Did you see the "extremely reckless" explosive ATM theft in Southport?

MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives are now investigating ATM theft, that took place in Southport, at around 2.10am, on Sunday, 25 October 2020. We are told that Merseyside Police Officers and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services (MFRS) were called to WH Smith, on Chapel Street, Southport, after an alarm was activated. On attendance, it was established that access had been gained to an ATM machine with an explosive device being used. An unknown quantity of cash was stolen. Following the incident Officers remained at the scene for some time to carrying out a forensic search of the area. Anyone with information is asked to contact us via the 101 service, or through Merseyside Police's social media desk on Twitter using the reference:- '20000646390.' You can also pass information via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111 or via their website.  Detective Inspector Tara Denn said:- "This is an extremely reckless way to target any premises, one which puts members of the public who live, work and were passing nearby at risk of serious injury. The damage and inconvenience to the business is also significant. We have shown before in successful operations, Regionally and nationally, that we will bring to justice those identified in such activity. If you saw or heard any suspicious activity in and around Chapel Street at around 2am, or if you live locally and have home CCTV or dashcam, please check and let us know. We will do all in our powers to remove these reckless people from the streets."

Sefton Council is encouraging the Borough's artists to enter the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards

SEFTON Council is encouraging the Borough's artists as well as arts organisations and other community groups to get their nominations in for the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.  Due to be announced in February 2021, the Awards will celebrate Liverpool City Region's thriving culture and creativity, even in the face of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The 2020 Awards will recognise arts and cultural events, and innovation and creative activity, which has taken place within the Liverpool City Region between 1 April 2019 and 12 November 2020. Nominations can be completed online and the closing date for entries is Friday, 13 November 2020.

Nominations for the Awards can include individuals, organisations, businesses, groups or partnerships that have:- "demonstrated outstanding creative achievement through cultural activity at a local, Borough or Liverpool City Region level."

Categories include Artist of the Year, Arts Organisation of the Year, Student Inspiration and special Covid19 Creative Response awards for individuals and organisations. And, there is a Borough of Culture 'Star of the Year' Award to celebrate an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to Sefton's Borough of Culture 20202 celebrations.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council and Culture, Tourism and The Visitor Economy Portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:- "Our Borough has a wealth of individuals and organisations involved in the arts and is a hotbed of creativity. We want to see that reflected in the entry for these prestigious City Region Culture and Creativity Awards. The Awards are for any creative activity that brings people together within their communities. They can be real or virtual and can include voluntary and community based social activity, creative approaches by businesses and researchers and those involved in the creation and delivery of professional arts and cultural events and performances. The Covid19 Pandemic has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives including the arts and our own Borough of Culture 2020 celebrations have been affected, but I have seen huge levels of creativity despite the restrictions and these Awards with the special categories will celebrate that innovation."

Cllr Maher also highlighted the fact that the period covered by the Awards starts from 1 April 2019, before anyone had heard of Covid19.

Cllr Trish Hardy Sefton Council's main Borough of Culture sponsor said:- "These have been unprecedented times that have affected our Borough of Culture celebrations, but we saw an unprecedentedly creative response from everyone involved. When the Covid19 restrictions hit, individuals and organisations behind the planned Borough of Culture 2020 reacted swiftly. They adapted their projects and made them digital so that people could enjoy them and take part in the activities online, through home based activities or even by post. Local people were able to enjoy and take part in online comedy and bingo create an origami squirrel and take part in a photography competition. 'Playing In' packs were delivered to vulnerable families along with food parcels, older people created memory boxes and we are marking the whole year by burying a time capsule. The 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards and particularly the Borough of Culture 'Star of the Year' category, are an ideal way to recognise this adaptability and determination to deliver projects that have helped lift local people's spirits and provided fun things for people of all ages to do."

People can find out more about the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards, the categories and the nominations process at:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK.  Finalists will be announced on Monday, 5 January 2021 and the Liverpool City Region community will be able to vote for their chosen winner for the:- 'People's Choice Award.'  The Awards ceremony, which will be a digital event with presenters still to be announced, will take place on Friday, 19 February 2021.

