A Grantham mum says,

I received the pack from ideal meals for my son and I am completely disgusted with them. I have a video of what my son received and some of it was ok but meat products in food bags with no labels to say what it is no sell by date, rolled up dough again not explaining what it is or no date no allergy awareness labels, pot of sauce I assume for a pizza base same thing no date no list of ingredients on it no allergy awareness. Pasta put in to a food bag.

Considering we are in the middle of a pandemic I think it’s disgusting the way the food items are being packaged and the fact that the food is being handled and spilt in to food bags by law food should sealed by the manufacture with labels and dates.

What my son received today was mind boggling there should be some sort of information for parents to understand what do with some of the ingredients.

Photo sent in by another parent

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In the face of a difficult start to 2021, home buyers are seeing signs of encouragement for their hopes of purchasing a new home this year, as housebuilder Vistry Group is predicting a strong year for the housing market in Lincolnshire.

The stamp duty holiday, low-interest rates and schemes such as Help to Buy have combined to create a positive backdrop throughout 2020 and into the new year, despite obvious challenges.

Vistry East Midlands is anticipating this demand will continue well into the new year, in spite of the new challenges posed by a third national lockdown.

Nic Chapman, sales and marketing director for Vistry East Midlands, said: “While a strange year for us all, 2020 proved to be naturally challenging for the housing industry.

“From the moment the housing market safely reopened to the public, right through to the end of the year, demand for new homes continued, and our teams worked tirelessly to ensure our customers were not only safe when they visited our sites, but that the obvious complications we were all faced with were met with all the due diligence necessary.

“Last year, we acted quickly to install QR codes across all our developments as a measure to keep our staff and customers safe on site, as well as introducing telephone appointment visits, social distancing as standard and additional safety measures such as Perspex safety screens and additional hand sanitiser stations at our developments.

“Now, as we enter a new phase of the pandemic in 2021, our staff and developments are already Covid-secure thanks to the variety of measures we swiftly put in place last year, and have since enhanced following recent government guidance.

“There is also evidence that home movers remain committed to finding a new home in 2021. We are receiving enquiries from some people who had postponed a move in 2020 and now have the confidence to proceed.

“Buyers are choosing to postpone other arrangements such as holidays abroad to commit to buying a home, even in the face of a new national lockdown, as the industry continues to safely deliver new homes while following the government’s advice.”

Vistry East Midlands, which includes Bovis Homes and Linden Homes, as well as Vistry Partnerships, is not alone in witnessing a spike in demand over recent months.

In December 2020, the National Association of Estate Agents Propertymark reported a 29 per cent increase in prospective buyers in the market for a home. The average number of prospective buyers registered per estate agent rose to 580, the highest amount since August 2004.

Jason Blunden, managing director of Evolve Financial Solutions, said: “2021 is going to be a great year for house hunters across the country.

“The average house price in the UK was up 5.4 per cent in the year up to October 2020, according to the latest UK House Price Index figures from the land registry. This is the highest annual growth rate the UK has seen since October 2016 and demonstrates resilience in the market.

“While house prices continue rising, the Bank of England has kept the base interest rate at 0.1 per cent, remaining at a record all-time low. With the stamp duty holiday available on completions to the end of March and the new Help to Buy scheme assisting more first-time buyers, 2021 looks to be promising.”

With Help to Buy, you can buy a new home with a five per cent deposit and a 75 per cent mortgage. The remaining 20 per cent is provided as a government-backed equity loan which is interest-free for five years.

Help to Buy was previously available to people moving home. When the scheme was extended, it was altered to become a first-time buyer scheme and regional price caps have been introduced. Vistry is offering Help to Buy for first-time buyers across the area.

Nic Chapman added: “The housing market is of huge importance to the wider economy. Conditions for purchasers look set to remain favourable during 2021 and buying a new home presents many advantages. We look forward to helping more customers across Lincolnshire to make their first or next move.”

