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Merseytravel
Gains Prestigious Skills Award
MERSEYTRAVEL
has become one of the first organisations in the North West to be
presented with a prestigious award at a recent celebration event in
recognition of its commitment to improving the numeracy and literacy
skills of its staff.
The ‘Get On North West’ Local Government Skills for Life Award is
part of a regional strategy to encourage local authorities to take a
more proactive approach to Skills for Life. This national strategy,
funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), aims to improve
adult literacy, language and numeracy skills.
Merseytravel was one of four organisations to receive the ‘Get
On North West Award’, alongside, Wirral Metropolitan Borough
Council, Blackpool Borough Council and Carlisle City Council. The
event, held at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, rewarded and
recognised local authorities that have excelled in meeting the basic
skills needs of their workforce.
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel
said that:- “I’m delighted for our staff and everyone who has
been involved in our Skills for Life programme. They deserve to be
recognised for the work they have put in. Hundreds of our staff have
seized the opportunity to improve their literacy and numeracy
skills, and that is a fantastic success story.”
Since Merseytravel launched its Skills for Life programme, it has
seen an improvement in employee relations, a reduction in the amount
of disciplines and grievances and improvements in attendance levels.
Mr Scales remarked:- “Staff feel more confident and valued at
work because of the investment we are making in them and there has
been an increase in motivation and morale.”
The challenge for local government is huge with more than 27% of
local government employees either holding no qualification or being
qualified below level 2 (equivalent of 5 good GCSEs).
Local government in the North West
employs 308,000 people and improving the skills of the workforce
will help transform and improve the services the authorities deliver
and develop a committed workforce with increased capacity for the
future.
Liz McQue Chief Executive Designate at North West Employers (NWEO),
the employers organisation for local authorities in the North West
added:- “We now have 14 authorities that have committed
themselves to improving the skills of their workforce and it is a
real symbol that the North West as a region is making a commitment
to improving the skills and economy of the region.
The celebration event was not just
about awards it was about changing lives of people who live and work
in the North West.”
The celebration event also saw Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale,
Tameside and Trafford Salford City Council signing up to the
'Get On North West Award' which has been shaped by NWEO and
its regional partners; the LSC in the North West, Campaign for
Learning, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Union Learn
(the North West TUC), Move On Up and Unison.
Paul Holme Regional Director of Skills LSC North West commented:-
“Improving the skills of the public sector workforce is one of
the LSC’s top priorities, not least because it employs a quarter of
the UK’s workforce.
This award is for those local authorities that have recognised the
important part that Skills for Life plays within their workforce
development strategies.
We hope it will
also encourage other employers to follow their example and embed
Skills for Life into their organisations in a sustainable way.” |
NEW
MACHINE CAN DETECT FUTURE BLINDNESS IN YOUR 20s
MACUVISION
Europe has just unveiled new technology, which enables opticians to
offer a new screening service that can test your eyes in your 20s,
and tell you whether you’re likely to go blind in your 60s.
Macuscope™, which is available in Britain, can tell whether patients
are likely to suffer from Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD),
which is currently affecting 500,000 people in the UK. The machine’s
capability of detecting one of the major risk factors early on may
help to prevent blindness later on in life.
Experts are warning that we are taking more care over our teeth than
our eyesight, with 17.5 million people visiting the opticians
compared to only 28.1 million who visited the dentist. But with 1 in
12 of us developing a sight problem by the time we’re 60, is this a
risk we can afford to take? Most people have a dental check-up
every 6 months, but seem to place less importance on getting their
eyes tested as frequently. The RNIB found that individuals who had
not experienced any eye problems used this as the main reason for
not having an eye test. An unfounded reason as an optician can
detect eye conditions before an individual is even aware of a
problem.
Macular degeneration is a painless disorder, which often goes
unnoticed. It affects the central part of your retina; usually in
both eyes, causing progressive loss of central and detailed vision.
Macuscope™ provides an optical density of the patient’s macular
protective pigment. A low pigment score means AMD could occur later
in life. This can be detected in people as early as in their 20s.
During the screening, a patient will observe a small pulsating
visual stimulus and is asked to respond when the pulsating stops or
reaches a minimum. This is done on a central target, through the
pigment and for a peripheral target. A pigment density is then
calculated from the 2 readings taken.
Who is at risk:-
* The elderly; age is the highest risk factor
* Women are more prone to AMD than men
* Genetics; those with family members who have AMD are at risk of
developing the disease
* Smokers are 4 times more likely to lose their sight in later life
from AMD * Obesity can increase the risk, speed and progression of the
disease.
Alan Tyler, an optometrist from Birmingham, says:- “Whether or
not you fall into one of the high-risk categories, it is important
to help to prevent the onset by detecting symptoms early. By
offering this passive and non-invasive assessment we can help to
prevent unnecessary loss off sight.”
Steps to prevent AMD:-
* Get screened; MacuScope detects levels of individuals macular
pigment * Stop smoking
* Exercise
* Maintain normal blood pressure
* Eat healthy; particularly green leafy vegetables, fruit and fish.
* Supplement with vitamins
Trevor McCormack; managing director of Macuvision, commented;-
“We often take our visual health for granted, and regard
deterioration in vision as just a sign of ‘getting old’. Age is the
highest risk factor in developing some of the most common eye
conditions that can lead to blindness.
If you haven’t had your
eyes tested in the last six months, it is vital you visit your local
optician and ask them to measure and monitor your macular pigment
density, which scientists believe is a major risk factor to
developing AMD. Macuscope™ is now commercially available and
provides an accurate test. On detection, the optician will now be
able to advise on suitable dietary changes, or lutein supplements,
to prevent further deterioration.” |
