Myclubmoor News Paper issue 9

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

Winter 2017

WHAT COULD OUR BINGO HALL BE? HAVE YOUR SAY ON PAGE 2.

WHAT’S INSIDE....

MYCLUBMOOR - PG 2 WHERE IS CLUBMOOR? - PG 3 SCOUSE CHALLENGE - PG 4 ALLOTMENT CHALLENGE - PG 4

MYCLUBMOOR SOUP - PG 5 SUMMER ROADSHOW - PG 6 DOG SHOW - PG 7 HISTORY OF CLUBMOOR - PG 8

EMMA’S BLOG - PG 9 MEET THE TEAM - PG 9 GROUPS IN CLUBMOOR - PG 10 COMMUNITY BLOGS - PG 11

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

COMING SOON TO CLUBMOOR

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

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recently took my daughters to see The BFG at Crosby Plaza Cinema.

If you’ve never been to Crosby Plaza Cinema, I would really recommend it: it’s a great example of local people really caring about a local place.

Needless to say, with Roald Dahl’s brilliant story-telling and Spielberg’s direction, the kids absolutely loved it. The bit that stood out for me was the sequence about Dream Country, “where all dreams begin.”

Here at MyClubmoor, we have a big vision that we hope will last beyond the ten years and £1million we have. We aim to:

“CREATE A NETWORK OF COMMITTED, ACTIVE, INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS RAISING ASPIRATIONS AND MAKING CLUBMOOR THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.” Two and a half years into making this vision a reality, we thought it might be time to reflect in this edition of MyClubmoor on what we have done so far, and also to offer the opportunity for more people to take part.

We’ve planned for the future of Clubmoor, and put together a Board, mainly made up of residents, that is working together well.

The newspaper is having an overhaul, and we’re calling for people to help out with writing, photography and editing work. We’re creating a Clubmoor Business Network to link together people with great ideas. We’re inviting you to have your say on big issues like where housing should be built, what will happen with the Bingo Hall, or simply just what MyClubmoor should do next.

When The BFG is teaching Sophie about dreams, he says:

“DREAMS IS SO QUICK ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT SO LONG ON THE INSIDE.” I talk to so many of the MyClubmoor volunteers who say something similar. “I’ve wanted to do this for years, but you know how it is, life just gets in the way”. The task we have set ourselves is to capture those dreams, allowing people to do the thing they’ve always wanted to, and make them last. It’s also how it feels for me when we talk about making Clubmoor the best it can be. It’s easy to say, but will take a long time. It will have to be different to other funding and regeneration initiatives, which tend to pass relatively quickly.

We are setting ourselves up to be involved in a vision that lasts beyond the ten years of MyClubmoor, and we’d love to hear from you.

Kevin Peacock, MyClubmoor Chairperson

BINGO HALL (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

We have some exceptional staff and volunteers, and it never ceases to amaze me how creative and talented local folks can be.

We are now at a crucial stage of our development. The very early, exciting, ‘all things are possible’ feelings are passing, and now we face the task of putting lots of great ideas in to more routine practice. The grants process is being revised to encourage more local people to get involved.

Every Tuesday, 1pm4pm. Starting 17th January.

St Andrew’s Church Hall, 176 Queens Drive, L13 0AL. 0151 728 8874

FAMILY DAD’S CLUB 2nd Saturday of every month. 10am-1pm Clubmoor & Ellergreen Children’s Centre, Utting Ave East, Clubmoor L11 1DQ. 0151 233 8500

WEEKLY LINE DANCING CLASS Every Thursday, 10am-12:30pm Poppy Centre, 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool, L13 9DY. 0151 330 5678. £4 per class.

VINTAGE CLUB Every Tuesday 9.30am St Andrew’s Church Hall, 176 Queens Drive Clubmoor, L13 0AL. 0151 226 1977

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH SERVICES, EVERY SUNDAY

We’ve given out nearly £30,000 in small grants and loans to people to chase their dream, and then connected them with others to learn and grow.

We’ve brought together thousands of people through our events such as the dog show, SOUP and family fun days.

50+ LET’S GET HEALTHY HUBS

How long has this Bingo Hall been empty for now, six years? What could it be used for instead of gathering dust?