Vistry Group is currently building a selection of three and four-bedroom homes at its Springfields development in Deeping St James, as well as in developments across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

For more information about Vistry East Midlands developments, visit bovishomes.co.uk and lindenhomes.co.uk/eastmidlands.

If you’re a dog owner who has coronavirus symptoms ask someone who doesn’t live with you to walk your dog.

If you do not have symptoms of coronavirus and you’re walking your or somebody else’s dog

Keep 2 metres away from other people and animals.

Pick up and drop off someone else’s dog at their door –

wash your hands when you get home

Anon says,

Well I think the school lunch parcels are appalling. This is from my son’s primary school. Just over £7 each week where they could be giving out vouchers!

School gets £15 per week per child. We’re also in the middle of a pandemic there’s a lot of parents who aren’t able to get up to the school to collect the food parcels and the school aren’t catering for children’s dietary needs etc my son for example is 10 and he has been a fussy eater since 2 years old so the only thing he would eat from the parcel is a tuna sandwich – 1 can is 2 sandwiches.

The vouchers to most parents would be so helpful and would stretch a lot further. It saddens me to think that someone is profiting from this!

I checked prices against local wholesaler like Brakes which is what a lot of local schools use.

An example of what Morrisons has to offer for £15

Another mother, with a child at the same school also contacted GM to say,

I understand the school parcel / voucher is an issue that’s been raised nationwide.

However my immediate concern at local level is the produce such as fruit provided would be deemed unfit for sale in retail outlets and is way beyond what could be classed as fresh.

The parcels are totally unbalanced and while allergies are catered for giving my son a pre determined lunch parcel that contains much that he doesn’t like and has never eaten is not the equivalent to choice of meal in school or voucher equivalent.

This is not what the entitlement was meant to be. It has become a money making scheme for outsourced firms and the amount of food that will be wasted is appalling as some children won’t be catered for at all from the choices made for them.

This is an entitlement given by the government not something for firms to skim for their own gain. The message that those families struggling financially should be grateful for poor quality food for their children is disgusting especially in such difficult times.

The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Stay Safe Partnership are live-streaming two sessions for parents and carers on online safety later this week.

The sessions take place on Thursday 21 January, starting at 12:30pm and 7:30pm. They will also be available to view on the LSCP YouTube channel once they have ended.

Chris Cook, chairman of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, said: “With most children learning online at the moment, internet safety has never been more important. Our online sessions are the ideal way for parents and carers to find out how to help their children safely enjoy all the benefits the online world has to offer.”

Link for the 12:30pm stream:

Link for the 7:30pm stream:

LSCP YouTube channel link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMnZ02Sl1AbtIhq-m3rrVQ

If you believe that a child may be a victim of neglect, abuse or cruelty, call children’s safeguarding on 01522 782111 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or 01522 782333 (outside office hours)

Sue Barnes says…

I am researching my family tree (Roan) and a cousin named Betty Morgan lived in Signal Road with her husband until around 2000 .

They had two daughters Pauline & Jane who I am trying to contact. If anyone has any information I would be grateful. Many thanks in advance

If anyone can help, I can be contacted at sc15barnes@gmail.com.

R Mortiss says…

Same plane has been circling Grantham for the 3rd time today

They must be getting dizzy by now

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Greetings card company thortful.com create the Ultimate Chat-up Lines Index

Love them or hate them, a cheesy chat up line can be a great icebreaker – or it can backfire very badly. 

Whilst 2020 may not have been the best year for dating (or anything for that matter), thortful are on the hunt for the cheesiest chat-up lines. 

From groan-worthy puns to lines that are more silly than they are seductive, thortful are compiling the ultimate chat-up lines index ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Vote for your favourites, or if you fancy yourself a bit of a Casanova, submit your own chat-up lines and see if you’ve got what it takes. 

