Those from the North West admit to having no rainy day fund

THE poll of 2,000 adults revealed 66% also worry about how they will cope if they lost their job or received an unexpected bill. In the North West, 25% admitted they would struggle if they faced a long period of unpaid or statutory sick leave and 22% wouldn't be able to cope with the expense of a broken boiler. Others are concerned about how they would pay for an unexpected car repairs bill (26%), a large utility bill (23%) or even Christmas (16%), which is close to the national average of 17%.

In the survey, commissioned by Salary Finance, it also emerged that 22% of those from the North West have nothing saved for an emergency whatsoever, with a further 7% having less than ₤100 and 49% have less than ₤1,000 in their rainy day funds. This last statistic being 10% higher than the national average.

Asesh Sarkar, CEO and co-founder of Salary Finance, a salary linked benefits provider, said:- "Money worries affect 40% of UK employees. For those that are already living payday to payday, the idea of something unexpected happening, such as a job loss or a large bill, can be a large source of stress. Saving for a rainy day fund is difficult for many people, if it wasn't everyone would have 1. However, it can really take some of the pressure off and help avoid high cost loans, especially if something does go wrong, and reduce your financial worries."

The study found employed adults believe their savings would last them around 5 weeks if they were to lose their job, with 13% of people from the North West admitting they would struggle to last a week with no pay packet.

Nearly ½ of those polled in the North West have had to rely on their savings to get them through a difficult period, with their funds seeing them through just 38 days. 36% have also been caught out by a large bill and not had enough money set aside to cover it.

Worryingly, just 30% of North Westerners have a back up plan in case they find themselves with little or no income. Instead, 13% use their overdraft to get them out of trouble while 7% would take out more credit cards, possibly leading to significant interest and a poor credit score. Others max out their credit cards (12%), ask for a loan from their parents or friends (29%), or sell personal possessions at car boot sales or auction websites (28%).

But it's not just emergencies Brits are dipping into their rainy day fund for, with 39% admitting to taking money out for luxuries such as holidays. It also emerged that 53% of Brits think they need to make more effort to boost their rainy day fund. And 46% 'regret' not putting more money into their emergency fund.

But while 26% of those from the North West polled, via OnePoll.com, would describe themselves as a 'saver,' 16% admit they are a 'spender' with the latter figure being closely similar with the national average of 17%. If they had spare money, while 36% would save it for when they really needed it, 12% would immediately 'splash out' on something they wanted. Concerningly, a third even said they would rather enjoy their money now than save it for something which might not happen.

Asesh continued:- "It's our mission at Salary Finance to enable employers to provide products and services that improve the financial health and happiness of their employees. This survey goes further to demonstrate a great need for these types of employee benefits amongst the UK workforce."

For more information please visit:- SalaryFinance.Com.

Christmas boost for Liverpool families

MAYOR of Liverpool Joe Anderson has announced plans to help hundreds of families this festive season. Around 900 families with a child under 1 in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax support will be able to claim a ₤20 voucher to help them with their fuel bills. A further 150 care leavers who live independently will get a ₤30 voucher.

The funding is coming from the Mayor's Hope Fund and the LECCY, the City Council's not for profit gas and electricity company. In addition, the Mayor is working with Trussell Trust, Fans Supporting Foodbanks and Food For Thought to produce festive hampers that will help some of our most vulnerable families have a good Christmas. Each hamper will provide a healthy and locally sourced meal for four, distributed to 700 families through the Trussell Trust and Fans Supporting Foodbanks. Hampers will include a variety of items, including toys, and the Mayor's Hope Fund will add value to these by providing a mix of dried and fresh food.

The Council has also provided an industrial unit that can be used for storing food before it is distributed. It is part of a comprehensive programme to support people in crisis, at a time when people are struggling due to welfare reform and the roll out of Universal Credit, with claimants having to wait up to 5 weeks before benefits are paid.

Letters are being sent out this week to care leavers and the families who are eligible, letting them know how they can claim their fuel voucher over Christmas. The hampers will be put together in mid-December, in time for distribution before Christmas Day.

Mayor Joe Anderson said:- "Christmas is meant to be a time of celebration, but we know that there some families that are sick with worry about how they will make it special for their loved ones because they are struggling to make ends meet. Demand for foodbanks and crisis support continues to grow in our City due to a combination of austerity and welfare reforms. What we are doing here is working with our benefits team and foodbank organisations to identify those who need extra support. Christmas Day is the 1 day of the year when no 1 should go without a decent meal, and this funding will help give needy families some much needed cheer this festive season as well as helping with heating bills as the weather gets colder. This is just 1 element of the support we are providing to those most in need in Liverpool over the festive season and follows on from our recent appeal for people to drop foodbank donations off at 60 of our buildings, which has had an overwhelming response. We are also looking at how else we can help residents affected by the Benefit Cap, and I hope to be able to say more about this in the new year."

