New 'Nightingale Court' opens in Preston

PRESTON North End Football Club has kicked open its doors as a:- 'Nightingale Court' this week, joining the national effort to tackle the impact of Coronavirus on the criminal justice system.

Located just a mile from the City's Combined Court Centre, the stadium will free up space for more jury trials there, by providing 2 additional Courtrooms at the ground. The rooms have been re-configured from their original use as conferencing suites. They will host non-custodial criminal cases and be able to issue fines and community service orders. Any cases deemed serious enough for time in prison will be sent back to a Crown Court for sentencing.

Deepdale is recognised as the world's oldest continuously used Football Stadium; hosting its 1st game in 1878. The ground featured terracing for the 1st time in the 1890's and the venue's record attendance was set at 42,684 in 1938.

The ground has since undergone a multi million pounds redevelopment; featuring banqueting and conference facilities; and now honours its most famous player Sir Tom Finney in both name, and a statue outside the main gates.

Finney, famously never crossed the line when it came to conduct on the pitch, the club will now play a part in dealing with those that fail to uphold his standards off the field as well.

Courts Minister, Lord Wolfson QC, said:- "We are determined to deliver swifter justice for people across Preston and this new Nightingale Court will boost those efforts. This is part of our action to tackle the impact of the Pandemic on our Courts and reduce delays for victims. As a result, the number of outstanding cases in the Magistrates' is falling and the number of trials being listed in the Crown Court increases each week."

A Preston North End FC spokesperson said:- "Given that there has been very limited use of the stadium in the last year or so, it is good to have an activity such as the Courts running from the premises and making good use of what is an iconic building at the heart of the community in Preston."

The move is part of a ₤113m Government investment to support Courts and tribunals during Covid. It includes recruiting 1,600 extra staff, investment in further technology, and on site safety precautions such as plexiglass screens. This is on top of the ₤142m being spent to speed up technological improvements and modernise Courtrooms. The impact of these measures is already being seen:-

► England and Wales are believed to be the 1st comparable major jurisdiction in the world to resume jury trials, with hundreds now being listed each week

► Outstanding cases in the Magistrates' Courts have fallen by around 50,000 since the peak last summer

► While the number of disposals continues to be just under pre-Covid levels, the Crown Court continues to see an increase in the number of trials listed.

► More than 20,000 hearings using remote technology are taking place each week; compared to around 550 in March 2020 – a 4,000% rise.

The decision to keep Courts and tribunals open during the Pandemic has had a tangible impact on people's lives. Over 9,000 Court orders were issued to protect children from:- female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and domestic abuse, between April and September 2020.

Meanwhile, a major ₤40m investment announced recently will go towards specialist help for vulnerable victims; funding helplines and the recruitment of more counsellors. This comes as an extra ₤337m was confirmed in the recent Spending Review to deliver swifter justice and support victims in 2021/22, while ₤76m will further increase capacity in family Courts and tribunals.
 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Invites Bids for UK Community Renewal Fund

THE Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is seeking bids from organisations wishing to access funding from the ₤220m UK Community Renewal Fund.The Government has introduced the fund as it prepares for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in 2022, which will replace EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The intention of the Fund is:- "to support people and communities in need across the UK. It will invest in skills, communities, businesses, and by supporting people into employment." Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been designated as a lead Authority by the UK Government. As a lead Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is responsible for:-

► Issuing the invitation to bid.

► Receiving bids.

► Selecting the bids that will be sent to UK Government for consideration.

► Paying grants to successful projects and managing their performance.

Speaking about the Community Renewal Fund, Frank Rogers, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:- "I'd like to encourage organisations from across the Liverpool City Region to look carefully at the criteria and consider applying to the Community Renewal Fund. Our focus now is on rebuilding our economy as we emerge from the Covid19 Pandemic, so we need to ensure that we wring the last drop from every funding opportunity and submit the best projects we possibly can to this competitive Fund."

The invitation to bid covers the whole of the City Region, but applicants should note that, within the City Region, St Helens is the only place identified amongst the Government's 100 "priority places" across the UK.

As lead Authority, LCRCA will invite, assess, prioritise, and submit bids to Government. Projects should apply for a minimum value of ₤500,000. As 90% of funding available through the UK Community Renewal Fund is revenue funding and only available in 2021/22, projects should be predominantly, or exclusively, revenue based.

Projects must be delivered, and all activity completed, by 31 March 2022. Confidence that funding will be spent within that timeframe will be one of the key criteria in assessment. In selecting the bids that will be forwarded to the UK Government for consideration, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will prioritise those that have the greatest potential to deliver against the following key local growth priorities:-

1. Investment in skills.

2. Investment in local business.

3. Investment in communities and place.

4. Supporting people into employment.

Bids must be submitted by Noon on Monday, 17 May 2021.

The UK Community Renewal Fund is a competitive process and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the UK Government will not enter into discussions with bidders. For more information, visit UK Community Renewal Fund - Liverpool City Region Combined Authority please visit:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK.