Survivors of sepsis and their families are invited to a sepsis support group, the first of its kind in Lincolnshire.

Sepsis, also referred to as septicaemia or blood poisoning is the body’s response to an infection and can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Some sepsis survivors experience a variety of physical, psychological and emotional problems while recovering, known as post-sepsis syndrome.

Laura Strong, Sepsis Practitioner at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), said: “Sepsis can have a huge effect on patients and their families. This support group is for anyone whose life has been touched by sepsis and will give people a chance to speak with others who’ve been through a similar experience. There will also be professionals on hand to offer support and advice.

“Whether you’ve had sepsis yourself, are a family member or friend of someone who has, or would just like to know more – everyone is welcome to come along.”

The first Lincolnshire sepsis support group will meet on Thursday 24 January at 6.30pm at the Lincoln Drill Hall in Lincoln.

Phil Crow is a sepsis survivor from Lincoln who has been working with the UK Sepsis Trust to set up the group.

Phil said: “When I came out of intensive care, it wasn’t clear how sepsis may affect me psychologically and I would’ve found it really useful to have a safe space like this to talk to people who’ve been through the same thing.

“We also welcome bereaved families who may want to ask further questions or would like to share their experiences.”

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “Post-sepsis syndrome is common and can affect people of any age, manifesting as both physical and mental after effects, so ongoing support for those who need it is vital. One of our four main aims is to support those affected by this devastating condition and each group helps us to achieve this.”

MLincolnshire Police have been made aware by a concerned resident that an Alarm company are “cold calling” Lincolnshire residents, trying to sell them intruder alarm systems.

If you do get a sales call please be mindful of the information that you pass to them.

When considering security systems for your home or business, don’t deal with cold callers or telesales enquiries, you should avoid doing doorstep or telephone business.

Many traders who call at your door are honest and genuine; however, some are not and can be extremely persuasive. If you have serious doubts about the legality or sales techniques being employed by this type of Security Company, or if they are using hard selling tactics which include unduly raising the fear of crime, pressure selling, unclear contracts and overpriced security systems, contact Citizens Advice about your consumer rights on tel 03454 04 05 06. They can also refer your complaint to Trading Standards officers who may then investigate on your behalf

Be aware that not all costs may be shown and ask yourself, How much is:Installation costs, what am I getting?Servicing – how much, how often?Have monitored – upfront or monthly payments?How long will I pay for it, minimum 3-5years?Please be aware that all alarm companies that install systems in our county which promise a Police response to alarm activations must be registered with one of the two national inspectorate bodies which are the NSI and the SSAIB.

You can check if an alarm company is inspectorate approved by contacting the NSI on telephone number 01628 637 512 (website: www.nsi.org.uk) and the SSAIB on telephone number 0191 296 3242 (website: www.ssaib.org

For further information on intruder alarm advice for domestic properties please visit the following website: www.securedbydesign.com
For consumer rights please visit the following website: www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights

Community Safety & Crime Reduction advice can be found on Lincolnshire Police force website: www.lincs.police.uk or by clicking on the following link: https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/home-security/

Keep an eye out for our feathered friends

Nature lovers with a keen eye for our feathered friends are being invited to take part in the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey.

South Kesteven District Council is hosting an event in Wyndham Park, Grantham, as part of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which runs from January 26 to 29.

Visitors can call in to the Visitor Centre from 10am to 2pm on January 26 to collect a record sheet and then head out to find out which bird species make the park their home.

Youngsters can join in with fun crafts and activities while learning. All activities are free.

“Wyndham Park is home to an abundance of wildlife and birds are a big part of that,” said SKDC’s Cabinet member for Retail and Visitor Economy Cllr Nick Robins.

“By noting the birds that visit the park, and that come to our gardens, people are making a valuable contribution towards efforts to maintain their populations.”

More information is available at www.wyndhamparkgrantham.co.uk

More than half a million people take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, now in its 40^th year. The results help the RSPB understand how bird populations are doing.

