To date, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, has distributed £70,000 on behalf of DEFRA to local groups, charities and organisations working to combat the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on those who are vulnerable. 

Some of the successful applicants include Hogsthorope Good Neighbour Scheme and Age UK Lindsey to support digital inclusion; Storehouse Church, Skegness will provide an advice service; Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes towards increased overheads; Rotary Club (Skegness) to enable Christmas activities for children in 9 Primary Schools; Sage Gardener Lincoln offering activities for those who are lonely or isolated; Stepping Stone Theatre, Gainsborough towards their lockdown legacy project for people with mental health difficulties, EDAN Lincs to help victims of domestic abuse; telephone befriending for people who are visually impaired. 

Groups can apply for up to £5,000 to support the ongoing needs of vulnerable people and successful projects might include those that address: loneliness and isolation, mental health support, financial hardship, digital exclusion, telephone befriending etc. Applicants can also ask for a contribution towards their core costs and overheads.

We are still keen to hear from new and emerging Covid-19 response groups working to help local residents who are shielding or self isolating during lockdown. Please get in touch to find out more.

Eligibility: Not for profit community groups, PTAs, social enterprises, community interest companies that have a governing document, accounts, bank account and relevant policies and procedures.  Parish and town councils can also apply, provided the funded activity is not part of their statutory duty. New groups can ask a trusted partner to hold funds, should they be successful. 

This is a rolling program with decisions notified within 4 weeks.  The next panel meeting is on 15 January 2021 and bids received prior to 7 January will be discussed at that meeting. To obtain an Application Form or to chat about your project, please contact Sue Fortune 01529 305825 or download details from the Grants Page @ lincolnshirecf.co.uk

Sue Fortune, Foundation CEO says: “The ongoing pressure on our voluntary and community sector, given the current circumstances, may mean they are struggling to cover the cost of delivering vital support to those who need it the most.  I would encourage groups to get in touch to have a word to see whether this fund might help alleviate the financial burden.  Staff are here to help”.

 

Andrea says…

Has anyone has found two gift cards in the car park of Iceland, on Sankt Augustine Way?

One was for TK Max and another is for Matalan.

These are Christmas presents that I can’t afford to replace.

Broadband Genie talked to teachers and parents about the impact of homeschooling and their fears for future lockdowns as we await the rollout of the vaccine across the UK.

Parents across the UK are distressed about the chances of the country going into a strict lockdown after the Christmas period, saying they “might have to take a sabbatical if we have another lockdown” to cope with home learning.

Jenna, a 40-year-old mum of two from Portsmouth, has had her kids sent three times since schools reopened due to other pupils testing positive. When asked about the scenario of longer school closures, Jenna said “I might have to take a sabbatical if we have another lockdown. The first time I was running on adrenaline but knowing what I know now another sustained lockdown would not be something I could manage with work.”

Access to better technology such as fast broadband and laptops can help ease the strain on parents and 96% of teachers stated its importance for home learning. However, not everyone has access to these essentials. Jenna told us of a friend whose children only had one phone between them to do their lessons from each day.

Ultimately, all of these factors will slow down the progress of our children at school. Worryingly, 95% of teachers say that school closures have a significant impact on their pupils’ development and 95% are concerned about the effect on their future prospects, research by Broadband Genie revealed.

Alex Tofts from Broadband Genie said: “Access to decent broadband and technology is essential for home learning. With public libraries set to close, some pupils will have no way of accessing online resources.”

“Some schools will be able to provide a limited number of laptops but many pupils will have to be set work that can be completed offline, putting them at a disadvantage. If Schools close for this lockdown, the Government must step up and provide the resources for pupils to continue their education.”

Research finds female employees hardest hit by pandemic and working from home

• An international research review containing contributions from UCL School of Management academic explores implications of COVID-19 on the workplace
• Research highlights that the global pandemic and work- from-home model has increased social pressures on employed women to a greater extent than their male counterparts

London, 17 December 2020 – A review of research in organizational and workplace psychology conducted by an international team of academics has revealed the implications of working-from-home for women has been more disruptive. The review paper, entitled COVID-19 and the Workplace: Implications, Issues, and Insights for Future Research and Action and originally published in American Psychologist, features urgent insight from UCL School of Management Professor, Sunny Lee into the sex- and gender-related implications of changes in work practices that have taken place over the course of 2020.

