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So
long Yvonne!
SCHOOL’S OUT
for a heroic headteacher – who has helped hundreds of Liverpool
children flourish for almost four decades. Yvonne Owen, Head
at Roscoe Infant and Nursery school is finally bidding farewell to
the profession she loves after 37 years. And when the final
bell rings on Yvonne’s time as a headteacher, she will leave behind
many happy memories as well as generations of grateful Liverpool
children.
Pupils at Roscoe are being joined by their parents – many of whom
were taught by Yvonne themselves –and staff to say a great big thank
you to Yvonne for all her hard work. Yvonne, who is retiring
to a sheep farm in Anglesey with her husband and mum, said:-
“It has been an honour to teach in such a fantastic city, and I’ve
been very privileged to work with many wonderful children and
teachers. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Although it’s sad
to be saying goodbye, I’m happy that I can look back on so many
great memories. Liverpool is a city which will always be close to my
heart, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better place to
teach.”
Born & raised in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Yvonne trained as a
teacher in Bangor, North Wales. She first fell in love with
Liverpool and its people when she was called 'queen' by an
elderly lady while waiting at a bus stop! Once she caught the
Liverpool bug, she never lost it, and she has gone on to become one
of the city’s longest serving teachers.
Yvonne started work at Barlow's Lane Primary in 1970 before moving
to Roscoe Infant School in 1972. She became Deputy Headteacher at
Broadgreen Infants in 1984, before returning to Roscoe School in
1989 as Head.
Yvonne said:- “The world of teaching has changed a great deal
over the years, but the one thing that has remained is the wonderful
enthusiasm and spirit of Liverpool children, and the great sense of
pride I get from helping them reach their potential. I will really
miss them all!”
The council’s executive member for children’s services, Councillor
Paul Clein added:- “Yvonne is a wonderful example of how good
teachers can touch the lives of generations of young people and we
all remember a good teacher throughout our lives. I know I do. She
has given years of invaluable service to the city and helped many
thousands of Liverpool children flourish. I would like to wish
her a very happy retirement. She deserves it.” |
Keeping minds working
WITH mental
health issues now the largest cause of absence from the workplace, a
pioneering project has started on Merseyside to try and tackle the
problem.
Unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation, has teamed
up with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust on a project to
increase trade union reps’ awareness of mental health issues and
help employers promote good practice.
Briefings will help reps
gain a fuller understanding of mental health. They will also be
taught how their unions can ensure that members with mental health
issues are treated fairly and given the correct service.
The aim is to tackle some of the 420,000 cases of workplace-related
stress, depression and anxiety reported in the UK each year. Mental
ill health accounts for 40% of all Incapacity benefit claimants,
with 66 out of every 10,000 workers suffering from it.
Unionlearn’s project work with the Trust has made it a priority to
assist unions and employers in developing support and assistance for
those developing mental illness and those returning to work after
suffering from it. It also aims to help trade unions work with the
relevant health and social care agencies so that union officials can
help members gain access to mental health services.
Briefings and 3 day courses are being arranged for union reps. Unionlearn aims to have 100 union reps briefed and trained in mental
health awareness and 25 employers committed to awareness training by
the end of 2007.
Dave Eva, unionlearn’s Regional Manager, is running the project. He
said:- “This is a really important area where unions can
become more active. Anxiety and depression now account for more
working days lost than backache and people who lose their jobs
through mental illness are less likely than any other disabled group
to be re-employed. This is due to the stigma that surrounds
mental illness. Like most prejudice, this is based on ignorance and
fear and leads to discrimination. Given that one in four people have
an episode of mental illness in their lifetime, neither the
employers no ourselves can ignore the issue any more.’’
Bob Birchall, Divisional Director of the Trust’s Interface Division,
added:- “A project like this brings benefits to both employers
and employees. Employers can gain a whole new group of potential
employees, can learn about ways to help people already in their
workforce who have mental health issues and so can help ensure
continuity in their workforce. For employees, a more
understanding employer can mean a greater sense of balance and a
better chance of retaining their job.’’ |
