferry - or via one of the two Mersey tunnels if you have your own transport. For travel information go to the Merseytravel website at www.merseytravel.gov.uk or view the Mersey Ferries website at www.merseyferries.co.uk
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PHOTO COMPETITION YOUR CITY
PHOTO COMPETITION Fancy the chance to win £100 cash and have your photo featured on the Student Survival project website? We’re looking for the most interesting or unusual photograph of Liverpool to grace the pages of our website and the next edition of the Student Survival guide. As you get to know your new city, be inspired by the fantastic and
varied sights it has to offer and get shooting. You don’t need any expertise or a fancy camera, just click away and pick your best to send us. Happy snapping!
Entries must be in by 31st October and the winner will be announced in November via the website www. studentsurvival project.co.uk
Send your entry to photos@ studentsurvivalproject.co.uk Images must be no more than 5MB. If your photo is selected we will contact you to request a high resolution copy. Good luck!
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RELIGIONYOUR CITY
Religion For those of you with religious beliefs, however far you are from home your faith travels with you. Like most cities Liverpool offers many places to worship. Many of these places are open and welcoming to new faces, so whether you are looking for a quiet contemplation space or a whole new community to share your University years with, you are sure to find somewhere to suit your needs.
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Places of Worship Anglican St James Church Corner of Upper Parliment Street & Park Road, L8 Tel. 0151 708 8559 Anglican St Brides Church Corner of Percy Street & Catharine Street, L8 Tel. 07932 543 900 Roman Catholic Philip Neri Church Philip Neri House 30 Catharine Street, L8 Tel. 0151 709 3858 Evangelical Frontline Evangelical Church Corner of Lawrence Road & Wellington Road, L15 Tel. 0151 733 3373 Methodist Princes Park Methodist Church Beaconsfield Street, L8 Tel. 0151 727 2035 Jewish Childwall Hebrew Congregation Dunbabin Road, L15 Tel. 0151 722 2079 Jewish Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation Princes Road Synagogue, L8 Tel. 0151 709 3431
Muslim Liverpool Al-Rahma Mosque 29-31 Hatherly Street, L8 Tel. 0151 709 2560 Muslim Liverpool Mosque and Islamic Institute 8 Cramond Avenue, L8 Tel. 0151 734 1222 Sikh Guru Nanak Gurdwara & Sikh Community Centre 16 Wellington Avenue, L15 Tel. 0151 327 6710 Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas 3 Berkley Street, L8 Tel. 0151 709 9543 Gospel Liverpool Chinese Gospel Church 11 Great George Square, L1 Buddhist Duldzin Buddhist Centre 25 Aigburth Drive, L17 Tel. 0151 726 8900 Quaker Quaker Meeting House 22 School Lane, L1 Tel. 0151 709 6957 German Church German Church of Liverpool Canning St & Bedford St, L8 Tel. 0151 677 2024
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Alcohol Advice Drugs
accination Calling 999?
Counterfei healt 52
Fire Safet
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ns 54. 56. 64. 67. 76. 78. 80. 82. 86. 92. 95.
Take Care Fire Safety Alcohol Advice Drugs Counterfeit Goods Health Services Vaccinations Contraception STIs Ambulance Staff Abuse Calling 999?
ambulance staff a
it Goods th services 53
TAKE CARE HEALTHANDSAFETY
TAKE CARE When you’re a student it may be the first time you’re completely responsible for keeping yourself healthy and safe. Your housemates probably won’t be as diligent as your parents in checking you’ve put out that candle before bed or making sure you’re home safe at the end of the night.
Uni life is exciting and full of new experiences but these also come with potential hazards. If you make decisions carefully and think things through before you act then you’re sure to avoid them. This section will guide you through some of the potential pitfalls as well as giving you some food for thought.
Your parents may have happily waved you off and breathed a sigh of relief to get their house back but they would be very sorry not to see you come home. 54
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FIRE HEALTHANDSAFETY
STUDENT THANKS FIREFIGHTERS FOR SAVING HIS LIFE
LIVER-
Kieran had been on a night out and returned to his flat on St Michaels Road, Aigburth, in the early hours of the morning and began cooking. He said: “The last thing I remember is putting some food in the oven and sitting down on the chair. After that I remember waking up in hospital. I was barely conscious. The nurse said ‘don’t worry, you’ve been in a fire’.”
A student dramatically rescued from a fire in his halls of residence, has met the firefighters who saved his life. Kieran Murphy was unconscious when he was pulled from the smokefilled communal kitchen in January. He was resuscitated outside the building before being taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital, where he spent 11 days in intensive care.
After 11 days on a ventilator, Kieran was moved to Whiston Hospital for two weeks whilst he had skin grafts. He said: “My arm is still red and it will take a year or two to get back to normal but at the end of the day, I’m lucky to even be sitting here so the burn is the least of my worries.” »
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Lucky Man: Student Kieran Murphy gets a chance to thank the firefighters who saved his life.
Photo courtesy of Tony Thomas
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FIRE HEALTHANDSAFETY
STUDENT THANKS FIREFIGHTERS FOR SAVING HIS LIFE » Other students in the halls of residence managed to escape when the fire alarms actuated. He said: “When the fire alarm goes off you always expect it to be a drill, they didn’t expect me to be in the kitchen. Luckily the fire crew turned up really quickly. They said if it had been another minute, it could have been much worse.” Now, Kieran wants to make sure nobody else goes through the same ordeal and is urging everyone to make fire safety a priority. He said: “I am a lot more paranoid now. I double and triple check that everything is turned off - I spend that extra ten seconds making sure. It can happen within a second so be very cautious and make sure everything is turned off. And don’t cook when you come in because it’s not worth it. You hear about it happening and you don’t think it’s going to happen to you.” He added: “The firefighters saved my life without a doubt. It’s a strange situation because
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there’s not a lot you can say other than thanks so much, but it doesn’t seem enough. At the end of the day I am here and back to normal and I am very grateful for that. I owe my life to the fire service and the hospital staff - I will be eternally, forever grateful.” In May, after more than five weeks away from his studies because of his injuries, Kieran successfully completed his Disability and Education course at Liverpool Hope University. He said: “Staff at the University were great and gave me a lot of time but I managed to get everything finished. I needed to rejoin the course because all I was thinking of was the fire so it kept my mind busy.” Community Fire Safety Manager Gary Oakford said: “We have a large student community in Merseyside and we want to ensure they remain as safe as possible whilst undertaking their studies. Kieran’s story is a stark reminder to students that cooking after a night out poses a serious risk.”
Get a pizza: It’s never a good idea to start cooking after a night out. Fires like this can happen in seconds.
FIRE HEALTHANDSAFETY
FIRE SAFETY ADVICE Did You Know? People living in rented or shared accommodation are seven times more likely to suffer a fire. Over half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents. Not having a working smoke alarm doubles your risk of death. Faulty electrics cause around 7,000 house fires a year.
What You Should Know… Landlords have an obligation to keep your home safe from fire. If you live in privately rented accommodation, your landlord has to meet certain safety obligations under the law, including ensuring all gas and electric appliances are safe and in good working order. Your landlord must show you safety certificates so you can see when gas and electrical appliances were last tested. Your landlord should supply a carbon monoxide detector and test it regularly. You can’t see, feel or smell carbon monoxide, but it can be fatal if you breathe enough of it. If you are worried your landlord
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isn’t doing enough to ensure your safety, contact the Environmental Health Officer at your local council.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives! Test your alarm once a week. Strobe light and vibrating pad alarms are available for those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Contact Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for further details. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service will come to your accommodation free of charge and give you free fire awareness advice and where necessary, fit new alarms.
Call 0800 731 5958 or email www.merseyfire.gov.uk/hsa
Plan An Escape Route Make sure everyone knows how to escape – it could save your life. Keep all fire exits clear and keep all fire doors closed. They help to slow down the spread of fire and will give you extra time to escape.
Know your rights: If you live in rented accommodation your landlord has an obligation to keep your home safe from fire.
FIRE HEALTHANDSAFETY
FIRE SAFETY ADVICE In The Kitchen Cooking and drinking alcohol never mix. If you want something to eat and you’ve been drinking, make a sandwich or buy something on the way home. Never leave cooking unattended. Keep tea-towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.Double check that the cooker is off when you have finished cooking
Chip Pans & Deep Fat Fryers Take care when cooking with oil, it sets alight easily. If the oil starts to smoke, IT’S TOO HOT. Turn off the heat, leave it in situ and wait for it to cool down. Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer. If they are working property, they can’t overheat.
Be Extra Careful With Electrics Avoid overloading sockets, keep to one plug per socket. Never use heaters for drying clothes and always keep them a safe distance from other items that may catch fire.
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Inform your landlord straight away if you are concerned about the electrics in your property and never fix faulty electric items yourself. Stop using them, inform your landlord or call a qualified electrician.
Stay Safe With Candles And Cigarettes Make sure cigarettes are put out properly. Never empty an ashtray into the bin before you go to bed, fill it with water and leave it overnight. Be careful with candles and tea lights. Avoid placing them near material that could burn or catch fire.
If you have any questions about the issues raised in this guide please contact Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Call
0800 731 5958 or email
www.merseyfire.gov.uk/hsa
Stub it out: Never empty an ashtray into the bin before you go to bed. Fill it with water and empty it in the morning.
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alcohol HEALTHANDSAFETY
ALCOHOL ADVICE
Having a drink is an important part of socialising for many people. What is important is to know the facts about alcohol, and to make sure that we drink responsibly. Here are a few hints, tips and facts about alcohol. Make sure you’ve eaten before you drink alcohol. Drink plenty of water or soft drinks in between alcoholic drinks – remember alcohol dehydrates you. Don’t be tempted to buy large glasses of wine or double measures just because the bar staff offer you them. Never leave your drink unattended – always get a friend you trust to mind it if you go to the toilet or outside.
Never drink and drive. Keep track of how much you have drunk and pace yourself – don’t feel you have to drink just to keep up with friends.
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Drinking can lead to anti-social behaviour, road accidents, crime and domestic violence – be aware! Don’t be pressured into buying alcohol for under 18s hanging around outside shops – this is illegal and you could face a fine of up to £80 from the Police. If you get a part time job and this involves selling alcohol or tobacco – make sure you get full staff training so you are confident in challenging people’s ages. The UK has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in Europe. The Government daily guideline is 2-3 units for women and 3-4 units for men – get to know the unit contents of your favourite drinks so you can monitor your drinking.
Up to one in three adults is at risk of developing alcohol related liver disease. Drinking heavily increases your calorie intake and is frequently associated with obesity. Alcohol isn’t a stimulant as most people think – it is a depressant – this is why drinking too much can often lead to violent behaviour and impaired judgement.
The ‘beer belly’ look doesn’t just apply to men, women can develop a belly too. A bottle of wine has 40% of the daily recommended calories for women. This is comparable to three Mars Bars, a Big Mac burger with medium fries or six jam doughnuts. Too much alcohol can cause ‘moobs’ (man boobs) and penis shrinkage!
Alcohol is responsible for more deaths than all illegal drugs combined. 80% of disorder crimes are alcohol related. On average, 13,000 alcohol related violent incidences take place outside UK bars and pubs every week.
Binge Thinking Remember to eat before you drink alcohol. Don’t save up your weekly spends and blow it in one drinking session. Be aware that many pub measures are large and you may be drinking more units than you think. Pace yourself, decide how many units you want to drink in an evening and stick to it!
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alcohol+ DRUGS HEALTHANDSAFETY
Dangerous Behaviour
Don’t Walk Away
So you’ve thrown some shapes on the dance floor and no one noticed. Your chat up lines were all rebuffed and the cool approach sitting quietly didn’t work either. Now everyone’s walking home it’s your last chance. It’s time to show off. Show everyone how dangerous and wacky you are. Every year young people are seriously injured and even die trying to show off to their friends. And usually drink plays a major part in these activities. So - No car dodging, No Scaffold climbing. And definitely no jumping in the Mersey.
Alcohol is a poison and can have adverse effects on the body if consumed in large quantities. Make sure you keep and eye on your mates and if someone is taken ill call an ambulance and stay with them. Don’t walk away!
Youtube Generation People die every year trying to video dangerous situations rather than trying to run away from them.
Always put safety first and never put yourself at risk to get the number one video of that day. You may inadvertently be the star of some else’s video of the day. 66
Here Are Some Of The Facts About Alcohol: Alcohol has more of an adverse effect on the female body than that of the male body There is an increased risk of rape when an unconscious female is abandoned by her friends after consuming alcohol Alcohol amplifies the effects of hypothermia, meaning that if you are out for an extended period of time in the cold you could be putting yourself at risk.
So Remember: Take care of yourself and those around you. Do not leave a friend alone after drinking alcohol as it is dangerous. Always call 999 if your friend is unwell/unconscious after drinking alcohol. Basic First Aid can help save your friends life.
DRUGS You might think that people who talk about the risk of drug use are scaremongering. Talk of people going mad, moving on from occasional use to more frequent use of harder drugs, it might all seem extreme but there are genuine risks attached. Drugs are unpredictable and illegal drugs are unregulated so you can never really know what you’re getting. Drug use is common in young people and this includes the student population. Some people try drugs and decide it’s not for them, some people use drugs occasionally and can take or leave them and others go on to become more frequent users. Around 50 per cent of young people admit to having tried at least one recreational drug, most commonly cannabis. It’s likely that you will be offered drugs at some point in your life, if you haven’t been already and it’s important to remember that it’s your body and you have to decide for yourself how to treat it. Whether you choose to take drugs or not, other people you know might. Understanding the law, the effects and the risks could enable you to help yourself or someone else who is in trouble.
These factors all increase the risks when using drugs. A history of mental illness. Any physical health problems. Using in unfamiliar surroundings. Going off on your own to use drugs. Buying drugs from strangers. Using needles, especially shared ones. Mixing different drugs. Taking large amounts of drugs in one go. Some drugs are stronger when they’re added to other ones making mixing drugs extremely dangerous. Certain combinations mask the symptoms of an overdose and even prescription drugs mixed with recreational ones can pose huge risks, including death.
The Law Surrounding Drugs ’Supply’ doesn’t just mean dealing or selling drugs in large amounts. It also includes selling tiny amounts of drugs to friends or giving them away for free.
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DRUGS HEALTHANDSAFETY
Having drugs on you or at home is classed as possession, that includes storing or carrying them for someone else. Being found with a large amount of drugs on you carries more serious penalties. Driving under the influence applies to drug driving as much as drink driving and you can be charged under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Letting people to take drugs in your house can get you a conviction, even if you don’t take any yourself. You could get thrown off your course at Uni if you get caught with drugs. If you get a major drug conviction it can affect your future job prospects. Major drug convictions can also affect your freedom to travel in the future.
