Flags to be raised at Lincolnshire hospitals to honour organ donors
Flags will be raised at Lincolnshire’s hospitals to honour those who have helped save the lives of others through organ donation.
The pink organ donation flag will fly at Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, each time a person becomes a donor in Lincolnshire.
Dr Gary Wilbourn, consultant in intensive care and anaesthesia and clinical lead for organ donation at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH), said: “By raising a flag in Boston and Lincoln with their loved ones consent, we will honour the decision made to give the gift of life through organ donation each time it happens in our hospitals.
“We hope it will signify an opportunity to reflect on the life-changing impact being an organ donor has on all involved, including the donor, those recipients who may have been waiting a long time to receive an organ, their families and friends, and our NHS colleagues involved in their care.
“It is also a welcome tribute alongside the existing organ donation memorial trees, which can be found in the main entrances of our hospitals in Boston and Lincoln.”
The flags have been purchased thanks to the support of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity. The charity provides additional items not funded through NHS budgets.
During 2024/25, Lincolnshire’s hospital teams supported seven families to donate the organs of their loved ones. This resulted in 21 other people being able to receive a potentially life-saving organ transplant.
There are currently more than 8,000 people waiting for a transplant in the UK.
Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Cash boost to help North Lincolnshire residents celebrate heritage and culture
North Lincolnshire residents are set to benefit from a new fund helping launch dozens of community-led projects celebrating their heritage and culture, whether bringing to life a hidden piece of local history, a creative idea bringing neighbours together, or a project which helps people share their stories, memories or skills.
Heritage, art and community groups, civic societies, independent museums, social enterprises, charities and town and parish councils can all apply for the cash.
Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for community wellbeing (urban), said: “This isn’t about having experience or knowing the arts world – it’s about passion, community, and great ideas.
“Across the coming year, the programme will support dozens of community-led projects which will bring friends, neighbours and new faces together through creative activity and shared experiences.
“We want applications from people who want to celebrate the places they live in new and interesting ways – it’s open to everyone in Scunthorpe, Ashby, Barton, Brigg, across the Isle of Axholme and everywhere in between.”
Groups will be able to apply for funding to run local activities such as workshops, exhibitions, performances, festivals or storytelling events. Projects can involve people of all ages and backgrounds to bring communities together, build pride, or maybe uncover something new about where they live.
The first round of the fund closes on 18 July at 5pm, with more opportunities to follow. Over the next year, funding of up to £10,000 per project will be available in four rounds.
Information on the full criteria and how to apply for funding can be found on the Cultural Futures webpage or by emailing culturalfutures@northlincs.gov.uk
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Stockfotos-MG
Crowds flock to Skegness beach but leave litter behind
A wave of sunshine brought over 5,000 people to Skegness beach on the hottest and longest day of the year, leaving behind piles of rubbish that sparked concern from lifeguards and locals.
The RNLI reported unusually high visitor numbers more typical of peak August holidays, with lifeguards working flat out to ensure public safety. But alongside the crowds came a sharp rise in littering, including bottles, wrappers and even used disposable barbecues scattered across the sand and dunes.
Lifeguards warned that the discarded waste not only threatens wildlife and the environment but can also pose real dangers to people, ranging from cuts to burns. Overflowing bins and a lack of waste disposal options by the evening only added to the mess.
Council workers were quick to act, raking the beach clean the next morning. But the weekend scenes have reignited conversations about sustainable tourism and the need for shared responsibility among beachgoers.
With warmer weather and school holidays on the horizon, authorities are urging visitors to enjoy the coast, but leave only footprints behind.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Steven F GranvilleNight shelter may reopen in Grantham as tent encampments grow
With tents now a common sight in Grantham’s parks and public spaces, South Kesteven District Council is considering reopening a temporary night shelter to support those sleeping rough.
Last winter, the Grantham Ark provided shelter between December and February. As the number of visible encampments grows, estimated at around 10 to 12, the council is now in talks with the same charity to reopen the facility.
