Lincoln to stage soapbox derby event next September

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincoln to stage soapbox derby event next September

A soapbox derby event comes to Lincoln for the first time next September, and organisers say you could be part of it, not just as a spectator, but out on the track!

It all happens on Sunday 15th September 2024, and is being organised by Krazy Races, which is on the lookout for up to 40 teams to take on the challenge in Lincoln. The event sees a mixture of individual, charity and business teams design, build and then race handcrafted soap boxes in front of up to 20,000 spectators.

The popular soapbox derby event has welcomed over 150,000 visitors and raised over £100,000 for local charities in 2023 alone with events across the country. The event will be staged in collaboration between Lincoln BIG and Krazy Races, who want to work with stakeholders and businesses to bring together entertainers, food stalls and more, giving families a fantastic day to remember.
Lee Roberts, Head of Operations from Lincoln BIG said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Krazy Races and working with the team to bring this new and exciting event to Lincoln. We can’t wait to see the races take place and encourage businesses to enter and enjoy the day. We look forward to seeing everyone enjoy the build up and the day as the city comes alive as the soapboxes race through the streets of the city.”
Register your entry here: Click here to register your team!  

Trio of Boston shops hit with closure orders for illegal activity

Tess Egginton
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Trio of Boston shops hit with closure orders for illegal activity

Three Boston shops have been ordered to close for three months after they were found to be selling counterfeit, unsafe and non-duty-paid cigarettes.

Lincolnshire Police, working with Lincolnshire Trading Standards, applied for the closure orders on Friday 8 December. The orders were granted at Boston Magistrates’ Court for Bode, 92 High Street, Boston; World Fruit, and Veg, 143 Windsor Bank, Boston; and Buy 4 Less, 72 Main Ridge, Boston. All three shops were given three-month closure orders and ordered to pay £403 costs each. The closure order prohibits any persons entering the shops for the three-month period other than emergency services or a person authorised to act on behalf of the emergency services. Any persons found breaching the order may be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both. Inspector Colin Clarkson from Lincolnshire Police said: “We applied for these orders based on evidence that criminal activity was taking place on the premises. It’s important that we take joint action to stop businesses trading illegally. “Criminal activity will not be accepted and attracts undesirable elements into the centre of Boston. We’ll continue to work with Lincolnshire Trading Standards to protect the public from dangerous products.” Andy Wright from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said: “The magistrates granted the orders for the maximum period allowed by the law – three months. However, the option of extending that by a further three months will be considered in future if necessary. “We will continue to work with police and other agencies in relation to any criminal activity.”
  Image courtesy of Lincolnshire County Council

Boston Charity Shop raises £20,000 for vital work of LNAA

Tess Egginton
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Boston Charity Shop raises £20,000 for vital work of LNAA
Volunteers from the much-loved Pilgrim Hospital Charity Shop recently visited Lincs & Notts HQ to present crew with a fabulous donation of £20,000 before being shown the operations centre and seeing first-hand the vital work of the LNAA’s doctors, paramedics and pilots. Caroline Howell, LNAA’s Trusts and Grants Manager, was delighted to greet the team and said: “This is an incredible donation. Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance receives no direct government funding and rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations like Pilgrim Hospital Charity Shop to keep our helicopter in the air and our critical care cars on the roads 24/7, seven days a week.” The donation will provide funding for blood transfusions and essential equipment used by the crew to anaesthetise critically ill and injured patients at the scene of an incident and help stabilise patients before they can be transferred to hospitals. It will also pay for surgical skills courses for two new paramedics. Pilgrim Hospital Support Group Volunteer, Mick Clarke said: “We have seen and heard how our donation will be spent and we know it will go towards saving people in rural communities. Our roads are dangerous – the helicopter is vital to get quickly to some of these outlying villages and the doctors and paramedics are vital to treat people who are really ill and in need of emergency care.” The Pilgrim Hospital Charity Shop was established in April 1997 to raise funds to purchase equipment for Pilgrim Hospital and surrounding hospitals, but in 2020 the trustees expanded its constitution to allow donations to be made to support the good health and well-being of patients served in NHS hospitals in the area. Although the shop is small, it certainly does aim high and does big things. Run by a band of volunteers, each member of the team adopts a different role, and are proud to open the doors 6 days a week and provide a community hub for people living in and around Boston. Volunteer Marie Henderson sums up why they wanted to support the vital work of LNAA: “If this donation saves just one life, it is worth it – it could be you or one of your loved ones.” Pilgrim Hospital Charity Shop is located on Rosegarth Street, Boston and is open from 10am – 1pm, Monday to Saturday.

