Youth service funding protected

FUNDING of more than £1 million is to be continued for voluntary groups across Liverpool to provide activities for young people over the next year.  The money – for the 30+ organisations will be the same amount as they received last year – is transitional until March 2012, pending the conclusions of a review of the Youth Service.

Organisations have been protected from reductions in grants despite the council facing huge pressures due to reductions in grants from central government.  As part of the conditions of the funding, an emphasis will be placed on providing activities that meet the needs of the young people in their communities.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for the Youth and Play Service, said:- “This funding will enable voluntary organisations to continue operating and making sure that young people don’t lose out on the services they value in the current economic climate. The fact that some many of our young people have lost their Education Maintenance Allowance and are looking at increased university fees or higher unemployment levels, the stability of their youth centres is more important than ever.  Our commitment to this service is clearly demonstrated by the fact that at a time when we are facing the most challenging economic times we have listened to the voices of young people and the voluntary youth sector and in direct response, are prepared to make the same level of funding available to groups next year as they currently receive. We are reviewing the service as we want to be sure that we are providing activities which young people really want to take part in.  It is very important that we get this absolutely right and extra sessions of the review were requested by a number of groups.  This means that we will not have the new look youth service in place by the start of the financial year as we need to make transitional arrangements. This funding will also enable our community and voluntary sector groups to begin to work together much more closely in our neighbourhoods and work towards a model that cuts out duplication and can deliver a better youth service for our young people.  We are very aware that next year the funding cuts will be deeper than this year and this funding will give our groups the time they need to look for alternative ways of delivering services working with other partners beyond the City Council.  Interim management arrangements are also being put in place to ensure the service continues to be delivered effectively.  We still need to make efficiencies in order to deliver services to young people and as such we will be negotiating with organisations that provide City-wide services with the greatest amount of grants to help us to achieve this in the coming weeks.”

The review, which is being carried out by a cross-party panel, has undertaken a series of public consultations and heard evidence from young people, residents, service providers, councillors, staff and community representatives. They have visited every district area in the city to hear views and take evidence. 

The panel has been looking at issues such as eradicating the duplication of activities and how to put on more events in places where there is not enough going on to meet demand.

It will also consider how services can be commissioned at a local level, rather than centrally.

WITNESS APPEAL
INJURY SHOOTING

MERSEYSIDE Police are investigating a shooting incident that has left a 25 year old man with gunshot injuries to his leg. At approximately 10.15pm on Monday, 21 March 2011, when a man attended hospital with gunshot wounds, he told hospital staff he had been shot whilst out walking. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening. The man is not co-operating as to where and when he was shot at this time, so a scene of the shooting has yet to be established. The white van in which he travelled to hospital in has been seized and is being forensically examined. At this early stage of the investigation officers are unclear as to the motive for this shooting, although it is believed to be a targeted attack.

Merseyside Police Detectives would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact the Matrix Team via calling them on:- 0151 777 5699 or via the charity Crimestoppers, by calling anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

Civic Trust honours for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL’S Pier Head and Canal Link scheme has won its 17th major award in just 2 years.  The scheme was one of four in the city honoured by the Civic Trust for excellence in design, planning and architecture - and for making a real difference to people’s lives.  The 2011 Civic Trust Awards, held in Manchester, recognised the best national and international building schemes, celebrated architectural excellence and rewarded civic contribution.

Liverpool’s £28m project to create a new canal link and transform the public realm at the Pier Head, which was delivered by British Waterways, received one of 24 commendation awards at the event. The works were ‘applauded for their extent and quality which further enhance the setting, including the grade I listed Liver Building, and grade II* Cunard and Port of Liverpool Buildings.  Judges went on to say ‘the works represent best practice in accommodating growth and investment in a dynamic, living World Heritage Site city.’

The latest national accolade for the Pier Head and Canal Link takes it total since 2009 to 17, including prestigious RIBA and British Construction Industry Awards.

Projects by Liverpool’s higher education institutions also played a starring role at the awards. The University of Liverpool’s Heating Infrastructure Project - which was designed by architects Levitt Bernstein Associates, who worked closely with city council planners - won one of 27 main awards at the event.

The contemporary energy centre, which sits a group of 19th century listed buildings on Dover Street, was praised for ‘reflecting the past in a modern solution’ Judges described it as ‘a brave, imaginative brief [which] has created a unique and modern design with architectural qualities commensurate with its neighbours.’ City Council planners worked closely with the architects to refine the design.  Also commended at the awards were Liverpool Hope University’s Angel Field, on Shaw Road, a 21st century Renaissance garden at the heart of the campus; and Liverpool John Moores University’s Art and Design Academy – an iconic, modern building, situated close to Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral, which offers seminar rooms, galleries, exhibition space and roof terraces with spectacular city views.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said:- “I’m delighted that Liverpool has played such a starring role at the Civic Trust Awards. Our four award winners are all fantastic examples of how good design and planning can help deliver world class, contemporary projects, which breathe new life into our city while complementing our existing architecture.  I would like to congratulate all the teams who have worked on these fantastic projects - these awards are well deserved. It’s also great news that our ambitious Pier Head and Canal link scheme, which is now a must-see attraction for visitors and local people, continues to pick up an ever-growing list of national accolades.”

The city council’s Director for Regeneration, Nick Kavanagh, said:- “Liverpool’s Pier Head and Canal link scheme has helped transform our waterfront, increasing its appeal as a major attraction. I’m delighted that it continues to receive this well-merited national recognition for its high quality of design and construction and for helping to improve people’s lives.  Liverpool’s overall success at the Civic Trust awards shows that, despite the tough economic times, we continue to be a leading city of architectural excellence, which can only be good news for our future.”

Launched in 1959, the Civic Trust Awards is one of the oldest built environment award schemes in Europe. From cafes and churches to housing and hospitals, the Civic Trust Awards have rewarded over 6,500 projects which have made a difference to local people and their communities by providing the design and facilities which have made better places for people.

Civic Trust Awards Managing Director, Malcolm Hankey said:- “Increased financial pressures on all aspects of the industry have once again dominated the last 12 months, but the Civic Trust Awards continue to encourage design excellence and promote the concept of positive civic contribution. I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners on their much deserved success.”

A full list of winners is available at:- civictrustawards.org.uk.