Liverpool Life 9:4 October 28 2020

THIS WEEK

ARTS

LIFESTYLE

FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

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Liverpool Life OCTOBER 28 2020

FEEDING THE CHILDREN CHEAP THRILLS: BAND ON THE MOVE

OBEY THE RULES TO STAY SAFE

> EXCLUSIVE Interview with Chief Constable

Band’s Thrilling times - page 19

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CONTENTS THIS WEEK

4&5 Feeding the children: free school meals

7 EXCLUSIVE: Chief Constable’s plea to act responsibly

8 How has the Poppy Appeal adapted to Tier 3?

9 Landlord licensing scheme examined

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LIFE

11 Behind the Post-it protest 12 Pandemic or Plandemic? Conspiracy theories surrounding Covid-19

13 Vegan burger: best in Liverpool?

14&15 Battling to stay in business 16 Halloween at home ARTS

17 Good news for St. Helen’s Theatre 18 Joe Maddocks: Made by Music 19 Band on the Move: Cheap Thrills Liverpool Life returns for another week of interesting stories, in-depth articles and coverage of all that’s hot on Merseyside!

In a trying week politically, reporters Ruairi and Ben found out who was helping out in Liverpool after the government decided not to extend the Free School Meals scheme.

We get the thoughts of Gillian Joseph of Sky News on Black

Photos: Charlie Lau ¦ Ruairi Walsh

Joseph

Photos: Tallulah Suleman ¦ Heidi Hewlings

6 Black History Month: The thoughts of Gillian

Photos: Unsplash ¦ Ruairi Walsh

investigated

Spotlight on Liverpool Life History Month and the council fights the Government over the Landlord Licensing Scheme.

Charlie Lau has been out to taste what has been labelled the best burger in the city ... but does the meat-free contender justify the claim?

Halloween is coming! But with the Liverpool City Region still in

tier three lockdown, what are people doing to celebrate?

Heidi investigates.

Finally, our arts section has a double whammy of Liverpool musicians on the rise, with exclusive interviews with Joe Maddocks of Rats and band Cheap Thrills.

Kieran Carson, Designer 3

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Businesses rally to help vulnerable children

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By RUAIRI WALSH ikki Baker, manager of the family-run vegan restaurant Down the Hatch was amazed at the outpouring of generosity in the city. The restaurant announced it would be providing support and many others followed suit “We posted on the Thursday night, by the time I woke up at 10 in the morning (and saw) the amount of places doing offers, we were just like ‘this is incredible’. It’s not like we’re better than anyone, but no-one has such a pull-together as we’ve had in Liverpool. It just speaks wonders for the city, especially at the moment. It’s just unbelievable.”

Whilst Down the Hatch is a favourite for vegans in the city, their meals will look like a typical kid’s menu.

Baker says this is so that kids can enjoy the same sort of food their friends are having whist making it look feel and taste the same.

Key Lime Coffee has become a mainstay opposite Lime Street station and manager Linda Maguire said: “It took Liverpool itself to all join to give out free meals so no child should go hungry and that’s all in our eyes and Liverpool will stick together.

“Our offer will be that Monday to Friday the children can come in and they can have sausage, chips and beans, nuggets, egg and chips things like you get at school. I might put a pan of scouse on for them, or we can do a packed lunch to go.”

For the owner of Wavertree’s popular Fika café, Anthony Grice, this isn’t the first bit of community work he’s done over the pandemic.

He said: “Through lockdown I delivered 900 care packages to the Liverpool community. There was more and more people who had lost jobs.

“There was a woman who lost a job and I remember taking a care package, she messaged me later on in the day and said: ‘Tony, you won’t believe how much this means to us. You put jelly in her, we haven’t been able to get jelly in like three or four months’. And you think that’s something so small and it’s meant so much.”

The business’s latest gesture, though, is in reaction to the actions of the government: “When this was announced on Thursday night, I was blown away that the MPs rejected the free school meals, it was incredible to see them give themselves a pay rise as well. I just felt like I want to do something here and I thought I’m just going to offer as many as it takes. I’ll just offer free food.”

Anthony will be offering free healthy breakfast options all this week and has extended his generosity to the parents of those in need.

“If an adult comes along with them I’ll give the adult tea and toast because I’m sure times are bad for them as well. People have lost jobs in this time.”

• City’s best burger - page 13

Photos © Ruairi Walsh

Fika, Wo photos ©

Max’s birthday bonus

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By BEN ROBERTS-HASLAM

Max Wright Photo © Twitter @Raguchurchtown

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Southport boy has been praised by all around him as he has generously donated his own birthday money to Churchtown based restaurant La Tabella. 11-year-old Max Wright donated £50 to the restaurant to help aid them in supplying free school meals to people who are struggling this half term.

The donation also caught the eye of Manchester United and England player Marcus Rashford.

Rashford took the time to thank Max on Twitter as the footballer continues to spread the names of restaurants and food banks supplying meals to children across his social media.

The local restaurant has managed to raise over £2,000 to help fund their efforts to feed hungry children this week following the majority vote against free school meals over half term.

La Tabella have set up a gofundme page where people can donate and help the work they are doing: https://www.gofundme.com/f/no-child-goeshungry-with-tabella.

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Photo © Ben Wicks, Unsplash

‘I know what it’s like not to have food on the table’

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By RUAIRI WALSH iverpool has been rallying to help vulnerable children after the government voted down a Labour motion to fund free school meals over the half term and Christmas holidays.

According to the latest figures more than four million children live in poverty in the UK, with 1.3 million children relying on free school meals and roughly 20,000 in Liverpool alone.

The onset of the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn this has led to higher usage in foodbanks. At the end of March the Trussell Trust, who run four foodbanks in Liverpool, reported an 81% rise in demand nationwide

compared to same period of time last year.

The North Liverpool Foodbank Network, run by the St Andrews Community Network, said last week that demand had begun to rise again after a lull in the summer but that they had received lots of support from the city with a new set of volunteers joining to help out this year.