If you’re in need of some inspiration, thortful have shared some of the cringiest content so far:

1. I’m looking for treasure – can I have a look around your chest?
2. I guess you can kiss Heaven goodbye. Because it has got to be a sin to look that good.
3. Did you fart? ‘cause you blew me away.
4. Do you like raisins? Well how about a date then?
5. I was blinded by your beauty so i’m going to need your name and number for insurance reasons
6. Is your name Wi-fi, as i’m really feeling a connection!
7. Do I know you? Cause you look exactly like my next girlfriend.
8. It’s handy that I have my library card because I’m totally checking you out.
9. I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?
10. Are you a time traveler? Because I see you in my future!

To view the full index, go to: https://thortful.com/cheesy-chat-up-lines

Every month your household chores are making you burn a staggering 20,000 calories (that’s the same as 16,816 burpees)

• A new report by Wren Kitchens reveals how many calories you burn whilst doing your household chores, the good news is that you don’t have to feel guilty about missing the gym!
• Every month household chores such as cleaning and ironing are making you burn a staggering 20,000 calories!
• The household chores that burn the most calories revealed.

If you’re running a busy household you will know that a daily gym session can often drop to the bottom of the priority list.

From the continual growing ironing pile all the way to the never emptying washing basket – household chores can often take over your daily schedule.

However, it’s not all bad news for those looking to lose a few pounds as it turns out household chores can burn a staggering 20,000 calories a month (that’s the same as 16,816 burpees).

Not convinced? A new report by Wren Kitchens reveals how many calories you’ll burn doing daily activities. The more chores you do, the more you may notice the pounds melt away.

Please note: the calorie counts are based on the average weight of a person being 156 pounds. If you weigh more, you’ll burn more. If you weigh less, you’ll burn less.

The household chores that burn the most calories revealed

The study of 1,000 respondents revealed the average time households spend on their daily and weekly chores, this was then calculated into the number of calories burnt aswell as revealing how many burpees you save having to do!

The top household chores by calorie count can be seen below:  

Household chore	How long on average people spend doing these chores per week (minutes)	How long on average people spend doing these chores per month (minutes)	Calories Burnt	How many burpees do you save having to do?*
Cleaning house / flat / living area	280	1120	3976	3340
Cooking or food preparation	301.7	1207	2856	2400
Mopping	138	552	2724	2288
Washing dishes and clearing dishes from table	206.5	826	1932	1624
Putting away clothes	185.5	742	1708	1436
Doing laundry	168	672	1588	1336
Ironing	144	576	1360	1144
Making the bed	144.2	577	1316	1104
Sweeping floors	138	552	1304	1096
Vacuuming	132	528	1248	1048

For full information please see: https://www.wrenkitchens.com/blog/revealed-the-number-of-calories-household-chores-burn

Following the decision by Government to close all schools, now is the time to introduce long-term protection against all viruses including Covid-19. 

Bromoco International, makers of Touch Antimicrobial coating, is appealing to local councils and the Government to implement a long term, sustainable plan to protect classrooms and learning environments with antimicrobial coatings. 

In recent weeks, the rise of positive cases amongst students and school staff was a strong indicator that hand-washing and cleaning of frequent touch-points was not sufficient to prevent Covid-19’s spread.  

However, there is a layer of defence that has been underutilised here in the UK that can protect against Coronavirus and most other bacterial and viral threats. Once applied, it works 24 hours a day for up to 5 years and doesn’t rely on constant cleaning after every possible contamination.

Developed in the UK in 2013, TOUCH Antimicrobial is the world’s only permanent, retrofit, hard film, crystal clear coating that provides protection against enveloped viruses & bacteria including Covid-19 (as well as SARS-CoV-2 and MSRA) for all hard surfaces. It is already being used effectively in many institutions and organisations throughout the UK, including our high security government buildings, while businesses and factories are also applying the product to help protect their employees.

