Students to sign up for free fitness

UNIVERSITY students are to get free access to the city council’s Lifestyles fitness centres in a ground breaking partnership being launched.  The agreement, which begins in September, will see Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) make a substantial contribution of £400,000 per year towards the running costs of local authority facilities in return for its 25,000 students and 3,000 staff getting no cost, off-peak access.

The collaboration means they will be able to use top-of-the-range gym equipment and make the most of the city’s 8 swimming pools - including the Olympic sized pool at Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree – and 9 gyms.  They will also have access to 2 golf courses, squash and badminton courts and many coached fitness classes on tennis court bookings.  As part of the deal, council facilities will also be made available for sports club training, competitions and the university’s educational programme in light of the university’s announcement that it’s closing the IM Marsh campus.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said:- “This innovative agreement is a win-win for the city council, the University and its thousands of students.  This investment from the University not only makes a valuable contribution to our running costs, but will also be a major boost for students during their studies at a time when every penny counts.  Liverpool has always been an attractive city for students, but this deal adds something extra and will be particularly attractive for those who are keen on sport and fitness.  Instead of just offering campus leisure facilities, this deal will offer a city-wide network of top class facilities on the doorstep of students, wherever they choose to live in Liverpool.  I’m pleased we can work in partnership with the university and offer students not just the highest levels of education, but also gives them the opportunity to make the most of the city council’s leisure facilities and adopt a healthy lifestyle during their time in Liverpool.”

LJMU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Brown, said:- “This deal provides much needed support to allow the city council to continue delivering first class facilities to all the citizens of Liverpool.  The partnership opens up the excellent sports facilities in the city to both our students and staff, and the city wide locations promotes great levels of access, really improving on what we can offer as a University to people studying and working at LJMU.  The decision has taken into account student feedback and also reflects the University’s close working relationship with Liverpool City Council.”

Students who want to make the most of the facilities in peak hours can get a discounted membership rate ranging from £5-9 per month. Staff can also upgrade their membership for £8-12 per month.  The arrangement will apply to all LJMU students – both full and part time, but not those who are studying LJMU programmes at other institutions, eg:- LIPA and Liverpool Community College.   Amy Larsen, a 20 year old LJMU Nautical Science student, said:- "This new partnership will make a huge difference to me. I usually use the gym or the pool but I'd love to try out some classes and activities that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to otherwise.  I currently pay for a gym membership but with considering the high cost of living, it is becoming difficult to maintain, so I would definitely make full use of this service."

Liverpool’s Lifestyle Centres are:- Garston, Peter Lloyd, Alsop, Austin Rawlinson, Cardinal Heenan, Croxteth, Ellergreen, Everton Park, Millennium, Park Road, Toxteth, Walton, Wavertree Athletics Centre, Wavertree Sports Park

Views of foster carers sought

LIVERPOOL’S foster carers are being surveyed as part of a drive to further improve the service they receive.   A total of 274 households who provide care for young people are being asked their opinions about the support they receive.  It has been put together with the help of the Fostering Development Group which is made up of foster carers, to help guide improvements to the service.  It includes a wide range of questions, including experience of placements, the support they receive, and the training and development provided.

Councillor Richard McLinden, Chair of the Corporate Parenting and Children’s Safeguarding Monitoring Panel, said:- “The fostering service has received very good inspection reports from OSTED and we are ranked as one of the best big cities in the country, which demonstrates there is lots of good practice.  However, we can always do more, and that is why I am keen to hear the views of foster carers and give them the opportunity to let us know their views, opinions and ideas on ways we can continue to improve. There is no-one better to ask than those on the frontline. In addition, I promised our foster carers the opportunity to ask us about anything at all, and we have pledged to answer every single question.  When we get all of the results back in, we will carry out a thorough analysis to study the views and identify what we can do to address any concerns that foster carers may have. The whole idea is to make we use it in a way that will improve on the good work the fostering service is already doing for the betterment of our looked after children. I’d like to thank the Fostering Development Group for their help and support with the survey.”

The questionnaires will be dropping through letterboxes over the next few days, and people have until 27 June 2011 to return it using the freepost envelope.

Liverpool has approximately 640 children in foster care, of which around half are with local authority foster carers and the rest cared for through independent providers.

Earlier this year, OFSTED and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave Liverpool a grade of ‘good’ for its overall effectiveness for looked after children and its capacity for improvement.

More foster carers are always needed.

For more information visit:- youcanfoster.org or telephone them on the freephone number:- 0800 634 7052.

Invitation to hospital trust annual general meeting

WOULD you like to know what your hospital has achieved in the last 12 months and what its plans are for the future?  The annual general meeting of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust on Saturday, 2 July 2011 at 2pm gives local people just that chance.  There will be the opportunity to ask the Board about progress towards integrating health care across north Sefton and West Lancashire since the Trust acquired services from local primary care trusts in April.  Chief Executive Jonathan Parry will also expand on the Trust’s plans for the future including the ambition to become a foundation trust by 2013.  The AGM will be held in the lecture theatre of the Clinical Education Centre at Southport and Formby District General Hospital in Town Lane, Southport. The centre is sited opposite the Accident and Emergency Department.