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Funhouse Comedy is pleased to announce that this Saturday April 4th at 8pm they will be streaming a Lockdown Quarantine Comedy Special and they have an absolute belter of a bill featuring Nathan Caton, who has appeared on Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week, incredible comedy magician Sean Heydon, awesome Aussie improvisor John Robertson and their number one tip for the top, bubbly Brummie Lindsey Santoro plus compere Spiky Mike.
Streaming will be free, but they will ask for donations, which will be split 50/50 between the comics, most of whom are earning hardly anything during the lockdown and the wonderful Macmillan cancer Support charity.
We need laughter to cheer us up now more than ever, so why not join the fun?
Watch it here Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/35874942575/live/
YouTube:https://youtu.be/J1lDNmAch1U
Stay Safe
On 31 March 2020 I received through my letter box, along no doubt like many other Lincolnshire residents, a County News Magazine -Spring/Summer 2020.
It is clear the magazine was produced prior to the COVID-19 breakout. Its contents, which include the promotion of Spring and Summer public events, are completely out of touch with our current situation.
Setting aside the question of whether or not this out of date magazine should have been delivered at all, at considerable cost, it lacks important information regarding what those in need of help, and those volunteering to give help can do at this time.
A new Lincolnshire Resilience Forum Hub has been set up located in Lincoln. It is working in partnership with District Councils and Voluntary Groups across the County. In addition to how to get help with food shopping, or collecting medicines this hub will provide sign posting to other appropriate support and can put those in need of help in touch with local volunteers or voluntary groups in their area.
Anyone needing help, and anyone wishing to volunteer, may now call the LCC Resilience Forum hub on 01522 782189.
It is also possible for anyone needing help to directly contact the new Community Hub at South Kesteven District Council, which was set up after calls for a proactive approach to the current COVID 19 crisis were made.
SKDC is working in partnership with the Resilience Forum. SKDC’s website tells us that the District Community Hub phones are staffed between 8am and 7pm, seven days a week, responding to requests for help or information from people who are vulnerable or need assistance because of age or ill-health.
The dedicated numbers are 01476 406177 and 01476 406358 and the email address is SKCommunityHub@southkesteven.gov.ukWhilst a number of Facebook and volunteer groups are doing a wonderful job, the Resilience Forum and SKDC Community Hub will ensure that Safeguarding and Data Protection guidelines are followed to protect both our vulnerable residents and our volunteers.
These are important initiatives offering practical help. To operate effectively, and to ensure there are no gaps in support, as many volunteers as possible are needed to come forward and register. Please contact either the LCC Resilience Forum or SKDCs Community Hub if you can help, or, if you need help.
Thanks to everyone concerned. Keep safe. Keep well.
I am the Managing Director of Four Seasons Future Planning based in Grantham.
We specialise in Wills Trusts Lasting power of Attorney as well as funeral plans.
During the short period of the Covid 19 outbreak we have seen our calls increase rapidly of people concerned about not having a Will or Updating a current Will.
I think we have had a mixture of people at home with time to think or the outbreak has made people think about their assets and loved ones.
During the lockdown period I have decided to offer a Free Basic or Mirror Will to anyone in the county to give everyone the opportunity to have a Will, everyone can benefit even if they have no money but have children to ensure guardianship is covered.
It all about pulling together and putting people minds at rest currently and as a local business I think instead profiteering businesses should give something back.
Our service is a fully legal will through our legal team and we are conducting telephone consultations not F2F, all wills will be send via post.
Please visit our website www.fourseasonsplans.co.uk
As coronavirus spreads around the globe, most of us are experiencing a new normal, from countries in lockdown to people practising social distancing. It’s strikingly similar to the situation Isaac Newton found himself in 1665 when he was forced to stay at his home at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, now cared for by the National Trust.
Escaping the Great Plague in Cambridge, Newton’s Year of Wonders at Woolsthorpe Manor saw him lay the foundations for his theories on calculus, optics and the laws of motion and gravity.
This was an intense period of intellectual endeavour. Freed from the restrictions of the limited curriculum and rigours of university life, Newton had the time and space to think big, really big!
Scientists and media across the world have already begun to draw parallels between Newton’s time in isolation and today’s societal lockdowns. Who knows what new world-changing discoveries might be made?
There is so much the public can do at home. Over the coming weeks National Trust places like Woolsthorpe Manor will be using their website, social media feeds, podcasts and video to ensure that the places of nature, beauty and history that they care for on behalf of the nation can remain open for business virtually while they are temporarily closed.