Mayor sets his sights on Dancethon as part of his fundraising campaign

Stuart Pearcey
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Mayor sets his sights on Dancethon as part of his fundraising campaign
North East Lincolnshire’s Mayor Ian Lindley is looking to inject some disco into the area with a non-stop dance event. The danceathon, which was announced at the Sunflowers Children’s Action Group Christmas Party, will be part of the Mayor’s yearly fundraising campaign. He will be raising money for The Pink Rose Suite Grimsby and the Sunflowers Children’s Action Group. The Pink Rose Suite is a dedicated breast cancer unit at Grimsby’s Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, providing various services for cancer patients as well as aiding surgical teams across the area. Sunflowers Children’s Action Group is a charity founded in 2019 to help those suffering form life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The group look to give young people experiences they will never forget and help families through difficult times. Councillor Lindley is hoping to raise £2,000 from the event with an online fundraiser set up to help him reach his target. To donate, click here. The event will be held from 9am on Thursday 21st March to 9am Friday 22nd March at Grimsby Town Hall. Residents and community groups are also being asked to help out by joining the mayor throughout the danceathon. He said: “I’m very excited to raise funds for two worthy charities in our borough and have fun whilst doing so. “I am also asking for any dance troupes, community groups or individuals to get involved by joining me for a dance throughout the 24 hours.” To get involved with the danceathon please express your interest in an email to paul.wisken@nelincs.gov.uk.

Six Lincolnshire organisations share in latest round of Ørsted’s community grants

Stuart Pearcey
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Six Lincolnshire organisations share in latest round of Ørsted’s community grants
Half a dozen Lincolnshire projects are amongst 18 to benefit from the latest round of grants from Ørsted’s East Coast Community Fund. The awards take the total number of projects supported to 245. They are:
  • West Marsh Development Trust Ltd, Household Support for Ukrainian Refugees, £4,336
  • Age UK Lindsey, The East Coast ‘Reaching Out’ Project – Reducing Social Isolation, £27,422
  • Keelby Sports Association, Keelby Sports Association Solar Panels and Battery Storage, £12,408
  • East Lindsey District Council, Sutton on Sea – Educational Bin Installation, £21,493
  • Your Community Hub CIC, Improvement of Cleethorpes Sandpit, £14,720
  • Blackfriars Arts Centre Limited, Boston, New Heating and Hot Water Boiler, £22,800
Earlier this year, Ørsted announced that they were keen that organisations applying to the Fund are reflecting on their environmental impact, taking positive steps to minimise the carbon footprint of their project, and seeking opportunities to become more environmentally sustainable. Through the grant application process, groups are now asked if they are taking steps to minimise the carbon footprint of the project, they are seeking funding support for, and whether the project will make a positive impact on the environment – in other words, is the project ‘Inspired by Green’? New judging criteria for the Fund is giving greater weighting to the answers to these questions. The East Coast Community Fund is part of the community engagement programme for Ørsted’s Hornsea and Race Bank offshore wind farms. Each year, until 2037, about £390,000 will be available from the main fund to support a wide range of community and environmental projects. An additional £75,000 per year is ring-fenced for a skills fund, designed to support a range of STEM educational and training initiatives. Imran Nawaz, Senior Advisor & Community Benefit Fund Manager for Ørsted, said: “It is great to see the successful awards for this round. Community is so important to Ørsted, and being able to give back to our local area is a high priority for us. A huge thanks to all the organisations for all your incredible work in helping us all love our home. ”  The Fund is being administered by national charity GrantScape. There are two application rounds each year for groups to apply to, and the next closing date is 31 January 2024. For further details of how you can apply to the next round, please visit GrantScape’s website www.grantscape.org.uk or call 01908 247630.

