City to become 'charity capital' Liverpool hosts appeal.

Byline: TINA MILES

INTERNATIONAL development charity World Vision has launched a Big Bus of Generosity campaign to champion Liverpool as the UK's most generous city.

World Vision has chosen Liverpool to host their Sponsor A Child appeal this month.

Matt Wenham, World Vision acquisition manager, said sponsorship enables the charity to work in partnership with communities to help them improve their quality of life.

He said: "Liverpool is a city that is well-known and highly respected all around the world, so for World Vision, Liverpool is a hugely important and significant city. Once at the helm of Britain's maritime superpower, it was Liverpool that reached out to link Britain to countries around the wor ld.

"Now we're asking for the people of Liverpool to reach out again, this time to children and families in Ethiopia."

Lydiate Primary School, near Maghull, is continuing to fundraise for World Vision after it was named the charity's Liverpool school ambassador to set an example to other establishments.

Gillian Marsden, assistant headteacher, said: "We have been involved with World Vision for the past 20 years. We started off with one child and then because of the success of the collections we took on another child and we now sponsor three children, two in Ethiopia and one in Burma.

"It is very interesting for the children, it encourages them to think about children who are less fortunate than themselves and they also learn about other countries."

World Vision is challenging people in Liver pool to give 60p a day and change the lives of children living in Banja, Ethiopia.

One of the highlights of the three-week Capital of Generosity drive will be the Big Bus of Generosity.

Actors-turned radio presenters Matt Littler and Darren Jeffries were expected to begin yesterday's act of generosity by cleaning up Liver pool's much-loved landmarks.

CAPTION(S):

Cherry Class, at Lydiate Primary School, with Ellie Lloyd pictured at the front