Boost your mental health and make a difference to your local area by volunteering with Green Sefton

AS National Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close this weekend, the Council's Green Sefton service is calling on people across Sefton to consider volunteering at an outdoor space in their community.

Volunteers make a hugely valuable contribution to the management of Sefton's beautiful coast and countryside. Volunteering can also be a great way for people to socialise with other likeminded people. And there are many mental health benefits to being around nature.

Evidence suggests there are 5 steps, recognised by the NHS and mental health charity Mind, that can improve mental health and wellbeing. These steps are; connecting with other people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and paying attention to the present moment. All of them are closely linked with volunteering and influence how community opportunities are shaped to promote positive mental health.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:- "Our volunteers are a fantastic asset to Sefton's communities. Not only do they play a vital role in supporting the Council in the upkeep of our green spaces and 22 mile coastline, they also reap the benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature."

Mark Shaw, Green Sefton Service Manager, said:- "It's been a difficult 12 months where we haven't been able to run as many collaborative volunteer opportunities as we would like to have done, but as the roadmap eases, we can't wait to resume a full calendar of activities."

Regular volunteers get involved in every aspect of Green Sefton and its partners' work. These include practical tasks such as helping collect litter, talking to visitors, leading guided walks and monitoring wildlife or just being an extra set of �eyes and ears' while out walking the dog.

Suzanne McCumiskey, Community Engagement Officer with Green Sefton, said:- "We've got an exciting couple of months ahead of us as we'll be taking part in the Great British Spring Clean, led by the charity Keep Britain Tidy, which also coincides with this year's Volunteers' Week. These are fantastic opportunities for anyone who wants to take up volunteering, to help give back to our beautiful parks and stunning coastline."

Green Sefton is always looking to improve its volunteering opportunities, and as restrictions ease further next week allowing larger groups to gather outdoors, there will be an opportunity that's right for everyone across the Borough.

Those who register an interest in becoming a volunteer will join a network where upcoming opportunities will be shared with them. Activities are arranged during both weekdays and weekends so that everyone has a chance to take part if they wish.

To find out more, people can contact the Green Sefton team directly by email at:- GreenSefton@Sefton.Gov.UK.

LGA responds to Prime Minister's announcement on variant of concern originating in India

RESPONDING to the Prime Minister's announcement this evening on the variant of concern originating in India, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:- "As the Prime Minister said at his press conference this evening, the new variant is a worrying development and we all need to play our part in ensuring we limit any further transmission. Councils and their communities, local NHS colleagues and national Government have worked hard to get us to this point and I would urge everyone to listen to local advice to ensure we all do the right things to keep our local communities safe. We all want to keep the roadmap on course for the eventual lifting of all restrictions, and the best way to do this is by letting councils get on with local infection control. Councils have Local Outbreak Management Plans in place, and I urge Government to let us get on with implementing them so we can play our part in the national effort. Councils need local flexibility to deploy all the tools available, which may mean that we need to move to more targeted vaccinations. I would ask that Government lets us do whatever we need to in local areas to protect our communities. Allowing councils, working closely with their NHS partners, to be able to get on with the job will help us to defeat this terrible virus, in all its variants and get life back to normal for all of us."

Sefton's tenants or landlords urged to contact Housing Service before eviction ban ends

WITH the Government's ban on Evictions coming to an end, on Monday, 31 May 2021, Sefton Council is urging any local tenants or landlords expecting problems to get in touch. The Government brought in the ban in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. It was extended from its original September deadline, but will now end on the last day of May 2021. Sefton Council's Homeless Prevention Service can provide advice to the Borough's tenants and landlords. They can help tenants find support to help them maintain their tenancy or with moving on to more affordable and suitable accommodation. And they can assist landlords that are facing issues such as rent arrears and late or inconsistent rent payments. Landlords who have concerns about vulnerable tenants can also contact the team for support in resolving the situation. The Homeless Prevention Service can be contacted at:- Homeless.Prevention@Sefton.Gov.UK or by calling:- 07966698065 or 07870379586.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:- "The impact that the Covid19 Pandemic has had on many people's circumstances and incomes is likely to be making the costs of housing a problem for some people in Sefton. We want any tenants who think they might be facing problems after the Government ends its eviction ban at the end of May to contact us as soon as possible so that we can work with them to find practical solutions. And we want to hear from landlords expecting difficulties, so that we can help them reach practical solutions without the lost rent and other costs that can result from evictions and disputes."

Sefton Council wants to hear from tenants who have received an eviction notice or have rent arrears, who are managing outstanding and current debts or who are trying to reduce their expenses or get the most from their income. People having problems applying for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) and with concerns about their own or family members' mental health, drug or alcohol issues affecting your tenancy should also contact the service. Landlords who contact the team may be concerned about affordability issues due to a change in circumstances, anti social behaviour, their tenant's mental health, addiction or other vulnerabilities that are affecting the tenancy.

Cllr Hardy added:- �It is not always easy to talk about these issues, but Sefton Council's Homeless Prevention Service can help start that conversation easier and then to find constructive ways to overcome the problems. I would urge any tenants or landlords who are worried to contact the Team now at:- Homeless.Prevention@Sefton.Gov.UK or on:- 07966698065 or 07870379586.�

People can also find out more information at:- Sefton.Gov.UK/Housing or Gov.UK/If-Youre-Homeless-At-Risk-Of-Homelessness.

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 2,027 cases and the total number now stand at:- 4,448,851 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:- 7 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:- 127,675, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 151,765.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 991. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 129 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 103.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,886,016 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 612,161 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, 48,613 confirmed cases.
8

► Halton, 12,005 confirmed cases. 2

► Knowsley, 17,425 confirmed cases. 6

► Sefton, 24,182 confirmed cases. 7

► St. Helens, 17,128 confirmed cases. 2

► Wirral, 24,357 confirmed cases.
3

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

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.

Total UK people who have received Vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

36,320,867

19,698,121

Jab Stats correct as of:- 14 May 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 Vaccine s are given as 2 doses, at lEast 21 days apart, for a full Vaccination course.

Boost your mental health and make a difference to your local area by volunteering with Green Sefton

LGA responds to Prime Minister's announcement on variant of concern originating in India

Sefton's tenants or landlords urged to contact Housing Service before eviction ban ends

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region