LGA responds to MPs' report on employment support:- "Local leaders want to unlock talent"

ON Wednesday, 19 July 2023, the Local Government Association (LGA) responded to a Commons Work and Pensions Committee report calling for more employment support to address economic inactivity, including:- widening support to help people who are not on benefits into work. In a recent cost benefit analysis the LGA says that it shows that a place based:- 'Work Local' approach has the potential to increase by 15% the number of people improving their skills or finding work at lower cost.

Talking on behalf of the LGA was Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the Local Government Association's People and Places Board, who said:- "Everyone deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential by upskilling or retraining to find and progress in jobs, with local councils best placed to connect them, working alongside businesses and our vital training organisations. As this report recognises, each area has its own unique labour market including a mix of jobs, qualification levels, unemployment and vacancies, therefore it makes sense to devolve responsibilities for addressing these to Local Authorities. We need to move away from a top down, centralised approach. Given the right powers and resources over employment and skills funding for every place, councils could build on their track record of helping to get people back into work; including those who are furthest from the jobs market; and plugging growing skills gaps. Using their unrivalled local insight, knowledge and proven record in delivering more for less, local leaders want to unlock this potential talent and get the best value for money from the billions currently spent on various national disjointed schemes."

Currently the LGA are have been calling for a:- "Work Local Board" and had hoped that it would be put in place by the end of 2022, with the aims of:-

• Get the basics right everywhere so all places can join up the offer more effectively.
   

• Empower local leaders by agreeing a framework for employment and skills devolution.
   

• Implement Work Local and roll out more place partnerships sooner than 2030.

Sadly this has not yet come to pass, but what are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with the current Government approach, or do you think a:- "Work Local" approach would be better? You can email our Newsroom, at: News24@SouthportReporter.Com , with your thoughts or contact us through:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.
 

Young people take to the water as summer of vital engagement projects gets underway

YOUNG people in Bootle are learning vital water skills with thousands more across Merseyside set to benefit from a summer of engagement activities thanks to the Police Commissioner’s Youth Diversion Fund. In total, 23 projects are benefiting from a share of £100,000, meaning more than 2,500 young people will benefit from having safe places to take part in positive activities during the 6 week summer holidays.

Emily Spurrell is set to visit the, L20 Hub in Bootle, on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, to see 1st hand the positive affect her Youth Diversion Fund is having, particularly for those from more deprived areas, offering more opportunities for young people while helping to prevent a spike in crime and anti-social behaviour which can occur during the summer months.

During the session young people will be building rafted canoes before taking to the water on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. A family forest school teaching outdoor skills is also due to take place.

Daredevil great grandad, 82, braves 100 ft Liverpool FC Anfield abseil for Queenscourt Hospice

AN 82 year old daredevil, from Southport, has smashed his fundraising target after abseiling 100-ft down Liverpool Football Club’s iconic Anfield stadium.  John did the abseil after his daughter’s husband and also to his granddaughter’s husband both received end of life care at Queenscourt Hospice in Southport.  He's a lifelong Liverpool fan who has been watching the Reds since the days of Billy Liddell in the 1950s.

Brave John Blackhurst set himself a target of raising £150 for Queenscourt Hospice through his challenge, that took place on:- Sunday, 16 July 2023.  But the fanatical Liverpool FC fan’s fundraising efforts have attracted huge support, with over £1,600 raised already.

John was inspired to take on the abseil after Queenscourt Hospice, in Southport, provided excellent end-of-life care to his daughter’s husband and also to his granddaughter’s husband.

A keen Liverpool FC fan since the 1950s, he had never done an abseil before but enjoyed his daring feat - even touching the Liverpool FC signage on the side of the stadium on his way down!

John, a proud Dad to three children with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren, founded Blackhurst Butchers 60 years ago. The business is today based at Southport Market and is run by his son, Tony, who accompanied his Dad to Anfield.

John Blackhurst said:- “It was a fantastic experience! I really enjoyed it. I was the only abseiler on the day who managed to touch the Liverpool FC sign on the side of the ground which was great! It was a special moment. I had to touch it, being a lifelong Liverpool FC fan. It was a really good day. The staff there gave me a free tour of the ground and the trophy room, which was fantastic. It was a great day with my family too. They were all there cheering me on as I did my abseil. They were all taking pictures and videos with their phones! We all went out for a nice Indian meal afterwards. The publicity through:- Southport Reporter, Stand Up For Southport, through Sean Styles on BBC Radio Merseyside, the Southport Visiter and everyone else has been terrific. The fundraising really took off after all the awareness raised. It has rocketed to over £1,500 now. I would like to thank every single person who has donated, or sent good luck messages, and to all my sponsors. I am really pleased with how much support I’ve received from so many people. I'm just keen to keep that going now and raise as much money as I can for Queenscourt Hospice. This was the first time I have ever done an abseil! I loved it. I may be 82 years old, but there is always a first time for everything! I will never forget this experience."

John’s abseil came about when his daughter, Julie Rimmer, bought the opportunity for him as a Father’s Day gift.

John said:- "I thought if I’m going to be doing something so challenging at my age, then I should at least be doing it for charity! I really wanted to raise money for Queenscourt Hospice. My daughter’s husband, Stephen, sadly died at Queenscourt. The end of life care they gave him was just fantastic. It’s a very special place, the people who work there are amazing. We even had a birthday party there for him outside in the lovely gardens before he sadly passed away the next day. Stephen’s son, Matthew Rimmer, came with me to Anfield. My granddaughter, Jade Hooper, lost her husband, Stuart, at just 31 years old. He had a rare form of Ewings sarcoma cancer and was given care at Queenscourt too. Both Stuart and Steve were both fit, strong young men who loved outdoor pursuits and adventure so it only seemed right to attempt this challenge in memory of them."

Queenscourt Hospice is a local charity that provides end of life support and care for the people of Southport, West Lancashire and Formby. The charity cares for patients with serious illnesses, enabling them to achieve the best possible quality of life at each new stage. Queenscourt cares for patients both in the hospice and at home through its In Patient Unit, Queenscourt Connect and Queenscourt, at Home Services.

The charity requires over 100 professional staff members to stay open, including doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and many other roles. If you would like to support John Blackhurst in his charity abseil for Queenscourt Hospice please visit his JustGiving Page.