Rail users set to benefit as Hillside becomes latest station to go step free

RAIL users at Hillside, in Sefton, Merseyside, will now benefit from a step free route from the street to the platforms with the opening of new lifts at the station. With their official opening held on 21 October 2022, the 16 person capacity lifts make it easier to reach the platforms for wheelchair users, people with mobility needs, heavy luggage, bicycles or those with children in buggies.

Additional works to improve accessibility have also been carried out during this project, including:- a new dual height ticket desk, widened doorways to make waiting shelters accessible to wheelchairs and a refitted accessibility toilet.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder and Cllr John Fairclough, Deputy Leader of Sefton Council, were joined by ward Councillors, Jane English, Acting Managing Director of Merseyrail and members of the Southport Access For Everyone (SAFE) group, for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Completion of the works brings the total number of step free stations in the Liverpool City Region to 60 out of a total of 83.

It's been made possible through funding from the Department for Transport's (DfT) Access for All programme and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Transforming Cities Fund, as part of a wider vision to make the local rail network the most accessible in the country.

As part of this round of investment, Merseyrail passengers can also look forward to greater accessibility as new lifts will be opening at St Michael's station in the next few months, while Northern passengers will benefit when Broadgreen on the City Line has new lifts installed next year. There are also plans for work to start soon on a second lift to the Northern line platform at Liverpool Central.

The Combined Authority has also recently submitted a bid to DfT to make ten more stations step-free between the station and the platform, via the latest round of Access for All funding.

The upgrades align to the Metro Mayor's wider vision of building a London style transport system for the Region that is quick, simple, affordable, and accessible to all. Improving accessibility at stations, will also complement the introduction of the City Region's new, state of the art trains with pioneering sliding step technology, which are due to be phased into service from later this year.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport and Air Quality Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:- "Being able to independently travel across our rail network can have a huge impact on people's everyday lives and these new lifts will make it easier for residents in Hillside to access our rail network. Making the City Region public transport network 1 of the most accessible in the UK is something Mayor Steve Rotheram has made clear remains an important ambition of ours and it forms a big part of our "Merseyrail for All" plans. Our long term aim is still to make every station step-free from pavement to platform and alongside the work we are already carrying out at St Michaels, Liverpool Central and Broad Green, the recent bid we submitted to DfT for further funding will hopefully help bring us nearer to that target."

Jane English, Acting Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:- "Merseyrail are incredibly proud to take more significant progress towards our ambition to become the 1st rail network in the UK with full accessibility for all. I know that for local residents and visitors to this area, the new lift will be valued and appreciated; and help ensure all of our customers receive the very best service, which they deserve. It's great to share moments like this with local people who will benefit from the work that has been completed here, and we're already looking forward to more new lift facilities being completed across the Merseyrail network in the near future."

Projects launch to support children and young people's mental health

SCHOOLS across Liverpool have been awarded funding to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of their students. Following the Pandemic, mental health needs increased across the City; so to better understand how children and young people had been affected, Liverpool City Council launched the anonymous:- 'OxWell' survey in collaboration with local health and education partners and the University of Oxford. OxWell's survey of almost 12,000 children and young people, identified mental health as the main issue post lockdown and the findings have now led to 3 Citywide priorities being set. Schools will now focus on addressing the 3 key issues of loneliness, bullying and sleep through activities that will make positive changes.

Separate age appropriate surveys were made available to children in years 5 to 7 and young people in years 8 to 13, with Schools receiving additional support to ensure any students impacted during the process could access immediate help. Individual Schools have now been awarded public health grants of either £5,000, or a collaborative grant of £15,000, to develop projects across a partnership.

A follow up survey will take place in February 2023, with additional Schools and students taking part and a bespoke offer for SEND students will launch later in the spring term.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills Cllr Tomas Logan said:- "Student voices have demonstrated that demand for mental health support has been increasing, but not enough was known about specific needs - so the OxWell survey has helped us to bridge that gap. The survey findings mean we now know the key issues that are affecting our children and young people. We can invest in activities that will improve overall wellbeing in School communities and target key areas to improve the emotional health of our youngest residents."

Director of Public Health for Liverpool, Professor Matthew Ashton said:- "Prior to the OxWell survey, the majority of local insight on children's and young people's mental health and wellbeing needs came from those already accessing services. We knew this wasn't a true reflection as not everyone is eligible to receive that support and of those who are only a small proportion actually access them. As a result of the work we have done on the OxWell Survey, Schools have been able to review their own data and work with their student focus groups on identifying projects and the best approach for addressing key issues."
 

Mary's Meals marks 20th Anniversary with special celebration in Wirral

SCHOOL feeding charity Mary's Meals is inviting local people to celebrate its 20th Anniversary at a special concert in Wirral, on 29 October 2022. The concert will take place at Christ Church Hall in Higher Bebington with an evening of jazz, swing and blues, from 6 piece band, the WirrOrleans.

Anna Houghton, supporter engagement Officer for Mary's Meals, says:- "We are a grassroots global movement and thanks to the contribution of people in Liverpool, we can keep our promise to the 2,279,941 children who rely on our meals, while striving to reach the next hungry child. We've been able to reach so many little ones over the past 20 years because of the kindness of those who believe in our mission. We hope people will come along to celebrate and find out more about how they can help us reach out to the little ones waiting for Mary's Meals."

Mary's Meals serves nutritious School meals to children living in 20 of the world's poorest, and often most difficult locations, including:- Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria and Lebanon. The promise of a good meal attracts desperately hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn their way to a better future.  It is hoped people from all walks of life will come together to mark the 20th Anniversary, hear updates, as well as discover different ways to support its mission. It costs just £15.90 to feed a child with Mary's Meals for a full School year. To find out more about the concert or the work of Mary's Meals, please visit:- MarysMeals.Org.UK.