Ainsdale's Financial Planning Corporation named as Southport's 2022 Constituency Responsible Business Champion

AINSDALE'S Financial Planning Corporation has been named as Southport's Constituency Responsible Business Champion for 2022, following a nomination by the town's MP Damien Moore. This year, Mr. Moore nominated Financial Planning Corporation in Ainsdale for the work they've done for the community through their:- "FPC Foundation."

Mr. Moore welcomed Financial Planning Corporation to a ceremony in Parliament where they were formally presented with their award by the Minister for Business, Energy, and Corporate Responsibility, Lord Callanan. The awards are run by the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group (APCRG), who ask MPs to nominate an outstanding business from their constituency who they believe has had a positive impact and deserves to be recognised.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said:- "I visited the Financial Planning Corporation's office in Ainsdale village last December to meet the team and learn more about the work they do. I was thoroughly impressed by the FPC Foundation in particular, through which the business provides grants to community groups across Southport and the surrounding areas. I know how much this support will mean to those who receive it, which is why I decided to nominate them to be Southport's Responsible Business Champion for 2022. I was delighted to welcome Moira, Financial Planning Corporation's Managing Partner, to Parliament to celebrate the award with the APCRG, and showcase the truly outstanding work they have been doing in our Town."

Moira O'Shaughnessy, Managing Partner of Financial Planning Corporation (FPC), said:- "As a business, we feel it is important to share our success with our community. That's why we set up the FPC Foundation, through which we provide financial support to a diverse range of deserving organisations and community groups. We are very pleased to have been nominated by Damien, and to have our work highlighted in Parliament. I would like to thank the entire team at FPC for their hard work, without which this simply wouldn't be possible. I know that we are all looking forward to further supporting our community over the coming months and years."

Jonathan Djanogly MP, APCRG Co-Chair, said:- "I would like to thank Damien Moore MP for nominating Financial Planning Corporation, so that we could celebrate the great work of the company at our reception. We were very impressed by the work they are doing in Southport, and would encourage them to continue their efforts. They are a great example for other companies to emulate and we are delighted to name them Constituency Champion for Southport 2022."

Liverpool City Region launches inspirational globe trail:- 'The World Reimagined'

STEVE Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has launched:- 'The World Reimagined,' a ground breaking, UK wide art education project aimed at using the story of the transatlantic slave trade to promote racial justice. The project features 10 large globe structures, created by artists, making up a free public art trail across the Liverpool City Region, bringing to life the reality and impact of transatlantic slavery and inviting the public to think about ways to make racial justice a reality.  The trail was officially opened on:- Saturday, 13 August and will run until:- 31 October 2022, with a walking trail of 5 large globes located around Liverpool City Centre, with a further large globe in prominent locations in:- Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and the Wirral. There are a further 41 learning globes, created by:- 31 Schools and 10 community groups, which will be available to view at public locations across the Liverpool City Region.  The project has been brought to the Region by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, as the main local sponsor. The Combined Authority is working very closely with the Region's 6 Local Authorities and other partners including:- National Museums Liverpool and other cultural and community organisations, to deliver activities across the entire City Region.

The 10 large globes make up a route around the City Region, listed below in the suggested order that people visit them:-

► Liverpool.

► Central library.

► Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

► Rialto, Berkeley Square (this globe will initially be at the Merseyside Caribbean Centre before moving to the Rialto site on 23 August)

► Liverpool 1 on College Lane.

► Martin Luther King Building, Albert Dock.

► Wirral - The Priory, Birkenhead.

► Sefton - Marine Gardens, Waterloo.

► Knowsley - The Court Yard, Court Hey Park.

► St Helens - Pilkington's World of Glass Garden.

► Halton - Spike Island, outside the Catalyst Museum.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "History gives us an opportunity to learn, to reflect, and to remember the lessons and mistakes of the generations before us - and ensure that they are never repeated. While it can be uncomfortable to face up to some of the darker chapters of our Region's past, it is vital that we continue to reflect on the whole of our history. Today, our Region's diversity is 1 of our greatest strengths; it enhances our culture, enriches our lives, and makes our area 1 of the best places in the country to live and work. While we've come so far on our journey, it's clear that there's still a lot of work to be done to tackle racial inequality. More than 1.6m people call our City Region:- 'home' and I want to make sure that every single 1 of them has the chance to be a part of this important moment in our shared history. Each of our 6 boroughs has helped to bring The World Reimagined to life and it's been fantastic to see how local Schoolchildren and community groups have got stuck in. I think that this project will teach us about the past; and the future; of our home, and help to shape a better future for our City Region; where no 1 is left behind."

