Commissioner urges community groups to work together to prevent crime

ORGANISATIONS which are working to help prevent crime and protect communities in Merseyside are being invited to apply for a share of a fund aimed at helping to build stronger, safer communities.

This is the 4th year that Merseyside's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy has opened the Crime Prevention Fund, which is used to help charities, community groups and social enterprises stop problems before they occur, by reducing the opportunities for crime and by deterring people away from becoming involved in anti social and criminal behaviour.

A total of ₤135,000 is available from the fund for innovative community safety projects or schemes that will run over the next 12 months. This year the Commissioner is encouraging organisations to work together to submit bids for between ₤5,000 and ₤25,000 from the grant and she is specifically inviting applications for the project, which focus on tackling serious and organised crime.

Jane said:- "Serious and organised crime is, for many people, their greatest concern. It blights our communities, bringing misery and harm and causing decent, ordinary people to live in fear. Many organisations and community groups are already working with Merseyside Police and my office in tackling this issue, and I want to encourage and maximise this collaborative approach by encouraging organisations to join forces to bid for funding from the Crime Prevention Fund. Local people understand their communities better than anyone and know what will work best to improve their area. We are fortunate to have a wealth of voluntary and community groups which are working hard to prevent people, especially young people from getting involved in crime. By pooling resources and working even closer together we can all do more to make a difference for communities across Merseyside. I've met hundreds of people across Merseyside who are really proud and passionate about the places they live in and are committed to keeping them safe and I'm excited to see their proposals for how this funding can be best spent."

Last year, 13 grassroots organisations were chosen from among more than 70 applications to receive a share of the Fund to help make communities across Merseyside safer. Successful organisations included the Royal Court Trust, which was awarded ₤25,000 to continue to run the hard hitting drama Terriers, and the educational charity Ariel Trust who received ₤15,000 to deliver preventative education to young people on a range of issues, including:- domestic and homophobic abuse, child sexual exploitation and grooming.

A ₤10,000 grant was also given to Breckfield and North Everton Neighbourhood Council (BNEC) to help them deliver their Making Waves project which delivers both outreach and centre based services for young people living in areas of high deprivation to divert them away from crime.

Jane said:- "Over the last year, this funding has helped to deliver some really important projects which have made a profound difference in the lives of the people they support. Even a small cash boost can be of huge benefit to many of these grassroots projects and I look forward to seeing what more we can deliver together over the next 12 months."

Any organisation wishing to apply for funding will need to show how their project works to tackle 1 of the following four priorities set out by the Commissioner; preventing crime and anti social behaviour; tackling serious and organised crime; supporting victims, protecting vulnerable people and maintaining public safety; or improving road safety.

Applications will also need to show how the initiatives will deter individuals from committing a crime, reduce the number of people entering the criminal justice system, or lower reoffending. They will also be assessed to see how well they will protect vulnerable communities.

The fund will be administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside (CFM), an independent charity which assists grant making and charitable giving. Local groups who would benefit from the funding can find more details on its website at:- CFMerseyside.Org.UK.

CFM is also available to help any organisation looking to make a bid. The closing date for applications is 5pm, Monday, 11 June 2018.

Stag beetle summer... How you can help this endangered beetle this June and July!

BETWEEN June and July  2018, wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is asking for families, individuals or groups of friends in the UK to record sightings of stag beetles on 6 summer evenings, as part of an ongoing European study into these impressive, yet endangered beetles.

Taking part in the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network couldn't be easier; all volunteers need to do is walk 500m, 6 times between June and July on warm, summer evenings, counting and recording any stag beetles they see. So whether you're on your evening:- dog walk, a post work jog, popping to the shop or walking to your local pub, you can help!

The European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network, set up by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest and co-funded by PTES, comprises partner institutes and universities from 13 European countries from:- Germany and Greece, to the UK and Ukraine. The network aims to assess population levels across Europe, monitoring the stag beetle's full range. The group are keen to hear from more people in the UK, so to take part please visit:- StagBeetleMonitoring.Org.

Stag beetles are Britain's largest land beetle with males reaching up to 7.5cm in size. They are also 1 of the most spectacular looking insects, with a males' huge mandibles (antler like jaws) making them easy to spot! Despite their appearance, stag beetles are harmless if left alone, and from mid to late May are more likely to be seen as warmer evenings draw them above ground to find a mate and reproduce.