Things came to a head after Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, whose previous efforts led to the government “Covid summer food fund”, continued his campaign to extend free school meals over this half term and the Christmas holidays.

This led to the Labour party tabling a bill in Parliament to extend the programme but it was

voted down.

A spokesperson for the government explained the decision and said: “There are other programmes that the government funds to help disadvantaged children outside of school term. We have a holiday activities and food programme worth £9m which supported 50,000 children across 17 local authority areas.”

This decision sparked outrage in Merseyside and a wave of independent businesses stepped up to offer free meals. Following this outpouring of generosity Liverpool City Council pledged to fund free school meals over the half term.

Sefton and Knowsley councils also followed suit over the weekend.

They will offer a food voucher system, similar to the scheme that

was available in the summer in which every child on free school meals would be eligible for a £15 supermarket voucher.

Liverpool City Mayor Joe Anderson said: “I am having budget meetings where I am struggling to find £20,000 in savings. But we had to find £300,000 to support 20,000 children in the city.”

“I know what it’s like not to have food on the table… I know what it’s like to eat a jam butty for your tea.

“I know what it’s like. I have been there. I was brought up in poverty.

“I am not prepared to stand by and watch when I know families out there are really struggling, week in, week out for months now.”

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‘We’ve all had to think about where we are in terms of equality and race’ Black History - not just for a month, but for a lifetime

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anyway.”

Liverpool John Moores University hosts a number of key events each don’t know about you but I’m October and this year, as well as online black for 12 months of the events marking Black History Month, year!” says one of the UK’s the Roscoe Lecture gave Gillian Joseph leading black journalists, who believes black history is every- the opportunity to share her thoughts with a large online audience. one’s history.

She said: “I really think they [LJMU] As Black History Month drew to a close Sky News presenter Gillian Jo- are blazing a trail in what they are trying to do. In making it an inclusive seph gave an eye-opening talk about the importance of racial equality and experience for everyone.”

For her lecture, she chose the subject remembering black heritage as part of of ‘Race Equality – The Reality’ as the LJMU Roscoe Lecture series. she has had experiences with racial Celebrated every October since 1987, Black History Month offers the discrimination through her job and her opportunity for everyone to recognise personal life. She discussed what it is really like to be a black woman in the achievements and history of the Britain and a black journalist. For exblack community in the UK But, is ample, she said she was often wrongly one month enough?

School children are used to learning perceived to be the junior of the crew by the public, when she was in fact in about the Tudors, the Victorians and charge. the World Wars, but very little about Gillian Joseph was born in 1969 in Black History.

Coventry after her parents emigrated Gillian Joseph said: “This month highlights the many stories that need from Dominica.

She joined Sky News in 2005 and has to be told. I don’t believe that it’s ‘black history’; it is all of our history presented ‘Sky News at Ten’ and ‘Live at Five’, breaking several stories live, because we are all part of it.

“It’s not on the curriculum for very including the death of former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko. many schools, it’s not compulsory

By TONI BROWN

‘ It is all of our history because we are all part of it ’ 6

INCLUSIVE: Broadcaster Gillian Joseph In her early broadcasting career she was a producer and radio reporter for BBC Radio Merseyside, being one of the first to break the Jamie Bulger murder case.

Since the killing of George Floyd in the USA, we have seen outbreaks of protests across the UK, which are getting people to listen and learn more, opening up a dialogue.

She said: “We’ve all had to think about where we are in terms of equality and race.

“We have been having some sometimes uncomfortable conversations, but we’ve needed to have them. I think institutions, not just universities but also corporations, are looking at their structures, who they employ, how they employ people, looking at their makeup. So, I think it has been a time to re-evaluate where we are.”

But it can’t just be for one month, it needs to be integrated into the school system, institutions, everyday life; in order to make true, lasting change.

Gillian Joseph said: “Black History

© Toni Brown

Month is a good start, but more needs to be done.

“It shouldn’t be taught in isolation.

It should be as important to you, as it is to me. But until that is the case, I think Black History Month does fulfil the purpose and that it opens up the debate and starts the conversation.”

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Police chief pleads for help to stop the spread In an exclusive interview, Merseyside’s Chief Constable issues a stark warning as Halloween approaches. ISI CAIRNS reports

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peaking in an exclusive interview with Liverpool Life, Chief Constable Andy Cooke urged students as well as the general public to “knuckle down” and use “a common-sense approach” to help curb the spread of the deadly virus and restore the city of Liverpool to normality.

As a self-proclaimed “Local Liverpool boy”, Andy Cooke has more than 35 years’ experience policing in the North. He gained most his policing experience in Liverpool, but progressed his career by taking an Assistant Chief Constable role in Lancashire Constabulary in 2008.

He then moved back to his hometown of Liverpool to assume his current role of Merseyside Police Chief Constable.

However, with this position comes great responsibility for the overall safety and wellbeing for the people of Merseyside, with rule-breakers needing to be held responsible.

Chief Constable Cooke explained how some students and young people have been unwilling to follow the rules. He said: “We have had to give out a number of fixed penalties to people under 21. We’ve given out just under 150 fines so far which is a shame but it’s necessary.”

Despite this alarming figure, Chief Constable Cooke explained that a “very, very small percentage” of these fines had been given to students and urged them to continue to work together with police to avoid fines and help curb the spread of the virus.

“If you are thinking of hosting a party or going to a social gathering which you know is illegal you can

expect a fine.

“Thankfully, not that many have been issued across Merseyside and that’s partly thanks to the responsible approach of my staff, but also due to the vast majority of students who are being responsible too.

“Everyone just needs to remember the dangers that go with this pandemic.”