The review of research indicates the impact of the pandemic differs by demographic characteristics, such as gender. The paper reveals two key implications on the workplace; the first that work-from- home models will increase and continue post-pandemic and the second that although men are more likely to face direct health threats from COVID-19, women are more likely to be affected by the adverse social and economic costs.

Working from home is here to stay

The authors of the paper believe that face-to-face working will reemerge post-pandemic but will most likely return in a hybrid form which mixes face-to-face work with virtual work. Prior research has suggested that hybrid forms of working such as this are effective in increasing employees’ productivity, satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing.[1] And even with the option to work on an entirely remote basis, employees may choose to come to office regularly given humans’ strong social motives to connect with others.

Although working-from-home has turned out to increase productivity for some workers, it does also come with downsides. For example, research shows some workers are being burned out as they have to juggle caring for their children or other family members while working from home, whilst some employees feel distress and loneliness as they struggle with blurring work/non-work boundaries and miss out on social opportunities.

Given that working-from-home is likely to increase in the years which follow the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative consequences of such models will continue unless addressed. The review paper found gender and sex to be an influential moderating factor.

WFH more disruptive for women than men

Prior research has shown that in households where two partners are employed, women typically engage in household tasks more than men. And during national lockdowns and the closure of schools, the burden of household tasks tends to increase for couples with children as they become compelled to assist with children’s virtual learning.

Therefore, although working-from-home may increase overall productivity among employees, work may be substantially more disrupted for women, particularly those who have children. Indeed, a recent research (Feng & Savani, 2020) study showed that during the pandemic, among couples who are both employed, women’s productivity was more disrupted and women felt more dissatisfied with their job. Additionally, the research showed due to their empathy and communal orientation, women, compared to men, may feel more isolated and stressed by working from home. A recent survey on 996 U.K. healthcare workers found that more females are experiencing emotional distress amid the pandemic (IPPR, 2020).

Sunny Lee, one of the paper’s authors and an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the UCL School of Management, said: “The research has shown that the work-from-home model has been a success for many companies forced to close their offices during the pandemic. However, we can see on a day to day basis the pressure this is putting on women to find a balance in their productivity and home life and this something organisations need to be sensitive to if this model is here to stay.

“Interestingly, one of the emerging trends we observed was the success of female leaders in handling this crisis, with leaders such as Jacinda Arden, Angela Merkel and Tsa Ing-Wen able to flourish in these uncertain environments. Going into 2021 organisations need to be aware of creating the right environment, one which is sensitive to the needs of both men and women, so that everyone’s skills are able to flourish during times of uncertainty.”

oakesy1986@outlook.com says…

On the 27th of November someone from the Queensway area took in a package.

We have tried really hard to find it.

Royal Mail is no help and now can’t ring them.

It was a big package. We don’t know if it has been stolen or someone is waiting for us because postman didn’t leave a card.

Laura says..

My 12 year old daughter was assaulted yesterday, just over the bridge connecting Bridge end road area and Dudley Road.

Two school boys walked past her, when behind her then have grabbed her arm , twisted it and the other boy grabbed her glasses.

They smashed her glasses. She picked up parts of glasses and ran home.

Boys were between ages of 14-16. School uniform , light shirts, blazers. Burgundy colour on ties.

Blond and dark haired boy. One of them had a cigarette in his hand.

Police informed. Any witness should call them on 101.

People across the East Midlands are invited to attend a virtual information event and find out how they can help offer young refugees a new start in life.

The event has been organised by A Place to Call Home, a partnership between councils across the East Midlands, led by Leicestershire County Council. The partnership works to recruit foster carers and supported lodgings providers for young people arriving in the region without their parents or a trusted adult.

The event will take place at 10am on Wednesday 6 January and will include details of the rewarding nature of fostering, the application process and the training and support available, as well as the payments and allowances carers receive.

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We’re committed to playing our part to help find kind, caring and generous foster carers to offer these young people a place to call home.

“If you feel you have the necessary skills and experience to foster, please get in touch with the team and find out more about the role and how it could change the lives and futures of young refugees.”

Regis (17) arrived in the East Midlands from Albania when he was fifteen years old and was placed with a foster carer. He features in the virtual event, talking about the difference fostering has made to him and his desire to be part of a happy family, just like his foster carers, when he grows up.