Class A Drugs Ecstasy Pure Ecstasy is MDMA, a stimulant with very mild hallucinogenic effects. It is mainly sold in pill form and newer pills contain less MDMA so are more likely to contain other drugs. It is also referred to as E, pills, tablets, XTC or names based on the pictures on the pills. Although ecstasy
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is usually swallowed it is also sometimes snorted or smoked. It takes about 30 minutes to ‘come up’ and these effects usually last three to six hours with a gradual comedown. Users feel energetic, euphoric and more in tune with their surroundings, music and other people. It can increase body temperature and jaw muscles tighten. Side effects can include anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, epileptic fits, dehydration, overheating and collapse, death. The long-term effects are uncertain, but may include memory loss and depression.
Cocaine
This stimulant made from leaves of the coca shrub is sold in wraps of whitish powder and is also known as coke, charlie, powder, beak or gack. It is most commonly taken by being chopped into lines on flat surface and snorted although it is sometimes injected. When taken it raises the body temperature and heartbeat and gives the user an inflated sense of confidence. The effects usually last about 30 minutes. The risk include psychological dependency, damage to nose, heart attacks, overdose, anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction. Overdose is more likely when injected.
Crack A smokable form of cocaine which is sold in small lumps and is also known as base, wash, stones, or rock. It can be smoked in pipe, glass tube or on tinfoil and the effects are similar to cocaine but more intense and short-lived. The risks include cravings, addiction and overdose.
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide is a hallucinogen which is sold dotted onto paper squares, or in tiny tablets or capsules also known as acid, trips, tabs, which are swallowed. It takes around twenty minutes to an hour for effects to be felt, and a trip can go on for twelve to twenty hours. The experience varies and can include sensations of time slowing down or speeding up, and distortions of colours, sounds and shapes. They can be funny or enjoyable (good trips), or highly unpleasant (bad trips]. The risks are panic or paranoia which can lead to accidental or deliberate injury. Users can also suffer flashbacks, where part of the trip is relived, weeks or months and in some cases even years after taking acid.
Magic Mushrooms Most commonly Psilocybe semilanceata mushrooms, which
grow naturally in Britain and can be either picked fresh or bought dried. They are also known as ‘shrooms, mushies, majicks and are eaten raw, cooked or made into tea. It takes about thirty minutes for a trip to begin which can last up to nine hours. Sounds, colours, shapes and time may feel distorted and users may feel giggly and happy. The risks are picking the wrong type of mushroom and being poisoned, bad trips, diarrhoea, flashbacks.
Possessing raw mushrooms is not illegal. If they are prepared for use they are Class A. Heroin This drug made from morphine, extracted from opium poppies is also known as Brown, smack, H, horse, skag, gear. Medical grade opiates tend to be white powder, street heroin is brownish in colour and can be smoked, snorted, or injected. It gives the user feelings of comfort, relaxation or sleepiness and can also cause sickness and vomiting. Risks include overdose, constipation, physical dependency, coma, infection, abscesses from injecting and sharing needles, as well as the risk of HIV/AIDS.
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DRUGS HEALTHANDSAFETY
Methadone A synthetic opoid used in the treatment of heroin addiction. It gives the user feelings of wellbeing, relief from physical pain and psychological unease which is why methadone is primarily used to ease heroin withdrawal. The effects are similar to those of heroin but can last up to 24 hours, longer meaning heroin users attempting to withdraw do not need to take methadone as frequently. The withdrawal symptoms are slower to develop but last longer than heroin. Methadone is a powerful drug, excessive doses can lead to overdose or coma. Misuse can also be fatal. It is a very addictive drug, and tolerance will increase with use. Class A also includes any class B drug prepared for injection Maximum penalty for possession: Seven years in prison and an unlimited fine. Maximum penalty for supply: Life sentence and an unlimited fine.
Class B Drugs Amphetamines Synthetic stimulants, up to 95% impure sold as an off-white, greyish or pinkish powder that
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may contain small crystals, or small pills and known as speed, whizz, or uppers. They can be snorted, rubbed on the gums or swallowed and some forms may be smoked or injected. Users feel energetic, wide-awake and chatty, however after use there may be a comedown with feelings of depression. The risks include irritability, aggression, paranoia, psychosis, overdose and addiction. Injecting makes overdose more likely and increases the risk of HIV and hepatitis infection.
Cannabis The leaves or tips of the Cannabis sativa plant which contains the active ingredient THC. It has many other names including marijuana, weed, hash, grass, dope, draw and can be smoked as a joint, smoked in pipe or eaten. It can make the user feel relaxed, happy and quiet, or giggly or talkative. Someone who has been smoking heavily may have red eyes, a dry mouth and an attack of the munchies. The risks include paranoia, anxiety, nausea and heavy use may affect short-term memory. Strains of cannabis are getting stronger leading to its reclassification from C to B.
DRUGS HEALTHANDSAFETY
Maximum penalty for possession: Five years in prison and a fine. Maximum penalty for supply: Up to 14 years in prison and a fine.
Class C Drugs Ketamine An anaesthetic with painkilling and hallucinogenic properties, it comes in tablet, liquid or powder form. The drug is intended to be used by vets as a sedative and anaesthetic. It may also be known as Green, K, special K, super K or vitamin K. Common effects include out-of-body experiences, hallucinations and temporary paralysis. As with LSD and other hallucinogens, the effects of taking ketamine are influenced by the user’s mood and environment. Because ketamine numbs the body, users run the risk of serious injury without even realising they’ve been hurt. Because of it’s dissociative effects, a ketamine hit can be an alarming experience, even for those used to taking other drugs. Excessive doses can cause serious breathing problems, unconsciousness or heart failure.
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Mild Tranquillisers Tranquilizers are designed to have a calming effect but should only be used on prescription. Tolerance will build meaning the need to take more to achieve the same effect. It is also to become dependent and withdrawal can be very difficult. If combined with other drugs, especially alcohol, fatal overdose can occur.
Anabolic Steroids Designed to treat muscle weakness after surgery, sports enthusiasts claim steroids make them able to train harder. If they are taken as part of a strict exercise regime, they can help build muscle mass. They can also help users recover from exercise faster. Maximum penalty for possession: Up to two years in prison and a fine. Maximum penalty for supply: Up to five in years prison and/or a fine.
Penalties These are the maximum penalties and given in a Crown court, they don’t tend to be applied to firsttime offenders or people caught with tiny amounts of drugs. In a Magistrates Court, where less
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serious offences are dealt with, the maximum sentence is six months imprisonment and a £5000 fine. In court, the sentence given will also depend upon: The drugs involved. Any previous criminal record (not only drug related). Your personal circumstances (i.e. being a single parent). The attitude of the magistrate/ judge to drugs. Your attitude in court.
Drug First Aid If someone is taken ill while you’re in a club, try to find the first aider and if it appears serious call an ambulance. Here are some tips that may help you deal with some of the common side effects of drugs but if in doubt you should always call for help. If someone is freaking out and showing signs of anxiety or panic, lead them away from bright lights and loud noises. Try to calm them down by talking to them and reassuring them. If you are unable to get through to them you need to call for help. Many drugs, like alcohol can cause dehydration. Couple this with the temperature in a crowded club and it’s easy to overheat. The signs include dizziness,
tiredness, cramps in arms and legs, dark urine and difficulty urinating. If someone appears overheated sit them down in a cooler, quiet place and get them to sip a pint of water very slowly.
Splash a little tepid water on their face or neck or wipe them down with a damp towel. If someone collapses it should always be treated as an emergency and an ambulance should be called. Try to gently bring them round but don’t shake them hard and loosen any tight clothing they’re wearing. Check to see if they are breathing, and, if they are breathing put them into the recovery position on their left side with their right arm and leg bent, making sure their head is back and their airway is open. If they are not breathing, they need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If you don’t know how to do this, put them into the recovery position and wait for help to arrive.
Talk To Frank General information and advice about all street drugs.
Call 0800 776600
open 24hrs every day. 75
COUNTERFEIT GOODS HEALTHANDSAFETY
TRADING STANDARDS ADVICE ABOUT COUNTERFEIT ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO You may not realise it but you may well have been offered or even bought counterfeit alcohol or tobacco in the past. Here are some pointers to look out for. Be aware of the health risks associated with counterfeit alcohol and tobacco – you won’t know what the ingredients are of counterfeit cigarettes – they can be bulked out with anything cheap from shredded newspaper, fibreglass and even rat droppings! If you get offered cheap alcohol or cigarettes – be aware that they could be counterfeit or non duty paid – one sign to look out for is foreign writing on the packet – don’t be tempted to buy these just because they are cheap.
If you know of anyone selling counterfeit tobacco or alcohol report this to Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506. 76
Fakes: This shows just a sample of the counterfeit and smuggled alcohol and tobacco that has been confiscated by the authorities on Merseyside.
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HEALTH SERVICES HEALTHANDSAFETY
STUDENT GUIDE TO HEALTH SERVICES IN LIVERPOOL The most important thing you can do when you start University is to register with a local doctors’ (GP) surgery – they are your link to health services in Liverpool. You can still see your family doctor as a visitor when you are home during vacations.
To find a local gp visit www.nhs.uk Help With Healthcare Costs Make sure you fill in an HC1 form to apply for help with health costs such as prescriptions and dental care. If you are aged 19+ you are not automatically eligible. HC1 forms are available from your GP or by visiting www.nhs. uk/healthcosts
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NHS Online www.nhs.uk Check symptoms to see if you need medical attention. Find answers to common health questions. Enquiry service for non-urgent health matters. Find local health services.
Your Sexual Health For advice and to find sexual health services such as free contraception and STI/ pregnancy testing in your area speak to your GP or visit www. nhs.uk/sexualhealth
Common Health Complaints Pharmacies provide advice and treatment for common
health complaints without an appointment. Ask about Care at the Chemist – a scheme that offers prescriptions for common health complaints without having to see a GP first.
To find your local pharmacy visit www.nhs.uk Minor Illnesses Or Injuries Walk-in services are available to treat cuts strains itches and sprains with no appointment needed. 52 Great Charlotte Street L1 1HU Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am10pm. Crystal Close L13 2GA 7am-10pm every day 70 Banks Road L19 8JZ Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm 45 Everton Road L6 2EH 8am-8pm every day
Look After Your Teeth Don’t wait until you need emergency treatment before seeing a dentist – make sure to go for a routine check-up every 6 months.
For dental emergencies call 0151 300 8349 Your Mental Health Leaving home to go to University means big changes such as living in a new area, making new friends, managing a budget and starting your studies. If you feel constantly unhappy or that you can’t cope don’t keep it a secret, speak to your GP or University counselling service.
Emergencies Choking, chest pain, blacking out, heavy blood loss. The Royal Liverpool Hospital’s A&E department offers emergency care for critical or life threatening situations.
Dial 999 if you need an emergency vehicle to come to your location
To find a local NHS dentist visit www.nhs.uk 79
VACCINATIONS HEALTHANDSAFETY
VACCINATIONS: ARE YOU FULLY PROTECTED? Mumps At University you may be at an increased risk of contracting mumps. This is because you, or your fellow students, may not have had your MMR vaccinations as a child or may have only had one dose. The MMR vaccine provides protection against mumps, measles and rubella. Mumps is a highly infectious disease which spreads from person to person by coughs and sneezes. Although for most people mumps is a mild illness which lasts for about 710 days, it can lead to serious complications, including meningitis. In a small number of cases it can even lead to infertility. Universities are a common setting for mumps outbreaks. If you do get mumps you’ll be advised to limit your contact with other people until you’re no longer infectious (which
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could put a serious dampener on your social life). People with mumps are most infectious just before they become unwell and for 5-10 days afterwards. Make sure that you’re protected against mumps by checking that you’re up to date with your MMR before you start University, or when you register with the University’s medical practice or a local GP.
Symptoms: Fever and headache for a day or two. Swelling and soreness of the parotid salivary gland (located at the angle of the jaw, in front of the ears). Flu like illness.
Meningitis Meningococcal infection is a relatively rare but potentially fatal condition that can cause meningitis (infection and inflammation of the lining of
the brain), blood poisoning (septicaemia), or both. The infection can be spread from person to person by prolonged close contact such as living in shared accommodation or kissing. It is important to keep a look out for common early symptoms, although they don’t all develop straight away. If you think you or someone you know may have meningitis you should seek medical help immediately. If you haven’t previously been vaccinated against Group C meningococcal infection, you should consult your GP about having the vaccine before arriving at University or as soon as possible afterwards. This is a very important vaccine. However it does not protect against other groups of meningococcus bacteria, such as Group B meningococcal infection, so it will still be necessary for you to be aware of the common signs and symptoms of the potentially
deadly infections that these harmful bacteria can cause.
Symptoms: High temperature or fever. Vomiting. Neck stiffness. Muscle or joint pain. Severe dislike of light. Disorientation. A bruise-like rash that doesn’t fade under pressure.
Find out more at: Health Protection Agency www.hpa.org.uk Department of Health www.immunisation.nhs. uk NHS direct www.nhs.uk 81
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CONTRACEPTION HEALTHANDSAFETY
CONTRACEPTION Let’s face it, your time at University will be a rollercoaster ride of easy-going good times and difficult, stressful times. Deadlines, dissertations and exams are hard enough to cope with when you’re really on top of your game. The last thing you need is to make things even harder by getting yourself or someone else pregnant. So, contraception is essential for all of you engaging in heterosexual sex (yes, condoms are also essential for anyone having gay sex, but obviously not for the same reasons). Many clinics suggest using condoms as well as another method, such as the combined pill, to be doubly safe and to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here are some of the options available to you.
Condoms A condom is a sheath made of latex or polyurethane that covers the penis during sex. It must be rolled on very carefully when the penis is erect and before the penis touches the other person’s body. Sharp nails or jewellery can easily damage condoms, as can anything oil-based such as hand cream or Vaseline. There is also a
female condom that can be worn inside the vagina. Condoms are the only contraceptives that also protect against most STIs. You can buy them from chemists and supermarkets, or get them free from health centres and sexual health clinics.
Combined Contraceptive Pill These are pills containing oestrogen and progestogens that prevent the female body from releasing eggs. Most brands are taken daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break. However, these may be made ineffective by vomiting or diarrhoea. If you have either of these symptoms use additional contraception like condoms, whilst vomiting and diarrhoea is happening and for 7 days after, until you’re protected again.
Progestogen-Only Pill These are pills which contain progestogens and must be taken daily to remain effective (there is a 3 hour window for some and a 12 hour window for the most common one). As with the combined pill, they may be made ineffective by vomiting or diarrhoea.
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CONTRACEPTION HEALTHANDSAFETY
CONTRACEPTION Contraceptive Injection or Implant
Emergency Contraception
Contraceptive hormones injected into the female body or placed surgically under the skin. These are useful for women who can’t take the combined pill or who forget to take their pills regularly. They can cause irregular bleeding.
If you’ve had unprotected sex in the last five days, you may still be able to get emergency contraception. However, you must get to a doctor or sexual health clinic quickly. The post-coital pill (or ‘morning after’ pill) is still effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner it is taken the more effective it is. It can be prescribed free by GPs or sexual health clinics, or you can buy it over the counter at certain chemists. Follow the instructions carefully, and if you have sickness or diarrhoea after taking them, speak to your doctor or the chemist to see if you need to take more. There are other methods of emergency contraception. Contact your GP or your nearest sexual health clinic for more information about contraception, pregnancy and STIs.
