Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

CLA calls on youth group leaders including Bear Grylls to teach Countryside Code resource

THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging a number of youth groups to make full use of a newly released resource pack on the Countryside Code after attempts to make it part of the national curriculum were dismissed. The CLA has written to Duke of Edinburgh Award, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, including Chief Scout Bear Grylls, Sea Cadets, British Orienteering and local education authorities asking them to teach children the free lesson plan on the code. Aimed at Key Stage 2 children the lesson plans, developed together with Leaf Education, centre around the code's messages of respecting everyone, protecting the environment and enjoying the outdoors through many fun filled activities including:- a soil investigator's exercise, sky lantern role play activity and waymarker memory game. It is hoped these packs will help children and young adults understand that safe and responsible behaviour in the countryside is fundamental to enjoyment of it.

Mark Bridgeman, President of the CLA which represents 28,000 farmers, land managers and rural businesses across England and Wales, said:- "More and more people continue to make the most of our beautiful countryside � and we want to ensure they all feel welcome. In doing so, we want to help people understand how to enjoy their visit safely and responsibly, starting in schools and youth groups. For a long time there has been a lack of education around the Countryside Code, which is why we�ve developed these packs to ensure young people, and their families, can enjoy visits to the countryside, contribute to the protection of our fragile environment and learn more about other users who live and work in rural areas. We�d strongly urge all youth groups to make full use of this resource; so that they themselves can become custodians of the countryside, with both visitors and farmers reaping the rewards."

The code, which was 2st introduced in 1951, was recently refreshed following a rise in the number of visitors to the countryside during the Pandemic. The CLA continues to lobby the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to include the code as part of the school curriculum. The pack is free to download from the CLA�s website and is also available on the Countryside Classroom; a website regularly used by teachers seeking materials related to rural affairs..

Over 30% increase in people homeless on leaving prison in the North West

THE UK Government's data that has just been released shows a shocking rise in homelessness among those leaving prison, across the North West. The number of people homeless or threatened by homelessness on departure from custody has increased by 33% compared to last year. This amounts to 1,040 people in the past year. Campbell Robb, Chief Executive, Nacro said:- "These figures show an urgent need for the Government to invest in support and housing across the country for those leaving prison in the upcoming spending review. Leaving prison homeless increases the chance of reoffending and ends hope of rehabilitation. We want the Government to ensure no-one leaves prison without a home to go to, giving people the best chance to get a job, rebuild relationships, and play a part in their local communities. This is even more important when many people leaving prison are coming out into a changed world in the grip of a global Pandemic.�

Fraud Facts for Freshers

THE Student Loans Company (SLC) is warning students to be on their guard for phishing and fraudulent scams as the company is preparing to pay over �2 billion in maintenance funding to more than 1 million students throughout September. As payments make their way to students, the company is warning Freshers and returning students not to be tricked into disclosing personal details via email or clicking on links in emails or text messages from senders they don't recognise, as they could be installing malware. Fraudsters can target students with bogus emails and SMS around the three loan payment dates in:- September, January and April each year. In the last two academic years alone, SLC's dedicated Customer Compliance teams have prevented �850,000 from being phished from students' loans. The expert teams have a range of methods and fraud analytics to stop scammers in their tracks, but students need to know that they are the best and first line of defence.

Spotting a phishing or scam email, SMS or any type of fraudulent communication isn't always easy, but the Student Loans Company has some fraud facts to help:-

► Keep an eye out for any emails, phone calls or SMS messages you think are suspicious, especially around the time you're expecting a payment.

► Scam emails are often sent in bulk and are unlikely to contain both your 1st and last name; they commonly start:- "Dear Student" so be on guard if you see one like this.

► Check the quality of the communication; misspelling, poor punctuation and bad grammar are often tell tale signs of phishing.

► "Failure to respond in 24 hours will result in your account being closed" these types of messages are designed to convey a sense of urgency to prompt a quick response.