International Bomber Command Centre celebrates record year

Tess Egginton
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International Bomber Command Centre celebrates record year
The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire is celebrating a record-breaking year that’s on course to comfortably surpass 100,000 visitors in 2023 alone. The centre has enjoyed success right across the board. From hosting more than 250 events and welcoming 118 different groups, to enjoying a 60% and 70% increase year-on-year for children and adult learning respectively. This fantastic year has also seen more than 12,000 volunteer hours logged, a number of prestigious award wins including the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, and the visits of nine veterans, five of which were 100 or older. A special mention should also go to the IBCC’s catering team who have served more than 38,000 meals. Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the International Bomber Command Centre, said: “2023 is a year that will live long in the memory for everyone associated with the IBCC. To be celebrating success in so many different areas of the business reflects our significant efforts in providing an insightful day out for visitors of all ages. “These efforts are the result of the regular displays we bring to the centre, like the installation of the Men of the Dams which commemorates 80 years since the famous Dambusters Raid which saw 53 young men pay the ultimate sacrifice. “It’s also been fantastic to be recognised with so many awards, such as the King’s Award for Voluntary Service which is the equivalent to an MBE and truly highlights the amazing efforts of those who give up their time to support the centre. Without them what we do would not be possible. “The centre itself is funded by tickets and donations alone so welcoming more than 100,000 visitors in a single year alone will go a long way in allowing us to continue to spread the word of Bomber Command during World War II. “For anyone that hasn’t had the chance to visit yet we encourage them to do so in 2024 as we will not be resting on our laurels. We are aiming for an even bigger and better year as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape and D-Day for which we have lots planned, with details being released in due course.” The International Bomber Command Centre created and utilises the world’s largest free to access digital heritage collection on Bomber Command. First opening in 2018, the archive has been carefully developed by an international team of more than 400 volunteers and contains thousands of first-hand historical accounts, photographs and documents from all sides of the war. The centre also has a memorial Spire surrounded by walls containing the names of the 57,861 men and women who lost their lives serving and supporting Bomber Command, as well as interactive exhibition galleries. The International Bomber Command Centre is open from 9:30am-4pm Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry to the Exhibition at 3pm.

Pub urges public to donate gifts for young carers

Stuart Pearcey
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Pub urges public to donate gifts for young carers
Grimsby’s Wheatsheaf pub on the town’s Bargate in Grimsby, is calling for people to support local young carers this Christmas by donating a gift to someone who’\s a young carer. Young carers are children and young people who act as the main carer for a parent, sibling, or other family member. This means that they carry out the day-to-day tasks that adults would normally be responsible for. A spokesman for The Wheatsheaf said: “This Christmas we’re getting behind our local young carers, and encouraging our customers to do the same. “Due to their caring responsibilities, young carers often don’t get to enjoy being a child and just having fun, so we want to make their Christmas that extra bit special by asking our customers to donate gifts for them. “Anyone wishing to get involved can visit the Wheatsheaf in Grimsby and take a tag and then start searching for their gift. Once it’s all wrapped they can drop it in to us to pass on.” Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education and North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m very grateful to The Wheatsheaf for supporting our young carers once again. “These young people rarely get to enjoy what it means to be young and have fun, but through this initiative, they will have something wonderful to look forward to this Christmas.” There are more than 200 young carers in North East Lincolnshire, and it is thought that as many as 1 in 5 children and young people are young carers in the UK.

Steer clear of unlicensed taxis and stay safe, urges council

Stuart Pearcey
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0
Steer clear of unlicensed taxis and stay safe, urges council
Partygoers should avoid using unlicensed taxis and illegal commercial ‘lifts’ offered on social media, which could put their lives at risk. In the spirit of safety, West Lindsey District Council is strongly urging revellers to steer clear of Illegal, unlicensed, rogue drivers whilst celebrating over the Christmas and New Year season. The unlicensed taxis may seem cheaper but they will not have undergone background checks, such as on their criminal history. They are also unlikely to be insured to carry passengers in their vehicles, which could be in a dangerous condition. Chair of the Licensing Committee at West Lindsey District Council in Cllr Jim Snee, who said: “We want everyone to enjoy their festive celebrations, which is why we are urging people to take sensible steps to avoid unscrupulous, bogus, taxi drivers who put earning illegal extra money before people’s safety. “Using an unlicensed vehicle could put your safety in jeopardy. There is a real risk in accepting lifts from people who haven’t been vetted and licensed by the Council. “We understand that most people wouldn’t dream of doing so, but for individuals travelling alone, getting into an unlicensed cab, is just as risky as getting into the car of a complete stranger. “The message is clear, book your taxi before you go out and steer clear of unlicensed taxis or offers of cheap lifts on social media, regardless of how tempting it may be when you just want to get home.” Vehicles licensed by the Council can be clearly identified by stickers on the body of the vehicle and rear licence plates. Kim Enderby, Senior Licensing Officer said: “Bogus taxi drivers typically seek to cash in on demand during the busy Christmas period, harming the livelihoods of council-approved drivers. “Licensed taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers must undergo rigorous background and criminal record checks. Unlicensed vehicles will not have the correct insurance in place and unlicensed drivers will not have undertaken the relevant safeguarding checks to ensure they are fit to transport passengers and do not pose a threat to the public.” West Lindsey District Council has issued some safety tips including the following:
  • Always try to ensure that somebody knows where you are going and what time you expect to be home.
  • If your plans change, let somebody know.
  • Pre-book your taxi and remember to ask the driver who they are waiting for.
  • make sure that your mobile is charged and switched on at all times.
  • Always sit behind the driver
  • Always check that the driver is wearing appropriate ID – if you can’t see the driver’s ID badge, ask to see it.
If you know or are aware of one of these rogue drivers, you should inform the Council, who collaborate closely with the Police and CCTV operators, to identify these individuals and stop their illegal activity. You can report an issue by visiting this linked page and completing an online form: https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/report-it  

