North Lincolnshire council is continuing to invest in free swimming as part of the range of activities for young people through the summer holidays. Children aged 16 and under across the Isle of Axholme will be able to access the Summer Daze free swimming sessions at Axholme North Leisure Centre and Epworth Pool. The Summer Daze programme runs until the beginning of September, with all children under 16 able to swim for free during the special sessions. Children aged between 8 and 16 attending the Summer Daze sessions will need to book their places in advance online. Parents bringing younger children to the free sessions will be able to just turn up and book at reception. The Summer Daze family sessions can also be booked in advance on the website, and in the specific family sessions the whole family can attend for free, not just the children. Epworth Daze sessions are 12pm to 1pm, Monday to Friday and they can be booked on the Epworth Pool website. Last year, North Lincolnshire Council’s investment in the Summer Daze free swimming programme saw around 1,100 free swims in Crowle and Epworth. Cllr Rob Waltham MBE, leader of the Council, said: “I am proud we are keeping our promise to provide families and children across the Isle  with this support through the summer holidays. We know the cost of the living crisis is a real challenge for many local working families and free swimming provides a healthy activity whilst also improving physical activity. “This investment is about more than just fun – it’s about supporting families, encouraging healthy lifestyles and making sure every child has access to safe, active opportunities during the school holidays.” Cllr Julie Reed, ward member for Axholme North and cabinet member for independent families: children, said: “Our parents can relax, safe in the knowledge their child is in a lifeguard supervised swimming pool, rather than children swimming in open waters, which we again wish to highlight just how dangerous this can be. Our sessions are free to attend, removing any barriers that our children may face in accessing safe, fun swimming during the holidays. “Last year’s turnout was incredible, and we are proud to continue investing in opportunities that promote wellbeing, community, and active lifestyles. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these sessions and make the most of what our local leisure centres have to offer.”   Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council

Leisure facilities in Lincoln are set to reopen this week following a major programme of investment by the City of Lincoln Council.

Birchwood Leisure Centre will welcome visitors back on 31 July, with both indoor and outdoor spaces available from that date. Yarborough Leisure Centre will reopen its outdoor facilities the same day, followed by its swimming pool and ground floor on 7 August. The gym and studios at Yarborough are scheduled to return to use from 14 August.

The council appointed Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to manage the centres after Active Nation ceased trading in April. GLL, a charitable social enterprise that operates more than 200 leisure sites across the UK, will manage the Lincoln centres for the next two years while the council reviews the long-term future of leisure services.

Work at both sites has focused on modernising facilities and improving standards, with some final decorative tasks to be completed in the coming weeks.

This rapid turnaround means the centres will reopen just four months after closing, far quicker than the typical year-long process for such venues.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Kalpana

Classic Ibiza returned to the beautiful grounds of Burghley House on Saturday 26 July, delighting a capacity crowd of Lincolnshire partygoers with over five hours of Balearic-infused house music. The fifth concert of the show’s 10^th anniversary tour saw Urban Soul Orchestra (USO), conducted by Stephen Hussey, perform a ‘best of’ set of over 50 house classics. The concert also featured Classic Ibiza debutants, London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC), who added their soulful and uplifting vocals to a number of tracks during the evening. Concertgoer, Annette Mawby, summed upped the crowd’s reaction perfectly on Classic Ibiza’s social channels: “Incredible night, brilliant music and just the best atmosphere! The crew you have at the event are some of the best people I’ve come across at an event, so helpful, nothing was too much trouble, and everything was just so easy to find. 10/10 great job!” Gates opened at 5.30pm, and as the audience settled into the family-friendly vibe over their picnics, they enjoyed a soundtrack of Afro/Latin-infused house, expertly mixed by DJ Jose Luis, a former Pacha Ibiza resident. Towards the end of his set, he was joined on stage by LCGC for a live mash-up of gospel-inspired tracks, including Clivillés and Cole’s A Deeper Love and Blaze’s Most Precious Love, which featured the iconic vocals of Aretha Franklin and Barabara Tucker on the original recordings. At 8pm, USO and DJ Goldierocks took centre stage for the Ghost Ship Sundowner Set, with the BPM taking a noticeable uptick. Beginning appropriately with Fatboy Slim’s Right Here, Right Now, USO were joined by LCGC for a spine-tingling rendition of eight classic tracks, including Gypsy Woman by Crystal Waters and Lola’s Theme by The Shapeshifters. LCGC are one of the world’s most in-demand choirs, having recorded with a veritable who’s who of popular music, including Adele, Blur and Madonna. USO, who have collaborated with the likes of Groove Armada and Robert Miles, took a short break at 9pm, leaving the Burghley audience in the capable hands of party-starter extraordinaire, DJ Goldierocks. She mixed up a storm of deep house anthems, setting the scene perfectly for what was to come. As night fell, and the grounds of Burghley House transformed into magical, alfresco nightclub, USO returned to the stage at 9.30pm for the Dance Set. Accompanied by an awesome laser and light show, the crowd partied to USO’s breathtaking orchestral performance, featuring Galvanise by The Chemical Brothers, Out Of Space by The Prodigy and Adagio For Strings by Tiësto. The audience was then treated to a fitting encore of two of Classic Ibiza’s most popular tracks. Saving the best for last, USO went out on high to Insomnia by Faithless and Sandstorm by Darude. The concert ended at 11pm. Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward comments: “Well Burghley, that was certainly one helluva ride! A huge shout out to everyone that came to party with us – the joy and love that you brought was incredible. “Then there’s the ever-wonderful Urban Soul Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Hussey, and our DJs Goldierocks and Jose Luis. Every year you manage to take things to a whole new level. Finally, a massive thank you to London Community Gospel Choir. Your soulful vocals and uplifting harmonies were truly magical – the icing on our delicious 10^th anniversary birthday cake!” Classic Ibiza, sponsored by Adnams Ghost Ship, is proud to support Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. To be the first to hear about Classic Ibiza’s 2026 tour dates, sign-up here: www.classicibiza.co.uk/burghley/keep-in-touch.   Image shows Classic Ibiza Ghostship Sundowner Set at Burghley House. Credit: David Evans Photography

