Creative sector brings £5.35m boost to North East Lincolnshire

April Lara
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Creative sector brings £5.35m boost to North East Lincolnshire

Creative and heritage industries in North East Lincolnshire have grown significantly over the past year, generating over £5.3 million in external investment and delivering hundreds of employment opportunities through the Create North East Lincolnshire (Create NEL) initiative.

Launched in September 2023 with support from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, North East Lincolnshire Council, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Create NEL supported the region’s creative economy through targeted investment, cross-sector collaboration, and talent development.

In 2024/25, 45 funded projects attracted £5.35 million in heritage and cultural investment into the area. Over 3,700 hours of paid work for local creatives were recorded, and 451 volunteers were engaged in community projects. The programme distributed more than £136,000 in direct grants to 23 practitioners and 23 larger-scale and small-scale projects, with 54% of funds going to first-time recipients.

The initiative supported a broad range of activities, from public art and performance to music and visual arts, with over 61% of the funded work falling under these categories. Major events such as Edible Grimsby, Our Future Starts Here, and the Festival of the Sea collectively attracted over 11,000 attendees. Meanwhile, Paint the Town Proud completed its 14th mural and extended its community outreach through merchandise and workshops.

In addition to project funding, the programme ran 347 workshops and mentoring sessions, 115 public engagement events, and a creative careers conference to strengthen the local talent pipeline and support long-term sector sustainability.

With continuing public investment and growing participation across disciplines, Create NEL is positioning North East Lincolnshire as an emerging hub for creative sector development with economic and social impact for the wider region.

  Image source: North East Lincolnshire Council

Inclusive upgrades at Lincolnshire sports facility near completion

April Lara
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Inclusive upgrades at Lincolnshire sports facility near completion

Grantham Squash & Fitness is finalising significant accessibility improvements following a £35,000 investment from South Kesteven District Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The funding supported the installation of a lift at the Harlaxton Road facility, addressing previous accessibility issues that limited participation from individuals with mobility challenges. The upgrade is part of the club’s broader effort to increase usage across a wider demographic and expand its function as a multi-purpose community hub.

This latest phase complements earlier works last summer, which included electric entrance doors and improved internal access to core amenities such as the gym, squash courts, sauna, and toilets.

Once the lift is operational, the venue’s upper-level function rooms and squash court viewing areas will become more accessible, making it easier for the club to host a broader range of events and increase community engagement. The lift installation is expected to be completed this week.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Seadog81

Make a splash at the 2025 Lincoln Dragon Boat Race!

Tess Egginton
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Make a splash at the 2025 Lincoln Dragon Boat Race!
Get ready for one of Lincoln’s most exhilarating annual events – the 2025 Lincoln Dragon Boat Race is back and bigger than ever! Mark your calendars for Saturday, 12th July, as the Brayford Waterfront transforms into a vibrant hub of competition, community, and celebration. Teams from across the region will battle it out in a day packed with thrilling races, all set against the stunning backdrop of Lincoln’s waterfront. Whether you’re in the boat or cheering from the sidelines, it’s guaranteed to be a day full of high energy and heart-pounding excitement. More Than Just Racing – A Full Day of Family Fun The Dragon Boat Race isn’t just for competitors – it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family! Enjoy: 🎶 Live performances from the Lincoln Rock Choir 🎨 Free face painting by Lollipops Facepainting 🎪 Circus skills workshops and interactive dragon displays 🐉 Plus loads more entertainment and activities for all ages Join the Fun – Everyone’s Invited! Not racing? No problem! Bring your friends and family, cheer on the teams, explore the festivities, and enjoy an unforgettable summer day by the water. 📍 Date: Saturday, 12th July 📍 Location: Brayford Waterfront, Lincoln 📍 Time: Races begin at 11 AM To find out more click here.

Fun-filled family days out come to Burghley for May Half Term

Tess Egginton
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Fun-filled family days out come to Burghley for May Half Term
With May Half Term and another Bank Holiday on the horizon, Burghley is offering fun-filled family days out, where the gardens are blooming, history is coming to life, and the next adventure awaits. Hide & Secrets Open daily (10am-5pm), big thrills await at the Hidden Towers, where imaginations run wild! Zoom down giant slides, brave the rope bridge over the craggy gorge, and climb to the treetop lookout. Cecil the Mole’s Spy Missions Scurry through tunnels, crack secret codes, and follow sneaky trails, to find Cecil’s friends through the Hide & Secrets woodland, to earn ultimate spy status with Cecil’s free Spymaster Guide. Craft Workshops From 27-30 May (12pm-4pm), cut, stick and create! Kids of all ages can get hands-on in colourful, creative craft sessions. Beastly Boring Tours From 27-29 May and on 31 May (9.30am-10.30am), take a family tour like no other! Explore the State Rooms of the House with costumed guides as they share engaging and fun stories of Burghley’s past. Each child receives a free Beastly Boring Guidebook. Joe’s Top Picks With early summer colours making their way into every corner of the Garden, Head Gardener, Joe has chosen his top three must-see garden highlights to look out for as a family. See the vibrant violet-blue and purple petals of the Siberian iris, in the Valley Garden, the vivid orange and yellow blooms of Bulley’s primrose, in its shady spot by the stream, and the fragrant, lavender-blue Catmint in the Cut Flower Garden. View the Gardens Map here. Also in the Gardens, don’t miss a spectacular outdoor art installation. Botanic Tapestry by Graphic Rewilding This bold exhibition features striking botanical prints brought to life through a parade of large-scale flags lining the lake’s edge and colourful textile tree wraps woven throughout the Burghley Gardens. As Half Term arrives and summer peeks around the corner, it’s the perfect time to unlock a whole season of fun and adventure with a Burghley Annual Pass.

