Usdaw welcomes new Adoption Bill

THE shop workers Union Usdaw has warmly welcomed a new Parliamentary Bill that aims to secure equal rights to parental leave, pay and allowances for parents who adopt.

The Adoption (Leave, Pay and Allowance Arrangements) Bill, which was introduced by Valerie Vaz, Labour Member of Parliament for Walsall South, received its first reading this week and is now scheduled to return for its second reading on 20 January next year.

At the moment pregnant women have a legal right of up to 52 weeks' maternity leave, regardless of length of service, while to be eligible for adoption leave, an employee must have at least 26 weeks' continuous service with their employer.  Mothers who give birth qualify for maternity pay at 90% of average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, followed by standard maternity pay of just over £128 per week or 90% of your earnings, whichever is lower. Adoptive parents are only entitled to statutory adoption pay of just over £128 per week.

The position is even worse for self-employed adopters or if adoptions take place privately, as is often the case in difficult family situations. In these circumstances, new adoptive parents are not entitled to any adoption pay or adoption leave.

Valerie Vaz MP, who is also an Usdaw member said:- "It all started in April this year when I attended the Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) of Usdaw and heard the impassioned speeches from delegates who asked for adoptive parents to be given the same statutory rights as parents who have children born to them.  We should recognise and reward adopters, and show them that they are valued as parents, by equalising their entitlements to support. The measures in my Bill would show society does value people who adopt and would also help support the Government's aim of increasing the number of adopters.  There is also a financial and social cost benefit of getting children out of care. The legislative changes proposed are minor and the financial costs are minimal, and are far outweighed by the benefits, in both the short and long terms."

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said:- "Delegates at our ADM unanimously backed a call for equal rights for adopters, so we warmly welcome this Bill and thank Valerie and all the MPs who supported it in Parliament.  The unequal treatment faced by adopters is simply wrong and whether a child comes into a family by birth or by adoption should make no difference to the support society gives them. The government must now do the right thing and back the Bill and ensure it gets the Parliamentary time needed to become law."

Charity urges RunLiverpool Marathon runners to get training

THE Stroke Association is urging people thinking about entering the RunLiverpool Marathon to apply for places, as there is just over three months to train for the event on 9 October 2011. During the 26.2 mile route, runners will start from Birkenhead Park, take in both sides of the River Mersey, and will finish in front of the Liver Buildings.  The Stroke Association’s Events Manager, Liz Williams says:- "We usually tell people to give themselves at least three months to train for an event like this. The Liverpool Marathon has not been organised for 19 years, so it is long-awaited and will be a fantastic route through the city.  The money raised by our runners will go to help prevent strokes and reduce their effect through campaigning, education and research, and also to help support the 1.1 million people in the UK adjusting to a life after stroke."  Places from The Stroke Association are free, and runners are asked to raise £450 in sponsorship. Runners receive expert guidance on how to raise the money, a weekly training email and a technical running vest.  For more information visit their website or contact them via email or by calling them on:- 0161 742 7484.

The British Heart Foundation is looking for locals to celebrate its 50th Birthday

THE British Heart Foundation (BHF) is asking the people of Merseyside to put on their party shoes, brush up their beehives and join its 50th birthday celebrations in July 2011.  The nation’s heart charity, which was founded in July 1961, is looking to Merseyside locals to get involved and host a 1960s inspired party or celebratory event. To help get people in the spirit the BHF has created a special party page full of retro music, food, fancy dress and fundraising ideas visit:- bhf.org.uk/party.

Ken Fretwell, Merseyside fundraising and volunteer manager for the BHF, said:- "We hope as many people as possible will help us celebrate this milestone with fun-filled fundraising. One idea for any birthday boys, girls, men or women who are planning a party but running short of present ideas is to suggest a donation to the BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal instead. With someone in the UK having a heart attack every 6 minutes you just don’t know when your family might be affected."

The Mending Broken Hearts Appeal is the biggest ever fundraising appeal ever launched in the BHF’s history. The goal is simple: to fund the research that could begin to ‘mend broken hearts’ in as little as 10 years and save and improve the lives of millions within decades.  Whether it’s hosting a birthday bash, a dinner party, coffee morning, quiz, dance, a sponsored challenge every person in Merseyside really can make a difference and help give hope to millions. Please call Ken Fretwell on:- 0151 678 2646 or send an email to get involved.

Charity urges RunLiverpool Marathon runners to get training

A 15 year old boy from Merseyside and a 63 year old man from Birkenhead are to be honoured for their extraordinary acts of bravery at a national policing award ceremony.  The pair are among 89 members of the public to be recognised for their courage and bravery at the ACPO National Public Bravery Awards, Tuesday, 5 July 2011, in Harrogate.