Although its population is declining, the 2018 survey showed the house sparrow was still the most abundant species. The rest of the top ten was: starling, blue tit, blackbird, woodpigeon, goldfinch, great tit, robin, long-tailed tit, chaffinch.

As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants to log other wildlife in their gardens such as badgers, foxes, squirrels, deer, frogs and toads.

For more information go to www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/everything-you-need-to-know-about-big-garden-birdwatch/

FIREFIGHTERS attended a small fire in the open at Stonemasons Court, off St Catherine’s Road, yesterday afternoon.  The crew used a  hose reel jet to extinguish it.

At 7pm the were also called to a report of a fire on Princess Drive, Grantham.

On arrival, crew found this to be a controlled burn of garden refuse. Incident left with the owner.

InvestSK the area’s economic growth and regeneration company, has launched a new programme to support growing businesses and bring fresh life into local town centres, with funding from South Kesteven District Council.

The Town Centre Investment Fund is designed to facilitate growth on South Kesteven’s ‘high streets’ by supporting companies looking to grow their businesses into vacant town centre units within any of the District’s four market towns; Grantham, Stamford, Market Deeping and Bourne.

Up to £10,000 is available to help applicants with the capital costs associated with their move. To be eligible, businesses must create new jobs locally and have an offer that adds value to South Kesteven’s town centres.

Chief Executive of InvestSK, Steve Bowyer, said: “InvestSK was established to help businesses grow, and support local job creation. Because of the work that InvestSK has been doing, in particular our Head of Business Growth and Inward Investment, Jon Hinde, we understand that to maximise their business prospects, companies need the right facilities in the right place.

“This scheme helps with capital costs to enable vacant units to come back into life and supports businesses to realise their aspirations. I’d urge anyone interested to speak to Jon and the team, and make use of this easy-to-access support.”

Councillor Helen Goral (pictured), Cabinet Member for Growth and Communications at South Kesteven District Council, said: “We are all aware of the challenges facing high street businesses, but we also know the strength of entrepreneurial spirit among businesses in Grantham, and across South Kesteven companies as a whole.

“The funding that the Council has made available, through InvestSK, is our way of supporting businesses to meet those challenges head-on: boosting business growth as well as breathing life back into our high streets and town centres.”

The deadline for submissions for InvestSK’s 2018/19 Town Centre Investment Fund is 15^th March 2019 but applications will be reviewed on a regular basis with decisions awarded as soon as possible. We would urge applications to come forward at the earliest opportunity.

More details, guidance notes and the application form is available on the InvestSK website: www.investsk.co.uk/towncentreinvestmentfund

Grantham Canal Society were presented with a cheque for £50 this week, by Grantham Community Books.

The shop, in Welby Street, sells secondhand books, giving the proceeds to local charites.

Alan Asher, of Community Books said: “They have been regular visitors to the shop over the year, donating books so we donated back to thank them and to support their work in the local community.”

Tony Jackson, Events Coordinator, Grantham Canal Society, said: “I’d like to thank Community Books for including the Grantham Canal Society in their donations to good causes.

“The support of the business community is paramount in the restoration of the Grantham Canal, with the ultimate aim in connecting the town once again to the inland waterways network.”

2018 saw Christmas butterflies and Boxing Day bumblebees, according to conservation charity

The Grantham-based Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar project has received over 64 records of early spring activity that started in November 2018 – including insects that have been spotted active up to 5 months earlier than normal.

Mild weather seems to have temporarily disturbed insects from hibernation.

A small tortoiseshell butterfly appeared flying outdoors on Christmas day in Merthyr Tydfil, and a red tailed bumblebee on Boxing Day in Somerset. The average date for small tortoiseshells is 14^th April, and bumblebees 26^th March – making both over three months early. Even earlier still, a red admiral was seen on the 17^th December in Cambridgeshire; the average emergence date is 7^th May, making it nearly five months ahead of schedule.¹

Members of the public have sent in many other signs that spring has sprung:

• Flowering snowdrops were spotted in Southampton on 30^th November – over a month earlier than expected – and there have been 24 records of this in total
• There have been 23 Hazel flowering records, beginning 1^st December. This usually happens in early March
• A flowering oxeye daisy was seen in Gloucestershire on the 28^th December, despite normally blooming from mid-April to early June.