Intra-Uterine Device or Coil lUDs are devices placed inside the womb as a long term method of contraception, mainly to prevent conception from occurring. Prevention of implantation is a secondary action. They can be effective for up to five years.
Cap or Diaphragm A barrier placed inside the vagina to prevent sperm reaching the cervix. Use it with spermicide for extra protection. They should be inserted before sex and left in place for six hours afterwards.
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Brook Liverpool 81 London Road Liverpool L3 8JA Tel: 0151 207 4000 Abacus Citrus House 40 - 46 Dale Street Liverpool, L2 5SF Tel: 0151 284 2500 Great Charlotte St Sexual Health Service Unit 4 Charlotte Row Great Charlotte St Liverpool L1 1HU Tel: 0151 233 3058 GUM Clinic 1st Floor Royal Liverpool Hospital Prescot Street Liverpool Tel: 0151 706 2620 For more information, support and a list of pharmacies offering free emergency contraception visit www. sexualhealthliverpool.co.uk
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STI HEALTHANDSAFETY
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS These are some of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have any worries concerning STIs, consult your doctor or medical practitioner.
Herpes Herpes, also called genital herpes can only spread if the infection is active, and is caused by the herpes simplex virus. The symptoms of Herpes usually appear within a week after sexual intimacy and contact with a person who is infected. You may contract a mild fever, which may be accompanied with sore and painful itching in the genitals, blisters can then follow. Broken blisters can cause much pain and discomfort. The infectious virus can also spread to the bloodstream and affect other internal organs.
Gonorrhoea Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that infects the genital and non-genital orifices of the body. Gonorrhoea spreads in the reproductive system, and via the bloodstream can infect other body parts. While most gonorrhoea symptoms are similar in men and women, a few are different to each gender. Men experience a burning sensation when urinating, painful or swollen testicles, and a yellowish white discharge from the penis. Women experience a vaginal discharge that is yellow or occasionally bloody, a burning sensation when urinating, Infections in the throat cause few symptoms. Even if you don’t have symptoms, gonorrhea can be transmitted to others; anyone at risk should see a doctor for a test
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STI HEALTHANDSAFETY
Chlamydia Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is very easy to treat and cure. It is believed that one in ten sexually active young people have Chlamydia. If left untreated it can cause painful complications and serious health problems such as infertility. For some people there are no symptoms unless the infection has reached an advanced stage. Women experience bleeding after sex, pain and/or bleeding during sex, lower abdominal pain (pelvic pain), unusual vaginal discharge and pain when passing urine. Men experience white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis, pain when passing urine and possible pain in the testicles.
Genital Warts Genital warts are mainly small, flesh-coloured bumps. In women it occurs on the vulva and perineal area in the vagina and on the cervix. In men it occurs on the area near the anus, the penis, or between the penis and the scrotum. If genital warts are not treated they can cause cancer of the cervix in women and cancer of the penis in men.
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Men experience genital warts on the penis or underneath the foreskin, in the urethra (in most cases at the very end of it) and the area around the rectum. Women experience genital warts on the lips of the vulva, in the vagina, or by the urethra. Genital warts can also appear in and around the rectum.
HIV/AIDS There are four main ways in which the virus can enter the body: 1. Sex Rectal intercourse is a very ‘efficient’ way of spreading the virus from one person to another. But the majority of infections worldwide are caused by vaginal intercourse with a person who has the virus. 2. Sharing needles Drug users are in the high risk category, if they use needles that have already been used by someone who has the virus. 3. Infected blood products. In some parts of the world blood intended for transfusion is still not tested for HIV. However, this is NOT the case in the UK. 4. Mother to baby infection.
In addition to sexual activity, the virus can also be spread through infected breast milk, and other bodily fluids such as vaginal fluids and blood. The earliest symptom of this infection is a short, fever like illness with swollen glands in the groin, armpits and neck and a sore throat. HIV infected people may not show symptoms for some time, as much as eight to ten years after being infected. As the HIV virus destroys blood cells, it lowers the body’s immunity making it susceptible to weight loss, fatigue, coughs, chills, night sweating, fever, and many other infections. The HIV virus, eventually, takes over the nucleus of a white blood cell (CD4 lymphocyte), constantly reproducing and releasing more of the virus into the blood stream. A very small number of cases can occur for other reasons, for example, as a result of an organ donation or a sperm donation from a person who is HIV-positive.
Syphilis
Pubic Lice
Vaginitis is associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva. Signs and symptoms vary depending on what type of Vaginitis you have but may include vaginal discharge; itching, burning, foul odour or general vaginal irritation. It can also occur in the male penis, prostate gland or urethra. Candidiasis (or »
This infection is caused by a sucking lice that looks very similar to head lice. They mostly live in the pubic hair, as the moistness of the area helps them to thrive and multiply. They are easily treated, but can cause a lot of itching and discomfort at night.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is often called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms of the disease are identical to those of other diseases. Syphilis is passed from one person to another through direct contact with syphilis sore. Sores arise mostly on the external genitals, anus, vagina, or in the rectum. Sores also can arise on the lips and in the mouth. Spread of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If pregnant women have this disease they can pass it on to the babies they are carrying. There are myths about Syphilis, here are the facts. Syphilis cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils.
Vaginitis
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STI HEALTHANDSAFETY
Âť Thrush) is the most familiar form of Vaginitis.
Hepatitis Hepatitis refers to viral infections of the liver. There are several types of hepatitis, but here we will discuss the most common - Hepatitis A, B and C. Different types of hepatitis are transmitted in different ways: Hepatitis A is transmitted through oral contact with contaminated faeces. It can be passed through sexual contact, especially in men who have sex with men, or by coming into contact with contaminated food. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B is highly contagious and usually contracted through sexual contact with an infected partner or through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is more difficult to acquire than other types of hepatitis and is most commonly transmitted through blood-toblood contact as can happen when injection drug users share needles. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C and it can often be incurable. Hepatitis symptoms vary in intensity from person to person
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but commonly include: Fatigue, at times severe enough to make it difficult to get out of bed Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting that gets worse as the day progresses Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) Darker urine than normal and sand coloured faeces Dull pain in upper abdomen (Hepatitis A)
Anything Else? Besides the above, one can add rare STIs like Granuloma Inguinale, Chancroid, Nongonococcal Urethritis, Molluscum Contagiosum, and Lymphogranuloma Venereum to make the complete list of STIs. Most STIs can be prevented, if one uses condoms as a precaution; however, as said earlier, it may not stop the spread of most STIs. Except for HIV or AIDS, most STIs can be treated and cured.
However, timely intervention, diagnosis and medical attention are very imperative. Most treatments depend upon the type and severity of the STIs.
CHLAMYDIA – ARE YOU INFECTED?
A SIMPLE URINE TEST AND USING CONDOMS CAN HELP STOP THE SPREAD. FOR A FREE DISCREET TESTING KIT TEXT LIVERPOOL PLUS YOUR NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS TO 80800 OR CALL 0151 227 1471 www.loveisinfectious.com
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AMBULANCE STAFF ABUSE HEALTHANDSAFETY
STOP THE ABUSE OF AMBULANCE STAFF Violence and aggression is now considered one of the most serious occupational hazards facing staff in the healthcare sector. The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which covers the Merseyside area, is actively tackling this problem in order to protect its staff. The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) actively promotes its ‘Stop Abuse’ campaign here in Liverpool, and across the rest of the North West, which aims to raise awareness of the violence and aggression that can be directed at ambulance staff and reinforces that it will not be tolerated. It is delivered in partnership with Merseyside Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Greater Manchester
Police, Lancashire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary and numerous Pub Watch schemes operating in the region. The scheme was piloted here in Liverpool city centre in December 2007 and has now been developed across the North West region. ‘Pub Watch’ or as it is known in Liverpool, Licensees Watch, is a national voluntary organisation set up to support existing licensees and encourage a safe, secure social drinking environment in all licensed premises, helping to reduce drink-related crime. It’s supported by police forces in the area it operates. Most of the pubs you will come across whilst you study here in »
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AMBULANCE STAFF ABUSE HEALTHANDSAFETY
» University will be members of the Licensees Watch. The ‘Stop Abuse’ partnership works together to alert the public of the unacceptable behaviour of individuals who assault ambulance crews and encourages ambulance crews to report assaults both internally, and via the Police and Pub Watch. If an ambulance crew is subjected to a physical or verbal assault inside a licensed premise, then the offender may find themselves being issued with a banning order by that particular Pub Watch membership. The banning order can be given irrespective of whether any criminal sanction is given by the police.
The banning order will see them excluded from all other pubs and clubs within that particular area where the Pub Watch Scheme is operating. The banning orders can be for a minimum of three months to a maximum of twelve months but this can be extended if required. Sandra Johnson, Safety and Security Practitioner at NWAS, said: “Our staff can face a number of problems when on
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duty which can leave them susceptible in difficult working conditions. For example, when crews deal with patients who have been taking alcohol/drugs or attend patients where patient history is unknown to the service they are putting themselves at risk. It is often these incidents which result in verbal abuse or assault“. Joe Curran, the Safer alcohol Retail Officer for Citysafe, who co-ordinates the Licensees Watch, said: “All the pubs, bars, and nightclubs within the city centre membership were fully supportive of banning individuals who assault ambulance staff; they felt such acts where despicable and the message was clear: ‘assault NWAS staff, either verbally or physically, and we will ban you from our premises’. The campaign is designed to send out a message to the public that there will be consequences to those who assault ambulance staff and could result in a banning order from pubs and clubs within the City Centre.
If you would like more information on the campaign, please go to: www.nwas. nhs.uk or call 0845 112 0999
CALLING 999? Toothache? Sore throat? Hangover? Split Condom? These are just some of types of 999 calls received by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) that affect its ability to respond to urgent calls. That’s why we are urging the public including yourself as students whilst you are studying here in Liverpool to ‘Choose Well’ during your time at University. Choose Well is an established NHS Northwest and Department of Health campaign which was initially developed to help educate the members of the public on how to stay safe and look after their health by making the most appropriate choice of care when in need. NWAS has shown our support for the Choose Well initiative and has adapted the messages to be more appropriate to ambulance usage. Whilst you are out and about in the city; going to a lecture or
going for a sociable drink with friends you may be able to spot our Choose Well posters on some of our Emergency Ambulance and Patient Transport vehicles. For most of you, this may be the first time you have lived away from home and you may find yourselves at some point not feeling very well or in need of medical advice. Our own interpretation of the Choose Well campaign aims to encourage you as a member of the public to consider alternatives to calling the 999 number and A&E such as phoning NHS Direct, or going to minor injury units, walk-in centres or their own GP’s surgery. We As a Trust will be promoting the campaign to the public and assessing their awareness at a variety of events across the North West including Liverpool throughout the year so please don’t forget to look out for us and tell you friends and families about the Choose Well initiative. For more information please visit www.nwas.nhs.uk
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Diet Advice Health and F
C.A.L.M. Calling 999?
Five a
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FITNESS AND Fitness LIFESTYLE 98. 102. 106. 107.
Health And Fitness Weight Problem? It’s All In The Mind Gyms And Sports Centres C.A.L.M.
Day
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HEALTH AND FITNESS FITNESS + LIFESTYLE
HEALTH AND FITNESS There is a major difference between health and fitness. The two words are inextricably linked yet it is possible to have one without the other. In 1948 the World Health organisation defined health as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” meaning overall health is achieved through a combination of a well mind and body, as well as a good social environment.
You can be very fit, but for that fitness to be gained at the expense of health. Take a professional body builder - he/she may have a toned muscular frame to die for, with not so much as an ounce of fat. They may be able to bench press the weight of a small cow and pull a lorry up a hill, but how healthy are they? Sure, they may look pretty
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healthy, but possible steroid abuse and potential sideeffects can cause long term and irreversible damage. Add to this the incredible strain they’ve put on joints and other body parts. And let’s not forget to mention the extremes of diet - having to eat thirty eggs a day mixed with ultra protein shakes. Any pursuit where extreme behaviour is involved can usually be seen as unhealthy.
Balance Is The Key When focusing on health it’s clear that balance is the key. Many diets don’t work because they push us down extreme paths. Eat only this; don’t ever eat any of that etc. These “rules” can be incredibly challenging to stick to - and generally if it’s too painful we stop.
Ensure your diet has balance. All food is well labelled now so it’s easy to monitor your eating habits.
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HEALTH AND FITNESS FITNESS + LIFESTYLE
No food is bad and even fast food from time to time is ok moderation is the key.
Eating plenty of fruit and veg and drinking plenty of water is a good starting point when considering a healthy balanced diet. Also, fruit and veg are water rich foods and are proven to be more filling - this means you have to eat fewer calories to get full. Incidentally French fries, chocolate bars and crisps are some of the least filling food (very high in calories).
It’s A Walk In The Park! Exercise is great but the same rules as diet apply - it works best as part of a long term plan rather than a short term extreme program. Add into your daily plan little challenges - take the stairs not the lift, walk to Uni, get a bike or take a weekend stroll in the park.
If you can find time to throw the odd gym session, aerobic class or swim into your weekly schedule - even better. Try to do something that you enjoy - this not only injects a bit of fun into your life but will keep you motivated to continue. Think of an activity that used to get you out of breath when you were a kid, back then you wouldn’t have thought of it as exercise - it would have just been play!
You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Our bodies produce endorphins during exercise and these are proved to be great mood lifters. Put simply - exercise makes you feel good. 101
WEIGHT PROBLEM? FITNESS + LIFESTYLE
WEIGHT PROBLEM? It’s All In The Mind The LIVE (Lifelong IntuitiVe Eating) Programme is a weight control system delivered by Dr. Ian Davies & Anthony Bennett. Dr Davies is a registered nutritionist with the Nutrition Society, holds an academic position as a Nutritional Scientist at Liverpool John Moores University and has published several peer reviewed papers in the field of Nutrition. Dr Davies and Mr Bennett are both Master Practitioners in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The LIVE Programme is an evidence based system centred on beneficial eating styles and rapid behaviour change. With thousands of diet books in print (many of which contradict each other) and various menus or food products to support a billion dollar industry, it’s no wonder people are confused as to what and how they should be eating. Essentially though, diets are just different recipes. More and more evidence is telling us
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that in order to be successful any weight management system must deal with people’s behaviour around eating rather than focussing on restricting foods.
Dieting Studies have shown that only 10-12% of people who undertake diets succeed in achieving the weight they want for any sustained period of time. However 75% of those will regain weight with interest over five years. The truth is that because of the way the human body is designed, restrictive diets are actually the least effective way to manage your weight. When denied food an evolutionary survival mechanism that prevents starvation switches on physiological responses that increase cravings to eat. Eventually excess food is consumed that is metabolised more efficiently, meaning
more of what we eat will be stored as fat.
Successful Eating Habits There are various common behaviours that are exhibited by people who are naturally slim, those who effectively control body weight and also those who have lost or gained weight to reach & maintain their ideal body size. Evidence suggests that by adopting these patterns of behaviour you can begin to naturally control your weight.