Do you have any stories from when the building was open? What films did you see there? Do you have any big ideas for the building? Drop us an email - info@myclubmoor.org.uk

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9am Holy Communion This is a more traditional service with hymns and liturgy. It is a quiet and more reflective space to worship.

10.45am Morning Worship This is a lively, contemporary service for all ages led by our worship band. There is a crèche for children under three, and different groups for children of all ages.

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

WHERE IS CLUBMOOR? LET’S TALK ABOUT CLUBMOOR’S LOCATION...

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oes anyone even say “I’m from Clubmoor?” It seems more likely you’d say “I’m from Walton” or “I’m from Norris Green”, or maybe Anfield, Tuebrook, Broadway or West Derby. Anywhere else?

Officially, Clubmoor is a Liverpool City Council Ward and is something of a made-up place. Lines on a map. This map shows the corners of other areas and postcodes that fall in the Clubmoor zone.

The project is called MyClubmoor, but really we are interested in people from all the places on the map, whether or not you’d say they were from Clubmoor or not. This is a newspaper for absolutely everyone in the area.

OUR SUMMER REVIEW

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ere’s just a few pictures from our events this summer: our Dog Show, Soup Event, Bake-off and Walton Festival. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved and all our partners for either running the event or working alongside us in making it all possible. Fun was had by all.

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www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

SCOUSE CHALLENGE MYCLUBMOOR SCOUSE CHALLENGE

ALLOTMENT CHALLENGE

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his year’s Allotment Challenge was in partnership with Grandison Road Allotments. The event, held at Marlborough Allotments, was well attended with lots of entries from across the ward. Like previous years, the winners received a MyClubmoor rosette and certificate.

Rachel and Bob, the Allotment Challenge judges, really enjoyed the day. The pair commented that the children’s section was particularly fun, but difficult to judge because of the high standard of entries.

Next year, we at MyClubmoor are hoping to encourage more local people to grow fresh produce in their garden and try their hand at making preserves, chutneys and pickles. We think they would make great show entries! The team would also like to introduce more growing opportunities to schools in Clubmoor.

Paul Rotheram said:

“MAKING PRESERVES FROM WHAT WE GROW IS A GREAT WAY TO USE UP ANY EXTRA PRODUCE. IF WE START GROWING IN SPRING, IT GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME TO TRY OUT NEW VEGETABLES AND RECIPES.”

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he Scouse Challenge was piloted as an alternative to last year’s Growing Challenge.

It was designed to focus on children working together and cooking a local dish that would be enjoyed with their families.

A special mention needs to go out to all the teachers that made The Scouse Challenge a successful one. We really appreciate all the help and support throughout our projects.

MyClubmoor supplied the basic recipe and ingredients for Blind Scouse, so the children could head home and cook. The addition of a secret ingredient was a must.

Here are The Scouse Challenge winners:

After cooking, the children were asked to write a report on their cooking process. They needed to take pictures of them preparing, cooking and eating the Scouse together. Their report and recipes were taken into school so they could be shortlisted for judging.

The three shortlisted recipes were recreated by the teachers and children, especially for the MyClubmoor judges who visited the schools to taste, look at their reports and pick a winner.

The Scouse Challenge was a great success.

180 recipes and ingredients were distributed to three schools across the ward – Leamington Primary, Florence Melly Primary and Roscoe Primary. We can honestly say that each entry was outstanding.

Jai Burghess from Roscoe Primary, Grace Davies from Leamington Primary, Davey Moran from Florence Melly Primary.

Each winner received a family cinema voucher, rosette and certificate.

Are you interested in growing produce? We’re keen to start a community growing project, and we would love to hear your ideas. Get in touch to be involved.

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Would you like to take part in the Allotment Challenge? Next year’s show schedule will be available from April 2017.

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

SOUP KARL’S STORY

HAVE YOU GOT A BIG IDEA

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yClubmoor, one of our main passions is to give members of the community different opportunities. You don’t need an elaborate business plan – just yourself and an idea.

Our MyClubmoor Soup events provide a platform for people to present their ideas and access grants in a fun way. To enter, just turn up on the night and tell everyone about your great idea. Once everyone has pitched, the MyClubmoor team and local community will then participate in a vote. As a bonus, the winner will receive the money collected from entrance fees.

Winners can then enter our business network, where we help their idea come to life. They will also get a chance to meet and network with fellow entrepreneurs. Our goal is to further invest in Clubmoor. We want to develop the area into a selfsustainable environment that every generation can enjoy.

don’t forget our awards...