Laura Bower, Conservation Officer at PTES, explains:- "Loss of habitat and lack of dead or decaying wood are just 2 of the reasons why stag beetles need our help. Stag beetles are completely reliant on dead wood (either partially or completely buried) and are part of the process of recycling nutrients back into the soil, making them a very important part of the ecosystem. They mainly live in Britain's gardens, parks, woodland edges and traditional orchards, and were once widespread throughout Europe. We hope that by taking part in this European survey, PTES' annual Great Stag Hunt, and by making gardens stag beetle friendly, the public can help reverse the decline of this iconic insect."

As well as taking part in the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network survey, PTES wants members of the public to record any sightings directly to them via the Great Stag Hunt; an annual stag beetle survey PTES has been running for nearly 20 years. Last year, over 6,107 records (of both larvae and adult beetles) were submitted to PTES via the Great Stag Hunt website... 925 larvae and 5,182 adult beetles. To record a sighting, please visit:- PTES.Org/GSH, and if you can, take a photo too to help conservationists at PTES verify your sighting.

On top of these 2 surveys, anyone with a garden can help by making their green spaces a stag beetle haven. From creating a log pile, to leaving plenty of dead wood for stag beetles, there are lots of things gardeners can do to help:

Save our stag beetles: top tips for gardeners:-

1. Create a log pile: 1 of the major problems facing stag beetles is a lack of rotting wood to lay eggs in or near, and for larvae to feed on. By creating a log pile (or a log pyramid, if you fancy a challenge!), you can provide stag beetles with habitat for the future. Log piles are also great habitat for other invertebrates and they in turn provide food for hedgehogs and birds.

2. Leave dead wood in your garden: Leave old stumps and dead wood alone, as these provide the perfect habitat and also a food supply. If you want to make the stumps more attractive; try growing a climbing plant such as clematis up it.

3. Reduce dangers: Be vigilant when mowing your lawn and be alert for predators; try and scare away magpies and keep your own pets indoors during warm evenings when stag beetles are flying. Also, make sure any open water has an exit point, and if you see a dead looking beetle in water, please take it out; they often revive!

4. Record your sightings: Let PTES know where you've spotted a stag beetle via the Great Stag Hunt! Sightings are key to finding out where populations are thriving, in need of help, or non-existent.

Visit:- PTES.Org to find out more, including how to build a log pile or pyramid, ID guides so you know a stag when you see one, and to record your sightings. Visit website to take part in the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network survey.

Both Miss England's Miss Southport and Miss Liverpool City Region contests are to be held at the Liverpool Olympia

ON Friday, 18 May 2018, both the Miss Southport 2018 and Miss Liverpool City Region 2018 competition will be at the Liverpool Olympia, located on West Derby Road, Liverpool. The Liverpool Olympia was originally a purpose built indoor circus and variety theatre, built in 1905 for Moss Empires Ltd, by architect Frank Matcham. A rare surviving example of a music hall, come circus building; this historic venue now hosts a diverse range of events; concerts, comedy, boxing, fashion shows, club nights and more. It's also the regular location of Miss England's Miss Liverpool Finals, with the venue giving contestants a fantastic backdrop to the night's proceedings. For tickets call the Olympic on:- 01512636633. For more information about both Miss Southport 2018 and Miss Liverpool City Region 2018, visit:- Miss-Liverpool-City-Region.com and for Miss England, visit:- MissEngland.Info If you do get the chance to attend, you might see the very 1st steps of a future Miss World. Plus on the night Livvy K will be attending... Livvy K is an artist who seamlessly commands attention putting all of her backgrounds together. Coming from dance, modelling, and acting... she understands multiple approaches and ties them together well. With incredible vocals, and an unmatched stage presence, she is determined to show the world who she is and what she has to say. After winning Top Model and with acceptance to the top performance colleges in the UK, Livvy K made the tough decision to pursue music instead and flew immediately to Denver, Colorado to work with her now Song Writer/Creative Director, John Gillette, and his team from KMGLife. Also performing is Southport's Astrid Smith, who is only 8, will offer a mix of jazz and blues tracks on the night, ahead of filming 1 of ITV's most popular talent shows. If you do not already know, Astrid was scouted for two prime ITV talent shows after taking part, in April 2017, in another competition called:- 'Teenstar.' Plus there are many more interesting people who will be supporting the contestants on the night, or judging.

Did you know? The the Liverpool Olympia you can still find the remains of elephant and other animal stabling structures. The venue also has an ornate interior decorated with elephants and Indian panelling that can still be seen today...