2004 is a year to savour & celebrate

2004 is a pivotal year in Liverpool’s preparations to deliver the best ever European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Liverpool city council has appointed three new directors to lead the Liverpool Culture Company, and has launched a worldwide hunt for an artistic director to shape the cultural celebrations in the years leading up to 2008 – including the city’s 800th birthday in 2007.

Community involvement was key to the city’s successful bid and the City council has sought to develop this. At the start of the year it announced one of the largest funding packages for community art in the UK. More than 80 groups have benefited this year from a £420,000 Creative Communities grant, generating £1.6 million in match funding, to celebrate the year of Faith in One City 2004, the second themed year celebrating Liverpool’s culture.

Highlights of this year’s programme include:
• A play by homeless people
• An Arabic arts festival
• A Women’s international Music festival
• The first Urban Gospel Summit held outside London
• An on-line Chinese newspaper
• Comedy courses for under-14-year-olds

This year’s activities will involve faith groups such as Bahai’s, Buddists, Catholics, Hindu’s, Jews, Methodists, Muslims and Protestants, and bring together local and international professional artists, poets, writers and songwriters. 

Besides this community activity, the city now boasts one of Europe’s most dynamic programs of international festivals, attracting more than 9 million tourists to the city.

For our Events listing click here...

YOUNG CRIME ACTION TO GET TOUGHER

A TOUGH new scheme in Liverpool to deal with persistent and serious young offenders is to get new powers to monitor young people while tackling the causes of offending. 

The Liverpool Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Program will be one of the first in the country to pilot the new 12-month scheme – doubling time previous spent for crime offences, spending a more intensive phase of curfew for under 16’s.

The current program lasts for six months, with the first three months involving at least 25 hours a week of supervision and rigorous surveillance. Young offenders are often given a Curfew Order that can be reinforced by an electronic tag, but the new scheme has been initiated in order to prevent re-offending.

Aileen Shepherd, Head of Liverpool Youth Offending Service, said:- "The combination of rigorous..."

continued...  "supervision and individually tailored intensive programs over a long period gives us a real opportunity to work effectively with more persistent young offenders."

 

All aboard!  The Listening Bus® rolls into Birkenhead

DEAF children from the Birkenhead area are being given the opportunity to climb on board a unique mobile technology exhibition when The Listening Bus® makes a stop at Townfield Primary school, Townfield Lane, Oxton, Birkenhead, CH43 2LH on Friday 26 March 2004, 10am – 3.30pm.

The bus, brought to the area by The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and supported by HSBC Bank, is a pioneering Roadshow that brings the latest available technology, aids and information directly to deaf children and their families. Along with teachers and other professionals they will discover a wide range of essential technical aids and equipment, including, amongst others:-

• Amplified phones, textphones, and videophones
• Alarm clocks that flash or shake under the pillow
• Doorbells and phones that flash to alert you
• Special smoke alarms and vibrating pagers to tell you what is happening in the home
• Loops and listening aids to help you hear television or music
• Captioned and signed videos, and sign language and other learning software

There will also be the opportunity to meet experts from the NDCS technology service, and get information about the support and services that are available from the country’s leading charity for deaf children.

“Technology is transforming the lives of deaf children, having grown up deaf myself, I know only too well how important it is to receive the right information and equipment, which can both educate and liberate.

The Listening Bus brings the latest information and equipment directly to parents and children, giving them the opportunity to experience new and different kinds of technology practically on their own doorsteps. Without the Bus families might otherwise not find out about the services or equipment available to them which could make a real, significant difference to their lives.” explains Susan Daniels, NDCS Chief Executive. 

Peter C. Bull, Executive, HSBC in the community, adds:- “HSBC is committed to supporting the local community, and we are proud of our affiliation with The Listening Bus, which provides a vital service for families in the heart of the community.”

For over 50 years, The National Deaf Children’s Society has been the leading soure of information and impartial advice on technical aids and equipment available to help deaf children. Its permanent technology showcase and leading library in London is second to none and The Listening Bus is making that unique service mobile to reach many thousands more deaf Children across the UK. With the support of HSBC, who have funded it with £536,125 since 1996, the Bus has travelled almost 104,000 miles to the furthest stretches of the UK and over 39,800 visitors have benefited from its service.