News reports located on this page = 4.

Southport Veterans Mark Armed Forces Day 2020

A few of Southport's Veterans marked Armed Forces Day with MP Damien Moore outside Southport Town Hall, on Sunday, 28 June 2020.  Despite the main event being cancelled, due to Covid-10, the main organisers still wanted to show support to our Armed Forces, so the braved the rain and wind and held a quick, socially distanced mark of respect. We are told that they hope to run the full event again next year, in Southport, and will be releasing more information in early 2021.

Exciting volunteering roles that can make a difference

HEALTHWATCH Sefton has exciting volunteering opportunities for people wanting to make a positive difference to local health and Social Care services which has become especially important following the Covid-19 pandemic. The independent health consumer champion is looking for people who love talking with others in their community about using health and care services and wants to hear from those interested in improving services now and for the future. As a volunteer representing Healthwatch Sefton, you would be acting as a point of contact for residents living in your local area; letting Healthwatch Sefton know of any issues local residents have when using health and Social Care services; and supporting Healthwatch Sefton with engagement activities. Among other specific duties, the volunteers are expected to attend steering group and community champion network meetings, promote Healthwatch Sefton's aims and objectives, and help build effective relationships. The closing date for people interested in these roles is Tuesday, 30 June, 2020. To find out more about these volunteering roles visit the Healthwatch Sefton website. Alternatively, contact the team via email:- Info@HealthWatchSefton.Co.UK or call:- 0800 206 1304. Diane Blair, manager of Healthwatch Sefton, explained:- "We are really pleased to offer these volunteering opportunities and look forward to hearing from people with an interest in making sure local voices are heard by those delivering health and care services."

Formby Community Football Club - Helping the area over Covid-19 Lockdown

THE have been unable to play or train over the COVID-19 Lockdown, so they turned the club's attention to helping to deliver food, medicines, and a bit of community spirit to this in need, within the Formby area. This is a video interview we did with the Tina Hamilton, who is the Chair of Formby Community FC, about the Club's activities over the pandemic lockdown. She also tells us more information about the Club and that they hope to continue doing these deliveries to when Shielding ends for venerable people within the local community. To learn more about the team, please visit:- FormbyCommunityFC.Com. To see the audio transcript, click on here now. Please be aware that this transcript is automatically made, so might not be 100% accurate.  To play the audio only please click on below now.

MACRO Birkdale Blooms to beat COVID-19

SOUTHPORT artist and designer, Jenny Curwen, decided that she wasn’t going to let the present isolation restrictions prevent her from rejoicing and sharing in the sudden explosion of floral displays around the Region. She explains:- "In the ordinary scheme of things, myself and around seven of my friends would organize and help out at the Tuesday at 2 club at Christ Church Lord Street. 100 people plus are normally gathered together to enjoy some company, fellowship and a talk or demonstration, followed by tea and biscuits. Then we would go out for a meal and on to the cinema. Then came the Covid-19 storm, making us all prisoners in our own homes to different degrees, putting to an end normal life. I was 1 of the lucky ones allowed to take an hours exercise per day. On my daily 1 hour walks during lock down, I have been fortunate enough to have the freedom to discover the amazing blooms of Birkdale. I found beautiful flowers everywhere, bursting with spring colour, in the gardens all across Birkdale. Each day now has become an adventure. Setting off in a different direction, being lead by spots of colour peeking over garden walls. Each expedition around Birkdale has revealed, bright, beautiful blooms that I could share with my friends to lighten the days."

Jenny then hit upon a way of imparting her excitement. "My walks were now filled with a purpose and I decided to share these wonderful flowers with my family; some of whom could not leave their homes at all. It was my way of lifting their spirits while out on my daily walk, and communicating the magnificent floral displays via:- 'WhatsApp.' This was a great way of keeping us all connected and enjoying the benefits of nature whatever the situation."

SCA Director, Norrie Beswick Calvert was so impressed with the idea that she selected Jenny to share the July Artist of the Month slot at the ArtHouse in Eastbank Street.

Jenny has been pursuing her photographic art since studying at Southport Art College. She explains:- "I signed up and soon found myself immersed in projects and different techniques. I soon discovered the miracle of photography, that in a single moment, time can be frozen and saved forever. I love the excitement of capturing the image and the immense pleasure of seeing it in print. I am inspired by nature and my favourite type of photography is Macro exploring colours and shapes, getting in close and seeing the tiny details within. I like to experiment with water droplets on dandelions and flowers and to capture vivid images of oil floating on water. To look deep inside soap bubbles, to capture ever changing shapes. The photos I shared with friends are shots of what I saw in the gardens, impulsively taken, with my phone. I have framed them up for the exhibition and they give a big splash of colour; simply nature at its best. 1 day we will put together a talk of these testing times and share the images that helped us through these bad days.”

Sandgrounders who can't wait, can check out Jenny's macro photographs; Birkdale Blooms; at the ArtHouse, in Eastbank Street, 30 June to 1 August 2020. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10.00 to 15.00. Saturday, from 11.00 to 16.00.