£1m boost to bring arts opportunities to rural and coastal communities in Lincolnshire
A £1m investment will help close the arts access gap and bring new creative opportunities to Boston and South Holland, as community arts programme Transported, based at the University of Lincoln, secures a major boost from Arts Council England.
Announced as part of the national Creative People and Places (CPP) portfolio for 2026-29, the funding will support a new phase of work titled Mind the Gap, tackling the gaps in access to culture across some of Lincolnshire’s most rural, hard-to-reach communities.
Boston and South Holland are the only areas in Greater Lincolnshire to benefit from the CPP scheme, making this a significant win for the region. With many local residents living miles from theatres, galleries, and cultural infrastructure, the funding aims to bring arts experiences directly to doorsteps, parks, village halls, and community spaces.
Nick Jones, director of Transported, said: “We’ve spent more than a decade working with communities here, and this next phase is about going even deeper, making sure no one feels left out of culture. From festivals and creative workshops to outdoor events and new art spaces, this investment will help local people shape and celebrate the place they call home.”
Dominic Symonds, professor of musical theatre, director of research for the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Lincoln, and chair of the Transported management board, said: “The University is proud of Transported’s successful bid for this next phase of Creative People and Places funding.
“Transported was the only programme to receive an uplift from previous funding phases, a testament to the team’s dedication, expertise, and impact. Through initiatives like Mind the Gap, the University can place creativity at the heart of communities, transforming lives and fostering cultural participation across Lincolnshire.”
Liz Johnson, Midlands area director at Arts Council England, said: “Creative People and Places projects bring organisations and communities together to shape the creative and cultural activities available in their local area. Funded by the National Lottery, we are investing more than £9.2 million in the Midlands, to ensure more people can experience, connect and take part in creativity on their doorsteps.
“Transported’s new phase ‘Mind the Gap’ brings rural and coastal communities together for a range of high-quality creative and cultural experiences that are accessible, relevant, raise aspirations, and help the area to thrive through a collaborative approach to culture.”
Image: Flos Pompa mural in Spalding. Credit: Faye Parker
Former train carriage donated to enhance Humberside Fire Service’s emergency training
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has received a former train carriage to enhance training capabilities for major incidents and civil emergencies.
Donated by Siemens Mobility, the “Class 332” carriage, comprising of a driver’s cab and passenger section, was part of the first mainline train Siemens Mobility sold and delivered into the UK. It operated on the Heathrow Express service between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington from 1998 to 2019.
After decommissioning, the carriage was relocated to Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village during the site’s development.
Now, the carriage’s new home is at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service’s Central Training Section in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, where it is providing firefighters with realistic scenarios for derailments, road traffic collisions, and terrorist attacks, including casualty management in confined spaces.
It will also facilitate multi-agency training with Humberside Police and the ambulance service, while also supporting the Fire Service’s Cadet programme and educational visits, to encourage the next generation of emergency service workers.
David Harris, Siemens Mobility construction project manager, said: “We’re delighted to have teamed up with Humberside Fire and Rescue service on this project.
“After identifying a suitable location within the training centre site, we supported the installation of sleepers, rails and ballast, before liaising with a haulage company to arrange transportation and siting of the carriage, around the fire service’s busy training schedule.
“It’s fantastic to know the carriage will also be used by young people. Siemens is committed to supporting young people into work, and we’re involved with numerous apprenticeship and education programmes, so this aligns with our values.”
Phil Shillito, chief fire officer, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Siemens Mobility for this generous donation. The addition of a real train carriage at our training site is a rare and valuable asset.
“It will significantly enhance the realism of our training scenarios and better prepare our firefighters for emergencies involving rail transport. This is not something that’s often available to fire and rescue services, and it will make a real difference in our ability to protect the communities we serve.”
Image: The carriage donated by Siemens Mobility is now being used for training exercises at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service’s Central Training Section. Picture credit: Sean Spencer/Hull News & Pictures Ltd.
New licensing scheme aims to lift living standards in Scunthorpe
A new housing initiative in Scunthorpe is now underway to improve community standards and protect renters.
Landlords in parts of the Crosby & Park and Town wards are now required to obtain a licence under North Lincolnshire Council’s Selective Licensing Scheme. The move targets poor property conditions and aims to create safer, more stable neighbourhoods.
The scheme, upheld by the High Court earlier this year, forms part of a broader local strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour and hold negligent landlords accountable. It will require landlords to maintain their properties to a higher standard and ensure tenants behave responsibly.
Backed by Home Safe, the programme is designed to support responsible landlords while addressing a minority whose neglect has contributed to declining housing and environmental standards.