Pat (65) is a foster carer for unaccompanied young refugees and currently has two young people staying with her. She said: “It’s opened up a whole different world to me. There are challenges but nothing is impossible to overcome, and we get by.

“Through getting involved in the local refugee forum with the first young person I fostered, I’m now a volunteer there with the youth group and have had fantastic times with all these young people from all over the world who come along and you just see them settle and blossom. It’s just great, it really is.”

The event will take place on the project’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/homeeastmidlands. The video will remain available to view.

For more information about fostering young refugees, visit www.placetocallhome.org.uk, call 0116 305 5898 or email info@placetocallhome.org.uk.

• 

ULHT are sending out a survey to gauge opinion regarding the cuts to services and changes at Grantham and District Hospital this June. 

District Councillor Charmaine Morgan, Grantham St Vincent’s Ward and Chair SOSGrantham Hospital said :

It is good ULHT are engaging with us but they do not refer to restoring our services, rather shaping what they might deliver in the future. The changes they made were meant to be temporary.

They clearly do not intend to automatically restore all services, breaking a commitment made to Lincolnshire County Councils Health Scrutiny Committee and campaigners.

There is also speculation the site will be taking Covid positive patients and has in fact already done so, intentionally or not. This undermines the Trusts entire argument for a Green site yet is not surprising given ULHT have relied on Grantham Hospital as an overflow site in the past.

Why should the combination of a pandemic and winter pressures change this? 

This survey is a worrying indication ulht may be planning alternative services on site to those we have lost. It is vitally important we take our chance to say what our hospital was/is to us regardless but with this in mind. 

It is not clear how ULHT will ensure the most vulnerable in our community,  and most likely to be adversely affected by the changes, are able to access the questionnaire. If there is a heavy reliance on online communication and social media the experience of those with Protected Characteristics including the elderly, disabled, low income and very young could get missed. We know for example that members of South Lincolnshire Blind Society are now forced to travel for hours to Louth for eye tests.

Many do not have computer access, are unable to drive and have no access to a car.

Whilst the 24br UTC is an improvement at night on the closed doors of our A&E, many patients have been adversely affected by the ‘temporary’ changes made to Grantham Hospital in June and loss of the A&E unit and scope and severity of help it could provide.

We have also lost the vital link between the A&E and admittance into hospital from there should overnight or prolonged medical treatment be required. Now patients needing such overnight care will be referred elsewhere. 

We should have a 24 hour A&E restored along with our other Outpatient Services and Medical Wards. Anything less is treating us like second class citizens denied local services available to residents in or near Lincoln and Boston. The changes have put more pressure on those already struggling hospitals. Those residents

now competing with Grantham residents may want a say in the matter. 
The NHS were calling for Trusts to retain acute and medical services when Covid19 hit.

Our Trust threw those recommendations out of the window as far as Grantham residents were concerned. And, our lives are still at risk with no local resuscitation or patient stabilisation locally available for critically ill patients. With treacherous winter road conditions even the journey to another hospital is an ordeal and added risk. 

By mainly focusing the questions on experience over the last 12 months, Ulht has made comparison between the services at Grantham and District Hospital before and after the changes difficult. We should complete the survey as fully as possible based on our experience and not an artificial time line. We can indicate when we needed Grantham Hospital and why in the text boxes. Carers and parents can complete the survey too. 

It is extremely important to capture the experience of those who needed and wanted to use Grantham Hospital services but were unable to because of the cuts and changes made in June too. They may have had to travel miles for Outpatients appointments, once or repeatedly and may have even given up altogether. There is an opportunity to do this if you were affected this way.  

Patients from as far as Newark and Melton Mowbray, who rely on Grantham Hospital should also comment. 

If anyone needs help viewing or completing the survey I will be happy to assist. After the concerns raised by the South Lincolnshire Blind Society I have called on Andrew Morgan to ensure our most vulnerable people with Protected Characteristics, including our elderly, disabled and our very young are able to respond.’

Over 80,000 of us told the Trust before to keep our A&E. It looks like we will have to do it again’ 

Please complete this survey yourself and share it with your friends, family, staff, groups and communities you are in contact with so that we can hear and learn from their feedback.

Fill it in here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MDJKTQC

All survey results will be reported to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to review patient experiences of services.

