Best of Liverpool City Region's Housing 1st programme taught to teams tackling chronic homelessness across Europe

LIVERPOOL City Region's radical programme to tackle chronic homelessness is being showcased in Europe. Housing 1st Best Practice Lead Amanda Bloxsome was in Bologna, Italy, last week to share the best of the City Region's programme with teams from across Europe. Successful methods used in the City Region will now be implemented in Housing 1st programmes on the continent.

For the last 3 years, Amanda has worked as a trainer with the Housing 1st Europe Hub; helping front line staff and policy makers to understand, explain and deliver the ground breaking programme.

Developed in New York by Dr Sam Tsemberis in 1992, Housing 1st uses a different approach to end repeat and chronic homelessness. In traditional homeless services, people are expected to demonstrate they are:- 'housing ready' before they can access housing. In Housing 1st, providing a home is the starting point rather than an end goal.

Programmes have now been rolled out successfully across the USA, Canada and Europe, and along with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is piloting the Housing 1st scheme in the UK.

Often deemed:- 'unhousable' or 'poor at engaging,' 90% of people supported through Housing 1st in the Liverpool City Region sustain their tenancy and over time address other issues, such as addictions, poor health and the effects of trauma and abuse. The service currently supports more than 200 people.

Amanda has trained people from as far away as:- Australia, Canada and Timișoara, Romania, on how to deliver their own Housing 1st schemes and she takes the successes from the Liverpool City Region with her. She said:- "The sessions are the 1st time we've trained people in person in the accredited European Standard of Housing 1st since before the Pandemic. We teach a high fidelity model which means it sticks closely to the principles of Housing 1st and the support for service users revolves around these. This is the model we have in the City Region and I find it's very helpful to show how this has worked for us since we started in 2019. You never know when someone will take that learning and try that approach in their own programme."

An internationally recognised model of housing and support for people with:- chronic housing, health and social care needs, Housing 1st is based on 7 principles focused on enabling the service user. Research shows the effectiveness of the programme is linked to how closely it adheres to the principles.

The programme was originally designed to help people with mental health problems who were living on the streets however it later grew to include:- people making long stays in homelessness shelters and those at risk of homelessness who were discharged from psychiatric Hospitals or released from prison.

One of the most striking examples of Housing 1st's success is in Finland where it has reduced rough sleeping to very low numbers and reduced all forms of homelessness to a:- 'functional zero,' a term which defines the availability of homelessness services matching or exceeding the demand.

The Combined Authority will welcome 2 members of the European team to the 1st Liverpool City Region Housing 1st Conference taking place in a fortnight (July 11) where they will be sharing insight into the progress of their schemes.

Amanda doesn't just influence good practice within Housing 1st in the Liverpool City Region and across Europe. She also works with Homeless Link England nationally to share this alternative approach with other organisations who are delivering or have the ambition to deliver Housing 1st, creating Communities of Practice where people can learn from each other.

In the Liverpool City Region, Amanda ensures the Housing 1st programme is adhering to the 7 principles by holding quarterly reviews and if something is working well, it will also be shared with external organisations in various ways including:- through the Communities of Practice. "1 of the sessions I do involves people discussing a theme, so we might look at how you manage risk when you want the service users to make their own choices for example. We share the different ways people consider that subject and can offer further training to any organisation who wants to implement that way of working into their service."

1 of the aims of Housing 1st is the desire to create systemic change in the homelessness sector, and Amanda believes that influencing other organisations to try the Housing 1st approach is a good way to achieve that. She said:-"We often hear the word 'influencer' in areas like fashion, brands or products, but it's also relevant to creating change around the way we tackle other issues like homelessness. The more people who are open to or adopt a new approach, before long the system itself is changing and consequently the way homeless people are treated. I hope our best practice can help others. There's always more than 1 way to do things so if we can share them with people and it works for them then that can only be a positive step forward."

Steve Rotheram announces £15.5m investment to create 900 jobs on former Halewood International Huyton HQ site

STEVE Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has announced a £15.5m loan expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs and enable the transformation of the former Halewood International HQ in Huyton. Under the plan, Network Space, who acquired the 44,000 square metre Sovereign Distillery site when Halewood International closed its Huyton HQ in August 2020, will create a multi let industrial estate aimed at:- light industrial, logistics and SME occupiers.

Combined Authority funding for the project is made up of a £6.75m loan from the Liverpool City Region Urban Development Fund (UDF) and £8.7m from the Chrysalis Fund, which is managed on behalf of the Combined Authority by igloo Investment Management.

Speaking about the investment Mayor Rotheram said:- "Devolution is all about making sure that important decisions affect our Region are taken locally by people who live in and understand the needs of our area. It means we can ensure that every pound we spend goes toward projects that will make a tangible difference to the lives of the 1.6 million people who call it home. Investing in a project like this, which will create almost 1,000 jobs for local people and bring this site back into use, really is a no brainer. It will give a big boost to Knowsley and the wider City Region economy, and the returns it will generate means that we'll be able to reap the rewards and reinvest in new projects."

