Cathy Sheel

This Love Parks Week we’re celebrating the 19 parks and green spaces across Knowsley which have successfully retained their prestigious Green Flag awards.

It’s Love Parks Week (29 July – 5 August) when we celebrate our wonderful green spaces in Knowsley and the people who help make them so special.

Knowsley’s Children’s Immunisation Team is holding a number of catch-up clinics over the school summer holidays for year 8 children and older who have missed their immunisations in school.

Funding from the Liverpool City Region Community Environment Fund will secure improvements to Mellor’s Pond in Whiston and support a number of community environmental projects.

When we’re out and about, here’s some helpful advice about staying safe around dogs – and keeping our four-legged friends safe and well when the temperatures rise.

Free lung health checks are being offered to people aged 55-74 who have ever smoked. Eligible patients in Roby, Prescot, St Michaels, St Gabriel’s and Swanside wards are now being invited for a scan at the mobile CT van.

The refurbishment of the Courtyard at Court Hey Park has now been completed, with a delegation of VIP guests invited to view the improvements.

Halewood Conservation Volunteers are inviting like-minded litter heroes to join their regular litter picks at the park on the first Wednesday of every month.

A Kirkby community therapy garden has showcased the work it does during an event to mark the planting of 30 new trees – part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Jubilee tree planting initiative.

Knowsley’s Cabinet received an update on the borough’s ambitious LED street lighting replacement programme.

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week highlights the importance of babies’ social and emotional development and the support available to parents.

It’s Carers Week. Find out about the support for carers in Knowsley, and how you can get involved.

Knowsley’s Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) is part of the Liverpool City Region BIPC which has seen record numbers of businesses and entrepreneurs seeking support.

A new state of the art breast screening facility has arrived in Kirkby. It’s hoped the new screening centre will help increase uptake of mammograms in the borough.

Parents and carers are invited to join a free workshop aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Join the free, fun Jubilee events at parks across Knowsley this half term.

Find out more about the support available to those affected by dementia this Dementia Action Week

The council is taking action to ensure payments are made to care provider staff following concerns raised by some care workers about delays in payments.

People are invited to take part in a survey to help shape the future of stop smoking services in Knowsley.

Here are the details of health services in Knowsley available over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Local businesses, partners and community leaders have come together at events to shape how they will work together to build stronger local communities.

Work is about to get underway to install a new all-weather path and entrance features at Littledale Meadow in Kirkby.

A celebration event was held at Roby Fields to mark the Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative which will bring 6,500 new trees to the green space.

St Chad’s Gardens in Kirkby has benefited from a range of improvements including a new entrance feature and landscaping.

Knowsley residents who are not in employment, education or training can join an online event to find out more about careers in health and social care.

Residents are invited to take part in a survey and have their say on planned improvements at St Kevin’s Public Open Space in Kirkby.

Knowsley Council is committed to tackling the issue of dog fouling across the borough with a range of enforcement and behaviour change measures.

There are lots of ways you can contact the Council – many from the comfort of your own home.

The ‘Cervical Screening Saves Lives’ campaign aims to highlight the benefits of cervical cancer screening and remind people that it can help stop cancer before it starts.

Children’s Mental Health Week focuses on the importance of promoting good mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.

A delegation from Knowsley Council, One Knowsley and local interest groups were given a behind-the-scenes tour of improvement works underway at Court Hey Park

The Wellpoint Kiosk is a self-service health kiosk based at Kirkby Leisure Centre until early September.

A campaign has been launched encouraging parents and guardians to ensure their children are vaccinated against MMR – measles, mumps and rubella.

A range of measures to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions are being installed at Huyton Library.

Councillors debated a number of Notices of Motion, including a Race Equality Declaration of Intent, at this week’s council meeting.

All those interested in improving the life chances of young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) are invited to two Preparing for Adulthood online workshops.

A range of measures aimed at tackling Child Criminal Exploitation in Knowsley have been agreed by Cabinet.

The Tall Tales illumination in Stockbridge Village will now take place on 4 & 5 February 2022

There’s lots of helpful advice for householders planning to visit one of Knowsley’s Household Recycling Centres this festive season.

