Knowsley MP Sir George Howarth launches new local Skills Centre supporting young people into construction careers

KNOWSLEY MP Sir George Howarth joined ForHousing at the launch of a trailblazing scheme designed to open up construction career pathways for young people who are finding mainstream School difficult.

Based in Stockbridge Village, Knowsley's new Skills Centre has been launched as part of ForHousing's School Links project. The landlord has teamed up with local Schools including:- Meadow Park School, Kassia Academy and Support Services and All Saints Catholic High School to offer students at key stage 4 multi-skilled qualifications in construction.

To officially open the centre, ForHousing invited Sir George Howarth and Board Members along to discover more about the practical workshops and qualifications that will be on offer.

Young people utilising the Skills Centre will have the opportunity to learn everything from bricklaying and tiling to joinery; setting them up for further education, employment and training.

Local residents will also be welcome to the centre to take up a diverse range of free practical courses which will also run.

These include:- how to install bath panels, flooring and wall tiles and skirting boards. Plus, removal of mould from walls, how to build DIY planters and how to repair door frames.

Knowsley MP, Sir George Howarth said:- "It was a truly inspirational experience to see, at 1st hand, the enthusiasm and commitment of the students learning new skills. The staff share that strong sense of purpose. Also impressive and welcome is the opportunity on offer to local residents to learn new D.I.Y techniques, which I'm sure many will want to take up. I warmly welcome this important initiative which will help transform the lives, skills and confidence of those who take up the opportunities on offer."

The launch comes following the success of a similar School Links scheme in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The Skills Centre in Salford ran more than 550 construction classes for School pupils last year throughout the Covid19 Pandemic and 27 students qualified.

One student, Kade Dardis, 18, who took part in the Salford programme and is now a mentor to other students attended the launch. He said:- "In my opinion, it's the best thing for kids like me who had trouble with School because it's designed just for us and helps us develop in all sorts of skills such as brickwork, tiling, joinery and more."

Board members were shown round the new centre by ForHousing's CEO, Colette McKune MBE. She said;- "Our ambition is to make more things possible for more people, so we are delighted to be able to use this space to create opportunities for young people to thrive. It's been a joy to see so many students grow in confidence after doing courses at the Salford centre and we're excited to replicate this approach in Stockbridge Village. Local teens will gain essential work experience and hands on practical skills which opens up future work and training opportunities. We've seen how it gives young people a sense of worth and something positive to focus on. It was also important to us that the local community benefits too, so we have put together a varied timetable of free practical courses."

Paul Devlin, Head of Alternative Provision at Meadowpark School, said:- "Thanks so much for the really positive experience our students had with you today. They worked really hard and had a fantastic time. We were blown away by the transformation in their behaviour, attitude and work rate!"

ForHousing's School Links programme is just 1 of a number of initiatives the landlord offers through its Bright Futures scheme to fuel people's potential through employment and training opportunities.  Please visit:- ForHousing.Co.UK for more information.

Pre-recorded evidence for rape victims rolled out to more North West Courts

MORE victims of rape and sexual violence will be spared the stress of being cross examined in Court under a scheme rolled out to a further 10 Crown Courts. The measure, which has already been successfully introduced in 37 Crown Courts, allows victims and witnesses of crimes such as rape and modern slavery to have their cross examination video recorded and played later during trial. This is subject to a successful application to the Court. The recording takes place as close to the time of the offence as possible, while memories remain fresh, and helps victims avoid the stress of giving evidence in a Courtroom setting, which many find traumatic.

From new measure that have been introduced will be available immediately at 10 Crown Courts; with 9 of them being in the North West (Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Carlisle, Lancaster, Warrington, Chester, Manchester Crown Square and Manchester Minshull Street) and Swindon Crown Court in the West of England.

This extension means it is now available for victims of rape at 47 Crown Courts, over half of all locations in England and Wales. The Government is committed to rolling it out nationwide by September 2022.

The move follows the successful implementation for vulnerable victims, such as children or those who have limited mental capacity, across the country; with more than 2,500 witnesses having already benefitted from the technology since August 2020.

Victoria Atkins MP, Minister for Tackling Violence against Women and Girls, said:- "We are overhauling the justice system's response to rape and this measure is key; minimising the stress and trauma faced by victims so they can provide the best possible evidence. It adds to the many other steps we are taking, such as recruiting more independent sexual violence advisors, delivering a new Victims' Bill and improving collaboration between Police and prosecutors. While there is still much more to do, we are starting to see the results of these efforts with rape convictions increasing by 15% over the last quarter, and by more than a quarter since before the Pandemic."

The measure is also designed to maintain a defendant's right to a fair trial and any decision to pre-record evidence is made by a judge on a case by case basis.

The extension of pre-recorded evidence is a key pledge within the Government's Rape Review Action Plan. The plan sets out clear actions for the Police, prosecutors and Courts. These include:- a new approach to investigations, reducing the number of victims withdrawing from the process, increasing the volume of trials being heard, protecting the public and putting more rapists behind bars.

Earlier this month, the Government published the latest Rape Review Progress report and committed to piloting specialist rape support in 3 Courtrooms as recommended by the Joint Inspectorates of the CPS and Police. This would offer support, such as Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, within the Court itself, as well as providing trauma training to Court staff. These Courtrooms will be set up at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London as well as Leeds and Newcastle Crown Courts.

Today's announcement builds on recent Government action to make our streets safer and increase confidence in the justice system, including:- the publication of a draft Victims' Bill. The legislation seeks to amplify victims' voices, and places greater accountability on agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Police for the service they provide to them.

Guidance:-

►  Both the defence and prosecution lawyers will be present in Court during the pre-recording as will the judge and the defendant.

►  The independent judiciary will be responsible for overseeing the use of pre-recorded evidence and will have discretion to ensure that the interests of justice are served.

►  Pre-recording cross-examination preserves a defendant's right to a fair trial.

►  Vulnerable witnesses and victims are defined as all child witnesses under 18 and any witness whose quality of evidence is likely to be diminished because they are suffering from a mental disorder or physical disability or has significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.

►  Intimidated witnesses and victims for the purposes of this pilot are defined as complainants of sexual offences and modern slavery offences who are witnesses in proceedings relating to that offence, or that offence and any other offences.

There are 71 Crown Court Centres in the UK, and a total of 83 Crown Court locations. Of the 83, the measure is being rolled out to the following Courts today:- Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Carlisle, Lancaster, Warrington, Chester, Manchester Crown Square, Manchester Minshull Street and Swindon Crown Court. Also of the 83, including Liverpool, the Courts already operating pre-recorded evidence for intimidated victims are:- Liverpool, Doncaster, Newcastle Portsmouth, Southampton, Sheffield, Isle of Wight, Winchester, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester Plymouth, Salisbury, Truro, Leeds, Kingston Upon Thames, Harrow, Isleworth, Wood Green, Durham, York, Grimsby, Hull, Bradford, Teesside Crown Court, Warwick, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Stoke on Trent, Worcester, Hereford, Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester, Northampton and Taunton.

Rape convictions are increasing; there has been a 15% increase in the number of people convicted for rape offences in the last 3 months. There were 467 convictions last quarter (CPS Prosecution Statistics; October to December 2021), compared to 407, 398 and 376 in the quarters before. Total completed prosecutions for rape cases have increased by 10% from 600 (July to September 2021) to 661 (October to December 2021). The average number of days for adult rape from CPS charge to the case being completed continued to fall, down by 38 days (8.3%) since the peak in June 2021; down from 457 days to 419 in October to December 2021.