Notice of Audit and Right to Inspect the Annual Return for the Year End 31 March 2024

Notice of Audit and Right to Inspect the Annual Return for the Year End 31 March 2024

Please see attached for Annual Governance Statement 2023-2024

31 March 2024 Notice of Public Rights and Publication/

 

Knowsley Town Council Support Ukraine

Ukraine

Pharmacies launch codeword scheme to support domestic abuse victims

Victims of domestic abuse can now access support from thousands of pharmacies across the UK following the launch of the Ask for ANI scheme.

The Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) scheme allows those at risk or suffering from abuse to discreetly signal that they need help and access support. By asking for ANI, a trained pharmacy worker will offer a private space where they can understand if the victim needs to speak to the police or would like help to access support services such as a national or local domestic abuse helplines.

As an essential retailer based on high streets across the country, and with specifically trained staff, pharmacies can provide a safe space for victims to sound an alarm if they are isolated at home with their abuser and unable to get help in another way.

Participating pharmacies will display posters in their window and around the shop to let customers know that they can approach a member of staff to seek help.

When a victim uses the codeword or asks for help, the member of staff will ask them to accompany them to a consultation room. They will then check whether the victim is in danger and want the police to be called. If so, they will be given a phone to dial 999 or they will make the call on the victim’s behalf.

Alternatively, if the victim does not need emergency help at that time, the staff member will assist them to contact a national domestic abuse helpline or local support service. They may also contact the police on the non-emergency 101 number.

Health professionals, social workers and Job Centres will also be asked to promote the scheme, alongside police, local authorities and specialist support services for victims.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: “This is a very welcome and simple idea which has the ability to make a huge difference for people who can be at great risk.

“I want those suffering from domestic abuse to know they are not alone and that help and support is available. I will be working with my community safety partners to raise awareness of the ‘Ask for ANI’ scheme to ensure victims know they can use the codeword to access emergency support.

“I will also be encouraging as many local pharmacies to join this initiative as possible and my thanks go to all the pharmacies who have already signed up to participate. Pharmacies are safe environments and, especially at the moment when other places of shelter are closed, pharmacies can give people who are at risk a simple way to get vital support.”

Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland from Merseyside’s Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: “Merseyside Police fully supports the Ask for ANI scheme, and our staff are fully briefed and will respond to any calls received. This scheme is particularly welcomed, at a time when victims of domestic abuse may feel isolated and unable to reach out for help.

“I would like to reiterate that Merseyside Police will respond to all incidents of domestic abuse, and victims will be dealt with in a sensitive manner. There is also support available to victims through domestic abuse support services across Merseyside, who have still been operating throughout lockdown.

“Victims should not suffer in silence, and I am hoping the Ask for ANI scheme, will provide another way in which victims of domestic abuse can seek help.”

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help

 

By Jonathan Kearney January 14, 2021

KnowsleyFutures

What is KnowsleyFutures?

KnowsleyFutures is a borough-wide storytelling project, aiming to capture local people’s stories ofthe pandemic so far.The project is being run by the Young Foundation in partnership with Knowsley Council,and is funded by the National Lottery.

The purpose of the project is to allow local people to share their experiences of the pandemic so far and highlight how the community has been responding in these challenging times. We want to gather stories looking back at how individuals and communities have been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and stories looking to the future that demonstrate what local people want the future of Knowsley’s civil society to be post-COVID.

The stories will form the basis of conversations in 2021 -about what sort of future the people of Knowsley want to live in after the pandemic,and will add to stories already gathered for Knowsley 2030.

Why Get Involved?

Everyone has a story to tell about what they’ve been going through.This is an opportunity for people to express themselves about how their community has been experiencing the pandemic (the good, the bad and the ugly) in a creative way. The pandemic continues to test us all, and we hope that taking part in the project will provide a welcome distraction from everything going on at the moment. Creating your story can be a fun activity to do at home or over Zoom with friends and family! These are unprecedented times, and we hope this project allows people to contribute to an archive of stories about what we’re living through. This is a chance for people to leave their mark in the history books!

How to Get Involved

Visit Our Website: Anyone who lives or works in Knowsley can their submit their story via our website www.futurestories.life Stories can be submitted in a range of formats, including drawings, photos, poems, videos, audio clips or written narratives - whatever takes your fancy! You can also view other people’s contributions here. The stories don’t have to be about big events or initiatives, but can be everyday acts of kindness or personal reflections about life during the pandemic – the good and the bad – and what these might say about the kind of future we want to create.

