A healthy boost for community groups

MORE than 30 of Liverpool’s grassroots organisations which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities are being awarded vital grants.

In May, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) announced that there was £150,000 worth of funding to be awarded to organisations which could develop a project to reinforce the five themes of the Decade of Health and Wellbeing which are:-

Connect…
Be active…
Take notice…
Keep learning…
Give…

Following a competitive application process, 34 not-for-profit groups who are involved in arts and cultural activities have been selected to benefit from the grant. These include:-

►  Anthony Walker Foundation - Spray it, Don’t Say it

This project aims to engage with young people, encouraging them to express themselves through the art of graffiti with the help of a mobile canvas which will tour youth clubs and public areas. People will be asked to do their part to combat racism by delivering street art which celebrates cultural diversity and contains a strong an anti-racism message.

►  The Suitcase Ensemble - Look at Us Now

This is a professional production inspired by childhood dreams, lost glories and the unsung history of the Edge Hill British Rail Brass Band. There will be a programme of participatory opportunities and outreach with local communities, aiming to engage and inspire those with little access to contemporary theatre.

►  Urban Revolt Media - Angels With Dirty Faces: Postcode Criminals

This initiative will use photography and moving image to help young people express their feelings and experiences of living on disadvantaged estates. Young people will carry out research, identifying issues affecting their neighbourhood, and expressing them through art works which will be featured by the Bluecoat and NML for the Biennial 2012.

►  The Sound Agents – Project Chinatown

A series of radio programme workshops will be carried out in The Black-E and The Wah Sing to train the community on how to write, record, edit and upload programmes to an internet radio station. The workshops will be professionally photographed and will be exhibited at Chinese New Year in the Black-E with a sound work of programmes aired in the Dome.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "Grassroots funding is all about working with smaller organisations to bring the benefits of culture and art to those individuals who may not normally engage with the city’s cultural programme.Culture contributes enormously to people’s health, and it’s essential we work in partnership with the PCT to ensure that the Decade of Health and Wellbeing has a real, positive impact on our communities. This programme gives 34 groups the opportunity to tackle key issues in a creative way, and as a result extend the reach and awareness of the Decade. Our investments will pay dividends in terms of the health, social and personal development of those involved."

Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT said:- "We are delighted that so many grassroots organisations are benefiting from the Culture and Wellbeing Grass Roots Grants programme. The grants being made available will provide community organisations with an opportunity to make their own contribution to improving the city’s health and wellbeing through culture and the arts. I’m sure the projects will make a real difference to those who are involved with them."

The Culture and Wellbeing Grass Roots Grants programme is the second year of the programme, the first year during the Year of Health and Wellbeing was a huge success with over 60,000 people benefiting from over 900 events, large and small.

Those groups who will be receiving grants are:- Anthony Walker Foundation, Arch Under the Bridge Ltd, Chaturangan, Collective Encounters, Crass Routes, Dingle Community Theatre, Fazakerley Special Needs Project, Friends of Garston Park, FUSE: New theatre for young people, The Greenbank Project, Horn Africa, Liverpool ADHD Foundation, Liverpool City of Learning, Liverpool Pride, Liverpool World Centre, Movema, Moving on with Life and Learning Ltd, North West Somaliland Youth Forum, Pentecost Baptist Church, Rainbow Health and Social Care, The Reader Organisation, Refugees Support, Royal Court Liverpool Trust, The Sanctuary Family Support, Showrunners Network Limited, Soap Box Film Ltd, SOLA Arts, The Sound Agents, Squash Nutrition, St Cyril’s Children & Youth Project, Stray Cat Media, The Suitcase Ensemble, Tuebrook Transnational CIC, Urban Revolt Media.

Formby beach casualty returns to thank RNLI lifeguards
Photograph by RNLI

A Formby woman who suffered a serious head injury after falling on the beach earlier this year has returned to thank the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescuers who provided lifesaving first aid at the scene.

Vicki Crennell was accessing Formby beach back in July when she slipped, sustaining a large cut to the back of her head resulting in massive blood loss.

RNLI lifeguards Will Walker and Matt McArthur, who were on duty at the beach, immediately put their first aid training to use, assessing and treating Vicki while waiting for a medical evacuation from the North West Air Ambulance.

Now Vicki has demonstrated her thanks with financial donations of £150 each to both charities, collected with help from her family and friends to show their gratitude for the speedy and lifesaving response she received on the day.

Vicki said that:- "Without the lifeguards, I really don’t think I would be here today. I have never seen so much blood in my life and they were with me and treating me so quickly. I fell with quite a bump and the reassurance Will and Matt provided, as well as the medical treatment, was vital to me. As with all head injuries, it is taking a while to heal completely, but I’m doing much better than I would have been without their help."

RNLI lifeguards patrol four beaches in Sefton during the summer months on behalf of Sefton Council, which contributes to the cost of the lifeguard’s wages. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution pays to train and equip each lifeguard, which equates to around £1,000 per lifeguard per season.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Pete Rooney, said that the RNLI relies on charitable donations to fund its lifesaving lifeboat and lifeguard service around the UK’s coastline, adding:- "RNLI lifeguards are qualified to deliver first aid to a very high standard and are trained to just one level below paramedics.  That investment in training is matched by the lifeguard’s professionalism and expertise and we are delighted that we were there to help Vicki at the time and that she is continuing to make a steady recovery. We are immensely grateful to her and her family and friends for their kind donation."

Young people get into swing of golf

YOUNG people with special needs and disabilities have been getting into the swing of golf in Liverpool. The event called:- 'The Schools Disability Golf Festival' took place on Wednesday, 28 September 2011 at Liverpool North Municipal Golf Course on Ingoe Lane in Kirkby with around 50 youngsters from special schools across the city taking part. This project was run in partnership between the city council, Everton in the Community and The Golf Academy. The Project offered those taking part the chance to use specially adapted clubs backed up with skill based activities, in order to help them learn how to play the game.

Before the event Councillor Wendy Simon, cabinet member for culture, told us that:- "Disability is no barrier to taking part in sport and this is a fantastic chance for young people to learn how to play the game."

A further day will follow for adults with disabilities will take place on 8 October 2011, with other sessions planned to encourage them to develop their skills further.  In addition, those bitten by the golf bug will get the chance to travel to see the start of the European Tour at the BMW PGA Championship in May 2012, as part of a scheme run by professional Craig Thomas, who has won awards for his work to coach children with special needs and disabilities.

The scheme is part of a drive to encourage more people to take up golf following a range of improvements over the last couple of years at the council-run Liverpool North and Allerton courses.  The number of rounds played is up 7.8% over the last 2 years, bucking the national trend and despite harsh winters. More improvements are planned this winter to greens, tees and drainage, as well as the re-construction of some bunkers.