Faced with the greatest global pandemic in living memory, Freemasons came together in 2020 and donated a total of £1m as well as their time to help those in need.

The donations were used to help communities in various critical areas, including foodbanks, support for unpaid carers, personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies for hospitals and hospices, support for women’s refuges, and funds for NHS workers, ambulances and equipment.

Freemasons also worked 18 million hours as volunteers in a range of different areas, where there was a need, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk, organising care packages, producing scrubs, PPE and hand sanitiser.

At the start of the crisis in April 2020, some Freemasons adapted their businesses’ production lines to produce nearly 5,000 visors for use in healthcare settings. Since then, Freemasons have produced or procured tens of thousands of pieces of additional PPE.

Meanwhile, to help protect women and children from domestic abuse, Freemasons donated more than £165,000 in 2020. The donation helped more than 2,000 women during the lockdown, who received more than 1,000 parcels containing essential items for women fleeing domestic abuse.

Freemasons also focused their efforts on hospitals and care homes, donating nearly 1,000 tablets to provide vital contact between coronavirus patients and their loved ones. The tablets were provided to more than 50 hospitals, care homes and hospices. In London, hospitals including The Royal London, Queen Mary’s and St Thomas’ received approximately 115 tablets; while in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, some 200 tablets were donated.

Elsewhere, to support thousands of families struggling during the crisis, Freemasons donated 300,000 meals and 38 tonnes of food to homeless people, women’s refuges and vulnerable people, supporting more than 120,000 people in total. Moreover, £560,000 was donated to provide meals and help numerous foodbanks.

Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said: “No one in this day and age should have to worry where their next meal is coming from. We are so glad that we were able to provide thousands of families across the UK with a hot meal or food donations to help get them through this current crisis. Freemasons have achieved all of this in just a few months and have also given their time to produce and deliver food to the vulnerable.”

The UGLE is also encouraging its members to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help vaccinate the population. “More than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons. Now it is crucial that we help in every way we can to protect the population. If the NHS needs volunteers, then we are happy to emphasise the importance of this to our members,” said Dr Staples.

He continued: “Our response to the Pandemic shows what Freemasonry is all about; supporting those in need, giving back to our communities and volunteering where it can make a real difference.  Freemasons have been doing this for over 300 years and I am proud of the time and commitment that our members have given to support the nation in its fight against Covid-19.”

In addition to the £1m donated in 2020, the Freemasons have committed a further fund of £2.1m to support the ongoing Covid-19 crisis response. Of that £2.1m, £850,000 has been allocated to support homeless people through several charities with which UGLE partners. More than 40,000 homeless individuals are being provided with food and essentials, transport, help with accessing services such as counselling and healthcare, as well as employment and training opportunities.

Grantham MP Gareth Davies says…

• This week we hit the 30 million mark for vaccinations administered and our local programme continues to go very well according to our local NHS leaders who I spoke with a few days ago. While much of the focus is still on COVID and making sure we progress through the Roadmap out of restrictions, non-COVID work for MPs certainly hasn’t stopped. 

Last week the Police and Crime Bill passed through the House of Commons and I voted Aye. I have written many times in this column about the need to support our police force, to do whatever we can to protect them, our neighbours, friends and family.

This bill will bring tougher sentences for serious criminals such as child murderers and sexual offenders. It will reform the way we bring justice to young offenders through community sentences, as well as increase the sentence for attacks on our emergency service workers who face danger every day.

We are fortunate that we have a relatively low crime rate across most of our towns and surrounding villages, but that is not to say that crime does not occur.

The Police & Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, and I recently carried out a short online crime survey of residents to hear more about local issues.

Fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, and burglary all featured heavily in responses from Grantham and I will be taking the survey results up with Lincolnshire Police soon.

Off-road vehicle damage to byways around Grantham is also something that has been raised with me and I recently went to see for myself on a visit to Skillington.