Councillor Janette Williamson, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Growth, said:- "Our aim as a Combined Authority is to create the circumstances for our economy to grow and provide good quality jobs for local people. Providing this investment, which will come back to us with interest, we will do just that, and should help create nearly 1000 jobs for local people. Repurposing the existing buildings wherever possible and using a range of low carbon technologies in their refurbishment will also save over 2000 tonnes of carbon, compared with knocking it all down and rebuilding. This is the kind of sustainable development we should be supporting as a Combined Authority."

Dan Adamson, group finance director for Network Space, said:- "This is a strategically important site. Repurposing existing buildings, alongside the delivery of new, energy efficient units, is a complex process so it was important for Network Space to work with a funder which understands and supports what we're trying to achieve. Liverpool City Region, with its focus on delivering jobs, inward investment and economic growth is a perfect partner. We look forward to delivering a sustainable development that will regenerate this area of Knowsley and deliver a thriving business destination offering a wide variety of high quality workspace."

Robert Wood, Investment Director, Igloo Investment Management, said:- "This is the single largest investment the Combined Authority UDF Funds have jointly made to date and in part, that is evidence of the significance of the regeneration of the site to the City Region. The lending secures a commercial return for the Combined Authority, reinvigorates a redundant facility with substantial employment opportunities and will generate new rates revenue for Knowsley Borough Council. It's a great example of a "win / win" for both the public and private sector."

Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, added:- "This funding will help to accelerate the repurposing of this site into a multi-let industrial estate which will not only bring an empty space back into use, but it will also provide exactly the type of space that businesses are currently seeking. This will ultimately lead to job creation for local people, and the further strengthening of the local economy."

More than 2000 tonnes of carbon will be saved by creating the new industrial estate through part demolition, part refurbishment and part new build strategy using sustainable construction methods in tandem with adopting low carbon initiatives including:- EV charging, potential solar panels and low energy lighting.

The repurposing proposals will be undertaken in 2 phases; the planning application for Phase 1 has already been submitted and is due for determination in the next couple of months with Phase 2 planning expected to be submitted in early 2023.

The LCR Urban Development Fund is a £25 million fund managed under the Combined Authority's Strategic Investment Fund framework. The Fund is backed by the 2014 to 2020 ERDF England Operational Programme and it is a new funding route to foster smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for our Liverpool City Region.

Chrysalis is a £35 million, revolving fund that is part of the Combined Authority's Strategic Investment Fund and is focused on contributing to the City Region's growth plan. It is managed on behalf of the Combined Authority by igloo Investment Management. Chrysalis is supported by the 2007-2013 European Regional Development Fund for the North West, under the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas ("JESSICA") programme.

There is still funding available from the LCR Urban Development Fund and the Chrysalis Fund. For more on the LCR Urban Development Fund can be located on:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK. For more on the Chrysalis Fund can be located on:- ChrysalisFund.Co.UK.

Sci-Tech Daresbury 1st to sign up to LCR Connect for future proof connectivity

SCI-Tech Daresbury has become the 1st location in the Liverpool City Region to install LCR Connect full fibre, doubling capacity and future proofing connectivity for more than 150 world leading science and technology businesses based on the campus. Launched last year by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, LCR Connect is a 212km full fibre, gigabit capable network spanning the 6 Local Authority areas of the Liverpool City Region. It is a £30m Joint Venture 50% owned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, in partnership with full fibre provider, ITS Technology Group and construction partner NGE, who are managing the build and roll-out of this transformational digital network.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a science and technology location incorpoating the world class research and development assets of the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and the AI and supercomputing capacity of the Hartree Centre. It is a key element to achieving Mayor Rotheram's ambition to invest 5% of Regional GVA on Research and Development (R&D) by 2030; nearly double the Government's national target. The campus identified that resilient, scalable high capacity services are vital to underpinning its world class facilities and supporting the growing demands of the businesses that are located on the site. By connecting to LCR Connect's scalable infrastructure, Sci-Tech Daresbury has not only immediately doubled its connectivity bandwidth for existing tenants, but it now has the inbuilt flexibility to upgrade its resilient, multi-gigabit connections at very short notice, delivering a solution that will support growth as the campus continues to develop.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:- "The past few years have shown just how important good quality digital connectivity has become in every aspect of our lives; nowhere more so than in business. Any successful, ambitious economy requires the modern, thriving infrastructure that will help it to keep pace in an ever changing world. LCR Connect is a game-changer for our Region, offering businesses access to the fastest internet speeds in the country, boosting productivity, and creating thousands of jobs and training opportunities in the process. I want our Region to be known as the most digitally connected place in the country to grow a business. Thanks to the investments we're making now, we're already on our way to achieving that ambition - and it's great to see world leading organisations like Sci-Tech Daresbury joining us on that journey."