Children and teenagers in North Lincolnshire can once again enjoy free swimming and cheaper bus fares throughout the school summer holidays.

Single bus tickets for young people aged five to 19 are capped at £1.50, while adults travelling with them pay no more than £3 per single journey. The fare offer applies to all local services, making it easier to visit attractions such as Normanby Hall Country Park, leisure centres, museums and market towns across the region.

Swimming is also free for under-16s at six local pools: The Pods, Riddings Community Hub, Ancholme Leisure Centre, Axholme North Leisure Centre, Baysgarth Community Hub and Epworth Swimming Pool. The free swims, part of the Summer Daze sessions, must be booked in advance for children aged eight to 16.

Children under eight need to be checked in by an adult at reception, and pool safety rules mean the youngest swimmers must be supervised at all times.

The seasonal scheme, which proved popular last year, is designed to give families affordable ways to spend the summer together while encouraging safe swimming and greater use of public transport.

  Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council

Fenchurch House Care Home, located in Spalding and part of the Country Court family, recently hosted a heartwarming afternoon tea to celebrate a young volunteer who has made a meaningful difference to residents’ lives. 18-year-old Matthew Simons, a student at Spalding Grammar School, was honoured for his dedication to supporting older people through the YOPEY Befrienders scheme – an initiative run by the East Anglian charity YOPEY (Young People of the Year). The programme trains young people to visit care homes, offering their time, companionship, and conversation to residents. Matthew has given over 52 hours of his time, regularly visiting both Fenchurch House and neighbouring St John’s Care Home in Spalding. His commitment was formally recognised by the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, David Chambers, who presented him with a prestigious High Sheriff Award. Matthew was also presented with a special certificate by YOPEY founder Tony Gearing MBE, who described him as “a great friend to the elderly.” The celebration was attended by residents, staff, school representatives, and special guests, including Dr Adriana Leadbeater, Sixth Form Director at Spalding Grammar School, and her deputy, Alex Dearing. Dr Leadbeater praised the scheme, saying: “Being a YOPEY Befriender is a great way for students to give back, gain perspective beyond the teenage bubble, and learn to appreciate and respect older generations.” The Spalding Grammar School students involved in the programme have clocked up over 200 visits, giving nearly 300 hours of their time to local care homes. Matthew, who hopes to study conservation biology at Leeds University, reflected on the experience: “I learned a lot about how people cope in old age and how important it is to make the most of life and stay positive, whatever challenges they may face.” Tony Gearing MBE, founder of YOPEY, added: “Matthew was a great friend to the elderly. When young people persevere with care home visits like he did, they become a source of real comfort to residents. We’re also grateful to the supportive staff at Country Court care homes, which create a welcoming environment for young volunteers.” Fenchurch House Home Manager, Ganiyu Lawal, said: “Being part of the YOPEY programme has been an uplifting experience for everyone at Fenchurch House. Matthew brought joy and genuine companionship to our residents, and it’s been a pleasure to watch those connections grow. We wish him all the best in the future.” For more information about life at Fenchurch House Care Home, please contact Hannah Mills on 01775 711 959 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.

Children and families in North Lincolnshire can once again enjoy free swimming throughout the school summer holidays as the council’s Summer Daze programme returns.

The sessions, open to anyone aged 16 and under, run until early September across leisure centres in Barton-upon-Humber, Crowle, Scunthorpe’s The Pods and Riddings pools, Epworth Swimming Pool and the small pool at Ancholme Leisure Centre.

Young swimmers aged between eight and 16 need to book online in advance, while younger children can be registered on arrival. Family sessions are also part of the programme, giving the opportunity for parents and children to swim together free of charge.

More than 6,100 free swims took place last year as part of the initiative, which aims to give children a safe, healthy and low-cost way to spend their summer holidays while encouraging an active lifestyle.

By offering supervised sessions at local leisure centres, the programme provides a safe alternative to swimming in open water and helps support families looking for affordable activities over the summer.

  Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council