Officials say everyone currently rough sleeping is known to services, but many have complex needs and limited housing options. Some have previously declined to use shelters or been excluded due to behavioural issues, raising questions about how effective a reopening might be.
A short trial of the shelter is being explored to gauge demand, with the council aiming to create a safe and fair response for all parties involved.
Concerns from local councillors include reports of anti-social behaviour linked to some encampments, including drug use, threats, and fire risks. A wider meeting with housing officers and community partners is scheduled for 23 June to discuss next steps.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Seadog81Record-breaking Lincolnshire Show sees soaring visitor numbers
The Lincolnshire Show returned last week on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 June with record-breaking success, welcoming over 61,000 visitors to the Lincolnshire Showground – the highest attendance in 15 years – for two spectacular days of farming, food, family fun, and community celebration.
The event is hosted by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, a registered charity dedicated to promoting food, farming, and the countryside.
Basking under glorious sunshine and soaring temperatures, this year’s Show saw the highest number of cars in the car parks, a clear indication of its growing popularity and importance as a flagship event in the county calendar.
This year’s Show was packed with memorable moments, including a special visit from HRH The Princess Royal, who spent time meeting with local breeders, Chief Stewards, exhibitors, LAS Trustees and members of the farming community, highlighting the vital role agriculture plays in the life of the county.
Crowds were also delighted by the return of Matt Baker MBE, who appeared in the Countryside Ring and spent time chatting with families and fans, sharing his passion for rural life and the countryside. The Show also welcomed Harriet Cowan from Clarkson’s Farm and current Miss Lincolnshire, Mary Anna Jennings.
The Main Ring delivered a fresh dose of adrenaline with the Knights of Middle England, whose thrilling jousting displays and horseback stunts made their debut appearance and left audiences cheering for more.
Agriculture remained firmly at the heart of the event. Despite current disease concerns, the cattle lines were full with over 220 cattle, 500+ sheep entries, and an ever-growing pig competition. The Lincolnshire Fleece Competition grew by more than 40%, while nearly 1,400 horses competed in a range of classes from Horse of the Year Show qualifiers to the crowd-favourite Shetland Pony Grand National, showcasing the exceptional quality and care of local breeders and farmers.
New and returning features across the Showground added to the buzz:
- A beach installation offered a relaxing, sandy escape for families – a popular hit in the sunshine.
- The much-loved Farriers Area returned, bringing the traditional craft of horseshoeing to life with live competitions spanning over the two days.
- The brand new Rural Voices stage gave a platform to inspiring stories from the countryside, with talks from rural changemakers, farmers, and young people shaping the future of agriculture.
- An action packed Countryside Ring, with a full timetable throughout the days including Trickstars and the Hawkeye Falconry and so much more.
Classic Ibiza reveals its largest ever set for sold-out Burghley House show
With Classic Ibiza’s sold-out return to Burghley House on Saturday 26 July just over a month away, the concert organisers have revealed the incredible tracks being performed by Stephen Hussey’s Urban Soul Orchestra at the show.
Known for collaborating with the likes of Groove Armada and Robert Miles, USO will be performing over 50 house classics, in a set packed full of firm Classic Ibiza favourites. They’ll also be joined by some very special guests to celebrate the concert’s 10th birthday.
Gates open at 5.30pm, followed by a DJ set by former Pacha Ibiza resident, DJ Jose Luis. Towards the end of his set, London Community Gospel Choir make their first appearance as Classic Ibiza special guests. Together, they’ll be performing a live mash-up of uplifting house, giving concertgoers a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come.
