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Motorists in
Manchester and Merseyside experience greatest drops in car insurance
prices
IT'S great news for
motorists in Manchester and Merseyside as they have enjoyed the
greatest year on year decreases in car insurance prices compared to
any other area of the UK (-19%), with premiums falling by £184 to
stand at £808 on average.
Drivers up and down the country will also be celebrating, as figures
from the latest Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index, in
association with Towers Watson, reveal that premiums are falling
across the board. Dramatic year on year price drops of 15% have
brought the average cost of a comprehensive premium down to £579.
Though it's a case of 'everyone's a winner' for UK
motorists, these widespread price drops have been particularly
notable for drivers in who live in Manchester and Merseyside.
Drivers in Wigan are enjoying cheaper average comprehensive car
insurance premiums than any other area in Manchester and Merseyside,
paying just £622.
|
Comprehensive insurance prices in Manchester/ Merseyside |
|
Areas in Manchester/
Merseyside |
Average Comprehensive Car
Insurance |
| Wigan |
£622 |
| Warrington |
£658 |
| Liverpool |
£838 |
| Bolton |
£841 |
| Manchester |
£869
|
| Oldham |
£926 |
Other areas in Manchester and
Merseyside that have been impacted by these ongoing price drops
include Oldham, where motorists have experienced the greatest yearly
price drop in their car insurance. These motorists are now paying on
average £926 for their comprehensive car insurance premiums, seeing
a year on year decrease of 23%, equating to a price difference of
£270.
Yet no-one in the Manchester and Merseyside area seems to be feeling
the benefits quite as much as younger drivers. In particular, young
women (17 to 20) are experiencing a huge annual price decrease of
£1,060, as their average comprehensive premiums now stand at £2,180.
In fact, females of this age group living in Manchester and
Merseyside have seen their average comprehensive insurance premiums
nearly halve (41%) since the price peak they experienced in Q1, 2013
(£3,705 v £2,180).
Males of the same age group saw a similar year on year price saving
of £1,023, paying on average £2,605 for their comprehensive car
insurance, equating to a decrease of 28%. This contrasts hugely with
what these males were paying at the price peak they experienced in
Q4, 2011, where on average they were paying a whopping £5,724 for
their comprehensive car insurance; a decrease of more than half
(54%).In contrast, the smallest annual price saving has been experienced
by females aged over 70, who have seen a £63 price drop in the cost
of their car insurance, where the average price comes in at £447.
Biggest comprehensive insurance decreases year on year by age and
gender.
|
Biggest
comprehensive insurance decreases year-on-year by age and gender |
|
Age range & sex |
Year on year savings |
Average comprehensive premium |
|
17 to 20
Females |
£1,060 |
£2,180 |
|
17 to 20
Males |
£1,023 |
£2,605 |
|
2 to 25
Males |
£450 |
£1,633 |
|
21 to 25
Females |
£402
|
£1,232 |
|
26 to 30
Males |
£226 |
£1,171 |
While both male and females across the whole of the
UK have also benefitted from reduced premiums, in Manchester and
Merseyside women have fared better than men. Females in this area
are experiencing a year on year price saving of £209 compared to a
saving of £164 for men for their comprehensive car insurance.
However, despite car insurance prices falling significantly
throughout Manchester and Merseyside, motorists in this region of
the UK are still paying a significant £209 more than the national
average, which now stands at £579. Manchester and Merseyside still
ranks as one of the most expensive UK areas for comprehensive car
insurance premiums (£808), outranked only by Inner London, where the
average price comes in at £947.
Gemma Stanbury, head of car insurance at Confused.com says that:-
"It is great news for motorists in the Manchester and Merseyside
area, as they have enjoyed the greatest year-on-year decreases in
comprehensive car insurance premiums compared to any other area of
the UK. In the last year, motorists in Manchester and Merseyside
have experienced significant year on year decreases of 19%, bringing
the average premium down to £808 for this region. Motorists living
in Oldham in particular have seen fantastic savings, where drivers
have experienced the greatest year on year price drop of £270. The
cheapest area for comprehensive car insurance in the Manchester and
Merseyside region is Wigan, where motorists are paying an average of
£622, which is £304 cheaper than those living in near by Oldham.