• 

Beth Jinks says….

Due to a lot of Santa’s Grottos not running this year – or running at a low capacity due to all of the necessary restrictions being in place, etc.

Our wonderful friend Andrew (Ted) McGrory) came up with a plan that meant that children could still see Santa, but in a safe way.

Due to the current restrictions Ted decided to do Socially Distanced Santa visits (all of which took place outside on the public footpath) so children could see Santa from their front door/driveways.

Distance was kept at all times and I he even took extra precautions and wore a mask under his Santa beard.

Ted had never done anything like this before and fully committed to making it as magical as possible. He bought an amazing costume, Santa belly, put on the most amazing voice and read ‘The Night Before Christmas’ at each of his visits.

Because of all the effort Ted put in we each started offering something for his time and to help with any expenses. He very politely declined and instead decided to set up a just giving page for ‘4Louis’ so if we really wanted to we could leave a donation.

4Louis provide tools, equipment and training to hospital units, hospices and other professionals who sadly have the job of comforting grieving families who suffer a child death, miscarriage or stillbirth neonatal.

So far Ted has raised an amazing £560 – which is outstanding for something that was just originally meant to be a nice gesture so that children didn’t miss out on a visit from Santa.

Even better his employer had offered to match whatever Ted raised up to the amount of £500 – so 4Louis will receive over £1000!

We’d just like to show our appreciation to Ted as he is always so selfless.

• 

Andrew Dan McGrory

December 10 at 9:17 PM  · 

UPDATED!!!

Santa’s home – mince pies and beer now being consumed.

1 evening, 8 families, 12 children and with everyone’s generosity having already extended to £500 (WOW!!!) I am a very happy man.

Thank you soooo much everyone that has donated

With my employer, Capital One, willing to match charitable donations upto £500 – this means that £1000 will now be going to 4Louis.

If you would like to add to the sum raised then please visit my just giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/fundr…/socially-distanced-santa

Merry Christmas everyone

…if I do it again next year – I’ll need a new pair of boots as the sole came off of one

Additional cash is more important than ever in these uniquely difficult times, says expert Kate Jillings as she urges parents to rally round. 

Schools were suffering squeezed budgets long before the additional expenses of keeping going during the pandemic kicked in.

Keeping pupils and staff safe have proved costly while setting up remote learning platforms and paying for support staff to cover sickness and those having to isolate don’t come cheap. And schools serving disadvantaged areas have faced additional outlay as they help families struggling to keep their heads above water.

Respected thinktank the Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that school spending per pupil in England fell by 9% in real terms between 2009-10 and 2019-20. This represents the largest cut in over 40 years, though these cuts come on the back of a significant increase in spending per pupil of over 60% during the 2000s.

Research by the charity Parentkind shows its Parent Teacher Association members have lost as much as £42m in fundraising this because of the pandemic

But these unprecedentedly difficult times are not the moment to let efforts slip.
 

Many schools need additional funds simply to keep going; others are raising money for Covid hardship funds to help families facing particular pressures. So what are the key things to keep in mind when it comes to fundraising?

Here are my top tips.

Have a defined objective

What do you want to raise money for? It makes it much easier to focus your efforts if you have a particular project in mind. And those you approach for contributions will immediately be engaged in your campaign.

Know your school community

What are the needs of your pupils, teaching staff and parents? By involving them in your fundraising every step of the way, you’re far more likely to get ‘buy in’.

Don’t forget your alumni

Has your school kept in touch with its old boys and girls? Approached in the right way, many of them will be only too happy to make a contribution – often a sizeable one. Especially at this time of year, we tend to look back with affection at their school careers and recall nativity plays and other seasonal highlights from their childhoods. But far too many schools rely on email addresses to stay in touch. These often expire as soon as the child leaves the school or a year later. Think about establishing a high-quality portal for managing donations from past pupils.

It’s all about sustainability and building long-term relationships rather than a quick cash and grab.

You will be far better placed for future fundraising projects if you establish an enduring relationship with alumni, many of whom will have gone on to successful careers. And remember that giving isn’t just about money. Former pupils may be better placed to give ‘in kind’ with expertise or contacts.

Make it personal
Emails are a useful way to communicate with donors once your project is up and running. But initially, reaching out in person makes a much better impression and helps you to establish fruitful relationships quickly. 