At 8pm, the party gets into full swing as USO and DJ Goldierocks take centre stage for the Ghost Ship Sundowner Set. Joined by LCGC, they’ll create a soulful wall of sound on eight classic house tracks. The full track list in the first half is:
Right Here, Right Now (Fatboy Slim), Easy (Groove Armada), Show Me Love (Robin S), Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) (Crystal Waters), You Got The Love (The Source & Candon Staton), (I Wanna Give You) Devotion (Nomad), Lola’s Theme (The Shapeshifters), Pjanoo (Eric Prydz), King Of My Castle (Wamdue Project), Push The Feeling On (Nightcrawlers), What Is Love (Haddaway), One More Time (Daft Punk), Hey Boy, Hey Girl (The Chemical Brothers), Touch Me (Rui Da Silva), The Rhythm Of The Night (Corona), Dreamer (Livin’ Joy), Another Chance (Roger Sanchez), You Don’t Know Me (Armand Van Helden), For An Angel (Paul van Dyk), Children (Robert Miles), 9PM (Till I Come) (ATB), Sunchyme (Dario G), Sun Is Shining (Funkstar De Luxe), Saltwater (Chicane), Blackwater (Octave One).
USO take a short break at 9pm, leaving the Burghley House audience in the capable hands of DJ Goldierocks, who’ll be mixing up a storm of Ibiza house anthems. Then onto the evening’s main event at 9.30pm, as USO return to the stage for the Dance Set, accompanied by an awesome laser and light show. Here are the tracks they’ll be performing:
One (Your Name) (Swedish House Mafia), Galvanise (The Chemical Brothers), Blind Faith (Chase & Status), Superstylin’ (Groove Armada), Out Of Space (The Prodigy), On A Ragga Tip (SL2), Silence (Delerium, Tiësto), Firestarter (The Prodigy), ResuRection (PPK), Seven Days And One Week (BBE), Café Del Mar (Energy 52), Encore Une Fois (Sash!), Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Baby D), Castles In The Sky (Ian van Dahl), Better Off Alone (Alice Deejay), Toca’s Miracle (Fragma), Waiting All Night (Rudimental), Zombie Nation (Bass Drifter), Adagio For Strings (Tiësto), Born Slippy (Underworld), We Come 1 (Faithless), Levels (Avicii), Don’t You Worry Child (Swedish House Mafia), Titanium (David Guetta ft. Sia), Set You Free (N-Trance), Freed From Desire (Gala). The concert reaches a rapturous crescendo at 11pm, following an encore of two of Classic Ibiza’s most popular tracks.
USO’s Stephen Hussey, conductor, arranger and musical producer for Classic Ibiza, said: “Musically, this year is all about high-energy, killer drops, infectious hooks, uplifting vocals and of course symphonic melodies. For those of you coming to hear Insomnia and Sandstorm, all I can say is that maybe you’ll want to get to the front for the encore!
“If you can’t wait until the show, we’re releasing a new EP this week, Classic Ibiza Remixes Trilogy, featuring fresh interpretations of these very tracks. Alongside our three other albums, it’s the perfect appetiser to our summer tour.”
Classic Ibiza, sponsored by Adnams Ghost Ship, is proud to support local charity, Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. Classic Ibiza Remixes Trilogy is available to stream on all major music platforms. Visit classicibiza.co.uk for more information.
Picture shows: Classic Ibiza laser and light show (Dance Set). Image credit: David Evans Photography
Five Lincolnshire schools to open dedicated hubs for SEND support
Five primary schools across Lincolnshire have been approved to host new hubs aimed at supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), in a move designed to make inclusive education more accessible and community-based.
The new centres will cater to pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), offering specialised support while keeping children within the mainstream school setting. This approach allows students to benefit from both tailored learning and the social advantages of remaining integrated with their peers.
The schools selected for the programme are Gonerby Hill Foot Church of England Primary School in Grantham, The Meadows Primary School in Lincoln, St George’s Church of England Primary School in Gainsborough, Caistor Church of England and Methodist Primary School, and Church Lane Primary School in Sleaford.
The total investment in the hubs exceeds £7 million and is being funded by the Department for Education. The project comes in response to a sharp increase in demand for SEND provision in the county, where the percentage of pupils with EHCPs (4.9%) is notably higher than the national average (4.2%).
Local officials say the initiative is intended to relieve pressure on oversubscribed special schools and reduce the need for families to travel long distances for appropriate support.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/highwaystarz£13.5m partnerships deal to deliver 68 homes in Witham St Hughs
Housebuilder Honey is partnering with Platform Housing Group to deliver 68 homes for the housing association at its Nova development in Witham St Hughs.
