Cost of Living crisis information campaign launches

A campaign to promote the existing help available to get Liverpool residents through the Cost of Living crisis is getting under way. The initial phase will see the promotion of the range of welfare support available from Liverpool City Council, which is over and above that provided by many other Local Authorities and has been available for many years now. Figures from April to August 2022 show demand for crisis payments from Liverpool Citizen Support Scheme, which makes emergency payments to people for food, clothing and white goods, are up by almost 30% compared to the same period last year, with 8,500 applications. There have also been more than 8,000 applications from tenants for help in making rent payments, known as Discretionary Housing Payments. In total the Council has paid out a combined total of £3.5 million for the schemes.

The data chimes with the results of a recent:- 'State of the Sector' survey carried out by LCVS (Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services) which found that of 27 organisations questioned:-

► 92% said their service users had experienced food poverty in the last 6 months.

► 81% had struggled to pay bills.

► 77% had experienced an increase in the number of people seeking support due to poverty.

► The campaign will focus on spreading awareness of the available support through a website.

Leaflets will also be distributed to Council buildings, Councillors and community organisations, with details of:-

► How to check if you're eligible for benefits through the Benefits Maximisation Service.

► Emergency payments for food, clothing, fuel costs and white goods through Liverpool Citizen Support Service.

► Getting help with rent through a Discretionary Housing Payment.

► Claiming Council Tax Support if you are on a low income.

► Contact details for local foodbanks and food projects.

► Organisations to contact if you are in debt.

► Government energy rebate and funded schemes.

A special meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board is being held on Thursday, 27 October 2022, which will see partners and stakeholders coming together to discuss increased joint working and collaboration to tackle the Cost of Living crisis.

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Fairness and Tackling Poverty, Cllr Jane Corbett, said:- "We now all face this Cost of Living crisis, following 12 years of austerity policy from the Government. Such is the seriousness of the situation that in Liverpool we have chosen to categorise it as an emergency, using our emergency planning system. We are absolutely determined to do what we can to get the most vulnerable residents through what is going to be an extremely tough winter. Our trusted partners will be working together and will let people know what support is available which can help them keep putting food on the table or pay for gas and electricity, keeping their heads above water. Helping and supporting our residents through the coming weeks and months is a priority for the Council and its partners and we will be doing all we can to help respond to this crisis. We will continue to do what we can but we need a radical rethink by Government on how we tackle poverty in this country and prevent it in the 1st place."

Vision Zero strategy launched to drive road safety across Liverpool City Region

A new strategy focused on driving down the number road traffic collisions with a bold aspiration that no 1 will die or be seriously injured on the Region's roads by 2040 has just been launched. The Liverpool City Region's Road Safety strategy will be unveiled by the Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell and Mayor Steve Rotheram to coincide with a major safety operation on The Strand in Liverpool City Centre. The strategy aims to reduce the number of those killed and seriously injured on Merseyside's roads, working towards an overall Vision Zero target that aims to ensure that by 2040 there are no avoidable collisions on the Region's roads.

The plan is also focused on creating a safer environment for people to travel on foot and by bike and more children to walk or cycle to School, while also contributing to improved air quality across the Region.

The strategy focuses on 4 key pillars:- Safe Speeds, Safe Streets, Safe Vehicles, Safe Behaviour, and outlines the methods and measures which will be used to drive change. It will be used by the partners who make up the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership (RSP), including:- all 5 Local Authorities, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Highways England, and the health sector. It has also been shared with the Cheshire Road Safety Partnership covering the Halton borough, who will be adopting a similar approach.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "Each and every death or serious injury on our roads is 1 too many. These road collisions devastate lives, families and communities. We are committed to ensuring everyone can travel throughout our Region safely and this ambitious Plan sets out how as a partnership we want to reduce the number of fatalities and casualties in the years ahead, with the ultimate aim that there are no avoidable collisions on our roads. Deaths and injuries on our roads are neither acceptable nor inevitable; they are preventable and that is what we are focused on delivering."

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, added:- "I want our roads to be as safe as possible for people to get from A to B, regardless of their means of travel. Whether you're driving, cycling, walking, wheeling, or scooting, everyone has the right to feel secure while travelling in our area. While a big part of that comes down to people's road safety awareness, there are lots of practical steps we're taking to encourage long term behaviour change in how people choose to travel in our area. I'm working to build a public transport system that provides our residents with a genuine alternative to the car. We've invested in significant projects like our new publicly owned £500m trains and hydrogen buses, to make travelling by public transport easier than ever before. And we've allocated a further £42m in new and improved active travel infrastructure. By giving people a reason to leave the car at home for shorter journeys, we can drastically reduce traffic congestion on our roads; making it safer and easier for people to get to where they need to. It's not only helping to protect our residents either; it's for the good of our planet too. Every car we get off the road is a step towards our Region's target to reach net zero carbon by 2040. Working with partners across our Region, I'm confident that we can make our Region's roads the safest, cleanest and greenest place to travel in the UK."

Assistant Chief Constable Paul White, Merseyside Police said:- "Merseyside Police is committed to improving the safety of our roads and reducing the numbers of people killed and seriously injured each year. Serious and fatal collisions have devastating effects for all of those involved. We carry out enforcement on our roads on a daily basis and we hope that this initiative raises awareness and encourages people to think about their actions and the devastating effect they can have on others."

ACC White added:- "Merseyside Police will not tolerate those drivers who present a danger to other more vulnerable road users such as children and the elderly. We will work alongside our partners to ensure that everyone can travel across Merseyside safely."

The strategy also includes targeted action plans to keep:- cyclists, motorcycle users, senior road users and pedestrians safe on and around Merseyside's roads.