3 Questions That Lead To Successful Intuitive Eating When? When are you eating? Is it at strict meal times (even if you’re not that hungry)? Is it on the go during a busy lifestyle? Is it when you’re told you should? People who control their weight successfully eat only when they are physically hungry. Equally important – they stop when they are nutritionally satisfied (slightly before they are full). You can become intuitive with your body’s natural feelings of hunger and fullness by regularly (several times a day) rating how physically hungry you are on »
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WEIGHT PROBLEM? FITNESS + LIFESTYLE
WEIGHT PROBLEM? IT’S ALL IN THE MIND » a scale of 1 to 10 (for example 1 = famished, 5 = neutral, and 10 = overstuffed). Practise often over several days and you will start to become automatically aware of your natural hunger feelings.
What? Eat only what your body really desires and what it will really enjoy – not what a diet book tells you or what you think you should be eating. Before you eat ask your intuition what you really want to enjoy and imagine eating it. Does it inspire you? If not, choose something else. Imagine how your body will feel an hour or two after you’ve finished. Will you feel good that you’ve eaten it? Or is there something else that will satisfy you more?
How? This is important. How do you eat? Have you noticed how some people eat in front of the TV, eat very quickly, and eat on the go? Have you ever reached for that sandwich and then surprised yourself because you’ve already finished without noticing? Most of us have, and that’s because most of us regularly eat in a nonconscious fashion. Studies have shown for example that we can
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eat 40% more when we have a meal in front of the TV. People who successfully control their weight eat with full awareness of their food. They actually take their time and savour every bite, enjoying the flavours and textures. Practice slowing down your eating (it’s less easy then it sounds at first, but is easy with practice) by as much as a quarter of your normal speed. Try chewing 20 times. Put down your knife and fork at every bite. Prize your fingers from around that sandwich/ burger/ pizza and put it down between mouthfuls. This alone will make a massive positive change towards your successful weight management. Recent studies indicate that when you eat intuitively, really appreciating the full tastes and textures of the food, you will naturally begin to make more balanced eating choices. If you’re eating with full awareness you’ll only want to eat what you really enjoy and you’ll only enjoy it when you’re truly hungry. If you’re eating in full awareness you’ll notice when you’re becoming full and you’ll notice how each bite becomes less enjoyable so you can stop.
For more information, seminar details or other behaviour change services call 0151 480 5898 or visit www.livenlp.co.uk 105
LISTINGS + C.A.L.M.: FITNESS + LIFESTYLE
GYMS AND SPORTS CENTRES Lifestyles Millennium
Ground Floor Millennium House Victoria Street Liverpool L1 6jd Tel: 0151 233 4123
Awesome Walls Climbing Centre
St Albans Church Athol St Off Great Howard Street Liverpool L5 9xt Tel: 0151 298 2422
Anfield Sports & Community Centre Ltd Clarendon Road Liverpool L6 0bs Tel: 0151 263 6186
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David Lloyd Speke 6 The Aerodrome Liverpool L24 8qd Tel: 0151 494 4000
Ark Spa & Fitness Radisson Sas Hotel 109 Old Hall Street Liverpool L3 9bd Tel: 0151 9661999
Greens Health And Fitness 1 Riverside Drive Liverpool L3 4en Tel: 0151 707 6000
Total Fitness
Edge Lane Retail Park Liverpool L13 1ew Tel: 0151 252 6200
C.A.L.M. The Campaign Against Living Miserably (C.A.L.M) is aimed at men aged between 15 and 35. CALM exists because suicide accounts for the deaths of more young men than any other single cause over the last 4 years. They offer a website, with information about a range of issues including drugs, relationships and debt. They also offer information and advice via a phone and web chat where anyone can talk confidentially and anonymously. Anyone, regardless of age, gender or geographic location can call the line and visit the website, they do not turn people away. www.thecalmzone.net
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Let’s Go Out Six of The B
Culture local bands
Music
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LIVE C
galleries
ENTERTAINMENT Best AND CULTURE 110. 112. 118. 134. 136. 142. 144. 146. 148. 152. 154. 156. 158. 160.
Let’s Go Out Have A Plan Six Of The Best Club Nights Getting Home Culture Music Venues Smaller Gigs Local Bands Festivals Theatres Live Comedy Cinemas Galleries
Venues
COMEDY
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LET’S GO OUT ENTERTAINMENT
LET’S GO OUT Bars, Pubs, Clubs & Cafés There are over 300 bars, pubs and clubs in Liverpool. In this section we feature a selection of those that have proved to be the most popular with students in recent years. The venues mentioned are predominantly situated in the Hardman Street, Seel Street and Concert Square areas of Liverpool city centre and these are almost certainly the most student friendly areas in town. It is important to remember, however, that even though certain bars and areas of town are regarded as student friendly you may still encounter problems such as violence, theft and muggings so you always need to be on your guard and preferably with a group of friends.
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Collectively the bars featured offer a wide range of experiences to pretty much cater for all student tastes. We’ve separated these venues into ‘six of the best’, in our humble opinion. These cover subjects such as where to watch live sports, the city’s ‘Hidden Gems’, ‘Loud and Lively’ bars, ‘Real Pubs’ for a quiet pint, ‘Café Bars’ for when only a cake and coffee will do, our favourite clubs, gay bars and places to take your parents. Hopefully the info in this section will give you a good starting point for planning some great nights out in Liverpool city centre. So you can not only maximise your enjoyment but also your safety.
Almost too much to do: Liverpool has entertainment for all tastes and budgets. Whether you want a sophisto nightclub or a quiet pint you’ll find somewhere great to go.
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HAVE A PLAN ENTERTAINMENT
HAVE A PLAN If you are new to the city you might want to take a daytime walk around the main bar areas so you can familiarize yourself with your surroundings before your first night out. Take a walk with some of your new found friends it should take no more than 45 minutes. Look out for taxi ranks, night bus stops, safety points and cash machines (for emergencies) There is nothing more dangerous than a student wandering drunken and aimless completely lost at 2am.
Where Are You Going? Plan where you are going and how you intend to get to and from - If you’re traveling with friends by taxi who is paying? Sort this out before you get in the cab and make sure everyone has change. If traveling by bus or train remember not to annoy fellow passengers - you might be happy and excited about the night ahead - they might be going to work. If you have planned to get a taxi and need to be somewhere
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at a certain time it’s a good idea to pre-book. This will get you on the system earlier and give you priority over people that ring when they need one.
Budget What do you intend to spend? What can you afford to spend? Go to the cash point during the day and only draw out what you intend to spend. Top tip - have an emergency £10 squashed into a tight compartment of your wallet - make it difficult to get so it doesn’t just become part of your normal spend.
Eat Before You Go Food helps absorb alcohol and so limits how quickly it will get into your bloodstream. It’s a good idea to eat a decent meal before you go out. When food is ingested, the pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach will close in order to hold food in the stomach for digestion and thus keep the alcohol from reaching the small intestine where it would be absorbed at a quicker rate.
Consider What Time To Start Drinking Your body is in peak production mode for these alcohol-eliminating enzymes at 8.00 pm – so if you’re going to drink that’s the“healthiest” time to do it! Production of alcohol dehydrogenase drops during the day so middle of the day is absolutely the worst time to drink.
Before You Leave Make sure you have keys, wallet, purse, mobile, make-up etc. Only take what you need - make sure everything you do take is hidden. Make sure you have turned off all appliances and check all windows and doors are closed and locked.
When You’re Out Liverpool enjoys one of the most vibrant night scenes in the country and boasts a wide selection of bars, pubs, clubs and venues. As a student residing in the city it would be unusual and probably a bit rude not to sample the world class night life. Hand in hand with this, as with any major city, Liverpool also has its fair share of drug and alcohol related crime. The Royal Liverpool A & E Department reported over 4,000 assault attendances in 2004/5, 10% of which occurred in pubs, bars or
nightclubs and a third of which took place in the street (Liverpool Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2007–2010). By using a common sense approach and adopting some simple ideas you can avoid many of the potential dangers. While you can never be 100% safe in any situation, any good self protection system will profess that 99% of success in keeping safe is down to awareness, avoidance and forward planning.
Being Under The Influence The use of alcohol and/or drugs is extremely common among people on a night out. It is unrealistic to expect people to refrain from using substances altogether, however from a self protection point of view it is important for people to realise that when drunk or under the influence of drugs their ability to effectively protect themselves is severely reduced. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism drink affects your whole brain but particularly your cerebellum which controls balance, coordination and movement, as well as your frontal lobes which hold your cognition, memory, thought & learning. »
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» Because of the lack of inhibition, drunkenness can instil a false sense of security about your situation and your abilities to deal with confrontation. Drunken people can become more aggressive and more likely to respond to provocation or even cause trouble but less able to deal effectively with a given situation. In short, the more inebriated you are the less safe you are - in the words of Rafa Benitez... fact!
What Can You Do? Stay sober? If that’s unrealistic or not an option, you can choose to reduce how much you drink to a more sensible level where you still have a level of awareness and can make decisions – that’s still going to leave you somewhat impaired, but it’s better than being totally out of your brain! By paying attention to your drinking habits you’ll be able to find a reasonable level for you where you can enjoy yourself but maintain some sense. Have an idea of how much you are going to drink and try to stick to it. If you are in a group why not see if anybody is prepared to be a designated driver? This will serve a dual purpose, as not only will you get a lift home without waiting for a cab, but the person driving might be able to keep you out
of trouble, by spotting potential hazards before you do. Make sure you all stick together - whether that means all standing together to help one of your group if he or she is introuble, or just all agreeing that it’s time to leave a particular bar or club in the event of (or preferably before) an incident.
Where To Go Find out from locals or existing students which are the safest bars & clubs to go to. Look up local night life websites or take a look at the bars and club reviews in this section of the guide. Assess the venue – what kind of clientele goes there... is it full of punters with broken noses and scars? How is it decorated... is there graffiti over the tables? What kind of music... is it ‘Scouse house’. Use a common sense approach.
In A Bar Or Club Always remain observant of your immediate surroundings. There will often be crowds around you and you need to try not to aggravate people by knocking them over or spilling their drinks. It doesn’t hurt to look up from your pint now and again to see who is around you. Be aware of all the entrances and »
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HAVE A PLAN ENTERTAINMENT
» take notice of who’s coming in. Is it a group of lads? Do they look like trouble? Once you’ve been served it’s a good idea to stand away from bar. A lot of situations happen there due to frustrated customers, people pushing past and jostling. Also avoid the main walkways and corridors in the venue for the same reason. Make sure you can see as much of the venue as possible – not with your back to everyone. It’s always better to stand because you’re more ready to move if necessary, but if you do sit try and make sure you can get up again. You’re no use to anyone in the event of an incident if you’re lolling on a couch with your feet in the air. Female students probably won’t need to be told this, but when you use the toilet try to go in pairs. For guys, it’s better to use a cubicle because you’re less potentially vulnerable (as well as avoiding leg splashes!) and remember to lock the door behind you if there is one. Avoid games machines because you lose all awareness of your surroundings and make yourself very vulnerable. At the first sign of trouble – leave. If you do have some kind of altercation and it appears to have ended peacefully, leave anyway. Fights
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often ensue from small initial flare ups. If something doesn’t feel right – trust your instincts and leave. Instincts are our body’s early warning signs and are quite often correct. If you attend a venue regularly always say hello and be pleasant to the door staff. They’ll get to know your face and give you the benefit of the doubt should any trouble happen.
Between Venues Stay together. It’s a cliché but there really is safety in numbers. Don’t get left behind - similarly, don’t wander off and leave someone else behind. Remember what used to happen in Scooby Doo!
Don’t Forget... Get cash before your night out and leave your card in a safe place at home. You might want to take your mobile phone with you, but keep it out of sight. If you use your mobile while you are out, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and keep a firm hold on the phone. Tony Bennett is a Combatives Instructor with CQB Services. To train with Liverpool Gutterfighters @ Prescot Leisure Centre contact DenCQB@Yahoo. co.uk
SIX OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Six Of The Best:
CAFÉ BARS
For a more relaxed evening of socialising the city offers a number of café bars with a cosier feel than some of the bigger bars and pubs. Great places to chill out and relax alone or with friends, here’s our pick of the best.
The Quarter
7-11 Falkner Street Liverpool L8 7PU Tel. 0151 707 1965 Owned by the same people responsible for the fantastic 60 Hope Street restaurant (get your folks to take you there) this beautifully appointed café bar serves a great menu, with loads of pasta dishes and pizzas at reasonable prices. The seats outside under the awning make a great place to watch the world go by, or just nurse a hangover with a cappuccino and a ham & cheese croissant. This is a great choice as a place to go in the evening, too. The atmosphere is always friendly and bustiling with activity. It’s a great alternative for those who don’t want to sit in a pub.
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Café Tabac
126 Bold Street Liverpool L1 4JA Tel. 0151 709 3735 Tabac is the oddly shaped bar at the top of Bold Street, and it’s wood panelling gives a hint of it’s funky decor inside. It’s chic and welcoming inside, with cartoonart pictures and other paintings dotted about. There’s plenty of food and drinks to choose from, including fresh bread, baked on the premises.
FACT
88 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4DQ Tel. 0151 707 4444 FACT is a multimedia complex on Wood Street, boasting a cinema, art spaces, a bar, a bookshop and a great little café at the back. There are always mouthwatering biscuits and cakes on the stand and a great selection of panini sandwiches too. Makes a great place to take your laptop and do a bit of ‘studying’ online while you eat.
a range of coffees. Mocha Lounge also shows original artwork by local artists, so it’s worth a look even if you just want to sit and stare at the walls.
The Egg Café
16 Newington Liverpool L1 4ED Tel. 0151 707 2755 The place to go for any vegan or vegetarian students looking for a friendly atmosphere, eclectic art on the walls and the opportunity to bring your own wine. The fresh, home made quiches are good enough to turn even the most hardened meat eater instantly herbivorous.
Café 07
103 Mount Pleasant Liverpool L3 5TB Tel. 0151 703 6949
Mocha Lounge
20 Sir Thomas Street Liverpool L1 6BA Tel. 0151 236 7737 In an unassuming looking basement in the business end of town you’ll find this friendly café bar that always has great food and
Great coffee (the espresso is particularly good), reasonable wine prices and a fab outside terrace; Café 07 also has bottled beers and a simple menu, with a fine selection of summer salads.
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SIX OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Six Of The Best:
REAL PUBS
So Liverpool has loads of great bars and clubs where you can stay out all night and dance till the sun comes up but sometimes you just want a quiet pint in a proper pub. In all the hustle and bustle Liverpool hasn’t forgotten about the good old fashioned pub, there are many well loved and well established watering holes around the city, in all different shapes and sizes. Here is a pick of the best.