The Council has invested ₤23m in supporting people and families in crisis, such as those on low income or at risk of losing their home, including ₤2.7m in crisis payments to help people with the cost of food, fuel and clothes and ₤3.05m to protect people from reforms to Housing Benefit payments.

A cherry on top for Croxteth Park

AN AVENUE of beautiful trees will welcome visitors to Liverpool's Croxteth Hall and Country Park as a planting project gets underway, on Tuesday, 4 December 2018. Youngsters from Emmaus Primary School will join members of the Croxteth Park Volunteer Group (CPVG) to plant 18 Wild Cherry Trees, which will provide a stunning pink blossom gateway along the driveway leading to the green space in the spring. The tree lined route will stretch from Muirhead Avenue Gates to the park, and has been made possible thanks to the dedication of the CPVG and funding from The Mersey Forest and the Community Forest Trust.

This is the 1st phase of a large scale project in the park, which will see around 400 trees planted by local school children over the forthcoming months.

Chris Beyga from the CPVG said:- "It is vital to have a project like this and we are very proud to have been the lead partner in bringing everyone together to achieve this. We hope this project will be 1 of many legacies of the group. It's been a clear objective of ours to work closely with local children to engender a sense of pride and ownership in them as future citizens and custodians of the wonderful park that was gifted to the people of Liverpool by the late Earl of Sefton."

Steph Hepworth, from the The Mersey Forest team, said:- "We are proud to support the work of the CPVG in their tree planting projects within Croxteth Park. This winter we are planting 400 saplings within the park's woodland along with an avenue of cherry trees leading to the main car park; this is the main route that visitors take when visiting the park so it will make a real impact to Croxteth Park's visitor's 1st impressions especially when the blossom is on the trees in spring. This project is part of the Trees for Learning initiative which has been funded by Defra as part of their aim to plant 1 million trees with Primary School children by 2020. The children involved will learn about the trees they are planting and why it is so vitally important to plant more trees, they'll also be leaving a lasting legacy for their community and visitors to this popular green space."

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member responsible for the environment, Councillor James Noakes, said:- "Many people in the City still don't realise what a gem Croxteth Park is and I'm delighted that with planting initiatives like this, we can raise the awareness of this beautiful green space which is on our doorstep. In the spring, the ornamental flowers will provide an eye catching entrance to the park and hopefully will attract more people to come and discover the area. We are committed to encouraging people to get out and about in our parks and I'm thrilled that children from Emmaus Primary School will be joining volunteers at the planting sessions. We want to engage youngsters in enhancing and really valuing our green spaces, and as a result, make sure future generations are invested in spending time in our parks and gardens."

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2018

THE United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) will be globally observed, on Monday, 3 December 2018. The theme for this year's IDPD is:- "Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality." This theme focuses on the empowering persons with disabilities for the inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

The Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Liverpool is celebrating IDPD with partners DaDaFest who are a cutting edge disability and Deaf arts organisation based in Liverpool who develop and celebrate talent and excellence in disability and Deaf arts.

DaDaFest's work is influenced and built by artists and organisations from around the world and focuses on the lived experience of disability. The busy festival programme of over 50 events includes exhibitions, performances, talks and workshops by both emerging and established artists is themed Passing: What's your legacy?

Cabinet member for Inclusive and Accessible City, Cllr Pam Thomas said;- "I am delighted that we will be lighting up St George's Hall and the Town Hall in turquoise and yellow, these are the colours used by disabled people's campaigns for equality since the 1990's. Sir Bert Massie was instrumental in these campaigns. Celebrating IDPD with Sir Bert's wife Lady Maureen and the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, will be an absolute privilege. Discussing Sir Bert's achievements as the Director of the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, founding Commissioner of its successor the Equality and Human Rights Commission and, governor of Motability and the impact he has had on the lives of disabled people across the world."

Artistic Director of DaDaFest, Ruth Gould, MBE said;- "IDPD is an opportunity to light the City turquoise and yellow to represent disabled people's rights globally. At DaDaFest we aim to promote disability and DDeaf arts capturing the lived experience of disability."

At St. George's Hall there are 2 exhibitions taking place as part of DaDaFest International. Until the Last Breath I Breathed by Martin O'Brien is a world premiere of a video installation. His performance and video art uses physical endurance, long durations, and pain based practices in order to examine what it means to be born with a life shortening disease. Simon McKeown's No Passengers which presents an exciting and surreal view of British Invalid Carriage vehicles.

The greatest example of the theme of International Day of Persons with Disabilities is Sir Bert Massie who was a patron of DaDaFest and instrumental in abolishing the use of Invalid carriages and establishing Motability, the British car scheme for disabled people. His legacy has changed forever the rights of disabled people, for the better.