While not illegal, motorbikes churning up walkways for local residents is unfair and unpleasant, and so I have asked ministers for advice on what can be done to address this. 

Part of the solution to anti-social behaviour is having more dedicated community areas where younger people can exercise, play sport and hang out with friends.

I was really pleased to swing by Elsea Park in Bourne last Friday to see their new £1.4m artificial grass pitch. A surface fit for David Beckham, this new facility is wonderful news for local residents as well Bourne Town Football Club who will play their matches there. 

As part of the COVID Roadmap, schools went back on the 8th March and I have been keen to hear how the new testing process and resumption of classes has been going.

On a call with the West Grantham Church of England Academy in the Earlsfield I heard that their reopening has gone very smoothly and just how pleased everyone is being back in class. I plan to visit them soon to see the arrangements that have been put in place for myself. 

Furthermore this week, the Government made announcements on our defence policy with the Defence Command Paper which sets out how our national defence will be equipped to face new and emerging threats.

It follows last week’s Integrated Review of those threats, including cyber and space related issues, and follows the £24bn in new funding announced for the military.  

We have one of the largest populations of veterans in the country, the RAF zip over our heads from nearby bases every week and we are home to the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks which trains our new reservists. Therefore more support for our men and women in uniform is something I know many locally will warmly welcome.

Finally, even during the height of the pandemic, the environment has remained one of the biggest issues which many Stamfordians have contacted me about I was pleased to recently join the Stamford Town Council Climate Action Group to discuss their ideas for a new water fountain on Stamford’s high street and efforts to reduce single-use plastics in the town. We were also joined by a group seeking to tackle river sewage and I was shocked to hear that 40% of UK rivers are polluted by sewage. I’ve agreed to go out with them soon (wearing wellies!) to help clear up some of the rubbish around the Welland in our area. 

As we head towards COP26 later in the year when the world’s leaders will gather in Scotland to discuss climate action, this will become a more prominent issue on the national agenda so I am pleased that here in Stamford, action is already underway. 

Rigger Mortiss says …

What are Western Power thinking?

By working at the junction with London Road, next to the old Pizza Hut, they are breaking every protocol.

Couldn’t they have waited until Springfield Road was open again after four months bridge repairs, before shutting it again for essential work !!!!!!

• Canine Cottages has shared a new fun workout for both you and your pooch
• Fitness influencer Amy Lou Perry has choreographed the dog-orientated workout routine and will be hosting a livestream of the workout on her insta-famous dog’s Instagram on 31^st March
• Exercises include dog-orientated planks, lunges, and burpees

With the end of lockdown on the horizon and many of us wanting to boost our fitness before we return to the real world, dog-friendly holiday specialist, Canine Cottages has teamed up with fitness influencer Amy Lou Perry and her Insta-famous cockapoo Teddy to devise the perfect workout routine for you and your pooch.

And for anyone wanting to get fit with their dog at home, head on over to Teddy’s Instagram at 7pm on Wednesday March 31^st when Amy (with the help from Teddy) will be livestreaming the workout to the public for free!

Fitness during the lockdown
During lockdown, the average Brit has been active about three days a week, choosing running, cycling, and home workout classes at their exercises of choice.¹ 

Despite the gyms being closed, the demand for fitness is still extremely high. In the past 90 days, ‘home gym’ search trends have seen an increase of 150%, with ‘high-intensity interval training’ seeing a 130% increase in searches².

So, we know that fitness is something many of us have been looking to maintain and keep up during lockdown. And what better way to make it more fun than getting your dog to join in too?

The best dog-friendly workout to do with your pooch at home

• Lunges: 8 reps with 4 sets on each leg. For this exercise, use a treat as a lure to guide your pooch to weave through your legs during each lunge; keeping a treat to their nose will help you achieve this.
  
• Plank: Whilst in the plank position, alternate your arms and give your furry friend a big high five! Try your best and aim to do this for 60 seconds.
  