The Liverpool City Region is one of few Merseyside Chief Constable Andy Cooke speaking to LL. Photo credit: Isi Cairns cities to be placed term respiratory issues. pandemic and personally I know the in the Tier 3 category, with figures The chief constable talked candidly effect it can have. It certainly had me showing over 2700 people testing about his own personal struggles with worried.” positive for COVID-19 in Liverpool Covid-19, which he tested positive Speaking not only as a police in the last week alone. Rumours have for earlier in the year. He was left officer but also as a father, Chief also circulated recently that a tier 4 confined to one room in his house Constable Cooke explained how he may also be introduced in the city, after he was struck down with the had urged his two daughters, one of seeing Liverpool once again forced virus. He said: “At the start of the whom is at university, to stay safe under even stricter restrictions, inpandemic I was unfortunate enough and “use their common sense”. cluding the possible complete closure to get coronavirus. I hadn’t been off He also extended this advice in a of restaurants and retail. work for 20-odd years before then, heart-felt plea to current students: The chief constable expressed his but it really took me out the game for “The only advice I’ve given to my hopes that Liverpool could avoid this a couple of weeks. I was quite ill I’d daughters is just use your common kind of regulation, and offered some never had anything like it before.” sense. Follow the guidelines, don’t hope to those concerned: “The more “Those who say that it doesn’t exist do anything stupid. You’ve got your people obey rules, the quicker we or that it’s all a myth need to think whole life ahead of you just for the can be out of the highest tier before again. I’ve seen plenty of people in sake of a few weeks or a few months. it even goes to a tier four. The vast the intensive care unit and plenty Don’t throw away a bright future by majority of people are doing that, a of grieving families throughout this doing something stupid.” small number aren’t.”

The effects of the virus can vary from each individual, with some experiencing lighter, ‘flu-like symptoms such as a cough and high temperature, and others suffering “long Covid” symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, fatigue, and long-

Photo credit: Isi Cairns

Photo credit: Danielle Norton

Photo credit: Danielle Norton

Photo credit: Danielle Norton

‘You’re the future leaders of our country - start acting like it.’

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LEST

WE FORGET

By HARLEY RAPP

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n these uncertain times, the usual Armistice Day commemorations will not be taking place at the same magnitude as in previous years.

The Royal British Legion, which is responsible for the annual poppy appeal in memory of the fallen of two World Wars, is seeing a sales fall-off due to a move to online giving instead of the usual cash donations because of coronavirus restrictions.

The move to cashless payments coincides with fewer volunteers this year because of shielding and lockdowns.

Many elderly volunteers are now unable to go out into public and fundraise.

However, in Liverpool there are still places supporting the Poppy Appeal and getting the public to remember the fallen in what has been a fairly tumultuous year.

Calderstones Park in Allerton has installed a huge wall of poppies (pictured below) outside the Grade II-listed mansion house, which has gained the attention of walkers and visitors to the park. .

Park visitors Jan and Stuart Gouldstone were left impressed and taken aback by the memorial.

“In the year that we have had it is increasingly poignant to put everything aside to respect those who let us walk around with our freedoms today,” said Mrs Gouldstone And on the other side of the city centre, St George’s Hall has decided to move its remembrance service online, asking crowds who wish to lay a wreath to do so a few days prior whilst remembering to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

The British Legion are still pleading for volunteers to help out this year.

The charity’s Director of Fundraising, Claire Rowcliffe, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had an overwhelming impact on people’s livelihoods and way of life, leaving some in the armed forces community in dire need of urgent help and support.

“The Legion’s work is more vital than ever as we support our community through additional hardships from those struggling with social isolation, financial difficulties and unemployment, to those who have lost loved ones or are facing the threat of homelessness.

“Every poppy counts.”

Every poppy counts There are several ways to support the Poppy Appeal from home in line with Covid-19 restrictions.

You can help by purchasing poppies through the post for your neighbours and local community, displaying a poppy in your window, donating online or undertaking a virtual Poppy run.

More information from www. britishlegion.org.uk

Calderstones Park tribute ©Harley Rapp

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Bid to bring back landlord licences

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By RUARI WALSH

iverpool Council is fighting to reinstate the Landlord Licensing Scheme after it was rejected by the government at the beginning of the year.

The programme was originally launched in 2015 to regulate private landlords, curb illegal behaviour from rogue landlords and improve conditions for renters.

The scheme made every landlord in the city pay for a licence which could only be granted after an inspection deemed that the property they were renting out was up to standard.

Between 2015 and 2019 the programme was successful in rooting out rogue landlords and in that time serious issues were uncovered in many properties such as fire hazards, electrical safety and excess cold.

However, when Liverpool City Council made a request to central government to extend the scheme at the beginning of this year, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick turned it down.

A spokesperson said: “Following careful and detailed consideration, it was decided that Liverpool City Council’s application for selective licensing did not demonstrate robust evidence to support the existence of low housing demand across the whole city.”

Liverpool City Council questioned the rationale for the decision, with Mayor Joe Anderson threatening legal action and since then the council

has drawn up three different plans to replace the previous programme in a way that would be acceptable to central government.

Consultation on which of these plans goes forward ended this weekend and the council are hopeful their new plans will be accepted.

Council spokesperson Paul Johnston said: “Last time around it was a whole city scheme covering all 30 wards based on low demand.

“This time we are consulting on options for a smaller scheme based on one of these three options: “Low demand, which would cover 13 wards, deprivation, which would cover 14 wards or poor property condition, which would cover 16 wards, which is our preferred option.”

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andlord licensing has come under criticism from some quarters and opposition from landlords.

The National Residential Landlords Association is the UK’s largest membership organisation for private residential landlords and represents over 84,000 members who, according to their website, “seek a fair legal and regulatory environment for both landlord and tenant and actively lobby the Government on behalf of our members.”

A spokesperson from the NRLA said: “We support small scale local licensing schemes where evidence justifies it, but the revised Liverpool scheme is simply too large, covering up to 80% of PRS (Private Rented

Sector) properties.”

“Unfortunately, there is no sign that the failings of the previous scheme have been addressed, including the lack of capacity to process applications quickly, inspection of properties and effectively enforcing breaches.”