► Think before you click. If you receive an email or SMS that contains a link that you're not sure of then try hovering over to check that it goes where it�s supposed to. If you�re still in any doubt don't risk it, always go direct to the source rather than clicking on a potentially dangerous link.

► Potential scammers can use a variety of methods to try get students to pay money or share their personal details, including the use of fraudulent phone calls, social posts and direct messaging on digital platforms. If you are suspicious of being contacted, always use official phone numbers, your online account and official communication channels to verify the contact you received is genuine.

► Check out our guide to identifying a phishing scam on:- Gov.UK and our phishing video on:- YouTube.

Bernice McNaught, Executive Director, Repayments and Customer Compliance at the Student Loans Company, said:- "We work hard to help our customers stay safe, but fraudsters are persistent and will try to target them and their parents with emails and texts requesting personal details to access their accounts. We�re reminding all students to be vigilant for online scams and phishing attempts as the new academic year gets underway this September. Although things may be a bit different for some Freshers this year, we want them to know that scammers are still working to steal their funding. Students can keep their account safe by following our simple tips and anyone who receives a suspicious email or SMS should send it to:- Phishing@SLC.Co.UK. SLC can investigate the site and ensure it is shut down, to help protect other students."

The company is also urging students to be mindful of the information that they share about themselves on social media, and elsewhere online, to help guard against identity theft. Identity theft happens when fraudsters access enough information about a person's identity, such as their name, date of birth, customer reference number, course information or their current or previous addresses to impersonate them online and over the phone. One method that identity thieves will use is to impersonate an individual to try to access their account and change their bank details to divert payments to an account of their own.

Customers in England should be aware that whenever their bank details are changed, they will receive an SMS from Student Finance England (SFE) to confirm the change. If a customer hasn�t changed their details but receives a message, they should log into their online account to review their information and also get in contact using an official telephone number (See:- Gov.UK/Contact-Student-Finance-England) as they could be the victim of identity theft and future payments may be blocked if they don�t. Customers should keep their contact details up to date to ensure they never miss important information by logging into their online account.

It's About Time

CARE England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, is pleased that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has listened to the sector and launched the wider consultation on making the Covid19 and flu vaccination a condition of deployment for frontline workers in health and wider care settings. Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "We are pleased that the Department has finally launched this consultation. This was something promised �within the coming weeks� when the Government response to the consultation on residential adult social care services was published in July. The delay in the publication of today�s consultation has heavily impacted recruitment and retention within the adult social care sector, with residential care staff transferring over to home care or the NHS. Earlier this week Care England wrote to Minister of State for Social Care to emphasise our serious and growing concern in relation to the absence of this consultation and we are pleased that our concerns have been listened to."

A 6 week consultation has been launched on GOV.UK, looking at whether requirements should apply for health and wider social care workers; those in contact with patients and people receiving care. It would mean only those who have completed a full course of a Covid19 vaccine, unless medically exempt, could be deployed to deliver health and care services. The consultation will also seek views on whether flu vaccines should be a requirement for health and care workers. This consultation follows the 5 week consultation launched on 14 April for residential adult social care settings, which has subsequently been enacted and comes into force, on 11 November 2021. Martin Green continues:- "The consultation represents a small step towards creating a level playing field between the NHS and social care. We hope this will help alleviate some of the workforce pressures rife within the sector induced as a result of residential care settings having been singled out initially. However, despite the launch of the consultation, there still remain unanswered questions, such as where Covid-19 boosters fit into the picture, as well as an absence of central guidance around exemptions."

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:- 38,013 cases and the total number now stand at:- 7,132,072 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:- 167 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:- 133,841, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 156,888.

According to vaccination data,of the UK's population of those aged 16 and over since 2020, 88.9% have had their 1st dose and 80.4% have had the 2nd dose.

In England, there are a total of:- 6,129,372 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 976,867 confirmed cases.

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