IN BRIEF
THE NEW WINTER ATTRACTION COMING TO ST HELENS AHEAD OF CHRISTMAS
LIVERPOOL SEAFARERS CENTRE REOPENS AND LAUNCHES CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Ecumenical charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre ( LSC ) is launching its Christmas 2021 appeal as it opens the doors of its centres in Crosby and Eastham for the first time since the Covid pandemic struck in March 2020 .
LSC chief executive John Wilson says the charity is aiming to give gifts to more than 1,000 seafarers visiting Merseyside ports during the festive period .
An outdoor ice-rink will be set up in St Helens in the run up to Christmas .
The attraction will be on the former Chalon Way multi-storey car park site in Foundry Street – which was recently demolished as part of regeneration plans .
St Helens Council says the artificial ice rink forms part of a " winter experience " which will also see the area used as a drive-in cinema , which will show showing a range of Christmas classics .
The space will also host a variety of other attractions such as an arts and crafts tipi lodge .
The aim is to attract families into the town centre to support the local economy in the run up to Christmas .
The ice rink is due to launch on Thursday , December 2 and will be available to book every Thursday to Sunday up until Thursday , December 23 costing £ 5 for a 30-minute skate .
Council chiefs say the Foundry Street site will be used as an entertainment venue as a temporary measure . Last month the local authority confirmed it was seeking a box park operator to set up an attraction there .
Box parks are made up of shopping containers which house a mix of food and retail operators . They have proved popular in areas such as London and Manchester .
For ice rink and cinema bookings , visit : https :// www . eventbrite . co . uk / o / st-helens-winter-experience-37608669673
The gifts will be distributed to ships calling at Merseyside ports during Christmas as well as ships docking earlier in December which will be at sea during the festive holiday .
Mr Wilson also confirmed LSC is planning to stage its annual seafarer Christmas Eve Mass in the chapel at its Crosby headquarters . It will be the first Mass for more than 18 months celebrated by the ecumenical charity .
He urged donors to give new gifts and ‘ give generously ’ to the men and women who have kept Britain supplied during the pandemic , often enduring extended contracts over eight months as they struggled to return home because of travel restrictions .
Mr Wilson appealed for new electrical items such as PlayStations , laptops , iPhones and headphones as well as warm new clothes , books , DVDs , toiletries , chocolate and puzzles . He said cash donations could be made , which LSC will then use to buy goods on donors ’ behalf .
He said : “ Seafarers are still at the front line of Covid . Shore leave is often not allowed , or seafarers are afraid to leave the ship for risk of catching Covid . Vaccine availability is patchy and even when it is offered the paperwork showing they have received the vaccine is not always accepted around the world . We urge supporters of seafarers to give generously this year , seafarer centres like ours are often the main form of support offered to seafarers doing their job around the world .”
For further information on LSC ' s work and to donate gifts Tel : 0300 800 8085 visit : 20 Crosby Road South , Liverpool , Merseyside L22 1RQ Email : admin @ Liverpoolseafarerscentre . org
Donate via website : www . liverpoolseafarerscentre . org LSC as a registered charity , is reliant on donations to continue its work .
12 merseylife . com