Southport youngsters invited to celebrate languages

SCHOOL pupils from Southport are being invited to take part in a multilingual poetry competition backed by champion boxer Amir Khan. Mother Tongue Other Tongue aims to encourage children who don't speak English at home to celebrate their mother tongue, while at the same time providing an exciting opportunity for native English speakers to learn a 2nd language.  The competition, which is run by Manchester Metropolitan University and Routes Into Languages, takes the form of a series of regional competitions, which will be split into 2 parts.  "Mother Tongue" will see children who do not have English as a first language write about what a lullaby, poem or song in their native language means to them, while as part of "Other Tongue" pupils will create an original poem in a 2nd language that they are learning at school.  The competitions will be open to school pupils aged 8 to 18 from England, Scotland and Wales. Regions within each country will run their own versions of the project, which will be launched throughout the year, with a major national celebration to be held in June.

Launching this year's competition, Amir Khan said:- "I would have loved to have entered a competition like this, because it would have given me the chance to learn a little bit more about my mother tongue. Speaking another language, some people might feel shy about it, but they shouldn't – they should have confidence and be able to talk about what other languages they speak. I think it's definitely going to boost everyone's confidence by having this competition."

The competition was first thought up by the Poet Laureate, Dame Carol Ann Duffy, in 2013. Carol Ann is also the Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School at MMU.   "The competition is a unique opportunity for pupils whose first language is not English and those learning another language at school to showcase their creative and linguistic talents and to have their work published in an anthology." she said.

The project is run by Manchester Metropolitan University and Routes into Languages, in partnership with The Poetry Society, Scottish CILT, The Poetry Book Society and the Poetry Translation Centre.  Dr Sharon Handley, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of Routes into Languages North West, said:- "Mother Tongue Other Tongue is a very exciting and innovative project. It celebrates the linguistic diversity and the creative potential of pupils within our schools.   It is the result of a unique collaboration between Routes into Languages and our Writing School: languages and creative writing. The Poet Laureate, Dame Carol Ann Duffy, has made it into a Laureate Education project and it has already inspired over 10,000 pupils to join in.  I am delighted to see how it has been embraced by schools and to hear the very positive comments about the way it raises confidence and aspirations."

Yasmin Hussain, Project Manager, Routes into Languages North West said of the competition:- "Mother Tongue Other Tongue is a fantastic project. The competition is unique as it allows pupils to use their bilingualism creatively. The project has allowed pupils to explore their multiple identities through culture, poetry and language. Being multilingual has many advantages and it's great that pupils learn to value this early on in their lives.  Each year the project has gone from strength to strength. We look forward to making this a trans-national project and celebrating multilingualism through poetry and culture."

Entries are now open, and schools can find out more from:- MM.AC.UK/mtot.

Michael McDonough sentenced to 6 years imprisonment after targeting elderly people

MICHAEL McDonough was sentenced on Friday, 10 February 2015, at Liverpool Crown Court, following a series of burglaries and fraud offences targeting elderly people. The 55 years old, who comes from Dingle in Liverpool, was sentenced to a total of 6 years imprisonment for 2 counts of burglary and 3 counts of fraud. A further 17 offences of burglary and fraud were identified and taken into consideration.   On 6 December 2014, McDonough called at an address of an 88 year old woman to advise her that she needed some tiles replaced on her roof and quoted her £184 for the repairs. A deposit of £60 was paid and agreed on the basis that the work would be completed 2 days later. Later that same evening, McDonough returned to the address requesting that the balance be paid in full. The victim had become suspicious and advised him that she had called the Police. He then stepped inside the premises and entered the living room and took her purse from her handbag. She managed to get hold of her handbag and struggled with McDonough who left the address empty handed. Then 4 days later, on Friday, 12 December 2014, he called at an address of a 73 year old woman, in Bootle, purporting to have been sent by her landlord and that she needed roof repair work. She gave McDonough £40 to carry out the repairs, but the work was never done. McDonough later targeted an address in Litherland, on 17 December 2014, telling the 84 year old home owner that she needed some of her roof tiles replacing and a price of £30 was agreed. McDonough then asked the woman for some water and followed her into the house and then asked her to get him a bucket. While she went to the garage to get one, he went into her living room and took £1,600 and a bank book.   Detective Sergeant John Fitzgerald from Sefton CID said:- "Targeting elderly people in their home is a contemptible crime. It's very reassuring that this sentence protects vulnerable victims from such a prolific spree of crimes and recognises the seriousness and significant impact that this type of offence has not only on the victim, but on the community too. I would like to take this opportunity to urge people to take some simple and easy to remember precautions when someone they don't know knocks on their door. These type of offenders rely on tricking their way into your home, either by asking to use a toilet, posing as someone official or, as in this case, putting you under pressure to agree to repair works on your home. Simply to not let anyone into your home who you do not know and never agree to any building or repair works by a complete stranger who knocks on your door. Always use a reputable company and, if you are in doubt, speak to a relative or friend to help you or take advice from Trading Standards." Anyone who does have information about crime in their area can call Police on the Non-Emergency Number:- 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.