Statements issued following the successful Southport Christmas Charity Parade

ON Sunday, 5 December 2021, as we reported in last weeks issue the annual Vehicle Christmas Light Charity Parade took place. In a joint statement, the Parade's organisers, Adam and Paul Holmes Brown said:- "On behalf of The Southport Charity Christmas Parade we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that took part in this year's parade. There are too many of you to mention, but you all know who you are! Without you, our amazing event would not be possible. 6 years our event has now been running and in those 6years we have donated over 15,000 toys to many different organisations and families who need a little extra help. It's not just about the parade, which sees hundreds of vehicles all lit up to provide the largest vehicle light parade for Southport, the toy donations are a massive part of it and why it all began 6years ago. There are so many local businesses that help support this event from taking part to being drop zones for us."

This fantastic display currently makes its way along Waterloo Road and Lulworth Road before turning left past Victoria Park and onto the Promenade. Adam and Paul would love to see their parade allowed to travel along Lord Street in future years. In response to people askying why they do not go down Lord Street they both responded:- "Our aim is to 1 day be allowed to travel along our beautifully lit Lord Street. We will continue to ask every year! This is a great event for Southport and we love that we are able to put this on for you, we can't wait for next year's event. You certainly came out in the crowds, in:- Ainsdale Village, Hillside Village, Lulworth Road, Southport Promenade. All these Toys will be donated to many families across the North West, through:- Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Christie's Hospital in Manchester, Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and the Mighty Radio Toy Appeal in Southport. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the support each year, it truly means the world to us."

We are also told that this years toys will make a big difference to the Mighty Radio Toy Appeal, adding another 1,300 toys to the pervious 15,000 plus, from previous years. Mighty Radio's Sean Connolly said:- "We have repeated what we did last year. We collected 1,300 wrapped gifts last year and are looking to repeat. We are donating 200 to Southport Foodbank on Mornington Road on Sunday, The rest will be going to the Salvation Army Centre on Shakespeare Street nearer Christmas. The gifts are donated by the residents of Southport."

If you think they should be allowed to fo down Lord Street with this Parade in 2022, please do email us and let us know your thoughts. We will pass on your email requests to Adam and Paul in the hopes they can get permission from both Sefton Council and the Police to do this. Send your comments to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com adding the note:- "Please pass on to Adam and Paul from the Southport Christmas Parade." You can also support them on the Southport Christmas Parade page on Facebook, along with keeping up to date with how you can take part in 2022 as well as how to donate.

Metro Mayor seeks new members for Liverpool City Region Innovation Board

STEVE Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has put out a call for new members to serve on the Liverpool City Region Innovation Board, the 1st Sub Regional Board of its kind in the UK. Chaired by Dr Jon Hague, Vice President Science and Technology for Unilever Homecare, and facilitated by the LCR Combined Authority, the Board's purpose is to drive the commercialisation of specialist knowledge, maximise innovation led investment, and accelerate growth and international competitiveness across all sectors of the LCR economy. The Innovation Board's primary objective is to realise the City Region's headline ambition to secure R&D investment equal to 5% of LCR GVA by 2030; almost double the national target.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Our Region has a long history of innovation, a wealth of world class research assets, and world leading capabilities in infection, materials chemistry, AI and net zero innovation. But I don't want us to rest on our laurels. We have to keep building on and developing our strengths to maintain our place as a global leader. That's why our Innovation Board is so important. Our innovation is the key to driving both local and national economic growth and will help us to attract lots of highly skilled, well paid jobs to the Region. If you're talented, energetic and passionate about doing things differently then we'd love to hear from you. We want your help to shape the future of our Region's economy and help make the Liverpool City Region an innovation superpower!"

Dr Jon Hague, Vice President Science and Technology for Unilever Homecare, who chairs the LCR Innovation Board, said:- "We are serious about realising the City Region's north star ambition to invest 5% of our GVA in R&D by 2030, attracting and generating new industries, and maximise our potential to be 1 of the UK's leading lights in place based innovation. This is a pivotal time both nationally and locally to be joining our long established Board, to help us build on the exciting work we have already done, driving growth and shaping the future economy of the Liverpool City Region, and are keen to hear from people across a range of key sectors, especially from industry."

The refresh of the LCR Innovation Board is against the backdrop of recent major successes, including:- the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine led iiCON infection innovation and commercialisation programme; ₤210M investment in the ongoing development of STFC's Hartree Centre in collaboration with IBM Research; the Glass Futures global innovation hub and industrial decarbonisation campus; LCR Ventures; the Region's 1st dedicated commercialisation vehicle; plus a forward project pipeline of more than ₤3billion. It is also in the context of an explicit Government focus on maximising the innovation capabilities of places outside the Greater Southeast as part of its levelling up agenda.

The Board would like to hear from senior business/trade body representatives and/or experts focused on:- AI/technology, infection/health innovation, chemistry/materials, net zero/clean growth, IP, or commercial investment, who are keen to be actively involved in delivering our ambitious agenda.

The Board is keen to ensure diverse representation, meets 4 times a year, interacts closely with other LCR Sector Boards, and offers no remuneration for membership.

Please contact John Whaling at:- John.Whaling@LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK to find out more and/or apply by providing a current CV together with a supporting statement highlighting how you will add value to the Board in light of its objectives. The closing date is 10am, on Tuesday, 4 January 2022.