Awards recognise ‘amazing’ contribution made by Lincolnshire’s foster carers

Stuart Pearcey
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Awards recognise ‘amazing’ contribution made by Lincolnshire’s foster carers

Lincolnshire’s fostering community has come together to celebrate those whose efforts have made a life-changing difference to children in care.

During the ceremony, over 70 local foster carers received awards, with some being recognised for 25 years of service. In addition, there were special recognition awards for those who have made an extraordinary contribution. The opportunity was also taken to welcome new carers to the fostering community. Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services, said: “Our foster carers do an amazing job looking after the county’s most vulnerable children and the annual awards are a way of saying thank you. “That so many people deserved to be recognised for their contribution underlines just how strong the fostering community is in Lincolnshire. However, there’s always a need for new people to come forward. “Being a foster carer can be challenging, but it’s also hugely rewarding. Foster carers often speak of a sense of pride in seeing the child develop and flourish, and, in terms of practicalities, there is a fostering allowance as well as additional support and training. “So, if you think you could make a life-changing difference to a child in need, please get in touch.” Lincolnshire has a diverse fostering community. Each application to foster is considered on an individual basis and you can be a foster carer regardless of your marital status, sexuality, employment status, ethnicity, or religion. However, you do need to have a spare bedroom for a child or young person to use. If you think you could foster a child and would like to know more, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fostering. You can also get in touch with the Lincolnshire fostering service by calling 01522 554114.

Coronation will be screened live at Lincoln Castle, with free entry

Stuart Pearcey
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Coronation will be screened live at Lincoln Castle, with free entry
Throughout the bank holiday weekend, the grounds of Lincoln Castle grounds will be free to enter, with a big screen showing the events, live entertainment, fairground attractions, and food and drink vendors. On Saturday 6 May BBC coverage of the coronation itself will be screened live, then on Sunday 7 May, there’s to be The Coronation Big Lunch. Visitors can bring a picnic or pick up something from Barney’s Churros, Pie-O-Neers or the on-site café. There’s also drinks on offer from a special horsebox bar provided by the Cocktail Gift Shop on Steep Hill. On Sunday evening, the grounds will reopen from 7pm for the screening of the Coronation Concert live from Windsor Castle. A free ticket is required for this event – available here: www.lincolncastle.com/events. On Monday 8 May, it’s the Big Help Out and our own volunteer group, Friends of Lincoln Castle, will be showcasing their volunteering opportunities and giving visitors the chance to ‘try before they apply’. Stephanie Beecher, events officer at Lincoln Castle, said: “Lincoln Castle is often described as ‘the jewel in Lincoln’s crown’, so what better place to celebrate the crowning of our new monarch! “Over the last few years, the castle grounds have become a space for the community to gather and mark these big national events – from cheering on England in the Euro final, to commemorating the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. We’re continuing that tradition and welcoming residents and visitors to soak in the atmosphere at Lincoln Castle for the coronation this May.” Plan your visit to Lincoln Castle at www.lincolncastle.com. Entry to the grounds is free. Charges apply for the fairground rides, medieval wall walk, Victorian prison and Magna Carta.

Stamford welcomes a new Poet Laureate

Tess Egginton
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Stamford welcomes a new Poet Laureate
A new Stamford Poet Laureate is in place following a competition at Stamford Arts Centre. Emily Dickens is the new holder of the title, with Aiden Surridge and Abbie Blair chosen as joint Youth Laureates for the year. Performance poet Emily said: “This is a huge honour and I am so grateful that I get to grow and take care of the poetry and arts scene in Stamford. “I’m looking forward to watching the community grow so that the rest of the country can see what we have to offer.” Emily believes strongly in the diversity of voices and would like to see more women and LGBTQ+ groups at local poetry sessions, sharing their unique perspectives of the world. A crowd of more than 50 watched as the finalists took part in a live reading for a panel of judges, which comprised Stamford Deputy Mayor Andy Croft; SKDC Arts Programme Officer Karen Burrows; and outgoing Poet Laureate Scott Coe with inaugural Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Paice. The Stamford Youth Laureate post was jointly awarded to share across the year. Aiden and Abbie will work closely with Stamford Arts Centre and Stamford Town Hall to support the popular local poetry scene. Aiden, from Stamford, has been involved with the Arts Centre’s regular Pint of Poetry evenings since he was 13. He read his poem, The Way She Swims. He said: “I feel honoured being Youth Poet Laureate as it’s a big opportunity for me to showcase how diverse poetry can be.” Abbie, who is currently sitting A-levels, hails from Peterborough and read her composition, Hope. She said: “I am incredibly thankful to be chosen to be a Youth Poet Laureate and I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with other writers to help encourage the growth of poetry within the local area.” Outgoing Laureate Scott Coe said: “It’s been an amazing year and I am proud to have carried out my duties and humbled by the response I’ve received. “It wouldn’t have been possible without support from Karen Burrows and all the staff at Stamford Arts Centre – and also everyone at Stamford Town Council. “There has also been support from Stamford Diversity Group and MindSpace, both of which I continue working with; I am proud to support the great work that both organisations do for everyone locally. “Thanks for the support of all the local poets and artists who I’ve interacted with and also the public who it’s been a pleasure to interact with during my time. I would like to thank our inaugural Youth Laureate Daniel Paice; it’s been a pleasure working alongside him and I wish him great success in his future endeavours.” The Arts Centre, which is run by SKDC, proactively supports poets from across the District with regular poetry and spoken word events. Most recently, the current national Poet Laureate Simon Armitage visited for a special evening of poetry.