TOUCH is an easy to apply coating which dries to form a permanent, invisible layer of protection, creating an environment where pathogens (including enveloped viruses such as Covid-19 and MRSA) cannot survive.

It works by incorporating silver ions and sealing them onto the surface of the material treated, which disrupts the protective outer layer of the microbe so it cannot survive on contact with the coating. 

Laboratory tests and real-life studies on TOUCH protected products prove that 80% of microbes are eradicated within 15 minutes, 90% die within 1 hour of landing on the treated surface and up to 99.99% are gone within 2 hours. Every minute that passes, the chances of cross contamination reduces.

Independent accreditations support the company’s claims. Claire Kirby, Director at Innovation Hygiene Consultancy commented: “The science behind the technology in TOUCH Antimicrobial is well known and has decades of research to support it.

Its effectiveness against enveloped viruses is perfect for protection against COVID-19 and Bromoco International have managed to develop this technology into a retrofit coating that is permanent, hard wearing and crystal clear that will last up to 5 years. Something no one else has been able to achieve. 

Kirby continued: “TOUCH Antimicrobial is head and shoulders above anything else currently available and offers the longest and strongest protection against COVID-19. The product is very easy to apply with detailed instructions how to clean, coat and dry cure the surface. No more finger-prints, no more bacteria or viruses…. SIMPLE!”

Antimicrobial coatings are not new – metal ion technology dates back as far as 2200 BC with the Greek, Egyptians and Romans being found to have used copper and silver for their antimicrobial properties. They were used to purify water and to create antiseptic balms. Fast-forward to today and Bromoco International has harnessed these properties in their TOUCH product, developed by a team of biochemists who are leading professionals in the field of anti-microbial technology. The coating is easy to apply and can be retrofitted to most surfaces.

The team at Bromoco is dedicated to increasing awareness of and speeding the uptake of microbe-preventative technology across all communities, starting with the educational sector. 

Tony Semple, Technical Director at Bromoco International, commented: “TOUCH Antimicrobialcoating is not the whole solution, but it is a major piece of the puzzle of ensuring classrooms stay safe for both students and staff at all times.  Knowing that all surfaces in the school are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to protect everyone from getting ill will make it much easier for schools to remain open, staff to keep their jobs and students to continue to have access to the education they need. We believe the application of this extra layer of protection really is a no-brainer.”

#TouchPoints

• Touch Antimicrobial can be applied quickly and safely to any and all surfaces in the classroom and starts working straight away.
• Works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to protect.
• Studies have shown that most frequently touched surfaces that have antimicrobial protection kill 99% of bacteria.

Bromoco has added a poll on its social pages to help garner support for the countrywide application of antimicrobial technology in schools, colleges and universities. For further information go to www.touchantimicrobial.com

Julia says…

Walking past the Guildhall yesterday, I notice it is still covered in Christmas trees and seasonal lights.

Twelth Night (6th Jan) is more than a week ago.

It’s unlucky to leave them up after that date (although I don’t think things could get much worse).

Or perhaps they have put them up early for next year.

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Rebecca says,

Our little baby cockatiel has just flown away near our house on Lytham Close. His name is Phillip and is quite tame. He can wolf whistle and stand on your finger for cuddles. Please let us know if you see him ASAP. We are devastated xxx

With more time being spent at home under lockdown, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has some simple jobs residents can do to prevent fires while keeping their houses cosy this winter. In just the first week of 2021, there were 10 primary fires in Lincolnshire homes.

Paul Howes, Group Manager Prevention & Protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “Lots of us are looking to keep our homes warm, cook hearty meals and keep things cosy to get through this lockdown.

“While you’re doing this, please keep safety in mind, as many of the incidents we are going out to are preventable. Simple precautions like keeping anything flammable a safe distance away from fires and heaters, always keeping an eye on your cooking and not leaving candles alight if you’re not in the room, can make a real difference.”