Check out local traders

Don’t forget that local businesses may be able to help you. Although they too are facing enormous financial problems, they may be able to offer assistance in terms of expertise or transport or manpower.

Look beyond the school gates
Talk to other schools in the area. It may be advantageous to join forces and work together on a particular project. Other school communities may bring additional strengths and experience to the table. 

Don’t let Covid gloom get your down

Try to take an upbeat approach to your endeavours despite the very real challenges posed by the pandemic. Many schools have found that virtual events – quizzes, treasure hunts – have gone down a storm.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

You won’t be short of seasonally-themed ideas. Carol sing-alongs, Christmas gifts and a host of others will spring to mind.

ToucanTech.

Dee Farrell says

Facebook’s gone crackers..!
The selling page took my listing down for christmas crackers…
My children now think I’m an arms dealer..!

• 

S a s h a   L l o y d   W i c k h a m   s a y s …

 My mum’s house on Dudley Road was burgled yesterday (Sunday)  evening between 10pm and 10.30pm.

If anyone has CCTV that may help, please contact police.

Mat says,

Seems the total failure of heating and hot water yet again is driving people to desperate measures. There is no heating or hot water in the riverside homes and people are becoming ill.

• Experts at Good Move advise which colours will, and won’t last, in your home
• Search data shows the popularity of colours in each room of the home
• Expert offers further advice on picking colours that will last

Want to decorate your home with colours that will stand the test of time? From yellow in the kitchen to blue in the bathroom, some colours are just meant to be.

With the help of Google search data, regulated property buyers, Good Move, offer top tips on how to choose colours that will last in each room of your home, and the ones that won’t.

Kitchen:

• Choose: Yellow
• Avoid: Black/charcoal

If you really want your kitchen to pop for years to come, then paint it yellow. Yellow is a great option for smaller kitchens as it can make rooms feel bigger and brighter, and yellow tones can also make people feel happier and calmer while in the space. In fact, searches for ‘yellow kitchens’ have increased by 132% in the past year, showing how popular yellow kitchens are at the moment. Choose a high or semi-gloss finish paint as this is the most durable and easy to clean.

Avoid very dark colours in your kitchen, such as black or charcoal, as this can make the space feel gloomy and small – the opposite of what a kitchen should be.

Bedroom:

• Choose: Navy
• Avoid: Bright red/orange

If you really want a bedroom décor that will stand the test of time and look amazing, then choose deep blues and navy. These deep hues provide a sense of serenity and relaxation – perfect for a bedroom – and can help create a cosy environment too. Navy bedrooms are also hugely popular, with searches up 245% compared with this time last year.

Stay clear of any uber-bright colours in your bedroom, such as reds or oranges, as these are too stimulating for a room where you need to switch off and sleep.

Living Room:

• Choose: Green
• Avoid: Bright red

It may not be the most obvious choice for a living room, but green is a perfect choice for the space, with searches for ‘green living rooms’ up 94% compared to October 2019. Green is the colour of harmony and renewal, helping to emit feelings of calm and relaxation – perfect for your living room for years to come!

Your living room is ultimately a room to relax after a long day, so avoid intense reds as this is far too stimulating and bright for the space.

Dining Room:

• Choose: Orange
• Avoid: Blue

If you want a dining room colour that will last – choose shades of orange. That’s because orange tones are said to increase a person’s appetite, and they make a space feel warm and cosy too. Searches for ‘orange dining rooms’ are up 83% compared to last year, but if you’re nervous then incorporate one statement orange wall instead.

While orange increases appetite, blue suppresses it, so avoid any blue tones in your dining room if you want to eat there!

Bathroom:

• Choose: Light blue
• Avoid: Dark colours

Light blue has always been a popular bathroom colour as it helps to create a relaxing, peaceful, and spa-like atmosphere. And with searches for ‘light blue bathroom’ increasing by a huge 614% compared to this time last year, it shows no sign of going out of style anytime soon.

Try to avoid extremely dark colours in your bathroom, especially if it’s small, as this will only make the space seem cramped and unrelaxing.

Study:

• Choose: Red
• Avoid: Neutrals

Red is a stimulating shade that helps improve focus, alertness, and concentration – so what better colour for your study or home office space? Searches for ‘red study’ have increased 400% since October 2019, proving its popularity.

