Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of important local news stories from the last seven days. Click or tap on each story to read the full article.
‘Perfect tribute’ set to support children’s cancer charity in memory of five-year-old Nate
A football match in memory of a five-year-old boy who passed away from a brain tumour last year is raising funds for a children’s cancer charity.
The Nate Gidman Memorial Match takes place on Saturday 11 February, at New Ferry Park, New Ferry, contested by a team led by Nate’s dad, Phil, and Sands United, a community of footballers comprised of bereaved fathers.
The game, which is raising vital funds for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), kicks-off at 10:30am, a few hours before Tranmere Rovers, the team supported by Phil and Nate, take on Salford City.
Wirral Met College becomes first in Merseyside to be awarded College of Sanctuary
Wirral Met College has been awarded College of Sanctuary status, becoming the first college in the region to be recognised with this honour, and just the 13th in the country.
The College of Sanctuary status acknowledges colleges that have gone above and beyond to support refugees and asylum seekers and help raise awareness about migration, and why people seek safety among students, staff, and the local community.
Sue Higginson, Principal of Wirral Met College said, “I am delighted and proud that Wirral Met has been recognised as an FE College of Sanctuary.
Two dog walkers rescued on Leasowe Beach by Hoylake RNLI hovercraft
Hoylake RNLI hovercraft was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 1.15pm on Saturday 28 January to reports of two dog walkers cut off by the incoming tide on Leasowe Beach.
The hovercraft Hurley Spirit and her volunteer crew launched and headed to the casualties’ reported location between Barber’s Folly and Leasowe Lighthouse. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team had also been tasked.
The two casualties and their dog were soon located and were cut off from the sea wall by the rapidly filling gutter. They were assisted on board the RNLI hovercraft and after a quick check to ensure they required no medical assistance – and a dog treat for their canine companion – the casualties were flown ashore to Meols and passed to Coastguard officers.
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Trees planted as living memorial to remember Nazi Holocaust victims
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Jeff Green, joined volunteers in Wallasey on Friday to plant a living memorial to the victims of Nazi genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.
The Mayor and Mayoress met with local environment and community empowerment volunteers ‘Earth Moves’ at the Gunsite in Wallasey to plant 10 native fruit trees and light candles in memory of those who were lost or suffered through genocide.
Commemorations take place on the 27 January every year as it marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.
Wirral MPs’ praise for ‘vital’ local domestic abuse centre
Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley and Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood have praised a Wirral centre which provides a safe, friendly and supportive space for women and children who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse.
The two MPs visited the Lighthouse Centre in Rock Ferry and met with centre manager Jill Barr along with staff and service users and members of the local Soroptimists, an organisation which works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.
Due to financial pressures, the centre can no longer continue to deliver its Leapfrog Programme for children aged 5-10 who have been affected by domestic abuse beyond September. They would welcome the opportunity to speak with any individuals or organisations that may be able to help.
Wirral Social Enterprise saves almost 700,000 litres of paint from going to waste
Reciprocity Wirral, a pioneer in paint waste, has diverted over 680,000 litres of paint from being wasted and redistributed it into community organisations and families across the region and beyond.
By partnering with Veolia and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, Recipro has collected hundreds of thousands of litres of householder’s unwanted paint, which is then taken to their Wirral site and processed for reuse.
Some of the paint is checked and sold as ‘rescued paint’ for the local community at prices from as little as £1.20 a litre. They have hundreds of customers who have decorated their whole properties for just a few pounds!
A warm welcome guaranteed at your local NeighbourHub
Whoever you are and wherever in Wirral you’re from, you will be given a warm welcome in one of over 50 NeighbourHubs – or warm spaces – that have been popping up all over the borough.
The new community initiative, led by Wirral Council in partnership with local grassroots organisations aims to help support residents with the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
Janette Williamson, Leader of Wirral Council, said, “The cost of living increase is tough for everyone. That’s why we’re delighted to be working with some fantastic, local, grassroots organisations to offer our residents so many warm spaces across the borough.”
Campaign to save Birkenhead Central Library
Hundreds of people have signed a petition to save Birkenhead Central Library.
The Borough Road library was opened in 1934 by King George V, and has a stained glass memorial window to First World War poet Wilfred Owen, who lived in the town.
Since 2010, Wirral’s budget has been cut by central government, so that for every pound it had to spend 13 years ago, it now has just 40p. While the government offers pots of central money, such as the levelling up funding, this can’t be used for services such as libraries and leisure centres, and can only go on earmarked regeneration projects.
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to experience further disruption due to industrial action
North West ambulance leaders are urging the public to use the health service wisely as another round of strikes impacts NWAS and the NHS.
For the first time, combined strike action will see ambulance staff and nurses take industrial action on the same day, stretching resources in the ambulance service and hospitals.
Specifically, members of Unite, GMB and the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) will strike on Monday, 6 February. The RCN strike will continue on Tuesday 7, with colleagues from Unison striking on Friday, 10 February.
Birkenhead MP supports key actions to tackle child food poverty
The UK’s public health leaders have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlining three key actions to tackle child food poverty and help support a healthy population and productive economy.
The letter, headed by the Faculty of Public Health, the Association of Directors of Public Health, the Royal Society for Public Health, and the School and Public Health Nurses Association, has received widespread support from Parliamentarians and third-sector organisations.
Along with over 30 MPs and 20 members of the House of Lords, Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley has signed the letter, which calls on the Prime Minister to support the health and development of our children by expanding access to Free School Meals, the National School Breakfast Programme, and the Healthy Start scheme.
Caldy in ‘famous victory’ over Bedford
A vociferous and partisan crowd of 1,875 watched one of the best games of rugby ever seen at Caldy’s Paton Field.
It promised to be a game of power versus pace and for the first 30 minutes it was just that with Caldy’s power prevailing. A kick off by the Blues sailed directly into touch and from the ensuing scrum on the halfway line the Caldy pack demolished the Bedford eight and the pattern of the game was seemingly set.
Under pressure, Bedford were conceding penalties and after five minutes, scrum half Chris Pilgrim touched down behind Caldy’s driving maul with Elliott Gourlay converting.
Tranmere defeated at Stockport
Tranmere’s trip up the M56 ended in a close defeat as they lost 3-2 to Stockport.
Tranmere came off the blocks brightly and at the three-minute mark, Lee O’Connor’s shot from outside the box was the first test for the Stockport keeper, who did well to save the low ball.
Following a couple of attempts at goal from Stockport’s Myles Hippolyte and Neil Byrne, a header from Kyle Knoyle in the centre of the box nestled neatly in the bottom left corner of the Tranmere goal.
Wirral Police weekly news round-up
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
What’s On? Guide
Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
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