The Swan Inn
86 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4DQ Tel. 0151 709 5281 The Swan attracts a fiercely loyal clientele due to its fine selection real ales (Marston’s Pedigree, Wobbly Bob and Old Rosie Scrumpy as well as the supplementary guests brews) and best rock n roll juke box in the city. However, don’t expect to be listening to your choice of music within at least three or four pints of paying your quid. There’s a hefty backlog, but that’s just a good excuse to stay even longer. Thankfully shunned by trendies for its ‘ruggedly rustic’ interior
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The Pilgrim
34 Pilgrim Street Liverpool L1 9HB Tel. 0151 709 2302 Situated over two floors, The Pilgrim has long been a favourite with students (from the Uni’s and nearby LIPA). Its downstairs is set out into diner style booths with a jukebox in each one (sadly ornamental now) and has a real cellar bar feel, but without the dank atmosphere. The well priced beer and spirits make for a lively and friendly ambience and reasonably priced food is offered throughout the day from breakfast onwards.
The Ship & Mitre
133 Dale Street Liverpool L2 2JH Tel. 0151 236 0859 Hidden away at the bottom of Dale Street, in the shadow of a busy flyover, sits a glorious pub that proclaims on it’s sign to have ‘the best range of beers in Liverpool’. With ten hand pulled real ales we’d find it hard to argue with that claim, and the atmosphere is great too.
Pogue Mohone
77 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BB Tel. 0151 708 8301 Pogue Mohone is situated at the top of Seel St and oozes Gaelic
charm. Run and managed by Irish staff, the bar has a real traditional wooden look and has the fine distinction of serving the best pint of Guinness in the city.
The Philharmonic
36 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BX Tel. 0151 707 2837 Serving up to 10 real ales, with frequently changing guests from a seasonal ale list. The pub is a grade 2* listed building (with grade 1 listed toilets!) and it was John Lennon’s favourite pub, of which he famously said, ‘the price of fame is not being able to have a drink at The Phil’.
The Belvedere
5 Sugnall Street Liverpool L7 7EB Tel. 0151 709 0303 How would you like to sit in a pub that was as comfy as your nan’s living room, with a lovely open fire, relaxed atmosphere and (here’s where it may differ from your nan’s house) a cracking selection of guest beers on tap? Well, The Belevdere could be the solution. Tucked away on Sugnall Street, just off Falkner Street, in a Grade II listed building, The Belvedere was closed for years before it was rescued and refurbished. It’s a brilliant pub and worth a visit.
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SIX OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Six Of The Best:
LIVE SPORT
If there’s one thing better than being in the pub with your mates, it’s being in the pub with your mates watching your favourite team playing. Liverpool is a city that really loves sport and there are loads of great pubs and bars that cater for those of you who just can’t get enough of the beautiful game. Here are six of the best venues for watching the match and enjoying a drink.
Envi
17-21 Fleet St Liverpool L1 4AR Tel. 0151 709 3498 Envi is one of the best places in the city to watch live sport. All major events are covered in this huge 750 capacity venue. You can choose from either the giant screen, visible from anywhere in the main room, one of the five plasma screens dotted around the place, or maybe you prefer things a little cosier - in which case one of the communal booths with private screens will suit you better.
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The Abbey
85-89 Hanover Street Liverpool L1 3DZ Tel. 07833 092770 The Abbey is a lively and bustling bar on Hanover Street, in the heart of Liverpool’s shopping district. It makes a good place to watch the football with mates, or stop off for a quiet pint after Uni.
The Font
24 Arrad St Liverpool L77JE Tel. 0151 706 0345
The Flute
35 Hardman Street Liverpool L1 9AS Tel. 0151 707 6485 A well-established pub on Hardman Street, best known for the electric atmosphere when it screens the football. If you can get a seat on match day, watch one (or all) of the six screens in relative comfort on pew-like wooden benches. There’s cheap pub grub and a range of beers.
Situated in the centre of Liverpool student life the Font is an easy going fun student friendly bar. Over 40 cocktails ranging from £2£3 won’t hurt the pocket. Happy hour (5-8 pm) with all sports shown on large screens an even pro-evo soccer on the biggest. Its extensive food menu is served till 7.30pm, with a free quiz every Thursday in term time. Sunday roasts weekly.
Hope & Anchor
Dugout
Maryland Street Liverpool L1 9DE Tel. 0151 702 7911 This is a great student pub. Great value offers, especially on Thursday and Saturday nights. The staff are friendly and the Sunday night quiz is good fun. Serves a great strawberry cider and has a very comfy couch to watch the match from.
Lord Nelson Hotel Liverpool L3 5PD Tel. 0151 709 5161 Located underneath the Lord Nelson Hotel on Hotham Street, the Dugout Bar has Sky Sports and a variety of events such as quiz and karaoke nights. In addition to wines and spirits, the Dugout serves a wide range of beers from around the world.
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Six Of The Best:
HIDDEN GEMS
All cities have their own ‘best kept secrets’ and Liverpool is no exception. With a vibrant musical history and a creative and diverse present there is no end of variety in the city. If you’re tired of the same old places and the busy club and pub district and fancy somewhere slightly off the beaten track here of some of the cities ‘hidden gems’.
The Grapes
60 Roscoe Street Liverpool L1 9DW Tel. 0151 708 6870 This back street establishment is one you are unlikely to stumble upon by accident as it’s in a quiet part of town away from the main drag. Don’t let this put you off though; it’s well worth a visit. The delightfully shabby interior, with many original features, creates a warm and cosy atmosphere. Serving a range of hand-pulls as well as beers from Liverpool organic brewery this is the perfect place to sample some local ale in a relaxed environment.
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Baltic Fleet
33 Wapping Liverpool L1 8DQ Tel. 0151 709 3116 Liverpool’s only surviving Sailortown pub, the Baltic Fleet is a cosy pub and microbrewery in the heart of the Docklands. Within striking distance of the Albert Dock and Echo Arena it’s the perfect place for a relaxed drink, as well as serving “party pub grub”.
33-45 Parr Street
33-45 Parr Street Liverpool L1 4JN Tel. 0151 707 1050 33-45 Parr street describes itself as “a central social oasis designed for creatives and situated in the heart of Liverpool city centre and housed inside the famous Parr street recording studios“. This members’ only club is free to join and provides an intimate and exclusive experience with regular live music and DJ sets.
Studio 2
33-45 Parr Street Liverpool L1 4JN Tel. 0151 707 1050 Sudio 2 is one of the Liverpool’s finest venues. This is the studio where Coldplay, Take That, Stereophonics, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, Diana Ross and Elbow, amongst many others,
have recorded and now has been converted into “One of the UK’s top 50 bars” (The Independent Magazine 2009).
Aloha
22 Colquitt Street Liverpool L1 4DE Tel. 07866 468417 “Liverpool’s finest Tiki bar” and probably its only one, this underground Polynesia has everything you would expect from a bar dedicated to the paradise islands. Grass skirts, bamboo, murals of the Pacific and flower lei all make for a vibrant bar with a lively atmosphere.
Ye Cracke
13 Rice Street Liverpool L1 9BB Tel. 0151 709 4171 The watering hole of a certain Mr Lennon during his art college days, Ye Cracke is a charming, rough round the edges pub with a varied and ever popular jukebox where you can go from Leonard Cohen to Nick Cave in less time than it takes to sup your first pint. A truly historic building, there’s been a pub on this site for over 150 years, is full of interesting nooks and crannies including the 1900s ‘War Room’ where drinkers would discuss Britain’s overseas military operations.
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SIX OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Six Of The Best:
TAKE THE PARENTS
When your parents come to stay and you’re taking them out for a drink you probably want a gentler night out than you might have with your mates. There are a variety of bars in Liverpool that cater for all tastes and here are some you can all enjoy.
Living Room
15 Victoria Street Liverpool L2 5QS Tel. 0151 236 1999 The Living Room, in Liverpool’s business district, has a well deserved reputation for mixing fantastic cocktails, consistently high standards in food quality and service and a great atmosphere. It is one of ‘the’ places to be seen in Liverpool. By night their resident musicians play a mixture of eclectic tunes to create the perfect atmosphere. The stylish bar and restaurant is ideal for sipping one of their delicious cocktails with friends or just enjoying the fantastic food.
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Alma De Cuba
Paradise Lane Liverpool L1 4BH Tel. 0151 702739 Winner of Best Bar, Best Restaurant and UK’s Best Venue, this is a must visit destination with a spectacular bar area downstairs, including a real altar (it’s in an old church) and a beautiful restaurant on the upper floor. There is live music in the week, as well as gospel choirs and Brazilian dancers at the weekend. There are petal drops every Fridays and Saturdays.
Premiership stars, and the decor tells you that this is a classy place you wouldn’t mind your mum thinking you visited all the time.
Newz Bar
12 Stanley Street Liverpool L1 6AF Tel. 0151 255 0808
Everyman Bistro
5 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BH Tel. 0151 708 9545 A bustling basement bistro serving a great selection of beers and fantastic food in a lively, friendly atmosphere. Just the place to take your folks before a night at the theatre, or to end a great evening with a bottle of wine and a piece of cake.
Panamerican Club
Britannia Pavilion Liverpool L3 4AD Tel. 0151 702 5840 A tasteful, dimly lit bar in the city’s Albert Dock complex, the PanAm is the place to go if you want to do some celebrity spotting. It’s a favourite haunt of the local
Friendly door staff, great decor and one of the longest bars in Europe (Dads love useless facts). This place is sure to be a hit with your folks. Try the food if you get there early, apparently the shepherd’s pie is as good as any nan could knock together.
Bar Hannah
85 Bold Street Liverpool L1 4HF Tel. 0151 708 5508 New York style bar on Leece Street, where the bar staff will mix up every cocktail imaginable, even going off-menu for the odd request. The staff are all really friendly and the roof terrace offers great panoramic views of the city.
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Six Of The Best:
LOUD & LIVELY
So you’ve had a few drinks in a pub or bar but you’re not quite ready for a club. Liverpool has a host of noisy and energetic bars, each to suit different tastes, for that part the night when you’re ready to start upping the tempo. Here are six of the best we think you’ll enjoy. Whether you are into dance music and cocktails or raucous tequila fuelled singalongs, there will be somewhere you’ll be happy to lose several hours of your night without even noticing.
Bumper
18 Hardman Street Liverpool L1 9AX Tel. 0151 707 9902 Bumper is set half way up Hardman Street and has been a firm favourite with students and locals, since it opened in the early Noughties. The front and back bar are bustling on Friday & Saturdays playing indie, funky, retro and modern. The area downstairs has a wall ofpictures that will keep you entertained for ages.
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La’Go
20 Colquitt Street Liverpool L1 4DE Tel. 0151 709 6116 Comfortable surroundings, classic grooves and very competitively priced drinks. If you like to boogie to everything from retro soul to cutting edge cool beats, this could be the bar with the vibe for you.
Mojo
Back Berry Street Liverpool L1 4BB Tel. 0844 549 9090 Have you ever been in a bar that was playing such amazing tunes that you had to keep asking the DJ what they were? If that sounds like you then your days of traipsing to the DJ booth could well be over. Mojo’s USP is that they have big screens telling you the name of the track you’re listening to, so you can just sit back and relax with your pint - and pretend you knew who the Electric Prunes and the 13th Floor Elevators were all along.
Baa Bar
43-5 Fleet Street Liverpool L1 4AR Tel. 0151 708 8673 Baa Bar is based half way up Fleet St at the corner with Slater St and was established over 18 years ago. Back then it was the first of a new generation of trendy bars
that came to dominate Liverpool’s nightlife. Baa Bar features hi tech design in all areas from comfy sofas to industrial plan seating and tables. The bar is busy seven days a week and boasts an extensive selection of drinks and enough special offers and promotions to ensure having a few drinks is not a traumatic experience. It is easy to see why Baa Bar has remained popular as others have fallen away.
Jacaranda
21-23 Slater Street Liverpool L1 4BW Tel. 0151 707 8281 The ‘World famous’ Jacaranda Club was originally opened in the 50’s by Allan Williams, the Beatles first manager. Today the bar offers quality and fairly priced beers, and an atmosphere that is both lively and friendly. The bar is on three floors with the basement open Thursday to Saturday.
The Peacock
49-51 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4AZ Tel. 0151 709 2146 The Peacock is located within the city’s trendy clubland quarter. There’s a free barbecue every Friday from 6-8, and music ranges from all forms of electronica to proper rock n roll.
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SIX OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT
Six Of The Best:
CLUBS
So you’ve tried all the bars and now you’re ready to go and dance your pants off in one of Liverpool’s many nightclubs. Here’s our guide to six of the best clubs in the City centre.
The Cavern
10 Mathew Street Liverpool L2 6RE Tel. 0151 236 1965 ‘The world’s most famous club’, situated on Mathew Street next door to the original cellar bar where theBeatles first used to play. The Cavern is
literally a dark cavernous brick cellar, which gets very hot and sweaty when full. The Cavern hosts live music on various nights, but most weekends you can usually catch covers and tribute bands, and also original bands. Weekends are a mix of 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s as well as dance, chart & indie.
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Masque
90 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BH Tel. 0151 707 6171 The Masque, born out of the ashes of the old Barfly, has been refurbished from top to bottom, creating a spanking shiny new building. Capacity has increased enormously in the Theatre, Loft & Ink (a tattoo studio inspired rock and roll bar). Ink is home to Shakedown, one of Liverpool’s freshest alternative club nights. Free entry before 11.00pm on Thursdays.
Le Bateau
62 Duke Street Liverpool L1 5AA Tel. 0151 709 6508 Indiecation on Friday nights and Liquidation on Saturdays; Le Bateau is an indie kid’s dream night out. Downstairs there’s a DJ playing all the best in Indie music - and even taking a few requests. Upstairs you’ll hear 60s rock and old soul floor fillers.
Blue Angel
106-108 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BL Tel. 0151 709 1535 Affectionately known as The Raz, this largely student filled club is all about dancing like a clown and having a laugh! Whenever you
hear someone mention the Raz the words ‘oh no’ usually follow in the sentence. You either love it or hate it, but can you ignore it? Bustling crowds every week suggest you won’t.
Camel Club
18 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4AQ Tel. 0151 707 1933 Good music, housed in a cavernous Arabic-flavoured den. Tables and sofas are kept intimate by lattice shutters and simple candlelight, drapes swathe the ceiling and lanterns keep the bar visible. Upstairs there’s a room for lounging, but the whole place has a relaxed vibe. Camel Club plays a fusion of r ‘n’ b, funk, jazz and new soul, and despite the designated dance-floor everyone boogies wherever they get the urge.
The Krazy House
16 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4AQ Tel. 0151 708 5016 One of the longest running and most successful rock clubs in the city, situated on Wood Street, the club runs nights over three floors, offering different music policies on each. The club really does attract a mix of people depending on the night- from goths and nu metallers, indie kids and musicians, to students and locals.
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Six Of The Best:
GAY LIVERPOOL
Stanley Street, Cumberland Street, Victoria Street and Eberle Street are where the bulk of the gay bars and clubs are located in Liverpool. There is a thriving gay community and clubs and bars to suit all tastes. Here are some of the best.