North Kesteven’s rural firms encouraged to explore growth grant potential

Tess Egginton
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Expressions of interest are open for a capital grant scheme which will help rural businesses in North Kesteven invest in sustainable growth. The Rural Business Grant is specifically aimed at supporting new and existing rural businesses to develop products, services and facilities of wider benefit to the local economy. Possible examples include farm businesses looking to diversify income streams, growth in the visitor economy including visitor accommodation, and investments in power or energy efficiency which will make a positive contribution to the District reaching net zero. The grant is being delivered by North Kesteven District Council for DEFRA, under the Rural England Prosperity Fund. The first window for Expressions of Interest is open from now until Thursday 1 June. Digital Expression of Interest forms can be found online at www.businessnk.co.uk There’ll then be a first call for full applications, and this will take place when the Expressions of Interest window has closed. North Kesteven District Council Economic Development Manager Alan Gray said: “We’re inviting rural businesses in North Kesteven to register their interest now in the Rural Business Grant, if they have a project they think may be eligible. “These early indications will allow our grants team to make initial assessments of eligibility and provide help where needed from the start, including ensuring applicants are given the time and support necessary to refine and develop investments in line with the objectives of the Rural England Prosperity Fund and meet the various requirements for evidence. “It will also help ensure that proper consideration is given to projects that may require planning permission, or any additional funding or legal matters which need to be concluded within the time frame set out for the delivery of projects.” The minimum grant available through the Rural Business Grant is £5,000, and depending on the project and investment needed applicants may be required to provide match funding. The Rural Business Grant will run until all funds have been awarded, and all projects must be deliverable before 31 March 2025. Full details on eligibility criteria are available with the Expressions of Interest form online. North Kesteven’s Rural England Prosperity Fund allocation is an addendum to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to help support rural areas in England and the two Levelling Up Fund missions of improving living standards and growing pride of place. The Rural Business Grant has received £450,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Council applies to High Court over Scampton future

Tess Egginton
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Council applies to High Court over Scampton future
Work to safeguard the future of RAF Scampton and protect plans to deliver a £300 million investment and regeneration scheme on the site, continues. West Lindsey District Council has applied to the High Court for Judicial Review of the decision to utilise the site for asylum accommodation. The application to the High Court also seeks urgent consideration of interim relief to prevent the Home Office developing the site whilst the Judicial Review proceedings are ongoing. Director of Planning Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, Sally Grindrod-Smith, said: “The Council does not take lightly this application for Judicial Review. However, given the impact of the Home Office plans on our £300 million investment, we have been left with no choice.” The Judicial Review seeks to challenge the decision made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Council believes that the Secretary of State has acted unlawfully by failing properly to take account of key material considerations in relation to the site. Equally, the Council challenges the Government’s decision to rely upon temporary permitted development rights when the intended use of the site extends beyond the temporary period of permission. Sally continued: “The Council considers the Home Office has not adequately assessed local factors in determining to use RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation. In particular the local planning context should have been a material consideration in any site selection exercise and we have received no assurance that this has been the case. “We do not believe it is appropriate to rely upon temporary permitted development rights when it is clear that the site would be used for longer than any temporary permission would allow.” The Council has followed all government processes in making its expression of interest to acquire the site from the Ministry of Defence and in the preparation of the site-specific policy within the adopted Central Lincolnshire Local Plan. It can not be acceptable that a process with any less rigour is followed by the government when making decisions regarding the future of a key strategic site, says the Council. The urgent nature of the application for interim relief as part of the Judicial Review will mean that this is prioritised by the High Court. If interim relief is not granted the Council will press for the Judicial Review to be heard as soon as possible. “We continue to work with our colleagues in other affected areas to assess and understand any impacts arising from similar legal proceedings,” the Council says. West Lindsey District Council does not consider this site to be appropriate for asylum seekers and the Council remains clear that Home Office proposals will curtail plans to deliver the £300 million regeneration programme and put at risk the world-renowned heritage. Sally added: “However, it is important that we prepare for every eventuality. Therefore, we continue to engage with partners across Lincolnshire including police, the health sector and other Councils, to ensure that if proposals do go ahead, any actions required in order to minimise the impact on local communities and to support asylum seekers, are identified and raised with the Home Office.”

