FIRST aid training, a medical loan service and other help for the community will now be provided for St Helens and Knowsley from a former public house premises, to be opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside on Friday, April 16.

British Red Cross Merseyside Branch has identified the need to bring its services to the heart of communities through district offices.

Members of the public will now be able to access Red Cross services from a new delivery and training centre at 31 Earle Street, Earlestown, the site of the former Prince of Wales Hotel.

The new British Red Cross Centre has been partly funded by the National Lottery Charities Board. As well as first aid training, it will provide a meeting place for Red Cross Centre volunteers, a conference room, a control centre for any district emergency response necessary, as well as extra services such as the specialist skin camouflage service.

Administrator Kath Hart commented" "I am delighted to be involved with the new centre in Newton. The siting of the premises will make our services more easily accessible to vulnerable people throughout the St Helens and Knowsley areas."

Additional funding has been provided by Littlewoods Organisation and Manweb to provide wheelchairs for medical loan.

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