Even birds have made an early appearance. The song thrush has been heard in eleven locations since the 5^th December and is increasingly reported singing all winter, though expected mid-late March.  Blue tits were also seen exploring a nesting box on 26^th December, though the UK average date for nesting is 4^th April.

Met office records for the UK report both November and December as mild, with average temperatures more than 1 °C above the 1981-2010 long-term average².  However, with a potential cold snap on the way, more delicate species could suffer.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, citizen science manager for the Woodland Trust said: “Once again – despite being in the throes of January – flora and fauna are reacting to milder climates, and spring seems to have sprung early. We were far from a white Christmas, with hazel flowers and snowdrops being spotted by our citizen scientists across the country.

“Data like this has continuously brought into question the way we think about the seasons, and to see spring in December no longer seems unusual. The more data we have, the better we will understand the effects of warm winters, cold snaps and heatwaves. In short, we need more Nature’s Calendar recorders.”

Nature’s Calendar is a continuation of seasonal recordings which date back to the 18th century. By recording the timings of natural phenomenon, thousands of people have enabled Nature’s Calendar to become the leading survey into how climate change is affecting UK plants and wildlife.

In 2018 an early spring was paused by the beast from the east, only for a summer heatwave to make berries ripen early and conkers shrink. Temperature research by the Met Office suggests that the growing season is extending by up to a month², and this is corroborated by Nature’s Calendar data; budburst is happening earlier and leaf fall later.

To become a Nature’s Calendar recorder, visit naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk. Or, to watch time lapse footage of trees throughout the seasons go here.

SKDC is encouraging anyone not yet registered to vote to go online and register if they want to have their say in the local elections in May.

Thursday 2 May is polling day for all 56 seats on South Kesteven District Council and 65 parish councils across the district.

Aidan Rave, Electoral Registration Officer for SKDC, said: “The good news is that the majority of our residents are registered but there are still those who have not yet done so.

“With the elections now just months away, we are encouraging residents to go online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and register, particularly those who have recently moved or will be 18 by 2 May.

“Some people wrongly assume that paying council tax means you are registered to vote.  I am urging all those eligible to vote in South Kesteven to check that they are registered. Unless your name and address are correctly entered you could lose the right to have your say.”

It is really simply to do. You will be asked to provide your date of birth and National Insurance number in addition to the usual details of name, address, previous address and nationality.

Remember:

If you don’t think you’re registered, register your details online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The registration deadline for the elections on 2 May is 12 April.

Registering online is quick and easy

Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to register online.

or

Call our elections team on 01476 40 60 80 if you need more information or want to check if you are registered or email elections@southkesteven.gov.uk

Following an appeal for a sponsor for an advertising board earlier this month, Grantham Town have been contacted by an interested party, but with a difference.

A Gingerbreads supporter (who wishes to remain anonymous) has pledged to pay for the advertising board – on an annual, rolling basis – with one proviso, that a local charity is given the opportunity to advertise completely free for a year. 

Once the 12 months is completed, another local charity will be selected, with a brand new advertising board installed.

With this is mind, we are appealing to local charities to put themselves forward for a chance of winning free advertising for a year at a highly prominent place within the ground, in front of the East Stand terrace. 

To mark the installation and unveiling of the new advertising board, it is proposed to invite representatives of the chosen charity to a home game before the end of the season, where the club will designate the match as the chosen charity’s day for fundraising purposes and provide the opportunity for the charity to engage with supporters to share and promote the valuable work their do within our local community.

If you run, or know someone that runs, a local charity, please email commercial@granthamtownfc.com by 5pm on Friday 1st February, and all nominated charities will be put into a draw to select the chosen charity.

A wooden garden shed in High Street, Pointon,was broken into by forcing the bolt and padlock. A chainsaw was stolen.