Superstar Boudoir
22-24 Stanley Street Liverpool L1 6AF T Tel. 0151 236 6001 If you’re ever passing Superstar Boudoir, expect to be tempted inside by the drag hostesses at the door. Once inside you’ll find that a curtain reveals comfortable booths and a black padded bar with beautiful lampshades above it. The DJ is a flamboyant drag queen, whose deliberately cheesy music attracts not only Liverpool’s gay community, but also hordes of local girls with boyfriends in tow. The atmosphere is very friendly and so are the staff. It’s a great place for an unpretentious night of fun and cocktails.
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Masquerade
10 Cumberland Street Liverpool L1 6BU Tel. 0151 236 7786 A longstanding feature of Liverpool’s gay scene, Masquerade is the perfect place to start an evening of fun and frolics. DJs and drag hostesses will do their very best to help your evening go off with a bang, and it’s definitely the sort of place that will appeal if you like a down-to-earth bar with friendly staff and good banter.
often feature different guest DJs alongside their popular residents.
G-Bar
1-3 Eberle Street Liverpool L2 2AG Tel. 0151 236 4416 Opposite Garlands, G-Bar offers something for everyone with a wide variety of music being played there. It has developed a reputation in the city as the original and best after hours club in Liverpool.
Garlands
The Poste House
If you like your clubs loud, proud and disgracefully naughty, this is the one for you. The door policy tends to favour glam rather than exclusively designer labels, which helps keep the atmosphere more fun than posey or intimidating. The music is house, funk, garage and party anthems, with the emphasis on hi energy dancing. Garlands change their nights quite a lot and
Puzzle Bar
8-10 Eberle Street Liverpool L2 2AG Tel. 0151 236 3307
23 Cumberland Street Liverpool L1 6BU Tel. 0151 236 4130 A tiny pub, full of life and with a very cosmopolitan clientele. The younger crowd tend to be upstairs, while the older regulars prop up the downstairs bar. You’ll always find someone to talk to here, as the place is too small to ever be on your own. 25 Stanley Street Liverpool L1 6AA Tel. 0151 236 6011 An intimate bar, run by Cassie & Becky, two ex-bartenders from Masquerade, Puzzle Bar shows a warm welcome to anyone who can ‘Be Nice Or Leave’ as the sign above the bar clearly says.
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CLUB NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT
CLUB NIGHTS Friction
33-45 Parr Street Liverpool L1 4JN Tel. 0151 707 1050 First Thursday Of Every Month: Free Entry Will Sergeant, guitarist of Echo and the Bunnymen and original Liverpudlian post punk rocker presents his psych-infused DJ sets at Friction on the first Thursday of the month at the hidden gem that is 33-45 Parr Street.
Medication
Wolstenholme Square Liverpool L1 4JJ Tel. 0151 709 1161 Every Wednesday During Term Time Medication is one of the UK’s biggest student nights, taking place every Wednesday at Nation (the home of the world famous Cream) in Liverpool during term time.
Indiecation
Le Bateau 62 Duke Street Liverpool L1 5AA Tel. 0151 709 6508 Every Friday “Liverpool’s premier weekly indie night”. For students bored of the typical club-land sounds two floors of indie tunes ranging from Joy Division to Kings of Leon and a friendly atmosphere all make for a great night out.
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GETTING HOME ENTERTAINMENT
GETTING HOME Before you go out it’s worth giving some thought to how you’re going to get home. Sounds boring but a bit of forward planning could help you avoid being stuck in town. How ever you do decide to get home if you are going alone, or with a stranger, always make sure someone knows where you are going.
Walking Use your common sense. Do you know the way? Is it a reasonable distance to walk? Don’t forget it will take longer once you’ve got a few drinks inside you. Remember what your Nan told you about wrapping up warm especially walking home in winter. A pair of skinny jeans, some PE pumps and a tight fitting t-shirt will offer little protection from the cold. We all feel a bit braver after a skinful and the quick route through the park or down that alleyway can often seem tempting. It’s not worth it. Alcohol will slow your reactions if you do need to fend off any unwelcome attention. Stick to well lit paths and close to main roads.
Getting A Lift Someone volunteering to be the designated driver is great, so long as they stick to the deal. If you are in any doubt that they are sober don’t get in the car-no matter how tempting that lift is. If they are sober great, get in and try to put yourself in their shoes. Imagine how you would feel driving a bunch of your hammered mates around, bouncing in their seats and demanding you turn the radio up because they “f***ing love this one!”. A bit of empathy might help you behave like a more reasonable person. If someone offers you a lift who you don’t know, say no. You might be stuck and just want to get home but there are taxi ranks open all night. If you’re tempted just try to imagine any sensible reason why a normal person might want to drive around town at night offering people lifts. See, you can’t.
Buses It sounds obvious but make sure you check the number of the bus before you get on. You don’t want to get dropped in the middle of nowhere. It’s worth checking »
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GETTING HOME » before you go out that the bus you get into town also operates at night. If not you might need to plan an alternate route.
Taxis The only kind of taxi it is legal to pick up at the roadside are black cabs. Mini cabs are only insured to carry you if you book first. If you get into a black cab alone or you put your mate into a cab by themselves, make sure you take down the driver’s number. This will be on their badge on the glass divider in the taxi. Make sure the driver knows you are doing this, any responsible driver will welcome it as a good idea.
When You Get Home It’s sometimes tempting to tell everyone to come back to your place and continue the night there, with a few crates and a tube of pringles. This is often a great way of ending the evening, but it can sometimes lead to unforseen problems. For example, you might be living in shared accommodation and your new housemates might not appreciate being woken up at three in the morning by a friend of a friend of the bloke who works in the all night garage, looking for the toilet. Similarly, you might
think you’re all friends and having a whale of a time until you wake up and find someone’s iPhone has gone home with that lad that nobody recognised. Take a sensible approach to these impromptu after-parties and you’ll have a lot of cheap fun. But just remember that it’s still going to be your house in the morning, and you’ll regret letting everyone use your rare white label records as frisbees and play “let’s see who can kick the biggest hole in the front door”.
Cooking Are you Keith Floyd? No. So why not leave the cooking until you are sober and either go to bed a bit hungry (it won’t kill you) or stop on the way home for a takeaway. It’s going to be far safer than trying to negotiate a chip pan after a night on the mojitos. Realistically if you want to avoid a massive hangover, and an ever expanding waistline, you should avoid late night takeaways altogether. Just have a glass of water and a couple of paracetamol as a precautionary measure and get yourself tucked up in bed. There’ll be plenty of time to work out if it was all worth it in the morning. Zoë Byrne
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Envi Liverpool, 17-21 Fleet Street, Concert Square, Liverpool L1 4AR
Tel. 0151 709 3498 Website. www.enviliverpool.com Join us on Facebook "Envi Liverpool"
“Liverpool’s Best Kept Secret” LIVERPOOL ECHO MAY 2009
“One of the UK’s top 50 bars” THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE 2009 Open since December 2008 STUDIO2 is one of Liverpool’s finest venues. This is the studio where COLDPLAY, TAKE THAT, STEREOPHONICS, ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN, THE SMITHS, DIANA ROSS and ELBOW have recorded STUDIO2 is open daily from 8am till late serving breakfast, lunch & snacks. Friendly staff & prices, chilled and safe atmosphere at all times! STUDIO2 33-45 PARR STREET LIVERPOOL L1 4JN Tel. 0151 707 1050
CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
CULTURE Music, Theatre , Cinema & Art Music is part of the fabric that makes up Merseyside. Everyone you meet is either in a band or is friends with a band. It’s no surprise then that the Guinness Book of Records described Liverpool quite rightly as the ‘Capital of Pop’. I think there is something in the water, and believe it or not, there was life after The Beatles in Merseyside. One of the best music venues in the city (and probably the country) is the Royal Philharmonic Hall on Hope Street. Liverpool also has some great music festivals, such as Africa Oyé and The Mathew Street Festival. These provide great opportunities for locals, tourists and students like you to come
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together and hang out in the sunshine, listening to some great music and generally leaving all your cares behind. If it’s cinema you’re after then you’re in the right place. We have a brand new multiscreen cinema in LIverpool 1, a multimedia arts complex at FACT, on Wood Street, and a few independent cinemas too, such as the Crosby Plaza - run by volunteers as a charity and showing some great art-house films. Liverpool is home to several great theatres too. The Playhouse, Everyman, Empire and Unity all cater for very different audiences, so whether it’s panto or Pinter that floats your boat you’ll definitely find something to go and enjoy.
Culture Vultures: Take a seat in one of Liverpool’s fantastic theatres, and concert venues and enjoy a bit of live entertainment.
MUSIC VENUES ENTERTAINMENT
21st Century Gigging: The new Echo Arena has hosted some of the World’s biggest acts, from Beyoncé to Morrissey.
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MUSIC VENUES The Royal Philharmonic Hall
Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BP Tel. 0151 709 3789 Home of the famous Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (OK, you might have guessed that), this is the venue for classical and world music. Housed in an elaborate art deco building the company prides itself on taking“an imaginative approach to programming which has seen the orchestra collaborating with an eclectic range of artists from Sir Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Toumani Diabaté, to accompanying the City’s best pub singers in concert”. You will be well catered for if you’re looking for after show food and drink too, with a wide range of pubs and restaurants right on the Phil’s doorstep.
Echo Arena
Kings Dock Liverpool L3 4FP Tel. 0844 8000 400 Although only opened in 2008 it’s difficult to remember a time before
the Echo Arena came to grace the Liverpool waterfront. A legacy of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture and the first port of call (excuse the pun) for all mega stars playing in Liverpool, the arena offers all you would expect from a venue of its size and magnitude. The 10,600 seat arena also boasts a 1600 space car park, bike racks and a drop-off point making it simple however you travel there.
O2 Academy
11-13 Hotham Street Liverpool L3 5UF Tel. 0844 477 2000 This 19th Century former warehouse has fast become one of the major players in the live music circuit attracting internationally acclaimed artists including, in recent times, local boys Gomez and The Real People. Further contributing to the Liverpool music scene the Academy also hosts regular club nights to suit most musical tastes.
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SMALLER GIGS ENTERTAINMENT
The Next Big Thing: Zanzibar is the place to see the big bands of tomorrow in an intimate city centre venue.
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SMALLER GIGS The Picket
61 Jordan Street Liverpool L1 0BW Tel. 0151 708 6789 Since opening at its new location The Picket has presented Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, Billy Bragg, The Mighty Diamonds, The Wombats, RZA, Ladytron, The Rascals, Damien Dempsey, Ian McNabb, John Peel Memorial Concerts, Dry Bar gigs for Liverpool’s young musicians and bands, and events by mUmU, Circus, Chibuku, Carnival and Quadrant Park DJ’s. The Picket regularly promotes benefit concerts for local and national community organisations to assist with fundraising and awareness.
Zanzibar
43 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4AZ Tel. 0151 707 0633 Tucked away on Seel Street and easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, this relatively small venue is one of the best gig venues in the city. Playing host to touring bands, and giving opportunities to unsigned bands too, you may well
stumble upon the next big thing. The venue holds about 300 people and the layout means you’re never far from the stage or the bar. Hot and sweaty but worth it to see up and coming talent.
Masque Venue
90 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BH Tel. 0151 707 6171 The Masque is quite a small live venue but hosts some huge nights, including Chibuku, Circus, Generate and Slide. DJ Yousef keeps the punters on the floor, with guest DJs and cool bands.
St Bride’s Church
Percy Street Liverpool L8 8LT Tel. 0151 475 8888 This forward thinking, practising church which has opened its doors to the Liverpool music community makes for an interesting and unusual venue. There are a number of local bands who use the church as rehearsal space and put on gigs in this 1830’s building. The Church continues to offer rehearsal space for hire and this looks like one venue which will continue to develop over time.
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LOCAL BANDS ENTERTAINMENT
We Walk in Straight Lines www.myspace.com/ wewalkinstraight lines Sound Of Guns www.myspace.com/ soundofguns Ragz www.myspace.com/ ragzmusic Dead Cities www.myspace.com/ deadcitiesband Misery Guts www.myspace.com/ miserygutsmusic Fly With Vampires www.myspace.com/ flywithvampires Atlantic Massey www.myspace.com/ atlanticmassey 148
There are so many local bands playing in the smaller venues all over the city that it would be impossible to list them all. Here are just a handful of our favourites for you to look out for.
We Walk In Straight Lines An awkward, world-weary head f**k of excess baggage, mood swings and paranoia. Their self-titled EP is a furious smorgasbord of hollow vindication played out to an imaginary menagerie of morbidly obese cats and sapless bullfrogs. Their sound takes in echoes of the Walkmen, the National and Husker Du. Listen to them struggle. Validate it. Hold it.
Sound Of Guns This band have developed a killer reputation for their infectious energy and electrifying live shows and have a growing army of fans all over the UK. They have received huge support from Âť
LOCAL BANDS » some of the biggest names in the industry. Their debut EP ‘Elementary of Youth’ was Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’ on his Radio 1 show, with Greg James at Radio 1 and Steve Harris at XFM both selecting the latest single ‘Architects’ as their ‘Single Of The Week’. ‘Architects’ also made it onto the Radio 1 Playlist. Sound Of Guns have been tipped for great things in the press from the likes of NME, Q, The Guardian, Rocksound and The Fly.
Ragz Ragz is a singer-songwriter hailing from Norway, possessing a sweet, soaring voice known to captivate and move her audiences. Having recently supported a host of fine acts including Wild Beasts, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, Ragz weaves intricate melodies with her emotive vocal, at times unconventional, yet rooted in the traditions of classic song-writing. Look out for her upcoming tour.
Dead Cities Armed with beautifully understated, thoughtfully crafted songs, Dead Cities have earned themselves a name as one of
the most interesting bands in Liverpool. Having won over a string of high profile supporters, they’ve just returned from a successful mini tour of Norway, and plan to have their debut long player out by the end of the year.
Misery Guts Having grown in stature over the last couple of years, Misery Guts are building on their already quite impressive achievements, including a string of high profile supports, an introduction from BBC 6music’s Tom Robinson and some glowing reviews from Liverpool’s music press and beyond – the band are truly hitting their stride.
Fly With Vampires Fly With Vampires’ melody driven power-pop blends 3-way Fleet Foxes harmonies with the buzzing fervor of The Futureheads, and their electrifying live shows are causing a right old fuss. One of the city’s best emerging bands, they made their mark in at Sound City Festival this year and tongues have been wagging ever since. Summer slots at Europen festivals has seen their fanbase growing far and wide. Definitely ones to watch.
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LOCAL BANDS ENTERTAINMENT
LOCAL BANDS
Atlantic Massey This enigmatic band are rooted in the traditions of Irish literature and music, representing both sides of the Atlantic. A clash of good old fashioned romance with a nod to the beat generation’s sensibility and a healthy dose of 21st Century cynicism. their sound is an amalgamation of folk, rock, traditional Irish, and blues - at times stripped back, raw and eloquent; effortlessly moving to a jovial big band feel. Musically refreshing, with a dark and seedy underbelly... Intriguing and compelling narratives sit side by side with beat, stomp and infectious melodies.
Atlantic Massey at The Palm House, Sefton Park Photograph courtesy of Magnus Blikeng www.mabvision.com twitter.com/mblikeng
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FESTIVALS ENTERTAINMENT
Brouhaha: When the festival season begins, everyone digs out that old favourite outfit from the back of the wardrobe.
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FESTIVALS Africa Oyé
Sefton Park Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture and takes place annually in Liverpool. Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength-to-strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.
Mathew Street Music Festival
Mathew Street The annual celebration of one of the city’s cultural cornerstones – music. This free two day event will be 18 years old in 2010, with over 80 hours of live outdoor music; it celebrates cover, original and new bands which attract local people and guests from all over Europe. Held over the August bank holiday weekend in Liverpool City Centre, six outdoor stages showcase live music from 11am until 6pm. Bands perform from as far as USA, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden and Scotland.
Brouhaha
Street Festival The Liverpool International Street Festival kicks off with a truly amazing carnival costume and music performance. A visual canvas of cultural celebrations the opening ceremony will be held Liverpool’s Contemporary Urban Centre, hosting performances from all 23 international companies taking part in this year’s festival plus local arts engagement work developed within outreach contexts.
Homotopia
Various Venues Homotopia presents a high quality annual festival of gay culture every November, with trailblazers throughout the year. They also have a groundbreaking social justice and youth engagement programme which is all year round. The festival programmes and commissions a wide variety of art & artists, including a Grand Vogue Ball and appearances from such luminaries as Armistead Maupin & Sarah Waters.
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THEATRES ENTERTAINMENT
Everyman
5-11 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BH Tel. 0151 709 4776 This exciting and vibrant venue always has a buzz about it, from the excellent bar and bistro downstairs to the theatre upstairs. Showing an eclectic mix of productions from the hard hitting to the family friendly this theatre is all about inclusion. They have a number of special offers, discounts and nights most notably ‘a night less ordinary’ where 14-26 year olds can pre book free tickets to certain shows. With a huge regeneration project in motion the future looks bright for this jewel in Liverpool’s crown.
Empire
Lime Street Liverpool L1 1JE Tel. 0844 847 2525 The largest 2 tier theatre in the country, The Empire is known for its gigantic productions mainly of a musical nature. In recent years it has played host to an array of dazzling shows including Hairspray, The Rocky Horror show and The Sound of music.
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THEATRES Playhouse
Williamson Square Liverpool L1 1EL Tel. 0151 708 3700 With great names such as Robert Donat, Michael Redgrave, Rachel Kempson, John Thaw, Anthony Hopkins, Noel Coward, to name but a few, treading the boards, this Grade II listed theatre has an illustrious history. Things looked gloomy when the theatre closed for a brief spell in the 1990’s however since reopening under the same management company as The Everyman, The Playhouse has built a strong reputation for new productions, mainly of old plays.
Unity
1 Hope Place Liverpool L1 9BG Tel. 0151 709 4988 Renowned for showing“innovative, high quality work in a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere”, the Unity has remained steadfastly determined to offer opportunities to new writers and companies, showing contemporary work alongside classics. Willing to take risks and be experimental, the
Unity has a large following and is a firm favourite in the city.
Royal Court
1 Roe Street Liverpool L1 1HL Tel. 0870 787 1866 The Royal Court first opened in 1826 as Cookes New Circus and underwent several name changes before acquiring its current moniker in 1881. Since then it has largely operated as a theatre venue, apart from a brief spell as a rock venue in the 1990’s (yes, I really did say rock venue). It was considered one of the premium touring venues of Liverpool until the 1970’s and according to the website, during this period, “Vivien Leigh, John Gielgud, Lawrence Olivier, Yul Brynner, Margot Fonteyn, Ken Dodd and Ralph Richardson are just some of the names that appeared on stage”. Must have been one hell of a night! Over the last three years the theatre has seen a real renaissance and now prides itself of showing quality theatre produced in Liverpool, starring Liverpool actors, by Liverpool writers.
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COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Hot Water
Envi 17-21 Fleet St Liverpool L1 4AR Tel. 0151 709 3498 There’s a new comdey venue in town and it’s not where you’d expect. Envi, on Fleet Street, known more for its club nights and live sport, is running regular open mike comedy nights every Sunday. ‘Hot Water’ is ideal if you’re looking for a night of great comedy without the big ticket price (it’s just £3.oo on the door). There are also keenly priced drinks promotions for anyone wanting to chip in for a pitcher of beer. There’s a resident compere who is very funny and October 4th sees a ‘Best Of The Best’ night, so even if the usual open mike acts make you wince with embarrassment you should be guaranteed a good laugh at one of those selected for a repeat performance.
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LIVE COMEDY Laughterhouse The Slaughterhouse 13-15 Fenwick Street, L2 7LS Tel. 0151 231 6881 Lenny’s Bar & Smoke Grill 7-11 Sir Thomas Street, L1 6BW Tel. 0151 227 1079 Starting out as a comedy night at The Slaughterhouse on Fenwick Street, its popularity meant a rapid expansion and Laughterhouse now operates every Friday and Saturday across two venues. The second venue, Liverpool’s only purpose built comedy club, is located in the basement of Lenny’s Bar and Smoke Grill on Sir Thomas Street. Two headline acts play every Friday and Saturday night, performing at both venues on each of the two nights.
Rawhide
Royal Court Theatre 1 Roe Street Liverpool L1 1HL Tel. 0870 787 1866 Rawhide comedy is a well established Liverpool favourite. In recent years Rawhide has played host to the likes of Peter Kay, Johnny Vegas, Dara O’Briain and Jimmy Carr on their way to the
top. Now running every Friday and Saturday in the Downstairs Bar at Royal Court Liverpool you can be entertained in one of Liverpool’s finest original art deco bars.
Rawhide Raw
Baa Bar 7 Myrtle Street, L7 7DN Tel. 0151 707 0610 Only the bravest or most deluded newcomers to the circuit need apply. This open mic night, complete with clapometer and a baying crowd challenges budding stand ups to beat the gong to complete their set. You could witness the beginnings of the next big name in comedy, or not. Every Tuesday night at The Baa Bar on Myrtle Street.
Comedy Central
Baby Blue Albert Dock, L3 4AE Tel. 0151 702 5831 Beneath the Blue Bar & Grill lies Baby Blue, a beautiful 19th Century basement vault, home to Comedy Central. The venue showcases local and international comedians every Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of the Albert Dock’s diverse range of attractions.
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CINEMAS ENTERTAINMENT Great Cinema: The FACT Centre offers a wide range of entertainment, from Hollywood blockbusters to cool European indie films.
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CINEMAS FACT
88 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4DQ Tel. 0151 707 4444 A modern cinema for the moderna age, FACT shows a range of mainstream and more offbeat films in a contemporary setting, with the smallest of the screens containing sofas rather than traditional cinema seats. The building also houses a bar, where you can buy drinks to take in to the screening, a café and an art gallery. A typically inclusive Liverpool outlook means you can choose between the likes of a foreign subtitled film or Sex and the City under the same roof.
Odeon Liverpool 1
14 Paradise Street Liverpool L1 8JF Tel. 0871 22 44 007 The king of the multiplex spread over three floors and housing eighteen screens this giant has everything a modern cinema can offer. All the new releases are there and they even have an Imax screen. For a more upmarket experience there’s an upstairs ‘gallery’ - a swanky cinema with comfier seating and its own bar. At £16 a ticket (including refreshments) this is a pricier affair than the regular
screens downstairs - perfect for a special occasion.
Crosby Plaza
13 Crosby Road North Waterloo, Liverpool L22 0LD Tel. 0151 474 4076 Walking in to this community cinema, run as a charity by volunteers, is like stepping back in time. From the old fashioned tickets at the single window box office to the refreshments displayed under the glass counter you are taken completely away from the glitz of the multiplex to an altogether more relaxed affair.
Woolton Picture House
Mason Street Liverpool L25 5JH Tel. 0151 428 1919 This is a 1920s gem retaining all the old-fashioned glamour of the art deco period in which it was built. The single screen cinema provides movie goers with a cosy and intimate experience often lost in the larger multiplexes. Showing all the latest releases this is the perfect place to unwind in comfort and relive a bygone era where small local cinemas were the standard.
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GALLERIES ENTERTAINMENT
GALLERIES FACT
88 Wood Street Liverpool L1 4DQ Tel. 0151 707 4444 FACT is the UK’s leading agency for the exhibition, support and development of artists’ film, video and new media projects as well as the force behind the major new centre for film, art and creative technology, in Liverpool. A unique blend of innovative technology and artistic ideal, FACT, as much an interactive experience as it is a visual one, is very much an institution of the future.
Walker Art Gallery
William Brown Street Liverpool L3 Tel. 0151 478 4199 Discover over six centuries of art at the national gallery of the North. The Walker holds one of the finest collections of fine and decorative art in Europe. It had inspired and delighted visitors for over 120 years. The gallery has recently undergone a major 4.3 million refurbishment programme. These improvements, part of the National Museums of Liverpool Into the Future project, include new special exhibition
galleries to display touring shows of national and international importance, an extensive rehang of the permanent collection displaying many works not seen for decades, more 20th century and contemporary works on display to better reflect the breadth of the collection, the refurbishment of the 17th century European galleries and a new Craft and Design gallery of decorative arts. So now is the ideal time to visit the Walker and find your new favourite work of art.
Tate Liverpool
Albert Dock Complex Liverpool L69 Tel. 0151 702 7400 The largest gallery of modern art in the country outside London, over 6 million visitors have passed through its doors since opening more than 10 years ago.
Bluecoat Centre
School Lane Liverpool L1 Tel. 0151 709 5297 The Bluecoat Arts Centre is a popular tourist attraction in the heart of the city centre. There is always a full and varied programme of activity,
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YOUR HOME ACCOMMODATION
YOUR HOME We estimate that there are 7000 private landlords offering accommodation in Liverpool. Who do you choose to rent from and how can you make contact with them? Where do you begin looking? What should you look for? For students, there are 2 places we suggest you begin with: Liverpool Student Homes’ website and Liverpool City Council’s student Accredited Landlord list. Liverpool Student Homes is the official accommodation service for students and is funded by your University or College. www. studentpad.co.uk/liverpool All landlords who advertise through Liverpool Student Homes have signed up to a code of practice. Liverpool City Council runs a voluntary Landlord Accreditation Scheme known as “CLASS”. If you live in CLASS accommodation, it means that your home provides decent and safe living conditions. This is what we call a “ Healthy Home”. www.liverpool.gov.uk/ Housing/Private_housing/index. asp Remember: Healthier homes, Healthier lives. The condition of
your home plays a big part in your health & well-being. The property you rent must be free from avoidable hazards. Would you know what the top five hazards are? They are: Excess Cold; Damp & Mould; Falling on Stairs; Falling on Level Surfaces and Flames and Hot Surfaces. If your Landlord takes a deposit from you – make sure it is protected. A landlord is required to give you information within 14 days of receiving your deposit as to where it is held. If a landlord fails to protect your deposit in one of the statutory schemes, the tenant may seek an order from the court and this may result in compensation. Avoid signing up to a tenancy without viewing the property first. Remember, a tenancy agreement is a legally binding document. Having an inventory (sometimes called a statement of condition) helps to protect the landlord and tenant and can provide evidence to prove the condition of a property at the time it is let. An inventory should be agreed with the tenant before they move in and a separate list held by each party.
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Liverpool
Healthy Homes Healthier homes, Healthier lives
The condition of your home plays a big part in your health & well-being. Is your health suffering due to the condition of your home? Excess Cold
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HEALTHY HOMES Living in a student house doesn’t mean that you have to be living in disrepair. You should be aware that there are certain standards that your landlord has to maintain. Here are a few hazards that can occur in your house. If you notice any of these, or similar hazards, Healthy Homes can assist you in getting your landlord to improve the quality of your housing conditions.
Excess Cold Is your house warm enough? If your rooms fall below 16 degrees celsius than its not warm enough and your home may need to be insulated.
Damp & Mould Have you noticed black markings on your walls? This could be a sign of damp and mould which can lead to various illnesses.
Falling on Stairs
Carpet loose on your stairs, in need of repair? Falling on stairs is one of the most common accidents with most severe injuries.
Falling on Level Surfaces Have you noticed that floors in your home are uneven or there are loose wires causing you to trip. This can cause you to fall and result in serious injury.
Flames & Hot Surfaces Is your cooker positioned close to a door? If it is you should have this checked as the door opening and closing is a potential hazard. 12,000 people visit A & E with scalds and burns every year.
Visit www.liverpool. gov.uk/healthy homes or call 0151 225 4864 167
HOME SECURITY ACCOMMODATION
HOME SECURITY It’s a sad, though not entirely surprising, fact that student homes are some of the commonest targets for burglars. Here’s how to make sure yours isn’t one of them. Put simply, your home represents far richer pickings than a suburban family house even though you have less actual money. Students own more small, expensive and easily sold consumer items like phones, MP3 players, cameras and laptops and a student house of five is likely to contain five of each.
If you’re careful you won’t be an easy target. For a start, you don’t have to bring everything to your new dwelling – leave some stuff behind. Keeping windows and doors secure is an absolute must. In 3 out of 10 burglaries, thieves don’t have to use force, they
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get in through an open door or window. If you live in halls lock your door whenever you leave your room, even if you’re only going down the corridor.
It doesn’t take long to run in and pick up a mobile phone or MP3 player. If you live on the ground floor of student halls you have to be extra careful about windows, they might not have been planning a burglary but anyone walking past can casually climb in and help themselves to your stuff even if you’ve just gone to the kitchen for a snack. Friends and acquaintances will be coming and going at all hours of the day so don’t forget to check that all doors and windows are shut and locked, especially if you have been drinking or are going out. If your accommodation has shared access, be careful who you let in to the communal areas and always be wary of people following you in. Never let strangers in without checking
they are who they say they are, reputable trades people will carry ID and won’t mind being asked to show it. If you are in any doubt, don’t let them in.
When renting a house check the locks before you move in. Pay equal attention to both front and back doors. A high percentage of break-ins are through back doors as they are often less secure.If you aren’t totally confident in their security, you’re within your rights to ask your landlord to install some deadbolts. Most insurance companies specify that, to make a successful claim, you must have a lock on your bedroom door, even if you are in a shared house. If you don’t have internal locks or adequate security, tell your landlord – you are entitled to decent home security. If you have outside space make sure fences and gates are secure before you move in. Keep
expensive stuff out of sight and shut your curtains when you go out. If you buy new expensive items break the packaging down and take it to the tip, don’t leave it in or by your bin and advertise to potential thieves. If you are buying expensive equipment make a note of serial numbers and keep receipts in case you need to make a claim. Expensive or valuable items should be kept well hidden in a safe place if you don’t want to risk losing them. If there are alleyways to the rear of your property make sure they are kept locked. You need to take extra care during holidays as student areas are often targeted during these times. If you can, take all of your valuables home with you and leave as little as possible in the house. It’s also worth leaving lights or a radio on a timer so it seems like you are in. Finally, always make sure your possessions are insured. If the worst happens you’ll need to replace your stuff. Many insurance companies offer student rates so shop around.