The £13.5m deal is the first between the two businesses and will comprise 40 partnerships plots and 28 section 106 properties. These will include two-, three- and four-bedroom semi-detached, end terrace and terraced homes.
Work on the properties commenced in May, and the first residents are expected to move in this December. Honey is using timber frame construction on the homes and all properties will benefit from air source heat pumps as part of the housebuilder’s sustainability strategy.
Commenting on the partnerships deal, Honey chief executive, Mark Mitchell, said: “Partnering with Platform Housing Group will see us deliver homes in Witham St Hughs with sustainability designed into them for those who need them most.
“We believe it is our social purpose to help make more affordable homes available by addressing the lack of housing supply, and this first partnership with Platform meets that objective.
“We now look forward to exploring future opportunities with Platform as we expand our partnerships division throughout the Midlands and Yorkshire.”
Platform Housing Group head of new business, David Boyes-Watson, said: “We are delighted to have secured land and agreed contracts to get started on site in Witham St Hughs.
“The homes we deliver will be gas-free and give crucial opportunities for people to have a place they can call home in the area.
“Our thanks go to the team at Honey who are a fantastic regional builder and a great example of the potential for partnerships with various sized contractors across the places we operate.”
Grimsby’s Jubilee mosaic lost during shopping centre revamp
A well-known mosaic in Grimsby’s Freshney Place shopping centre has been demolished as part of ongoing redevelopment works, despite efforts to preserve it.
The artwork, created in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, became the focus of local campaigns earlier this year, with over 1,250 people signing a petition to save it. Groups like the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society also advocated for its retention.
North East Lincolnshire Council said it explored options to remove the mosaic tile by tile but found it was too damaged to survive extraction. Experts warned the piece was cracking significantly during removal attempts, making it impossible to preserve in its original form.
While some residents have expressed frustration, the council maintains that heritage concerns were carefully considered. It confirmed that specialist advice was sought and that scans and high-resolution images were taken before demolition.
These images will now be used to create a full-scale reproduction in a new location. The council has promised to involve the community in selecting a site for the display, ensuring the artwork’s legacy continues in a different form as part of the Freshney Place regeneration.
Image credit: Google mapsSupport your local hospital and join the nation’s Big Tea Party this July
The UK’s biggest NHS tea party is back for another year and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity would love everyone in Lincolnshire to join them in raising a brew on Saturday 5 July to the incredible NHS colleagues who do amazing things for communities and patients in Lincolnshire.
Whether it’s a simple tea break among colleagues, a quiet cuppa on your own or a larger gathering with sumptuous cakes, every cup poured and every pound raised will support Lincolnshire’s hospitals funding items that are above and beyond the core NHS budgets.
Charity manager, Ben Petts said: “Each year the charity funds numerous projects, pieces of equipment and extras to support the United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s workforce and the patients cared for.
“One such item was a 3D Scanner and printer for the Orthodontic Team. Anyone who has had to have an impression taken of the inside of their mouth will know how unpleasant the experience is, but they will go through it in order to get the treatment and care they need.
“This digital software means that clinicians no longer need sets of impressions and plaster to be able to create a cast of a patient’s teeth. Instead, the patient will simply have the scan and within an hour there will be a perfectly detailed dental model of their mouth and teeth.
“This new equipment cost just over £50,000. But when you consider the enhanced level of care that it will provide as well as the time saved, it is brilliant for both patient and the clinical team.
“But we don’t just fund big items, we also provide funding for smaller items like worry monsters for children to help them cope when a member of their family is suffering from cancer or play equipment for our younger patients staying in our children’s wards.”
There are many projects across Lincolnshire’s hospitals in Lincoln, Louth, Boston, and Grantham that are waiting for vital funding. So, during the NHS birthday week, please grab your teapot, pop the kettle on, make a donation of £5 and turn tea into cash to help support more patients across Lincolnshire.
To donate your £5 and find more information about the vital work of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity visit: ulhcharity.org.uk/donation