• Squats: 3 sets of 10 reps. Whilst standing, cuddle your dog using both arms across their stomach and chest. If they are too big, squat whilst holding both your dog’s paws so they are on their hind legs for added resistance (Warning… this move can result in lots of dog kisses!)
  
• Burpees: 3 sets of 6 reps. Jump in the air then bring your hands to the floor by your feet by bending your knees. Continue to extend your legs into a press-up position. Encourage your dog to jump when you jump and go ‘down’ when you’re in the press-up position.
• Wall sit: hold for up to 60 seconds. Providing your dog isn’t too big, hold onto them for extra weight or alternatively have them stand up and place their paws on your knees.
• Push ups: 3 sets of 8 reps. Either engaging in a full press up or on your knees. Encourage your pooch to give you a high five after each press up or, if trained and their size allows you, have them sit on your back for added resistance.

Commenting on the workout, Shannon Keary, Digital PR Manager at Canine Cottages, says: “As we head towards the end of lockdown, I think this is such a fun way to spend some special time and have fun with our dogs before we go back to normal life. It’s also a great way to mix up your fitness regime and add some excitement to it!

“We hope that people will join Amy and Teddy at 7pm on March 31^st on Teddy’s Instagram live. It’s definitely going to be so much fun and it is something to keep us smiling during the last push through lockdown!”

To find out more, please visit: https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/blog/dog-friendly-workout

With the Government publishing its roadmap out of lockdown, many people are looking forward to UK family holidays and trips to see loved ones.

With many road users driving less frequently after a year of working from home, a Grantham car retailer is offering some top tips for local residents to ensure they’re safe and confident when embarking on a long car journey again.

James Quinn, from Marshall Grantham on Spittlegate Level, said: “Although most people have limited their driving recently or haven’t been driving at all, there’s no reason to be nervous when preparing for a long journey.

“There are a number of things you can do to prepare your car so you’re ready to hit the road as soon as restrictions end.

1.     Back to basics

“There are a few simple checks you may need to get back into the habit of doing regularly – and while they may sound obvious, they might be overlooked if you’re leaving in a hurry. It’s important that your car has plenty of fuel, its oil and coolant are topped up, its tyres are correctly inflated and that the electrics are all working properly. If your car is a plug-in hybrid or full electric, make sure it’s sufficiently charged for your journey.

2.     MoT and service

“Unlike in the first lockdown, the Government has not granted an extension for MoT tests, and car owners could risk a £1,000 fine if they don’t get theirs updated before it expires – but it’s important to note that this does not apply to people who are shielding. Many garages, including Marshall Grantham, are still open for MoT tests and servicing since they are considered an essential service, so make sure you book in now and avoid the post-lockdown rush!

3.     Tax and insurance

“As with a car’s MoT test, its insurance and tax also have to be renewed, and it’s a criminal offence to drive without these being completed. Remember to shop around for insurance because many companies have offers on at the moment with lower prices than usual and useful extras that may make for a better deal.

4.     Squeaky clean

“After months of minimal use, who knows what’s accumulated in your car’s boot, glovebox and back seat. These last few weeks of lockdown are a great opportunity to clean and declutter your car inside and out, creating space for luggage and getting it ready to take passengers again.

5.     Take a test drive

“If you feel like you’re a bit out of practice, take a short test drive a few weeks before a long drive. It’ll help reassure you, and give you a chance to check that the car is running smoothly while you still have enough time to book it in for a check-up if all doesn’t seem right.”

Marshall Grantham is currently open for essential services and MoT tests, as well as virtual and phone appointments to discuss its range of electric, hybrid, petrol, diesel and Volvo Selekt Approved Used Cars. For more information, please call 01476 452867 or email web.gvo@marshallweb.co.uk

​

Homeowners wishing to spruce up their properties this spring can look to these top tips from home improvement experts to give homes a refresh in time for the new season.

