IN BRIEF
MUCH LOVED COMMUNITY HALL LAUNCHES MAJOR FUNDRAISING DRIVE
BROMBOROUGH BUSINESSWOMAN TO FEATURE IN CHARITY FILM
A much loved community hall has launched a fundraising drive to ensure everyone can continue to have access to its facilities .
Heswall Hall has unveiled its Give Us a Lift campaign which aims to raise £ 13,000 to buy a new lift so that anyone - wheelchair users , those with mobility issues or additional needs - can take part in all aspects of community life there .
The Hall ’ s current lift is old and at constant risk of breaking down .
“ We are a charity and totally self-funding but we ’ ve never done any fundraising on this scale before ” said Chair of the Board of Trustees , Karen Griffith .
" We know how much our Hall is valued by the community . There is so much on here every week , from regular classes to a community cinema afternoon , live music and comedy nights as well as private functions and parties . We want to make sure that everyone can enjoy everything that ' s on offer . But to do that we need a reliable lift - our current one is beyond repair .”
Now the Hall is encouraging the Heswall community to get behind the campaign . A JustGiving page has been set up for donations with UK taxpayers able to boost donations by 25 % by applying for gift aid : https :// www . justgiving . com / campaign / need-a-lift
Supporters can also tap-and-go using a debit card to donate while in the Hall . Look out too for purple collection buckets around the building . And local businesses are being encouraged to contribute . Charitable contributions are classified as business expenses by HMRC . Jane Tucker from local care home Trepassey knows better than most how important the Hall and what it offers is to the community and how crucial a working lift is . “ Our residents love coming to the free matinee cinema at Heswall Hall . It ’ s such a great afternoon out and we ’ re always treated so well . But we have increasing numbers of wheelchair users who rely on the lift to get them in and out of the room . I would encourage everyone to donate to this campaign - we are a community here in Heswall and accessibility is vital for everyone .”
Heswall Hall is a registered charity and receives no council funding . It is managed by a board of trustees and supported by a small group of professional staff and volunteers . The Hall was opened more than 50 years ago but was transferred to the community 12 years ago .
A businesswoman from the Wirral is to star in a special charity film with seventeen celebrities from film , TV , music and sport .
This includes BAFTA-nominee Julie Hesmondhalgh , Great British Menu host Andi Oliver , After Life star Kerry Godliman , and former EastEnders actor Maisie Smith . The film has been produced by Merseyside charity Causeway to raise awareness of modern slavery .
It is estimated that over 50 million people worldwide are currently trapped in modern slavery and exploitation , with over 100,000 of those in the UK . Survivors in the UK will most commonly have experienced labour exploitation , sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation .
Now Bromborough-based Tracey Fisher MBE , is teaming up with famous faces from stage and screen to feature in a film for the Merseyside modern slavery charity Causeway . Tracey is President of The Insurance Institute of Liverpool , and Archive and Historic Records Director at RSA Insurance . She is the first female to have been appointed twice into the position at The Insurance Institute of Liverpool , and was awarded an MBE in the 2012 Queen ' s New Year ' s Honours List for services to young people through the Duke of Edinburgh ' s Award .
The film is part of Causeway ’ s new campaign called Stand With Survivors , which aims to increase awareness around modern slavery , and educate the public about the signs to look out for which indicate somebody may be experiencing it . Appearing alongside Tracey in the film are BAFTA-nominee and Mr Bates vs the Post Office actor Julie Hesmondhalgh , chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver , stand-up comedian and After Life star Kerry Godliman , and Call the Midwife actor Cliff Parisi . Also involved are Fantastic Beasts ’ Derek Riddell , EastEnders ’ Maisie Smith , The Last Kingdom ‘ s Jacob Dudman , Coronation Street ‘ s Shelley King , and RuPaul ’ s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard .
Earlier this year , Tracey selected Causeway as The Insurance Institute of Liverpool ’ s charity of the year . Tracey has had someone close to her severely affected by child criminal exploitation , a form of modern slavery , and is determined to support the reduction of modern slavery within her community . In March next year , Tracey will be hosting a fundraising gala dinner at Liverpool ’ s Titanic Hotel , with all money raised being donated to Causeway .
6 wirrallife . com