Heart charity makes funding available for local projects in Merseyside

PROJECTS in Merseyside which promote healthy lifestyles or improve the lives of heart patients and their carers could benefit from a grant of up to £2,000 from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).  The charity is inviting applications to its ‘Help a Heart Grant programme’ which makes funding available to groups who promote healthier lifestyles or support heart patients and their carers.  Awards of between £300 and £2,000 can be made to voluntary and community groups.  Grants have been used by local groups to develop online support for heart patients and improve access to information.  Funds have also been used to run a swimming programme to promote physical activity to groups of young carers, as well as programmes that help heart patients and their carers manage stress.

Lisa Purcell, Heart Health Project Manager at the BHF, said:- “There are lots of projects across the country doing fantastic work to promote healthier lifestyles or improve the quality of life for heart patients.  The Help a Heart Grant scheme aims to support projects which are often working in really creative ways to help them continue their work or start-up new schemes.”

The BHF is the nation’s heart charity and provides information to help people reduce their risk of dying prematurely from a heart or circulatory related illness.  The charity produces publications, videos and other materials to inform people about how to improve the health of their heart through public information campaigns, advertising and the media.

For more information on the Help a Heart Grant programme visit:- bhf.org.uk/helpaheartgrant  or call:- 020 7554 0426.

EURO-MP PUTS A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

NORTH West Euro-MP Chris Davies has been elected to serve on both the Palestine and the Israel delegations established by the European Parliament to maintain dialogue with elected representatives across the world.  With the Obama administration pushing for an early start to Middle East peace talks, the Liberal Democrat politician hopes that his position may give him a rare insight into the different viewpoints.  Davies has visited the area several times and has a reputation for speaking out strongly in favour of the Palestinian cause, but he denies that he has ever opposed the existence of the State of Israel.  "I want Palestinians and Israelis to be able to live alongside one another with mutual respect, but the situation today is completely one sided.  Palestinian territory is under Israeli military occupation, their economy is under seige, and land and water is stolen.  I don't see how it can be in the long term interests of Israel to foster such hatred."  Defending the time he has devoted to the issue, the MEP said that all European Parliamentarians served on two delegations to other countries but that most involved no controversy whatsoever.  He said:- "I make no apology for being passionate about this issue.  The sense of injustice that it arouses across the world is used to justify extremist views and terrorism.  It is very much in our interest to promote a just peace."

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

ON Thursday, 24 September 2009, will be the launch night for The Tower At Night.  You are invited to enjoy the spectacular night time views along with the very rare chance of seeing the famous Cathedral Bells at close quarters.  Professor Ian Tracey will be playing organ music on the country’s largest organ; well worth hearing. 

On all the following Thursday evenings until 26 November 2009, the tower will be open up to 8pm, last ticket 7.30pm.  You will have the most fabulous views of Liverpool at night, from the top of the Tower.  Incidentally, the Tower will be closed for a private hiring on 5 November 2009.

Family ticket £10 (2 adults & up to 3 children) - Adult Ticket £4.25 - Concessions £3.

Halloween & Musical Firewords!

MDL Fireworks will be bringing you a massive firework display on 30 October 2009, at the Ship Inn, on Rosemary Lane, Haskayne.  The event will be in aid of Clairhouse and on offer will be Children's Games, Ghoulish Food, and lots more! Also helping out will be the Army, so expect some interesting things! On top of all that, the pub will also offer free admission and a disco...  Fancy dress is requested for all attending.  Call 01704 840077 for more details. 

Closing in on Merseyside’s ‘Costa crooks’

UK crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), are once again closing in on Britain’s most wanted known to be on the run in Spain.  Ten new appeals, including some of the UK’s most dangerous child sex offenders, are launched today in Malaga, an area with a large British ex-patriate community where these criminals could be hiding.  Four of the wanted men have links to Merseyside.

The successful multi-agency campaign, Operation Captura, identifies serious criminals on the run wanted by UK law enforcement agencies for crimes committed in the UK.  Since the campaign launched in October 2006, 23 out of 40 criminals have been arrested; many are now serving long prison sentences for their crimes which range from drug trafficking to sex crimes to murder.

Paul Walmsley, born in Liverpool and sought by Merseyside Police, is wanted for prosecution for the offence of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine).  Fourteen others have been arrested and convicted as part of the investigation into the crime group for which Walmsley is still currently outstanding.

Mark Ronald Brown, born in Liverpool, is accused of being knowingly concerned in the importation of Class A drugs.  Brown is believed to be the head of an organised criminal group that conspired to, and imported, hundreds of kilos of heroin into the UK concealed within the feet of wooden pallets used to transport legitimate loads of quad bikes and motorised toys.

Jody Michael Flynn, born in Birkenhead and wanted by Merseyside Police, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and unlawfully and maliciously inflecting grievous bodily harm.

Joseph Stephen Morely, born in Liverpool, was convicted of Conspiracy to Import a Class A drug and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.  He was on licensed day release and failed to return to the prison with 1664 days of his imprisonment remaining.

Crimestoppers and SOCA work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in Madrid, British and Spanish law enforcement agencies.  The campaign highlights appeals for information on criminals who have European arrest warrants issued against them.  Information given to Crimestoppers can help locate these criminals so that arrests can be carried out by the Spanish police.

Operation Captura is primarily an online campaign working through the ‘Most Wanted’ section of the Crimestoppers website where the public can view images of the individuals wanted by law enforcement.

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said:- “The public response to the campaign so far has gone way beyond our expectations in locating criminals and we hope that this continues with the latest batch of appeals.  It makes me immensely proud as the founder of Crimestoppers that we are now having such a significant impact on an international scale.”

Dave Cording, Director of Operations, added:- “These appeals include some very nasty individuals and crimes, and we need you, the public, to help us put them behind bars where they belong.  Please don’t approach these individuals as they are known to be dangerous but if you recognise any of them or know where they may be located please contact Crimestoppers immediately; all information is taken in total anonymity.”

International Director for SOCA, David Armond, said:- “SOCA aims to combat the harm caused by criminals who seek refuge living within our communities.  Through our collaboration with Crimestoppers and our Spanish law enforcement partners, we have been able to extend this influence to the ex-pat communities of Spain and together we are seeing great success bringing criminals back to the UK to face justice for their crimes.”

Dame Denise Holt, British Ambassador to Spain said:- “Ten new criminals who we think are hiding out on the Costa’s have been identified.  The public and media response to the ongoing Captura campaign has been incredibly effective so far.  We're looking for your continuing help in putting these individuals behind bars where they belong.”

If people are calling from Spain there is a special freephone Spanish:- 900 555 111 telephone number which will be answered in the UK by Crimestoppers’ call agents and a translation service is available upon request. 

People can also pass on information anonymously via the online Giving Information form on Crimestoppers’ website.