Wirral Council

🥁Football fans we present to you...the Niamh Charles Pitch! Named after local Lioness Niamh Charles, this new £1.1m 3G floodlit pitch is based at Bidston Sports and Activity Centre. The Chelsea and England defender, who grew up in Wirral, returned home to unveil the new project, which has seen investment from the council, the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation. As well as boosting budding talent, the new pitch will create an inclusive and welcoming place to play for women and girls who have been inspired by the Lionesses’ success. It will be home to two partner clubs - Poulton Victoria FC, and Oxton Ladies - with both teams playing and training on it. They'll be joined, at weekends, by the Cheshire Girls League. And the pitch is also available for casual or block bookings for Wirral football teams. If you’re interested, see the comments.

We recently held our first One Council Staff Celebration to shine a spotlight on staff making a real difference. We celebrated staff working with young people to help them reach their full potential, teams working in partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour, and those working tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver services smoothly. There were so many inspiring examples of staff going above and beyond to deliver for our residents and communities. So congratulations to all our winners, as well as those who were shortlisted and nominated. The work you do is so important and appreciated! This was a key milestone on our cultural journey, helping us create an organisation where staff feel valued and empowered to do their best work. If you're looking for a new role in 2025, search for jobs on the council website - some great vacancies await you!

Residents danced the afternoon away in Wallasey Town Hall this week as the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Cherry Povall, hosted the annual Christmas tea dance to raise funds for local charities. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored places, or helped out on the day. And special thanks to in Bromborough for donating the beautiful Christmas tree.

Congrats to our climate emergency team! 🏆

As 2024 comes to a close, we celebrate all the hard work that local school children and staff have put in to encourage friends and families to choose healthier ways to travel to and from school. 🚲🚶♀️🛴 27 local schools have achieved Modeshift accreditation, meaning they are actively encouraging walking, cycling, and wheeling to school as well as putting things in place to make it an easier choice for families. A big congratulations to the latest schools earning this recognition! 🎉 🏆 With these latest awards, 22% of Wirral schools are now accredited and we’re proud to rank 4th among all large councils nationwide.

There is still time to have your say on the improvements proposed for Duke Street, Birkenhead. The proposals are in line with the council's Active Travel Strategy and include: 🚧 New pedestrian crossings at the busy Price Street junction 🚧 Installation of 'wand' lane markers 🚧 An extension of double-yellow lines The scheme, if approved, will be funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund. Tap the link in comments to take part..

✨ A new CCTV van and two new hybrid cars will support efforts to tackle crime and promote safety in Woodchurch, Noctorum, and Beechwood. It's part of the EVOLVE Wirral initiative, and the new van features artwork by Woodchurch C of E Primary School pupils. 🏆 Congrats to competition winner Mia and runners-up Abigail and Sebastiaan for their inspiring designs, now proudly displayed. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, these vehicles aim to restore pride and safety in our communities.

NOMINATIONS OPEN! The Zillo Youth Awards celebrate the incredible things that Wirral’s young people do, with nine categories: Planet protector 🌍 Community star ⭐ Animal ally 🐈 Creative spark ✨ Flourish award 🌻 Change maker 👊 Kindness champion ❤️ Sports hero 💪 Above and beyond award 🚀 Anyone aged 11-19 - or up to 25 for people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - who lives in Wirral is eligible. Nominations close on 17 January 2025 and can be made on the Zillo website (see first comment).

Give your unused sports kit a new lease of life! Kit Link is a new recycling scheme for sports equipment and clothing. Donations are distributed to adults and children across Wirral who may not be able to access sports and physical activity because of the cost of clothing and equipment - and reduces waste at the same time. So if you're having a clear out before Christmas, and you've got sports kit, equipment, exercise clothing or footwear you're no longer using, head down to one of our leisure centres. Your donation could be the first step on someone else's fitness journey. Donation points can be found at all Active Wirral leisure centres, golf courses and Wirral Watersports Centre. You can find out more about Kit Link by following the link in comments.

It’s impossible not to notice the town centre regeneration programmes taking place in Birkenhead right now, which is all part of building a brighter future for the area, residents and visitors. But with Christmas fast approaching, here’s a quick reminder that our local high streets are very much open for business with a festive warm welcome guaranteed! The Pyramids, Birkenhead Market and our bustling high streets have a range of big names as well as local independents – perfect for present ideas galore as well as picking up some bargains. So don’t forget all the brilliant options on waiting on your doorstep. Shop local, support our retailers, and get yourself down to CH41 today! 🎄🎁 Plus – check out the festive events happening at Birkenhead Market this weekend, with free fairground rides, children’s craft activities and an appearance by Father Christmas. It’s the perfect way to entertain the children while doing some shopping at the same time. 🎅🛍️