News reports located on this page = 2.

Disabled Liverpool boy appeals for specialist tricycle

A mum from Litherland, in Liverpool, is appealing to the local community to help her secure a specialist tricycle that will allow her disabled 3 year old son to play outside with his friends.

Michaela Cooke's son, Paul, has cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease, conditions that affect his mobility, and he is unable to ride a standard bicycle with stabilisers.

Paul, who attends Litherland Moss Nursery School, finds it difficult to get about unaided and this makes it extremely difficult for him to play outdoors with other children and he gets sad and lonely watching his friends enjoying themselves outside together.

Michaela, aged 24, says that the lack of suitable equipment to support Paul is beginning to affect her son's social life. As she explained:- "Paul is missing out on so much and in comparison to his friends he does very little outside the house. He struggles to participate in the activities that other children take part in and I'm desperate to change this."

Michaela sought advice from Caudwell Children, the national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.

They identified a specialist tricycle that they said would have a huge impact on Paul's wellbeing. Michaela said:- "There are so many things that my son can't do because after 5 minutes of walking he can't carry, he just slumps down! But the tricycle that the charity has recommended would allow Paul to be able to do something for himself, it would give him back a bit of childhood that he's missing out on."

Michaela says that she would love to see her son gain more independence. As she explained:- "It's heart breaking knowing that he can't join in with his friends and his 6 year old brother Rueben, so I'm determined to get Paul the tricycle."

Unfortunately, there is a significant financial barrier is securing the model best suited to her son's needs. "The tricycle that Caudwell Children has recommended costs an eye watering ₤1,199," explained Michaela.

But now, thanks to fundraising support from Caudwell Children, Michaela is looking to raise the money needed for the tricycle.

The charity has created a Just Giving page for Paul and they are approaching other charitable trusts, grant giving organisations, rotary clubs and masons lodges in order to raise the cash.

"But I also want to appeal to the public and the business community and ask them to give us a helping hand. With their support we can make life so much better for Paul and he'd finally be able to play outside with his brother and his friends, something I've dreamt of seeing him do for so long." said Michaela.

If Michaela can raise the funds for the specialist piece of equipment it will allow her son to do much more than simply play with her friends and family. As she explained:- "The trikes are specially designed to assist disabled children in their physical development and rehabilitation, and they are engineered to make pedalling that much easier. So whilst Paul is having fun he will also be improving his core strength and co-ordination, developing muscle tone in his legs and improving his gross motor skills. Without this equipment I'm afraid that Paul could become a prisoner in his own home."

Mark Bushell, from Caudwell Children, said:- "A specialist tricycle not only benefits the child, it has a positive impact on the whole family, allowing them to get out of the house and do things together. Unbelievably, there are an estimated 70,000 children in the UK who would benefit from the correct mobility equipment. Paul's case highlights the support that is needed for children with a condition that affects their mobility. I want members of the public and the business community to do whatever it takes to support the family through their Just Giving page. With their help Paul can get the equipment that he so desperately needs to improve his health and wellbeing."

You can support Sophia through her Just Giving Page. You can also donate by texting:- 'FWAW98 ₤amount' to 70070.

Southport Reporter and Brick Craft to run a LEGO building contest for charity!

WE are pleased to announce that Southport and Mersey Reporter have teamed up with Brick Craft, who are located within the Wayfarers Arcade, Southport, to run a LEGO model building contest! This contest will be for 3 age groups and to enter you will need to pop into Brick Craft and pick up an entry form. Do this between Tuesday, 26 February 2019 and Wednesday, 17 April 2019. An entry fee of £1 will be charged and the money raised will be donated to Fairy Bricks, a UK Registered Charity (1161639) that donates LEGO sets to children in Hospitals.

The age categories are:-

► Category - Aged 5 to 7 inclusive.

► Category - Aged 8 to 11 inclusive.

► Category - Aged 12 to 16 inclusive.

* Please note that 7 year olds will be classed as 7 until their 8th birthday and same also with 11 and 16 year olds.

Winners will receive a price, plus a replica of their creation will be put on display (on the Brick Craft stand) at the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show,' which will take place on Saturday, 10 August 2019, in Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. Also, all the top entries will be exhibited in Wayfarers Arcade, over Easter week, from:- Friday, 19 April 2019 to Sunday, 28 April 2019.

We can also announce that as an added extra, each participant who enters a model will be given, 1 free workshop session that can be used at any workshop until the end of May 2019. (Please see rule 15)

A full details of the prizes for each Category will be released in our next issue and social media accounts of Southport and Mersey Reporter, as well as Brick Craft social media accounts.

