SCHOOLS IN NORTH WEST GEAR-UP FOR £569,432 PLAYTIME SPORTS ACTION PACKAGE

YOUNG people in the North West will have more opportunities to take part in sport outside school hours with after the National Lottery chipped in to boost School sports in the region.

Over have a million pounds has been contributed to seven School Sports in the region, which will bring innovative programmes of physical activity to young people outside school hours.

The aim of the scheme is to motivate young people through physical exercise - particularly benefiting children who may need encouragement to participate, including pupils in danger of exclusion from school and young people with special needs.  The funding comes from a £25.5 million UK wide School Sports Co-ordinators scheme. 

The region is also set to receive further new funding as part of a £28.4 million extension of this scheme across England. This new money will expand activities already funded by this scheme, and fund new partnerships to be announced later this year.

POLICE ASK FOR SCHOOL KIDS HELP WITH MOBILE PHONES

MERSEYSIDE Police are asking for the opinion of every school pupil in the district for the prevention of theft of mobile phones.

The force has launched a scheme known as ‘Be Streetsafe’ as part of its on-going efforts to reduce the number of mobile phones stolen on Merseyside. 

The survey is aimed at educating pupils about mobile phone safety and what they should do when they lose their phones or have them stolen. All
Merseyside schools have been asked for their help. 

Every student completing the survey will be entered into a free prize draw to win the latest Z600 Sony Ericsson mobile phone handset.

Posters to promote the survey will be on display in schools across the County.

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GHOSTLY GOINGS ON STIRS GRAVEYARD PLAY

THERE'S ghostly goings on in Liverpool this week as a drama festival looks to beyond the grave for dramatic effect.

Three people buried at Toxteth Ancient Chapel are being brought back to life as characters in a new play that looks at a unique part of Liverpool's history.

Entitled 'Voices from the Grave', the play will be the curtain raiser for the sixth annual Drama in the Dingle Festival performed in the Ancient chapel and its graveyard earlier this week. 

The play, written by festival founder Tom McLennan, is set in 1918 when a former vicar is in need of inspiration for a sermon celebrating the chapel's 300th anniversary. He finds it in the form of three ghosts... a Herculaneum potter from the mid 19th century, 

This year's festival is themed around the idea of Voices to tie in with Liverpool's Year of Faith in One City, and is one of 80 projects funded by Liverpool city council's Creative Communities programme.

Tom said:- "The Ancient Chapel a fascinating place and tells so many stories about how the Dingle and Liverpool developed down the ages. It is the first place of worship in the area and was at the hub of a community which came to be hugely influential not just in Liverpool but in the country.

The characters in the play reflect many of the changes that took place British history from the settlement of puritans, to the era of liberalism when Liverpool was famous for millionaire merchant and shipping families such as the Rathbones and the Holts who campaigned against slavery and the poor laws.

The idea behind the festival is to encourage and develop the creative talent of people who live in the Dingle. This part of the city contains a rich seam of characters and fascinating stories and every year our members manage to reflect that and produce knock out plays.''

Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said:- "The Drama in the Dingle Festival plays a vital role in the cultural fabric of Liverpool. It's been a huge inspiration to many people to pick up a pen, tread the boards and find their own voice."