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Salons support Neonatal mental health week

ORMSKIRK hospital Neonatal Unit took part in the 1st national Neonatal Mental Health Awareness Week. The event ran from 15 April to 21 April, and aimed to raise awareness, share best practice and inspire change.

Karen Wareing, Neonatal Ward Manager, said awareness was growing about the lasting impacts on families who have had a baby in a neonatal unit. "But it's also important to acknowledge that it's not only the families who are affected. The work required on having babies and families a neonatal unit also has an impact on the teams caring for them. We need to support the immediate and longer term impacts on the mental health and emotional well-being for families and the people who work with them."

The week was filled with daily activities including goody bags for mums and dads, a coffee and chat afternoon, activities for siblings and visits from therapists at the Beauty Barn, in Ormskirk and Lavender Cove, in Burscough, who gave hand, arm and feet massages to families and staff. The therapists have volunteered to come back once a month to provide massages for families and staff and the coffee and chat will continue as part of the unit's programme to support families. The "peaceful room" will also be available for families and staff to provide a relaxing space for "time out" moments.

Writing up the North

AS part of the Read Regional campaign; which encourages people to enjoy the works of authors based in the North; 4 writers will take part in FREE readings and question-and answer sessions at Liverpool Central Library and Allerton Library.  The 'Meet the Author' sessions at Liverpool Central Library will include:-

► Andrew Michael Hurley - the Lancashire based author's 1st novel The Loney, won the:- 'Costa Best 1st Novel Award' and 'Book of the Year at the British Book Industry Awards,' in 2016, and is currently in development as a feature film. Devil's Day is his 2nd novel. His 'Meet the Author' event will take place, on Tuesday, 7 May 2019, at 6pm.

► Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi - this Ugandan novelist and short story writer now lives in Manchester and was shortlisted for the:- 'Etisalat Prize' in 2014 for her 1st novel, Kintu. Her work:- 'Let's Tell This Story Properly' won the:- '2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.' Jennifer will speak, on Thursday, 30 May 2019, at 6pm.

► Clare Shaw - this critically acclaimed poet often addresses political and personal conflict, and is fuelled by a strong conviction in the transformative and redemptive power of language. Clare's session will take place, on Thursday, 13 June 2019.

The 'Meet the Author' event at Allerton Library will take place, at 6pm, on Thursday, 23 May 2019, and will be led by Tony Williams who won the:- 'Saboteur Award' for best short story collection for:- 'All the Bananas I've Never Eaten' and currently lives in Northumberland.

The events are free, but tickets are required. To book a ticket, head to:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/Libraries, or visit:- EventBrite.Co.UK and search for:- 'Read Regional Events' in Liverpool.

As part of the Read Regional campaign, all of Liverpool's libraries will stock 12 new titles by writers from the North of England. The books are:-

Children's and Young Adult:-

► The Exact Opposite of Okay - Laura Steven.

► The Impossible: On the Run - Mark Illis.

Fiction:-

► Slip of a Fish - Amy Arnold.

► His Dark Sun - Jude Brown.

► Devil's Day - Andrew Michael Hurley.

► You Me Everything - Catherine Isaac.

► Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Kintu.

► What Falls Between the Cracks - Robert Scragg.

► Nutcase - Tony Williams.

Nature:-

► The Blackbird Diaries - Karen Lloyd.

Poetry:-

► Flood - Clare Shaw.

► The Black Cab - John Challis.

David Stoker, Head of Liverpool Central Library and Archive said:- "Here in Liverpool we love to celebrate books and stories from all over the world, giving insights into people's lives across the globe. It is always wonderful to celebrate the talent of the North, and by taking part in Read Regional, we are doing just that."

Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North said:- "Our Read Regional list for 2019 is a real celebration of brilliant books that you must not miss out on this year. The North is bursting with literary talent and this list reflects a wide range of genres and subjects, from courageous young adult to an extraordinary Ugandan epic, so there really is something for everyone."

Author, Andrew Michael Hurley, said:- "I feel privileged that my novel, Devil's Day, has been selected for this year's Read Regional campaign and I'm really excited about the many events coming up in the spring and summer. Never more have we needed the preciously democratic spaces of libraries to read, talk, listen and discuss together."

Find information about all of the events and download free reading guides for each of the titles at:- NewWritingNorth.Com.