Young motorists are also reaping the rewards in this area, with
17-20 year olds seeing the biggest year on year savings for the
their car insurance, making car insurance far more affordable for
young drivers. However, despite these huge price drops motorists
living in Manchester and Merseyside, are still paying £209 more than
the national average. We would urge motorists to not just accept
their renewal premium price, but to shop around."
So what do you our readers think? Email your views to:-
news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this
issue!
FoodCycle seeking new partner charity in Liverpool to help reach out
to people at risk of food poverty
ON 8 July 2014, FoodCycle
Liverpool, a charity that provides nutritious community meals for
people in need, announced that they are seeking a new partner to
work with in the City. FoodCycle reclaims surplus food that would
otherwise be wasted and uses these ingredients to create healthy, 3
course meals for people who are struggling to get by.
Each FoodCycle Hub serves around
1,500 3 course meals annually, using around 1,800kg of food that
would otherwise be wasted. FoodCycle's services are fully covered by
our own insurance, and all of our cooking sessions are led by a Hub
Leader who has Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene training, to ensure
high standards of food safety are maintained.
Ossi, Centre Manager at Islington
Mind, FoodCycle partner said:- "Across the UK, we successfully
partner with organisations including Mind, the Salvation Army,
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and many more local community
centres and churches. FoodCycle Islington offers a positive role
model for the day centre service users, and offers volunteering
posts to service users who are interested in doing voluntary work…
It gives the service users an opportunity to share the space with
people who don't have mental health problems, thus addressing stigma
around mental health, and enables greater integration for the
Islington Mind service users with other people from the community. I
can't recommend this initiative strongly enough. It is health and
well being promotion at its best."
Since FoodCycle began in May 2009, they have expanded to 18
locations and served over 100,000 meals. FoodCycle Liverpool was
previously based at Asylum Link in Kensington, but unfortunately
they are no longer able to host the service. If you have a kitchen
and dining space that could be suitable for FoodCycle Liverpool and
are interested in finding out more about working together, please
get in touch with Robyn on:-
robyn@foodcycle.org.uk or call:- 0207 729 2775 to
discuss the opportunity further. They said that:-
"We are looking for a venue that fulfils the following criteria:-
· A decent sized kitchen with cooking facilities.
· A dining area that can seat at least 25 to 30 people.
· Available for at least 1 mealtime per week (this must be the same
day/time each week).
· The venue must be available free of charge, as FoodCycle Hubs work
on the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship, where each
partner stands to gain from the relationship."
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CARNIVAL FEVER
HITS LIVERPOOL AS BRAZILICA GEARS UP...
Brazilica - Photos
by David Munn
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LIVERPOOL'S annual
Brazilica festival returns this this week for the start of a
fantastic 9 day celebration of Brazilian culture. There will be a
fantastic selection of events taking place between 11 July to 18
July 2014, on the build up to the main Carnival Day on Saturday, 19
July 2014.
Kicking off this year's events with a bang on Friday, 11 July 2014,
is the Brazilica 2014 Launch Party at 24 Kitchen St, Baltic Quarter.
With the best tunes spun by Liverpool's favourite DJ's and the
hottest Brazilian samba vibes, expect nothing less than a dance
floor extravaganza to mark the start of Brazilica's biggest and
brightest carnival spectacular to date!
There will be a Headdress Making Workshop at The International
Slavery Museum on 12 July 2014 and 13 July 2014, 1pm to 4pm. This
event is free to everyone, so prepare for the carnival by creating
your own show stopping headdress and take a peek at the carnival
costumes.
Once again a Brazilica film programme will be showing a triple bill
of the finest Brazilian films around. On Monday, 14 July 2014, the
first movie on the bill will certainly whet audience's appetite;
Estomago follows the highs and lows of Raimundo Donato. In the great
restaurant of life there are those who eat and those who get eaten,
and Raimundo cooks in order to survive his journey from down and
out, to celebrated chef, to prison convict. Featured at the 2008
Raindance Festival, do not miss out on this fabulous film which is
being screened at The Brink on Parr Street.
Then City of God 10 years later is showing at FACT on Wednesday, 16
July 2014. This documentary re-joins the actors of 2002's Brazilian
Crime Drama City of God 10 years after the Oscar nominated movie's
release. Find out exactly what came of the stars of the movie and
learn of their mixed fortunes over the last decade.
On 17 July 2014, Tropicalia will be shown at The Brink. This
powerful documentary from director Mercelo Machado explores the
scene and its key players of the Tropicalia movement; born in the
late 60's it used music and visual arts as a voice to confront the
cultural and political establishment. All films are free to watch so
don't miss out on the chance to see these excellent examples of
Brazilian film.
