Women jump to it for causes close to home
and the Operator of Last Resort (OLR), which could lead to services being brought into direct government control and run by the OLR.
Giving evidence to the Commons’ Transport Select Committee, he said the level of performance on the Northern network ‘cannot continue.’
He went on: “I entirely believe we cannot carry on just thinking it’s OK for trains not to arrive or Sunday services not being in place. That simply has to change.”
Northern has previously admitted it will continue to use outdated Pacer trains next year, despite a pledge to replace them by the end of 2019.
German-based Arriva holds the franchise until March 2025, but the operator has been under fire in recent years due to widespread disruption.
The chaotic introduction of new timetables in May 2018 saw up to 310 trains a day cancelled.
Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, repeatedly called for Northern to be stripped of its franchise.
Mr Burnham said:
“After months of misery it is a relief for us to hear Government finally accept what we’ve been saying.”
ASOUTHPORT woman, sister and daughter have jumped out of a plane at 15,000ft together to raise money for each of their charities.
Alison Marshall, 43, chair of Woodvale Community Centre, and her daughter Elle Marshall, 19, a student at Edge Hill University, took the dive on Saturday in Flookburgh in Cumbria along with Alison’s sister and co-founder of Restored charity, Mandy Marshall, aged 49.
The idea was daughter Elle’s as the trio were trying to come up with different ways to raise money for both Woodvale Community centre and the Restored charity.
Alison and Elle had never experienced anything like this before but were encouraged by Mandy who is more of an adrenaline junkie and has raised funds before with activities like wingwalking.
Alison said: “It was so nervewracking. One of our instructors had a problem with his parachute 8,300 feet up and had to jump out. He got to the ground ok but if it was me I would have rather have sorted that out on the ground!
“We got higher than the clouds and the door opened and it was just white mist. I had a moment when the door opened of ‘what am I doing?’ but then once you’re out it’s absolutely unreal.
“We were freefalling at around 120pmh and the views were amazing. I managed to notice Blackpool and Windermere!”
The three had a bit of a muddy landing but everything was fine. Mandy jumped last in order to encourage Alison to go first followed by her daughter Elle.
Mandy said: “I think
Elle would do it again but don’t think Alison will! I try to lead by example so I was looking for something new to raise money for Restored and have done activities like climbing Kilimanjaro, running the London Marathon and abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower. It’s about raising awareness too.”
Mandy is the co-director of Restored, an international
Christian Alliance working to transform relationships and end violence against women. So far she has raised £1,340 for Restored through the skydive.
Mandy said: “We are a small and phenomenal charity that has achieved an amazing amount on a small budget and every penny counts and will go towards the charity and training resources. It’s about training churches to recognise signs of abuse and how places of faith respond.
“This year we launched the Handbook for Female Christian Survivors of Domestic Abuse and we want to continue to distribute this handbook to survivors of abuse to enable women to take the first steps to freedom.
“We talk to men also and engage them to make a stand and join in with women in ending violence against women.”
Alison raised over £1,000 for Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association which has a centre on Meadow Lane and a Recreation Centre on Orchard Lane.
WACA provides a wide variety of activities promoting healthy lifestyles and works to combat social isolation and loneliness. It also provides support for local people by providing a safe, welcoming place to meet.
Elle raised over £330 for both charities, splitting funds 50/50.
Alison said: “I would like to thank everyone that has sponsored Elle and I, they are the real heroes, we just had to fall out of the sky gracefully.”
To donate to Alison’s page, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlisonMarshall12.
To donate to Elle’s page, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving. com/ElleMarshall
To donate to Mandy’s page, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MandyMarshall.
A video of the skydive can be found at the Woodvale Centre Facebook page. Half term activity days include Button Canvas Craft on October 28, Origami on October 29 and Woodland Day on November 1.