The Karl Vella Group donated £100 to the Skelmersdale Steven Mitchell Intermediates Football League which enabled it to buy a new trophy, The Karl Vella Cup, which teams will play for annually.

The league was set up by retired policeman Ian Gregson and youth worker Andy Wright in memory of Steven Mitchell, who died two years ago in a car accident in Bickerstaffe.

The league bridges the gap between youngsters’ and open age teams, as there was previously nothing set up in the area to enable teenagers to continue playing competitively after their 15^th birthday.

Ian said: “We are delighted with the support we’ve had from the Karl Vella Group. In the beginning, it was difficult to get things off the ground and we have relied solely on voluntary donations from individuals, organisations like Tawd Vale Lions who provided us with nets and local businesses like the Karl Vella Group.

“We’ve now got six teams in the Under 18s league and eight teams in the Under 16s, and we are looking at joining them up next year to make a league of 14.

“We’re also hoping to have a presentation evening at Skelmersdale United later in the year.”

David Vella, Group Operations Director at the Karl Vella Group, said: “As a company, we take our responsibilities to the local community very seriously, which is why we have supported a number of local voluntary organisations over the years, such as Tanhouse Morris Dancers, the Artz Academy, West Lancs Girls Football League and now Skelmersdale Steven Mitchell Intermediates Football League.

“We wish Ian and the league all the very best and of course look forward to seeing who lifts the Karl Vella Cup for the first time!”

Andy Stafford, who works as a spray paint technician a Karl Vella Autobody Repairs onCemetery Road, is entering both the HellRunner and Tough Guy competitions later this year – both of them in the same month.

The 26-year-old, who has worked for Karl Vella for five years, is a veteran of fitness competitions having raised £1,200 for Queenscourt by competing in the Great North Run. But these two events are destined to push him to the limit.

Set over a 10 mile stretch, the HellRunner is over a multi-terrain course inDelamereForest,Cheshire, where there will be everything from running tracks and trails to water-filled areas and plenty of steep hills.

Andy will then turn his attention to the Tough Guy competition, an eight mile assault course inYorkshireand is billed as “the safest, most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world”.

Andy, a former pupil atLinakerPrimary School, said: “I was in the Territorial Army for five years so am used to these sorts of challenges. I like to keep fit anyway and go running regularly so am looking forward to them.

“It’s a case of mind over matter, your legs want you to stop but your mind will be telling you to keep going.

“I keep thinking I must be mad for agreeing to do these two events both in the same month but Queenscourt is such a good cause, it has helped so many families in Southport and I just want to do my bit and help them.”

The competitions will be taking place this November but Andy is starting his fundraising now.  If you want to sponsor Andy, please contact him through Karl Vella Southport on 0844 2646000.

The Group, which has a site on Gillibrands Industrial Estate, has told Justine Greening MP that allowing cars to have a test just once every two years would see more dangerous cars on the road, cost jobs and hit drivers harder in the long run.

There’s also plans to exempt all pre-1960 manufactured vehicles from the statutory MOT test altogether.

Karl Vella MBE, Managing Director, said: “We have big concerns about what the Government is planning.

“Whilst it is true that cars are now generally safer than they were when MOTs were first introduced, faults can develop over a 12 month period, and they need to be brought to the owner’s attention.

“Newer vehicles, just like older vehicles, need to have regular checks because they are prone to ‘teething problems’.

“Leaving it 24 months could turn a relatively simple issue to fix into a more complicated one, and that will hit motorists in the pocket.

“As a business, we’re also concerned about how this may affect jobs in the industry, an industry which as many people will know has had a tough time in the past few years.

“The Government needs to think very carefully about the implications of changing the regularity of MOT tests and not do anything which could see more vehicles driving round with serious faults on them.”

Emma Fawcett and Dean Fawcett, who manage County Coachbuilders Automotive Ltd, part of the Karl Vella Group, on Park Road, Barrow-in-Furness, also run Deemon Dance Studios next door, with many former students/teachers going on to star in the West End.

They have now invited some of those who have made it big back to Barrow for a special production called ‘For One Night Only’. Among those who have agreed to take part include , ex-Deemon teacher Jack Hawitt, starred in the musical We Will Rock You – a part he landed after auditioning in front of Queen guitarist Brian May and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips.

The date of the show is February 11^th – almost one year to the day sinceCountyCoachbuilders was taken over by the Karl Vella Group, a move which secured jobs at the site.

Emma, a former Head Girl atWalneySchool, and Dean, who went toBarrowTechnicalSchool, have worked atCountyCoachbuildersfor 7 years and 29 years respectively and started up Deemon around 14 years ago.

Emma said: “We are really looking to seeing many of our old students/teachers for the show. We are really proud of the work we have done over the years and wanted to pool our resources and raise some money for St Mary’s.”

Dean, a trained musican, added: “St Mary’s does invaluable work in caring for people, providing specialist medical and nursing care.”

“St Mary’s is an independent, charitable and voluntary body so anything we can do to help enable them to continue this good work, we will do.”

Dave Culshaw, a vehicle technician at Karl Vella Autobody Repairs onCemetery Road, will abseil off Lord Anglesey’s monument in aid of the Myasthenia Gravis Association (MGA).

Myasthenia Gravis is a disease which appears to the sufferer to weaken the muscles. It is a disorder of the junction between the nerve and the muscle, caused by the body’s immune system attacking a vital part of this junction – this impairs the ability of the nerve to cause muscle contraction, and hence produces the apparent weakness.

