The Festival of Community in Grantham, on Saturday 19th October, will feature exhibitions, street performers and a community stage with local poets, choirs and singers.
Light show projections and interactive soundscape performances in the Market Place will accompany a showstopping community lantern parade.
Cllr Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader of South Kesteven District Council and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “This is a free event for everyone and we are thrilled to welcome residents and visitors to celebrate with us in Grantham for the Festival of Community.
“It will be a busy day delving into the rich history that the town has as well as an opportunity to showcase the incredible community spirit that exists, demonstrated by the number of residents and community groups who came together to make the lanterns and decorations on display for the parade.
“The revitalised Grantham Market Place is the perfect backdrop to the celebrations, with the accessible open space ready to be used for the benefit of all our residents, businesses and visitors.”
Work to improve the commercial area and drive footfall to the businesses and market of the town was funded with part of the £4.1m Grantham Future High Street Fund awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
The festival’s daytime activities run from 10am until 2pm in the Market Place with the Pop-Up Exhibition Market. Local Grantham artists are invited to exhibit their artwork and chat with visitors about their artistic practice.
The Community Stage will showcase Grantham’s talented artists with performances until 2pm.
Grantham-inspired street entertainment to appeal to the whole family will be provided by local theatre companies Boondog Balladeers, Earth Bound Misfits, Artizani and Mishap Theatre.
The Balladeers will perform songs recalling conversations they had with the public during their summer shows while The Mishap Theatre’s Hairy Hikers will encourage audiences to explore the history of their hometowns.
“Our street entertainment will help visitors to really connect with the place they live and explore the history, the heritage and the community that exists today,” Cllr Stokes said.
Into the evening, the town will become illuminated with animated projections cast onto Lindpet House.
Celebrating the heritage and present-day community, Past, Present & Future is a collaboration with those living, working and visiting Grantham who have shared their memories of the town.
Visitors will have the chance to play with the spectacle of sound with The Fabuloso Organ, an interactive electronic instrument that enables the public to create their own soundscape.
The organ was created by sculptor and engineer Dave Cranmer from an old organ from the Sessions House in Spilsby.
The Punjabi Roots Academy will bring rhythmic celebration to the evening with a DJ set and Dhol drumming throughout the evening. The group will also lead the main event, a community parade, through the town.
The Community Parade will walk from Westgate to the Market Cross as a celebration of the heritage and community of Grantham today.
The parade will be embellished with lit lanterns and decorations, inspired by the Market Place’s past, created with support of Grantham Arts CIC during summer craft workshops with residents and local community groups.
Care home set for Lincolnshire village following land sale
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold a development site in Nettleham, Lincolnshire, which benefits from planning permission for a 65-bedroom care home.
Care home developer, Frontier Estates, secured the planning consent for a ‘specialist 65-bedroom dementia care home’ development scheme (Use Class C2) inclusive of 100 per cent en suite bathrooms and accommodated over 2.5 storeys. The site sits on a circa 1.4-acre plot in the Lincolnshire village of Nettleham.
Following a sales process with Jordan Rundle and Sara Hartill at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by care provider, Country Court, which plans to complete construction in 2026.
Matt Croger, Land Director at Frontier Estates, said: “Nettleham is an attractive village with good transport links to Lincoln that doesn’t currently have any care facilities. Through the planning process and with the positive feedback from local residents and businesses, Frontier and the Council both recognised that this would be a great scheme appreciated by the community.
“Country Court is an excellent operator with an exciting development pipeline who we look forward to working closely with. Frontier is very pleased to have passed the scheme in Nettleham on to them and looks forward to it being a hub of the community once built.”
Al-Karim Kachra, Co-CEO at Country Court Care, said: “We’re pleased to secure an excellent site and expand our presence in Lincoln and surrounding areas. We hope to be on-site by the end of Q1 2025 with a view to opening in late 2026.”
Jordan Rundle, Director – Healthcare Investment & Development at Christie & Co, said: “Nettleham presents a superb opportunity for a newbuild care home, underpinned by strong affluence indicators for the area.
“The site itself benefits from a highly prominent roadside location and will provide the local community with a state-of-the-art care facility. Following several other planning approvals this year, Frontier Estates has secured another excellent consent in what continues to be a challenging planning environment.
“With a significant presence in the region already, Country Court Care will be exceptionally placed to deliver outstanding care for the growing need of Lincolnshire’s elderly demographic.”
The development site was sold for an undisclosed price.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Kzenon
Improvement works begin at Grantham park
Work is underway to create improved facilities for families in Grantham’s Beeden Park.