On New Year’s Eve, crews attended an incident in North Carlton near Lincoln where logs were left too close to the fire, igniting a rug and a basket. There were also chimney fires in Pickworth and Long Bennington over the weekend.

And already this year there have been a number of fires caused by cooking being left unattended – one of the most common causes of domestic fires. This includes a chip pan fire in Bourne, a grill pan on fire in Deeping Gate and a dual fuel cooker alight in Whaplode.

The fire service also attended a bedroom fire at a property in Bardney last week where a lit candle had fallen on the floor, and a flat fire in Gainsborough over the weekend caused by a candle left unattended. Fire crews have also attended a number of electrical incidents including a tumble drier fire in Sturton by Stow.

While people are at home, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue suggests the following jobs to improve fire safety:

– test your smoke alarm

– clear your grill pan of fat build-up

– clear the lint out of your tumble drier

– register your electrical appliances online at www.registermyappliance.org.uk

– check your sockets aren’t overloaded – use extension leads instead of ‘block’ adaptors

– know how you would get out safely if you did have a fire, and check none of your exits are blocked.

Paul Howes added: “While we stay home and stay safe from Covid, we need to be mindful of household hazards too. Our highly experience community fire safety team and operational crews are available for advice on the phone, and are still visiting the most vulnerable members of the community where needed.” There’s lots more safety tips and information at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr

This is national houseplant week 2021 in the UK, and as the nation celebrates indoor houseplants Wren Kitchens reveal the top houseplants to boost your wellbeing. 

With short days and colder nights, winter can be tough at the best of times, and lockdown has done nothing to help that. Now more than ever it’s important to look out for our mental states – and what better way to boost your mood than to bring a little bit of nature inside, to create the ultimate WFH haven.

• To celebrate national houseplant week, Wren Kitchens reveals the best houseplants to boost your mood this winter
• Indoor plants can reduce 87% of toxins in the air, reduce blood pressure and make you feel calmer

It’s a well-known fact that spending time in nature is good for your wellbeing, so what better way to boost your mood than to bring nature inside. With search volumes for “house plants delivered” increasing by 400%, and “buy houseplants online” by 200% since lockdown, Wren Kitchens have revealed the best houseplants to have in your home to help boost your mood:

1. Aloe vera

The gel from aloe vera can help to soothe acne, burns and dry skin, helping you both physically and mentally. To allow your aloe vera plant to thrive, place it in bright but indirect sunlight, and let it dry in between watering.

2. Lavender

Place your lavender plant in the bedroom, and the scent will help to reduce your stress levels, enabling you to sleep better. To let it grow, water it regularly and leave it in a place that gets a lot of light.

3. Snake plant

Had issues in the past with keeping plants alive? Try a snake plant – they need minimal care, but can really help to improve your wellbeing as they add moisture to the air and release oxygen. They’re particularly ideal for people who suffer from allergies – and interestingly, they were the most Googled plant in lockdown!

4. Peace lily

Peace lilies are great houseplants to have. Not only do they soak up mould spores in the air; they also absorb their water before releasing it back into their environment – so place your peace lily in a dry room.

5. Monstera plant

You’ve likely seen the Monstera (also referred to as a Swiss cheese plant) clogging up your Insta feed, but they can actually boost your mood. They purify the air, making your home healthier – plus, you can grow new plants from their cuttings.

6. English ivy

Like peace lilies, English ivy absorbs mould in the air, helping to purify your home; and it also has properties that help you to stop being restless, meaning you can enjoy a better night’s sleep.

For more plants to boost your mood, please go to https://www.wrenkitchens.com/blog/top-10-mood-boosting-houseplants-wren-kitchens 

Paddy Montgomery says….

The loss of (gentleman) Terry Shelbourne brings back good memories.

Of the silent films we made in his studio on Swinegate 50+ years ago. One of them a cowboy film.
Above is a photo of just a few of us.
Any of you still around and remember the good old days?