Think Ahead’s mental health social work training programme is launching in Knowsley. Applications are invited from graduates and career-changers looking to make a real difference to people with mental health needs.

The new Morrisons superstore in Kirkby Town Centre has welcomed thousands of shoppers since it opened eight weeks ago and store manager Eddie Pritchard has thanked local people for their support.

Households in Knowsley are to get warmer, greener homes, thanks to a £1.854m funding award from from the Government’s Local Authority Delivery Scheme and the Home Upgrade Grant.

Following the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (also known as ‘White Ribbon Day’)…

Find out more about your rights as an unpaid carer and the practical support available this Carers Rights Day, 25 November.

With the Christmas festivities fast approaching visitors are being urged to play their part in taking care of Knowsley’s new and improved town centres.

Find out more about the different types of adult abuse and neglect this Safeguarding Adults Week – and the role we can all play in helping to prevent it.

The new ‘Know your Recycle Rights’ campaign helps take the guesswork out of recycling by highlighting some key ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’s’.

Find out how Knowsley is taking action on climate change for COP26 – and how you can reduce your carbon footprint.

Soccer legends Alan Kennedy and Ian Snodin helped celebrate the opening of AFC Knowsley’s new-look grounds and the completion of improvement works at Lord Derby Playing Fields in Huyton.

The council’s Covid 19 Support Fund has awarded £587,00 to more than 40 Knowsley organisations to help them support the health and wellbeing of residents as they recover from the pandemic.

Carers – those receiving Carer’s Allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person – are entitled to a free flu vaccination to protect themselves and those they care for from flu.

King George V Playing Fields, (Brownsfield), Prescot is the latest park in Knowsley to be awarded a prestigious Green Flag. The latest award brings the number of Green Flag parks in Knowsley to 19.

The transformation of the former National Wildflower Centre site at Court Hey Park, Huyton has taken a step forward as One Knowsley plans to base its new HQ and community hub at the Courtyard buildings.

Knowsley’s Cabinet has given the go-ahead to appoint Oneday, a company specialising in partnerships aimed at creating thriving public and private sector assets, to manage the historic Bowring Park and Golf Course in Huyton.

Kirkby Amateur Boxing Club needs public votes to be in line for a share of a £1 million charity fund aimed at supporting under 18s across the UK.

There are free, fun fitness sessions for the over 50s organised by the Knowsley Older People’s Olympics charity at Volair leisure centres in Huyton, Kirkby and Halewood.

The flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines are available to boost our immunity and protect against infection this winter.

Parents and carers in Knowsley can find out about an innovative, digital mental health support service for children and adults by signing up for a free online event on 13 October.

Parents, carers and adult social care staff have celebrated their involvement in aromatherapy and gentle massage workshops aimed at helping young people and adults with support needs.

The Board met to review the latest Covid data available and provide updates on the current level of COVID-19 cases in the Borough.

Parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are invited to coffee mornings organised by Knowsley Parent Carers Voice and hear about the help available to them.

Local volunteers and businesses joined a community action day to transform community growing charity Incredible Edible Knowsley’s base at Court Hey Park in Huyton.

It’s Recycle Week and paper containers with metal ends, such as Pringles tubes, hot chocolate, nuts and other products, can now be recycled at Knowsley’s two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Huyton and Kirkby.

It’s Recycle Week and there are lots of simple things we can all do to recycle more and help in the fight against climate change.

Primary school teachers, pupils and parents across Knowsley still have time to access a free, interactive website to learn more about air quality and its impact on our communities.

Knowsley residents over the age of 19 can access free, digital mental health and wellbeing support, thanks to an innovative partnership between Knowsley Council and Qwell.

Farmers and landowners across Knowsley are invited to apply to the national Trees for Climate programme which provides grants for tree planting schemes.

During Know Your Numbers Week there are lots of simple ways you can look after yourself and make lifestyle changes which could help you to keep your blood pressure under control.

Knowsley’s Health Visiting and School Nursing service will be delivered by Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC) from February 2022.

Plans are well underway for the redevelopment of Huyton Town Centre, following the adoption of a masterplan and ten-year delivery plan.

Tex-Mex chain Taco Bell is the latest business to open its doors in Kirkby Town Centre today.

