Southport African Caribbean Heritage Association's Winter Warmth Scheme

SOUTHPORT African Caribbean Heritage Association has launched a new Winter Warmth scheme to help keep families over these cold months. The group has teamed up with Living Well Sefton and Mersey Eco Grants, a local business specialising in energy saving measures, to provide this vital service. SACHA is offering practical advice and support on how to get the most out of your heating this winter, while reducing your bills where possible. The next event takes place at Crossens Community Centre, on:- Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport, from:- 3pm to 6pm, on:- Saturday, 3 December 2022. Pop in and find out what help is available, and enjoy a hot meal, a free prize draw and a package of winter essentials for all who attend.

A SACHA spokesperson said:- "We're aware that a lot of people are concerned with the rising energy costs, and would like to offer whatever support we can to the local community and hope to offer practical help to all who need it. We host an informal gathering at Crossens Community Centre on the first Saturday of each month, which we would like to establish as a 'Warm Space' where anyone can come to enjoy a hot meal free of charge. We’ve also partnered with Living Well Sefton and Mersey Eco Grants to offer information on what help is available from the government, as well as some care packages. A lot of people are eligible for Government help, but just don’t know it. These grants are used to make your house more efficient to heat, by replacing an old, inefficient boiler for example, or installing insulation, completely free of charge. Homeowners and tenants are both eligible, as long as someone at the address is in receipt of certain benefits, more information will be available at the event. The speaker from Mersey Eco Grants is also going to offer advice on how to most effectively use your central heating, and share tips on alternative ways to keep warm, at a lower cost. We also are doing a free prize draw, that everyone who attends will be entered into, the prizes include a food hamper, a slow cooker; both donated by Morrisons, an electric blanket, and a heated airer. As well as a selection of winter essentials as a gift to those who need them. We’re also offering a hot meal, an authentic taste of the Caribbean cooked by Nanny Pearl’s. It’s set to be a great event."

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MERSEYSIDE'S Police Commissioner is looking for 2 independent members to sit on her Scrutiny Panel, which oversees the Chief Constable's progress in maintaining an effective and efficient Police service for our region. The 2 new Panel members will support Emily Spurrell as she holds the Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, to account at these important quarterly meetings. The successful candidates will act as a:- 'critical friend,' providing an independent voice on behalf of the communities of Merseyside. The Commissioner is inviting applications from all of Merseyside's diverse communities and is seeking candidates who are independent from both her office and the Police. She is keen to find people with effective communication skills, the ability to negotiate and influence and someone is empathetic to the views of others. Applicants must be 18 or over, live or work in the Merseyside area and able to attend meetings during the working day over the next 12 months.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "My quarterly Scrutiny Meetings are a crucial way I hold the Chief Constable to account on how she is delivering an effective and efficient Police force for all 1.5million people living across Merseyside, as well as the many hundreds of thousands who work and visit our fantastic region each year. Inviting 2 independent members to sit on the panel alongside me is a crucial way I can ensure a broad spectrum of views from across Merseyside are represented at these key meetings which go into detail assessing Merseyside Police's progress against the priorities I set. These meetings are already live-streamed and include questions submitted in advance by the public. By also having 2 independent members on the panel, my aim is to make my scrutiny and review of Merseyside Police as accessible and transparent as possible. It's vitally important the public trust the Police and can see that money and resources are being used wisely to deliver the best possible service to keep our communities safe, so I would really encourage people from across Merseyside to apply. I'm keen to find 2 people who can effectively engage and represent the diverse communities of Merseyside and who are articulate, knowledgeable and confident constructing coherent arguments and providing challenge where necessary."

Panel members will be required to attend a minimum of 3 meetings per quarter for briefings and to attend Scrutiny Meetings. They will be renumerated £216 for a sitting of more than 4 hours and £108 for less than 4 hours, as well as provided with expenses. Applicants must be independent of both Merseyside Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner and will be subject to Police vetting procedures. Appropriate training prior to commencement on the panel will be provided. To apply, please submit a CV with a covering letter outlining what knowledge, skills and experience you could bring to the role by emailing:- Info@MerseysidePCC.Info, by:- 5pm, on:- Friday, 9 December 2022.  Or for more information visit:- MerseysidePCC.Info.