Terry, a well-known artist, cartoonist and sign-writer, died on New Year’s Eve, a week after his 90th birthday.

There is currently an excess of 9.9 million people who have been furloughed by over 1.2 million companies in the UK. An amount that includes 47% of the creative industries and 43% of accommodation and food industry workers.

The furlough scheme, alongside the UK’s necessary investment in healthcare, amounts to over £280billion in 2020.

The Government has also recently committed the investment of a further £55billion to support public services in 2021-22. The UK Governments efforts to curb unemployment have led to the largest borrowing in 300 years, since peacetime.

This has left many asking…

How is the UK affording Covid-19?

The straightforward answer is that it is not according to Bambridge Accountants, who say will not know the final cost of Covid-19 until the crisis is over, which will include the societal and health repercussions that are predicted to follow.

So far, the Government has stayed a-float through it record-breaking borrowing. In recent years, the government has been able to borrow at very low-interest rates, which intern makes all the debt very affordable. This has allowed the government to pay an interest rate of 0.32% for 10 years.

However, this agreement has a limit. Where that limit is? No one knows. What we do know, is that interest rates will weigh on future generation until the debt is paid off and will undoubtedly result in less money spent on public services and tax rises.

What history tells us?

History suggests that there are many routes the government may take. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the UK’s debt stood at around 200% of GDP. How was it paid off? Higher taxes and less government spending.

After the First World War, the UK’s GDP once again stood at 200%. How was it paid off? Well, we did not pay it off until 9^th March 2015. Britain favoured the method of austerity, which involves policies to reduce government spending or higher taxes. WW2 was dealt with very similarly, higher taxes.

How will the UK handle it this time?

If the government wants to get borrowing down, history says it will cut spending and raise taxes. Increasing taxes appears to be inevitable in the current economic climate. Increasing taxes will mean that people will have less money to spend and risks slowing the economy further.

Government spending in future years is also likely to in some way also be reduced. However, this is again very unattractive. Although it would indeed help reduce public service debt, a cut in government spending is likely to cause a further economic downturn, with limited financial improvements. Spending can drastically affect productive capacity, efficiency and equality.

Currently, we are noted as the era of substantial progression for equality. An era that has just begun, where progress is being made in terms of the gender pay gap, diversity in the workplace and anti-discrimination as a whole. The groups that are most likely to be negatively affected by the pandemic include young people, ethnic minorities and disabled people- some of the areas that are most commonly targeted for equality improvements. This suggests that future government policies may stunt the progressions of equality.

Wealth Tax

One of the most likely candidates for paying back the Covid-19 debt currently being discussed is targeting the wealthy. Rather than increasing taxes of the general population, income tax and VAT, the government could instead use methods to target wealthy.

Taxing millionaire households 1% above the £500,000 threshold could raise £260bn in five years, almost enough to cover the current amassed debt.

The alternative to raising the same money, without being so palatable to the general population, would be:

• Raising basic rate income from 20p to 29p
• Raising income tax rates by more than 6p
• Increasing VAT rates from 20p to 26p
• Increasing corporation tax by 5p and VAT by 4p

One of the issues that may arise with taxing the so-called “rich” is the unlucky regular earners that can fall into that group i.e., farmers and landlords.

The proposed tax will apply to all assets, including homes such as farms, pensions and business wealth. The long arm of this “wealth tax” could reach as much as 10million of the population, the majority of which would not fall much above the national average in terms of earnings.

For instance, struggling farmers, who are asset rich, cash poor are likely victims of the wealth tax. Farming in British culture is often passed through families. Therefore, many of the farmers are likely to have never been cash-rich. However, due to the asset worth of inherited farmland, regular earning farmers may face 1% rise in tax for 5 years, which for a regular earner can often be the make or break between ends meet.