The council has said it would be hoping to implement the new scheme quickly after the consultation so that it would come into effect next summer.

“The “T he revised Liverpool scheme is simply too large...”

TALKING POINT HEIDI HEWLINGS visits the Everton Two store in Liverpool to ask fans for their thoughts on one of the Blues’ greatest heroes, Dixie Dean. His 1927/28 season at Everton saw him score more than 60 goals, setting an unbeaten record

Alfie Wilkinson, 37: “I think every Evertonian will agree that Dixie Dean is Everton FC. He’s like part of the furniture at the club. Even though I never saw him play he’s still a living legend to me.”

Darren May, 41: “Dixie Dean will always live on at Goodison.

Whenever I pass his statue outside the ground on match days it almost makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. If only we had a player like him today.”.

Jonathon Hayes, 55: “I don’t think we’ll ever have another player like him. The passion he had for the club was like nothing else and I think that’s what made him so remarkable.

He was a Blue through and through.”

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Positive thinking Image © Külli Kittus on Unsplash.com

In a year that has been particularly trying for us all, mental health and well-being are of even greater importance. BETH HARWOOD speaks to a Liverpool charity about its new support campaign

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Merseyside mental health charity is launching a new campaign aimed at people who have had a difficult time during the pandemic.

Imagine Independence is keen to show there is plenty of support available for those with mental health issues and is launching the first Merseyside Mental Health Week to help promote positive mental wellbeing in the Liverpool City Region.

Part of the week is the Building Up Stronger (BUS) campaign, which is aimed at improving digital skills so that people can access digital services and keep in touch during periods of lockdown.

Catherine Lee, Head of Employment and Social Inclusion Services at Imagine Independence, explained: “The BUS project is for basically addressing gaps in support. So, it’s to support people to become digitally included if that is their preference and also to help people build up resilience so if, as it looks like the case, we’re going to keep going in and out of lockdowns, they then have kind of a BUS toolkit, if you like - a resilience tool kit of what things they can access.

“The project facilitators will work with people for up to 12 weeks and co create the action plan which can then be used at any time”

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The Merseyside Mental Health Week, which will run from November 2-6 is seen as being important now more than ever.

Before the pandemic, more than 66,000 people had a common mental health condition in Liverpool.

It is estimated that an additional 5,000 people in Liverpool will need support for their mental health before the end of the year.

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s Lee made it clear that their new project is open to anyone whose suffered any kind of mental distress as a result of Covid-19.

“You don’t necessarily have to have a diagnosis, because there is nobody who hasn’t been affected by this,” she added.

She said that people need to realise the impact the pandemic will have in the future.

“People need to think into the future more because it’s not just a here and now, it’s the after effects. It’s the post-traumatic stress that’s going to come from people on the frontline as well.”

More information on Merseyside Mental Health Week and the BUS campaign, can be found on the Imagine Independence website https://www.imagineindependence. org.uk and also on their social media pages.

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Isolation leaves the mood flat This year’s influx of students have been left feeling disappointed as they are now trapped in their accommodation during isolation, unable to socialise or attend university

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By TALLULAH SULEMAN

Post-it note protests get the message across in Liverpool student accommodation ©Tallulah Suleman

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I feel like we’ve been thrown into the deep end with no life jacket

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eing a university student during a pandemic is challenging. The typical university experience has had to change radically, leaving many students feeling isolated and confused.

Many students have moved to their chosen university cities to try and have a normal university experience – moving into student accommodation and mixing with people they have only just met.

Students in Liverpool have voiced how strange it is living in these unprecedented times.

First year student Natasha Edwards, who lives in Unite Students’ Horizon Heights building, said: “Living in student accommodation is difficult at this time because nothing within the building is open. For example, the student areas aren’t open and we can only stay in our flat.

It can all get a bit tense, especially as I have eight flatmates.”

Third year student Amy Stanfield, who lives in Fresh Student Living’s The Lantern, said: “I feel like we’re well and truly trapped. At home you can go and sit in the garden but here there’s nowhere really to go other than being in your own space, and as we’re not in uni, the days are very repetitive.”

To make light of the situation, students have been creating postit-note signs on their windows for entertainment and to communicate with other flats.

Student accommodation providers are trying their best to support students as university life as a whole can be very daunting.

Ian Humphreys, Deputy Manager of Liverpool Student Homes said: “We have provided information from the universities to landlords and letting agents to enable them to pass to their residents on the support which universities can and are providing to their students, particularly during periods of self-isolation.

“LSH have worked closely with our stakeholder universities and student unions to ensure a joined-up approach in responding to the challenges of the pandemic.”

However, not all university students feel supported.

Natasha Edwards, who lives in Horizon Heights, said: “I don’t feel supported at all. I feel like we’ve been thrown into the deep end with

no life jacket.”

Unite Students were unavailable for a comment but provide information about self-isolating on their website, which states: “We are working harder than ever to ensure we are keeping students living with us safe and secure. We have put additional resources and support in place, including extra security to ensure our properties remain safe for everyone.

“We are working closely with universities, local councils and public health bodies to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep students safe. Our focus is on communicating regularly with students to ensure they know how they can get support, whether it’s food deliveries if they are self-isolating, or if they feel like they may need some additional welfare support.”

Amy Stanfield, who lives in The Lantern said: “I have received multiple emails with guidance from The Lantern, however I feel like they’re doing the bare minimum.”

Fresh Student Living were also unavailable for comment, but have information on their website which says: “We are keeping a close eye on government advice across the UK and Ireland and putting in place a range of measures to ensure our building is fully Covid-secure. We have enhanced the cleaning and disinfecting of all communal areas and we are ensuring that staff and residents wear masks throughout the building.”

Students have been blamed for the rise in Covid-19 cases in Liverpool, which some believe is not right.