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arl has Fragile X syndrome, which results in him living with autism. He often finds it difficult to communicate with people. We wanted a personal approach to how we worked with Karl. As a team, we felt this was crucial in building trust, and helped us to learn the best way for Karl to fulfil his role as a volunteer.

Both MyClubmoor’s Lianne and St Andrew’s foodbank coordinator Vicky started meeting with Karl on a one-toone basis to build trust and friendship.

These meetings helped Karl realise that his capabilities were a lot more than he initially thought.

After six months of getting to know him, Lianne suggested to Karl that he may like to learn how to cook. Vicky wanted Karl to get on board, helping him show the community how to cook cheap and healthy meals at a low cost.

Vicky said:

“We realised that he didn’t read words well, so instead we would recreate the recipes into pictures and he would follow them. Karl passed his food hygiene test with flying colours. This gave him confidence to try the group cooking session, which he really enjoyed.”

After the course ended, Karl was keen to learn how to grow fruit and vegetables, and we managed to secure him some green space behind Roscoe Primary School to start off his project. From there, Karl got stuck in.

Last year, he grew enough vegetables to give to local people to make pans of scouse for their families and friends. He then taught other people how to garden, and now has over ten volunteers.

Just like his produce, Karl’s project keeps on growing. We are hoping to open a community allotment based at Grandison Road that will be accessible to the whole community, and will tie into MyClubmoor environmental projects.

Our awards, MyClubmoor I <3 (I Heart) and UnLtd are not just a link to wider opportunities, but an alternative way to apply for funding. MyClubmoor I <3 is all about helping local people get their businesses off the ground, whereas UnLtd is solely for social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that want to give back to the community.

Three prizes ranging from £500 to £15,000 are up for grabs.

Applying is simple. The first step is to make an enquiry via telephone, email or online at an Idea Generation event or by appointment at one of our offices.

Following your enquiry, an UnLtd staff member will contact you to discuss and assess your idea before applying. UnLtd provide advice, support and financial assistance to anyone who has what it takes to start a project or enterprise that will benefit the community.

Lianne says:

and, finally...

“Gardening and allotment maintenance involve many different roles, but Clubmoor has so many people who are willing to get stuck in and help out. We want to be able to offer a space inside the allotment for local people to take ownership of, so that this truly is a community garden.”

Since 2013, we have helped 25 people get grants for new businesses, social enterprises and initiatives. Their ideas have ranged from gardening projects, photography groups, to one-off wellbeing events that all make the world a better place.

To get your idea off the ground, get in touch.

It is important to promote healthy eating, and to encourage people to grow their own fruit and vegetables. This project helps fit into our aims of community involvement, more activities and a greener environment.

Do you need any tips on budgeting, writing a business plan, networking or skill sharing? Get in touch with us by email or social media. We want to hear whether you would like us to run more business training courses in Clubmoor.

@MyClubmoor MyClubmoor1 info@myclubmoor.org.uk

coming soon in 2017... myclubmoor business and enterprise network. (a chance to get your ideas out there!)

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•

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MyClubmoor have given 28 business and social enterprise grants to people working in Clubmoor equaling 38K. Do you have an idea? Or need training or support? We can help you!

Keep an eye on our social media for more information.

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

SUMMER ROADSHOW ST ANDREW’S COMMUNITY NETWORK - SUMMER ROADSHOW

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y Clubmoor supported St Andrew’s Community Network for their one-month summer event called ‘Meet Your Neighbours’. The idea was to get out and about in the heart of our community - serving food, and meeting all kinds of people.

WEEK 1 - THE DUCKY

We visited three parks - Larkhill Gardens (The Ducky), Circular Road West and Walton Recreational Ground (The Rec). During our final week we revisited Larkhill Gardens, so we could come together as a community and celebrate all of the brilliant things that had happened during the month.

WEEK 2 - CIRCULAR ROAD WEST

1230

600

3075

We met 600 new people during our four days out and about. It was great to meet new friends.

We made around 3075 cups of tea with breakfast every morning that we were out.

40 l

80 l

100

We served around 40 litres of Scouse one day a week over the month we were out and about.

We also served around 80 litres of Soup one day a week throughout the month.