Capital gains Tax

Landlords are also another set that is likely to fall within the “wealth” taxable. The current UK average property value being set at £253,243, a landlord would only need 2 homes to fall into the ‘wealth taxable’ threshold.

One of the other likely routes that are being suggested for targeting the wealthy and paying back Covid-19 borrowing is doubling Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Capital Gains Tax is a tax on the profit you sell something that has increased in value.

Capital Gains Tax is a particular area of interest to tax the wealthy due to its application to inherited properties, shares and investment funds- all areas that are very often associated with substantial wealth. However, CGT also applies to second homes, which directly impacts landlords.

Government legislation has been particularly hard on landlords in recent years. The abolition of tax-deductible mortgage interest, the tenant fee bans and the 3% Stamp duty to name but a few BC (Before-Covid) policies. A rise in capital gains could be the final straw for landlords, which would essentially mean that if a landlord chose to sell their second home they may face a staggering 40% charge in Capital Gains Tax.

We, at Bambridge Accountants, have found that many clients feel cornered by the current and proposed policies. We have experienced a 210% increase in consultation requests in relation to supporting landlords through the upcoming changes to tax policy. The policies before Covid-19 discouraged the entrepreneurship being a landlord, while a possible CGT rise will be a final blow to landlords if they do decide to exit.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the options to rise general public taxes and reduce spending offer many unfavourable outcomes. However, the current suggestions are likely to unfairly penalise many unsuspecting members of the general public.

Three out of five people in the UK do not have a will in place to set out what happens to their affairs, dependents and assets once they pass, so legal experts are outlining the main reasons why it’s important to organise a will to ensure wishes are honoured.

In the absence of a will, the state will manage all important decisions in relation to your affairs, employing the strict rules of intestacy and taking arrangements away from loved ones – so it’s worthwhile having a will in place if you wish for your plans to be respected down to the last detail.

The wills and probate experts at JMP Solicitors have shared three important reasons to organise a will, whether it’s for personal or business reasons, to outline exactly what you would like to happen to affairs and assets following an unfortunate passing, to ensure that dependents are honoured and looked after.

Signing wills

Andrea Bingham, head of the wills, trusts and probate department at JMP Solicitors says: “The process of sorting a will is relatively straight forward and cost effective and organising one to safeguard your family for the future, should the worst happen, is important.

“Many people are put off organising a will, as they often feel that they are too young and healthy to have one, or, they falsely believe that friends and family will have the power to decide between them who should inherit what, but that simply isn’t the case – so we have compiled three main reasons why it’s vital to sort a will.

1. Wills aren’t expensive and complicated

The process of sorting a will from start to finish is relatively straightforward and easy, and a specialist lawyer will guide you through the entire proceedings, including financial advice options. Once you get in contact with a reputable lawyer, everything will be taken care of for you and you will be advised every step of the way, until a will is finalised.

2. The future is unpredictable

Even if you are healthy at present, you can never be sure when the unthinkable may happen, so to ensure your state of affairs is exactly how you wish to pass it on, it makes perfect sense to have a will in place as soon as possible. A will is always specific to an individual, never general and it covers all funeral wishes. If you have dependents, it appoints people you trust (guardians) to care for of any children under the age of 18.

3. If left to chance your wishes may not be honoured

Under the rules of intestacy – when there is no valid will in place, then the law will decide who will inherit your assets, so there is no sense in leaving it to chance. Rules of intestacy are strict and do not acknowledge unmarried partners or step-children – so unfortunately, many loved ones are not entitled to inherit anything if there is no will to stipulate arrangements, and where there has been a second marriage, your children from your first relationship may not automatically inherit. Setting up a will can help preserve wealth for future generations with the creation of trusts, as well as protecting against residential care costs and providing for vulnerable or disabled relatives.

