Tin Can Triumph

PEOPLE in Liverpool have given their all for the Mayor's Hope Fund appeal to help feed people in need this Christmas. The Council threw open the doors of public buildings, libraries, leisure centres and offices for them to be used as collection points for the annual festive foodbank appeal.

The call went out for donations of tins, packets, cartons and festive treats that could be used by the North and South Liverpool Foodbanks to make up much-needed crisis parcels. And the response from residents and City Council staff was nothing short of magnificent.

Whilst the exact amount of food collected is still being tallied, foodbank officials believe it could very well be more than 4 times as much as in 2017. The last collection netted 1.5 tonnes of food, this year so far the amount is up to 6 tonnes, which will help to feed more than 1,000 people in the months ahead.

Simon Huthwaite, who is Operations Manager of St Andrew's Community Network, said:- "There has been a wonderful response to the foodbank appeal. Last year we carried a van full of food back to our warehouse from the main collection point at The Cunard Building. This year it could be as many as 4.  We have seen a real spike in the number of people coming to use for help and there have been times this year when we have been concerned that we could run out of food but now, thanks to this appeal we will be able to keep children and families fed well into the new year."

The 2 foodbanks belong to the Trussell Trust Network and are based at St Andrew's Community Network (North Liverpool) and Bridge Chapel Centre (South Liverpool). Simon says that both foodbanks are already 10% busier than in 2017.

Food parcels contain enough for a family to eat for 3 days, along with essential items such as toiletries and nappies.

Mr Huthwaite says:- "We have noticed an increase in demand for food parcels due to the roll out of Universal Credit in Liverpool. Families are under a lot of pressure so knowing that there will be food on the table is 1 less thing for them to worry about.  We are very grateful to Mayor Anderson and the wonderful Council staff for orchestrating this collection and working so hard. We are also indebted to the people of Liverpool who have pulled together once again to help us combat food poverty in the City."

So far this financial year across the City, Trussell Trust Foodbanks have fed over 13,000 people, more than a ¼ of these are children.

The appeal was spearheaded by Mayor Liverpool Joe Anderson, as part of a host of support available for people in need. Through the Mayor's Hope Fund, 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. And the most vulnerable families will receive a special festive food hamper.

Mayor Anderson said:- "This is a tremendous response to our appeal that really does typify the spirit of generosity that runs through our City. Times may be hard for everyone, but once again the people of this City and the Council's own fantastic workforce have risen to the challenge and have done us all proud. It means that a lot of families will have 1 less thing to worry about this Christmas, however the fight for a fairer deal for the people of Liverpool continues all year round. We will continue to do everything we can to support the most vulnerable members of our community and we know that the residents of this City will be with us every step of the way. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the foodbank appeal, you have made a real difference."

►  The Liverpool foodbanks are now seeking volunteers to help to distribute the food to families in need. If you have a couple of hours to spare, you can call:- 0151 226 3406, or email the North Liverpool Foodbank at:- simonh@standrewslive.org.uk or the South Liverpool Foodbank at:- admin@slfoodbank.org

► You can continue to support the foodbanks by donating food via:-

   ► North Liverpool Foodbank offices at:- 16 Larkhill L13 9BR.

   ► South Liverpool Foodank at:- Bridge Chapel Centre, Heath Road, L19 4XR.

   ► You can also donating food at any local supermarket in your area.

Alcohol interlock schemes should be rolled out across the UK

IN Britain, around 1 in 7 of all road deaths every year involve drink drivers with the most recent Department for Transport statistics revealing that drink driving deaths rose by 20% in 2016 to 240 casualties; the most significant year on year rise for over a decade. Safety campaigners are now urging the Government to tackle this shocking statistic, by making it compulsory for convicted drink drivers to use alcohol interlocks; a device that is fitted to the ignition of a vehicle to prevent it from being started until a clear breath sample is given.

Often it is the innocent person who suffers, not the drink driver; 100 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured by drink drivers in 2016, as were 330 car passengers; and 40 children were killed or seriously injured in drink driving accidents. The total number of collisions and accidents where at least 1 driver was over the alcohol limit also rose in 2016 by 6% to 6,080.

The interlock devices are already in use or being trialled in much of Europe including:- Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as in:- North America and Australia. In fact, in Australia, where interlocks have been used in the state of Victoria for 11 years, drink drivers were prevented from starting their cars on 250,000 occasions.

Suzannah Robin is an alcohol and drug safety expert at AlcoDigital and has worked with numerous companies to address their drug and alcohol testing requirements. She is urging the UK to follow Europe's lead. She said:- "Interlock devices are proven to reduce drink driving incidents and have been working effectively in Europe for many years. The devices can also be programmed to require drivers to pull over and provide further samples at random points during journeys. If a positive breath test is detected, the vehicle will not start."

In Europe, where excess alcohol contributes to ¼ of road deaths, use of interlocks is thought to be up to 95% more effective in preventing drink drive re-offending than measures such as licence withdrawal or fines.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) reported that as many as 5,000 deaths could be prevented every year if drink drivers in Europe were stopped from starting a vehicle. The ETSC called on member states to take steps to deal with the problem, recommending the use of alcohol interlocks.

Many European states, among them:- Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands, have introduced incentive programmes giving drink drivers the option to install an interlock device as a means of getting back behind the wheel before a ban has been served.

Suzannah continues:- "I would like to see interlocks rolled out by UK Police Forces. However, currently there is no legislation for piloting such devices in the UK. In the absence of a national rollout of an interlock scheme, a targeted approach may offer a successful compromise. Statistics show that more drink drivers are charged in rural areas. Figures pinpoint Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and North Wales as having the highest levels of drink driving, with Lincolnshire charging 1,035 motorists in 12 months, followed by 783 drivers in North Wales. In Scotland, where lower drink drive limits have been introduced, 3,797 drink drivers were caught.  If the UK were to follow Europe's lead, it would go a long way towards preventing some of the needless casualties caused by drink driver incidents every year. drink drivers should not get behind the wheel, where they are able to cause devastating damage to innocent people's lives. Interlock devices have been proven to prevent drink drivers from getting behind the wheel in the 1st place. We should demand our Government acts to introduce their use to make our roads safer."