The offender(s) entered the rear garden from the village Playing fields and Social Club between 5pm Monday 7th January and 9am Tuesday 8th January. Incident 101 08/01/2019

Offenders also gained access  to a rear garden on West Road, Pointon,  and removed the panels from wooden sheds to gain entry. They stole a garden strimmer and a lawn mower,  between 6pm Wednesday 9th January and 11am Thursday 10th January. Incident 133 10/01/2019

If you have any information that will assist with police inquiries please call non-emergency number 101 quoting the relevant incident number.

Alternately please call anonymously crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you see a crime taking place please call 999 immediately.

£300 per light cost for people to switch streetlights on

People in South Kesteven, Rutland and Harborough with a connection to the British Armed Forces are being encouraged to share their views and experiences as part of a wide-ranging survey looking at military life – the first of its kind ever to take place across the three local authority areas.

Regular armed forces personnel, reservists, veterans of all ages and extended members of forces families are all being encouraged to take part in the survey, which launched today (Monday 14 January 2019) and runs for three months.

The survey has been developed by South Kesteven District Council, Rutland County Council, Harborough District Council and Healthwatch Rutland as part of their shared commitment to support the UK’s national Armed Forces Covenant.

It aims to gather information that can be used to help improve local services for individuals and families who are connected to the Forces and asks questions about type and length of service, physical health, mental health, employment and education.

For South Kesteven District Council, Armed Forces Champion and Council Cabinet Member Cllr Nick Neilson expressed his appreciation for the role played by the services and the need to ensure they are supported within the district.

He said: “There should be no disadvantages of service and we need to ensure that issues, whatever they are, are addressed.

“I am personally delighted to see us reaching out to the services community working in partnership with our sister councils, and stress SKDC’s commitment to acting on survey findings.”

The Armed Forces Survey runs until 31 March and people can take part online by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/youservedwecare

As well as gathering information, it is hoped that the survey will help to identify and engage with individuals and raise awareness of local support services available to them.

Following on from the survey, a detailed report will be produced examining the areas where more can be done to help current and past members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Paper copies of the survey are also available to collect from public libraries and council offices across South Kesteven, Rutland and Harborough and can be returned to:

Healthwatch Rutland

c/o Rutland Community Hub

Lands’ End Way

Oakham, LE15 6RB

How Greater Lincolnshire MPs voted on the Brexit deal

Registered between 7-11 January 2019

You can click on the following link to view the forms and plans of any planning application.

http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planningsearch

S18/2154 Ingoldsby – Removal of plastic cladding and single red-brick skin to external walls; Applicant: Dr B Zari Hormead Main Street Ingoldsby  NG33 4HA

S18/2184 Grantham Erection of single storey extension.; Applicant: Mr John Parsons 84 Gorse Road Grantham NG31 9LQ

S18/2280 Swayfield Non-material amendment to planning approval S17/0102 to alter the scale and fenestration of the previous extension; Applicant: Mr Nigel Bairsto 13 Corby Road Swayfield NG33 4LQ

S18/2286 Irnham Erection of extension, replacement garage, reinstatement of gates and alterations to The Lodge Swinstead Road Irnham NG33 4JE; Applicant: Mrs J Armstrong C/O Agent Simon Harris Harris McCormack ArcHaus Peterborough Road Wansford PE9 1QB

S18/2312 Castle Bytham Remove Norway Spruce tree, pollard multi-stemmed Willow tree and reduce Cherry tree by 2m and crown raise to 4m above ground; Applicant: Tallboys 6 Glenside Castle Bytham NG33 4SS

S18/2334 Long Bennington Approval of details of Conditions 3 (surface water), 4 (landscaping0 and 5 (materials) of planning permission S16/2338 at 6 Kirtons Lane Long Bennington NG23 5DX; Applicant: Mr M Ballaam Oak Valley Homes Limited 7 Willow Mews Huntingtower Road Grantham NG31 7RZ

S18/2335 Grantham Creation of vehicular access off Trent Road and associated works; Applicant: Mrs Pauline Sutton 10 Stour Court Grantham NG31 7QZ

