COUNCILLOR RON GOULD CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF MERSEYSIDE WARMTH SCHEME

NPOWER'S Health Through Warmth scheme is celebrating after receiving its 4,000th referral in Merseyside.  The scheme, which is managed locally by Energy Projects Plus, helps vulnerable residents affected by cold and damp related illnesses, by assisting with heating and insulation measures, as well as offering energy efficiency advice.

In recognition of the impressive milestone, the scheme hosted a special event with speeches by Cllr Ron Gould, Liverpool City Council; Dr S K Mukherjee, Medical Director, NHS Wirral; Peter Owen, CEO, Energy Projects Plus; Harry Fynn, CEO, Merseyside SSAFA Forces Help; Debbie Phillips, Affordable Warmth Co-ordinator, Sefton Council and Tony Dicicco, Head of Government Relations, RWE npower.

Representatives from the PCT, local authority, voluntary agencies and other local organisations attended to hear about the benefits the scheme could offer to people they encounter on a day to day basis. Guests also learnt more about the free training offered by Health Through Warmth to enable community workers to become scheme referrers.

Cllr Ron Gould commented:- “Health Through Warmth is an invaluable scheme offering a lifeline to many of the area’s residents. It is a fantastic achievement to have reached 4,000 referrals and I would like to congratulate everyone involved."

Elaine Midwinter, manager for the Health Through Warmth scheme, added:- “Autumn is a good time of year for people to start thinking about the health problems associated with cold and damp homes. The milestone celebration is a timely reminder for Merseyside residents that help is available and any vulnerable person whose health is adversely affected by these types of living conditions may be eligible for referral to the scheme.”

npower Health Through Warmth is a practical scheme that operates in 15 areas of England and Wales. Since the scheme was first launched in Merseyside in 2003, Health Through Warmth has facilitated more than £3.4 million worth of heating and insulation measures for local residents, £454,000 of which has been paid for by the unique npower Health Through Warmth crisis fund.

For more information, visit www.healththroughwarmth.com.

BANKING BONUSES – UNISON RESPONSE

THIS week Commenting on the announcement that banking bonuses are set to increase by 50% in 2009, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:- “It is a disgrace that bankers are in line for billions in bonuses, whilst the taxpayers, who bailed them out, are paying the price again with job losses, pay freezes and public service cuts. The Government must make sure that the rot doesn’t set in again. Big bonuses and risky city moves are what got us into this mess in the first place, and leaving bankers to police their own bonuses is like leaving the fox in charge of the chickens. The financial crisis wasn’t caused by nurses, social workers, paramedics, dinner ladies and other public sector workers– they should not be made to pay the price. They are the ones on the front-line - helping communities cope with the worst effects of the recession. Instead of awarding themselves big bonuses, the bankers and financiers should pay back the hundreds of billions of pounds that taxpayers spent bailing them out.”

Stand up to 'scareware' scammers...

CONSUMER Focus has urged consumers to beat the computer 'scareware' scammers and protect their systems from being hijacked.   Scareware is a pop up message that appears to come from your own computer warning that your computer has been infected with a virus and affects millions of consumers across the world.  The message contains the link to a web site which states that the user can download anti-virus software that will immediately fix the problem.  However, once installed, the software records the keystrokes of users and transmits them back to the scammers behind the attacks. Sensitive information such as bank details and other security information are often included in these transmissions, leaving the user at the mercy of the con artists.  Joe Cicero, web expert at Consumer Focus Labs, said:- "We've watched 'scareware' attacks become ever more devious in their approach, particularly over the last few months. The garish pop-up windows of old are giving way to accurate spoofs of Windows security alerts containing links to software posing as the very programmes designed to stop this kind of thing happening.  It's not all doom and gloom though. If consumers follow basic advice and install trusted anti-virus and anti-spyware software and keep it up to date, the threat of mistakenly installing malicious software is greatly minimised."

Top Tips

1. Keep your wits about you. Attacks can occur on any site, even popular, trusted sites. Treat every pop up with suspicion.

2. Make sure your computer is secure. Install trusted anti-virus and anti-spyware software and keep it up to date. Install firewall software or check to ensure that your system's firewall is turned on. Also, keep a check on system updates which often repair security flaws in your computer's operating system.

3. Always use the latest version of your browser of choice and enable its pop up blocker.

The 6th annual Oxton Art Fair at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum

THE Oxton Art Fair has a wonderful reputation of showing a mixture of artists who exhibit regularly in Liverpool and beyond, and those who only participate in the Oxton Art Fair, showing a balance of traditional and contemporary art and photography alongside craft and design while offering a relaxed, friendly environment to talk to and buy directly from 20 local artists, designers and craftspeople.   The event will also have a lovely fair Trade café offered a by local charity, The Green Community Shop and Centre.

The event runs from Saturday, 7 November 2009 to Sunday, 8 November 2009 with artist demonstrations throughout the weekend.

"We are delighted to have 3 new selected Oxton Artists this year to joining us in addition to the return of past exhibitors. Liz Glover Hadwin will be showing beautiful black and white photographic portraits in natural settings, Eimear Kavanagh will be joining us with her asian inspired prints and collage and finally, Jayne Turner will be displaying her range of pop-art designer houseware and clothing. This year, many of the original exhibitors have taken on the challenge to produce new styles of work to keep the show looking fresh and exciting. Alison Bailey Smith will be launching her new range of eco accessories called 'Junk Jewellery' made from plastic packaging, Alan Chape who normally specialises in architectural photography has been working on colourful graphic pictures as well as collaborating with textile artist, Patsy Taylor. Lynda Roberts, well known for her wonderful collage paintings, has been creating artist books and there may be collaborations between artists and different disciplines." said Alison Smith. 

The venue is fully accessible to the public and there will be artist demonstrations throughout the weekend as well as an archive feature to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the conservation area in Oxton Village.   There will as be an eco wrapping service offered by Wirral Environmental Network. 

Opening times:- Saturday 10.00 until 17.00 and on Sunday 10.00 until 16.00. For more information please do visit:- oxtonartists.com. Also oxtonartfair.blogspot.com.