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Vol 26 l Issue 37
INSIDE THIS WEEK: Charity set to mark 30 years of supporting local women Report by Tom Martin A CHARITY based in Litherland will celebrate 30 years of delivering mental health and wellbeing services for local women. Swan Women’s Centre, on Linacre Road, will hold a small celebration event on Tuesday, September 17 for staff, volunteers and service users to toast the last three decades. The charity supports local women by providing a range of services and support to enable women aged 14 years and over to achieve good mental health and enhance their sense of well-being. Some of the services include counselling, wellbeing support and creative group activities. A spokesperson for Swan Women’s Centre said: “Given all the recent budget cuts we are proud to remain in a resilient and in a strong position to help local women with a range of support services and activities including counselling, wellbeing and mental health peer support. “With a small group of dedicated staff and over 60 volunteers we are able to continue delivering services in our local community and are proud to be here.”
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Volunteers shocked at piles of litter
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GRAVESTONES WRECKED BY GANG OF YOBS
Shock and anger at heartless act of vandalism at former cemetery Report by Tom Martin
THIS is the shocking damage caused to gravestones in Bootle after mindless yobs went on a wrecking spree in the former burial grounds. Residents have spoken of their shock and disgust after a gang of youths vandalised the headstones which stand in public gardens, next to the recycling centre on Irlam Road. Images of the damage were uploaded to social media on Tuesday, September 3. In one image, it appears that a large headstone has been pushed over and left lying across the pathway, with bricks and other debris found elsewhere in the park. Sefton Council have described it as a “heartless act of vandalism” and they are urging anyone with information to contact Merseyside Police. The land used to be a cemetery, but it suffered bomb damage in the Second World War and the council changed it into a public garden in the 1960s. There are still a few elaborate gravestones left and these have been damaged by the yobs. Bootle Action Group founder Michael Brennan who has held a number of clean-up days and litter picks in the park over the years said he was sadded and angered
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Some of the headstones have been removed and smashed with pieces left on paths in the park
at what had been done. He said: “After seeing the images emerge on social media, myself and other members of Bootle Action Group were deeply saddened and angry at this wanton act of criminal damage. “It's my understanding that there are still the remains of the deceased in the grounds, that were not moved to Bootle cemetery. “Myself and other volunteers have cleaned the grounds on a previous litter pick, and spruced up the headstones of Jesse Hartley and his wife.
“We would love the gardens to be taken on by a voluntary group. “There is so much that can be done to make this a valued community space and Bootle Action Group would help. We have informed Sefton council who have reported the matter to the police.” One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “Do these people have no shame at all? “People go here to pay respect to their loved ones Continued inside
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