Then on Friday, 18 July 2014, Alma De Cuba will host
the annual Carnival Queen Competition. The panel of judges will be
hard pressed to pick a winner out of some of the UK's best samba
dancers who will each showcase their best routine, most dazzling
costume, and of course their sparkling personality and energy in the
battle for the coveted title of Carnival Queen.
The main Carnival Day on Saturday, 19 July 2014, will see a huge
samba band parade travel through the City filling the streets with
colour, music and fun. A host of top Brazilian bands and artists
will also play throughout the day and for the fourth year running,
Williamson Square will host a music stage throughout the day and
evening, presented by DJs from 107.6 Juice FM. Revellers will be
able to eat, drink and be merry as they experience a great programme
of music and samba dancing, with an outdoor 'cocktail shack'
and stalls offering the best in Brazilian food.
There will be a wealth of events taking place throughout the day and
night throughout the City, celebrating the very best of Brazilian
culture. The Latin American food marketplace at Williamson Square
where revellers can sample the delights of traditional Latin
American food, enjoying a wide variety of dishes and soaking up all
the atmosphere in the heart of Liverpool. The Kazimier Garden will
also be serving up great music and even greater food at their
Brazilian Barbeque from 2pm. Another perfect place to chill out in
town, enjoy the music and bring the family.
Brazilica Street Soccer Festival will name the winner of the
Brazilica Futsal Finals after the best 3 a side football teams
compete against each other in the finals of this Merseyside
competition brought to you by Halton Street Soccer and Futsal CIC.
The Everton in the Community Stage, will also be bringing more music
close to the action from 12pm to 6pm on Church Street.
For all the colour and beauty of Brazil, why not visit the Southport
Flower Show Stand in Williamson Square. Beautiful Brazilian inspired
displays will be on show, promoting their Brazilian themed Flower
Show which takes place later this year. Tickets for this year's
Flower Show will also be available to purchase at their stand.
Finally, closing this year's Brazilica, The Kazimier will host the
carnival after party on 19 July 2014, from 10pm. With carnival DJ's
and a special guest DJ set from Patrick Forge, the samba and Latin
House vibes are set to keep crowds partying until 3am. A night set
to be full of surprises, make sure and come down and enjoy the great
music, dance and performances as we say goodbye to Brazilica for
another year.
Tickets for this amazing Brazilica
send off are just £5, so be sure to join us for the carnival party
of the year!
This year's Brazilica programme truly offers something for everyone;
for more information on all of the above events please visit:-
BrazilicaFestival.co.uk.
Working to cut energy bills
THOUSANDS of Liverpool
households are being given help to cut their electriCity bills. The
scheme operated by Liverpool City Council's Healthy Homes Programme
provided 6 months paid work experience and training opportunities to
6 young people who supplied and/or fitted free low energy bulbs in
the homes of vulnerable residents.
They also provided a free energy monitoring service which has helped
residents to identify any potential opportunities to reduce their
energy consumption and so reduce their energy bills.
Now the opportunity is now being repeated for another 6 young people
aged 16 to 18 who are not in education, employment or training and
live in Liverpool. The programme is due to start in September 2014.
The trainees on the first programme supplied and/or fitted about
2,000 energy efficient light bulbs in residents' homes or gave them
out at events, including those run by the Healthy Homes Health
Promotion Team, the City Council's Energy Efficiency Team, and other
local community events.
In addition they also engaged with social landlords and other
agencies, offering the energy efficiency programme to their tenants
and clients.
All of the trainees successfully completed a number of training and
development courses and they were supported in finding future work
with 3, so far, going on to further employment and the others being
supported in their efforts in finding future employment.
Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor Ann O'Byrne said:-
"This is a great way of helping residents cut their fuel bills or
help to get them out of fuel poverty by making small changes in
their homes. And it is providing a unique opportunity for young
people to get work experience in a growing area of private sector
employment and learn many skills that future employers will be
looking for. An open day will be held on Monday, 21 July 2014, when
more information about the traineeships and programme will be
available. To register your interest in attending the open day
email:-
healthyhomesprogramme@liverpool.gov.uk
or telephone:- 0800121 754, giving your name, date of birth, address
and telephone number by Friday, 18 July 2014." |
