< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LINCOLNSHIRE FOSTERING SERVICE Q&A Can people who are employed/unemployed or on a low income foster? Whatever your employment status, this is not a barrier to foster. We have foster carers who work full-time, some who work part-time and some who foster full-time instead. There are different types of fostering you can do which can fit around your lifestyle. For example, if you work full-time and would love to foster too, Lincolnshire Fostering Service is actively recruiting respite carers who can offer at least 2 weekends a month as well as time during the school holidays. Is it true that foster carers get paid a lot of money? This is arguably one of the biggest myths about fostering. Foster carers don’t get paid - they do, however, receive an allowance (which is dependent on the age of the child they are caring for) which is to cover the extra cost of looking after the child. This does not include a reward element for the foster carer. Whilst there are independent agencies who advertise higher weekly allowances, it is worth considering that Local Authorities are the only organisations who can place children in need of fostering. In Lincolnshire, we will always look to our own in-house foster carers first. We will only look further afield (to an independent agency) when we have explored every possible option of meeting the child’s needs from our in-house carers first. This means that our foster carers are more likely to get regular placements within their preferred age range. Are people in same-sex relationships allowed to foster? Your sexuality does not preclude you from being a foster carer – what’s important is that you can safely care for a child who may have suffered neglect and abuse. Lincolnshire Fostering Service welcomes enquiries from LGBT+ applicants and has successfully approved a number of same-sex foster carers. What about single people? Single? No problem! The important thing is that you have a range of life skills and that you think about what support network you have around you in terms of friends and family who can support you with your role as a foster carer. Q&A Lincolnshire Fostering Service There are many misconceptions about who can become a foster carer which prevent people from even making an enquiry as they think they won’t be suitable for one reason or another. Here we chat with Lincolnshire Fostering Service who help us demystify popular myths about fostering and give us the low down on the actual truth. 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:55 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 LINCOLNSHIRE FOSTERING SERVICE Q&A If someone has health problems, will they be unable to foster? Whilst your health is considered as part of the assessment, having a health issue does not preclude you from being a foster carer. As long as you are fit and well enough to care for a child, we will consider you. But a single male wouldn’t be considered as a foster carer? Many people believe that men can’t foster but this just isn’t true. Both men and women can make great foster carers as each individual brings their own skills and experiences to the role. Lincolnshire Fostering Service has a number of single male carers who have made a real positive difference to the lives of the children in their care. We’ve heard that only people from particular backgrounds can be foster carers. Is this true? This is a complete myth! All children have different needs, and so foster carers from all different backgrounds and religions are needed to help care for them. We look to place children with foster carers who are most likely to meet their needs including any religion or cultural identity. We also provide training around ‘Equality and Diversity’ to help foster carers provide the most appropriate care for children. Is there such a thing as being too old to foster? It may surprise you to learn that there is no upper age limit to becoming a foster carer. We have carers of all ages, some in their twenties and some in their eighties! As long as you are over twenty- one years of age, are fit and well enough to look after the children in your care, and have a genuine desire to make a real positive difference to children’s lives we would love to hear from you! Do people have to own their own home to become foster carers? Foster carers do not need to own their own home. As long as the accommodation is safe and secure, with a spare bedroom for a child or young person to use it doesn’t matter if you own the home or rent it. If the home is rented, we will need to get permission from the landlord during the application process. It is advisable that you speak with your landlord about your wish to apply to be a foster carer prior to us contacting them to avoid any potential issues. Do you have to have your own children to be eligible to foster? Whilst you don’t need to have had any children of your own to be able to foster, it is helpful if you have some experience of caring for children. This could be something as simple as looking after your niece or nephew, or volunteering at Brownies or Scouts for example. If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time to find out more. Take that first step today. Apply online at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fostering, or call the friendly and dedicated team on 01522 554114 for more information. Lincolnshire Fostering Service is actively recruiting respite carers who can offer at least 2 weekends a month as well as time during the school holidays 10-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:55 Page 2ORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. 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A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round! 12.