‘MECCA-ME’
A STAR

MECCA Bingo in Southport is launching its search to find the town’s most talented residents to take part in the second ‘Mecca’s Got Talent’ competition.  Launching in clubs on Saturday 2 April 2011, Mecca customers and team members who think they have a talent that deserves to shine can enter to take part in the nationwide search. Culminating in a national finals event in the Midlands, the winner will receive a fantastic £5,000 cash prize and a year long contract with leading entertainment agency, Stagepalm.  Brian Hennigan, Club Manager of Mecca Southport, says:- “We had a great response last year and saw some very talented acts but we know there are more people out there who deserve their moment in the spotlight!  From singers to dancers and jugglers to impersonators, we want to hear from anyone who can get on stage and keep an audience entertained.   We’re all really looking forward to the club finals event in May and seeing which of our customers and team members have hidden talents.”

The winning club act from Mecca Southport will receive a pair of tickets to the Britain’s Got Talent Live Tour 2011 and be invited to compete in a regional semi finals event. If they are lucky enough to make it to the semi-finals, they stand the chance of being one of three acts selected to perform at the Regional Final, that will take place in June 2011.  The National Finals event, comprising ten acts (eight Regional winners and 2 online winners), will take place on Saturday 16 July at a Mecca Bingo club in the Midlands, with TV’s Lorraine Kelly as host.  Lorraine Kelly says:- “I’m really thrilled to be part of Mecca’s talent search for the second year in a row. The quality of acts in last year’s final was fantastic so I’ve got high hopes for this year!  Who knows, we might even find the next Susan Boyle!”

To take part, simply fill in an entry form available from your local Mecca Bingo club from the 2 April 2011. All forms must be completed and returned to your local club by the 30 April 2011.  The clubs finals will take place on Friday, 13 May 2011 and will be judged by up to 3 impartial judges from the local community.

Trust pledges equal health care for all

AN NHS trust is promising to iron out differences in community health care services for adults across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire once it becomes responsible for them on Friday (1 April 2011).  It will be then that Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust takes responsibility for many of these services currently provided by NHS Sefton and NHS Central Lancashire.

The new model, known as integrated care, removes barriers between hospital and community health care, making it easier, when appropriate, to deliver more care closer to home and in the home.

“To begin with, patients won’t notice much difference. Services will continue to be provided in the same place, at the same time and by the same staff.  But, over time, we will see faster access to treatment, investment in community health care as well as an improved experience for patients.  An example of this would be removing the variations in health care where community services are available to patients in one area but not another, or not the same standard.” said Chief Executive Jonathan Parry.

Improvements to services will be overseen by a Clinical Senate, a new, high-level advisory committee set up to report directly to the Trust’s board of directors.  It will be made up of senior clinicians, including hospital consultants and family doctors, health managers and patient representatives.

Mr Parry said:- “The Senate will make its recommendations on how we deliver health care services directly to the board, so I expect it to be very influential in how the Trust develops in the years ahead. Integrating care between hospital, the community and home will be a more efficient use of scarce NHS resources as well as better meeting the needs of patients.  These changes will also allow us to focus together on some of the serious health problems that people in our area live with, such as diabetes and heart disease.”

It’s all change

WITH the Government looking to continue driving its cost cutting measure through, it seems that they are looking to pass some of the savings to the business community in the form of some radical employment thinking in order to get industry buzzing. Two recent reports have caught people’s intention, the first being the idea of businesses that employ less than 10 staff being able to negotiate with staff over their family friendly rights, including maternity and paternity leave. At the end of the day the devil will be in the detail but this certainly would alleviate the pressure on small businesses with a small workforce where a member of the team, in the case of a mother, could be off work for up to a year. Radical in its thinking it maybe, but is it likely to get off the ground in terms of practice, HR Dept – West Lancashire Managing Director says:- "It may encourage smaller businesses to employ more women of child bearing age, though they would still be heavily protected under discrimination rules." Additionally it would be a retrograde step for a Coalition who have championed family friendly policies and talented females may shun working for SME’s. The second report looks at the cost of sickness absence to not only business but the burdens it places on the welfare state. A recent report from the Welfare Reform Minster, Lord Freud, outlined a proposal for employers providing their employees with income protection insurance to pay out when they are off sick from work. With sickness absence costing the economy and British business more than £8 billion and the welfare bill being in excess of £75 billion it appears cost cutting exercises could reach all warps of employment and life. HR Dept – West Lancashire Managing Director states:- "This is a good idea in principle, but it doesn’t necessarily tackle the problem of dealing with long term sickness absence issues which can often be very difficult and emotional. Often owners and managers aren’t sure what they can say or do when it comes to sickness absence issues, so dealing with the root cause instead of the actual payment details may be better directed." It remains to be seen whether the rules will come to any fruition given this would be a big overhaul, but is welcome thinking on the basis that small businesses do feel like they are treated as bigger business in the eyes of the Government. Flexibility in key decision areas like family friendly policies may make small businesses feel like they are being listened to more and encourage the revolution of growth. Vicky Crosby is a human resources professional providing advice on HR and employment issues for The HR Dept.