The cause of this auto-immune reaction is not yet known.

Dave, a former Stanley High pupil, has worked at Karl Vella for more than 15 years, and plays the cornet in Marshside Brass Band.

He became aware of the Association after the wife of one of his friends was diagnosed with the condition.

“Myasthenia Gravis is a cruel disease which affects the face in the same way a stroke might,” said Dave.

“I know someone whose wife is affected by it, so that spurred me on to help raise funds for MGA. They are a small organisation so every penny raised helps.

“I’m quite looking forward to the abseil; it’s nothing something you can train for but heights don’t really bother me anyway – which is just as well because at almost 30 metres high, it’ll be quite a leap.”

The abseil will take place on July 1. If you want to sponsor Dave please contact him through Karl Vella Southport on 0844 2646000.

Their names were drawn from the hat after entering the autobody repair company’s free prize draw last week at the Skelmersdale store.

Representatives from the Karl Vella Group have been at the store for the past two weeks, giving shoppers tips on how to stay safe on the roads during the icy weather. As part of the offer, customers were offered the chance to win a £50 voucher.

The winners, announced on Saturday, are:

• Debbie Newby, from Old Skelmersdale
• Jo Hodge, from Tanhouse
• Diane Watson, from Birch Green
• Neil Bennett, from Up Holland
• Paul Walsh, from Old Skelmersdale

David Vella, Group Operations Director for the Karl Vella Group, said: “We were delighted to be able to give this early Christmas present to Debbie, Jo, Diane, Neil and Paul. Hopefully, it’ll pay for their turkey and maybe a few bottles of something nice for them!

“The whole point of us being in Asda was to give shoppers tips on how to stay safe on the roads this winter. We saw some snow in West Lancashire at the end of last week after what has been quite a mild month compared with last year.

“We want people to stay safe on the roads both during Christmas and throughout the year.”

The Karl Vella Group was set up by Karl Vella MBE in Southport in 1986. In the past 25 years, the Group has expanded and, as well as the Southport site, has sites in Skelmersdale, Preston, Blackburn and Barrow.

In 2008, the Karl Vella Group became the first multi-site accident repair chain in the North of England to be awarded the Thatcham BSI Kitemark for vehicle body repair across all sites, and Managing Director Karl Vella remains involved in developing the standard today.

The Group is committed to supporting local organisations and, in the past year, as part of its 25 years in business celebrated, has given support to West Lancs Girls Football League, Skem Athletic AFC, Tanhouse Morris Dancers, The Artz Academy as well as Blackburn Lions, Rotary and Round Table.

The Group, which has its headquarters on Gillibrands Industrial Estate, has donated £1,000 to The Artz Academy.

Headed by experienced Skelmersdale arts director Mark Ashton, The Artz Academy helps budding actors, singers and artists hone their skills and is backed by a number of tutors and coaches, including former X-Factor contestant Steph Woods, from Skelmersdale.

Among the opportunities it provides includes specialist drama training, expert vocal workshops, community theatre, street performance, theatre productions and TV casting opportunities.

This is just the latest in a series of cash boosts to local organisations. Earlier this year, the Karl Vella Group provided cash support for Skelmersdale Athletic AFC, Tanhouse Morris Dancers and announced it had become main sponsors of the West Lancashire Girls Football League.

David Vella, Group Operations Director for the Karl Vella Group, said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Artz Academy. As a local business celebrating 25 years, we are committed to working alongside community organisations to help them provide opportunities for young people in Skelmersdale and across West Lancashire.”

Mark Ashton, Director of The Artz Academy, said: “We are very grateful for the backing of the Karl Vella Group. It is good to see successful local businesses putting something back into the local community.

“We’re very lucky at The Artz Academy to have a team of dedicated and trained staff who have the drive and ambition to help young people and give them the support they need to reach their true potential.”

The Artz Academy is currently preparing its debut production and is on the look-out for cast members.  If you are between the ages of four and 17 and have an interest in performing, contact Mark Ashton 07761639155 or email Mark on mark.ashton@artznorthwest.com

David Vella, Group Operations Director, said: “This year we are celebrating our 25th year in business but this award proves we are not sitting on our laurels and living on past successes, we are looking ahead to the future with confidence. “In the past 12 months, we have acquired a new site in Barrow, Cumbria, through the acquisition of County Coachbuilders Automotive which saved 27 jobs on that site. We have also invested substantial amounts in equipment and training across our Merseyside and Lancashire sites, and diversified by doing more retail work.

“This has meant that we have been able to keep people on without having to go down to a three day week, something which I know other companies both inside and outside our industry have had to do.”

It’s been a busy year for the Karl Vella Group, which started out in 1986 with its owner, Karl Vella MBE, with just one employee and a garage in Southport. Since then, the Group has expanded to sites in Skelmersdale, Blackburn, Preston and latterly Barrow, as well as retaining its site in Southport. It is an active supporter of local community groups and has provided financial assistance to a range of community groups in the areas where it operates, including stepping in to save Blackburn Lions, Rotary and Round Table’s annual November 5 bonfire event, as well as becoming the main sponsor of the West Lancashire Girls Football League. Recently, Karl coached young Ross Varnam, 21, of Leicester, to silver at the WorldSkills championships in London.

David concluded: “The financial climate is tough at the moment but we believe that by investing, we are sowing the seeds for growth now and in the years to come.”