Commissioned artists have created thought provoking globes responding to themes ranging from:- 'Mother Africa' and:- 'The Reality of Being Enslaved' to 'still We Rise' and 'Expanding Soul.'

The project forms part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Race Equality Programme, which was launched by Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2020, and this Trail aims to provide an enjoyable and thought provoking learning experience for people of all ages. Through the education and art programme, the project will be rooted in local Schools and communities to facilitate dialogues around racial equality and justice and linked deeply to where people live. The wider programme also includes a:- 'Race Equality Hub,' which is being co-designed with the local community. With ring fenced funding of £3.2m, this is the Region's biggest ever investment in tackling racial inequality.

Karen Gallagher, MBE, Creative Producer of The World Reimagined, in the Liverpool City Region, said:- "What is so wonderful about this project is that it has given opportunities for young and old alike to come together and learn from each other, not just about our history and its impact, but how we can make a difference if we work together with compassion and respect. The creativity that is represented on the large and smaller globes is stunning and I can't wait for the whole City Region to experience the trail and get involved."

Councillor Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and the Visitor Economy, said:- "It's really exciting for the opening of this hugely ambitious and thought provoking project to be upon us. The high-profile locations of these globes will ensure that the project reaches as many people as possible and should kickstart a public conversation about the legacy of our City Region's past and its continuing consequences today. It is also a celebration of creativity and the power of culture to challenge, entertain and educate. I'm quite sure that these incredible artworks will be a huge attraction for people from across our City Region and beyond and would encourage everyone who can to get out and experience the whole trail."

Liverpool 1 and the Liverpool BID Company are each sponsoring 1 of the large globes.

The globe sponsored by Liverpool 1 is being designed by Caroline Daly and will be located on College Lane.

The design responds to the theme:- "Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation," which shares the story of how Britain was transformed by the slave trade.

The globe sponsored by the Liverpool BID Company, which represents 1,000 organisations across the City Centre, will be situated outside Central Library on William Brown St.

Based on the theme:- "Mother Africa," it is designed by celebrated Barbados artist Ras Akyem.

We had a chance at meeting the Artist, Amy Bourbon, (Pictured above standing next to her Globe) who is behind:- 'Falling Through The Cracks' that was located in Marine Garden, next to the Gate, in Waterloo Place, (Marker LTE1796) near the cafe.

Sadly, the globe ‘Falling Through the Cracks’ has since had to be taken off the trail, within the Liverpool City Region, due to significant damaged as a result of vandalism. Please keep your fingers crossed for a successful repair. Amy, who had put a lot of work into producing it, said:- "It is very upsetting. This disappointing, but big thanks to all who have given us positive feedback after seeing it."

For more information, please visit:- TheWorldReImagined.Org.

New NHS Digital report shows bariatric surgery figures for the past 5 years

NEW figures produced by NHS Digital on the number of people undergoing weight management surgery in England have been published. Bariatric surgical procedures, 2021/22 (provisional) - National Obesity Audit [Management Information] is a new quarterly publication covering data for the past 5 financial years, from:- 2017 to 2018. It includes:- information about the number of people having bariatric surgery each year in England, showing figures for primary procedures, revision procedures and gastric balloons and bubbles (temporary procedures)3. Primary procedures are further broken down by type of surgery. The data, which is available in an interactive dashboard, is also broken down by demographics, such as age, gender and ethnicity. In addition, geographical data down to provider and CCG level is included. Figures on bariatric surgery were previously included in:- NHS Digital's Annual Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet publication, which was paused while a consultation took place on the content and schedule of the 4 publications in NHS Digital's Lifestyles compendia series. The consultation outcomes paper, which has also been published, recommends that these are combined into 1 compendium publication. The methodology used in publication to identify bariatric surgery has been amended and developed based on advice from expert clinicians. Figures are lower than the numbers in the Statistics on:- Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet reports for several reasons, including because the publication shows a count of people rather than procedures. The methodology continues to be refined through engagement with more users.