Nesta's Challenge to support workers in Liverpool impacted by Covid19

NEW research from innovation foundation Nesta reveals that 37% of workers in Liverpool feel their job is less secure than before the Pandemic.

The research, conducted across the UK, found this worry is not just limited to job security. 2 in 5 (40%) workers in Liverpool feel less financially secure than before the Pandemic, while 40% say a 2nd lockdown would send them over the edge financially (compared to the UK average of 32%).

Liverpool and North West England have been put under particular strain due to the current restrictions introduced to curb the spread of Covid19. Most recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the unemployment rate in the Region grew to 4.3% in August 2020, with notable Regional job losses across both the manufacturing and service sectors over Q3, as the Pandemic continues to impact people's jobs and livelihoods.

The economic impact of Covid19 is hitting some groups of society particularly hard, including those in low paid work, younger workers and those in insecure roles, such as gig workers or those on temporary contracts. This lack of job security is particularly worrying as vulnerable workers are also far less likely to have a financial safety net to fall back on.

Dani, who is 31 years old and lives in Preston, used to work as a freelance lighting technician, but found herself with no work and no income in mid March 2020. Having started freelancing only recently, Dani was not entitled to any of the Government's income protection schemes. "I am stressed," she said:- "The money runs out in a few weeks' time and it's trying to keep on top of everything."

Survey results from Nesta also found that:-

►  Only 39% vulnerable workers in Liverpool are confident they would be able to find another job in 3 months if they were made redundant.

►  33% of vulnerable workers in Liverpool say they'd have no prospects at all to find a new job (compared to the UK average of 30%).

►  27% people in Liverpool don't know how they'll pay for Christmas this year and 14% have no money in savings at all.

To help workers impacted by Covid19 find a new job or better cope with the financial consequences of the Pandemic, Nesta launched the ₤2.8m Rapid Recovery Challenge, in September 2020. Supported by the:- JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Money and Pensions Service, the challenge aims to encourage the development and scaling of potential solutions to, ultimately, improve access to jobs, training and financial support for 1 million vulnerable workers in the UK.

Ravi Gurumurthy, Chief Executive of Nesta, comments:- "Covid19 has created a huge economic shock, laying bare and exacerbating pre-existing problems for people on low incomes and in precarious work. Across the UK, millions of people face severe threats to their job security and household finances, both immediately and in the longer term, and we know that low paid workers, people in insecure roles and those under 25 will be hit hardest There is an urgent need to support people at risk of losing their livelihoods and financial security, or who already have, so that millions do not find themselves out of work and out of pocket. I'm looking forward to seeing the range of solutions innovators develop to address these issues and support those whose jobs and finances have been most impacted by the Pandemic."

Nesta is looking for innovative businesses, charities and other organisations in Liverpool and North West England that are currently working on an innovative tool or solution that could improve an individual's access to jobs and money. For more information about the Challenge and how to enter, visit:- RapidRecovery.Challenges.Org Applications are currently open and close on 26 October 2020.

Green Party Backs National Community Energy Campaign

THE Green Party and campaign group 'Power for People' are calling on the Government to create a right to clean community energy in law. They say it would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean energy generation.  Under the proposal, known as the Local Electricity Bill, a new:- 'Right to Local Supply' of energy would empower community energy companies to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and businesses.

Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities. Supporters of the campaign say this means money that people pay their energy bills with is not helping to strengthen local economies and build local clean energy infrastructure.

A cross party group of 212 MPs already backs the initiative. 62 county and Local Authorities across:- England, Scotland and Wales, have backed the campaign together with 64 national organisations, including Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley, said:- "The solutions to the climate crisis can bring benefits to all of our communities and local economies. The Local Electricity Bill embodies this by promoting local, clean, community scale energy generation and empowering local communities to sell local clean energy directly to local people. We call on the Government to ensure that it is made law."

Director of Power for People, Steve Shaw, said:- "We thank the Green Party for their support for this campaign. Their councillors and activists across the country have been spreading the word and building support for the campaign in their communities. The Local Electricity Bill, if made law, would unlock the huge potential for new community owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local jobs, services and facilities in communities across the country. We call on Parliament and the Government to support it."