Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership launches new website

THE Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership has launched a new website, making it easier for communities to find out more about its vital work to prevent and reduce serious violence across our Region.

The new and improved:- MerseysideVRP.Com website offers a fresh, clean, engaging look, easier navigation, and enhanced tools for booking training being delivered by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP).

Designed and built by Liverpool digital agency Connect Internet Solutions, the new user-friendly website will be a key tool for raising awareness of the work of the MVRP and helping to increase communication through an enhanced online presence.

The site provides vital information to communities across Merseyside about the MVRP's aims and objectives and importantly, how it leads, supports, and funds a wide range of project and initiatives across Merseyside, all with the single aim of reducing and preventing violence.

Designed to be neurodiverse friendly with a muted, pastel colour palette and more white space to reduce cognitive load, the new site offers news, blogs, and a host of information for use by the public, professionals, and educators, offering clear signposting to a wide-range of resources. The website also has a "hide site" button which is always visible for safety.

The homepage includes:- a regularly updated panel featuring the top 4 news, events and blog articles, as well as easy to navigate links to all the projects the MVRP delivers across 5 key overarching themes; early years, education, whole-family, health and preventing offending. It also makes it easier to find out about the MVRP's strategy and aims, its research and the evaluation of the projects it delivers.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "Merseyside's Violence Reduction Partnership is intervening in a positive way to help young people and families, prevent violence and make our communities safer and stronger, and the launch of this new website is designed to help more people find out about their vital work. The new site is much easier and faster to use, it looks great, and it provides a wealth of resources that can be used by families and professionals, all focused on reducing and stopping violence and building brighter futures. I'd encourage everyone to go online, take a look, and find out more about the MVRP."

Temporary Director of the MVRP, Supt Georgie Garvey added:- "Our goal is to put a stop to violence, so we want as many people as possible to find out about the projects and programmes we're running in their communities and the difference they are making. Our new-look website will be a key tool in helping us achieve that, increasing our communication with the communities we serve and making it easier for them to learn about our aims, progress and achievements. I'm thrilled that the new site really reflects our work; and with more content still to come, I hope people find it a valuable and helpful resource. Connect's Managing Director, Janet Symes said: "The Violence Reduction Partnership is a vital resource across Merseyside, providing much needed assistance in the effort to make communities and families safer. We are really proud of the work we have done for them and the part we have helped to play in their incredible work."

Dogs Trust delivers Christmas hope to people experiencing homelessness across Liverpool

THE Christmas elves at Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, are busy getting ready to spread Christmas cheer across Liverpool by delivering gifts to the canine companions of people experiencing homelessness.

Every Christmas, through its Together Through Homelessness scheme, Dogs Trust brings festive cheer to the dogs of people experiencing homelessness by delivering canine hampers of collars, leads, coats, treats and toys to dogs and their owners. Dogs Trust has been running the unique service for over 30 years and as well as Christmas gifts, provides free veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.

In recent months Together Through Homelessness have seen an 82% rise in phone enquiries, as Crisis Homelessness Monitor 2023 shows that homelessness is on the rise in the UK.

This year, Together Through Homelessness will deliver almost 2,000 Christmas parcels to dogs and their owners at over 215 homelessness services across the UK. Some of the homelessness services in Liverpool that have benefited from Dogs Trust's Together Through Homelessness include:- The Whitechapel Centre, Care for the Paw, Salvation Army and YMCA.

Megan Evans, Together Through Homelessness Team Leader at Dogs Trust, explains:- "Everyone knows that the bond between a dog and its owner is a strong 1 but for people experiencing homelessness, the bond is often unbreakable. Christmas can be an especially difficult and lonely time for people in housing crisis, but the company of a canine friend can often help to ease some of this loneliness. However, thanks to the generosity of Dogs Trust supporters, this year we'll spread a little bit of Christmas cheer and help almost 2,000 dogs celebrate Christmas with their best friends. Not only that, but we will be able to continue to support them into the New Year and beyond so that more dogs can stay with their owners, regardless of their housing situation."

As well as distributing Christmas hampers and offering free veterinary treatments Together Through Homelessness supports homelessness services to accept clients with dogs and helps them put in place practical guidelines. The project also provides starter packs of dog items to help new dogs feel welcome at homelessness services.  

To support Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness and help dogs and their owners who are experiencing homelessness, visit:- DogsTrust.Org.UK.