Get Inspiration: We have created a selection of resources to inspire you and give you ideas on how you can create your story as a picture, a dance, a song, a book, a sculpture or a poem. We have sheets of activities which you can access along with some 3 minute videos from local artists on how this can be done. These can be used at home with the kids, on your own, or would be great for group activities over Zoom. Find these on the website!

Spread the Word!: We want as many people to take part in the project as possible. Have a look at the website, share it on social media, give it a go and tell your family, friends and neighbours!

www.futurestories.life 

Knowsley Futures Get Involved

Coronavirus COVID-19 Community Support and Volunteer Line: 0800 073 0043

Please find the latest information from Knowsley Council and the latest blog from our Chair Mary Spreadbury.

 Coronavirus COVID-19 Community Support and Volunteer Line: 0800 073 0043

 Do you need extra help during the Coronavirus outbreak - or do you want to offer a helping hand?

A new Community Support and Volunteer Line has been created for Knowsley residents needing additional support during the outbreak and for those wanting to volunteer their time or services to help those in need in their local community.


Anyone needing support can call freephone 0800 073 0043 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm at weekends.
 This helpline is available for:

  • residents that may need additional support during the outbreak, such as vulnerable residents accessing food supplies.
  • local businesses seeking advice or the latest Government information - please visit the Knowsley Chamber
  • local businesses urgently seeking additional staff recruitment and residents looking for work - you can also contact Knowsley Works
  • those wanting to volunteer their time and services to help those in need in their local community.

This move is yet another example of the Knowsley Better Together initiative which sees the council working in partnership with residents, businesses, partners and the voluntary sector - to make a lasting difference in the community.


There are two ways to do this: call the helpline or fill in an online form.

Call the helpline

Anyone needing support can call free phone 0800 073 0043 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm at weekends.

The same number can be used by local businesses or organisations offering support and would-be volunteers.

Callers will be asked for details and will either be signposted to the relevant support, or be linked with a service or volunteer who can offer support.

Fill in an online form


There are also online forms which can be completed by both those requesting help and those seeking volunteering opportunities:

For the latest information about the virus and advice to the public please visit Coronavirus information on Knowsley News.

NOTICE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

Hi All,

With everything that is going on at the moment it has become apparent that community groups may struggle financially with bookings being cancelled if they own their own venues.

Sport England are releasing a small grants stream to combat this.

https://www.sportengland.org/news/coronavirus-information-sector

If your community groups delivers a range of projects in their centre, please focus solely on sport and physical activity in this application.

Coronavirus

  • Given the potential disruption and impact of the virus, we are encouraging our residents to look out for their neighbours and consider some simple steps to help ease the pressure and ensure everyone can stay as safe and well as possible.  Visit knowsleybettertogether.co.uk for some simple ideas we can all follow in our own communities.  Even the smallest action will make a difference.

 The Prime Minister announced a series of further actions to respond to the Coronavirus global pandemic:-

  • If you or anyone in your household has either a high temperature and/or a new cough, you should stay at home for 14 days;
  • If you are in a high risk group, you should take a particularly stringent approach to the following “social distancing” measures - steps to reduce social interaction between people:-
  • Avoiding contact with people displaying symptoms of Coronavirus (high temperature and/or a new and continuous cough);
  • Avoiding non-essential use of public transport, and varying your travel times to avoid rush hour if possible;
  • Working from home where possible;
  • Avoiding large gatherings and avoiding public spaces, such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, and clubs;
  • Avoiding gatherings with friends and family, and instead keeping in touch through remote technology, such as phone, internet, and social media; and,
  • Using telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services;
  • Everyone should seek to stop non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel by following the advice above around home working and visiting pubs and clubs;
  • Everyone should only use NHS services when absolutely necessary and should seek to access the NHS online;
  • Emergency workers will not be made available to support mass gatherings.

 

 

New Boxing exhibition ‘Black Punch’ comes to Knowsley

Knowsley and Liverpool have produced a wealth of boxing heroes whose stories have been brought together in a new exhibition – Black Punch – which will be showcased in Knowsley from Monday 9 March until the end of May.

 There is a strong tradition of boxing in Knowsley and Kirkby in particular. The town has produced many champions, including the great John Conteh who trained at Kirkby Amateur Boxing Club and who features in the exhibition.

World record boxing

The Kirkby World Boxing Champion, John Conteh notched up wins again the world’s best at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, winning the middleweight Gold Medal.

