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 An Enchanting New Play About 
a Bear and a Butterfly for Children 
  
THE Atkinson presents Theatre 
Hullabaloo and Theatre by the Lake's new show as part of their annual festival 
Kidsfest. 
 
One day, Bear's life changes forever when, deep in the branches of the tree he 
hears the munching and a crunching of a bright green Caterpillar. 
 
Bear and Caterpillar soon become the best of friends, Caterpillar munching 
happily through tales of Bear's younger life catching fish, raising cubs and 
being big, strong and fierce. 
 
But one day Caterpillar stops munching and looks sick. Bear cares for his friend 
and lays him on a pile of dry leaves, promising him that he'll get better soon. 
Bear fears he will lose his friend but, as if by magic, Caterpillar grows and 
stretches and from the leaves emerges a beautiful butterfly. Can Bear come to 
terms with this new version of his friend who flies high above the trees and has 
stories of his own? 
 
Written by Annie McCourt, based on an original story by Gordon Poad the 
production combines puppetry, live music and beautiful storytelling in this 
charming tale about love, loss and friendship, for ages 4+ and their families. 
 
Bear and Butterfly can be seen on Monday, 26 October 2015, at 2.30pm. It is part 
of The Atkinson's 3 for 2 on Children's Theatre Offers this season. Book for 3 
different shows and get the third free! 
 
The Atkinson would like to thank its media sponsors:- 
MumsInTheKnow.Co.UK for their support. 
 
Kidsfest takes place every year during October ½ Term. 
It is a chance for The Atkinson to showcase its leading offer for families 
across the Museum, Galleries, Theatre, Library and free arts and craft 
activities. 
 
Don't forget to visit the Bakery during October as we launch our new children's 
menu. The menu has been designed with our younger audience in mind by our new 
chef. 
 
Bear and Butterfly tickets are £8 (£6 children / £24 family) and are available 
online at:- 
TheAtkinson.Co.UK  or by calling the 
Box Office on:- 01704 533333. They are also available over the counter during 
The Atkinson opening hours. 
 
Cost:- £1 donation to Teenage Cancer Trust 
* Please be advised that there is a £1 per 
ticket booking fee for telephone and online sales and 50p per ticket charge for 
over the counter sales. 
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	 More support for armed 
	forces veterans  
	LIVERPOOL City  Council is set to 
	bid for funding to provide more support for armed forces veterans in the 
	City.
	A report to the cabinet meeting on 2 October recommends that an application 
	be made to the government's 'Covenant Fund' for funding to help former 
	servicemen and women into employment and, in particular, setting up their 
	own businesses. And, if successful, the funding will also be used to develop 
	a programme to help veterans who have ended up in prison.
	These are among a number of measures aimed at supporting former service 
	personnel and strengthening the City's reputation as a forces friendly City. 
	In March 2012 Liverpool became the 1st area to sign a 
	'Community Covenant', 
	encouraging local communities to support the armed forces and promoting 
	public understanding and awareness.
	Now the  Council is being recommended to sign a 'Corporate Covenant' to 
	demonstrate Liverpool's continued support to the armed forces community and 
	show its commitment through a number of measures which ensure that no 
	service personnel are disadvantaged.
	Since signing the 'Community Covenant' a number of initiatives, arranged by 
	the Making It Happen Veterans Group established by the  Council, have been 
	introduced. These include:- 
	► Establishing the Liverpool Veterans HQ , 
	the 1st pop in shop of its type in the Country. 
	►  
	Revising the housing waiting list criteria 
	to ensure retiring service personnel are not disadvantaged if they have 
	served outside the City. 
	►  A dedicated addiction centre for veterans. 
	►  Setting up the 
	1st GP referral protocol 
	in the Country. 
	►  Piloting of the veterans in custody 
	programme. 
	However, it is recognised that issues 
	facing veterans about employment and enterprise could be improved, 
	especially in relation to business start ups and skilled employment in areas 
	such as technology and construction. 
	 It is being proposed that more support is given to veterans to acquire 
	skills, knowledge, and expertise through training programmes and help them 
	explore self employment which could see a minimum of 400 people looking to 
	start up businesses over the next 3 years and more than 1600 other 
	people benefitting from the training. 
	 
	It is intended that X-Forces a social enterprise which provides services to 
	the military community will deliver the programme.  
	 
	It is also being proposed to employ a manager for the Veterans in Custody 
	Programme. Nearly 13% of the prison population are ex-service personnel. A 
	pilot project has been developed with HMP Liverpool to support their 
	families and it is now being proposed to expand the programme so every 
	veteran in custody has a peer mentor. 
	 
	A bid is to be made for £500,000 over three years from the Covenant Fund, 
	established by the government to fund these programmes with the  
	Council 
	making a £50,000 contribution to the employment programme.
	Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said:- "Liverpool has always fully 
	supported the armed forces. We recognise the debt our City and Country owes 
	to these men and women. 
	We were the first  Council in the Country to sign the Community Covenant and 
	backed that up with practical actions such as the establishment of the 
	centre in Breck Road which provides advice and help on issues such as 
	housing, education and jobs.  We are going to sign the Corporate 
	Covenant as a public demonstration of our continued support for the armed 
	forces and make service personnel aware that they will receive help in 
	practical ways.  But we also want to build on what we have already 
	delivered. There are issues over employment and a major way we can help deal 
	with these is supporting some veterans into self-employment, not only is it 
	good for them as individuals, but new start up businesses are a great boost 
	to the City's economy. And unfortunately, a disproportionate number of 
	former service personnel find themselves in prison, for whatever reason. We 
	are looking to support their families and help in their rehabilitation.  
	Hopefully our bid to the Covenant Fund will be successful so we can expand 
	the ways we help former service men and women."  |