The awards, which began in 1965, are to recognise members of the public for actions which support the police in preserving law and order.  15 year old Danny Nelson has been awarded with a gold medal after going to the aid of an elderly man being racially abused and assaulted by two men and a woman on Berry Street in Liverpool City Centre in September 2010.  When Danny intervened he became the target of their violence and was assaulted by the woman and one of the men sustaining a 4" wound to his face.

Derek Mozeley was presented with a silver award for his bravery in detaining his gun-wielding neighbour, who had been terrorising drivers in Birkenhead, July 2010, by pointing the weapon at them in their cars.  Honorary Awards Secretary, Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, said:- "These awards give the police service the opportunity to formally acknowledge those altruistic people who have intervened to help others when the worst in society crossed their path. Each and every day, police forces rely on members of the public to support them in maintaining law and order. Tonight we have recognised extraordinary people, for some of the most outstanding acts of bravery, who put themselves at considerable risk to come to the aid of other people in need. We are delighted to be honoring these individuals, who are of all ages and come from all walks of life. As a consequence of their courage to intervene, lives have been saved and criminals sentenced to a total of more than 200 years behind bars. Their actions are to be commended and we thank them for their selfless acts."

Chief Constable Jon Murphy added:- "Danny and Derek were both willing to risk their own safety for others and I am really pleased to see them recognised for their brave actions. While the vast majority of us live peacefully and without ever even witnessing a ciminal incident there will on occasion be times when something out of the ordinary happens, violence erupts out of nowhere, and it is the extraordinary people like Danny and Derek who act altruistically to save others. Merseyside is a better place for its residents like Danny and Derek and I would like to thank them for their bravery and courage when faced with the criminality of others."

DANIEL NELSON

On Sunday, 12 September 2010, at 2.50pm Daniel was on the upstairs of a bus heading towards Liverpool city centre.  When the bus stopped at the junction of Berry Street and Duke Street, Daniel saw a group of two older men and a woman. An elderly, black man, who remains unidentified to this day, walked past them. One of the group shouted a racially offensive word at the man and punched him to the head.  Daniel decided he was going to help the elderly victim and got off the bus.  As he walked towards the group, he saw the same attacker continue to punch the man.  Daniel tried to stop the assault by getting in between the man and the others and reasoning with them.  At this point a black car stopped and the occupants assisted the elderly victim. The driver remonstrated with the assailant. It is then unclear where the elderly man went to, but he left, and the car drove off.  Daniel was left alone with the gang, which began to target him. The woman punched the teenager three times in the face. She was joined by the original assailant, who hit Daniel with his fist and then, while holding what is believed to have been the ragged edge of a drinks can in his fist. This caused a deep, four-inch laceration to the side of Daniel’s face, who didn’t realise how bad his injury was and walked away. Police, alerted to the incident, attended and detained the man who assaulted both Daniel and the initial victim.  The man, now aged 33, was jailed for six years, while the woman, aged 21, received a 2 year sentence for their attack on Daniel, following a trial in February 2011. Daniel’s actions demonstrate a brave community spirit. Without thought for his own safety, Daniel showed that he was prepared to assist an elderly member of the community, who was unknown to him, and as a result has been scarred for life.

DEREK MOZELEY

Brave Derek Mozeley stepped in and grabbed a gunman from a neighbour whom he’d known for 30 years; as police tried to clear people from an area of Birkenhead.  It was 7.55pm on Saturday, 3 July, 2010, and two police officers were travelling along Prenton Hall Road on their way to an incident when they saw a man standing in the middle of the carriageway.  Traffic had stopped around him and the officers initially thought there had been an accident and drove towards the man in order to help. It was then that the man lifted up his right hand and pointed a handgun at them, walking a few steps towards the police car. The driver reversed before the officers got out and tried to direct people away from the man. A number of 999 calls had been made to the Force regarding a man with a gun who had been threatening people in the road. Reports stated that he had approached cars, pointed the weapon at drivers and grinned at them, before backing off. As a result, other police attended to try and contain the scene. Meanwhile the gunman, shouting "come on", continued to approach the first officers. He pointed the weapon directly at them, before heading towards a road block where other police were trying to get people out of harm’s way, as they awaited armed support colleagues.  The gunman seemed very agitated and aggressive.  At this point, 63 year old Mr Mozeley;  a neighbour of the gunman; approached him. As he did so, the man lowered the gun briefly; but just long enough for Mr Mozeley to get the man in a bear hug-type grip and try to wrestle the weapon from him.  Officers who were awaiting the arrival of Armed Police were forced to immediately intervene. Together with Mr Mozeley they managed to restrain the man, remove the weapon and then arrest him. The gun was later discovered to be a Webley air pistol that was unloaded. The man was charged with firearms offences and sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.