Alongside tea, Scouse and soup we cooked 100 burgers for our community.

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120

thank you

On one of the days we cooked 100 sausages - a perfect Summer barbecue.

We hired a team of bike engineers during the month, who fixed over 120 bikes.

A big thank you for visiting us during the month. We had a fantastic time!

We spoke to over 1200 people over our month working alongside St Andrews Network.

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WEEK 3 - THE REC

WEEK 4 - THE DUCKY

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

DOG SHOW SHARING THE SUCCESS OF OUR DOG SHOW

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n July 24th we held the 4th MyClubmoor annual Dog Show, one of the most popular events of the year. Despite the rain, over 160 people attended with their dogs, families and friends.

The Dog Show has developed into a really good community family fun day. So, with the smell of wet dog heavy in the air, we asked people for their views on the Dog Show and dog ownership in the area, and we were really happy to hear that the dog show has helped to promote responsible dog ownership in Clubmoor.

The Dog Show was set up partly in response to the tragic death of Clifford Clark, killed outside his home in 2013. MyClubmoor hope that by raising awareness with local dog owners, we can promote responsible dog ownership in the ward and avoid further dog attacks.

We are really pleased people at the event felt the Dog Show has had an impact on some of Clubmoor’s dog owners but we are keen to do more. If you are keen to join a Dog Club or go on group dog walks, please get in touch.

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OH, IT’S BRILLIANT! EVERYONE’S DOGS ARE SO WELL BEHAVED. IT’S NICE TO SEE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS, SHAPES AND SIZES.

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THE DAY HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. I’VE REALLY ENJOYED CHATTING TO THE DOG’S OWNERS - THEY’RE ALL SO RESPONSIBLE.

WE SAID COME ON, WE’LL GO AND HAVE A GO. AND I DIDN’T REALLY EXPECT TO WIN, BUT I DID! I’M DEAD PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY!

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I HAVE SEEN A BIG DIFFERENCE IN DOG FOULING. A LOT MORE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE PICKING UP THEIR DOG’S POO, WHICH IS GREAT.

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www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

CLUBMOOR HISTORY PLUS: A CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED WITH A REAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG!

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ver wondered where the name Walton comes from? It goes back to the times of the Saxon invasions of England when the Celts were the dominant people of this area. The Saxons saw the locals as foreigners and used the words ‘walle/walla/wallas’ to describe them.

They also called any settlement ‘tun’. In the Domesday Book it was called Waleton and the area was given to an ally of King John, Gilbert or Waldeve, and the Walton family began. All this led to the name we use today – Walton, meaning ‘settlement of the foreigners’.

As I wrote last time, Walton is now a mere shadow of the importance it held over the last 1400 years. There was a Walton before there was a Liverpool, for example. The site of present day Walton St Marys church is thought by many to have been a place of worship long before the church was first built around a thousand years ago. This is shown by the fact the church grounds are circular even today suggesting pagan worship, as is the case of the hundreds of stone circles in ancient Britain, including the most famous of all, Stonehenge. Then, with the rise of Christianity, many of these sites were co-opted by the new religion as they were seen by native people as places of sacred power.

So Walton Church, as it is known by many, became the focus of Christianity in these coastal areas. Taxes were collected there, paid by farmers, peasants and traders alike. The Church owned much of the land in the surrounding environs and would rent them as ‘glebe’ lands

to local people. In fact, the Glebe Hotel (pub) on County Road gets its name from this custom and many believe a tunnel ran from underneath the site all the way across the main county road and emerging in the grounds of Walton Church.

This supposedly provided a safe route for those going to the Church to pay glebe rents and taxes. Even then you could be relieved of your hard earned cash by a local rogue!

Over time, Walton grew wealthier and this was reflected in the building of the first stately manor house – Walton Hall. This was some 900 years ago and showed the importance of the area.

Over time this gave way to the second Walton Hall, built by the Brere/Bryers family.

Walton Hall Park gets its name from being the site of Walton Hall and, as described in the last issue, the hall fell into ruin and the land was bought by the Corporation of Liverpool between 1907 and 1913 when a sum of £51,000 was the price for 120 acres. During the war it was used as a munitions dump and as unemployment hit in the late 1920s the local work board paid men to lay out the park itself. The names and how much they were paid can still be found in the City archive in the Central Library in town. It’s a fascinating read, even recording when the men had days off sick – they were still paid.

