Smoking gets kicked out of kids' football matches

SMOKING by adults at children's football matches in Liverpool will be officially stubbed out from this weekend as the new season kicks off. After a successful 6 week pilot throughout the summer, Smokefree Sidelines Liverpool guidance will now apply and any adults smoking or vaping, at matches or training sessions, will be asked to stop by match officials.

Cllr Clare McIntyre, assistant cabinet member for social care and health, and a "sideline mum" said:- "Smokefree Sidelines Liverpool has been a great example of partnership working and we have seen real commitment from everyone involved to make this work. We have already had great feedback from parents and what it means for their children during this summer's pilot so we're confident about the initiative as we start the new season. We've had great success in encouraging people to give up smoking over the years and Smokefree Sidelines is another way of us sending the message that smoking around youngsters is never acceptable."

Over 465 football teams play in the age groups up to Under 11's in Liverpool with about 40,000 adults coming to cheer them on throughout the season. Public Health Liverpool has worked in partnership with:- Liverpool County Football Association, Liverpool City Council's parks and green spaces team, Liverpool FC Foundation, Everton in the Community, Anfield Sports and Community Centre, Pulse Limited, and Smokefree Liverpool to develop the Policy that supports the City's longstanding ambitions for children and young people to grow up smoke free.

David Pugh, chief executive of Liverpool County Football Association, said:- "The launch of Smokefree Sidelines Liverpool at the Summer League in June was excellent and all of the City's youth leagues are fully supporting this Policy as we start the new season. As the governing body of football in Merseyside it is very important to us that children and young people can play the sport they love in a healthy environment. Football is an important part of family life across the area and the youth teams are the foundation of the Liverpool County FA's footballing family. Smokefree Sidelines will safeguard both children's health and the health of the game."

Research shows that there is no known safe level of exposure to 2nd hand smoke, even if the exposure is outdoors. Also, if children are around adults who smoke they think it is more common than it actually is making them three times more likely to take up the habit as they get older. Anyone who would like support to stop smoking can contact Smokefree Liverpool on:- 0800 061 4212, alliteratively you can text:- 'QUIT' to 66777, or visit:- SmokeFreeLiverpool.Co.UK.

Liverpool building to be featured on Top 10 Most Endangered Buildings of 2019

ON Friday, 13 September 2019, national architecture charity the Victorian Society will reveal the Top 10 Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England and Wales. The Top 10 Endangered Buildings campaign has been running for over a decade now, and during that time it has continued to expose the plight of endangered buildings throughout the UK. This year's list features a building in Liverpool is at risk of being lost forever.

This year's Top 10 Endangered Buildings is a particularly rich mix, with buildings of amazing quality throughout the country facing demolition or ruin. With a great country house, one of the country's most important industrial complexes, and public buildings at the heart of our cities all on the list, it is vital that we get the public's help to try to save our threatened heritage.

Upon seeing the 2019 Top 10 Endangered list, Society President Griff Rhys Jones has this to say:- "It is both inspiring and saddening to see this list. Who would have thought that a call to arms would reveal such a wealth of distinguished and absorbing architecture? These are gems, we are not looking at the second rate here. We are looking at real historical monuments. And yet we can only be taken aback. How can a beautiful, rambling exemplary Victorian mansion lie abandoned; 1 would expect it to be starring in TV series not crumbling away? Can we really want to lose a sturdy industrial site? Or a fine School? All these historic sites are glorious and imaginative places ready for a new and productive life. How incredible that they should feature the top ten most endangered buildings list. Let us hope that people spring into action and pay attention."

The Top 10 is intended to highlight the problems many of our historic buildings face, whether from demolition, insensitive development or neglect. National exposure often leads to new interest in the buildings selected and can help save them, whether by supporting or forming a Friends group, capturing the interest of a possible developer or even just naming and shaming current neglectful owners. All buildings in the list were built between 1837 and 1914.

Southport School Children Urged to Drive Awareness of Road Safety

FOR the 11th year running, promotional products, badges and School uniform specialist, Recognition Express, has joined Forces with national road safety charity, Brake, to host its annual design a road safety banner competition, that runs over 18 November to 24 November 2019.  Primary School children aged 4 to 11 have been tasked to create a design for a road safety banner drawn from this year's Road Safety Week theme:- 'Step Up for Safe Streets.' Winners will receive a special award along with a large scale printed banner featuring their design to display outside their School during Road Safety Week. In addition, there's a high visibility reflector gift for every pupil in the School.

Since the competition launched in 1998, Recognition Express has seen thousands of entries from across the UK, all demonstrating children's knowledge of the importance of road safety. Said Steve Bibby, director of Recognition Express North West based in Southport:- "Road Safety Week aims to inspire thousands of Schools, organisations and communities to take action and promote road safety awareness during the week and beyond and it is a privilege to be involved. Our competition is a fantastic opportunity to engage Primary School children and help establish good road safety sense for years to come. We look forward to receiving some really creative designs and can't wait to see what Primary School children in Southport will come up with."

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road and each of these tragedies is preventable. This Road Safety Week encourages everyone to learn about, shout about and celebrate the amazing design led solutions that will allow us all to get around in safe and healthy ways, every day. To get involved in Road Safety Week and participate in this year's design a road safety banner competition, visit:- ReSchools.Co.UK. The closing date for entries is Friday, 11 October 2019.

Knowsley Safari launches 'Animal Aerobics' lessons for local Schools

KNOWSLEY Safari is helping School children across Merseyside to get fit with animal inspired exercise classes. The 'Move Like Me' classes aim to leverage Primary School children's interest in wildlife to get them moving like animals in a fun, physical and educational workshop. These are part of Knowsley Safari's Free Roadshows for Primary Schools in the local community. During the classes, children will learn about how different animals eat, hunt, play, hide and sleep, and then replicate each of the movements in an 'animal aerobics' style group session. Children will also use animal movements to bring to life an 'animal adventure' where they tell a story about an animal's day in the wild.

Nikki Mallott, Head of Learning and Discovery at Knowsley Safari, comments:- "We've seen children on Knowsley's Foot Safari excitedly mimicking animal movements. They'll be jumping about pretending to pounce like a tiger, stretching to be as tall as a giraffe and flapping their arms as the birds of prey spread their wings. This is what gave us the idea for the 'Move Like Me' classes. We thought we can harness the children's wildlife enthusiasm to create a PE lesson with a difference. By focusing on the animals, we're able to overcome any reluctance the children may have for physical education and encourage them to be really active."

The classes link to the National Curriculum and will be delivered by experienced members of Knowsley Safari's Learning and Discovery team, which has helped over 25,000 School children learn about wildlife and conservation during the past 12 months. Classes will take place in Schools, with each lesson suitable for up to 30 children. The classes last for 1 hour and cover a series of Key Stage 1 and 2 learning's. As well as the 'animal aerobics,' classes will also feature:- 'animal charades,' 'animal Olympics' and 'lifecycle top trumps,' where children will learn about animal life stages and food chains.

Nikki Mallott concludes:- "We've trialled the classes during summer School at Knowsley Safari and children have really enjoyed them. This is because the lessons include a range of interactive activities that provide a physical and mental workout in a fun and engaging way."

Classes are being rolled out in Schools across Merseyside throughout October and will be delivered free of charge. Schools interested in booking the:- 'Move Like Me' lessons can email: Learning@Knowsley.Com.