Installation of over 30 new play features has been funded by a £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.
The play area near Beechcroft Road in Grantham will benefit from upgrades totalling over £126,000 including additional funding of £5,000 from the Rotary Club of Grantham.
The overall figure also includes £21,570 of investment by South Kesteven District Council to improve the facilities at the park.
Cllr Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Having high-quality outdoor spaces to play is vital for the younger generation and helps families to make the most out of being active in their local area.
“I am delighted that we are once again working in partnership with FCC Communities Foundation to refurbish the space at Beeden Park and introduce some fantastic equipment which will make a huge difference to families in the local community.
“I would also like to thank the Rotary Club of Grantham for their generous donation along with Cllr Steven Cunnington who has worked tirelessly with the project team to bring this to fruition.
“We look forward to seeing families enjoy the space once it has re-opened later in the autumn.”
The new park will include equipment for children aged 2 years and over, a special social area for teenagers, and outdoor gym equipment.
The equipment, which is being installed by Wicksteed, has been designed with accessibility in mind, providing both sensory experiences and space to accommodate wheelchairs.
FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Penny Horne, FCC Communities Foundation grant manager, says: “It’s always nice to see something we have funded start to take shape.
“We’re delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and look forward to it benefitting lots of children and young families within the local area very soon.”
Image courtesy of South Kesteven District Council
Palace Fund awarded to support young people pursuing a career in the arts
The Palace Theatre has awarded its latest Our Past Your Future Fund grants to four local young people pursuing a career in the arts.
The Fund was set up in 2020 as a legacy scheme to mark the Theatre’s 100th birthday. To honour a centenary at the heart of Newark, the Palace team wanted to help ensure that culture would continue to thrive in the local area by supporting young residents aged 16 to 25 with their creative career ambitions.
This year, the Theatre received 15 applications covering a wide range of disciplines, from ballet to sound recording, musical theatre, choreography and fashion design.
Tommy-Lee Storr was awarded the main prize of £1500. He will be using the money to support his BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre at the prestigious Emil Dale Academy. Tommy-Lee has already made a strong impact in Newark’s art scene, taking part in Newark Amateur Operatic Society’s productions from age 11 onwards, training at the local Elaine Varney School of Dance and, more recently, leading classes himself at Studio29 and supporting Market Place events with Newark Town Council.
Carys Coulton-Jones, Business Manager for Heritage and Culture at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We were truly impressed with Tommy-Lee’s interview where his passion really shone through. He made it clear that he wants to continue giving back to the community and inspiring future generations which is exactly what the Our Past, Your Future Fund is all about. I wish him all the best in his studies and his sparkling career! Break a leg!”
Further secondary grants were awarded to Harvey Woodward, Sophie Brown and Isobel Cropper who will be studying ballet at the Academy of Northern Ballet, Leeds, Location Sound at the National Film and Television School and musical theatre at Lincoln University respectively.
Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at the District Council, said: “The number and variety of applications this year were really encouraging and are evidence of the talent and passion that our local area produces. I’m delighted to see the Palace Theatre continuing to champion the arts in Newark and Sherwood and I encourage everyone to support their local theatre so that this brilliant Fund can continue for many years.”
Palace Principal Sponsors Tallents Solicitors are partners in the project and the company’s Senior Partner Alistair Millar said: “Tallents Solicitors had already been practicing in Newark for 150 years when the Palace Theatre was established in 1920 and it’s been incredible to see how it has become just an important part of the Newark community we all live in. For over 100 years now, the Palace Theatre has had an exceptional pedigree in both welcoming, encouraging and inspiring emerging and upcoming creative talent in our market town.
“With our continuing support, we are delighted to be able to help the Palace Theatre Newark reach out to the local community and support those seeking to become involved in the wonderful world of theatre and performing arts. This year, the selection of a winner was made even harder by the exceptional range of talents shown by the applicants. We are delighted that Tommy-Lee will now be able to pursue his dream of a musical theatre degree with the help of the Our Past Your Future Fund.”
The team at the Palace Theatre are next looking forward to the national tour of Blood Brothers visiting their stage from 22 to 26 October and then will be gearing up for the festive fun of panto season for this year’s seasonal spectacular Aladdin.
Image: Our Past Your Future Fund recipient Tommy-Lee Storr in this year’s production of Evita by Newark Amateur Operatic Society Britain in Bloom awards for North Lincolnshire’s parks, allotments and nature reserves
North Lincolnshire has picked up a clutch of prestigious Britain in Bloom East Midlands awards from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The newly developed Somervell Community/Inclusive Allotments scooped a major award – the RHS Judges Award for Community Focus.