Festival of Rescue returns to Lincolnshire this September

Stuart Pearcey
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Festival of Rescue returns to Lincolnshire this September

This autumn Lincolnshire residents will be able not only to see but t take part in live rescue demonstrations from fire crews across the UK.

From today professionals are invited to register to take part in events staged by firefighters and specialist rescue teams who’ll be coming to the county in September to compete in an annual rescue competition. The United Kingdom Rescue Organisation challenge for 2023 will be hosted at various sites in Lincoln and the surrounding area for only the second time, and will see participants take part in challenges involving car extrication, water rescue, high rope rescue and more. Events will take place from 14 to 16 September, returning to the county after a successful inaugural visit in 2012, where the water rescue challenge was introduced for the first time. Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, said: “Fire and rescue services really enjoy this event and I’m delighted we are hosting it again this year. It’s a great way for professionals to learn and practice their skills, knowledge and techniques that can only improve the way that we respond to our communities. More than this though, it’s a great way for the public to see firefighters in action in a safe environment, learn more about the role and to talk to us about any concerns they have.” Information about the event for the public and participants is now available on the Festival of Rescue Home Page with registration opening on 2 May.  

First of King Charles’ national nature reserves will be in Lincolnshire

Stuart Pearcey
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First of King Charles’ national nature reserves will be in Lincolnshire
Twelve square miles of Lincolnshire coastline are to become the first of 25 national nature reserves created to celebrate next week’s Coronation of King Charles III. It’ll be declared bu National England as the first in a series of reserves under the banner of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. Five new reserves will be created every year for the next five years reserves by Natural England, with the first – the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve  –declared by Natural England this summer. The Lincolnshire Reserve contains a variety of sand dunes, saltmarsh, mudflats, and freshwater marshes which support many breeding and wintering birds, natterjack toads, special plants and insects. As the government’s focus moves on from an era of nature conservation to nature recovery to create spaces for wildlife to thrive, this new series showcases our ambition for bigger, better and more connected spaces for nature – building on the 221 declared in the reign of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said: “For more than five decades our King has been at the forefront of thinking about the need to restore our depleted natural world. He has highlighted the vital importance of sustainable agriculture, questions of water security, solutions to climate change and the urgency of moving to a circular economy inspired by nature. He’s helped make progress on all these and other subjects while having people’s wellbeing at the centre of his ideas. “It is fitting that Natural England begins the process of declaring 25 new National Nature Reserves that will be called the ‘King’s Series’, marking His Majesty’s Coronation and the new era of nature recovery that is now enshrined in national law and global agreements.

“The National Nature Reserves are the jewels in the crown of England’s nature and they are there for wildlife and people alike. The first one in this new series will be a very substantial area of protected habitat on the Lincolnshire coast, through which a section of the England Coast Path will soon be opened by Natural England.”

• MEANWHILE, every state-funded primary school is to be sent wildflower seeds for children to plant. In a collaboration between the Department for Education and Cornwall’s Eden Project, more than 200,000 seeds packets will be sent to schools, representing 40 hectares of new wildflower areas being planted up across England to support our pollinators. If planted together that would create around 40 rugby pitch sized wildflowers meadows – a small but vital step in boosting biodiversity.

Art and community drive former NHS worker

Stuart Pearcey
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Art and community drive former NHS worker

Former NHS worker Rob Kendrick, who’s now a Lincolnshire County Councillor, says he’s driven by his passion for art and his community in and around Metheringham.