John Downes, Chief Executive Officer of Langtree and Director of Sci-Tech Daresbury said:- "Sci-Tech Daresbury is a site renowned both home and abroad for its state of the art facilities attracting innovative businesses of all sizes and stages of growth. World-class connectivity is critical to underpinning the needs of these organisations to support the demands of the often business-critical work they are undertaking which tends to produce extensive amounts of data that needs to be processed and shared quickly and securely. In tandem with our ongoing investment into new lab and office space, this milestone demonstrates that Sci-Tech Daresbury provides the infrastructure required for game changing businesses to scale up and flourish. The full fibre solution is transformational, immediately doubling our capacity and delivering bandwidth that will grow with our requirements. Additionally, the ethos of LCR Connect as a private public venture aligns well with our own and means that Local Authority services will benefit from the returns it makes."

Claire Delahunty, LCR Connect Ambassador at JV partner ITS Technology Group said:- "Connecting Sci-Tech Daresbury to LCR Connect is a significant milestone for the rollout of this digital highway across the 6 boroughs of the Liverpool City Region. By delivering a diverse network, LCR Connect's rich fibre has ensured that the businesses on this national science and innovation campus can rely on their connectivity, whether that's as simple as accessing emails, through to sharing complex data. Futureproof gigabit-capable services are also a vital factor in attracting new businesses, creating more opportunities, and ensuring future prosperity."

Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Deputy Portfolio Holder for Digital Connectivity and Inclusion, said:- "LCR Connect is a hugely important, transformational project and having Sci-Tech Daresbury signed up has real significance for the project's progress. Delivering gigabit-capable connectivity will help businesses thrive, as we build back from the Pandemic, creating good quality jobs. It also creates huge potential for improving public services and educational opportunities. As we build this crucial network we will also continue to work with partners to drive digital inclusion and ensure no-one is left behind."

With more than 30% of the network already built, LCR Connect is on track to be completed next year. It will underpin economic growth, innovation, inward investment, and job creation. In fact, experts estimate that, with 100% full fibre coverage across the City Region, the economic boost could be worth up to £1bn, creating thousands of local job and training opportunities. Businesses across the City Region are invited to register their interest by visiting Network Build | LCR Connect...

Vegan? There's been a mis-steak!

MEDIUM rare has been named the UK's most popular way of cooking steak, as 28% of Brits opt for their steak a little pink. However, despite being 1 of the most likely generations to opt for a vegetarian or vegan diet, 27% of Gen Z prefer their steak cooked rare, while 20% enjoy blue steak. The study, conducted by leading UK grill specialists Greene King Pub and Grill, investigated the UK's preferred choices when it comes to tucking into a classic steak. Rare steak is cooked only for a short period, around a minute on either side, whereas blue steak is achieved by quickly searing the beef under a hot temperature before serving.  Greene King Pub and Grill also discovered Brit's favourite condiment when it comes to steak is peppercorn, with 20% of participants selecting the creamy sauce over fierce competition from garlic butter (9%) and ketchup (9%).  What's more, the survey also revealed chunky chips (36%) came out on top ahead of fries (32%) to be named the number 1 side to eat with a steak. Both are available at all Greene King Pub & Grill sites, along with sweet potato fries, onion rings, Mac and Cheese and plenty more.

For older generations, well cooked meat ruled supreme, as 25% of people aged between 55 and 64 years old said they prefer well done steak. Whereas among 25 to 34 year olds, a slightly less cooked steak was most popular; with 39% of respondents preferring medium rare steak. It's also no surprise to the grill professionals at Greene King Pub and Grill, that the way we like our steak differs from City to City. The data revealed that Manchester is the medium rare capital of Britain, with 59% of Mancunians preferring steak cooked this way. Meanwhile, the majority of people in Aberdeen prefer their steak on the rarer side, as they have the highest percentage of blue steak lovers (54%). Elsewhere, Yorkshire is the Region where people are most likely to request their steak well done (25%), closely followed by Wales (23%). When it comes to the favourite cut of meat in each Region, Fillet came out top in the South East of England (31%), Ribeye was the favourite in the North West (31%), Sirloin in the North East (22%), Rump in London (16%), while the T-bone steak was the top pick in the East Midlands (12%).

Carrie Nelmes, Marketing Manager at Greene King Pub and Grill, said:- "Even though we have a range of grilled meats, fish and veg at our pubs, there's no denying that a classic steak is synonymous with grilled food. It takes a huge amount of skill to know how to cook the perfect steak, so it's essential that we understand the breadth of our customers tastes. It doesn't matter if you're a steak enthusiast who likes your steak blue, or if you want it cooked incredibly well done; our chefs have you covered."