S18/2336 Hough On The Hill Single storey extension to dwelling; Applicant: Mr Alistair McLean The Cottage Lower Road Hough On The Hill NG32 2BB

S18/2337 Colsterworth Outline application for the erection of five dwellings including details of layout and access  to Woodyard Rear Of 13-17 Stamford Road Colsterworth NG33 5JD; Applicant: Mr Iain Hart Osgodby Farm Irnham Road Osgodby NG33 4J

S18/2339 Allington bricks, Hampton rural blend, these bricks match number 2 Sedgebrook rd as stated on the plans. London brick company Windsors are nothing like it. 3 Sedgebrook Road Allington NG32 2DW; Applicant: Mr Chris Egan JRL Brickwork Ltd 122 Queensway Grantham NG31 9RN

S18/2343 Belton And Manthorpe External and Interior works for improvement which include, removal of lean-to to the rear, removal of existing garage, new parking area, stone flags to external terrace, ensuite to one bedroom and insulation to ceilings in part on the first floor at 1 Main Street Belton NG32 2LW; Applicant: Ms Helen Bingham National Trust Hardwick Consultancy Hub The Croft Doe Lea Chesterfield S44 5QJ Derbyshire

S18/2349 Great Gonerby Alterations to ground levels to provide a raised external seating area, erection of fencing and installation of festoon lighting. Applicant: Everards Brewery 10, High Street Great Gonerby NG31 8JP

S18/2359 Grantham Two storey extension to side and single storey extension to front including external remodelling; Applicant: Mr James Bull 95 Valley Road Grantham NG31 7NE

S19/0051 Corby Glen Submission of details in connection with condition 3 (Window details) of S18/1807; Applicant: Mr Paul Teillant The Rectory, 24, Church Street Corby Glen NG33 4NJ

S18/2363 Colsterworth The installation of a free standing internally illuminated 12m totem sign. Former Travelodge And Little Chef Great North Road Colsterworth NG33 5JL Applicant: McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd 11-59 High Road East Finchley London N2 8AW

S18/2366 Castle Bytham Demolition of bungalow and the erection of three detached dwellings with associated hard and soft landscaping at 51 Glen Road Castle Bytham NG33 4RJ; Applicant: Mr J Priestley Langstaff Property Developments UK LTD 27, High Street Castle Bytham Grantham NG33 4RZ

S18/2378 Grantham Amendment to S18/0234, single storey side extension and garage to family room. 1 Harrowby Mill Lane Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 9EP; Applicant: Manthorpe Construction 1 Waterside Drive Grantham NG31 9FA

S19/0045 Marston Erection of a single storey rear extension; Applicant: Mr And Mrs Joyce The Pinfold Pinfold Lane Marston NG32 2HR

S18/2382 Great Gonerby Walnut (T1) – Reduce by 3m whole canopy and investigate where bracket fungus is growing; Applicant: Mr R Pretty Walnut Cottage, 44A, Covill Close Great Gonerby NG31 8PP

S18/2390  Pickworth  Single storey extension to rear of dwelling, erection of two storey extension with triple garage on ground floor to front of dwelling; Applicant: Mr Petch East Lodge Church Lane Pickworth NG34 0TF

S18/2391 Grantham Rear extension to dwelling (Lawful Development Certificate – Proposed); Applicant: Mr R Shaw 5, Gloucester Road Grantham NG31 8RJ

S18/2393 Barrowby Two storey extension to front of house, new side porch and new drive and access on The High Road; Applicant: Mr J Bowers The Briars, Lawson Leas Barrowby NG32 1EH

S19/0014 Barrowby Single storey extension to dwelling to replace existing of garage and carport; Applicant: Mr J Fern 13, Hedgefield Road Barrowby NG32

Craig Dickinson

S19/0049 Castle Bytham Remove Pine tree (T1) to ground level at Cemetery off High Street Castle Bytham ; Applicant: c/o Muriel Cook Castle Bytham Parish Council 40 Station Road Castle Bytham Grantham NG33 4SB

The Lincolnshire based mental health and learning disabilities trust was re-inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October last year and has been rated Outstanding for its leadership and management, and retained an overall rating of Good.

