Can you help a local family save their 20 months old cockapoo?

A local family from Southport is extremely upset that their cockapoo which is just 20 months old has been diagnosed with nasal lymphoma, which requires urgent treatment to save her life. The family doesn't have the funds to pay for the treatment and the insurance is not able to cover it, so they have set up a Go Fund Me Page. Can you help them?

Dunelm Southport to host community menopause workshop to help customers sleep better

NEW research from Dunelm, the UK's leading homewares retailer, shows that menopause symptoms are costing women in the North West average of 2 to 4 hours sleep per night.  In a bid to help both customers and colleagues improve their slumber, Dunelm Southport, is inviting members of the local community to attend an exclusive in store MenopauZzz workshop, hosted by menopause experts Henpicked, to support and educate on the effects of menopause.

Dunelm's MenopauZzz campaign is backed by TV and Radio Presenter, Lisa Snowdon, a vocal advocate on the need for wider support for women going through both perimenopause and menopause.  With expert trainers from Henpicked, the UK's leading menopause hub, on hand to answer questions relating to the transition and offer advice on how to create the optimum sleep environment, the hour long session will take place on 20 October 2022, at Dunelm Southport, situated at:- Ocean Plaza Retail Park, Southport.  Dunelm's research also found that 45% of menopausal women aged over 45 in the North West admit a lack of sleep negatively impacts their mood and leads to an inability to concentrate and recall details.

Amanda Cox, Chief People Officer and Stores Director at Dunelm said:- "At Dunelm we appreciate menopause can be incredibly debilitating, with poor sleep a key side effect; that's why we are offering specialist support to both customers and colleagues at this life milestone. Our MenopauZzz campaign provides workshops, educational resources and effective product recommendations and coincides with the launch of our new internal Menopause focus which includes menopause buddy training, a new menopause policy and manager guidance to make sure Dunelm is a place where everyone feels that they belong."

The recent findings additionally found that only 29% women in the North-West are happy with the menopause help that's currently available to them, outside of visiting their GP.  The results also revealed that only 29% of North West women would turn to a male family member or friend if they were struggling with menopause, with the majority of those surveyed admitting they are most likely to turn to their doctor or female friend for support.

The Dunelm workshops will take place at 20 stores across the country and are just 1 part of a larger commitment Dunelm has made to provide all colleagues with menopause training and support.  Workshop attendees will receive a gift voucher to redeem against Dunelm products including:- those designed to help with menopause symptoms, such as:- cooling pillows, mattress protectors, duvets and bedding sets.  To sign up for the workshop, please visit the event page on Eventbrite.  To find out more about Dunelm's MenopauZzz campaign, visit the campaign hub at:- Dunelm.com.

NSPCC fundraisers to cap off mountain challenge by climbing Ben Nevis at night

AN NSPCC fundraising team will climb Ben Nevis to raise money for the child protection charity. NSPCC Volunteers and staff have come together in the North West on several occasions in recent years to take on mountain challenges. The team has already tackled Snowdon and Scafell Pike in the last 2 years, and they are set to take on the UK's highest peak this weekend.

It started when Janette Drew, NSPCC Community Fundraising Manager for the North West, was recovering after having her hips replaced and decided to take on a challenge to improve her fitness and raise money during lockdown. She was soon joined by a group of colleagues and volunteers who have all supported the climbs and volunteered to help, and the team will have raised around £47,000 once the Ben Nevis leg is complete. Janette said:- "It won't be easy. At 1 point I couldn't even climb the stairs; never mind mountains! I am scared to death of the dark and this climb will take place over the night. Trust me, I will be terrified!"

Rachel Walker, NSPCC Volunteer Engagement Officer, said:- "Climbing Snowdon and Scafell Pike was a huge achievement. It was great to raise money to ensure services like Childline can continue offering support. Taking on Ben Nevis will certainly be a test, but it's a great way to push yourself. These are difficult times, but I would urge anyone who can spare some money; even if it's just a few pounds; to donate to our JustGiving page."

Among the volunteers joining the team is Claire Taylor, she said:- "Taking on gruelling challenges such as this is both frightening and exciting. Knowing that people have dug deep to donate to the NSPCC really helps us push past the pain barriers and carry on. We couldn't do it without everyone's wonderful support."

Janette added:- "The last 18 months have been a challenge like no other we have faced. The Pandemic has made situations for vulnerable children and families much worse. The NSPCC has adapted its services throughout this awful time and continues to be there, providing vital support to help children. By supporting our fundraising, we can ensure the NSPCC can continue to reach out to children who need support and someone to turn to. I am determined to complete this challenge and by sponsoring me you are helping me to have the courage to push through."

To support the team, visit their JustGiving page: Janette Drew is fundraising for NSPCC.

£4.7m Cost of Living support prioritised as Liverpool City Region's £44m Shared Prosperity Fund plans revealed

PLANS to help thousands of residents struggling with the cost of living crisis have been unveiled by Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. In a week energy prices rose sharply again for many households, the Combined Authority is earmarking nearly £4.7m to support the voluntary and community sector to provide financial advice, alongside supporting digital inclusion. And a further £3.3m will be spent on community activity to tackle food poverty, improve green spaces and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Under the £2m cost of living proposal, the Combined Authority would partner with Citizens Advice and the Women's Organisation to boost support and advice services to residents hardest hit by soaring prices. If approved at next week's Combined Authority meeting, the cost of living support programme could start as early as November and would see specialist staff employed to support residents towards relative financial stability. Further details will be released closer to the launch.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "With the cost of living crisis putting a bigger and bigger strain on people's outgoings, mental health and wellbeing, I want to do what we can to ease the burden on local residents. For people in our Region to flourish and prosper, they need support to make it through this difficult period ahead. Despite the fact that Government have cut more than a third from the funding that they promised us, we're choosing to invest nearly £5m to give families access to the support they need. While national Government dithers, devolution is giving local leaders the ability to step in and step up for local people. In the Liverpool City Region, I want to make sure no 1 is left behind."

The cost of living plan features in the City Region's wider plans to invest its three-year, £44.4m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation. The UKSPF has been created to replace European funding following Brexit. Under UKSPF, Liverpool City Region is set to lose around £10.2m annually compared to its previous European Union allocation; a cut of around 37%. Speaking previously on the loss in funding, Mayor Rotheram said:- "The UKSPF was heralded as a 'replacement' for European funds, but instead, our Region is set to lose out on millions of pounds every year. Whereas Government are rowing back, we're stepping forward to ensure no 1 is left behind."

The City Region's UKSPF spending plans come under 3 priority areas: Community and Place, Supporting Local Business, and People and Skills. More than £17m will be used to support local businesses including:- £1.5m for Town Centres and nearly £4m to drive innovation. Business support plans are being finalised, but will include:- a combination of expert support, advice and grant funding; with the bulk of the programme earmarked for next year and beyond. £14.5m will be allocated to People and Skills projects, starting in April 2024, and nearly £11m will support Community and Place. That will include:- £2.4m for culture, arts and heritage; with detailed plans being drawn up.

Government approval of the City Region's UKSPF investment plan is expected in October however tight timescales mean that work is already underway to prepare for delivery. The Combined Authority has a Year 1 spending target of £5.386m by March 2023; with tackling the cost of living crisis regarded a priority. If approved, delivery could start as quickly as November 2022. Local Authority led work to support town Centres, culture and heritage, and activity to tackle anti-social behaviour, food poverty and to improve green spaces will also be in the Year 1 spending plans. In addition to the core SPF funding of £44m, the City Region will receive £8.4m from the SPF; ringfenced to deliver the Government's Multiply programme to improve adult numeracy skills.