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:56 Page 1The people to choose for your home improvements DDS Roofing Based in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DDS Roofing is a local independent roofing firm with over thirty years’ experience. They have been serving the local community for over ten years. All of their team are friendly and professional and take pride in the high standard of workmanship that they provide. They cater for domestic and commercial clients in need of quality roofing for their homes or businesses. Their comprehensive range of services includes: roofing service, re-roofing, slating, tiling, fascias & soffits and general property maintenance. Tel: 01472 267709 Mobile: 07980 962009 Email: derrick.saxby@homecall.co.uk Whatever the job, finding the right person or company for your home improvements can be tricky – especially during these uncertain times. There’s just so many to pick from, you can’t always be sure what you’re getting and now there’s almost as many comparison and aggregate review sites as there are companies to choose from them. That’s where our handy, reliable and informative ‘Tried, Tested & Trusted’ pages come in. Think of these pages like a directory where you can contact any of the companies, tradesman or individuals listed and be safe in the knowledge that you’re getting, well, tried, tested and trusted services. With an easy-to-read and straightforward introduction, each company is introduced in a simple way with contact details so you can get in touch as soon as possible in your preferred way, be that phone, email or online. This way, you can find out the measures companies and tradespeople have put into place to combat the spread of COVID-19 such as wearing PPE. We’ve all heard horror stories about cowboy builders and rogue tradesman, but with our curated and carefully controlled directory, you no longer have to worry about a thing. Just find the right company for whatever work you require around the house, get in touch and get them booked in. Simple. © Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 13 13.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:57 Page 114 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES S itting at the end of the little Eau River, Brandy Barn, is a four bedroom ‘U’ shaped barn conversion at Helpringham Fen, Sleaford. Its current owners have lived at the property for ten years, drawn to the picturesque views in the area. “There’s something about the landscape here, the big open skies of Lincolnshire,” the couple said. “We’re right at the end of a small river that runs from Helpringham and it’s just beautiful out here, very serene, and very quiet. We’ve got river birds and badgers, a resident barn owl, foxes and buzzards, it’s absolutely lovely. If you enjoy nature and the countryside it’s a gorgeous place to be, and completely surrounded by farmland.” The abode began life as part of a dairy farm. “A farmhouse and the barn were owned by Lincolnshire County Council,” the couple explained. “A family tenant farmed it and lived there until they retired. A local farmer, who still farms the land around us now, then bought the dairy farm but didn’t want the properties. At that point they stood derelict for ten years or more. Eventually he sold the properties to two separate couples. One who renovated the farmhouse, and the other who renovated the barn, which have now been back in habitation for around 15 years.” A large amount of work has been completed on the property since the current owners arrived, mainly focused on their desire to keep horses. “There was a real opportunity to do something with the outside land. That’s what sealed the deal for us when buying the home. We spent probably the first 18 months of our time here getting planning permission and sorting everything out for the horses. We’ve added all of the equestrian facilities. So there’s a bespoke design stable yard and very large boxes, because we had large horses. We also put a schooling menage in and added water to the facilities. It is as good as it can be out there for the horses,” they said. In more depth the equestrian facilities feature five stables, a tack room, hay store, general store, tool room, feed room, a 40m x 25m sand and ‘Pro-Ride’ menage and 5 paddocks that are free-draining and level with water supply. The owners have also added a long stone terrace which runs down the length of the house and connects to two “annex, or garden room type buildings” which the couple, who work from home, use as their offices. “Although we had room in the serene Offering a retreat to nature, this month’s featured property is built in a manner that perfectly frames the tranquil views surrounding it. 16 Á Superbly 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:59 Page 114-17.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:59 Page 216 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES house to work from, what this has done is provide us with that at home but not in the home working environment,” they said. The offices face out towards the paddocks, allowing you to open their doors and work while listening and watching horses in the field. The house’s large internal courtyard has also been upgraded, with a pond and water feature, and is ideal for entertaining. There is still plenty of opportunity for development at the home though, and the couple previously had planning permission to close the ‘U’ of the house to create a fully enclosed courtyard to accommodate a fifth bedroom and double garage. “You could even split the master bedroom to create two large doubles if you so desired, or the office/studio facilities could become a small business - you could easily run a nail bar or beauty salon from here with no problems,” the owners said. The house itself is bright and spacious, with “super-sized” rooms, and, as the owners highlight, unusually has a lot of doors: “Almost every room has a door to the outside, so it feels very open, and the windows are massive, most being floor to ceiling, which sees masses of light stream in.” Brandy Barn also offers the prime equilibrium of modern and older character, hosting wood burners, an Aga, a spiral staircase and beams in a house that is essentially only 15 years old, with double glazed windows and a contemporary feel. “It blends old character with a modern finish,” the couple said. “It’s a new house in an old skeleton.” On its ground floor the spacious house consists of a utility room, cloakroom, two bedrooms, including the master, a Jack and Jill style bathroom, three reception rooms, a dining kitchen and double garage. The kitchen features an integrated electric oven, integrated four ring induction hob, Belfast style single bowl