Liverpool City Council's Fostering Conference

A City Council conference aimed at encouraging more people in Liverpool to become foster carers has been hailed an instant success. More than 400 people logged online to watch the special live question and answers session at Liverpool Town Hall. And the team behind the event say they have already had a number of people come forward to register their interest in becoming foster carers.

Liverpool is facing a shortage of foster families, with 1,300 children in care in the City and just 350 foster carers on the Council's books. This means that the Council has to use private fostering agencies for 250 young people, which can cost more.

The Town Hall event, that was streamed on the Liverpool City Council Twitter Page, saw more than 30 audience members, including representatives from The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, NSPCC, Sefton Council Fostering Service, Cobalt, Liverpool's Children in Care Council and Torus Housing associations, as well as members of the public, speaking with foster carers and a care leaver about the difference fostering can make to the lives of children who need the love and support the most.

Rebecca Ross Williams, Engagement Director at the Everyman Theatre said:- "The event today was inspiring to see and hear a mix of people who passionately understand the importance of supporting looked after children and the difference fostering can make to their lives; whether it be carers, young people with lived experience or City stakeholders. Everyman and Playhouse are looking forward to working in partnership going forward"

The panel guests included:- Steve Reddy, Liverpool City Council's Director of Children's Services and Young Peoples services, 2 Liverpool foster carers, a care leaver along with key people from the fostering service.

Steve Reddy said:- "This was a fantastic event that helped us to present some of the facts and explode some of the myths around fostering. It was incredibly well supported both by members of the public and our partner organisations and we are delighted to say that it may have already delivered results. Fostering is 1 of the most worthwhile things you can do and you will be making a real and last difference to the life of a young person. Foster carers come from all walks of life, so if you have a spare room and love in your heart for a child, we'd like to hear from you."

Foster carers Linda and Alison have been the 'faces' of the awareness campaign and everyone in the audience was inspired to hear their amazing success stories, which undeniably helped to bust some myths about what it is like to foster teenagers, sibling groups, and children with additional needs; who traditionally the Council faces the biggest challenges in finding placements for.

Alex Modder, manager of the NSPCC's Hargreaves Centre, on Great Homer Street, Liverpool, said:- "Liverpool City Council's commitment to supporting foster carers in the City is hugely important and I was really pleased to take part in the Fostering Discussion Panel Event and hear from some extraordinary carers who have their foster children's best interests at heart. The NSPCC's Reflective Fostering programme aims to help Liverpool's foster carers build strong and positive relationships with their foster children and promote a sense of stability."

The campaign's aim is to raising the profile and get people talking about fostering, during the lead up to Foster Care Fortnight, (5 May to 19 May, 2019), during which the Council will be holding fostering events across the City where anyone who is interested in fostering and wants to take the first step, can attend to find out more.

For more information on fostering in Liverpool, you can visit:- Fostering.Liverpool.Gov.UK.

Ready to hit the road and improve Liverpool City Region's highways infrastructure

A key stretch of a major A road, which passes close to Everton FC's Stadium, at Goodison Park, is about to receive a ₤5.9m revamp. The A59 (the historic Liverpool to Preston Road) is to undergo new roadworks from the junction, of Great Mersey Street to Queens Drive, in the Walton area of Liverpool.

Mark Bousfield, Director of Commercial Development and Investment, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:- "1 of the key ways in which we, as a Combined Authority, can help drive prosperity for everyone in our City Region is through ensuring that we have the right transport infrastructure. Investing in key routes such as the A59 is vital and I am pleased to see this work getting under way."

Contractors King Construction, are getting ready to start on a 12 month long programme to include:- 3 upgraded crossings, a new toucan crossing and 2 new pedestrian crossings, bus priority at 2 major junctions and 2km of road resurfacing. The scheme has been designed to minimise impact to road users and has been scheduled to begin after The Grand National, with Aintree Racecourse situated just a few minutes' drive along the A59. Works will begin at the City Centre end of the stretch, near to Scotland Road, with the scheme working North towards Queen Drive. At certain times there may be road closures required to allow for safe working. These planned closures will be limited to overnight only (between 8pm and 6am) unless there are unforeseen circumstances or an emergency situation arises.

Andy Barr, Liverpool City Council's Head of Highways, said:- "This revamp of the A59 in Walton is a significant and much needed investment and a good example of how the Better Roads programme is improving Liverpool's highways infrastructure. Naturally, for a major arterial road connecting Liverpool City Centre to our Motorways and passing major venues as as Goodison Park and Aintree Racecourse, works of this scale will cause disruption, but the programme has been designed to minimise impact and which is why the programme will begin after the Grand National. Once complete this stretch of the A59 will be a much more pleasurable experience for all road users and pedestrians."

Diversion routes will be in place and given the A59 also services the:- M57, M58 and M62, road users are advised that delays will be likely and those travelling to and from the Walton, Kirkdale and Anfield areas are encouraged to explore alternative journeys.

Peter Yates, Sefton Council's Service Manager for Corporate Parenting, said:- "It was great to be involved in the Fostering Panel Discussion Event. The information shared between a range of people from all backgrounds, each with their own insight into fostering, was invaluable. Most local authorities currently face the same challenges, with the rising number of looked after children and the struggle to recruit new carers. We are now looking forward to working more collaboratively with other Councils across Merseyside, sharing best practice and helping each other raise awareness about fostering."

This scheme, a key element of Liverpool City Council's ₤500m Better Roads programme to upgrade the City's highways network over the coming decade, has received ₤3.5m from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) via the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF). Local Growth Funding is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund.