Dogs Trust Merseyside Christmas appeal for treats and toys

THE team at Dogs Trust Merseyside is asking local dog lovers to help them make sure they can give the dogs in their care the best Christmas possible, by donating toys and treats in time for the big day.

Staff and volunteers do their best to make Christmas as special as possible for the dogs spending the festive season without a home of their own so, as they know what each and every dog prefers, they like to be able to give them their favourite type of toy or treat.

Georgina Lowery, Manager at Dogs Trust Merseyside, says:- "In some ways Christmas Day is no different at the rehoming centre as kennels need cleaning, dogs need walking, and the laundry needs doing. But we always like to do our best to make it special for the dogs, and ensure the rehoming centre is a happy place for them until they find their forever home. Every year we are able to do that thanks to the support we get from the community, and we are really hoping this year is no different, but the space under our Christmas tree is pretty bare at the moment."

13 year old Shih Tzu Oscar is 1 of the dogs that will be spending Christmas at the centre, if his Christmas wish for a home of his own doesn't come true.

Georgina says:- "Oscar arrived with us in 2021 and giving him and our other long-term dogs who have spent previous Christmases with us the best time possible, is really important. Some dogs like squeaky toys, others love to chase a ball, big or small, some prefer a tasty treat to enjoy, and others prefer food puzzles to keep their brains active. We have an Amazon Wish List on the Dogs Trust website which helps us make sure we receive what we really need and our dogs enjoy the most, but we love getting any donations and whatever we get will be put to very good use!"

If you would like to drop off or post your donations, Dogs Trust Merseyside can be found at Whiston Lane, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 6HP. Alternatively you can take a look at the rehoming centre's Amazon Wish List by going to:- DogsTrust.Org.UK.

Northern looking to recruit dozens of engineers across the North of England

NORTHERN has launched a recruitment drive as it looks to hire skilled engineers who can repair and maintain trains.

The train operator has announced there are dozens of roles on offer, with vacancies at its:- TrainCare Centres, located in:- Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, and have salaries of up to:- £50,320.

Northern is expanding its team of engineers who work round the clock to maintain and enhance more than 340 trains, which are used to safely transport tens of millions of passengers across the North of England every year.

Northern is recruiting maintenance engineers at:- Newton Heath TrainCare Centre in Greater Manchester, offering a starting salary of:- £49,681 a year.

There are also engineer roles on offer at:- Allerton TrainCare Centre in Merseyside. Salaries start at:- £37,740, but rise to:- £50,320 following a the completing of a training course.

In West Yorkshire, the train operator is looking to fill engineer roles at the Neville Hill TrainCare Centre in Leeds. They come with a salary of:- £49,879.

Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern, said:- "We are recruiting talented engineers who can help us keep our fleet of trains running smoothly all year round for tens of millions of passengers. We are looking for people who can solve problems and carry out maintenance and repairs in a fast-paced environment, while working as part of a team and adhering to strict safety regulations."

All applicants must also be over 18, with a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Engineering and live within a 45 minute drive of the depot they want to work at.

Earlier this year Rebecca Prendergast, a senior production manager for operations at Newton Heath, urged women to consider an "incredibly rewarding" career in engineering with Northern and said they:- "shouldn't wait for anyone to encourage them into it."

People who have gained engineering experience in the military have also been asked to consider joining Northern and told the railway can offer them a:- "home away from home."

The train operator employs dozens of people who have previously worked in the military or currently serve as reservists, putting their skills and experience to use in a wide range of roles and offering them the chance to work as part of a close-knit team within a clear structure.

In 2021, Northern signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment to supporting the employment of veterans and recognising military skills and qualifications across our business.

Anyone interested in a career with Northern can register for job alerts on:- NorthernRailway.Co.UK/Careers.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.