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Liverpool City Region Local Business Support Grant Round 3

INVESTSEFTON would like to notify our readers that a new grant scheme that is going live on Wednesday, 10 February 2021. This is not being run by InvestSefton and they are NOT administrating this scheme and therefore any enquiries should be emailed to the 'Local Business Support Grant Round 3' mailbox not the InvestSefton mailbox.

An initial "window" for receipt of applications for the 'Local Business Support Grant Round 3' will open from 10.00am, on Wednesday, 10 February 2021 and CLOSE at 5.00pm, on Friday, 26 February 2021.

A business is NOT eligible for the 'Liverpool City Region Local Business Support Grant' if it has previously received a Hospitality and Leisure Grant Round 1 or a Hospitality, Leisure and Retail Grant (Expanded Scheme) Round 2; or has received or is eligible for a:- 'Taxi Driver's Grant' or a 'Local Restrictions Support Grant' (for businesses instructed to close) from its Local Authority.

The categories of busineses eligible to apply are as follows, but for full details see guidance notes on the website:-

A) Businesses that have been ordered to close (as from 5 January 2021), are not in the business rates system, are based in commercial premises, and not eligible for Local Restrictions Grant (for businesses instructed to close).

B) Supply chain businesses that predominantly supply the hospitality and leisure sectors and are based in commercial premises.

C) Self employed / sole trader / home based business (that predominantly works in or supplies the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors) / licensed market trader

D) Businesses in any sector that can demonstrate a loss of at least 40% in sales / revenue due to Covid19 (including self employed / sole trader / home based businesses). The grant funding in this category aims to help small and micro businesses in any sector that are not eligible for other grant schemes and that are struggling with a loss of sales / revenue in the current financial year due to the Coronavirus / Covid19 Pandemic.

It is essential that you read the Guidance Notes, Checklist, Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice which can all be found at:- Sefton.Gov.UK.

Also please be aware you also read the following, before you apply, when the application is made public, on Wednesday, 10 February 2021:-

You may encounter problems using the 'Safari' web browser. InvestSefton recommend that you use Chrome, Edge or Internet Explorer.

You must complete the online application form in 1 session as it cannot be saved. Any missing or incorrect information will delay the appraisal and payment process.

InvestSefton says that:- "We expect LCR Local Restrictions Grant Round 3 to prompt a large number of applications across the Borough. We'll be working through your applications as fast as we can and you will be contacted by email when your application has been processed. We advise businesses not to call or email for updates on their application unless you think you have made an error on your original application. You will be contacted directly as soon as your application is processed. We will endeavour to process applications within 4 to 6 weeks after the LCR Local Restrictions Grant Round 3 application window closes. If this timescale changes, we will update all Sefton businesses through the InvestSefton mailing list. We're making grant applications as simple and speedy as possible but we must follow strict processes to avoid fraudulent claims. We know this is frustrating but it is important we uphold these strict standards."

The LCR Local Restrictions Grant Round 3 mailbox will NOT be available until Wednesday, 10 February 2021. Details of this mailbox will be made available from Wednesday, 10 February 2021, on the Sefton Council's website.

Merseysid's Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) to receive ₤3.37m

MERSEYSIDE'S Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) will receive a further ₤3.37m in funding to continue its work tackling the root causes of serious violence, the Home Office has today confirmed. Ministers have announced that, subject to an application from the Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy and partner organisations, Merseyside's VRP will receive funding to continue its vital work for a 3rd year during 2021/22.

The Partnership, which brings together Merseyside Police, the Police Commissioner's Office, Merseyside Fire and Rescue, local Government, National Probation Service and the county's Youth Offending Service, as well as representatives from health, education, academia, sports and the voluntary sector to address and prevent the underlying the causes that lead to serious violence, was 1st funded in autumn 2019 and will now be able to operate until April 2022.

Commenting on the news, the Region's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said:- "Today's announcement that the funding will be renewed for Merseyside's Violence Reduction Partnership is welcome and a testament to the commitment of this very effective unit during its 1st 2 years in operation. While this funding is good news and will be welcomed by partners across Merseyside, it is disappointing that the Government have provided the same level of Government funding, with no allowance for annually increasing running costs, or inflation and that it is for one year only. Adopting a public health methodology to treating violence is a long term approach. It would have been helpful if the Government had committed to a prolonged, long-term funding plan, building it into the baseline of the partner agencies involved. This would enable the public health approach to become the norm, providing a lasting culture change and yielding the best results. I have noted that the money provided to VRPs has stood still for three consecutive years, not even increasing in line with inflation, and that the Home Office is adding an extra layer of bureaucracy by asking local partnerships to apply for the funding again. This seems wholly unnecessary. Generational change cannot be achieved without significant, committed investment. Ministers need to recognise this and take a more forward thinking approach in the future."