Writing on the County Council’s web site at lincolnshire.gov.uk he said: “After growing up in Bedford with a passion for art, you might think I would follow a career in something really creative. “That was certainly the plan when I attended Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design to study interior design. However, when I completed the course, the country was in the middle of an oil crisis and interior design was not high on the list of priorities for most businesses. I did a number of jobs, including a period of time in a department store and I later worked for a short time as an architect’s assistant. “It was around this time I joined the Young Conservatives, which turned out to be a wise move because it was how I met Jane, who was later to become my wife. I had my first experience of public service when I was elected to North Bedford Borough Council in the early 1980’s. “After Jane was offered a job in Horncastle, we decided to have a look at Lincolnshire during a weekend in Lincoln. We loved the area, so Jane accepted the job and we moved to Branston. Soon afterwards, I took a job within the NHS, which saw me managing volunteer services, a role I found very rewarding. |”It was a change of direction for me, but I feel I achieved a lot, including bringing some innovations to Lincolnshire mental health volunteer services. Mental health and wellbeing continues to be a priority of mine and I am now a County Council Representative Governor on the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. “I was elected to North Kesteven District Council, and served as a district councillor for eight years, before standing for the county council elections in 2017. I was elected as a county councillor for the Metheringham Rural Division, which is where I now live. “Being a councillor is all about local issues, facilities and communities. Recognising this, I recently helped arrange for the Highways contractors, under their community volunteer scheme, to do work at Timberland Village Hall and on the playing field. I was immensely proud to be invited back to carry out the official opening of the refurbished building. “The big issues that residents are talking to me about at the moment are separate planning proposals for a biomass anaerobic digestion facility and a solar farm near Metheringham. I feel it is my job to listen to the views of local people and make sure they’re represented.” • Cllr Kendrick is the councillor for Metheringham Rural and lives in Metheringham with his wife Jane. They have one daughter and two grandchildren. Heis chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and also sits on the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and a number of other health associated committees.

Runners set their sights on seventh Cleethorpes 10k

Stuart Pearcey
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Runners set their sights on seventh Cleethorpes 10k
The ABP Humber Coastal Half Marathon and 10k is returning to Cleethorpes for its seventh year on 17th September this year and is set to attract thousands of runners from across the Humber and beyond on the hunt for personal best times on the flat course. ABP Humber is once again sponsoring both races, and whilst runners are welcome to raise funds for any charity, the chosen charity for the race is the Cleethorpes RNLI. ABP Humber Regional Director Simon Bird said: “This is now the seventh year that ABP have sponsored the Humber Coastal Half Marathon which has not only become a significant fixture in the annual running calendar but has also helped to be a major boost to tourism for Cleethorpes and Grimsby. I am hugely proud of ABP’s association with this race, which this year we hope will be the biggest yet.” The race is supported by around 250 volunteers who guide and cheer runners across the course to give it their best, hand out refreshments, and take photographs of the runners as they undertake their challenge that are then made available free. Tape2Tape Director Nicola said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with ABP Humber once again to bring this fabulous event to Cleethorpes. The popular, traditional half marathon will also see the addition of a much awaited 10k course that is flat and fast! We are pleased to be working alongside many local charities and community groups who all love getting involved with this wonderful scenic event. We cannot thank ABP enough for their continued support.” To get involved in the ABP Humber Coastal Half Marathon and 10k visit – https://tape2tape.co.uk/events/abp-humber-coastal-half-marathon-and-10k-2/ www.abports.co.uk

Dog-gone! Council makes ‘no dog’ beach areas from Monday

Stuart Pearcey
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Dog-gone! Council makes ‘no dog’ beach areas from Monday
 

Dog owners have been warned that East Lindsey District Council intends to get tough over canines causing problems for others on its beaches and other public places.

It’ll be enforcing a Public Space Protection Order to reduce problems caused by dogs in public shared places, aiming to encourage responsible dog ownership, helping to make communities a great place for our residents to live and for visitors to enjoy.

A council spokesman said: “Whilst we appreciate that the majority of people behave responsibly, unfortunately there remains a minority who do not, and they cause anti-social behaviour that we wish to tackle using the powers given under the PSPO.

“Between 1st May and 30th September dogs are banned from on specified areas of the beaches at our coastal towns in Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea and must be placed and kept on a lead on the Promenades in these ban areas. https://bit.ly/3Lw2eoP “It is an offence not to place a dog on a lead when requested by an appropriately Authorised Person, if the dog is deemed to be out of control. This will apply to any public open spaces in the district. “Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued on the spot by our Authorised Officers who regularly patrol the district. We will offer a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice to people who fail to comply with the Order, and anyone who fails to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice may be prosecuted.”
 
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