Park safely and considerately this bank holiday or get a ticket!

WITH Whit Bank Holiday (Spring Bank Holiday) looming ever closer, on 28 May 2018, residents along Merseyside's coastline are bracing themselves for thousands more visitors, on top of the already huge numbers that have already been recently heading to the coast. This year, the Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta event in Liverpool is the reason for the added worry. For residents on the coastline is that the nail biting racing across the Irish Sea and Bay of Biscay, they fear, could turn into nail biting problems for locals in the likes of Crosby, Hightown, Formby and on the Wirral. People are warned that road closures and parking restrictions will be in place in some areas, over 24 May 2018 to 27 May 2018, as the Regatta heads into the Mersey. Especially for the highlight of the event, on Bank Holiday Monday, 28 May 2018, when the magnificent Parade of Sail at 12 noon, before the Tall Ships will make their way up and down the River Mersey, accompanied by a flotilla of other craft, before sailing for Liverpool Bay at the start of their race. This includes restrictions for parking in Crosby. If you are heading to the beach, Merseyside Police said:- "We do not want to see a repeat of what happened on the 7 May Bank Holiday, when people parked dangerously and also blocked people in. If you can travel by public transport, please do so. If you are driving in or around the area, please park sensibly and be aware of parking restrictions. Also, take notice of access points so locals and emergency services can freely move. We will be working with Traffic Wardens to heavily enforce parking controls. If you see any dangerous parking or illegal parking, please report it via calling:- 101. This includes parking on non designated areas, including greens and on road junctions. We would like to remind people to take notice of any instructions given to you by the emergency services and also local Ranger services. Let's have a fantastic event by help us to help keep you all stay safe."

Prescot Prepares for Festival Season
Photograph by Alan Humphreys Photography.

FESTIVAL season is about to descend on Prescot, with a lineup of culture and entertainment culminating in the 10 day Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts.

Now in its 14th year, the festival makes an array of events from art and poetry to jazz and classical music accessible to everyone at affordable prices. This year's programme opens on Friday, 15 June 2018, with a journey through the history of swing with Swingshift Big Band.

But before then, the historic market Town will step back in time with the Elizabethan Fayre, on Saturday, 2 June 2018. Fun, food and live entertainment for all ages take place in the Town Centre, between 11am and 4pm, with Pop Up Shakespeare, courtesy of MATE Productions, at 3pm.

The following week sees pirates invade:- Prescot, as Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Captain Flint and friends launch a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas, in MATE Productions' imaginative staging of Treasure Island in Prescot's Woodland Theatre.

Then the month of culture ends with 10 days of arts and music, courtesy of the Prescot Festival, from Friday, 15 June 2018 to Sunday, 24 June 2018.

Taking place mostly in and around the 17th Century Prescot Parish Church, the Prescot Festival this year features such quality acts as Wingates Brass Band, musical theatre company BOST and Maghull Wind Orchestra, celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year.

Tickets for all festival events are now on sale at Poco Coffee, 30 Eccleston Street, Prescot, L34 5QJ, or just go online at:- PrescotFestival.Co.UK, where you can find out more about everything happening in Prescot in June 2018.

An excellent day had by all at Care Roadshow Liverpool

CARE Roadshow Liverpool, the second pit stop in this year's event calendar, was full of entertainment in the form of slipper soccer, fancy dress and singing! The doors opened at the sunny venue of Aintree Racecourse, on Tuesday, 15 May 2018. The 1st seminar hosted by CQC was left with standing room only as visitors flocked to hear from Helena and Phil, the local inspection team in the area. The visitors were able to hear first hand about the next phase of inspections along with receive examples of best practice to help inform as well as inspire.

Workshops hosted by Oomph! Wellness throughout the day saw crowds gathered around to take part in the interactive activities. Visitor's reflex skills were on show as large colourful balls were thrown across the room to encourage physical movement, even when seated.

As you looked around the exhibition, visitors were interacting with suppliers as they had upped the ante with on-stand games and even a sweet cart to attract the attention of potential new buyers.

The day was rounded off perfectly by the talented and motivational Jonathan Cunningham who had the delegates singing along to:- 'Somewhere over the rainbow' to highlight the importance of outstanding care whilst putting a smile on everyone's faces.

The Care Roadshow team now move further down south for the next stop at Villa Park Stadium, on 3 July 2018. Just as Liverpool proved, this will be another worthwhile and encouraging event for local care practitioners to attend for a break away from the office environment.

To collect your free tickets for yourself and colleagues, simply register online or via calling the team on:- 01425 838393 who will do this over the phone for you.

Want to learn Sign British Language?

ALDI sign language... Anyone wanting to learn to fingerspell and sign should please note that Practice Makes Perfect is based in Southport, at the Salvation Army, in Shakespeare Street. Classes run on Monday's, from 6pm to 8pm and on Friday's, from 1pm to 3pm. The not for profit community group aims to teach both adults and children, works in association with the Children's University and is a member of Sefton Council for Voluntary Service. They have also won awards, including the 'Spirit of Merseyside Award' in 2010. For more information please visit:- PracticeMakesPerfect.Org.UK If you do learn, you can really "let your fingers do the talking" with sign language!