Ian Humphreys added: “Our experience is that students are not dissimilar or different from the rest of society. There are a majority of students that are trying to adhere to national and local guidelines but there are some who do not. We believe that the living arrangements that students find themselves in does have to be taken into consideration.”

Additionally, some believe it is unfair to blame students as a lot of them don’t have a choice about who they live with in halls.

Natasha Edwards, who lives in Horizon Heights said: “I don’t like the fact that students are getting the blame for the rise in cases. When you get people from different original households moving into the same flat, you’d be a fool to think they wouldn’t mingle. Especially if it’s their first time away from home.”

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Piers Corbyn at a protest Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

Pandemic or Plandemic?

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vent the spread, but I felt completely isolated at some points and it felt like nobody in charge particularly cared.

“A friend’s mum died in hospital on her own, he wasn’t even allowed to see her. I just don’t think that’s right,” she added.

On the topic of the more ‘radical’ ideologies, the member was quick to distance herself.

She said: “I want to make it clear that I do believe there is a virus, and social distancing and masks are crucial in fighting it. The Plandemic stuff and the ‘Bill Gates is a Lizard’ thing, I don’t think have any truth in them.

“For me, the group is one of the only ones (where people are) taking their frustration and actually saying something about it. Talking about the threat to mental health and having a platform to rip into and criticise the handling of all this is appealing to me.”

The Liverpool Freedom Fighters have had their fair share of controversies.

The other week, Mayor Joe Anderson took to Twitter to distance the city from the group, stating that many of the posts contained anti-Muslim remarks and, contrary to their name, they did not represent Liverpool or care about freedom.

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hat same weekend, Piers Corbyn, the brother of the former Labour leader, stood in front of Clayton Square and declared, surrounded by a huge crowd of unmasked protesters, that the coronavirus did not exist.

This came shortly after Royal Liverpool Hospital staff told BBC Breakfast that if the infection rate of the city did not stop increasing, there would be no more beds available.

Speaking on this, the anonymous user said: “Again, I don’t believe in that. There are some bad eggs in every group, but not everyone believes in all that stuff.

“I’m not racist, 95% of the group aren’t racist. I’m not going to deny that some of that goes on, but if I see any of it I either don’t interact with it or I report it to Facebook.

“Posts like that are basically ignored by people, there’s more comments and conversations surrounding mental health issues. To say that it’s

about race isn’t accurate, it’s about not being satisfied with how things are working and saying something about it.”

With many people frustrated with the state of the world, it’s easy to see how an outlet for their anger, as well as an explanation, no matter how outrageous, would be tantalising.

Misinformation, however, is a growing issue and in times such as these, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t always believe everything you read on Facebook.

‘ Itowant make

it clear that I do believe there is a virus

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hen you hear the words ‘conspiracy theorist’, the usual picture that the mind cooks up is of a dishevelled individual in the dead of night, hunched over a computer and spewing outrageous and unverified vitriol onto various Internet forums.

Typically, it is not a description that a person wishes to be associated with.

However, there seems to be a growing number of people in Liverpool proudly identifying themselves as such, and ‘fighting’ for the right to be heard.

Large crowds formed at both St John’s Gardens and Clayton Square last weekend, for what was called a ‘mental health rally’ to oppose the latest restrictions put on the city.

Like many of these events, it was predominantly promoted on social media – specifically Facebook.

One such Facebook group – Liverpool Freedom Fighters – features frequent posts containing the common ideas that these groups share: 5G towers frying braincells, shadowy organisations pulling the strings of the world and the very relevant ‘Plandemic’, which suggests that the virus was engineered by world leaders in a multi-layered Machiavellian scheme to make the masses more subservient.

Of course, experts have easily debunked these propositions on various occasions.

Why then, after being proven to be wrong so many times, are these groups still so popular?

One member of the Freedom Fighters, who wished to remain anonymous, was willing to provide an insight into why the group attracts followers.

She said: “It’s a matter of trust. The government haven’t been completely honest with any of us throughout any of this, they keep making silly mistakes, so the idea of a group that questioned things and didn’t just blindly accept whatever they said seemed quite attractive.

“I suffer from some mental health issues, and the lockdown didn’t do much to help them. I was cut off from my support network and I know that it’s a pandemic and we need to put some measures in place to help pre-

Bor-is-liar graffiti Photo by Reece Pape

REECE PAPE speaks to a member of Liverpool Freedom Fighters about their controversial views

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Best burger in the city (and guess what ... it’s vegan!)

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By CHARLIE LAU

uke Street’s exceedingly popular basement diner Down The Hatch has been named as one of the best burger joints in the country.

Stagweb, a ‘stag do’ planning website, recently compiled a list of the top 30 burger restaurants in the UK based on dining experience and value for money and Down The Hatch was the only Liverpool restaurant to feature, beating off competition from some other beloved outlets in Merseyside.

The website had high praise for Liverpool’s vegan fast food diner, declaring that the joint is ‘testament to the fact that you don’t need meat to enjoy a deliciously dirty burger’.

In an age where the growing desire for a healthier lifestyle has seen veganism expand, it seems as though Down The Hatch is leading the way for similar trendy diners looking for a sustainable future.

A 300% increase in UK vegans since 2014 has seen vegan joints all across the country begin to take centre stage over more typical burger joints.

With only 40% of the global population projected to consume meat by 2040, it appears that vegan restaurants are becoming economically viable as well as environmentally strong.

Rikki Baker of Down The Hatch said: “The good thing about now is that there is a big push for veganism, and with demand comes creation. For the last few years, people have started to think about their own health and the environment, so since we have opened, more and more places keep popping up around Liverpool.

“You can see the evidence that veganism is on the rise just through going to the supermarket. Three years ago you might have found one or two types of vegan sausages, now you will find plenty.”

But does Down The Hatch really have the best burger experience in Merseyside, or does nothing still beat a good beef burger?

