Funding boost for Merseyside good causes

2 Merseyside good causes have each scooped much needed funding from a leading house builder, demonstrating the breadth of community organisations being supported. The Hope Centre and Tuebrook Community Centre Group are the latest recipients of Community Champions awards from Persimmon Homes North West.

The national match-funding scheme seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life or environment across the Region.

Dave Hodgson, sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes North West, said:- "There are so many different voluntary groups helping to make life better for local people, so we are proud to be able to support organisations in our Region. Both groups are thoroughly deserving of the Community Champions awards."

The Hope Centre is the umbrella for a number of community projects, including St Helens' Day Centre for the homeless, St Helens' Food Bank working to tackle food poverty and Baby Basics which supports new mothers struggling to welcome baby home. All services rely on volunteers and the ₤1,000 donation from Persimmon will go towards their travel and training costs for the year ahead.

Tuebrook Community Centre operates in a highly deprived area of Liverpool and has offered keep fit and amateur boxing sessions to young people within the community for the last 40 years. It enables participants to get fit, have fun, make friends and gain discipline. Persimmon's ₤1,000 grant will be used to pay for new equipment and an alarm for the centre.

Community groups, charities and good causes across the country have benefited thanks to the donations from Persimmon Homes. Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form at:- PersimmonHomes.Com.

The scheme invites local groups and charities to bid for cash from a ₤750,000 national fund, with 2 donations of up to ₤1,000 being made locally each month.

Persimmon Homes North West has new homes developments across Merseyside, within:- Maghull, Newton Le Willows, Bromborough, Aintree and Ellesmere Port.

Former lecturer launches new career writing children's books

FORMER Liverpool based University lecturer Jennifer Jones knew she wouldn't take to retirement easily. As a self confessed:- 'do-er' sitting back and relaxing just isn't in her nature. However, the 69 year old soil scientist has surprised even herself after a new interest in bird watching has led her to launch an entirely new career as an author of children's literature.

The former principal lecturer at Liverpool John Moore University published her 1st picture book 'Rock on Barney' in November and she is now busy penning her second book:- 'The Adventures of Markus Moldewarp,' which is due out later this year.

Inspired by the natural world and her new found love of birds, Jennifer, from Hunts Cross, hopes her books will inspire young children to think more about their environment.

Jennifer explained:- "I've always written and had a passion for reading and writing. My mother was a Primary School Teacher and wrote books for children so I guess I'm somewhat following in her footsteps. My 1st career was nursing and I had intended on becoming a Paediatric Nurse, but I suffered a back injury quite young which meant I struggled to work for many years. I wrote a lot during that time and eventually when I was well enough I went back to University to study for a degree in Geography and Botany. It was during these years I really developed a passion for writing albeit in a more academic way. I went on to do a PhD which involved lots more writing and I've had many articles published in professional magazines and journals. I knew 1 day I would write a fictional book and I got the idea for 'Rock on Barney' when I was on my way back from a writing group in Wrexham. I saw a buzzard sitting on a lamppost. A part of me was thrilled I even recognised what the bird was, but I just remember thinking how lonely he looked. I knew from that moment he would feature as the main character in the book and the rest of the story followed from there."

Released on Amazon in November and illustrated by artist Alan Jones, 'Rock on Barney' tells the story of a not so fierce buzzard and his journey to find new friends when he becomes an all singing, all rocking star at the 'Have a Go' disco night.

The follow up book:- 'The Adventures of Markus Moldewarp' is about a mole with attitude. Unlike other moles Markus doesn't like being underground and so finds himself caught up in a series of adventures above the soil.

Jennifer, who has been visiting Primary Schools across Liverpool to share her love for writing and the environment with pupils, said:- "I'm really excited about Markus. It's been such a lovely book to work on and of course brings in elements of my profession as a soil scientist. I really hope children are going to like it and I can't wait to share it with them. It feels rather strange at nearly 70 to be starting a new career as an author of children's books, but I'm having so much fun.  It's a real pleasure to be able to combine all my interests; writing, birds, soil and much more into 1 job."

Jennifer, who continues to lecture at Chester University 1 day a week, is available for author visits in Schools and other community groups. For more information about her latest books and projects visit her website or via email:- Info@JenniferJonesAuthor.Co.UK.