Community Spirit Shines at the Citizens 4 Good Awards Ceremony in Maghull

18 people, and a dog, were celebrated for the difference they made in the community on:- Monday,  8 July 2024. Taking place at:- Maghull Town Hall, this is the 2nd Citizen 4 Good event of the year and was attended by the Mayor of Sefton, the nominees, their families and their nominators.

Catrin Hughes, Event organiser and Volunteer Development officer for Volunteer Centre Sefton said:- "We had a lovely event. 1 of the best parts is the breadth of the good deeds people have done and continue to do. We celebrated a knitting group, a pair of entertainers who donate their fees to charity, befrienders and people who go above and beyond To help their community and bring joy to others with their pets."

While the event celebrated those in the community who continue to bring joy, the event also had a poignant moment. For the 1st time, the Citizens 4 Good event gave a posthumous award; to the late Councillor and TV Personality Matthew Lock, who tragically passed away at the age on 19 in 2023. His parents Christine and Richard accepted the award on his behalf and Ken Hughes, who Matthew could often be found with was also presented with a certificate for the work he has done and continues to do in the community.

Citizens 4 Good was developed by Sefton CVS and the Mayor of Sefton's Office to helps shine a light of the vibrant community spirit that makes Sefton a great place to live. Its those small community minded deeds that make a difference to so many.

Here is the full list of Citizens 4 Good recipients from this event:-

Rachael Doyle Murray; for connects with the local community by decorating her business windows with inspiring seasonal displays and raising money for local charities, while also running a successful business and raising a young family.

Elaine Chin and her little dog Rani; For helping out in the community by doing:- litter picks, visiting the elderly with her dog Rani and providing transport to Hospital for friends.

Anna Patterson; a retired teacher, who went back to work at her primary School as a volunteer helping with SEND children. Parents have described the club she began as life changing for their children.

Lewis Wright; this 13 year old has been an important part of Alder Hey Hospital's Sensory Environment Project, has helped to introduced sensory boxes to the Hospital and has addressed the Sefton SEND Continuous Improvement Board, emphasising the importance of safe sensory spaces in all public buildings across the Borough.

Catherine Swords and Tracy Holland; for brining their local community together during Covid 19 and continuing to organise street parties and events for their immediate neighbourhood in Bootle.

Rosalind Henderson; for her volunteering as a befriender and organising coffee clubs, in Formby. Rosalind has also helped to raise funs for MacMillan and Oxfam.

Arthur Bowling; for volunteering on community heritage projects and in his local community.

Asa Murphy and Ken Harrison; for raising considerable amount of money for local charities.

Faith and Joy Knipe; for good deeds in the community and for their volunteering in Maghull Chapel.

Yarnagans; a knitting group that knit garments and blankets for local children's Hospitals, Hospices and local charities.

Lynne Warham; For being a cornerstone of the community in Maghull. Establishing her own business to support the community's utility bills and creating the Maghulltimate Community Facebook page, which has rapidly grown to over 3,000 members. Through this she offers practical advice and emotional support to the page's members.

Matthew Lock and Ken Hughes; For their work in the Maghull community by taking part in litter picks, clearing grot spots, removing rubbish for the elderly within the community and helping with their shopping where needed.

A final decision to be made on new policy for Home to School transport

LIVERPOOL City Council's Cabinet is due to make a final decision on whether to make changes to home to School transport, which would bring the policy in line with the latest guidance from the Department for Education and ensure funding is targeted to those who need it most.

Following a consultation which took place between:- March and May 2024, a recommendation is to be put forward to Cabinet for proposals which would bring the Council in line with neighbouring local authorities and promote active travel and better independence for pupils.

If approved changes would not come into effect until September 2025 meaning, there will be no changes for travel arrangements in September 2024.

All pupils who currently receive a travel assistance will be unaffected by the proposals whilst in their current School or College and would continue to receive support under the new policy. In future all pupils who qualify under statutory guidance will receive travel assistance.

Low-income families, who currently represent 40% of all passholders, would not be affected by the proposals.

All pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who apply to receive travel assistance will continue to have their needs assessed on an individual basis.

If approved, those who will be affected by the new policy will be assessed on an individual basis to establish any extra ordinary circumstances and to ensure the right support and guidance is given.

The Council is proposing updating the travel assistance policies, to bring them in line with national guidance by:-

Removing discretionary free travel if parents or carers choose a School that is not the nearest suitable educational institution. This does not affect a parent or carer's right to express a preference for a School of their choice as part of the admissions process.

Changing the minimum qualifying distance for free travel from:- 2 to 3 miles for those over the age of 8, to be in line with national guidance.

Not automatically providing travel support for pupils in years:- 6, 10, and 11, who have moved home and are no longer within qualifying walking distance to and from their School.

Travel support will be maintained for low income families under the statutory criteria. In the 2021 academic year, 40% of travel passes issued were to pupils from low income families. The Council will work with Schools to provide travel support for pupils who do not meet the criteria.

Post 16 travel assistance... Currently the average cost of transport is £5,843 per student to be transported to and from their educational setting. For pupils aged over 16, it is being proposed that those eligible for transport and where the only travel support option is to travel on a vehicle provided by the Council, there will be an expectation that use of this service would require a:- 'learner contribution' of £680 per year. This would be reduced by 50% for students who would qualify for free School meals. There will be an opportunity to pay the learner contribution in instalments and many post 16 students can apply for bursary funding to cover travel costs.

Advice would be provided on accessing student bursaries, and the Council would work with Colleges to enhance the support they can provide to help students access public transport, for example through the Council's Independent Travel Training Programme.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Lila Bennett:- "Increases in the cost of fuel, transport and insurance mean that we have to bring the scheme into line with the Department for Education guidance and target resource at those who most need support. Not only this, but wherever possible, we want to encourage children and young people to use alternative ways of getting to and from School, such as walking or cycling. This improves health and wellbeing, encourages more inclusion and independence for young people as well as being a more sustainable and environmentally friendly. We are proposing a fair policy that would protect those on low incomes and ensure that those who currently have a pass continue to do so during their remaining period in education unless their circumstances change."