General News

What is climate change? And why is it an issue?

Swansway Motor Group sponsors local charities. Recently, Swansway Motor Group has been proud to support many local charities after being given grants from Cheshire Community Fund and their 'ForCheshireWest Fund'. They have split the funds across many single charities across Cheshire to make the most meaningful difference. David Smith (the director of Swansway Motor Group) has talked about how he believes that supporting local charities is important and it is at the heart of his family-owned business. In his words he said, 'Supporting charities close to home means we're helping causes that really matter to our colleagues and customers.' By donating locally, they can see the difference they are making every day.

Before Christmas, Maggie and I had the opportunity to watch the Fireflies Choir perform at Trinity Methodist Church. The choir performed a series of different Christmas songs, but also pop songs.

Local charity, Blades Down, founded by Danni Adams, is campaigning for first aid training to become part of the national secondary school curriculum. With many accidents, young people can't help because they leave school with no first aid training, and as a result, people suffer before paramedics can arrive. This highlights the need for first aid training and the reason they are launching the campaign (First Aid Saves Futures).Founder of Blades Down, Danni Adams, says that she works with many young people daily and that even if they want to help, they can't because they don't know what to do. I believe that teaching first aid is an essential skill in life and should be taught to everyone.The campaign has already received strong support locally from people such as Councillor Kris Fischer and Councillor Peter Wheeler. Also the Mayor of Ellesmere Port has pledged to help with this campaign and believes it is a great thing. Mayor Katie Kendrick OBE has also chosen Blades Down as one of her three chosen charities.First aid brings together many, like parents, schools, emergency services and youth organisations. If you want to support the campaign, then you are encouraged to sign the public petition and share your experiences with the hashtag #FirstAidSavesFutures.Alongside this campaign, Blades Down are continuing to deliver free awareness to schools and youth clubs while working with key charities like Gloves Not Gangs.

Recently, the Labour Party has chosen Kris Fisher to become the newest representative for the local council. We have interviewed Kris to find out more; here is everything you need to know.As a councillor, his role is to make sure that our voices are heard and to represent us as a community.Day to day, Kris helps to solve problems of the local residents and works with the council to improve services such as road safety, transport, street care and community safety. Kris also loves to spend lots of time at committees and getting involved with hands-on community projects.Kris is really looking forward to improving some of our local services and strengthening community engagement. On a more festive note, he was really excited for the Mayor's Ellesmere Port Christmas Light Switch On, which is a fantastic event where the community kicks off the festive season together in style. The mayor of Ellesmere Port switched on the lights on the 28th of November, and later that evening school children paraded through the streets with their Christmas lanterns.The parade included the Queen of Light puppet and many other characters, all created by the artist Russel Kirk. Schools that participated were Brookside Primary, Cambridge Road, Sutton Green Primary, Christchurch and Wolverham Primary. There was also festive activities happening between 4 and 6pm which included live entertainment, free rides and free refreshments, but most importantly, Father Christmas.Back to Kris, he found out that he had been chosen by a phone call from one of his fellow Labour representatives that he had got the role. The process involved an interview and much discussion on who would be best for the role, but eventually they landed on him because he is from the local area and they thought he would be a great fit. Now he does find it quite difficult to balance all his responsibilities and not get too much free time; however, he really enjoys his job, so it is all worth it!Currently, he is feeling a whole roller coaster of emotions at the moment, like excitement and appreciation. He is aware of the responsibility that lies on him now, but he feels it is a great privilege to serve and respect the community he loves. He's really looking forward to making the most out of this great opportunity.Thank you for reading, and I hope you have learnt all about Kris Fisher!

I’m sure you’ve all heard the cacophony that arises the second the number 6-7 is muttered by the youth (and embarrassing parents alike), but what does it actually mean? To be frank, it’s a nonsensical slang term, popularised by Gen Alpha, that has little to no fixed meaning.It’s recognised for its ability to connect people through the closeness of inside jokes shared across a generation, spreading quickly despite the lack of clear meaning. The term originated from a 2024 song, “Doot Doot (6-7)”, by drill rap artist Skrilla, who has stated the numbers have no meaning.The song had gained popularity through basketball edits of a player, LaMelo Ball, who is 6 feet and 7 inches tall, and spread significantly after a video of a teenage boy screaming “six seven” with a specific hand gesture during a game went viral. Rapidly, it has spread through social media and solidified in the ever-expanding gallery of absurd ‘brain-rot’ phenomena.The 6-7 meme’s appeal is largely due to its lack of concrete meaning and has resulted in references used in brand promotions and even an episode of South Park, reflecting Gen Alpha’s influence on internet culture.