Merseyside's Violence Reduction Partnership Director, Merseyside Police's Det. Supt. Andy Ryan said:- "This funding is very welcome news and will enable Merseyside's Violence Reduction Partnership to continue making a difference in communities across Merseyside. We know that violence is preventable and not, as people often see it, inevitable. Serious violence needs to be seen as an avoidable consequence of a range of factors which often arise in someone's early life, usually through adverse childhood experiences. Our aim is to prevent these adverse incidents from occurring in the1st place, so we can help to make our communities safer for this generation and future generations. With the support of our partners and working hand in hand with local communities, our ambition is to tackle the root causes of violence through long term, sustainable solutions. I am very pleased that Ministers have recognised the value of this work by committing to another year of funding which will enable us to continue this vital work to reduce serious violence throughout our communities."

The latest round of investment is the 3rd year of funding for 18 Violence Reduction Units operating across England and Wales, in the areas most affected by serious violence. Find out more about the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership website.

Additional dedicated Mobile Testing Unit to open in Southport

SEFTON Council has confirmed that from Wednesday, 10 February 2021 an additional dedicated Mobile Testing Unit will open at Southport's Theatre and Convention Centre, as part of the programme to detect the South African variant of the Covid19 virus. Targeted testing to identify the variant is well underway in Southport's Norwood ward where the first case was identified. Further testing will be starting in town centre areas of the Cambridge and Dukes wards, where the Council was notified of a 2nd, apparently unrelated historic case. Everyone aged 16 or over within the target areas are urged to get a test. Door to door delivery and collection of home testing kits will start being rolled out across the Cambridge and Dukes areas from Thursday, 11 February 2021. In addition, a team will be visiting the four schools in the area affected before they break up for next week's half term holiday.

Opening hours for the Mobile Testing Unit, to be located at Theatre and Convention Centre, on the Town's Promenade, will initially be 10am to 5pm. The unit at the former Kew park and ride site, in the Norwood ward, is open 8am to 6.30pm. Both are open seven days a week and are specifically for people within the target areas who don't have any Coronavirus symptoms. Teams visiting addresses within the target areas will deliver home testing and, where possible, will wait while people test themselves. Anyone calling with one of these tests will carry clear identification. They will not ask for any money or request anyone's financial details and neither will they enter people's homes.

Andrea Watts, Sefton Council's Executive Director for People, who has been coordinating the testing arrangements said:- "Once again, since having been informed about the 2nd, apparently unrelated case of the variant, we have moved quickly to put testing arrangements in place for the extended areas in Southport. I am pleased to confirm we will be getting underway tomorrow with the Mobile Testing Unit at the Theatre and Convention Centre or Pandemic Floral Hall' as local people may know it and the door to door delivery of home testing kits to homes and businesses in the areas will start on Thursday. I would like to thank people living and working in the Norwood area for how enthusiastically they have reacted to the news about the South African variant and their willing participation in this important testing programme. I am confident that people in the two new wards identified will work with us just as positively."

The Council has been reminding people to protect themselves and others by sticking to the national lockdown regulations and staying home, both within the target areas for the South African variant and across the rest of the Borough. People should only be going out for essential purposes such as shopping for essential supplies, going to work if we can't do so from home, providing care and their daily exercise. Those in the variant testing areas could got for a test at a Mobile Unit as part of their daily walk. While out, people should be keeping to 2 metres' distancing, wearing a mask or face covering while out and washing their hands frequently.

Sefton Council is also encouraging anyone living or working in the Borough who is offered a Covid19 vaccination to take up the opportunity and go along for their jab and benefit from the protection it will provide. And it is reminding people aged 70 and over that if they have not yet been vaccinated against Covid and want to be, they should contact the NHS to arrange a jab.

Residents over 76 are set to receive postal and proxy vote letters across Sefton

THOUSANDS of residents across Sefton are set to receive letters in the coming days encouraging them to register for postal voting ahead of local elections in May 2021. With plans still in place for a nationwide election process to be held this summer, Sefton Council's Elections Teams are currently encouraging all residents over the age of 76 to take up the option of submitting a postal vote. 16,000 residents aged 76 or over who have previously never used the postal voting system, will receive letters in the mail to explain how the safe and secure process works. On 6 May 2021, a local election will be held in Sefton with 22 seats on the local authority being contested. By-elections will also take place for Blundellsands and Derby wards. Residents will be voting for the seats which were set to be contested in the 2020 local elections process but were postponed as a result of the Covid19 Pandemic.