Andrea Bingham, head of the wills and probate department has a wealth of experience in helping clients prepare for the future by drafting wills and lasting powers of attorney to help manage client affairs and assist with vital healthcare decisions. If you require further information, please call 0800 0241 976 and ask to speak to Andrea or email abingham@jmp-solicitors.com

Education expert welcomes new help but says inevitable rush by schools to access what’s on offer will slow delivery

The Government’s last-minute decision to close schools to the vast majority of children has again highlighted the so-called digital divide – the large number of homes where there are insufficient digital devices for pupils to work on – or no broadband connection at all.
 

About 9% of children in the UK – between 1.1 million and 1.8 million – do not have access to a laptop, desktop or tablet at home, according to Ofcom. More than 880,000 of them live in a household with only a mobile internet connection.
 

But pupils in England who have no access to laptops have now been designated ‘vulnerable’, the Department for Education has said, meaning that they can continue to attend school for face-to-face learning during lockdown.
 

And Three UK, which has an 11% market share of mobile subscriptions in the UK, said on Tuesday that it would provide unlimited data upgrades to disadvantaged schoolchildren in England until the end of the school year in July, amid pressure on others to do the same.
 

There is an existing DfE scheme for disadvantaged children who do not have access to a home broadband connection to temporarily increase their mobile data allowance. Schools, trusts and local authorities need to request the support on a pupil’s behalf.

As for the tablets themselves, the Department for Education says it had delivered more than 560,000 devices to schools and councils in England between the start of the pandemic and the end of last year, though there have been widespread complaints from schools that the numbers promised have not arrived. Ministers say they aim to have delivered a further 100,000 laptops and tablets to schools by the end of this week to help it reach its overall target of 1 million devices .

Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan of education resources experts PlanBee, which has produced learning packs to help parents having to home-school their children, says: The government scheme looks pretty good – at least in theory.

‘In addition to laptops and tablets which schools and local authorities can order, they can also get 4G routers, apply for extra data allowances on parents’ mobile phones, and get their entire school set up on either Google or Microsoft’s virtual classroom learning platforms,’ he says.

He continued: ‘There’s training available for staff on distributing, setting up and using all the tech, too. The site says that once a school has registered that they are closed due to outbreak, or supporting a vulnerable child learning from home, they can get the tech delivered within two days of placing an order.’

But he warns that although the government technology offer is now better established than during the first lockdown, there are likely to be significant delays getting the technology into the hands of those who need it most: disadvantaged children.

‘It’s bad enough that learning is being interrupted for all pupils, as teachers scramble to prepare remote learning materials, but even worse is the fact that, once again, it’s the children in poorer families who will suffer for longer while they wait for laptops, tablets and 4G routers to arrive.’

He says that had the decision to close schools been made sooner, and more notice given, schools could have placed orders in time for the start of the new term.

‘Now, many primary schools and local authorities will all be applying for laptops at the same time; there are bound to be issues with delivery as a consequence.’

PlanBee’s Learn at Home Packs each contains eight lessons with teacher-led teaching input videos, parent-friendly friendly lesson plans, slideshow presentations and printable worksheets.

‘We hope these packs will take some of the pressure off parents who are new to home schooling. They’re designed specifically for mums and dads, so there’s no educational jargon. Educating your children at home can seem a pretty daunting prospect, but with these packs, we think we’re helping with the heavy lifting.’

He added: ‘We have kept the need for technology to an absolute minimum, but all education providers have to rely on it to some extent, even if it’s only to download PDF worksheets.

‘The Government needs to get the digital divide sorted – and fast.’

PlanBee have put a lesson videos up online for FREE, so you can get a taste of what’s included in the packs. And there are lots of free teaching resources for parents here.

To arrange an interview with Oli of PlanBee, email susan@empra.co.uk or phone 07739 36499.

Anon says

I’ve just been round the block and someone at the corner of Tennyson Avenue and Uplands Drive has hosed water from their driveway onto the road 😑 so the whole road next to that junction is going to be a sheet of ice from side to side in the next hour or so, it is already below freezing out there!