
Every year our Bullybusters team celebrates anti-bullying week. This usually involves lots of visits to schools and bringing lots of young people together to share the anti-bullying message. This year the team had to work in a very different way to share the important message that although we are apart, we can be united against bullying.

Local Solutions has secured funding from Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership to support young people at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation, including County Lines activity. The INK (Improve, Nurture, Know) project will operate out of the Young Person’s Hub and support young people aged 16-24 from across Merseyside.

We are really excited to welcome young people back and to resume providing in-person support for those who need it. With the re-opening, our AIMS and Sports Horizons services will be starting face to face interaction with service users once more. In addition to this we are also happy to be offering Watersport’s Activities within our Sports Horizons service again.

Liverpool Shopmobility will be opening its doors for the first time since March. Our team at Liverpool Shopmobility have been working hard to make sure the shop can open in a safe way and are delighted to announce the two locations in Liverpool City Centre are ready to open and support people with mobility issues to get around the city centre. The two stores will be operating on a reduced timetable to ensure safety for customers.

Following recent Government guidance, we are delighted to say certain activities at Liverpool Waterspots Centre opened from Wednesday June 3rd 2020. All bookings will be via the website. LWC will be open for customers wishing to visit us for their daily exercise and enjoy Watersports activities - but there will be some significant changes to how we operate and the facilities that are available.

Every year the Liverpool Carers Centre celebrates the hard work of unpaid carers across the city. In a normal year these celebrations are marked with a large event for carers to attend, access additional support, meet other carers and to most importantly have a bit of fun while they take a short break from their caring role. Due to the circumstances this year, it wasn’t possible to bring everyone together. However the importance of doing something for carers has never been more important so we planned a different way to celebrate the week.

Local Solutions has acquired a semi-derelict property from Liverpool City Council that will be renovated and converted into three semi-independent flats for homeless young people. The property is located in the ‘Webster Triangle,’ close to the thriving Smithdown Road area of Liverpool. The property will be fully renovated with LandAid contributing £60,000 towards the costs.

This week 500 unpaid carers across Liverpool will be surprised by a delivery of a Cream Tea to their home, to celebrate National Carers Week 2020. The team at Liverpool Carers Centre, who support carers throughout the year will deliver the cream teas with a note inside saying, ‘You are doing an incredible job through the hardest of time. We really hope this treat brightens your day.’

Local Solutions has achieved a RoSPA Gold Medal in recognition of achieving ‘Gold’ in the RoSPA Health and Safety awards for five consecutive years. The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

The current lockdown that the UK is experiencing due to the coronavirus has led to heightened concerns around domestic abuse, with huge increases in calls and requests for help. As a result of social distancing measures, many victims have become trapped inside their homes, isolated from friends and family and feeling less able to get the help and support they need.
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic abuse, Local Solutions’ Worst Kept Secret team can provide support by phone, email, text and online chat. The team have been working to support people affected by domestic abuse for many years and will offer practical and emotional support.

Huge Congratulations to the Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens Homecare team who have been awarded a ‘Good’ in their recent CQC inspection. The service was rated ‘Good’ in all areas and this is testimony to the hard work of the team – both our care support workers out in the community and the team in the offices who support them. This means that all three Local Solutions Homecare services are rated 'Good.'

Young people from AIMS created a rap video about knife crime and other topics that are close to their hearts.
The young people worked with Big Condo Academy who are based locally and worked with local rapping sensation Royzy. The rap covered experiences of growing up in and out of hostels, crime that had involved knives and the treatment of young people by different governmental services.

On the 6th of February 2020, Mytime was featured on BBC North West Tonight, celebrating the new funding from the RSA for the project. The feature included a carer and user of the service, as well as two of the hoteliers who provide breaks for carers, and Hazel Brown the head of our Carers' services. Mytime provides unpaid carers with breaks donated by local businesses such as overnight hotel stays, afternoon teas and theatre tickets. Thanks to the RSA (Royal Society of Arts) funding, Mytime will be working in partnership with Hitch Marketing to co-create a digital application to facilitate breaks in other geographic areas.