From improving natural light levels and energy efficiency, to transforming a room with a bold statement wall, the specialists at Stormclad have compiled a list of their top five tips for homeowners to consider when looking to improve and spruce up their homes this spring.

As many of us are spending more time indoors, working from home, educating our children and looking after loved ones – it’s important to consider how a property complements or inhibits new living habits and routines, and ways in which you can upgrade your property to suit lifestyle changes.

John Evans, managing director of Stormclad, said: “As spring is just around the corner, it’s a great time to give your home a mini makeover, refreshing it with upgrades that are not only going to improve your living space, but also add value to your property.

“We’ve compiled this list of ideas to consider for improving your home ready for the new season, many of which are simple and easy to do and will provide you with lasting results. The comfort, space and quality of our homes have become even more important since lockdown, so whether you’re looking for a productive home working space or somewhere to relax away from the rest of the house, these tips can help you enjoy your home as the days grow longer and summer approaches.

“With everyone spending more and more time in the comfort of their own homes during lockdown, now is the ideal time to make new and valuable home improvements.”

Here is the list of five top tips to spruce up your home for spring:

1. Home office space

If you are working from home, it is worthwhile creating an environment that will inspire productivity.

Whether you have dedicated an entire room as an office or have a nook to yourself in one of the main living areas of the house, it is important to make it uniquely yours so that you’re always in the right frame of mind for a day’s work.

Consider adopting a minimalist style for your home office space, as clutter can often become distracting and leave you wishing you were somewhere else.

Desk plants and flowers will offer a burst of greenery, livening up the space as well as improving the air quality around you.

Adding some of your favourite artwork to the walls will inject some personality and colour into the space, brightening it up and making it your own.

2. Conservatory refurbishment

Conservatories offer valuable extra space to homes that, if properly maintained, can be used all year round.

If your conservatory is suffering from lack of upkeep, is struggling with temperature control or has a damp or leaking rook, it may be in need of refurbishment. Refurbishment is a great way to utilise some of the old components or rebuild a new structure on your old conservatory’s base to provide a refreshed space. 

Consider transforming an under-utilised conservatory into an entirely new room – such as a home office or somewhere to enjoy a hobby you have chosen to start in the new year.

3.  New doors

Investing in new external or internal doors can completely transform the look and feel of a home – providing a modern and contemporary upgrade that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

New patio, bi-fold or sliding doors that lead out to a garden or courtyard will help to bring the outdoors in, connecting you with nature, and allowing natural light to flood into your home.

A new front door will make a huge difference to the exterior of your property, making a modern statement and improving your home’s security, insulation and energy efficiency, that could save money on energy bills over time.

4. New windows

Although often overlooked as one of the obvious home improvements – installing new windows in your home can make an instant impact on a number of fronts. From increasing the amount of natural light that comes into your home, to drastically improving insulation, outside noise levels and home security – new windows are a fantastic investment that will last for years to come, adding quality and value.

5.  Add a splash of colour

For a quick and easy home improvement that really makes a splash, consider painting a statement wall in the living room or bedroom.

Simply choose one wall to paint with a bold colour – such as a deep blue or warm mustard yellow – the braver you are with your colour choice, the bigger the impact! You can be extra creative with it too, by selecting an alcove or fireplace wall, so that the colour really stands out and becomes the main feature of the room.

To speak to the Stormclad team about your next home improvement project, visit the company website here.

Ian ‘Pugsey’ Parker says…

This is disabled parking outside Costa / KFC on Harlaxton Road.

And they are all taken by Uber drivers and they do it most days

Ahhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new report has revealed that only 37% of UK workers who worked during the pandemic believed their employer took social distancing rules seriously –  along with the industries who were the biggest culprits. 

A few stand out stats include: 

• For those working during the pandemic, 39% said they felt unsafe 
• Agriculture was found to be the industry ignoring the rules the most

I have included the release below and wondered if you could use this? 