Lola Jones, 27, couldn’t resist going back for more after her first visit. She said: “Although I’m pescatarian and not vegan myself, the food at Down The Hatch rivals any other fast food “I’ve tried before, plant based or not. With helpful service, an intimate atmosphere and joyful food, it creates an all-round brilliant experience which I recommend to anyone in Liverpool!”

Daniel Chinn, a 22-year-old aspiring actor from Milton Keynes, confessed: “It’s hard to beat a beef burger, but the burgers at Down The Hatch come really close. I’m not usually a fan of vegan food and it took me some convincing to get down there, but, I’m not going to lie, I’m glad I did.”

With veganism as the top consumer trend in 2018, it is the junk food joints that are helping the lifestyle to become more and more mainstream, says the Vegan Society.

Duke Street’s hidden bunker is somewhere that ardent meat eaters and zealous veggies can harmoniously enjoy their meals and it is places such as these which are undoubtedly helping to promote the vegan diet to even its most hesitant opposers.

Rikki Baker added: “This is my family’s restaurant. It’s the most important part of my life. It’s probably one of our greatest achievements.”

‘

It took me some convincing to get down there, but, I’m not going to lie, I’m glad I did

,

Veganism in numbers: • In 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation • The number of vegans in Great Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, from 150,000 to 600,000 • Vegan meals are the fastest growing takeaway choice in the UK • Vegans and vegetarians will make up a quarter of the UK population by 2025

From the Vegan Society 13

LL LIFE

When business as usual Covid-19 has had a huge impact on working lives.

Liverpool Life speaks to selfemployed people about their challenges CHANGING TIMES: Make-up artist Dani Stewart has had to adapt

© Dani Stewart

Everything has been turned upside down

By ELEANOR DOWD

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any make-up artists work for themselves and so they rely totally on their clients to fund their

income.

Although they are physically able to get back to work now, while taking extra precautions, their professional work is still being affected by the pandemic.

Dani Stewart says her life as a self-employed make-up artist has been turned upside down.

“My work has been massively affected by coronavirus, due to my clientele being my wage.

“I’ve really had to adapt to continue making money, by creating online

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courses, doing make-up tutorials on my social media accounts, promoting offers and also producing gift vouchers that my clients can use for future appointments.”

Along with changing the way she makes her income, the Liverpool-based make-up artist has also had to take extra precautions when doing her clients’ make-up.

“I wear a mask and a visor and I take an extra 30 minutes after each appointment to sanitise my work space,” she said.

“I cleanse my brushes, make-up, my make-up chair, my phone after taking pictures, literally anything I have touched, even the gate my clients have touched to enter!

“My clients also wear a mask until I do their face make-up and everyone applies hand sanitiser once they arrive.”

Social media is a huge part of self-employed people’s work, whether it’s make-up, nails, baking and many other businesses because it’s their way of showcasing their talent and getting their name out there, in order to build up a clientele.

Dani explained the pressure she feels to stay relevant.

“I feel forced to keep my social media accounts up to date, especially because my engagement on Instagram is a lot lower as I’m seeing fewer clients,” she said.

“I feel pressured to post content every day, because we have to stay relevant if we went to be successful.”

Dani also explained how the government has helped her financially.

“During lockdown, self-employed people were given access to two grants.

“The first grant was 80% of our wages based on our tax returns and the second grant was 70% of our wages based of our tax returns,” she noted.

Although make-up artists like Dani are able to get back to work, it seems things will not be the same for quite some time yet.

LL LIFE

is almost impossible

A recipe for disaster

By BRENDAN THOMAS

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he pandemic has created a recipe for disaster for baking businesses.

Since the first national lockdown in March events of all kinds have been cancelled, which had a significant effect on local bakers.

From weddings to birthday parties, celebrations where people would order a special cake have not gone ahead, leaving cake makers all around the country struggling for work. And when events have gone on there have been limited people attending, meaning orders are smaller than usual.

Clare Nicholas, the owner of Clare Nicholas Cake Design, Childwall, Liverpool, is one of those bakers who has been hit hard and is still facing the consequences.

Clare told Liverpool Life: “My business has suffered badly. Initially I chose to cease trading due to cake not being a necessity and I chose to lockdown completely.

“I had had many orders cancelled anyway, for example wedding cakes, christening cakes, everything really as most gatherings weren’t going ahead.”

Business for Clare began again on

July 4, however, she described it as “almost impossible” to still get ingredients. When she did, prices were inflated, making business harder than before lockdown.

She said business had started to pick up again when restrictions were eased, but due to smaller social gatherings going ahead, orders being made were smaller and cheaper.

But since Liverpool was put into a Tier 3 lockdown and rules were tightened, business has become a struggle once more for Clare.

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he said: “Since this latest lockdown, orders have tailed off again and certain ingredients have been thin on the ground once more.

“I have offered Halloween cupcakes and treat boxes this year, I don’t normally as I don’t usually have time for these, but this year is different.

“I definitely have lost orders due to social gatherings being banned, many people have postponed until next year, so I’ve lost earnings or those that have gone ahead have catered for fewer people, again some have gone for cupcakes or a single

TREATS: Some of the cakes produced by Clare

© Clare Nicholas

REDUCED: Smaller gatherings mean smaller cakes © Clare Nicholas tier cake rather than three or four tiers that they’d originally planned for.”

Clare wants people to support local businesses by liking and sharing any posts on social media rather than buying from high street giants to help smaller companies to stay afloat.

Kirsty Hesketh, owner of Princessbee and cakes in Rainhill, also admitted to struggling with business because of the pandemic.

She said: “I have had no help at all from the government as I am homebased.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, Kirsty said customers were cancelling their orders, meaning she was refunding money to everyone. However, there is hope on the horizon.

After a tough few months, Kirsty said people are now coming to order cakes to make their occasions, like Halloween and Christmas, more special.

She explained to Liverpool Life: “I am finding that people want cakes more to make the celebrations just as special.”

SPOOKY: Kirsty’s Hocus Pocus selection

© Kirsty Hesketh

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LL LIFE

Ways to celebrate in spooky style

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By HEIDI HEWLINGS

alloween is a time for spooky celebrations with friends, creepy movie marathons and bucket loads of sweet treats - and this year is no exception.

Although coronavirus restrictions mean this Halloween may be a little different from previous years, there are still loads of ways you can make the occasion one to remember. Halloween is not cancelled!

Even after stricter Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions were put in place in Liverpool City Region earlier this month, not all hope is lost for the holiday.

Some celebrations that are usually held across the city, like the Halloween-themed walk through Sefton Park and the Zombies Unleashed experience by Liverpool One, have unfortunately been cancelled this year. But, as Halloween falls on a Saturday,it’s already looking even better than last year – because we get an entire day of spooky celebrations.

Just because we must remain socially distanced doesn’t mean the festivities are ruined. It just means we have to be extra creative to ensure we can celebrate the event safely.

So here are five ideas to help you have the best Halloween yet, quarantine-style!

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Have a go at a virtual escape room: Escape rooms have been a popular activity for years now, but during the pandemic they have gained even more attention by going virtual. Don’t let Covid-19 restrictions get in the way of your escape

room plans, as you can now access them online. They can be as spooky or family friendly as you want, all in the comfort of your own home.

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Do a tarot card reading or Ouija board:Dim the lights, put on some candles and see what the cards hold. If this isn’t spooky enough for you, see if you can get hold of a Ouija board … that’s if you’re brave enough, of course.

3

Host a virtual Halloween party After lockdown, I think it’s safe to say we’re all pretty much experts with Zoom now. Why not use it this spooky season to invite your friends to a virtual Halloween party? Get your costume on and have a competition for the best dressed. You could even host an eerie themed quiz.

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Throw a horror movie night ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Carrie’ and ‘Alien’ are all classics, guaranteed to leave you sleeping with one eye open. For something closer to home, there is this year’s new Covid-19 horror movie, ‘Host’, about friends who accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence to their Zoom call.

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Get creative in the kitchen Grab your apron, get in the kitchen and get creative. Halloween is the perfect excuse to indulge in an array of delicious treats. You could even leave your creations on the doorsteps of friends and family for a festive surprise.

Halloween cupcakes Ingredients: 125g/4½oz plain flour 5g/1oz cocoa powder 1½ tsp baking powder 150g/5oz caster sugar 150g/5oz unsalted butter, softened at room temperature 1 free-range egg 8 tbsp milk For the cream cheese icing: 50g/2oz cream cheese 25g/1oz butter, softened at room temperature 125g/4oz icing sugar, sifted ½ tsp vanilla essence For the chocolate icing: 25g/1oz icing sugar 1 tbsp cocoa powder Method: 1) Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/ Gas 4. Line a muffin tray with 9 paper cases.

2) Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into a bowl. Add the sugar and butter and beat the mixture together until well combined.

3) Whisk in the egg and milk until the mixture is thick and smooth.

4) Divide the mixture between the paper case and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until springy to the touch and skewer inserted into the middle of one of the cakes comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.

5) For the cream cheese icing, beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until well combined. Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla.

6) Spoon the icing onto the cupcakes, leaving a small border around the edge.

7) For the chocolate icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of water to form a smooth, thick icing.

8) Transfer the mixture to a piping bag with a fine nozzle. (Alternatively, spoon the mixture into the corner of a sandwich bag and snip off the corner, to form a small hole.)

9) Carefully pipe 3 concentric circles onto each cupcake. Run a toothpick from the centre to the edge of the cake, through each circle of icing, at 2cm/1in intervals to create a cobweb effect.

10) Set aside for 20 minutes to allow the icing to harden.

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LL ARTS

Curtain up as theatre wins grant

(Picture credit from St Helens Theatre Royal.)

By DAVID DIANGIENDA

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t Helens Theatre Royal has been awarded government funding to help it to prepare for the return of audiences.

The announcement of the financial support comes more than six months after the theatre closed its doors to the public. The successful bid for the government Culture Recovery Fund grant will help the theatre to keep operating as well as making sure that facilities at the venue are improved.

The fund was established by Arts England Council to help support the arts during this difficult period.

It is estimated that £1.57 billion

pounds will be distributed across the sector in which to enable socially-distanced performances to take place. Theatre manager Chantelle Nolan said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded as part of the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund. This will ensure we can continue to serve the local community and secure our future.”

She said the funds would be crucial in helping the theatre go from strength to strength.

“These funds will be invaluable towards securing job retention, enable us to open social-distanced performances, present our annual pantomime and make improve-

St Helens delight with cash boost for beloved venue ments at the venue and improve access facilities.”

Coronavirus regulations continue to affect live performances across the UK. The Theatre Royal will ensure that audiences will adhere to social distancing guidelines and will be taking temperature checks, running events at a limited capacity, enforcing the wearing of face masks and deep cleaning the venue.

The theatre has announced that its annual Christmas pantomime will take place this year. Beauty and the Beast will run from Friday December 11 to Sunday January 3 with tickets starting at £14.

‘We cannot wait to open our theatre doors again’

Song and dance siblings ready to light up in style

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ith the news that the theatre is opening it’s doors to the general public, join the Strictly Come Dancing siblings Kevin and Joanne Clifton on Wednesday 25th of November, a night you will never forget.

The Clifton sibilings will be the first show at the theatre since March and have suprises in store for the audience. Although this show will be done with a socially distanced audience, the night will be jam-packed with some of your favourite dances, songs and stories about their careers for eveyone to enjoy on this special occasion.

Tickets are now available now on the St Helens Royal Theatre website. https://sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com/shows/873621625

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LL ARTS

Made by music KIERAN CARSON meets lead singer of the band Rats, Joe Maddocks, to talk about the music industry, the government and his own musical history

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orn on April 8 1997, Joe Maddocks was quick to highlight his birthday shared the date of Margaret Thatcher’s death.