Read more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe-manor/features/year-of-wonders
| CrisisSinga reports 700% increase in new customer sign-ups during time of isolationFor immediate release: Singa, the app for singing, today revealed that its new customer sign-ups have increased 700% in the last week as people around the world #stayathome to observe isolation and social distancing rules during the coronavirus crisis. The surge in sign-ups shows that consumers are turning to music and choosing to sing during this troubling and uncertain time. This heart-warming phenomenon illustrating the importance of music and singing has also been shown through footage circulating online of people in lockdown singing from their balconies in Italy and elsewhere. Singing can be a great way to spend free time while at home. Check out the ideas below and, for a limited time, you can try 30 days of free Singa Premium at https://get.singa.com/quarantinekaraoke/. Entertainment for the Whole Household Karaoke is a great way to entertain the household and provide a bit of light relief while stuck indoors. Whether you are in home isolation with family, housemates, other half, or fellow care home residents, singing together is a fun activity for everyone to get involved in! Simply use your smart TV OR open up the Singa app on a device and cast or share it with your TV to make the lyrics large enough for the whole household to see and sing along with.Singa has over 80,000 songs to choose from – whether you want to sing the usual karaoke classics or brand new chart hits. Check out the ready-made playlists on Singa for suggestions of songs to sing together. The team has prepared ideas to get your karaoke session going, with Power Ballads, Current Pop Greats, Indie Pop Rockers, Movie Anthems, and many more. Home Music LessonsFor children unable to attend school and their parents who are having to juggle homeschooling with all their other commitments, karaoke can be an ideal way for kids to lead their own music lessons and inject a little variety into new routines. Younger kids, in particular, may enjoy the selection of songs curated for them on Singa here: https://singa.com/uk/lists/OVXel. Virtual Karaoke With more and more people stuck at home during this crisis, group hangouts with video conferencing software are becoming incredibly popular. They allow you to stay in touch with others and seeing loved ones via video is almost as good as being there in person. The latest trend is to use this setup to host virtual karaoke sessions, which is a great way to have fun and spend time with friends and family. If you don’t want to host your own karaoke party you can join Singa who are running quarantine karaoke events on Instagram Live daily at https://www.instagram.com/singakaraoke/Self-CareIt’s more important than ever to look after your mental health during this time of imposed isolation. Anything that people can do to make themselves feel calmer, less anxious and more sociable is to be encouraged. People are resilient, but we need to take time for ourselves. Thankfully, singing releases feel-good endorphins and is a stress-reliever which lowers anxiety and makes us feel overall happier. Singing automatically makes us breathe deeper and longer, and encourages good posture and muscle tension – all things that will help lift our mood during these tough times! It’s also been proven that singing makes you concentrate, meaning it gives you and your mind a break from stresses and worries for a short time.We’d recommend singing as a great way to lift your spirits. And if you don’t want to sing with others, you can always sing on your own!For a limited time, 30 days of free Singa Premium is available at https://get.singa.com/quarantinekaraoke/ #quarantinekaraoke |
A Grantham care home is asking the local community to send pictures or letters to the home for its residents, as they are not allowed to see family and friends at this current time.
The residents at Apple Trees Care & Reablement Centre, Springfield Road are banned from leaving the home, while no visitors are allowed during the current crisis.
A spokesman for owners, St John Trust, said: “It would cheer them up no end.”
They should be addressed to Administration Department Apple Trees Care & Reablement Centre Arlington gardens Grantham Lincs NG31 7GQ.
At present, their is no separate email facility but they will share pictures and letters with the Facebook teams so they may be seen on line.
They can also be emailed to k.coopey@osjct.co.uk who will forward them internally.
Good afternoon. I work for the stores at Grantham hospital and was hoping you’d be able to help us with something.
We had a representative of a local school drop off some safety goggles for us to use during the covid-19 outbreak.
Unfortunately we were unable to get the name of the individual or the school they represent.
We were just hoping to get the word out to thank them for their generous donation which was very much appreciated and they have been put to good use.
Thank you.
