Hospice receives generous donation from Barclays

ST. Joseph's Hospice in Thornton has secured a ₤100,000 grant from Barclays as part of its Covid19 Community Aid package. Barclays, which employs over 1,200 people at its nearby Contact Centre at Wavertree Technology Park, in Liverpool, launched the ₤100m Community Aid Package last year to support charities that are helping people and communities that have been impacted by Covid19. At St. Joseph's Hospice, the grant has been used to fund end of life nursing care for patients and compassionate care and support for their families. It has also been used to support staff wellbeing. The funding has come at a crucial time due to the impact that Covid19 has had on its regular fundraising activities and the income generated by its 11 charity shops, which have been closed for large parts of the last year.

Julie Rimmer, Site President at Barclays Liverpool Contact Centre said:- "This crisis has had an unprecedented impact across the UK and we know this is an incredibly challenging time for many in the Liverpool City Region. By reaching those most in need of support, local charities, such as St Joseph's Hospice, have played a vital role in this crisis to date, and no doubt they will do going forward. As a proud member of our community, we are doing everything we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope this partnership will allow many others to access the help they need as this crisis develops."

Mike Parr, chief executive of St. Joseph's Hospice, said:- "Our staff have continued to provide compassionate care to some of the most vulnerable members of our community during this Covid19 crisis and we are continuing to ensure that our patients with complex palliative care needs can access the care they require and deserve. However, as a charity, our income streams have been hit hard and we have suffered a huge cut in the ₤3million we have to raise each year to keep the hospice running. We are incredibly grateful to Barclays for this very generous donation which has made an enormous difference to our patients and their families."
 

Major funding boost for Headbolt Lane Station scheme in Kirkby

METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram's plans for a new Station, at Headbolt Lane, Kirkby, received a welcome boost thanks to an additional ₤66m from the Transforming Cities Fund agreed at the latest Combined Authority meeting. The new Station plans include proposals for around 300 park and ride spaces and a bus interchange with step free access throughout the Station.

The full scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby Station. It would also mean that residents in the Northwood and Tower Hill areas of the Town would be even closer to services on the Merseyrail network. It would see Merseyrail services run into the new Station, as opposed to the current services which run as far as Kirkby. Northern services from Wigan and Manchester would also operate to and from the new 3 Platform Station.

The Station development forms part of the plans to build new rail link to Skelmersdale, which would connect to the Merseyrail network via the Kirkby branch. Merseytravel is continuing to work closely with:- Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Network Rail to support that scheme.

Network Rail is currently progressing the outline design for the project and preparing a full planning application for the necessary approvals. Work is aimed to start later this year and it is planned for the new Station to be operational in 2023. The Station also forms part of the Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy, a 30 year plan, which was updated in 2018.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region, said:- "As Metro Mayor, bringing our communities closer together has been a priority for me. We've already opened the 1st new Station on the Merseyrail network at Maghull North, and now we're cracking on with plans to build another at Headbolt Lane, in Kirkby. Kirkby is somewhere especially close to my heart, and this ₤66m of funding is a real statement of intent for my vision. I want to make it as quick, cheap and easy as possible for people to get around our Region. Transport might look a little different in the Post Pandemic era, but I'm still determined to deliver on my plans for an integrated, London style transport system."

Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added:- "I welcome this additional funding to bring this important scheme forward. It will significantly improve transport choices for our residents as well as improve access to Knowsley Business Park; 1 of the largest employment sites in Europe; and other key services, particularly in the Northwood and Towerhill areas of Kirkby. I look forward to seeing this project progress."

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "We share the vision of a growing, vibrant and more connected City Region with a reduced carbon footprint. Headbolt Lane is another step towards this vision, delivering a new Station for the Merseyrail network with its proposed park and ride spaces and bus interchange. To receive this next stage of funding is an exciting step forwards towards welcoming new passengers onto an expanded network. We are committed to creating a cleaner, greener Merseyrail and to working with our partners to deliver a rail network that serves as many communities within the Liverpool City Region as possible."

Karen Hornby, Head of Stations and customer relationship for Network Rail, said:- "This is a really positive step forward for the proposed new Headbolt Lane Station which we are working closely with the Metro Mayor and our Combined Authority partners to develop. The new Station and reinstatement of two tracks, will mean Merseyrail and Northern can serve a greater number of passengers in the wider Kirkby area. It will mean better connections to Liverpool and Manchester by public transport, bringing greater opportunities for work, study and leisure."