Running until March 2030, the scheme is part of the council’s wider effort to improve housing quality and encourage greater pride across North Lincolnshire communities.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire CouncilPumpkin Fest set for Sleaford
Spooktacular fun will descend on Sleaford, with the town’s Pumpkin Fest set to take place in the Market Place on Saturday 25 October.
North Kesteven District Council’s Halloween celebration will run from 11am to 4pm, encouraging families to dress up and enjoy a day of autumnal fun and excitement.
The day will include a Pumpkin Patch, from which visitors can collect one of 200 free pumpkins, whilst pumpkin carving stencils can be crafted at the event to take home to make a masterpiece.
Sleaford Pumpkin Fest will also include walkabout entertainment, free face painting and craft activities, Morris dancing performances, and a live pumpkin carving demonstration inspired by the Sleaford Wyvern – a mythical dragon-like creature with two legs, two wings and a pointed tail.
Visitors will also have the chance to meet the Sleaford Wyvern in person.
The silly pair ‘Trick and Treat’ will perform comedic tricks at the event, with their ‘wonderful wagon of weirdness’. There will also be games such as Giant Jenga, noughts and crosses, and a spooky version of hoopla.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Sergio Burghley House stars in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
Audiences around the world will soon see Burghley House on screen in Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated new film Frankenstein, in select cinemas now and on Netflix from 7 November.
Filming took place at Burghley in September 2024, with some of the House’s most spectacular State Rooms including the Great Hall, the Bow Room, and The Old Kitchen providing the backdrop for del Toro’s reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic tale.
The film, written and directed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, features an acclaimed cast including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.
Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment with consequences that ultimately lead to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Visitors exploring Burghley House today can discover the very rooms featured in Frankenstein, and experience first-hand the splendour and centuries of history that have long captured the imagination of filmmakers and visitors alike. One of the largest and grandest houses of the 16th century, Burghley combines magnificent architecture and atmospheric interiors, set within sweeping Capability Brown parkland.
“It’s wonderful to see Burghley House feature in such a major production,” said Philip Gompertz, Director of Commercial Visitor Operations, Burghley House. “Visitors often enjoy spotting the rooms they’ve seen on screen, and Frankenstein will add another fascinating chapter to Burghley’s long connection with film and television.”
Burghley has appeared in numerous productions, from The Flash and The Crown to Pride and Prejudice, demonstrating its role as one of England’s most sought-after filming locations.
Image: A scene captured in Burghley’s Great Hall. Credit: Netflix.
New scheme to help armed forces community find clean energy jobs in Lincolnshire
A new scheme to enable former members of the armed forces and their families in the Humber region, Lincolnshire and East Anglia to find jobs in clean energy industries has been unveiled by the armed forces charity Mission Community, RenewableUK and the Government.
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Jane Cooper will co-chair a joint Government and industry body overseeing the one-year pilot project, which will begin in the third quarter of this year.
The Mission Renewable Armed Forces Clean Energy Initiative will be delivered by Mission Community. The scheme aims to smooth career transitions for service leavers into the renewables sector, identifying specific jobs which would be suitable for them and highlighting any barriers preventing access to these new roles.
It coincides with the publication of the Government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan which sets out how to maximise employment opportunities in renewables and nuclear power across the country, creating over 400,000 new jobs by 2030.
Mission Renewable has already worked with RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council at a national level, helping former members of the armed forces and their families to make use of their transferable skills in the renewable energy sector.
Anecdotally between ten and twenty per cent of workers already employed in the sector have a service background.
The programme has enabled companies to develop their own armed forces recruitment strategies and to sign the Armed Forces Covenant which demonstrates employers’ commitments to support ex-service personnel, including those who have been injured while on active service, as they make a career change into clean power.
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Jane Cooper said: “This innovative initiative which we’re proud to be launching today with our partners is a tangible example of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan in action. The lessons we learn from it will inform and guide future Government policy on job creation for military veterans and their families.
“Uniquely, this scheme focusses specifically on a part of the country where offshore wind developers, operators and supply chain companies are already based, which will maximise its impact.
“The renewable energy industry urgently needs people with a wide range of skills to design, plan, build and operate the huge pipeline of renewable energy projects required to meet the Government’s clean power ambitions.
“Former members of the armed forces are ideally placed to fill these roles, as they’re well used to working in closely-knit teams in challenging natural environments, and many have transferable technical or engineering skills. Many of them are already working in the clean energy sector, but we need even more.
“The number of jobs in the wind industry alone is set to double from 55,000 now to over 110,000 by the end of this decade. Military veterans can help to bridge the skills gap we’re facing, alongside workers from other industries such as oil and gas. All have valuable skills and experience which will enable the clean energy sector to continue to expand rapidly in the years ahead.”
Mission Community’s chief executive James Cameron said: “Since 2021, Mission Community has been working closely with industry bodies to highlight and celebrate the contributions of Forces members and their families, who now form the backbone of rapidly expanding clean energy sectors such as offshore wind.