Paperback writer gives stamp of approval for new library

PLANS to dedicate areas of the new look Central Library to Liverpool greats has been given the thumbs up by Sir Paul McCartney.  In January, the city council announced plans to dedicate different areas of the redevelopment to writing, cinematic and musical greats. A shortlist was drawn up and members of the public were encouraged to have their say on who and what should become a permanent fixture at the library.

Final lists have now been drawn up by the libraries and archives team with the help of literary loving local residents who voted for who they would like to see set in stone.  Sir Paul McCartney was a popular choice to be added to the Literary Liverpool panel which will cover the back of the building and celebrates writers who were born, lived, worked, visited or were influenced by the city.

All the finalists (or their families) were contacted to let them know they had been selected, and the libraries and archives team received a raft of replies, including a note from the song-writing legend which said:- “I would be very happy for my name to be used on the external cladding of the redeveloped Liverpool Central Library and Archive. Thank you for doing me the honour.”

It’s even more fitting that the former Beatle will be permanently recognised, as one of the earliest examples of his creative genius was unearthed at Liverpool Central Library in 2009 – a prize winning essay written by Sir Paul when he was just 10 years old.

TV writer Carla Lane, poet Roger McGough and author Anne Baker have also made the final list and have expressed their happiness, and relatives of poet Adrian Henri were “delighted”.

Liverpool City Council’s Head of Libraries, Joyce Little, said:- “A huge amount of work has gone into developing these lists and the outcome is fantastically diverse and will hopefully stimulate debate for years to come.  The redevelopment of Liverpool’s Central Library is a huge project and will make the venue one of the best public libraries in the UK.   Budget cuts mean it’s a very difficult time for our library service, but this project will provide an outstanding facility for residents and visitors and will be an integral part of the city for future generations.”

The team are in the process of contacting publishing houses, agents and film studios to inform those who made the final Literary Pavement – a 22 metre long, 4.5 metre wide walkway which will lead from William Brown Street to the entrance of the beautifully restored library. Engraved on it will be titles from world books, cinema and music – which you can find inside the Grade II* listed building.

There has already been a response from the Arthur Ransome Literary Estate, who were happy for Swallows and Amazons to be carved into the granite floor and said:- “The redevelopment sounds like an excellent project and I’m sure that Arthur Ransome would be pleased to be associated with it.”

Inside the building there will be an area dedicated to famous quotations which will be visible from each floor of the building. Some that made it to the final list are:-

► "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country" – John F. Kennedy

► "I have a dream today" – Martin Luther King

► "Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans" – John Lennon

The feedback from members of the public to the proposals were positive and included comments such as:-

► “I think it’s a wonderful idea and will be a constant reminder of the classics that are available inside the library.”

► “Thought provoking – love it!”

► "An outstanding idea. I cannot wait to see this unveiled.”

Main contractor Shepherd Construction began work last autumn on the 150 year old library, which lies within Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage site. It will see the full restoration of the Grade II listed parts of the building, which date back to 1860, and the famous Hornby Library and Oak Reading Rooms will be fully open to the public for the first time.  The sections behind the façade, which were built in the 1950s and 1970s following World War II bomb damage and now suffer from damp and a leaking roof, will be rebuilt to make the most of the available space.

The revamped Central Library will also include a new home for the Liverpool Record Office which will house 14km of archives and some of the city’s most historic treasures from the last 800 years; such as the original 1207 charter... in purpose built secure, climate controlled storage.  Not only will the books be showcased in spectacular surroundings, but a new children’s library will also be created.  There will also be state of the art IT facilities which will allow young people to download music and games onto MP3 and MP4 players, with Wi-Fi and access to computers.

It is scheduled to reopen in Spring 2013. The work is being carried out by the Inspire Partnership, which is a joint venture between Amber Infrastructure and Shepherd Construction with architects at Austin-Smith, Lord and Cofely as providers of Facilities Management services.

Check your travel insurance, warns Lancashire Euro MP

LOCAL Euro MP Brian Simpson has warned Lancashire's Easter holidaymakers to ensure they have adequate travel insurance before setting off. Mr Simpson, who is Chairman of the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee, fears that travellers faced with the heavy costs of airline fuel surcharges, increased VAT and high Air Passenger Duty levels may choose to cut back on insurance in an attempt to save money.   Labour's Mr Simpson said:- "Travelling without insurance can have a devastating effect. We need to take out proper travel insurance to cover things like lost baggage, as well as any hospital bills resulting from holiday injuries."  Every year holidaymakers find themselves faced with massive bills because the travel insurance they bought from the back of a brochure did not cover them for serious illnesses, accidents or the death of a loved one.   "Travel companies offer cheap and very basic insurance, which in many cases does not provide adequate cover. This is why my advice is to take out a private insurance policy with a reputable company and ensure that all disasters are covered. It could save a lot of heartache and even financial ruin should holidaymakers be in the unfortunate position of needing serious medical care or the repatriation of a body." added Mr Simpson.