Since the Chancellor made his announcement on 20th March that VAT payments are set to be deferred to help business through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had a number of questions on this subject. So I thought it would be useful if we sent out the the answwers to the most commonly asked questions to all. |
| Q) Do I need to apply to HMRC to defer their payments? A) No, according to gov.uk this will be happening automatically. Q) My quarter-end is February 2020; do I still have to submit my return? A) Yes, you still need to submit your return by the due date as normal. However, as the payment date for this return is 7th April 2020, this date falls within the deferment period of 20th March to 30 June 2020. Deferment also applies to VAT periods ending March and April 2020.The 31st March 2021 has been confirmed as the deadline for paying the deferred payments. Q) Will farmers and other business that receive regular VAT repayments from HMRC be impacted? Will HMRC delay their repayments? A) VAT refunds and claims will not be impacted; HMRC will pay these out as normal. Q) If I pay by direct debit, will this payment be automatically cease? A) HMRC advises businesses who pay by Direct Debit to cancel their direct debit with their bank if they are not able to pay and to allow sufficient time for the bank’s cancellation process to take effect. HMRC’s system will not automatically suspend the collection of payments as it will not be able to identify who intends to make their normal payment and who wishes to take advantage of the deferral. |
| Further guidance from the Government on deferral of VAT payments can be found here HMRC also has a dedicated helpline with an option for VAT. The number is 0800 0159 559. While the deferral measures brought in should reduce the need to call HMRC to discuss a time to pay, you can also use the number if you have difficulty submitting the return on time due to coronavirus related issues. |
| We are to support you. So please contact us if you have any questions – email us on sayhello@espbiz.co.uk or call on 01476 862 172. Keep safe Wayne |
Perhaps these sad times will remind people why this group was started in the first place………..to save our NHS and to highlight the removal of services and bed cuts. Had more thought been put in to our NHS and retainment of vital services and staff, we would have retained our intensive care beds, and A & E departments, and maintained our staffing levels and maybe, just maybe retained confidence in our government, irrespective of political persuasion.
The 44 county-wide mostly “rejected” sustainability and transformation plans (STP’s) saw the removal of these vital services and reduced staffing levels across the country! Look it up! 31 out of 44 counties local councils rejected their plans for their NHS….the dreaded STP’s…….. they are still being actioned, despite rejection!
Likely because of the costs involved in drawing them up……..ours cost 5.4 million. Oxford, 7.7 million and there are 44 of us going through this process! That’s a lorra, lorra money involved!
They have got it very wrong and need to understand that our NHS, OUR NHS is the best in the world. They may be celebrating it tonight, but they are removing it.
Fight for it.
People are dying because they cannot provide the care we are all paying for through our taxes and because of ridiculous decisions being made by people who do not understand the impact on those actually providing the care.
Where are the testing kits for COVID-19?
How can we confirm cases without them? Some people are asymptomatic……….NO symptoms. NONE.
Who has it?
Who has had it?
Who has built up antibodies to it?
| How are the refuse collectors at SKDC able to safely practice safe social distancing? I’ve seen many trucks this week and they have all been crammed, at least four operatives in each truck, also none of them seemed to be wearing masks, I know there is a big debate on the effectiveness of masks, but I wonder if they have even been offered them? Are the trucks cleaned when the shifts end? I bet there’s plenty of SKDC staff not working that could help out with this! If we didn’t have refuse collected we would soon hear about it and people would soon moan, so why can’t we give them support & praise where it’s due Well done to the local refuse collectors for carrying on this vital work!!! |
Angry Ed says…
What is the point, when dog-walking on a popular scenic footpath in town, off bagging the dog poo and dropping in by the wayside.
It is rank stupidity!
Why not leave it there to rot in a few days?
Better still, why not take a small bag of soil with you and cover the turd. It will rot within a couple of days (the principle of the earth closet we used before the WC)
Churches Together in Grantham and District is keeping the spirit of Easter alive with a drawing competition for children.
In a year when the coronavirus has closed churches and cancelled the Mid-Lent Fair the cross-faith organisation plans to ensure children will not forget this important festival.
Secretary Jayne Robb said: “We are saddened that not only have all our places of worship have had to close their doors but we have also had to cancel this year’s Good Friday March of Witness.
“To help the children of Grantham still celebrate Easter we have launched a drawing competition.
“Children should draw a picture depicting ‘What Easter means to Me’ and get a grown-up to upload it to the Grantham Churches Together facebook page. “
=Grantham Community Books has generously donated 12 Easter Eggs to give away as prizes – six for children under eight and six for children over.
“Entries need to be uploaded by Thursday, 9 April and we will arrange to get the prizes safely to the winners.
“Let’s make Easter still as joyous as possible for our children.”
“As with all these things a simple idea has grown and we didn’t expect such a generous offer Coming forward from Community books when we launched the competition! “
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