Lincolnshire volunteers needed to spread joy of reading in schools

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire volunteers needed to spread joy of reading in schools
Children’s literacy charity Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers who can help spread the joy of reading to children in primary schools in Lincolnshire. Every year, 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read to the expected standard. Schoolreaders recruits volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools, focusing on schools where children require the most support. Volunteers are asked to listen to children read once a week in term time and to commit to an academic year. 95% of children supported by a Schoolreaders volunteer improve their reading age. Partner schools also reported that volunteers had a positive impact on pupils with 95% improving their reading confidence and 87% their reading enjoyment. Additionally, children benefit enormously from the volunteers as positive role models in the classroom. Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, says: “Children who leave primary school unable to read well can’t access their secondary schooling fully which will compromise their life opportunities. One in seven adults in England (7.1 million) are functionally illiterate and cannot read instructions on a medicine label, sit a driving theory test or fill in a job application form. Working together we can change this. “Our Schoolreaders volunteers provide a crucial supplement to classroom teaching and are welcomed by schools and the children. If more children gain pleasure from reading from an early age and their reading fluency and confidence improves too, communities and society will reap the benefits.” Sheena, retired, and a Schoolreaders volunteer, explains her experience: “For me, establishing a rapport with each child and recognising their uniqueness by making the sessions relevant and fun is what counts and the earlier we can do this the better. “Reading skills and developing a love of books from the earliest age will hopefully aid children to become confident, interested and engaged readers who read for pleasure. I thoroughly enjoy my time listening to readers and look forward to returning to school after half term.”

Perfect 10 for Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home review scores

Tess Egginton
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0
Perfect 10 for Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home review scores
Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home, near Holbeach in Lincolnshire, has received the highest rating of 10 out of 10 from reviews left on the online review site Carehome.co.uk. Beech Lodge Care and Nursing Home was the first-ever Country Court Care Home, and this year celebrated its fortieth year of caring for residents. The home provides dedicated nursing care, residential and dementia care in a homely setting and is known for its warm family atmosphere. Led by their person-centred approach to care with staff getting to know each resident individually means that each person receives an experience unique to them. One reviewer, the son of a resident, posted: “Such a wonderful family feeling to Beech Lodge. Nothing is too much trouble and there’s tremendous attention to detail. They also go out of their way to make sure I am okay too.” Another reviewer, the husband of a resident, said: “We are pleased with the service and care given and would have no problems with moving my wife here again.” Reviewers include friends and family members of current residents, who are asked for their opinion on key parts of care home life, including Care and Support, Facilities, food and drink and overall experience. Carehome.co.uk is the UK’s leading Care Home review website with 16,746 Care Homes, 15 million visits per year and 299,422 Care Home reviews. All the reviews have to be verified before they can be published on the site with the team performing a number of checks to ensure they all comply with their review policy. Anu Bijoy, the Home Manager at Beech Lodge, said: “We are thrilled to receive the top score; it means so much to all of us as it is the hard work and dedication from the whole team which has made this possible. “We also thank the friends and family members of our residents who recognise all the hard work, care, and commitment shown by the staff and that it has come directly from their experiences whilst we care for their loved ones means a great deal. I would like to thank the staff for all their hard work as without them this wouldn’t have been possible.” For more information about Beech Lodge Care & Nursing Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Anu Bijoy Home Manager on 01406 423 396 or email beechlodge@countrycourtcare.com.
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