The judge will be Robert Clarkson, a LEGO builder who runs the weekly workshops, at Brick Craft. He has told us:- "I want to see well designed, sturdy models that show the creativity and skill of the builder. They can be based on any topic (within reason) and have that 'wow' factor that can inspire others."

Updates and more information will be released on both Southport and Mersey Reporter as well as on Brick Craft's Facebook and Twitter feeds, as the competition progresses. This competition is not authorised, endorsed or supported by The LEGO Group.

The winners of each category will be announced on Thursday, 18 April 2019 and over the Easter Weekend in the Southport and Mersey Reporter, as well as on Brick Craft's Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Rules...

Note, entries not complying with these rules, or agreeing to our data protection policy (see below) will result in disqualification and no refund will be issued.

1. To participate you must visit Brick Craft, in the Wayfarers Arcade, Southport and pay £1 to obtain an entry form.

2. You agree that the £1 is non refundable, even if you later decide not to enter a model. Refunds will only be given if Brick Craft is unable to run the competition.

3. Models must not be wider than 48x48 studs (or 38cm x 38cm) and no higher than 38cm with all parts, including the base, constructed entirely from official LEGO elements. The model must be the design and work of the participant and not a copy from any instructions of either existing sets or sets no longer in produced, or from models produced by someone else (e.g. on the internet). The model must not be glued or contain any LEGO elements that have been cut, altered or defaced.

4. All models should follow these guidelines:-

► Be Child Safe / Appropriate - entries should be of models appropriate for young children.

► Avoids restricted content - the model should not include any content that (either deliberately of inadvertently) promotes of violence. For example, weapons, depictions of conflict or violence, or cruelty to others. Avoid licensed products (eg. Star Wars, Marvel Superheroes).

5. You agree that photos can be taken of the model. This is to aid a replica being made and kept until display at the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show,' (and also to help in making repairs should it become damaged). In the unlikely event a model is seriously damaged or there is any loss of parts, neither the organiser or judge hold responsibility.

6. Finished model entries are entered into the competition by taking them to Brick Craft, in Wayfarers Arcade, between Saturday, 13 April 2019 and Wednesday, 17 April 2019, during normal opening hours (9:30 am to 3:00 pm)

7. The model must be brought in with the child or young person who designed and constructed it.

8. Adults are strictly prohibited from interfering with the designed or building of the model and are asked to respect that the decision of the judge is final.

9. The competitions offer no cash alternative and the legal guardian of the child / young person taking part is the only person who can agree to the rules and submit an entry in their behalf.

10. Participants agree to collect their model between Monday, 29 April 2019 and Sunday, 19 May 2019, from Brick Craft, Wayfarers Arcade.

11. Should the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show' be cancelled, no alternative option of exhibition will be given.

12. Brick Craft reserves the right and might have to extend the period in which a free workshop session is offered if they are over subscribed.

13. We require that all participants should agree to our data protection policy as stated below:-

► All information obtained will only be retained should your child win. This will allow us to notify the winners and also keep them updated about the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show.' Also, the winners names will again be exhibited along with the reconstruction of the model, at the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show.'

► All contact information supplied on the competition entry forms will only be used for notifications about the competition and will not be used for marketing.

► All other information supplied on the competition entry forms, except for the winners will be destroyed, after collection of the builders model, after collection of their models.

► The winners information, information supplied on the competition entry forms, will be destroyed after the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show' has taken place, as it will be used to update winners about the show.

► The names of the winners will be exhibited alongside the reconstruction of the model at the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show.'

► The legal guardian has the right to specify any if photographs and/or video footage can be taken of their child / young person's.

► The winners, name and agree may be shared with the local media (for example Sandgrounders Radio), the:- 'The BIG Model and Hobby Show,' Wayfarers Arcade, and with Brick Craft, the social media sites and other online outlets.

► Numbers of those entered from Southport and other areas, along with ages, will be logged and used for future marketing purposes, but other information will be kept with these figures.

► All records of the winners’ names and ages, published by the media and the organisers will not be able to be removed from public record.

14. The judge might want to ask questions about the models construction in order to aid judging, so it may be required that the builder be questioned about the build.

15. Brick Craft reserves the right and might have to extend the period in which a free workshop session is offered if they are over subscribed.

16. Failure to abide by these rules and to agree to our data protection policy will result in disqualification and no refund will be issued.