“In some companies, veterans make up more than one in five workers in crucial roles. Our efforts to build Armed Forces communities within society have demonstrated that, at every level, veterans have successfully applied skills acquired in the Armed Forces to foster growth and drive the green revolution.
“The upcoming pilot aims to address gaps, spotlight those making significant contributions and establish new pathways. In doing so, we further integrate those who have served the nation into the workforce that will power and secure the future of the UK.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/New Africa
New equestrian club offers hands-on learning for North Lincolnshire youth
A new after-school equestrian programme in Belton is opening its doors to young people, thanks to £5,000 in funding from North Lincolnshire Council’s Positive Activities grant scheme.
Avalon Mill Equestrian will run a 30-week programme combining fun and education, with weekly sessions designed for those aged 11 to 19, and up to 25 for participants with special educational needs or disabilities. Ten places are available.
The sessions will give young people a chance to develop practical equestrian skills, including horse care, grooming, and stable management. They will also learn about feeding routines, handling, and the use of different types of equipment.
The initiative is part of a wider effort by the council to support community-based projects that encourage young people to engage in positive, skill-building activities. Through the Positive Activities grants, local groups are being supported to provide safe spaces where young people can make friends, build confidence, and explore new interests.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire CouncilA new world of wonder opens in Scunthorpe
A vibrant new space is set to open at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe, offering families a chance to explore science and creativity in one interactive setting.
Discover@20-21, the town’s new STEAM gallery, will open on 30 October. The hands-on space blends science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through a series of playful exhibits designed for children and families.
Inside, visitors can experiment with light tables, magnetic walls, and digital art screens, while optical illusions and creative puzzles turn scientific ideas into visual experiences. The gallery also features activities that encourage problem-solving, balance, and imagination through building, drawing, and design.
The project aims to make learning an immersive and social experience, where children can freely create, test ideas, and see their work displayed in large-scale projections across the venue’s historic chancel window.
Discover@20-21 will be open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.
Image credit: North Lincolnshire CouncilSpalding welcomes night of live music for a good cause
From the producer of Rocktober, a night of live music for a good cause is coming to the South Holland Centre with a performance from the fantastic 29 FINGERS – the UK’s best party band, as described by Tatler Magazine!
With an over active sense of fun, 29 FINGERS have learnt how to fill a dancefloor and make a party ignite in a flash, playing at great venues and for fantastic clients, including: The Mandarin Oriental, The Dorchester, Hampton Court Palace, Chelsea Barracks, Harrods, Jaguar, and The Museum Group. The charity night on Friday 24 October, organised by Emma Peake, will see all proceeds go to the Development Foundation, Tulip Hospice Suite, Spalding. For tickets, please visit https://www.southhollandcentre.co.uk/Burghley House welcomes Half Term Halloween fun
A spellbinding mix of family fun and spooky surprises will descend on Burghley House this October Half Term.
From 18 October – 2 November (10am–5pm) take the Halloween Trail, tiptoeing through the autumn leaves and creeping along mysterious pathways to uncover ghosts and ghouls hiding in the Sculpture Garden. Pick up a Trail Sheet to solve spooky riddles and earn a tasty treat and don’t forget your scariest Halloween costume.
From 27 – 31 October (12pm–4pm) all ages are welcome to join Halloween-themed craft sessions, to create fang-tastic masterpieces for the spooky season, or why not step into the past with Beastly Boring Tours (25, 27–30 October, and 1 November) — the family-friendly experience that’s anything but boring! Led by costumed guides, these lively morning tours are packed with grisly tales and mysterious stories from Burghley’s fascinating history.
Epic autumn adventures also await. Cecil has transformed into a friendly ghostly figure for the spooky season! Join him and his woodland friends at Hide & Secrets and pick up a free Spymaster’s Guide, crunching, crawling and jumping through the autumn leaves as you complete special spy missions — all leading to the thrilling Hidden Towers.
More fun can be enjoyed on selected weekends in November at Burghley’s Adventure Play & Gardens (Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 November, Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 November).
It’s the final few weeks to step inside one of England’s greatest stately homes before the House closes for winter. Explore 18 of the most magnificent State Rooms in the country, home to world-class works of art and stunning craftsmanship. Meanwhile, outside, the Gardens are aglow with autumn splendour — a breathtaking tapestry of fiery oranges, rich reds, and glowing golds.
For something a little different for your Saturday night, the Baroque at Burghley Concert on 18 October presents an enchanting evening of Baroque music performed live in the Great Hall. Experience some of the era’s most beautiful works in a truly historic setting.
The magic isn’t over for the year yet, though, as a festive shopping experience soon returns, with Burghley Christmas Fair taking place from 27 – 30 November.
