MERSEYSIDE AIMS TO BOOST AID FOR NEEDY CHILDREN THIS CHRISTMAS

ONE OF Britain's biggest annual charity projects for children launches this week and Merseyside will be making a major contribution towards its success.

Operation Christmas Child, the Christian relief project which delivered over 1.3 million gift-filled shoeboxes from the UK and Ireland to needy children in Eastern Europe last Christmas, is calling on schools, churches, organisations and individuals to build on the help they gave in 2003 and ensure the 2004 campaign brings much needed joy to underprivileged children. This year, for the first time, gift boxes will go to Mozambique and Kyrgyzstan as well as many countries in Eastern Europe, including Bosnia, Serbia and Azerbaijan. 

Last year 18,471 boxes were donated from Liverpool, Formby, Crosby, Bootle, Prescot, Halewood, Kirkby, Knowsley and Ormskirk, and this year local Operation Christmas Child organiser Stan Clarke is hoping to collect even more.

"Many people in Merseyside did a fantastic job contributing mast year, and our aim is to better this, if we possibly can," states Stan. "Sadly, there are still large numbers of children in many countries where war, poverty and natural disasters have left them with nothing. We deal with families living in awful conditions - in old railway trucks, buildings partly destroyed by shellfire and even with street kids who live in sewers."

Any school, church, company, organisation or individual that wants to help can contact the Operation Christmas Child via our website or helpline and they will receive the simple set of instructions on what they need to do.

The leaflet provides guidelines on what to put in the shoebox, how to pack it and where to send it for collection and onward transportation. 

ST HELENS ENTREPRENEUR IN RUNNING FOR UK BUSINESS "OSCAR"

TANTHONY RICHARDS, Chairman of the St Helens Millennium Centre, is in the running for the title of Ernst & Young's UK Entrepreneur of the Year - which is widely regarded as the British business "Oscar."

Following his success in the North regional awards where he collected the Social Entrepreneur title, he is now in with a chance of winning the national crown - and going forward to the world finals in Monte Carlo in May 2005. 

Mr. Richards has been recognized for his work in launching the Millennium Centre in 1999 which was the latest in a long line of initiatives aimed at helping people in need and working with community groups. St. Helens Millennium Centre is a multi-resource complex offering a wide range of facilities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He will join other UK finalists at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Monday 4 October when Ernst & Young's UK business awards will be announced. Hosted by TV and radio broadcaster Jeremy Vine, the event features various categories, culminating in the coveted title of "UK Entrepreneur of the Year."

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is an international programme that seeks to identify and recognise the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs within successful, dynamic businesses. They are now in their sixth year in the UK.

Ordinary Boys with Special Guests

THE one and only Ordinary Boys with Special Guests will be on at the Carling Academy in Liverpool on Saturday 9 October 2004. Tickets £9.00 inadvance. Box Office:- 0870 771 2000 (24hr) / Customer Info:- 0905 020 3999