Knowsley Council has announced it is working with Oxygen Finance to introduce a new early payment initiative to improve cash flow for its suppliers.

A Tinnitus support group and a Hard of Hearing support group will be starting in Knowsley over the coming weeks.

Find out about the benefits of breastfeeding and the support available to mothers and babies during World Breastfeeding Week.

Pupils and teachers across Knowsley have been enjoying free pizza parties as an end of term ‘thank you’ from the council’s education and school meals teams.

It’s Love Parks Week, 23 July – 1 August, and there’s never been a better time to get out and enjoy all the great things Knowsley’s parks and green spaces have to offer.

Councillors have approved Notices of Motion backing fair pay rises for school and council workers, the scrapping of immigration fees for servicemen and women from the Commonwealth and opposing controversial proposals to remove local residents’ rights to object to planning applications.

A package of investments worth almost £2.5m supporting young and older residents have been agreed by Knowsley’s Cabinet.

With temperatures set to rise over the coming days, follow our tips to make sure you keep yourself, and those around you, safe and well in the sun.

There’s extra advice for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to help them stay safe following the announcement about the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions from 19 July.

Schools, community groups and organisations across Knowsley are invited to ‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’ as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. Groups can apply for free packs of tree saplings to be planted from October, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. 

Huyton-based The Big Help Project and Kirkby’s Centre 63 have been awarded funding from Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority & Veolia’s £165,000 Community Fund to deliver projects aimed at encouraging us to reduce waste, re-use and recycle more.

This Shared Lives Week Knowsley’s Shared Lives team is recruiting carers to provide home-based care for disabled adults and older people needing support. Shared Lives families and supporters can also get involved in events running throughout the week.

Play areas at parks in Halewood, Huyton, Kirkby and Whiston will see the arrival of new, state-of-the-art play equipment, thanks to a programme of improvement works currently underway.

Community groups and organisations working to support the health and wellbeing of residents as they recover from the Covid pandemic are invited to apply for a share of the Knowsley Foundation Covid-19 Support Fund.

Carers Week takes place from 7 to 13 June and aims to raise awareness of the challenges carers face and the contribution they make to families and communities. There’s also information about the support available to carers in Knowsley.

Knowsley’s Green Space Rangers have organised a number of ‘Wildflower Walks for Wildlife’ at parks across the borough to mark Garden Wildlife Week – 31 May to 6 June.

Knowsley residents who are living with dementia, or caring for someone who is, are asked to take part in our survey which will help shape the future of dementia services in Knowsley and form part of the dementia friendly strategy for the borough

The Military Veteran Support Programme offers a range of health and wellbeing support services for veterans of all ages and their families.

Household waste recycling centres in Huyton and Kirkby are extending their opening hours to 8am to 8pm over the summer months.

Knowsley Council Leader Cllr Graham Morgan talks about the council’s recovery from Covid and its commitment to supporting residents and businesses towards a brighter future.

At its meeting this week, Knowsley Council will be asked to agree a Notice of Motion backing the Right to Food campaign and calling on the Government to make access to food a legal right for everyone.

Schools and community groups in Knowsley can find out more about what happens to their recycling by joining free, online ‘Recycling Live’ sessions run by Veolia’s Recycling Materials Recovery Facility.

Knowsley Council is launching the latest recruitment round for aspiring social workers to join the 14-month ‘Step Up to Social Work’ programme.

Knowsley Council has launched a consultation seeking residents’ views on proposed improvements at Littledale Meadow in Kirkby

Growing charity Incredible Edible Knowsley, in partnership with The Big Help Knowsley Foodbank, has opened a new Community Food Club offering discounted food and provisions at Court Hey Park, Huyton

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable residents are now eligible for additional support from their energy providers as they can now be included on the providers’ Priority Service Register.

Advice to help keep your children safe from the potential hazards of blind cords.

Knowsley Council has confirmed it will be stepping in repair the pitches at Whiston Juniors FC after they were damaged by flooding.

Knowsley Council’s front line neighbourhood services – Street Scene, Waste Management, Parks, Fleet Management, School Meals and Building Cleaning – has all achieved the prestigious ISO9001:2015 quality standard.