Avoid sole neutral tones in your study as these can be uninspiring and can make you feel bored or sleepy – not ideal for a study space!

To conclude, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, says: “Choosing the right colours in your home can be difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. Choosing colours that are perfect for the space will ensure they will stand the test of time, so you won’t become bored or unhappy with the space and look to redecorate too soon. Hopefully, these tips will help you choose colours that are bound to last.”

For more information on picking the perfect colour for you, please visit: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-colour-for-each-room-in-your-home/

Homeowners looking to adapt spaces for optimal home working during the COVID-19 pandemic can look to suggestions from property experts.

With government guidelines tightening restrictions, it is important that homeowners and potential buyers consider the viability of home working and adapt in the best ways they possibly can to be safe and comfortable at home.

From converting unused spaces, to developing outdoor areas, the property experts at North Sands Developments, share top considerations for adapting homes for COVID working and living.

James Hartley, director at North Sands Developments, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has tested everyone, and with government restrictions tightening, there are many important learnings that we can take away from this time, to safeguard our futures in terms of creating a more comfortable, secure and optimised living and working environment.

“From zoom-proof rooms, to pet proofing, good internet connection and ensuring access to open plan and outdoor spaces – whether you are looking to purchase a new home or have an existing home that requires improvements, we have compiled a list of considerations for reference, to help homeowners and potential buyers thinking about living arrangements during the pandemic.”

1. Outdoor space

When spending large amounts of time at home, outdoor space is vital for health and wellbeing, whatever the weather. To make the most of outdoor spaces – home and garden improvements such as extending the size of the garden, improving decking and patios, adding a fire pit for use during the cooler weather, adding a balcony to bring fresh air into the home, and swapping patio doors for new ones such as bi-folds, to connect the home with the garden to accentuate the space is worth the investment.

2. Zoom-proof rooms and spaces

Working from home and juggling family life isn’t always easy and it can be disruptive when important virtual meetings are interrupted with noise. Creating a zoom-proof space in the home is very much an essential when it comes to peaceful working. The ideal zoom space will be as sound proof as possible, with a simple fuss-free backdrop, away from busy areas of the house to avoid any disturbances. If in an open plan home, organise a space in a quieter area of the room, with a divide to hold calls.

3. Convert unused spaces

Converting unused spaces in the home such as a garage, loft or cellar, can provide much needed extra room in the household. The spaces can be used for a new home office, relaxation zone, utility area or a play room, but it is important to ensure that a property possesses comfortable living areas, should another lockdown be enforced. Extra spaces can also significantly boost the value of a property, especially if extra bedrooms and bathrooms are added. Most conversion projects do not require planning permission as it qualifies as a ‘change of use’ to the property, which is another great reason to consider a home improvement of this kind.

4. Add an annexe or garden

Increasing the space in your home with a build project is a great alternative to moving house completely. Adding an annexe or extension to a property, is a larger investment and one that could significantly improve a living environment and add value to a property. Adding a room that is completely separate from the rest of the property, can create the ideal environment for undisturbed home working, or a quiet and tranquil space for relaxation. It will also be a place for extra family or members of a support bubble to stay and visit that isn’t in the main home. If not an annexe, it’s worth converting any loft space to ensure all space in the home is utilised.

5. Divide your open plan spaces

A cost-effective way to create separate zones for different functions is to divide existing open plan areas. Installing partition walls or sectioning off areas with the careful placement of furniture are just two ways to create segregated space, allowing members of a household to live together without getting on top of one another. Freestanding shelves act as great temporary partitions that also provide storage space for any home office essentials.

6. Good internet connection

A commonly overlooked home improvement is a stronger and more efficient internet connection and good WIFI is essential when working remotely for virtual meetings and conferences. This can be as simple as installing extenders to boost internet signal, or may mean changing internet providers altogether for a connection that supports working activity and home living. Before switching provider, it’s sensible to do research online to check which company has the best service in the area.

7. Get a pet and pet proof your home

In terms of overall happiness and wellbeing – pets can certainly provide comfort and company for the long term. Getting a pet is a great life choice for lockdown and beyond, but furry friends need appropriate flooring and space to run around, so it’s important to ensure a home is pet proof by opening up spaces if possible and replacing carpet with floor tiles which can make managing a regular house clean easier.

