Year 11 Pupils Invited to Discover the World of Healthcare in New After School Academy

HUGH Baird College is excited to announce the launch of its After School Healthcare Academy, specifically designed for Year 11 students with a keen interest in Health and Social Care. The Academy is not just another classroom experience; it's an interactive, hands on journey led by their expert team of lecturers, blending fun with real world applications.

The Academy consists of 4 engaging sessions, allowing pupils to participate in practical workshops and gain a deeper understanding of healthcare practices and patient behaviours. These sessions are a stepping stone towards a career in healthcare, ideal for students who are either set on studying a Health related course once they finish School or those who are still exploring their options.

The workshops will be conducted on the College's multi million pound Healthcare Campus, in Bootle, equipped with a state of the art Simulation Suite replicating a real Hospital ward. This setting provides an unparalleled experience for students to apply what they learn in a realistic healthcare environment.

Students can register for all 4 workshops or choose individual sessions that align with their interests and schedules. The sessions include:-

• Glow in the Dark Germ Busters (Wednesday, 21 February 2024, 4pm to 5pm) This is a session revealing the hidden world of germs and the importance of proper hygiene.
  

• Healthcare Heroes Simulation (Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 4pm to 5pm) This is an immersive experience into the world of personal protective equipment and simulated emergency scenarios.
  

• The Patient Mobility Challenge (Wednesday, 6 March 2024, 4pm to 5pm) A practical workshop focusing on patient mobility, including:- the operation of hoists and slings.
  

• Mealtime Masters (Wednesday, 13 March 2024, 4pm to 5pm) This is an interactive session on nutritional care and feeding techniques.
  

• The Academy is a unique opportunity for Year 11 students to dive into the world of healthcare and get a taste of what a career in this growing sector entails.

To find out more and register a place, visit:- HughBaird.AC.UK/Events.

People's Choice vote opens as BBC Question of Sport's Sam Quek is revealed as Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards host

THE public vote is now open to decide who will be honoured for their Outstanding Contribution to Culture at this year's Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

6 finalists are in the running for the People's Choice Award, which last year attracted more than 3,000 votes.

It is the only 1 of 15 categories to be decided by the public and the vote, which can be found online here, is open for 4 weeks.

The poll starts as Liverpool City Region Olympic hockey star and BBC presenter Sam Quek is revealed as host for this year's awards at St Helens Rugby League Stadium.

The nominees are:-

Sarah McLaughlin - Creative Balance - Creative Balance provides therapeutic art services across the City Region. They collaborate with education providers, art clubs and workshops, to create 1:1 sessions and charitable projects with the aim to inspire and support the community through creative expression, networks and friendships.

Imaginarium Theatre - Imaginarium Theatre is a community-based theatre company in Knowsley specialising in outdoor performance. An associate company of Shakespeare North Playhouse with a thriving youth theatre, they offer workshops to Schools and their productions of Shakespeare tour annually to parks and gardens across the area.

Writing on The Wall (WoW) - Writing on the Wall is a dynamic, Liverpool-based social enterprise, which celebrates writing in all its forms and promotes and supports equality, diversity and inclusion through year-round writing development projects and an annual month-long literature festival.

Africa Oyé - Africa Oyé is the UK's largest free celebration of music and culture from Africa and the Diaspora taking place annually in Liverpool. Beginning in 1992, the event has gone from strength to strength using cultural activity to bring about changes in attitude and cultural cohesion.

Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre - Liverpool's Royal Court is the friendliest theatre in the City. The theatre produces 8 long running plays every year, mostly comedies and musicals with cast and crew largely from Liverpool. Sets are built in the City; rehearsals take place here and 95% of all money spent by the theatre goes back into the local economy.

Wirral History and Heritage Association - The Wirral History and Heritage Association represents more than 90 local history groups and societies to support and foster a range of local heritage initiatives such as the largest annual history fair in the North-West and the Wirral programme for the national Heritage Open Days scheme which gives free public access to heritage sites and events.

Councillor Mike Wharton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business for the Liverpool City Region said:- "The People's Choice vote is 1 of the most exciting times in the run up to the Culture and Creativity Awards and means a great deal to our fantastic finalists as it's an accolade which is chosen by their peers. I urge everyone to get online and vote. This is your chance to celebrate the exceptional talents of all those who help to enrich people's lives and make our area 1 of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, visit, or do business in. The cultural economy is a key part to the Liverpool City Region's accomplishments on a global scale, we've seen that with the success of Eurovision, so we must continue to do as much as we can to support the sector from the grassroots up."

The People's Choice finalists join more than 40 others, who were whittled down by our prestigious judging panel before Christmas, from over 600 entries submitted from across the City Region.

This year's spectacular awards ceremony, to be held in the 2023 Borough of Culture St Helens, will be hosted by BBC Question of Sport captain and Olympic Gold Medallist Sam Quek MBE.

Wirral born Sam has represented both the England and Great Britain Women's Field Hockey teams and won gold as part of the British team at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She is now a TV sports presenter and in addition to becoming the 1st female captain on the BBC's Question of Sport, she has taken part in I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here and made it to the final 3 in Celebrity Masterchef. She said:- "I'm delighted to be representing the creativity involved in sport by hosting the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards this year, especially as they are being held at a sporting venue in St Helens Rugby League Stadium! I am looking forward to celebrating the innovation, inspiration and amazing contribution of all of the finalists honoured at this event especially when it takes place in the area I call home."

Anyone can vote in the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards People's Choice, including for more than 1 candidate, but multiple votes for the same person or organisation cannot be sent from 1 email address. Votes close on Friday, 9 February 2023 and the winner will be announced at the ceremony.

Established in 2019 under the Mayor's 1% for Culture initiative, which commits to invest 1 per cent of the Combined Authority's annual budget directly into cultural activities, the awards are in their 15th year of honouring the value and contribution the cultural and creative sectors bring to the Region and the difference they make to people's lives.

The 2024 event is sponsored by:- The ACC Liverpool Group Ltd, Davies Partnership, The Manufacturing Technology Centre Limited, Liverpool One, Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village, Sedulo and Charity Bank.

To place your vote and for more information on the People's Choice finalists go to:- LCRCultureAwards.Co.UK. The closing date is:- Friday, 9 February 2024.