If you need anything else, or have any questions do not hesitate to contact me

Many thanks, 

Only 37% of UK workers believe that their employer has taken social distancing rules seriously during the COVID-19 pandemic

• A new report has revealed UK worker’s attitudes towards safety in the workplace by employees and employers
• For those working during the pandemic, only 37% of workers said their employers took social distancing rules seriously

The past 12 months have placed many obstacles and challenges in the path of businesses, as the pandemic took grip of the nation and workplace processes were forced to change to stay within government guidelines.

With 37% of UK workers having suffered a workplace accident in the past, a new report by The Compensation Experts has revealed the attitudes towards safety in the workplace.

The report titled ‘The Workplace Safety Index’ surveyed workers in a variety of sectors, revealing their thoughts and opinions on safety in their place of work. 

For those working during the pandemic, only 37% of workers said their employers took social distancing rules seriously – but which industry is the worst?

For those workers that had to continue working during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 37% believed that their employers took social distancing rules seriously.

The apparent lack of social distancing measures enforced by employers appeared to have a huge impact on UK workers with 39% stating they felt unsafe in their place of work.

The report surveyed workers in a variety of sectors, revealing which have been the best and the worst for enforcing social distancing measures, the results of which can be seen below:

Industry	% of workers who believe their employer took social distancing rules seriously
Agriculture	15%
Healthcare	47%
Hospitality	39%
Public services	42%
Retail	35%
Teaching and Education	38%
Transport and Logistics	34%
Warehousing	34%

For full information of the Workplace Safety Index, see: https://the-compensation-experts.co.uk/the-workplace-safety-index/

The #Grantham #Players #Development Centre is going to be resuming on a Tuesday evening in April.

The sessions will focus on #players individual skill and ability with the ball.

The sessions will be taken by #UEFA / #FA #cosches

Enrol your budding footballer on the sessions NOW!

Evening & Weekend Sessions

‘LIFE ON MARS’, a new digital dance performance continues
Chantry’s series of films that pay tribute to the genius of David Bowie, who sadly left us to return to the stars 5 years ago.

This intensely personal piece is choreographed and performed by Chantry’s co-Artistic Director Rae Piper, in which we witness the dancer struggle to reconcile with the world, and the conflicting pull of the realities she lives in. 

References and symbols relating to personal life events abound in this piece, and it is a rare chance to see a portrait of the dancer’s life in which she performs entirely as herself – free from being concealed by a theatrical character.

• William Hill interviewed Olympic triathlete, Jonny Brownlee to find out his top tips on how you can maximize performance in different weather conditions.

Whatever sport you’re trying to master, there are certain aspects you can control such as training and nutrition, but there are others that are completely out of your hands – like the weather.

To help budding athletes adapt their techniques during training and competitions to achieve their personal best, William Hill interviewed triathlete, Jonny Brownlee to find out his tips to maximise performance and train in different weather conditions.

Jonny Brownlee’s top tips for maximising performance 

Triathlete Jonny Brownlee shares his top tips on how to train best in different weather conditions: 

Stay hydrated

It’s very important to drink enough fluids in all weather conditions. In a race, you must drink over 1.5 litres – make sure half of this is an energy drink, and the other half is high in sodium. In cold weather, you need to stay disciplined and force yourself to consume the right nutrients as it can be easy to forget. 

Consume energy gel

In hot conditions you burn carbohydrates quicker than usual, so make sure you consume energy gels to ensure you’re getting enough fuel.

Avoid training in peak heat

Avoid training during the hottest part of the day – stick to mornings or evenings instead. Pacing is crucial, as is sunscreen!

Stay safe

For winter training, you need to prepare to stay safe, and not harm your body in the cold. Check the forecast before heading out and dress in appropriate layers, protecting your hands and feet, and wear reflective clothing if training in the dark. 