Bernice says…

Due to Grantham A&E services being downgraded a local disabled man was taken to Lincoln hospital yesterday with chest pains.

After tests and ECG he was told to go home as no transport was available. He was then told to get a taxi.

Impossible to get a taxi if you are well built and cannot walk, also how could he afford £60 ?

He had to really kick off and threaten to throw himself on the floor. They surrounded him with security guards and eventually the hospital arranged transport.

Grantham needs a 24/7 level 1 A&E. This would not have happened if he could have been treated locally as in the past.

What if he had been taken ill when it snowed ?

Quite often it is impossible to get in or out of Grantham when the weather is bad. This is not the first incident, and I doubt if it will be the last.

The staff, despite working under so much pressure were, as usual, amazing.

• thortful release new festive food tier list to reveal Brits most googled Christmas food 
• Eggnog revealed as the most searched for festive food
• Sherry and Brandy butter fall into the Give it a miss tier

As food makes up part of the Christmas festivities, thortful release a new festive food tier list, featuring four tiers from God Tier to Give it a miss Tier.

In the God tier, with more than 200,000 UK searches a month were eggnog (probably because most of us don’t actually know what it is!), as well as mince pies, roast potatoes, and a classic Christmas dinner.

Food with 100,000 – 200,000 monthly searches fell into the Good tier. These include several desserts, such as chocolate, Christmas pudding, and classic Italian sweet treat, panettone. Pigs in blankets, nut roast, and mulled wine also fell under this tier.

Yule logs, cranberry sauce, parsnips, stuffing and Bucks Fizz all fell under the Meh tier, with 50,000 – 100,000 monthly UK searches each.

Meanwhile, in the Give it a miss tier, traditional festive treats like sherry, brandy butter and redcurrant jelly all had less than 50,000 monthly searches – probably because people are ignoring them in favour of something a bit more modern.

Interestingly, vegan Christmas dinners also fell into the give it a miss tier, proving that at Christmas time, all you need is a turkey and some pigs in blankets (well, as long as you’re not veggie or vegan!).

The results also showed that meat-free options have increased in popularity, with searches for vegan christmas dinner seeing a 49% growth last year whilst searches for nut roast were up 22%.

Interestingly the search term  “christmas dinner takeaway” saw an increase of 466% YoY in October of this year.

For more details, go to: https://www.thortful.com/blog/brits-most-googled-christmas-dishes/

National charity Heart Research UK has hosted its first ever virtual masterclass, training the next generation of heart surgeons in endoscopic heart valve surgery.

The masterclass, which was live-streamed from the West Midlands Surgical Training Centre (WMSTC), University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire on the 2^nd of December, allowed delegates to learn the latest techniques to repair and replace faulty heart valves using keyhole surgery.

These minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery techniques avoid the need for creating large incisions in the chest, which may minimise risk to patients and speed up recovery times.

The course, which was led by Mr Joseph Zacharias, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, was livestreamed to delegates and demonstrated endoscopic mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery, as well as lectures and discussion.

The interactive session will be followed by a practical training session at the WMSTC in 2021, where delegates will be able to gain hands-on experience of the new techniques, operating on cadavers.

Heart Research UK masterclasses are free to delegates, ensuring that these skills can be learnt by medical professionals across the country.

Course Director Mr Joseph Zacharias, said: “The Masterclass was a huge success, we had more delegates than we expected and everything worked very well. We are so pleased that Heart Research UK sees the importance of sessions like this.

In every profession, there needs to be places for professionals to practice. Golfers have driving ranges, we have these training courses. They give heart surgeons a place to train, practise and innovate.

“There’s very little funding for courses such as this, so we thank Heart Research UK and their supporters for this opportunity.”

Helen Wilson, Head of Research at Heart Research UK, said: “Our Masterclasses are absolutely vital in helping to educate the expert health professionals of tomorrow. Given the current restrictions, we have had to alter the way we provide these courses, and we are incredibly glad we were still able to offer this training.

“There is a great deal of interest in minimally invasive heart surgery so we are really pleased to give surgeons the opportunity to learn these techniques from Mr Zacharias and his colleagues.

“At Heart Research UK, our aim is to benefit patients as soon as possible, and our masterclasses are one of the most effective ways of doing that.”

To find out more about Heart Research UK and the Masterclasses that they run, please visit heartresearch.org.uk.