New guide opens doors for disabled visitors in the North West

A series of top accessible and inclusive attractions throughout the North West have been chosen to feature in an inspiring new guide to support people with diverse needs in enjoying a day out; whatever their disability.

The revamped edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, now in its 10th year, has for the 1st time extended its reviews to include information for visitors with more hidden conditions such as autism and mental illness.

The North West attractions featured in the new edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain include:- the relaxing route along Walls Drive Trail and Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway, Sandcastle Waterpark, which boasts the UK's largest indoor facilities, Lancashire's extraordinary Brockholes Nature Reserve, thrill seekers' favourite iFLY Indoor Skydiving experience in Manchester, and the historic City of Chester.

As well as details of ramps, accessible toilets and parking spaces, visitors can find out well in advance whether a venue offers features such as quiet mornings, picture stories or bespoke queuing arrangements.

The guide has the enthusiastic backing of TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, a passionate advocate of the benefits of getting out and about in the great outdoors.

Chris said:- "The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is a celebration of some of the best and most inclusive venues in the UK. From personal experience, I know that many people face particular barriers to enjoying a day out. The guide equips visitors with all the information they need to set out with confidence, so they can simply concentrate on making the most of their day."

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain provides clear and helpful advice to highlight the very best inclusive and accessible days out for people of all abilities, from museums and art galleries, to wildlife parks and gardens. Packed with over 180 comprehensive reviews, the guide is an ideal planning tool for anyone with access needs.

Every venue is thoroughly checked out by Rough Guides' team of reviewers, who either have a disability themselves or visited the venue with a disabled friend or relative.

The new edition places particular focus on accessibility for people with neuro diverse and mental health conditions, and has drawn on advice from specialist organisations such as the National Autistic Society. It showcases many examples of best practice, with venues large and small providing imaginative solutions to the challenges posed by hidden disabilities.

Tom Purser, Head of Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said:- "The National Autistic Society is delighted to be working on this new edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, which has taken into account the needs of autistic visitors. With over 700,000 autistic people in the UK, it is vital that they are able to enjoy days out, just like anyone else. This has been a great opportunity for us to increase awareness of autism in partnership with organisations that are proactively making leisure activities more accessible to autistic people. It has been an inspiring collaboration and the National Autistic Society welcomes the open minds and attitudes with which Rough Guides are seeking to enhance the lives of people on the autistic spectrum."

The refreshed and enhanced edition of:- 'The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain' is now available online at:- AccessibleGuide.Co.UK.

Students from Liverpool reach ICAEW national business competition final

STUDENTS from Liverpool have fought off fierce competition from 550 other local teams to win a place at the National Final of ICAEW's national business and accounting competition, BASE.  ICAEW have put 4,173 business savvy students to the test, giving them the opportunity to experience what it's like to work as a chartered accountant. Challenging their ability to think strategically, BASE offers students from all backgrounds the opportunity to develop key skills for working in business.

Students from Merchant Taylors Girls School, The King's School and Coleg Cambria excelled in a number of areas including commercial awareness, organisation and resilience, and will go on to represent Liverpool, at the National Final, which takes place in June 2018

Justin West, ICAEW Acting Director Global Student Recruitment, commented:- "This year we have seen an increase in the number of students taking part, making the competition stronger than ever. All participants showed excellent initiative throughout the process and presented themselves professionally. I would like to offer my congratulations to all teams that took part and am delighted at the level of talent we will be seeing in the final."

This year is the 1st time BASE has gone digital, making it more accessible to a diverse range of students across the UK. Since going digital, BASE has seen a 40% increase in the number of students taking part.

RMT welcomes key public ownership victory on Isle of Man Steam Packet

THE Isle of Man Steam Packet union RMT have welcomed the decision by the Isle of Man Government to take the lifeline Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IoMSP) into public ownership. The IoMSP is currently owned by Portuguese financiers Banco Espirito Santo.

RMT National Secretary, Steve Todd said:- "This is good news for our Steam Packet members and for the public ownership model in the passenger ferry industry. We have been in regular contact with the Manx Government over the future of the Steam Packet and this was 1 of the best options on the table, although we will need to nail down the terms of the transfer to ensure that terms and conditions, including pensions of our members, are not adversely affected.  We also need to secure commitment around the training of the next generation of Manx and UK seafarers who will deliver the Isle of Man Steam Packet services for islanders and visitors for the decades to come, on new vessels. The RMT's biennial Shipping and Docks members' conference is being held in Douglas this week and we will contact the Minister for Infrastructure, Ray Harmer, with whom we have developed a good working relationship to discuss this very promising development."

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash, said:- "We welcome the Isle of Man Government's decision which is vindication of the RMT's support for public ownership and operation of ferry services across the British Isles. We will take soundings from our members on the Steam Packet and look to work with the Manx Government to provide a publicly operated Isle of Man Steam Packet fleet that is properly invested in, both in terms of crew and vessels to fight back against the challenges from aviation and low cost operators, who must continue to be excluded from any new Strategic Sea Services Agreement."

West Lancs School maps way to county finals

IN 2013, Sefton Council carried out a survey of housing stock conditions across the borough. The idea of the survey was to address and find ways to promote good quality and well managed private rented accommodation within Sefton.

An executive summary with the main findings can be viewed via downloading from here a .pdf or from Sefton Council's website.

The findings lead the Council to follow Liverpool City Council in bringing in a Property Accreditation Scheme and a Landlord Accreditation Membership. The result is that if your property is in Bootle you may need a Selective Licence.

If your property is in:- Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-le-Sands or Southport and if it is a House of Multiple Occupation you may need an Additional (HMO) Licence.

To check if you require a licence to rent out your property or apply for a licence go to:- HousingLicensing.Sefton.Gov.UK.