Stay disciplined

In cold conditions, you need to be aware of your diet and hydration, as it’s easy to forget to eat and drink. You need to stay disciplined and ensure you consume the right nutrients.

 Wear appropriate clothing

It’s better to be too warm than too cold, so always have a rain jacket with you. It’s also important to take a spare underlayer and a set of gloves that you can change if needed. 

For full details on how weather effects sporting performance and the full interview with Jonny Brownlee, go to https://news.williamhill.com/weather-effect/

Lisa says…

There’s a lady and man going around in the Alma Park area who appear to be trying to get cats into a bag.

 I also found a stone right outside my door with a cross and have reported both to the police

The police didn’t give us a number and said they haven’t got any concerns at the minute

Responding to ULHT plans to reopen services at Grantham Hospital, chairman on SOS Grantham Hospital, Coun Charmaine Morgan says….

Yesterday, United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the future plans for Grantham & District Hospital and restoration of services lost due to Covid19 in June 2020.

Whilst some welcome progress is being made to restore inpatient and outpatient services at Grantham and District Hospital, after their removal in June 2020, some key concerns remain.

Unless further changes are planned, beyond those described in the latest report, statements that services are to be fully restored could be misleading.

In particular there does not appear to be a commitment to fully restore the medical and specialist beds, nor 24/7 A&E unit.

Agenda papers are available online.

https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/about/board-meetings/tuesday-16-march-extraordinary-board-meeting/

In June 2020 there were 3 medical wards with approximately 56-76 medical beds, depending on the season. The new plans will introduce new post-operative rehab unit but only restores appx 24 medical beds.

The medical wards were supported by specialist staff including respiratory, gastroenterology and cardiology.

These beds are required to both provide an important local service and retain/attract key staff to Grantham & District Hospital. Without these specialist posts and beds the future of Grantham as a District Hospital is seriously undermined.

The posts are also necessary to support people admitted from A&E. Without them more acutely ill, often elderly patients with complex needs, will be forced to travel elsewhere for appropriate care.

The report enclosed is still incomplete and whilst referring to feedback from the public fails to highlight the remarkably short time frame we had to respond. The public consultation window described as ‘necessarily abbreviated’ was in fact 1. 5 working days.

Whilst the trust explore the impact of restoring services little reference is made to the impact of the loss of services.

The fact ULHT are now considering the provision of green pathways for many of the services temporarily removed is welcome. It does however prove that a less drastic solution to a ‘green site’ may have been possible in June 2020.

The full restoration of a 24/7 A&E remains an elusive goal despite it being lost ‘tempoarily’ in August 2016 without a full public consultation.

The temporary UTC 24/7 stop gap provided support for a majority of people with minor conditions but ambulances no longer stopped at Grantham and District Hospital and those in most need of urgent critical care, where time is of the essence, have to travel furthest. Proposals for the A&E unit remain high level and unclear.

 A detailed breakdown of cases handled in our A&E prior to its closure illustrate just how wide ranging the acute help available was and how skilled our A&E team were. We need confirmation all A&E services and specialists required to support them will be fully restored.

Although the restoration of services identified is welcome, if these plans go ahead with significantly reduced medical beds, without our team of specialists and without our A&E fully restored we will be unable to train and recruit new staff.

We will have a District hospital on the path to becoming a cottage hospital as happened in Louth. A key difference being Louth is half the distance that Grantham is from Lincoln County Hospital and next nearest A&E, and, serves a third of the population as Grantham and District Hospital.

Dee Farrell says…

This is what we need on Harlaxton, Springfield and Barrowby Roads

Joanne says…

Yesterday (Monday) at 5pm , four different “VILE MALES” shouted harassed and abused my daghter as she skated in the park. She did nothing wrong but is scared s***less now

Research by greetings card company thortful.com reveals the most popular dog breeds in cards. thortful analysed google search data to reveal that cards from our pets are not only a growing trend but that Labradors and Border collies are the most popular dog breeds to have on a card.