Dwayne Johnson, Chief Executive of Sefton Council, said:- "Absent voting is a key element of every election and it is not uncommon for thousands of postal and proxy votes to be submitted. However this years elections, should they proceed as planned, demonstrates an even greater need for residents to be able to cast their votes safely, securely and remotely. We are well aware by now of those vulnerable members of our community who must continue to take extra precautions over the the ongoing Covid19 Pandemic, which is why we are encouraging residents to sign up for postal and proxy voting. It is important to ensure clear and transparent processes are put in place to maintain the integrity of the election and our teams are doing all they can to make certain every voice is heard. Your vote matters."

Residents who wish to vote in the 6 May 2021 elections will be able to via the usual means of:- in person voting, postal voting or voting by proxy. For residents who wish to vote in person at a Polling Station a social distancing and COVID secure system will be in place to ensure both staff and voters are kept safe. This may mean the process of submitting your vote may take slightly longer than usual. The deadline for receipt of all postal vote applications is April 20, 2021 with those registered to vote remotely expected to receive their voting packs around 24 April 2021. The 2021 elections run alongside voting processes for the:- Merseyside Police Area, Police & Crime Commissioner and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor. Application forms can also be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website.

₤7.9 million to support young people at risk of involvement in serious violence in the North West

A further ₤7.9 million will be available next financial year to help Violence Reduction Units in the North West of England via Police and Crime Commissioners, the Government, on 8 February 2021 announced, within the North West, Lancashire Police Force area will each receive up to ₤1.16 million in funding, while Greater Manchester and Merseyside Police Force areas will each receive up to ₤3.37 million in funding.

Violence Reduction Units bring together organisations across local communities to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes. They also help fund vital local projects that work to prevent children and young people from being drawn into serious violence.

The funding, which is for 2021/2022, marks the 3rd year of funding for 18 units across England and Wales in areas worst affected by serious violence. This takes the total invested nationally to ₤105.5 million and further delivers on the Government's pledge to crack down on violent crime.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said:- "We know that people of the North West want safer streets and communities and that is what we are delivering. The Violence Reduction Units have a central role to play in steering young people away from lives of crime and violence. This funding will mean this good work can be continued which is crucial on developing long term solutions to serious violence."

In their 1st year of activity, initiatives funded by the scheme supported more than 100,000 young people, more than 51,000 of whom were identified as potentially high risk of being involved in criminal activity. They also helped bring Police, education leaders, health workers and local Government together to share information about the causes of violence and agree a co-ordinated plan of action to tackle it, which is crucial to preventing crime at a local level. This funding means that they can continue this vital work.

Examples of support work being delivered by Violence Reduction Units in the North West since they were set up in August 2019 include:-

In Greater Manchester, the VRU has provided specialised mentoring for those aged between 17 to 25 who are between youth justice and adult probation services, additional training for organisations on adverse childhood experiences and early intervention projects with Schools and Colleges, such as sports clubs for targeted at vulnerable people.

Lancashire VRU has supported work with prisoners and advice programmes for families and young children vulnerable to exploitation and domestic violence.

In Merseyside, the VRU has provided support to families of prisoners and offender mentoring for young people to prepare them to resettle into the community.

In addition to the funding announced means more than ₤2 million is being made available nationally via a winter contingency fund package. This money is being delivered through Violence Reduction Units to local charities and social enterprises that support vulnerable young people at risk of involvement in violence through the lockdown period.

The money forms part of a wider Government drive to tackle crime and make communities safer, which includes bringing in 20,000 additional Police Officers over the next 3 years, 6,620 of which have already been recruited.

Since 2019, the Government has also invested ₤106.5 million to boost Police operational capacity in the 18 Police Forces worst affected by serious violence. This is separate to the funding for Violence Reduction Units.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 12,364 cases and the total number now stand at:- 3,972,148 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 1,052 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 113,850, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 121,674.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 26,723. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 3,230 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,987.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,480,147 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 546,018 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 45,195 confirmed cases.
149

► Halton, 11,101 confirmed cases.
50

► Knowsley, 16,240 confirmed cases. 73

► Sefton, 22,153 confirmed cases.
63

► St. Helens, 15,383 confirmed cases.
96

► Wirral, 22,758 confirmed cases.

72

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region, since start of the Pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 16,425 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 8,408 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 22,651 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 15,317 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 18,642 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 19,509 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 88,027 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 47,405 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 20,624 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 12,064 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 18,805 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 20,523 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 18,196 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 15,850 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 14,854 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 16,245 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 25,829 confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

12,646,486 516,392

Jab Stats correct as of 8 February 2021

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.7 to 1.1, with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -5% to -2%, as of 5 February 2021.

Previous 24hr Data

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