Headlines and reports on this page = 5 news items.    Page - 6.

See if you have what it takes to be part of the HMRC Graduate Recruitment Scheme

WITH 200 places available, HMRC is looking for the UK's top graduates to join its graduate training scheme. Offering a diverse and challenging start to their career path, the graduates will be supported and guided through the four year Tax Specialist Programme. They will gain first-hand experience of investigating tax fraud to negotiating settlements, while developing skills to tackle complex issues and lead their own team of tax professionals. HMRC is searching for motivated and dedicated graduates with at least a 2:2 degree, in any subject, to apply for the scheme. Edward Troup, Tax Assurance Commissioner, HMRC said:- "HMRC's work touches everyone in the UK. What we do is challenging and hugely varied. We are looking for intelligent and driven graduates who are up to a challenge and want to help keep the UK working." Further information on joining the Tax Specialist Programme can be found online.  The deadline for all applications is midnight Tuesday, 24 November 2015.

6,000 responses to consultation on St Luke's Church

MORE than 6,000 people have submitted responses to a public consultation exercise over the future of St Luke's Church in Liverpool. The public consultation followed a commitment from Mayor Joe Anderson to keep the so called:- 'Bombed Out Church' in public ownership and secure a viable future for the building. The consultation launched on 20 August 2015 and ran for 6 weeks to gauge views on how it can be preserved as a living war memorial, the type of events that should be held there and what further facilities or possible development should be carried out. The Council will now compile the results and publish a summary in November 2015, with the results used as the basis to make decisions about its future. It could include seeking expressions of interest for the appointment of an occupier/operator to run the site in the new year. The successful party will have to demonstrate that they can offer a viable future for the site, in line with the results of the public consultation. Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Malcom Kennedy said:- "It is clear from the response we have received that there is a great deal of love and affection for St Luke's. The number of responses we have received demonstrates the importance of this historic site to the people of Liverpool. We will now start analysing the responses and the results will inform the future use of the site." It comes as the City Council prepares to commence the 1st phase of a 3 phase project on 14 October 2015, to repair the structure of the Church, funded jointly with Historic England. The structural works will mean that the Church and gardens will be closed to protect public health and safety. A restoration 'Open Day' will be held during the works to allow members of the public to visit the site and find out more about the restoration process; details of how to book a place will be released in the near future.

Fundraising feast serves up more than ฃ4,000 for cancer research

MORE than 100 locals have helped North West Cancer Research add to its fundraising totals, at a special charity evening at one of Southport's top Chinese restaurants. The Southport based volunteers who have been raising money for cancer research charity NWCR for the last 6 decades, held the annual event at the Ho Lee Chow restaurant on Rotten Row on 18 September 2015. The 108 guests, enjoyed 8 courses of traditional cuisine, served up by restaurant owners Warren and Christine, who along with members of their family and friends gave up their time to help out on the evening. A raffle and auction added to the entertainment and a total of ฃ1,961 was raised, with Barclay's Bank agreeing to match fund the amount, taking the overall totals to just over ฃ4,000. All money raised will be donated to North West Cancer Research, who fund vital search into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, helping increase our understanding of the disease and directly benefitting people living in the North West. The charity which has had a presence in Southport since 1957, has committed to funding more than ฃ11.2million of cancer research over the next 5 years. It currently funds research at the University of Liverpool, as well as at Bangor and Lancaster Universities.

Olive Cutts, Chair of the NWCR Southport fundraising committee, said:- "The Ho Lee Chow fundraising evening is always a highlight of our calendar. Not only does it allow us to raise money for vital cancer research but it also gives us an opportunity to enjoy some great food, company and entertainment. This is the 6th year we have held the event and the restaurant's owners Warren and Christine, have always offered us strong support. They kindly created a wonderful banquet at a reduced price and offered their restaurant for the evening free of charge and I would like to thank them for their continued support. ฃ4,000 is a fabulous amount of money to raise in just one evening and this is testament to the hard work of the committee, particularly the work of Linda Edge and Margaret Ishwood, who have given up so much of their time to make this possible. On behalf of the committee, I would also like to thank the local residents and businesses, who have been so generous in donating gifts for the raffle and auction. Sadly cancer affects all of us in some way, at some point during our lives. I have battled cancer myself and know how devastating the disease can be. But, thanks to cancer research which is currently being carried our right here in our local areas, we are now able to treat cancer more effectively and help people live longer. That is why every penny we raise for NWCR is so important."

"Government's Tax Credit snatch and grab will hit more than 338,000 working households across the North West" says UNISON

THE UK Government's cuts to Tax Credits next April will leave more than 338,000 low to middle income working families across the North West; and almost 637,000 children; significantly worse off, according to new research published on Saturday, 3 October 2015, by UNISON. Using official figures published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), UNISON has calculated that across the UK more than 2.7m working families; or 2 in 5 of all working families with dependent children; could lose as much as ฃ3,000 a year, from April 2016. This is equivalent to the entire population of Greater Manchester, where the Conservative party conference gets underway. And in working households across the UK where the parents are in receipt of Tax Credits, there are 5.2m children, equivalent to the entire population of Scotland. In the North West there are almost 637,000 children whose parents will be penalised by the changes to Tax Credits. In his July Budget, the Chancellor announced changes to the Tax Credit taper and threshold, a move that will see ฃ4.4bn a year taken out of the pockets of low to middle income families across the UK. In some cases people stand to lose more than 10% of their take home pay. According to the UNISON research, London has the highest number of working families (357,000) who will be hit by the Tax Credit changes, closely followed by the West Midlands (269,000), and Yorkshire and the Humber (255,000). Unsurprisingly, says UNISON, the most deprived parts of the Country have the largest number of families affected by George Osborne's proposals, while in more affluent places there are far fewer families who stand to lose out. The worst affected areas in the North West are the constituencies of Blackley and Broughton with 8,600 families, Blackburn with 8,400, and Bolton South East with 7,300 families. Commenting on the research UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:- "Many of the thousands of families in the North West who will be the victims of the Chancellor's cruel Tax Credits snatch and grab still have no idea that they are going to lose out in 2016. When they start receiving letters in the post from HMRC just before Christmas, it will mean chaos for family finances. Tax Credits are a lifeline for families in the North West; quite simply they are the difference between them keeping their heads above water and going under. The huge loss of income; of between ฃ1,000 to ฃ3,000 a year; will have a devastating impact upon family budgets that have yet to recover from the living standards crisis. Parents, who will go without in a vain attempt to make sure their children don't, will be forced deeper into debt. The government is full of praise for people who go out to work to try and provide better lives for their children. Yet these are the very people these punitive changes will hurt. It's time for the Chancellor to admit that he's got this one very wrong, and back down before it's too late."