Residents living in Alkborough, North Lincolnshire, recently joined forces to support the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) and raised over £1,000 for its life-saving work. The Not 2 Fast, Not 2 Furious Tractor Group raised £642, Alkborough Coronation Club donated £305, and local resident John Robinson gave a personal donation of £55. LNAA Volunteer David Carrick, who went along to the Alkborough Community Come Together to receive their donation, said: “We would like to thank everyone in Alkborough for their generosity. The support we receive from local groups and societies is the essence of our charity. “Without the continuous support from communities across Lincs & Notts our crews would not be able to what they do, 24/7, 365 days-of-the-year.” LNAA is one of the UK’s leading Helicopter Emergency Service charities, bringing the equivalent of a hospital emergency department to patients at the scene, giving those with the most severe injuries and medical conditions the very best chance of survival when minutes matter. Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance receives no direct government funding and relies on the generosity of its supporters to fund the £13 million needed annually to keep its helicopter in the sky and fleet of critical care cars on the road, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

Classic Ibiza returns to the stunning grounds of Burghley House on Saturday 26 July, promising an extra-special show to mark its 10^th birthday. As part of the celebrations, the concert organisers have announced that they will be teaming up with Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice to help raise funds for the vital work they do within the local community. For more than 70 years, Sue Ryder has been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief. Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. The charity provides a safe and reassuring hand people can reach for. From providing care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, Sue Ryder knows there is no one size fits all when it comes to how people cope and the help they need. Asif Shaheed at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice said: “Thorpe Hall, where Sue Ryder’s local hospice is situated, has a long standing relationship with Burghley House, with Stamford and Peterborough being in close proximity to each other and the hospice being involved in a number of events that take place there, such as the Christmas Fayre and Santa Fun Run. “Thorpe Hall is the closest hospice to Stamford and over the years many families have been supported by the hospice with end-of-life care and bereavement support.” Making a donation couldn’t be easier, as there’s an option to donate when you purchase your tickets on Classic Ibiza’s website. There will also be various fundraising initiatives taking place at the show, including a £2.50 donation from every programme sold, a recommended £5 donation from press and guest-list entries, as well as collection points at all entry and exit gates. Further funds will be raised at the Sue Ryder shop, selling a range of fun merchandise. Classic Ibiza raised a grand total of nearly £32,000 on last summer’s tour for charitable causes, an increase of over £10,000 from the previous year. Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward said: “Through the generosity of our incredible audiences up and down the country we continue to raise even more money for the amazing charities we support. Demand for this year’s show is high, so we hope to raise even more money than ever before. A massive thank you to everyone for their donations.” This summer’s new-look Classic Ibiza will take you on a high-octane rollercoaster ride of the show’s most popular tracks from its 10 year back catalogue. Known for their work alongside dance music greats like Groove Armada, Robert Miles and Nightmares On Wax, Stephen Hussey’s 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra will be performing more tracks than ever before in a set that is all thriller, no filler. USO will be joined for the first time by the incredible London Community Gospel Choir, who have recorded with music icons such as Adele, Blur, Madonna and Gregory Porter. Supporting them on the decks are DJ Goldierocks and former Pacha Ibiza resident DJ Jose Luis. For further information, visit: classicibiza.co.uk   Image shows the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice nursing team (credit: Sue Ryder)

Food redistribution charities can now apply for a share in a new £15 million Government scheme designed to ensure surplus food is delivered to those who need it. Every year about 330,000 tonnes of edible food is either wasted or repurposed as animal feed before leaving farm gates. The new Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme will strengthen links between farms and charities to help solve the problem of food surplus on farms, with grants starting from £20,000 to help organisations fight hunger in communities. From today applicants can submit bids outlining how they intend to form relationships with farmers to access any surplus food, and how they would seek to increase their capacity to redistribute this food to communities. The funding can go towards purchasing new packaging and labelling equipment and vehicles to move goods from farms to a redistribution organisation, as well as new equipment, like fridges or freezers, to safely store food and ensure it lasts longer. The fund is open to food redistribution charities and any groups with an interest are encouraged to apply. Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Nobody wants to see good food go to waste – especially farmers who work hard to put food on our nation’s tables. This fund will help charities work more closely with farmers to create new ways to get fresh produce to the people who need it most.

“I encourage our brilliant, dedicated redistribution charities and non-profits to apply for this funding to ensure more British fruit and veg gets to those who need it most.”

In a joint statement, the CEOs of The Bread and Butter Thing, City Harvest, FareShare, The Felix Project and Co-Chairs of The Xcess Group said: “As leaders of the surplus food redistribution sector and following years of campaigning, we are delighted to welcome the launch of this fund ahead of British growing season. “It presents an opportunity to make a profound impact by empowering local charities and community organisations. These groups are the backbone of British society, and we are proud to support them.

“By working across the charitable redistribution sector, we can help ensure that this scheme is implemented efficiently through our joint capacity, delivers tangible value to taxpayers, and helps millions of meals reach as many people as possible at a time of considerable need.”

Applications can be submitted online until 11:55am on 13 March 2025.

The Lincolnshire Suicide Prevention Network has met for the first time to offer more help to those at risk of taking their own lives.

It involves academics, community members, representatives from the voluntary sector, people with lived experience, and professionals in relevant fields. It recently met for its inaugural meeting in Sleaford.