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EMERGENCY PLANNING ACCOMMODATION
EMERGENCY PLANNING Emergency Planning Starts At Home A household emergency plan is an excellent way to prepare yourself, and your home in case of emergencies. A household emergency plan is something which the entire household should discuss and be aware of. There is not a right or wrong way of preparing a household emergency plan, but here are few points for consideration: Think about the sorts of emergencies that you could encounter - i.e. a major power cut. Think about how an emergency could change your daily routine. Agree on alternative meeting points in case you can’t get back home.
Go In, Stay In, Tune In Go In, Stay In, Tune In is recognised as being the best general advice to give to people in the middle of most emergencies.
Go In Wait inside until told otherwise and the all clear has been given
Stay In Keep the windows and doors closed and stay calm, wait for more information.
Tune In Listen to local radio and television for updates and information.
Stock Up By simply keeping some basic provisions - enough to meet your household needs for at least 3 days - you can make yourself better prepared to face most emergencies. The following items should be on your household emergency supplies list: Radio (battery or wind-up). Torch (battery or wind-up). Spare batteries. Bottled water.
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Personal medication. First aid kit. Tinned/long-life food. Tin opener. Camping stove. Candles. Matches. Blankets/sleeping bags. Ensure that you have the appropriate household insurance, and that important documents are kept in a secure place - e.g. safe from fire and flood. Remember if you, or a member of your household have a medical condition which requires the permanent supply of a specific utility - i.e. electricity for dialysis purposes - you can contact the relevant utility company and register your special requirements.
problem with your property supply. Check the trip switch near the fuse box or meter in your house. Has it flicked down? Turn off all electrical equipment such as room heaters,ovens, computer equipment, tv, etc. Keep your freezer shut. Food should stay frozen for 12 hours. Do you have health related equipment which requipes electricity. Can it work on a battery?
Loss Of Power
A good idea is to keep some key essentials in an easy to carry bag, in an accessible place, ready to go when you have to. Here are just some things you could put in your bag: Passports, driving licences, emergency contact list etc. Personal medication. Battery/wind-up torch/radio.
In an emergency, your gas, electricity, or water should keep you informed of any service disruptions. In addition to the general advice given so far about being prepared here are a few things to think about in case of a power cut. Have your neighbours lost power and have the street lights gone out, too? If not it may be just a
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Listen to local radio to get updates on the situation: Radio Merseyside 95.8FM Radio City 96.7FM Juice FM 107.6FM
If You Have To Evacuate Your Home Remember Your ‘Grab & Go’ Bag!
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First aid kit. Mobile phone/charger. Money & cash cards. Toiletries. Glasses/contact lenses. Spare keys.
injured and unable to tell them? Simply storing family or friends details in your mobile phone, or carrying them in your purse or wallet, will help the emergency services contact the people that matter to you.
In Your Car
Put Your Emergency Numbers In Your Mobile Phone
In case you experience a breakdown or get stuck in a traffic jam - all year round the following items should be kept in your car: Bottled water. Long-life snacks. First Aid Kit. Battery / wind- up torch. Battery / wind-up radio. Mobile phone in car charger. A list of ‘In Case of Emergencies’(ICE) telephone numbers. In the winter you should also keep the following in your car:Blankets. Waterproof clothing/footwear. Winter clothes (gloves, socks). Shovel.
In Case of Emergency (ICE) If you were involved in an accident, would the emergency services know who to contact if you are
ICE stands for‘In Case of Emergency’ and it’s what the emergency services will be looking for if you are involved in an accident. In your mobile phone address book, simply add the letters ICE in front of the name of the person you would want to be contacted. If you want to have more than one ICE partner save them as ICE1, ICE2 etc. No mobile phone? Just keep the same ICE information in your wallet or purse.
And Don’t Forget …. Make sure that the person whose name/number you are using knows that they are your ICE partner. Ensure that your ICE partner has a list of people to contact on your behalf. Make your ICE partner aware of any specific medical requirements.
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LANDLORDS If you’re living in a house rather than halls, you’ll need to deal with your landlord semi-regularly.
The house you live in is a business and they’re entitled to throw you and your belongings on the street if you mess them around with paying what you owe. He/she might not be a particularly charming person and won’t care if this is your first time away from home. Find out as quickly as possible whether or not they live in the UK – it’s becoming more common for ‘expats’ to have a middleman collect rent from homes without addressing problems and breakages.
Remember that your relationship goes both ways – you pay rent, they keep the house in working order.
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CASH
Burning a hole in your pocket?: Take our advice and try not to spend all your student loan in one shop.
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY For many of you, coming to University may be the first time you’ve been completely responsible for your own finances. While it might seem like an exciting prospect, to be able to decide what you spend and where, it’s also something you need to get right to avoid getting in to trouble. When you leave University, the last things you need when you’re starting out in your first job are huge debts hanging over you. This section will talk you through how to make the most of your money When you open a student bank account don’t be swayed by exciting free gifts. Small overdraft fees are much more valuable to you. Most banks will offer students interest free overdrafts, so if you can stay within the limit you can use your overdraft without being charged. If yours doesn’t it may be time to see if you can change banks. Don’t be tempted to think that you will be able to open loads of
accounts and take the best bits from each. You will need to pay any funding you get, i.e. your student loan in every month and the bank can close your account if you don’t.
In order to make the most of your money you will need to budget to work out how much you have coming in and going out each month. One way of doing this is using UNIAID’s online calculator http:// www.studentcalculator.org.uk/. UNIAID is a charity set up to offer advice and support to young people and their website http:// www.brightsideuniaid.org/ also contains some useful advice for students about finance. Your major outgoings will be tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses. Living expenses will include: insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, travel, books and »
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“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.�
Henry David Thoreau
Volunteering one off events long term projects international volunteering placements work with a charity charity fundraising community volunteering community reps abseil, run and more for charity local, national and international charities links with Barnado’s & British Trust Conservation Volunteers
Or maybe you have an idea?
volunteeringliverpool.org
» stationery. Once you’ve accounted for all of these things you might find you don’t have much left over which is when you might consider getting a job. You need to make sure you pay your rent as soon as your student loan arrives so you know how much you have left. It can be useful to set up direct debits so you don’t have to remember to pay things out.
bargains that will help you avoid living on beans on toast forever.
Top Tips
Don’t use the cash machines that charge you to take out your money. It’s pointless to pay for something you can get for free and could leave you with an amount too small to withdraw next time.
Look for student offers in places such as shops, restaurants, theatres and cinemas. Liverpool has a huge student population and there are lots of businesses who want to encourage you in.
Buy A Travel Card If you’re using public transport a travel card will save you a fortune. It’s also paid for up front so if you have no money you can still get around.
Spend Wisely Only buy the books you really need and look after any books you buy as you can re sell them at the end of your course.
Oops! Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry and remember to look in the reduced or ‘oops’ sections as you can often find real
Get A Job You are less likely to spend money if you’re working and it looks good on your CV if you work while you’re at University.
Traps To Avoid Cash Machines
Store Cards Don’t take out store cards, this is one of the most expensive ways of borrowing money and an easy trap to fall in to.
Credit Cards Avoid taking out credit cards. They are often easy to get as a student but once you start using them you will be paying interest on top of what you spend.
Pace Yourself Your student loan can seem like a lot of money, but it has to last a whole term. You’ll get the money in installments at the beginning of each term, so try to avoid spending it all on day one.
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SCAMS You’ve won the lottery and you didn’t even buy a ticket! Great news, your name has come up on the European lottery system. You’ve won £873,621 and you didn’t even have to buy a ticket - their system just picks European nationals at random how fortunate. Just one snag, they have to do various security and identification checks and this costs £475, a small price to pay to win so much. Yeah right! The odds on winning the UK lottery are more than 14 million to one and that’s if you buy a ticket - even higher odds for the Euro lottery. It’s quite simple if you don’t buy a ticket you don’t win. Worldwide, people are scammed every year more than $1 billion to advance fee fraud. Make sure you’re not one of them.
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So you haven’t won the lottery (and probably won’t - even if you do buy a ticket). You haven’t inherited £30 million from some Nigerian Royal family member who just needs your account details to pass on the money. There is no system to give you eight straight winners in horse racing - otherwise the guy trying to sell you the system would just be mortgaging his house and sitting in the bookies every day raking it in. You don’t have to pay when you get a job and no one is really going to give you £50,000 worth of blacked out notes and the chemicals to remove the ink for £1,000, if it was possible they’d remove the ink themselves.
In any situation where you have to give money or your details up front for something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
You may as well throw your money in the Mersey. Fruit machines may seem tempting when you’re down to your last few quid and the bloke before you has just cleaned up, but steer well clear. These machines are programmed to take your money - it’s as simple as that. Quiz machines are not much better. Either they’re made impossible by the amount of consecutive questions you need to get right to win, or the questions become so random that surely no one would know the answers. Fruit machines and quiz machines are definitely a great way to increase your overdraft. 185
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Cheap Chic: Spending ÂŁ30 on an old bike is a great way to minimise your travel expenses and help the environment.
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IT’S NOT ALL SANDALS & FAIR TRADE MUNG BEANS Ethical living can be achieved on a budget. It’s about lessening our impact on the environment and not just about buying fairtrade chocolate. There are simple things that we can all do, such as remembering to take your own bags with you when you go shopping. As a student the benefits of living ethically can also be financial as the more you can reuse the less your impact will be. Use your imagination, you can customise and update clothes by changing the buttons or, if you’re confident with a sewing machine changing the style altogether. You can get some great buttons from market stalls, haberdasheries or even from other garments from charity shops. If you do have a sewing machine you could offer to customise
your friends clothes in exchange for something else,( like tins of spaghetti hoops). Second-hand sewing machines can often be found in charity or junk shops or even in places like Cash Converters. In addition to charity shops, vintage shops and fairs, eBay is also a good place to buy clothes - you can get a real bargain with a last minute bid. Swap clothes. You could organise this between a group of friends, where you all bring clothes you don’t wear anymore and swap. It’s a great excuse to get together with a shared purpose. There are also numerous organised clothes swapping events going on all over the country including Liverpool, where you’ll have a much bigger choice for your new wardrobe. A quick Google search will lead you to them. »
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ETHICAL LIVING » When buying books you need for your course remember that there will be hundreds of students completing their degrees who have these books to sell. Buying second-hand books is cheaper and more ethical so it’s a win win situation. There are a number of second-hand book shops in Liverpool and even some websites designed specifically for students to sell their unwanted books. Use University computers or one at your local library where you can get free internet access or, if you have a laptop, make the most of places with free Wi-Fi. FACT Café on Wood Street is a great place to go and eat cakes whilst checking your emails. Getting around can be expensive so cycling is one option that many people take. It’s worth looking around for a used bike as they can often be picked up cheaply. Ebay is a good place to start but many bike shops sell second hand as well as new and it’s always worth asking. You can also pick up bargain bikes from charity and junk shops. You do need to make sure any bike you buy is roadworthy so take it to a bike shop and have it serviced. You could also try walking! Both of these options will save you a lot of money and you’ll get exercise at
the same time. Buying old furniture is a great way to set up your first home. If you use your imagination you can often create a much more interesting and individual look than if shop on the high street. As with clothes it’s easy to customise furniture. That dark oak table may not suite your taste but a quick sand down and whitewash later and it’s a different piece of furniture. It’s good to have a project and you may even find a hidden talent that will help you to make money by selling on your customised items. When choosing somewhere to live look for smaller accommodation. The rent will be cheaper and you’ll only have space for the things you need. It might encourage you to have a clear out and you could make some money by selling your unwanted items. Less space will also discourage you from buying things you don’t need. A smaller place will also be cheaper to heat. Keep your thermostat low and only put the heating on when you need it. If you do get cold at home, layer up! Lots of layers will keep you warmer than one thick jumper and you can take them off as you warm up. If you get cold in bed, put extra blankets over your duvet.
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SECOND-HAND SHOPS ETHICAL LIVING
Here are some tips to help save money on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
Make sure you turn off lights when you don’t need them on. Shut doors as it will keep the heat in. Unplug electrical items when they are not in use, even on standby they are still using energy. When boiling the kettle, only fill it with the amount of water you need. Wait until you have enough washing for a full load (at a low temperature), rather than throwing in three socks and a pillowcase and putting them on a hot wash. Have a shower instead of a bath it saves water. 192
SECOND-HAND SHOPS Furniture British Heart Foundation 509 West Derby Road Tuebrook L6 4BW Tel. 0844 499 4173 Oxfam 609 Smithdown Road Wavertree Liverpool LI5 5AG Tel. 0151 7336641 T&T furnishings 27 Broad Lane Southdene Kirkby L32 6QA Tel. 0151 546 9974 Chelsea Furniture 118 Linacre Road Litherland Liverpool L21 8JT Tel. 0151 933 9243 Revive Community Friendly Store 116-122 London Rd Liverpool L3 5NL Tel. 0151 709 7703
Swainbanks 320 Upper Parliament Street Liverpool L8 7QL Tel. 0151 708 7166
Clothing 69A 75 Renshaw Street Liverpool L1 2SJ Tel. 0151 708 8873 Quiggins Attique 325, Aigburth Rd Liverpool L17 0BL Tel. 0151 727 3925 Bullet 41 Hardman St Liverpool L1 9AS Tel. 0151 708 5808 Grand Central Hall Renshaw Street Liverpool L1 2SF Vintage Fashion Fair. Last Sunday of every month at: Leaf Tea Shop & Bar 27 Parliament Street Liverpool L8 5RN Tel. 0151 707 7747
The Aladdin’s Cave 431 West Derby Road Liverpool L6 4BL Tel. 0151 260 7902
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Student Survival Guide Old St Lawrence School Westminster Road Liverpool Merseyside L4 3TQ Tel. 0151 933 8282 Web. www.studentsurvivalproject.co.uk Email. info@studentsurvivalproject.co.uk Graphic Design Roy McCarthy Tel. 07939 190 787 Web. www.roymccarthy.com Written by: Anthony Bennett, Stephen Blanche, ZoĂŤ Byrne, Mike Clarke, Roy McCarthy, Dave McTague. Thanks to: Les Bellmon, Barbara Blanche, Magnus Blikeng, Kenny Brew, Josh Burke, Sgt. Barry Downes, Dave Evans, Steve Evans, Paul Finley, Karen Fitzhenry, Blanca Gonzalez, Emma Griffiths, Sue Haimes, Justine Jenkins-Burke, Sandra Johnson, Mandy Kerr, Sheila Kirk, Insp. Stuart Kirk, Wayne Malcolm, Maria McCann, Michelle McLaughlin, Jayne Moore, Insp. Mark Morgan, Farouque Napson, Michael Pickard, Juan Punzano, Taher Qassim, Melissa Raines, Jamie Riley, Alan Roberts, Bill Shepherd, Claire Spencer, Neil Thomas, Ben Towell, Roberto Vivancos, David Whitfield, Christina Williams, Louise Wilson and LJMU Student Communications Group.