Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Bus Alliance Provide Free Bus Tickets to Foodbanks

METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram will announce that the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, along with bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach, will provide 3000 bus tickets; 500 for each of its 6 local authority areas; for the City Region's foodbanks to use to help those with the greatest transport needs. The announcement comes ahead of Sunday's Merseyside Derby, as Fans Supporting Foodbanks are calling for more support for the City Region's foodbanks, which are dealing with unprecedented demand. Fans Supporting Foodbanks is a unique partnership between Everton Supporters' Trust and Spirit of Shankly, who have come together to tackle foodbank shortages.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "As the UN special rapporteur Philip Alston said earlier this month, this country's foodbanks are acting as a safety net, literally saving people living in abject poverty from starving to death. It is an affront to common decency that this should be the case in the 5th richest country in the world, but while this is the reality we will support those committed volunteers who provide this service across our City Region. This weekend the whole City Region is coming together to support our foodbanks and I am proud that we are playing our part by making 3000 bus tickets available across all 6 of the City Region's local authority areas. It's heart breaking that we should have to do this but this is a duty that we cannot shirk."

Half of the cost of the 3000 bus tickets will be paid for by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with the other ½ paid for by Arriva and Stagecoach. The tickets will be distributed to foodbanks across the City Region, who will distribute them, at their discretion, to clients with the greatest transport needs.

Howard Farrall, managing director, Arriva Merseyside, commented:- "Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for many and so it is more important than ever to reach out and help those in need. We're proud to be supporting this initiative and hope to make things easier for those looking to travel to food banks around the Liverpool City Region."

Rob Jones, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire, said:- "We're delighted to be working in partnership with the Metro Mayor and our City partners to provide free bus tickets to make it easier for people living in poverty to get around. We know access to transport is vital and helps to connect communities and enable people to take up opportunities they may not otherwise be able to. As an Everton Football Club sponsor, we already work closely with the Club and their charitable arm, Everton in the Community as well as supporting a range of charities and community organisations across the City Region, and it's wonderful to see that the spirit of community is so alive in our City."

Dave Kelly, Chair of Fans Supporting Foodbanks, said:- "We applaud Steve Rotheram for his actions and for his help, advice and support. The impact of austerity and the migration over to Universal Credit on the 5 December 2018, will have a profound effect on the most vulnerable people within our communities. Our statistics indicate that on average a Foodbank user will have a 6 mile round trip to collect a 3 day emergency supply of food."

St Luke's, the "Bombed Out" Church, Liverpool, has been transform into a Winter Wonderland

WORK has been completed at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church, in Liverpool City Centre, to transform the former church interior into a Winter Wonderland this festive season; Elves have been busy working away in the much loved Liverpool landmark and its grounds, in a way which has never been seen before. A team from event décor experts Visual Architects has turned the interior of St Luke's in to a magical sparkling wonderland where families can make their way through a whole host of activities which includes a special appointment with Santa during the experience. Meanwhile Liverpool artist Laura Brownhill also join the Winter Wonderland, as Head Elf, in order to assist with artistic direction of the Wonderland experience.

Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church will take place between Saturday, 1 December and Sunday, 23 December 2018. Sessions are available to pre-book now. Sadly, tickets are selling fast, and some sessions are already sold out!

Up to 2 hour timeslots are available to book in advance and the Winter Wonderland ticket price includes:- Mrs Clause's Studio where youngsters can make their own bauble to take home, performances by Elves of Wonderland stories, in Storyland, learning how to be an Elf in the Elf Workshop, dancing and learning routines with the Dancing Elves in the Silent Disco; and not forgetting a trip into Santa's Grotto with a gift and framed, a digital photograph with Santa to take home. Adults are also treated to a mulled wine and mince pie.

The gardens have also been transformed in to a gorgeous Winter market, with lots of local businesses have been getting involved to provide that perfect gift buying opportunity, arts and crafts, food and drink will form a great market in the church grounds.

Project Manager Laura Cotter said:- "OK, it's getting exciting now, the installation has begun, and Elves (or our workmen) have been busy turning St Luke's into Winter Wonderland with just days to go until our official opening. We are over the moon with the public's response so far, some sessions are already sold out, so we encourage anyone wanting to come along and meet Santa to book ahead."

Tickets for the Winter Wonderland at St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church are available to pre-book now through Ticketquarter and more information can be found on Facebook.