Over the last twelve months I’ve researched the history of the Hall and with the help of a local metal detector enthusiast, one cold Sunday morning we found remnants of the second hall

Please get in touch via 0151 226 3406 or email us at info@myclubmoor.org.uk

– wine bottles, tea cups, cement and fired clay.

These have been dated by Liverpool Museum in the last couple of weeks and fit the time period of the Hall.

So, here’s where you can get involved in Walton’s very own version of a Time Teamlike project. We are putting together a funding application to the National Lottery to finance a full blown archaeological dig in Walton Hall Park. This is to be a Community Dig so we will be looking for local groups and local people of all ages to get involved. The young and strong will be helping with the actual digging, those of more advanced years will be asked to wash and catalogue whatever we find and eventually it will all go on display in the Liverpool Life Museum at the Pier Head. Ultimately, we will then design a heritage trail complete with signs and photos for tourists to visit and follow, bringing newcomers and business for local companies.

So, if you want to be involved at any level, watch this space. I’ll also be looking to gather memories and photos from those who have them at home to go into the exhibition and on the Heritage Trail. We may even be able to publish your memories in a guide or book. With Walton Hall Park facing cuts due to the Government’s austerity programme this potential Community Dig could help us to keep the history of Walton alive in OUR park.

Get in touch via 0151 226 3406 or email us at danielr@standrewslive.org.uk.

We’re looking for local groups and people of all ages to get involved in the Walton Hall Park Community Dig, You can help by either digging or helping to catalogue what we find. We are also interested in your memories and photos of Walton Hall Park through the ages.

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www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

GUEST BLOG MY COMMUNITY, MY VOICE, MY NEWSPAPER

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i, I’m Emma, and I’m a 20-year-old A-Level student, studying Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy.

My passion is people.

They intrigue me, from the free loving social activists and Human Rights advocates such as Malala; a young Pakistani girl who spoke out against the Taliban, and demanded that women deserve an education - to the fascist dictators like Hitler and Putin and, who knows, maybe even Trump? People range in all kinds of ways, from their looks, to their ability, to their beliefs, and this I find fascinating.

My main concern is happiness, I want the people to be happy, but how do I achieve my goal?

I’m filled with ideologies of world peace, eradication of poverty and a fair and equal chance for all. However, my ideological beliefs are far from reality.

With war, and conflict, corruption and greed, how can we make the world big enough for us all? My guess, is education, if we can educate people, inspire people, teach people the art of understanding, then maybe we can learn to live with and love each other.

This year on the 7th of November, MyClubmoor

aided me in attending an event called ‘Scribble fest’. Cartwheel Arts publishes Scribble (a creative writing and arts magazine) as a platform for writers. I was lucky enough to attend ‘Scribble Fest’, which was an eye opening and inspiring event for me. The event was filled with like-minded people; there was common interest for the promotion of community cohesion, and the wellbeing and mental health of individuals.

feels to be told to ‘go back home to India’ when your home is really in London, how it feels to be told that as an actress the part you are most fitted to play is a terrorist’s wife, how it feels to always tick ‘Other’ on forms, what it’s like to feel like you always have to be an ambassador for your race, and how it is that a child of colour openly says in a classroom that ‘stories can only be about white children’?..

Attending the event were some truly phenomenal people, including Len Grant (writer, photographer, sketcher) who refers to himself as a “storyteller”. Len helps raise awareness of social issues and social exclusion. He gave us a taste of his self-made online blogs “Her first Year” and “Billy and Rolonde”, although he has much more self-published work. The stories of a daily routine of survival, which are expressed throughout his work, are filled with heartbreaking situations which help me to realise the privilege I’m faced with, and really gave me the motivation I needed to achieve my dream of being a journalist.

Attending Scribble Fest was a really good opportunity for me to meet and talk with people in professional fields and gain an insight into the world of journalism in which I am beginning to enter. I realise that I can be a medium for expression of important issues in society which are often ignored or overlooked, and hopefully by working with each other and with the help of the community we can create change for the better. I have MyClubmoor to thank for this amazing experience and I hope in the future I can be of some help not only to MyClubmoor but mostly to the individuals of the community!

The editor of a newly published novel ‘The Good Immigrant’ also attended and gave a speech with his main concern being institutional racism, and racism in wider a society. Something which is to me, often looked at through rose-tinted glasses.

The book focuses on issues such as; how it

Emma will be volunteering on the MyClubmoor Newspaper as part of the new creative team of volunteers, if you would like to be involved we have our first meeting on 30th January at 10:00am at Norris Green Library.

MEET THE MYCLUBMOOR TEAM DAN RYDER (LEFT): MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS APPRENTICE

EDWIN PINK (RIGHT): MYCLUBMOOR PROGRAMME MANAGER

Hello! My name is Daniel Ryder.

When I started my apprenticeship at MyClubmoor, I didn’t really understand how you could be so passionate about a community. But, working here and meeting so many lovely people has given me the drive to make our area a better place.

After freelancing across the North West, I am pleased to be working back in my community of Liverpool again.

I have previously worked with Lianne in Clubmoor – she volunteered me (the way Lianne does) to be the Vice Chair of Clubmoor Youth. I have also worked in some of the sheltered housing schemes in the area.

I oversee most of our social media platforms, so you may see me walking around taking pictures or tweeting at events. I love my job, there is such a wide variety of what I do – from dog shows, to writing our newspaper.

Community can be a misused word, one that often refers to other people. We are part of our community and we all need each other. MyClubmoor is here to help the people of Clubmoor.

LIANNE MCGINNES (CENTRE): MYCLUBMOOR FACILITATOR For the last three years I have been the MyClubmoor facilitator. I am at the heart of MyClubmoor, putting together events, supporting the community, and helping local people get their business ideas off the ground.

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www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

GROUPS IN CLUBMOOR ANIKI KARATE GROUP

AIM (AUTISM IN MOTION) Well, I was instantly gripped by the nature of the sport. I began training five nights a week.

I practiced consistently, and eventually in 2007 I went on two life changing trips to Sweden and Japan. Now, I go to Japan twice a year and train people of all ages.

I am very grateful for how far karate has taken me and improved the lives of others.

WHEN DID YOU START ANIKI? In 2009 I decided to branch out and develop Aniki. A combination of the public service cuts and increased room hire fees made my first twelve months extremely difficult.

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amion Wood is a karate instructor in Clubmoor. His group, Aniki (Japanese for ‘older brother’) is based at St Andrew’s Church every Monday and Thursday between 7-9pm. We spoke to him and two of his students about martial arts and how they got involved with karate.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN KARATE? WERE THERE ANY KEY MOTIVATORS FOR YOU? It started in school. I got bullied from primary to secondary school, so my experience was extremely negative.

During this time in my life I didn’t have a role model, mentor or anybody I could turn to. This was when I stumbled across an advertisement for South Lark Lane Karate Group. I needed a positive outlet, have something to focus on and take my mind off the things that bothered me.

WHAT MADE YOU REALISE YOU WERE PASSIONATE TOWARDS KARATE?

I realised I had to think outside the box to make things a success. I began to meet up with students at various gyms, and started a new session at Clubmoor’s St Andrew’s Church.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE YOU WANT TO PORTRAY? Karate was instrumental in changing my path. I want to teach young people that there are ways to find strength and keep on moving forward.

I encourage people of all abilities and all ages to give karate a go. Habits can be hard to break, but throwing yourself into something unfamiliar helps promote values, respect and discipline.

WHAT HAS KARATE BROUGHT TO YOU? Karate has brought me a lifetime of opportunities and achievements. I have won my fair share of medals and trophies.

My proudest moment was this year, when I had the honour of being inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

Above all, I have met amazing people on my journey and I’ve shared invaluable experiences around the world.

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o Galbraith and Hannah Tickle first met on a parent course at Norris Green Children’s Centre. Jo’s son Daniel and Hannah’s son Max both have autism, and Jo had not long ago given birth to Scarlett, who also has additional needs.

They formed a bond immediately, and found solace in meeting for regular coffee mornings. Jo was struggling to cope, and there didn’t seem to be any support groups available to them in the area. Both Jo and Hannah acknowledged that they needed extra support, but there simply wasn’t any available. That was when they decided to start their own.

Autism in Motion (AIM) was born through an immediate need for autism-related support in North Liverpool.

Officially opening in August 2016, Jo and Hannah have worked tirelessly to set up a company that empowers one parent at a time. MyClubmoor’s SOUP event played a big part in the initial idea stages. They would attend events, meet the community, and continue to build their network.

AIM helps children with autism and their parents have a positive social life. However, it’s not just all about being out and about. Both Jo and Hannah recognised the importance of both children and parents supporting each other and sharing knowledge. It’s always best, after all, to talk to somebody who has been through a similar situation.

Activities are at the heart of everything AIM does. They participate in regular sports - mainly football - and ensure that every child gets a chance at playing. AIM now runs its own football team with Liverpool County FA, and disabilitytrained coach, Mark Horlick. The football session is held every Thursday at Walton Park between 4-5pm.

AIM lead a variety of workshops that parents and children can both get involved with. For example, every week at St Philomena’s Church on Sparrow Hall Lane, parents meet to share advice, and participate in a different activity each week. In the past, this has included meditation and yoga.

A highlight of AIM’s journey was their fun day at Walton Park. Organised by Jo, the main aim was to raise money for Redbridge and Family Fund (a charity where parents of children living with disabilities can apply for a grant). The event was a great success. Local boxers The Smith Brothers boxed on the day, and the AIM children participated in a football match with TOWIE star, Jake Hall.

AIM offer a range of activities, including football (with a tournament once a month), swimming lessons and fun session, dance classes and boxing classes. They are also setting up a monthly film night and tea night at Frankie and Benny’s.

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If you would like to find out more about AIM, you can contact Jo or Hannah on 07872444652. They are based at Centec Business Centre, Stopgate Lane L9 6AW. You can also visit their website at www.aimautism.com.

www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

COMMUNITY BLOGS CAROL’S BLOG

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he last few months have been very, very busy and very, very productive. Over the summer we had the Dog Show - once more a huge success with everyone who attended and enjoyed by dogs, kids and adults alike.

We also had our allotment challenge, with more people participating than last year. New to us this year we ran a Summer Roadshow alongside St Andrews Community Network. There were games for the kids, bike repairs for adults and kids, and free breakfast and lunch for all who attended. St Andrew’s had debt advisors on hand, as well as people from the foodbank and their wellbeing team, who were all there to give the community a helping hand.

I was there a few days doing arts and crafts, and I had a few ladies from my craft MC Start who also went along. We attended both days of the Walton Show, meeting more people and getting the word out about how fabulous Clubmoor is.

WHY I BLOG, BY SIMON HUTHWAITE Scouse competition held by some of our local schools. Scrummy Scouse for me to taste is always a bonus!

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As well as all of this I became a new grandma. I’ve been blessed with a beautiful granddaughter who is quickly becoming the centre of all our lives at home. Of course, this means I’m spending time in different places around Clubmoor - places more babyoriented.

When I started I was not aware of the awesome work My Clubmoor has been and continues to do. It has been a real pleasure to get to know and work alongside Lianne, Dan and now Ed as they develop the work. I have been really inspired by the way they have engaged with our community and look forward to working ever more closely with them over the coming months and years.

My daughter and I have started attending Mustard Seeds on a Wednesday morning at St Andrews, and from there we are able to find out about what other parents are doing.

It’s been really interesting to discover that there’s a lot more happening now, and a lot more support now, than was available for me when my kids were little. The Children’s Centres are a wealth of information and help – absolutely invaluable.

I have read and enjoyed blogs since they became a regular feature of how people engage with social media back in the mid-noughties. They are fun to read, and allow people to express their true opinions. They are therefore subjective, and this is perhaps part of their appeal.

So that’s been my summer: fun but busy, just the way I like it.

I blog about my life (surely the point!) and this means the predominant subject matters are fishing and climbing. I make no apologies for that as they are things I am passionate about, that I have a lot of experience in and that I find easy to write about. No point in making the process harder that it needs to be!

We had another SOUP event and we had a

WHY I WRITE MY BLOG BY CAROL WILSON

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hy do I write a blog? Recently, I was asked this question by the office team.

They challenged me to write a piece explaining why I continue to write my blog every issue.

There are many reasons why I choose to write for each edition of MyClubmoor, but mostly it’s because I just really enjoy it. I’ve always kept a journal at home, and to me this blog is an extension of that.