Most kids spend their weekends glued to their screens, but 12-year-old Marley Houghton has different plans. The Ellesmere Port schoolboy spends most of his time at Groves Fishery in Chester. Marley had started fishing four or five months ago, when he fell in love with it, and it became his new hobby. The young fisherman says he enjoys fishing as it 'improves mental health', which is an important topic to him.

The day has come, commencing the best week of the year for nerds worldwide. From the 6th of October until the 10th, each day holds an exciting announcement for lovers of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, economics and, of course, peace.So far, the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was revealed on Monday, awarded to Mary Bruno, Fred Ramsdell and Simon Sakaguchi for their discoveries about peripheral immune tolerance, identifying the immune system’s security guards, regulatory T cells, and laying the foundation for a new field of research.The Nobel Prize in Physics was revealed today, given to John Clarke, Michel Devore and John Martinis for “experiments that revealed quantum physics in action”, helping pave the way for future development of digital technology.Tomorrow, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry is being revealed at 10:45 am, followed by the Literature Prize at 12 pm on Thursday, the Peace Prize at 10 am on Friday and finally, the Economics Prize at 10:45 am on Monday, the 13th.To be able to watch the prize announcements live, you can follow the link below:

Now that we are entering the colder, duller months of the year, this is where so many people will lose hope. With Y11's doing November mocks, the neverending struggle for Christmas present money and, worst of all, the gloom in the sky, it's most important that we band together to fight off this sadness and look for the little things that brighten your day.Multiple studies have shown that thinking positively boosts our mental health, leading to better emotional control, resilience and overall better well-being! This lets us have a more fulfilling life, allowing us to remember how much our thoughts and feelings shape the world. Especially our own. As people, it's better to be optimistic for the future because we all have a purpose, even if you haven't found it yet. More benefits include:• Reduced stress and anxiety• Enhanced creativity• Improved mood• Increased confidence and self-esteem• And so much more...Exploring positive thinking, I've found it greatly changes our brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin keep us healthy and running. Research has found that studying the psychology of positivity and understanding optimism helps us cope better, meaning we improve our mental well-being by a lot! The brain can change its structure based on repeated thoughts, which scientists call neuroplasticity, meaning if we keep having those positive emotions, they become easier to access over time.Humans are meant to be an emotional species; it's in our blood. So, when we contain all the negative emotions for a long period, it affects us deeply. This is why we need more smiles, more hugs and more happiness. It fuels us. Especially when the leaves fall and the sky gets filled with frost every other second.Even in the darkest months, we can be the sunshine for ourselves and those around us. After all, positivity is one of the few things that grows the more we share it.

There are many types of mayors, but in Ellesmere Port we have a town mayor. A town mayor's job is to chair council meetings, represent the borough at national and international functions and visit events organised by local charities and community groups. A town mayor is elected every four years, with the last election being in 2023, using the 'first past the post' system. To vote, you must be eligible to vote in local elections.

The theme for 2025's Black History Month is "Standing Firm In Power And Pride", something that represents individuals reclaiming their identity and celebrating their strength, but how can you do that?1. Educate yourself:Appreciate the works of literature by Black authors, or research impactful Black historical figures through exploring films, documentaries or other pieces of media!2. Attend events:Local museums, libraries, and community centres – these are all locations that may host a Black History expedition or celebration!3. Uplift others:Support your local businesses and restaurants by donating or volunteering your time at Black-led charities or by advocating for equality. Make everyone feel safe and welcomed in your community!4. Engage with culture and history:Explore art and music from different eras and enjoy performances by local groups. Try cooking African or Caribbean recipes to expand your culinary tastes, or even start your own "Lunch & learn" session with local speakers!Try any of these, not only this month, but all year round! Black history is an ongoing part of human history and should be celebrated beyond BHM, but we should take this time in particular to remember the strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black leaders.'Standing firm in power and pride means embracing that fullness. It means walking into every space knowing that pride is not conditional, and power is not performative. They are ours by right, carried within us, carried forward by us.' - Patric Okumi

A councillor's primary role is to represent their ward or division and the people who live in it. A councillor's responsibilities can include: representing the ward for which they are elected, decision-making and helping to develop council policies. Every year, a councillor is elected to serve as the mayor (an article is forthcoming on the election process), and they are responsible for their ward and the borough. Councillors listen to the people of their ward and bring their concerns to the cabinet, which then shapes government policies.