sink, space for a dishwasher and wine fridge, a fitted Redfyre Aga with integrated extractor fan, a door leading out to the courtyard and double doors to the front. The three reception rooms include the winter lounge, dining room and main lounge, which hosts a fitted log burner with stone hearth and solid oak beam mantle, a cast iron spiral staircase leading to the first floor, floor to ceiling windows and doors leading to the formal garden and courtyard. The owners note that during summer the room is flooded with light and feels almost like a holiday home. Ascending to the first floor, there are two further bedrooms with character vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and a bathroom. Outside of the house, which sits in amongst its own land, with the total plot extending to approximately five and a half acres, one will find a fully enclosed lawn with a paved patio and gravel pathway surrounding the property, an external barn big enough for a tractor or ride on 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:59 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 17 HOMES mower, plenty of room for cars and of course the courtyard and horse facilities. There is also a small orchard with apple and nut trees. The owners indicated that while the garden itself is mostly lawn, “people who love gardening could do something quite amazing, as there is lots of room to work with.” For horse riders and dog owners, or simply those who enjoy their country pursuits the property is perfect. “You walk out of the rear of the property straight onto the riverbank and it’s a three-mile uninterrupted walk or ride up to the village,” the owners noted. In addition, because the property edges on to the river, by Lincolnshire protocol, the couple own fishing and mooring rights, and could thus place a boat there. Despite feeling “very lucky” to have lived here, the owners are now selling the property. When asked why they said: “We’re giving up horses. We came with the intention of it being a 10 year project, because a horse we had at the time would have been ready for retirement by then, sadly we lost him some years ago, then decided to get another horse but ultimately now we’ve reached the point where the mind is willing but the body is weak. We could carry on living here without the horses but with just the two of us, with a massive house, all these facilities and the land, it needs to go to somebody or a big family or couple who love horses or entertaining and being in the countryside.” The home is now on the market with William H Brown for £700,000. PREMIUM MULTI-FUEL STOVES & FIRES ELECTIC & GAS FIRES AND SURROUNDS We have an extensive range of fireplaces, multi-fuel and wood burning stoves along with a magnificent collection of gas fires, electric fires and surrounds on display at our showroom in Boston, Lincolnshire. Our stunning selections from leading British and Scandinavian manufacturers such as Elgin & Hall, Jotul, Chesneys, Dimplex, Valor Contura and Arada to name but a few, means we cater for all tastes. Our friendly and helpful staff are always on hand to give you some ideas and help to guide you with your purchase. Visit our showroom or call us today on 01205 310 327. Church Road, Boston PE21 0LG | Tel: 01205 310 327 E-mail: sales@bostonheating.co.uk | www.bostonheating.co.uk 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 10:59 Page 4With social distancing measures still in place, there’ll likely be no holidays or getaways this summer, but one can still enjoy their own home and gardens. With the milder weather and longer days, you’ll want to be throwing open the windows and spending more time out in the garden. Okay, so you’re not supposed to have people round, but you can still enjoy some quality time with the friends and family you live with. Chances are, it’ll bring you all closer together. So now’s the time to get your garden into shape and a few pieces of outdoor furniture or a wood burner can really have a big impact. The same goes for inside. It’s an ideal time to get on top of those home improvements or just get your house looking exactly how you want it. For those working from home, it might be worth spending a few weekends making your home office a space you actually want to spend time in because, chances are, you’ll be spending plenty more time there. For those with little ones at home, try and get them involved. There’s no shortage of ways to improve the home and garden that they’d be happy to help with. With many shops, boutiques and suppliers still delivering, now is the time to snap up something special and transform your house into your own personal palace. HOME TRENDS 1 18 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 2 3 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:00 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 19 5 1) The terrazzo pots from Salt Studios are each carefully handmade from Jesmonite and, due to the process involved in making them, each pot has its own unique surface pattern. Perfect as a planter. 2) The marble mural from Nat Marks is hand printed by way of the traditional Japanese Art of Suminagashi. It would look stunning used as a feature wall to give any space elegance and character. 3) Hand crafted in Italy and available via Habitat, the Smithfield dusty rose velvet armchair has a soft, sculptural silhouette with feather and fibre filled seat cushions for comfort. 4) A stunning lampshade from Charlton Island and made by Elaine Collins Designs that’s sure to add sophistication and elegance to a bedroom or living area. 5) From Cox & Cox comes this beautifully detailed statement piece. The large folding screen features a detailed hand carved pattern in a rustic whitewashed finish, making a fabulous addition to any space. 6) This sconce from Melody Maison will create a beautiful vintage look in any home decor. Perfect for the living room or hallway. 7) If you’re looking to spend more evenings out in the garden with the family, you’ll be wanting warmth and ambience. You get both with this beautiful outdoor fireplace from Ivyline. 8) An intricate piece from Red Candy that will look perfect in an office or bedroom. Sure to delight the clever clogs in your life. 6 8 7 4 18-19.qxp_Layout 1 29/04/2020 11:00 Page 2Next >