New green space opens at Baltic Mill in Gainsborough

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New green space opens at Baltic Mill in Gainsborough
A new green space has opened in Gainsborough, along the riverside overlooking the River Trent. The former Baltic Mill site has been turned into a welcoming, accessible space for the community to enjoy, in time for the summer. People can enjoy the grassed area, benches and plants as well as exploring the new pergola which features a map of the town. Cllr Trevor Young, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This is one of my favourite projects from the Levelling Up Fund. This wonderful transformation of the Baltic Mill site delivers much-needed green space for Gainsborough. “It’s a place for people to rest, relax and connect with nature—right in the heart of the community. I encourage everyone to come down and enjoy it.” The area located just off Caskgate in the town was visited by councillors, residents and the developers for an official opening. Cllr Matthew Boles, chairman of West Lindsey District Council, said: “This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when we invest in our public spaces with a long-term vision. Creating accessible green areas like this not only benefits our health and wellbeing but also brings people together and strengthens our sense of community.” Andy Jones, director of AWJ Business Services, added: “Not only did this contract successfully deliver the regeneration of a key site in Gainsborough Town Centre, but the works were testimony to how collaborative working can overcome the significant obstacles associated with the transformation of a site that had been derelict for some time. “It was a pleasure to deal with West Lindsey District Council and the Project Centre, and we look forward to future opportunities to do so again!”
  Image credit: West Lindsey District Council

Dog exercise area to support biodiversity in Lincolnshire park

April Lara
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Dog exercise area to support biodiversity in Lincolnshire park

A new dog exercise area is opening in Wyndham Park, Grantham. It is being designed to serve a dual purpose: as a dog paddock and a wildflower meadow to support pollinators and boost local biodiversity.

The site, which spans 4,000 square metres, is part of South Kesteven District Council’s initiative to enhance green spaces through nature-friendly land management. The project’s funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

In addition to its recreational use, the area has been planted with native wildflowers and trees to provide a habitat for bees and other pollinating species. The move aligns with broader environmental goals, including carbon reduction and improved ecosystem health.

A local consultation found strong community support, with 71% of respondents backing the plan. The council expects the multifunctional site to contribute positively to public wellbeing and environmental outcomes.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Vasyl

Lincolnshire trio receive national awards

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Lincolnshire trio receive national awards
Lincolnshire residents Barry Bedford, Chris Sargeant and Jean Logan have recently received national recognition for their commitment and contributions to the running of their local not-for-profit friendship group. The trio, all members of the Market Deeping-based Nene and Welland Oddfellows, have been selected as winners of ‘Making a Difference Awards’. Their trophies were handed out at a special ceremony at the Society’s annual national conference in Scarborough on Tuesday 20 May. Barry, from Baston, has been a member of the Branch for almost 60 years. He won in the ‘Giving a Helping Hand’ category for his willingness and enthusiasm for being there for others. As a Welfare Officer, Barry has been known to give members lifts to and from events and the shops, he frequently checks in on people both over the phone and in person, and has assisted in all manner of DIY projects, including helping to clear driveways, repairing doors, gardening jobs and decorating rooms. Barry said: “I do get a buzz out of helping people. If I come home and I say to my wife, ‘I’ve done so-and-so with them and I’ve painted a room and they’re happy with it’, I think I’ve done something useful. “It’s the way I live my life and always have done and if that transforms into helping other people then I’m thankful. “It’s wonderful winning a national award. I’m not only recognised around here but within the whole Society. I’m very proud of it.” Chris, from Pinchbeck in Spalding, took home the ‘Working in the Spirit of Mutuality’ trophy, which recognises her commitment to Nene and Welland Oddfellows and the wider Society. Throughout her near-50 years of membership, Chris has held almost every formal volunteer position at her Branch and represented Nene and Welland Oddfellows on regional and national committees. She said: “The Oddfellows gives to me as much as I give to it. I’m 75 now. I’ve been retired 12 years, but I don’t know how I’d cope if I hadn’t got Oddfellowship to keep me going and all my friends in the Society. “You get to know people. I’ve friends all over the country through Oddfellowship. I love it, absolutely love it.” On winning the award, she added: “I was shocked because I didn’t know. It’s amazing. How proud was I that someone had thought I was worthy of it?” Jean was chosen as the winner in the ‘Enriching Lives Socially’ category, celebrating her role in providing a varied and exciting social offering for Nene and Welland Oddfellows members. Through her role on the Branch’s Social Committee, the Bourne resident is key to coming up with new ideas for, organising, and hosting events and – importantly – making sure everyone has a good time. She said: “I’m an organiser. I always organise things. I’m always in the catering. I’m always in the kitchen. “They always say to me, ‘we wish we had your energy’, and I say, ‘well I’m not giving it to anybody, sorry it’s mine!’” Jean said it was a nice surprise to discover she had won the award, adding: “It was the fact that I was the overall winner. You’ve got so many Oddfellows branches all over the country and I end up as the overall winner.” Nene and Welland Oddfellows is made up of 400 mostly older and retired local members and anyone is welcome to join. It is one of 96 branches that make up the Oddfellows’ nationwide network, which is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK. Branch Secretary at Nene and Welland Oddfellows, Karen Earth, said: “We were delighted to learn that not one, but three of our members had been chosen as winners of the Making a Difference Awards. They are a wonderful representation of the kind, caring and brilliant people we have here. “A huge congratulations to Barry, Chris and Jean. We don’t know where we’d be without you.” The Society aims to improve its members’ lives through friendship and support. It hosts a range of affordable and accessible events locally, and Oddfellows members can access a variety of benefits including care and welfare support and a travel club. There are also opportunities to volunteer and take part in fundraising initiatives.   Image shows: Nene and Welland Oddfellows’ Making a Difference Awards winners Chris Sargeant, Barry Bedford and Jean Logan

HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum

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HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
A model of HMS Taku, a British T Class Submarine, has been presented to Ayscoughfee Hall by the Spalding Branch of the Royal Naval Association. The model was previously on loan to South Holland District Council and was on display in the Priory Road offices. On Wednesday 21 May, the model was moved from the council offices to Ayscoughfee Hall, which will become its permanent home. The submarine was launched on May 20, 1939, a few months prior to the start of the Second World War. HMS Taku saw action during the war, in British waters and the Mediterranean, until it was heavily damaged in 1944 when it was struck by a mine. She returned to active service a few months later and was retired in June 1945. While in the Mediterranean Sea, the submarine damaged and sunk several Italian and German vessels. In 1941, it was involved in a wartime campaign where towns and villages were invited to adopt a warship, Spitfire, tank or other vessels to support the war effort. In one week, the people of Spalding raised over £350,000, the equivalent today of raising around £15 million. This amount funded the building of a new submarine, and as a result Spalding officially ‘adopted’ HMS Taku. In June 1942, some of the crew visited Spalding and stayed with local families. There were many local events to celebrate the link, and today that continues through Taku Footbridge – the bridge over the River Welland next to High Bridge in Spalding’s Town Centre. Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, conservation and heritage, said: “It has been an honour to have the model of HMS Taku at our offices in Spalding. “The submarine is an important part of Spalding’s history and that of the nation, having played a role in the Allied victory during the Second World War. HMS Taku continues to have local significance, having lent its name to one of the many footbridges over the River Welland. “I am certain that the model will be received very positively by the people of Spalding, and those from further afield, at its new location within Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.”

Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort

April Lara
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Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort

Grimsby Crematorium has reopened its chapel following a five-week refurbishment to improve capacity and visitor experience. The project involved a complete interior overhaul, including removing pews in favour of modern seating to increase occupancy. Additional upgrades include new flooring, carpeting, ceiling, thermal glazing, and automated window controls to enhance climate regulation.

The renovation was carried out with minimal service disruption and completed on schedule by contractor Unibuild. The updated facility now hosts over 2,000 annual services in a brighter, more functional space, catering to over 200,000 visitors annually. The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to modernise bereavement services and better serve local families and funeral operators.

Image source: North East Lincolnshire Council

Outdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast

April Lara
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Outdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast

Lincolnshire’s SO Festival has returned with an expanded week-long programme, blending international outdoor arts with skills development and placemaking efforts along the East Lindsey coast.

Running across Skegness and Mablethorpe, the 2025 edition now spans seven days, featuring artists from seven countries, including acrobatics, puppetry, hip hop-infused circus, and interactive installations. A newly added three-day conference brings together industry leaders and cultural practitioners to explore how the arts can drive social change in coastal regions, a theme that will continue into next year with SEAScape at SO Festival 2025, a dedicated international forum on art and placemaking.

The festival goes beyond performance. Through a series of free workshops—from AI basics and special effects makeup to aerial access training and street art—it aims to boost creative engagement, digital literacy, and community-led innovation. Activities are shaped by local consultation and designed to make cultural participation more accessible.

Image source: SO Festival
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