Northern teams up with Blackpool Transport to offer rail passengers:- 'through tickets'

PEOPLE heading to Blackpool on trains operated by Northern will now be able to buy 1:- 'through ticket' that will also cover their bus and tram journeys in the Town. Working in partnership with Blackpool Transport; the seaside resort's bus and tram operator; Northern's customers will be able to travel onwards from Blackpool North or Blackpool South to destinations including:- Fleetwood, Bispham and Thornton Cleveleys.

Chris Jackson, Regional director for Northern, said:- "This partnership is a great example of Northern finding ways to make our customer's journeys easier. We're proud to be working with Blackpool Transport to help connect thousands of our customers with their work, leisure and education destinations."

Through tickets' from Northern will be valid on Blackpool Transport's bus and tram network, which you can view on:- BlackpoolTransport.Com. Northern is the 2nd largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,000 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England. What are your thoughts on this? Please let us know by emailing our newsroom to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

All aboard! Local LGBTQIA+ group join Liverpool's pride celebrations onboard the Pride of Sefton

LOCAL support group, Sahir House, took trips onboard the Pride of Sefton to help to improve service users' health and wellbeing ahead of Liverpool's pride celebrations. Sahir House is dedicated to improving sexual health education and HIV awareness and have offered support, prevention, information, and training across Merseyside for over 35 years. Since 1985 the organisation has been campaigning to reduce the stigma around and the rights of those living with HIV and related intersectionalities, including:- gender, sexuality, and asylum status through their:- 'Many Hands 1 Heart' programme. Thanks to a grant from 1 Vision Housing's Community Development Fund, the HIV support group took 2 3 hour excursions on the wide beam canal boat to travel through docks located within Liverpool's former UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.

Kathleen Charters, Wellbeing Practitioner at Sahir House, said:- "A big thank you for making this happen, our service users had so much fun. As tourists waved and children raced the canal boat, I saw something beautiful across the faces of those on the boat who are often so socially anxious. That I have filed in my happy drawer."

Shereen Cowley, Asylum and Advocacy Caseworker and MHOH Facilitator at Sahir House, added:- "Thank you so much for offering this experience to our service users. It was really nice and both groups had a fantastic day. We would also like to extend a thank you to your volunteers who the day were very generous and patient with some of our service users."

As part of The Sovini Group, the Pride of Sefton is proud to offer unique tours across Liverpool's waterways to people from disadvantaged or marginalised communities and those experiencing social isolation thanks to its partnership with fellow Group members, 1 Vision Housing.

Ian Mitchell, Managing Director of Housing for The Sovini Group, said:- "We are driven to create opportunities and change lives at The Sovini Group and it is incredible to see our Community Development Fund bring the local LGBTQIA+ community together, supporting those at risk of social isolation to improve their mental health."

To learn more about the Pride of Sefton and to book your trip, please visit:- PrideOfSeftonBoats.Co.UK. For more details on how to apply for a grant from 1 Vision Housing's Community Development Fund, please visit:- OVH.Org.UK.