'Bin' there, done that…

HUNDREDS of new litter bins are helping to make Liverpool's streets, parks and open spaces cleaner and brighter places. This week marks the finale of the 1st Phase of a City wide Mayoral plan to provide more places for people to dispose of their waste.  More than 200 new bins have been installed in streets and other locations. The Council has also been doing its bit to support recycling, by transforming old litter bins and bringing them back into use.  More than 70 existing bins have been given a makeover and returned to their former glory. They are now back on the streets and in full working order. A further 24 'super bins' have been placed in parks to support the various 'Friends of' groups. These double bins have a storage cabinet at 1 end which allows the volunteers to keep bags and litter pickers. The groups are given keys to the cabinet so they can clean the park at any time.

In 2016, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson gave the thumbs up to the ₤250,000 plan to replace old and unsightly litter bins. The mayor pledged a further ₤20,000 to support the efforts of community groups to help clean up the parks. Mayor Anderson said:- "With summer well on its way, it's important that our streets, parks and open spaces look their very best so that we can all enjoy them. Litter is a blight on our communities and everyone has a part to play in ensuring that we dispose of our waste responsibly. With these new litter bins now in place and more on the way, there really can be no excuses for littering our public spaces."

Phase 2 of the project, which begins in June, will see a further 200 bins sited in the City's wards.  In total, more than 500 new and replacement litter bins will be installed as part of the project.  Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Steve Munby, said:- "We would like to thank all those volunteers who work tirelessly to make our parks and open spaces clean and safe for everyone. It is clear there is a great deal of civic pride and community spirit amongst our residents. Litter isn't just a Council problem, it's everyone's problem, so we want everyone to take pride in our City and use the new bins the Council has provided."

For more information about waste disposal or to report an issues, visit Liverpool City Council's website and search for 'bins and recycling.'

Youth Select Committee 2018 calls for evidence on barriers to work experience

THE Youth Select Committee have formally announces a new inquiry into barriers to work experience. The Committee is calling for evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including businesses and charities, as well as young people who have been directly affected by these barriers.

The announcement comes as a YouGov poll reveals more than ⅔ of young people (71%) are expecting it to be tougher to find a job in 2030 with 58% of all 11 to 18 year olds citing a lack of work experience as a barrier. And research from the House of Commons library has given even greater cause for concern, as recent data shows more than ½ a million young people are unemployed (excluding those in full time education).

Now in its 7th year, the Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The 11 committee members are aged 11 to 18 and include Members of the UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councillors, and representatives from each of the devolved nations. Access to work experience was voted 1 of the top issues affecting young people in last year's 'Make Your Mark' ballot; the largest annual consultation of young people in the UK.

This year, the committee will look at issues including:-

► What does good quality work experience look like?

► What do young people and businesses expect to get from it?

► How important is good quality work experience to successful industrial strategy?

► What evidence is there that work experience boosts social mobility?

Claudia Quinn, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said:- "The Youth Select Committee will investigate the barriers young people face when accessing work experience. Work experience has become a growing concern for young people seeking to enter the workplace. We're looking forward to ensuring we hear a variety of voices on this issue so we can make strong recommendations to the Government."

Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons said:- "I have always admired the ability of the Youth Select Committee to identify and raise awareness about the issues affecting young people across the country. This year's Youth Select Committee is no different, launching an inquiry into the very real problem of barriers to work experience. I look forward to reading their report."

The Youth Select Committee call for evidence closes, on Monday,18 June 2018 and the Committee will hold oral evidence sessions in the House of Commons, in July 2018.