The only real difference between my blog and personal diary is that here I’m writing about what I’ve been up to in Clubmoor, whereas in my journal I’m writing about what I get up to outside of Clubmoor as well. Before you ask, yes, there are enough hours in the day to be such a busy bee and still be able to write all about it.

y name is Simon Huthwaite, I have been in post as the operations manager for St Andrew’s Community Network for nearly 6 months now, I am settled in and very much enjoying my role.

I am someone who enjoys sharing my thoughts and the blog helps me to do that. Sometimes just writing it helps me to see the good in the people around me that I might miss otherwise, and sometimes it just helps me realise that what I thought was a horrible day actually wasn’t and that not everything that happened was sent to try my patience.

Other times it reminds me that Clubmoor is actually a great big family, and that like all families we have good relatives and bad: Cool aunties and potty uncles. Clubmoor is just like that – filled to the brim with family. So that’s basically why I write my blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Meet up at the library.

I enjoy social media and being a fairly gregarious person, writing my own blog was probably a natural progression.

Starting to write a blog also coincided with a period in my work life that allowed a bit more flexibility than I currently have, and thus gave me access to the major commodity of a successful blog: time!

I enjoy writing and I enjoy people interacting and reacting to my writing. I also enjoy photography and despite being a complete novice, have been lucky enough to capture some decent images in my time. Having a blog is a good outlet for these. I suppose there is an element of “look at me” in blog writing, but I’m fine with that.

One unexpected outcome of writing the blog has been that I have uncovered a lot of information that wasn’t well known and has resulted in some of the blog posts becoming a real resource that is used by people! This has transcended my original reasons and thinking around my writing. This also came with some unexpected pressure to make sure information is correct!

Now I just need to find some time to get some of the drafts finished and published…

If you’re interested, here is a link to my blog - http://fatneckwrites.blogspot. co.uk/

This newspaper is now nine years old. What do you like about it? What would you change? Would you prefer to read it on the internet? Do we even need a newspaper in this day and age? We will be meeting at Norris Green library on 30th January from 10:00am. ring us your ideas about MyClubmoor, the area or what you think the future hol

address: norris green library, townsend ave, liverpool l11 5af. date: 30th January. time: 10:00am. no experience is required - we just need your ideas!

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www.myclubmoor.org.uk

Issue No. 09

HAVE YOURSELF A YUMMY’S SCOUSE CHRISTMAS 12PM-3PM 25 DECEMBER

COME TO A FREE CHRISTMAS ROAST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE SPENDS CHRISTMAS ALONE. YUMMY’S IS A PROJECT FOR THOSE ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY, AT ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, ADSHEAD ROAD, CLUBMOOR, L13 OAL.

INTERESTED? YOU DO NEED TO BOOK YOU CAN ALSO HELP OUT, OR NOMINATE PEOPLE TO ATTEND

GET IN TOUCH TO BOOK YOUR PLACE YOU CAN RING ST ANDREW’S COMMUNITY NETWORK ON 0151 226 3406 AND ASK FOR LIANNE, DROP US AN EMAIL AT LIANNE@STANDREWSLIVE.ORG.UK OR CONTACT US VIA FACEBOOK (MYCLUBMOOR1) OR TWITTER (@MYCLUBMOOR)

GET INVOLVED & HAVE YOUR SAY There are many ways you can get involved and have your say on the local area...

MyClubmoor relies on volunteers to help deliver projects and events.You can contact us at:

VOLUNTEERING: At events and projects

MyClubmoor, St Andrew’s Community Network Roscoe Primary School, Ballantyne Road Entrance Clubmoor, Liverpool, L13 9AL

NEWSPAPER: Stories, writing and journalism EVENTS: Running a stall, setting up and stewarding UNLTD AWARDS: Could you be the recipient of our next “TRY IT” or “DO IT” award.

0151 226 3406 info@myclubmoor.org.uk www.myclubmoor.org.uk

COMMENT SLIP We would love to know what you think about the publication! Is there anything you particularly like or dislike? Is there anything you would like us to include?

Simply fill in the form, cut it out and drop it off at: MyClubmoor St Andrew’s Community Network, Roscoe Primary School, Ballantyne Road Entrance, Clubmoor, Liverpool, L13 9AL. 0151 226 3406 info@myclubmoor.org.uk www.myclubmoor.org.uk

MyClubmoor1 @MyClubmoor

NAME ADDRESS COMMENTS

MyClubmoor1 @MyClubmoor