News reports located on this page = 2.

Rough sleeper figures remain stable in Liverpool

THE number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Liverpool has remained broadly stable, new figures show. Official, independently verified Government figures released on 27 February 2020 show 17 people were sleeping on City Centre Streets, on 13 November 2019; the night of the annual rough sleeper count. The count acts as a snapshot on 1 night and provides a comparison year on year, and shows a rise of 2 on the 15 found in 2018 and compares with 33 identified in 2017, meaning the City has broadly maintained its success in reducing numbers. Liverpool City Council and its partners have launched a number of initiatives in the last few years, including the Always Room Inside campaign, to ensure that no 1 in the City needs to sleep on the streets. The Council spends ₤11.3 million in total on preventing and tackling issues related to homeless and has 768 units of temporary accommodation available.

For people with complex needs and rough sleepers, there is a day hub provided by the Whitechapel Centre, while the Council operates 1 of the few all year round night shelters in the country, Labre House. Together, they act as a gateway to a range of Council and partner agency services, including health and wellbeing support, housing services, money and debt advice and drugs and alcohol misuse services. The City Council also funds a team of outreach workers who engage with those sleeping rough in the City on a daily basis to assess their needs and to encourage them to come inside and accept the range of support services available. Figures from October 2019 show Labre House housed 268 people for at least 1 night during the course of the month, and the average number of people using the centre each night was 85. The outreach team encouraged 74 rough sleepers to come inside and accept help. If you have concerns about someone sleeping rough in Liverpool, you can call the Always Room Inside helpline:- 0300 123 2041.

Mayor Joe Anderson said:- "This figure is just a snapshot but does show that we have broadly maintained the progress we have made in reducing the number of rough sleepers in the City Centre over the last couple of years. However, today's figures are no cause for complacency. Anyone walking through the streets of the City Centre will realise that there is still more workforce to do. Liverpool does more than any other Local Authority in the country to support those who are in the most need and it is good to see that the services we have introduced are continuing to have an impact. We have adopted a partnership approach which has seen some great workforce from a host of organisations, volunteer groups and residents of the City. Our plan is to continue to workforce to do all we can to support rough sleepers in Liverpool off the streets and help them to turn their lives around. We have a range of services to support anyone who may be facing homelessness and help around 6,000 families a year. People can get in touch before it reaches the stage where they have nowhere to stay. Despite our finances being more stretched than ever there is no need for anyone to sleep on the streets of Liverpool and there is always help available."

David Carter, chief executive of The Whitechapel Centre, which co-ordinates the outreach teams, said:- "Our services are working around the clock to ensure we find the right accommodation and support for every homeless person.  Even if a person isn't ready to come indoors, we will continue to offer help and support daily and try to find a different solution or approach that will workforce for them."

#DEARLiverpool, get reading and that includes the grown ups!

THE Liverpool Learning Partnership's:- 'Drop Everything and Read Liverpool #DEARLiverpool' is part of the 2 week Liverpool Schools Readathon and it is being organised by national charity Read for Good.  The event runs over 2 March to 13 March, but everyone can take part, that that is including grown ups! At 10am (or any other time that suits on Thursday, which is also World Book Day) everyone is being asked to stop what they're doing and read something; it doesn't have to be a book, for just 10 minutes. Everyone taking part is also asked to donate ₤1. Funds raised will support Schools' libraries, book boxes for Liverpool Learning Partnership's transition Summer Schools project and Read for Good's programme of taking books and storytellers into children's Hospitals including Alder Hey.  The 2020 #DEARLiverpool and the Readathon are also part of Liverpool's Year of Reading #LiverpoolReads initiative. This is the 3rd time that Liverpool has taken part in a Readathon with ₤33,000 being raised across 2017 and 2018. For 2020, 124 Liverpool Schools have already signed up and 38,000 children are raring to go. A survey by the National Literacy Trust in 2018 found that children who have taken part in a Readathon are likely to read more, read widely, and to use their School Library. You can follow what's happening on Thursday and also share your own photos using #DEARLiverpool and #LiverpoolReads on social media. Funds raised can be paid in online to Read for Good using Charity Checkout.

Jenny Holder, reading co-ordinator at Liverpool Learning Partnership, said:- "Research has shown that reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress by more than 2 thirds so we're encouraging people across the City to take some time out to read on World Book Day. Taking part in #DEARLiverpool will help you to feel rested and more relaxed, as well as funding books and storyteller visits for children in Hospital."

Read for Good chief executive Justine Daniels said:- "Learning to love to read as a child is 1 of the greatest things you can do for so many reasons: from academic attainment to emotional well-being. Studies have shown that reading can reduce stress in adults too and we're delighted to hear of so many people joining the children across the City this World Book Day; from the ship's company on board HMS Prince of Wales to Everton in the Community and Liverpool City Council."

Cllr Barbara Murray, Cabinet member for education, employment and skills and lead for Liverpool's Year of Reading:- "I'd encourage anyone to take part in #DEARLiverpool. It's a great opportunity to take just 10 minutes out, do something fun and to raise funds for incredible projects that support children to develop a love of reading. This year we want as many people as possible across the City to take part; why should the kids have all the fun! You don't have to read a book. From comics to cookbooks, the sports pages to a blog post, they all count. And if you're in a meeting, don't let that stop you, we're more than happy to see you reading the agenda and minutes!"