Recent Releases

Help to get online

More and more of Knowsley Council’s services are available online.

Why are more of our services moving online?

It is true that more of Knowsley Council’s services are moving online – and this is a good thing!

You can still access our services by phone or by using a computer at a Knowsley library to report issues, order items or obtain information.

How can you reach us online?

Online chat

Knowsley Council uses online chat, which means one of our experienced Customer Services advisors can help customers complete their enquiry online. This is becoming more and more popular with our residents.

Online services

We have developed a dedicated Knowsley Council Online Services portal that can do many things including:

• Applying for a school place
• Applying for a Blue Badge
• Paying your Council Tax
• Applying for benefits
• Making a planning application
• Asking for a new bin or for your bin to be repaired
• Booking a bulky waste collection
• Booking a Registrar Office appointment (for things like births and weddings)
• Booking a pest control appointment
• Reporting many issues including dog waste, fly-tipping, litter, noise problems, road problems and traffic light problems

We are proud of our online chat and online services; it helps free up the Customer Services advisors to help you deal with problems that are more complex or help you every step of the way if you or someone you know is vulnerable.

Why does this benefit you a Knowsley resident and Knowsley Council itself?

The benefits of being online and doing more things online are:

• Staying connected to family and friends
• Saving money
• Learning new skills
• Registering and using online services, including NHS services
• Getting quicker responses back

We know that being online and doing things online isn’t for everyone – that’s why this page has been set up so you can get advice and information about going online, and finding out who to speak to who can help.

Where can you find help?

Knowsley Libraries have PC’s available for you to use, and people who can help you to get online.

As more and more services move online and the world is becoming more ‘digital’. It is becoming increasingly important that everyone has the right skills to be able to successfully navigate the digital world. The Library Service can help you get online by sharing our digital knowledge to get you started on your digital journey. So, if you are a complete beginner, or need some more advice support then we are here to help in a variety of ways.

Digital Help – Yourlibrary Knowsley

If you would like a Free digital 1-2-1 support session, please click on the link below and fill in the form.

Digital Support Form

Find your local library:
Halewood Library, Huyton Library, Kirkby Library, Prescot Library, Stockbridge Village Library – 0151 443 3734 then choose option 1 for Halewood, 2 for Huyton, 3 for Kirkby, 4 for Prescot or 5 for Stockbridge Village

How can you find out more about learning or improving your online skills?

There are plenty of organisations and places to learn online skills or improve online skills:

• Knowsley FACE
• Learn My Way
• Knowsley Community College
• Age UK

How can you stay safe online?

It is just as important to keep your information safe online as you would in normal everyday life.

Knowsley Council has created some helpful advice.

We also recommend the useful Age UK guide to Staying Safe Online.

There is also a helpful website called Get Safe Online.

What do certain words mean when describing actions online?

We know it is annoying and confusing when companies or people describe actions online and use words that seem to make no sense at all!

We recommend reading the Get Safe Online Jargon Buster.

Where can you access the internet in Knowsley?

All libraries in Knowsley have free Wi-Fi and have computers that you can access. Why not join a Knowsley library?

Remember – when you register for a Knowsley Council Online Services account you only need to register once. Your information will then automatically appear each time you log in to your account. You can access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Every service all in one place, with one password – easy!

Register and sign into Knowsley Council Online Services

Digital photo service for Blue Badge applications

If you’re applying for a Blue Badge, but find it difficult to provide a digital image, Knowsley’s libraries are here to help.

The Blue Badge scheme is for people who have a disability or hidden disability to make it easier for them to travel.

This branch is now offering a free digital photograph service for Blue Badge applicants who have no access to provide a digital image.

No appointment is necessary, you just need to bring proof of ID such as a valid driving licence, passport, or current Council Tax/utility bill.

If you need more support to complete a Blue Badge application, you can contact the council in a number of ways. You can:

1. Chat to an Online Advisor – start a chat at gov.uk/online-services. Advisors are available Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm, except on Wednesdays, when the hours are 9am until 4pm.
2. Telephone – call 0151 489 6000. Our Customer Services Team is available Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm with the exception of Wednesday which is 9am until 4pm.

Face to face –please call 0151 489 6000 to discuss arranging an appointment.

Find out more about how to apply for a Blue Badge here

Need support with the cost-of-living crisis?

You can find a wealth of information online, from how to access food through to mental health support, debt management and meals on a budget:

https://www.knowsleynews.co.uk/cost-of-living-support/

Alternatively, you can call 0151 443 3300, use our online chat facility or pop in to one of our local libraires.

Cost of living support

We know that the extra costs of food and essentials and the rising domestic energy prices are adding significant pressures to household budgets for many people in Knowsley.

But there is help and support available to help you with essentials such as food, help with energy costs (prepayment and credit meters).

As well as the support outlined below, Knowsley Council has allocated funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund to provide food vouchers to pupils who have been means tested and are in receipt of free school meals. This will fund the October, December, February and April school holidays, providing support to over 8,500 pupils.

Vulnerable residents who are being supporting through the council’s Adult Social Care or Children’s Services teams are also receiving bespoke support aligned to their identified needs.

Help with food

Food is available to Knowsley residents through:

• Knowsley Foodbank – either by obtaining a referral voucher from a partner (including GPs or Citizens Advice), or by calling the Knowsley Food Support line on 0151 538 8243. View a list of their distribution centres.
• Through a network of community partners working with the council through the Knowsley Better Together Hardship Fund. Contact details, opening hours and further detail of these individual offers can be found by visiting the Knowsley Better Together Hardship Fund page on the council’s website.

The food offer is available across the borough as follows:

• Halewood – Torrington Drive Community Association, St Nicholas and St Marys Church
• Huyton – Swanside Community Centre, Incredible Edibles, Homestart, HIYA
• Kirkby – Southdene Community Centre, Centre 63
• Stockbridge – Stockbridge Tenants Forum
• Prescot – Al’s Arc, FOESP (Friends of Eaton Street Park)
• Borough-wide sites – Knowsley Foodbank, Flourish and Succeed

Residents in need can access any of these services.  Many partners also run a social supermarket, or food club which offers food and essentials to residents at reduced prices, helping to keep the cost of the weekly shop down.  Where residents are struggling to afford to use these options, these partners can provide food for free.

Discounted food shops

A number of discounted food shops, offering a range of food and household essentials at significantly reduced prices, are available at:

Centre 63, Old Hall Lane in Kirkby – open Wednesdays 10am to 2pm.

Torrington Drive Community Association, New Hutte Community Centre, Lichfield Road in Halewood – open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Stockbridge Community Hub, Unit 2, Leach Croft in Stockbridge Village – open Tuesdays 12noon to 2pm.

The Park Pantry Community Food Hub, The Pavillion, Eaton Street in Prescot – open Wednesdays 11am to 2pm.

Community Food Hub at Court Hey Park, Huyton – Incredible Edible run a Community Food Hub from Court Hey Park in Huyton offering discounted food as well as home grown vegetables. Call in on Tuesdays from 12pm until 2pm or Fridays from 11am until 2pm.

There are lots of ways that you can contact the Council – many from the comfort of your own home or your local Library.

If you need to contact Knowsley Council, you can do so easily online by visiting knowsley.gov.uk/online-services. Online services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are a range of services you can contact us about online including applying for a school place, applying for a Blue Badge, paying your Council Tax, applying for benefits, making a planning application, requesting a new bin or for your bin to be repaired, booking a bulky waste collection, booking a Registrar Office appointment, booking a pest control appointment and reporting issues such as dog fouling, fly-tipping, litter, noise problems, road and traffic light issues.