On talking to Joe, fewer dates seemed more appropriate.

The 23-year-old singer-songwriter is from Aintree and has lived there most of his life, with his family being from the Kirkdale area.

“I started getting into music when I was in Year Eight. I wanted to be in the army at the time but one summer I ended up at a family party, the guitar was brought out and I said ‘let me have a little go’. From then I switched from being what I wanted to be on Call of Duty to wanting to be a musician.”

He cites his family as being quite musically minded and gives them credit for his musical origin.

“That was part of growing up, they’d always be singing, getting the guitars out. Music was taken seriously in the family. I sought refuge with them and that was what I was going to do.”

Now part of an outfit called RATS, the band have released five singles, the most popular of which, “Weekend”, has been streamed more than 365,000 times on Spotify.

Smashing onto the indie scene, the musician spoke of the artists that influenced him like Oasis, The Stone

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Maddocks during an eclectic set Roses and The La’s.

“It’s the sort of music that made me want to become a musician but I’ve always wanted us to be an anything-goes band.”

Their latest single, “Jack”, tells the story of a man struggling to make his way in life and deals with class issues.

Maddocks says he can see the group making more content like this, as well as bodies of work that are more hiphop.

“Our biggest influence is The Beatles and none of their albums are the same. If anyone’s looking to get into my music and expecting the same stuff, every album will be different. I want it all to be a different journey. A different vibe to replicate a part of other people’s lives or my life.”

Making a career in music is Joe’s life. This couldn’t have been clearer than when he recently went viral with a video of him criticising the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on his recent comments asking musicians to retrain and find another trade.

In an impassioned rant outside arguably the home of Merseyside music, Matthew Street, Joe tells us how he’s never had a proper job, how him and many others have worked and built a name here, referencing Elton John, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and Oasis.

Speaking since, he made comparisons to other countries and the way

“Britannia no longer rules the waves but Britannia rules the radio waves” they dealt with coronavirus, such as Germany or New Zealand.

“I don’t think enough effort was put into it at the start. Germany give out 50 billion to their music industry.

Have you ever even heard a German song in the US charts or our charts? £1.25 billion is what our music industry got.

“Less than 1% of the planet is British but one in eight of every record sold worldwide is from a British artist.

Britannia no longer rules the waves but Britannia rules the radio waves.

That’s what they need to understand.”

Joe speculated that the government’s lack of support for the industry may be to do with censorship.

“I think they don’t want us to be heard. You look at music in the last year, people like Stormzy, like Wiley.

Image ©Jacksmedia People are taking a stand. I think they’re seeing as a reason to dull the arts.”

2020’s pandemic has had a significant impact on the band. The drummer and bassist have both had to leave the band due to financial worries.

“I miss the other lads, it was like Saving Private Ryan, me and Mikey are Private Ryan and they’re like ‘go on without me’. They’re worried about getting a job and getting a house and having a proper life whilst I’m sat here on the music road.”

Maddocks is now on universal credit after the 15 festivals he was meant to play this year couldn’t go ahead.

“What’s meant for me won’t go past me. If I get to 30 and it hasn’t happened then it’s not meant to be. I’m going to try my hardest every single day. I’m on the dole and that’s the only way you can do this, but if you want do it you’ve got to live like a tramp, it’s horrible.”

Maddocks went to university and studied in music. He busked on the streets and has toned his craft and had this in his vision for over a decade.

“If because of coronavirus, I can’t go back to gigs and I can’t play and that saves lives, then that’s fine. But at the same time if I pay for this degree and you want me to retrain, can I have that money back? Because now I’m owing people for nothing.”

LL ARTS

‘Online’s OK, but never as good as the real thing’

JACK O’BRIEN meets The Cheap Thrills to see how they’re coping with remote recording and lockdown lyrics

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he year 2020 has been a tough year for the music industry.

Pandemic restrictions mean no large public gatherings, which means no concerts, no studio time, little to no income. So what is it really like being part of a band in this current time?

The Cheap Thrills are a band on the rise in Liverpool, that’s no doubt, but new COVID-19 rules and regulations have put a halt on their development.

From the beginning of lockdown they couldn’t rehearse for five months due to social distancing regulations. More recently, since the Liverpool City Region has been placed under stricter Tier 3 rules, it means face-to-face time with each other has been scarce.

Drummer and Band Manager Anton Eager told Liverpool Life: “Gatherings outside and in households are prohibited, so we have had to do online songwriting sessions which work ok, but it’s never as good as the real thing, being in the practice room together.”

The band – Anton Eager, Callum Fitzpatrick, Lewis Pike and Terry Eave – have all known each other for most of their lives, since attending school together in Walton Vale.

“The chemistry is always still there definitely.

When we first got back in our rehearsal studio it felt like we hadn’t been away,” said Anton It’s still not plain sailing though since, like many other bands they rely on money from live shows to promote and record new music.

“We had a huge gig coming up at the Arts Club theatre which we had promoted ourselves, and it’s had to be rescheduled for a second time.

“We were relying on the income from this show to put towards recording studio costs to fund new

music releases.”

Rescheduling is always a pain and the pandemic means that although there is a new date set for the Arts Club gig, May 29 2021, nothing is set in stone permanently.

Anton said: “Obviously we can’t guarantee this is going ahead 100% but we will just keep rescheduling until we get the green light to go ahead.”

They have had a chance to play together recently though in the M&S Bank Arena, albeit to no fans.

During the August bank holiday, they played the Liverpool Digital Music Festival, along with 60 other artists.

Tickets for their upcoming Arts Club gig can be found on www.eventbrite.co.uk, search for The Cheap Thrills.

“The chemistry is always still there. When we first got back in our rehearsal studio, it felt like we hadn’t been away”

Top and above, all smiles in New York before New Colossus Festival

©The Cheap Thrills

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View from the Metropolitan cathedral by NATHAN SARTAIN