When the CQC last visited Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in April 2017, the Trust was praised for the progress it had made but there were a number of areas identified as requiring improvement. Since then the organisation continued to focus on the quality of its services and making continuous improvement everyone’s business.

The key highlights from the 2019 report ratings include:

• Acute mental health wards for adults and community mental health services are now rated Good.
• Mental health services for people with a learning disability or autism are now rated Outstanding for well-led and Good overall.

Anne-Maria Newham, MBE, Interim Chief Executive, said: “I am extremely pleased that the hard work of all of our staff has been reflected in the CQC ratings and that all services inspected in 2018 moved from Requires Improvement to Good. Our staff have a real focus on providing high quality care for our patients and this latest report is testament to that commitment.

“I am particularly proud of our Outstanding well-led result. We have gone from strength to strength since our original inspection in 2015 when we were rated Requires Improvement overall, Good in 2017 and now Outstanding for well-led and Good overall. There is a great deal we can be proud of in this report but we are not complacent and will continue to work to improve our services for patients, concentrating on the areas highlighted by the CQC.

“I also wish to put on record my thanks to our staff, service users, volunteers and carers who help us by sharing their views on an ongoing basis, including giving their feedback to the CQC during the inspection.  These views and support are crucial to us so that we can continue to improve the services we provide.”

During the recent visit the CQC found areas of outstanding practice which included:

• Significant improvements in core services and impressive ongoing improvements to the quality of care across the Trust as a whole.
• Significant decrease in numbers of patients who receive their care outside of Lincolnshire, and since the Hartsholme Centre opened in July 2017 no male patients have been placed out of county for psychiatric intensive care.
• Staff and leaders demonstrated a culture of putting patients first and working together. The inspectors noted a true sense of involvement from staff, patients and carers towards driving sustainable improvements across all areas.
• Engagement with both staff and patients was evident and fundamental to the way the Trust makes decisions about changes and managing of services. Peer support workers, experts by experience and clinical apprentices are not only valued in teams but they are an integral part.
• Leadership had been invested in at all levels so that staff have the right skills, behaviours, knowledge and experience to challenge if necessary while delivering quality care.
• Staff reported that they could approach the ward managers, who would make time to speak with them.
• The records of service users’ care and treatment were recovery orientated and reflected their views and goals.
• When interacting with service users staff were respectful and responsive and they protected service users’ privacy and dignity.

Paul Devlin, LPFT Chair said: “The report clearly showed that our exemplary commitment to equality and diversity made a huge difference to staff who report they are proud to work for the Trust and to service users who receive good quality compassionate care. I feel privileged to be the chair of LPFT and see the progress we’ve made which has been recognised in our Outstanding rating for well-led.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make it a possibility.”

The CQC has also raised some minor points that the Trust is already working on including reviewing caseloads at community mental health teams, ongoing support for autistic spectrum disorders and minor estate issues. The full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission website: www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RP7

Grantham Town are excited to announce the intention to field a Women’s side for the 2019/20 season.

The side will be looked after by the Grantham Sports Academy, who will also be offering a Scholarship studying BTEC Sport of A-Levels for all 16-19 year old girls.

The Gingerbreads Chairman, Nigel Wedgwood explained the reason for adding the side “We recognise that as a club we need to be inclusive for all and by having no women’s side we were failing this. Working alongside the Academy we’ve identified what we can offer.”

The new women’s side will compete at Step 7 in the women’s football pyramid, matches will take place on a Sunday on the main pitch at the Meres.

Grantham Sports Academy Manager Alex Watson “It’s great that we’re now able to add the women’s programme to the Academy. The courses give preferential access to our three degree programmes with Loughborough and Nottingham Trent Universities”

The Club are holding an evening for those interested in joining the new side or to become part of the 2019 Academy Scholarship. This will take place on Tuesday 29th January from 7:30pm till 9pm.

If you would like further information or to register your interest, please contact Alex Watson via alex@granthamsportsacademy.co.uk