His early promise as an amateur boxer developed into a phenomenal professional career where he went on to become the British, European and World Boxing Champion. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1978. In 2017 Conteh was awarded an MBE for services to boxing.

A painting of the legendary boxer by local artist Gill Cowely forms part of the exhibition. Gill took first prize with the piece in the Visitor’s Choice Award in the 2019 Knowsley Open Art Exhibition.

Meanwhile, three members of the same family highlighted in the exhibition; Terry Senior, Nigel and Richie Wenton, all competed and won on the same night at the Kirkby Civic Suite in 1980 – making amateur boxing history and securing their entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Colour Bar

Local legend Peter Banasko was prevented from competing for a national title because of the Colour Bar – a ban on black British boxers competing for national titles, which had been instigated by the British Boxing Board of Control in 1911 and wasn’t lifted until 1947.

Peter Banasko is one of the many legendary black boxers that the area has been home to over the years and the Colour Bar was just one aspect of the challenges that black boxers faced – the exhibition traces the journeys and some prejudices which the boxers had to overcome both in the sport and wider society.Cllr Jayne Aston, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “There’s a strong tradition of boxing in Knowsley, and we’re really proud to showcase this brilliant exhibition celebrating black boxing history from our region. Black Punch will appeal to fans of all ages and I’d encourage anyone with an interest in boxing to come and visit, you won’t be disappointed!”

Exhibition

The exhibition chronicles the story of boxers of African descent who fought out of Knowsley and Liverpool over the past 180 years, starting with the birth of James ‘Jem’ Wharton in Morocco in 1813.At the age of just 12 James started working as a cabin boy and by the early 1830s he was living in Liverpool and competing as a bare-knuckle boxer in epic bouts that could be up to one hundred rounds long. James was a remarkable middleweight boxer and won every one of his 89 fights, including 54 Knock Outs. He died in Liverpool in 1856 as a result of tuberculosis.

Among the earlier boxers mentioned in the exhibition are Bob Smith, a middleweight boxer born in 1840, Harry Brown, who boxed between 1901 and 1912 and William Lawson, who was also known as Young Snowball and was a bantamweight boxer active between 1905 and 1916. There’s also a bust of Kid Tanner who was active between 1938 and 1950.Dick Tiger, Richard and Allan Tanner, Ray and Steve Ako, Carl Speare, Jimmy Price, Noel Quarless, Sugar Gibiliru Jnr and Robin Reid also feature in the exhibition – a long roll call of boxers whose achievements include not only 30 world titles, but also 20 British, Commonwealth and European Championship belts – a “staggering” level of success from such a small area.

Visiting the exhibition

Black Punch, a history of Liverpool-based Black boxers, will be open on the first floor of The Kirkby Centre in the Archive Exhibition Space in Kirkby Library during Library opening hours from Monday 9 March until the end of May 2020.

This is Knowsley Archive’s (The ARK’s) first exhibition from an outside agency: it has been curated by the Heritage Development Company Liverpool in partnership with Liverpool Central Library and Liverpool Record Office, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and was first shown at Central Library, Liverpool, in 2019.

Opening times for Kirkby Library and the ARK are available on Knowsley Council’s website.

Coronavirus: What you need to know

Coronavirus

Here is the latest advice to the public (updated 12.3.20 at 7.00pm):

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

 The symptoms include a cough, high temperature and in severe cases, a shortness of breath.

The majority who become infected will have no or mild symptoms, which are described as ‘flu-like’.

What should I do if I have these symptoms?

If you have a high temperature and a new continuous cough you are advised to stay at home for seven days.

Visit the NHS website for further advice.

Where can I get more information about coronavirus?

For health information visit the NHS website.

For the latest information about the spread of cornavirus and the advice from Government visit Gov.uk.

Are there steps I can take to help prevent the virus spreading?

Yes:

Always carry a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes and then bin the tissue.

Regularly wash your hands (for at least 20 seconds) with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser to kill germs – particularly when you get home or into work, blow your nose, sneeze or cough, eat or handle food.

New Councillor For Stockbridge Ward

New-Councillor-For-Stockbridge-Ward

The Town Council has filled the current casual vacancy in the Stockbridge Ward by co-option. At its meeting on Thursday 20 February 2020, it was unanimously resolved that Vanessa Boateng be co-opted as a councillor for the Stockbridge Ward.

Councillor Boateng will remain in office until May 2023. In that month, all Twelve of the Town Council seats will be subject to election.

The co-option of Councillor Boateng has now restored the number of elected members to the full complement.