Elsham Parish Nature Reserve, which used to be an old quarry, also received a Judge’s Award. The site is owned by Elsham Parish Council.
The judges commented that the site “is now transformed into a wonderful wildflower and wildlife facility which, as it develops, will be fully enjoyed by villagers and visitors alike.”
Central Park in Scunthorpe won an award for Excellence in Horticulture and Standards.
Recent work installing planters on local streets, including Britannia Corner, won a Bronze award.
Cllr David Rose, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “This is a marvellous achievement, and a welcome reward for the workforce who have put so much effort in over the past 12 months. North Lincolnshire’s green spaces are going from strength to strength.
“It is particularly noteworthy that unused and neglected areas have been taken and transformed them into spaces from which the whole community can benefit.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/gpointstudio Care Partner Hub opens at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital
Carers First and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust have opened the Care Partner Hub at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital to support the wellbeing of care partners and provide practical advice and guidance.
Sam Marshall is the Community Inclusion Coordinator for the Carers First Lincolnshire services. She said: “The hub is a fantastic opportunity for us to reach more carers, sooner! Providing essential information and signposting to the support available to Carers can help relieve some of the stress during what is often a challenging time for them and the person they are caring for.
“Our great team of volunteers are on hand to provide a safe and comforting space in what can be, for some, an overwhelming situation when a loved one is in hospital.”
The plans have also improved the care partners badge scheme, which helps hospital staff recognise a care partner and ensure they have access to some of the carer elements that they provide, such as more flexibility on visiting and authority to help support at mealtimes.
The refurbishment for the Care Partners Hub has been provided by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
The hub is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays between 12 noon and 4pm on the sixth floor. Volunteers from Carers First and ULHT offer a wide range of services and resources in a friendly environment, including carer’s assessments referrals and support, carers awareness training for professionals, as well as advice and information.
Hospital unit thanked with marathon effort
An RAF policeman who ran the London Marathon in memory of his friend and mentor, has just donated more than £3,000 to the hospital unit that cared for him.
Sergeant Tom Bone sadly lost his friend and mentor a few years ago and promised to run the marathon in aid of the Renal Unit at Lincoln County Hospital.
Granville Bainbridge owned the Wainfleet Social Club and took Tom under his wing when he showed a keen interest and ability in snooker.
Tom said: “Granville was an amazing man and a real character. He always supported me with my snooker when I was a young lad and later with my military career. He had so many stories to tell and I will always remember him telling me to do whatever you can, see as many places as you can and take as many photos as possible.”
Granville used to have treatment at Lincoln County Hospital before he had a kidney transplant in 2020. Sadly he died in February 2021 during the COVID pandemic.
Tom added: “He always praised the team when he talked about the treatment and care he received. It has been a real honour to come back today and be able to say thank you.
“When Granville died, I decided that I would run the marathon in his memory. When you see people going through treatment and you see the amazing care that the team provide, it puts everything into perspective.
“All I did was spend 3 hours 15 minutes and 52 seconds running and thanks to the support of other people making donations and supporting me we raised £3,134.”
Renal Unit Sister, Lorraine Makin, said: “It is incredibly humbling for us as a team when patients and families think of us and thank us.
“Our unit is unusual as we get to see the same patients week in and week out for many years. It is special and it is why we all do what we do. It really is a privilege.”
Lorraine and Tom were joined by other members of the Renal Unit Team and also Ben and Gary from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Fundraiser, Gary Burr, said: “As a charity we support United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust patients and staff with those extras that cannot be provided by the NHS. We will work with the Unit and Tom to understand if there was anything in particular that Granville would have wanted this generous donation spent on. It will make such a difference.”
Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Major refurbishment to start at Lincoln Museum
The next stage of Lincoln Museum’s redevelopment will begin on 14 October.
Last year, the county council announced a two-year refresh of the visitor spaces at Lincoln Museum, with a name change and brand refresh, marking the beginning of the project.
Since then, the visitor toilets have been refurbished, as well as the installation of new furniture in the café and a state-of-the-art IT system in the auditorium.
Now, plans are being finalised for a complete refresh of the main archaeology gallery, updating all the displays, and creating a new, immersive experience that showcases Lincolnshire’s history, right back to its very earliest inhabitants.
Starting from 14 October, the exhibition spaces will be closed to allow staff to begin removing all the objects and artefacts for safe storage. This will pave the way for work to start on transforming the space.
A refit of the museum shop, refurbishment of the play space, and landscaping of the outdoor courtyard will also form part of the project, which is expected to finish in late 2025.
The museum’s Muse Café and the Usher Gallery will both remain open as normal.
Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive councillor for culture at Lincolnshire County Council, welcomed the next stage of the museum’s redevelopment, saying: “This is the biggest update to Lincoln Museum since we opened in 2005 and will let us continue to give you the warm welcome our visitors expect and put on the exciting exhibitions and events we are known for.
“At over 690m2, the archaeology gallery is by far the biggest space in Lincoln Museum, and – although still captivating visitors – the displays are now largely 20 years old.
“In order to continue to attract new visitors to the museum, and to the city, we need to rethink how we tell Lincolnshire’s story. We’re working on the exciting new look for the archaeology gallery, with creative, interactive displays that will allow visitors to explore the county’s history like never before.
“This is also an opportunity for us to showcase other items from our collection that haven’t been displayed in a long time, or ever before, whilst still keeping those artefacts and objects that visitors love seeing time and time again.
“Whilst the exhibits will be closed off for the refurbishment, visitors can still relax in the Muse Café at Lincoln Museum and enjoy the exhibitions and events across the road at the Usher Gallery.
“We’ll be sharing updates about how the redevelopment is going over the coming months, as the new interactive and engaging displays take place. And we are already looking forward to welcoming everyone in to see our redeveloped museum next year.”
Picture: How the redeveloped archaeology gallery at Lincoln Museum might look. Image courtesy of Creative Core. Local businesses sign up to start wildflower planting project
A campaign to bring more wildflowers and biodiversity to Lincoln while reducing carbon is launching this month.
Launched by Lincoln-based My Square Metre, Plant it Forward will see local businesses pledging to plant one square metre of wildflowers on behalf of a business of their choice, with that business then doing the same to pass it forward, and so on.
My Square Metre is the first of its kind online carbon offsetting calculator, which identifies often overlooked daily carbon-producing activities, and offsets through wildflower planting.
With an aim for Plant it Forward to reach 2,000 square metres of wildflowers, My Square Metre is hoping that through the interest and support of local businesses, Lincoln will be taking a step closer to a net zero carbon future as well as creating new habitats and boosting biodiversity.
In Britain, 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost since the second world war and 53% of native plants have been lost in the last 20 years due to human impacts. Meadow loss leads to a reduction in pollinators which are essential in food production.
When a square metre of wildflowers is planted through My Square Metre, the land is managed and protected for at least 30 years and the wildflowers will feed 24 bees each year for those 30 years. In addition, using wildflower planting to offset carbon is highly effective as they sequest carbon within the first year of planting, in comparison to tree planting which can take years to sequester.
To launch Plant it Forward, Lincoln business EcomeOne has committed to being the first company to sign up and will be passing the ‘wildflower baton’ on to Eagle Eye Innovations.
Ed Crowther, founder of My Square Metre, said: “The aim of Plant it Forward is to create meaningful change together, in an easily accessible, affordable and fun way. The cost of planting one square metre of wildflowers through My Square Metre is £10 plus vat, and the impact on our environment is considerable.
“Lincoln and Lincolnshire, like all areas of the country, have seen an extreme reduction in its habitats and biodiversity, as well as the increase in carbon production over the last 20 years. The Plant it Forward campaign is to target this through collaboration – bringing businesses together to make a difference.
“The team and I hope this is the start of a long-standing initiative that will continue to run, helping to build a better future for Lincoln. Big thanks to EcomeOne and Eagle Eye Innovations on getting us started!”
Carrianne Dukes at EcomeOne said: “We are gifting square meters of wildflowers to our clients to support them in their sustainability journey. This allows us to showcase our commitment to helping the planet, while building relationships in a sustainable and meaningful way.”
The target of 2,000 square metres will bring: 6 Tonnes of Co2 sequestered, 1m wildflowers, 24,000 bees every year for 30 years, 285 butterfly pairs, enough insects to feed 10 small birds, 400+ mice and voles and a home for hundreds of different species above and below ground.
10th Lincoln Scouts good turn for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
The team at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) are saying a mega three cheers and a huge thank you to all the scouts of 10th Lincoln (1st Waddington) Scout Group for choosing Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance as their charity of the year 2023 and raising a staggering £1,412 through various events including a bingo night & Gang Show.
LNAA Community Fundraiser, Jac Sutherland recently met the group when she was able to thank all the 10th Lincoln Scouts for their incredible support and fundraising efforts over the year.
She said: “This donation is the equivalent to the average cost of 1 mission in our critical care car.
“It is only with the support of people, businesses and organisations in Lincs & Notts that our crews are able to deliver life-saving care to people living in our counties 24/7, seven days-a-week.”