They looked at google searches for various keywords in 2019 and 2020.  The most popular dog breeds for cards are:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
labrador birthday cards	1,540	4,340	181%
border collie birthday cards	810	1,830	126%
bulldog birthday cards	1,090	2,040	87%
cocker spaniel birthday cards	1,080	1,980	83%
jack russell birthday cards	1,050	1,760	68%
greyhound birthday cards	1,410	2,290	62%
golden retriever birthday cards	930	1,490	60%
staffy birthday cards	960	1,520	58%
dachshund birthday cards	3,450	5,230	52%
beagle birthday cards	1,250	1,770	42%
pug birthday cards	3,420	4,280	25%
cockapoo birthday cards	2,620	3,040	16%

The greeting cards guaranteed to get your tail wagging
New research reveals the most popular dog breeds to put on a card

A new report by thortful.com reveals the most popular dog breeds to put on a card. 

thortful analysed google search data to reveal not only that cards from our dogs are a growing trend, with terms like Mother’s Day card from the dog enjoying a 51% increase YoY, but that certain breeds are more popular than others.

Labrador revealed as the most popular dog breed

thortful analysed google searches for various keywords in 2019 and 2020. Labrador birthday cards enjoyed the biggest increase, with a 181% growth YoY. The most popular dog breed card searches can be seen below:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
labrador birthday cards	1,540	4,340	181%
border collie birthday cards	810	1,830	126%
bulldog birthday cards	1,090	2,040	87%
cocker spaniel birthday cards	1,080	1,980	83%
jack russell birthday cards	1,050	1,760	68%
greyhound birthday cards	1,410	2,290	62%
golden retriever birthday cards	930	1,490	60%
staffy birthday cards	960	1,520	58%
dachshund birthday cards	3,450	5,230	52%
beagle birthday cards	1,250	1,770	42%
pug birthday cards	3,420	4,280	25%
cockapoo birthday cards	2,620	3,040	16%

Cards from the dog surge during the pandemic

The findings also reveal that searches for cards from the dog to mark key occasions have surged since the pandemic started. Dog birthday cards enjoyed an 88% growth YoY, whilst Mother’s Day cards from the Dog saw a 51% growth YoY. The full findings for the different occasions can be seen below:

Mother’s Day:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
mothers day cards from the dog	8,800	13,290	51%

Valentine’s Day:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
valentines day cards from the dog	1,350	2,360	75%

Father’s Day (2/3 months after first lockdown): 

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
fathers day cards from the dog	22,420	23,330	4%

Christmas:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
christmas cards from the dog	16,280	23,010	37%

Birthday:

Keyword	Google searches (2019)	Google searches (2020)	% change
dog birthday cards	22,900	43,100	88%

For more information, go to: https://www.thortful.com/cards/birthday

Click on image above for story

On Monday, we celebrated International Women’s Day which provides an opportunity for us this week to look back on the women who have inspired future generations. 

Here in Lincolnshire today, there are of course many women who inspire the next generation, but I wanted to look back at one specific Lincolnshire woman who clearly paved the way for others and who became the first woman to take on a position that was previously only ever held by men. She rightly continues to be spoken about today as a Grantham-born woman of national significance.

This is of course, Edith Smith. 

From 1915, Edith Smith kept the peace in our town as Britain’s first female police constable with full powers of arrest. Edith joined the volunteer ‘Women’s Police Service’ which had been founded to provide constables when many men were fighting on the Western Front. 

And even before her, with limited powers and working unpaid for the military, Grantham had several others including Margaret Damer Dawson and Mary Allen.

The presence of a woman on the force enabled Grantham police to better tackle crimes involving women. Her success as a policing pioneer helped inform the Baird Committee on Women Police, who in 1920, made clear that women should not be excluded from serving as police officers. 

After that, the numbers of female police officers rose significantly, but they still faced many hurdles even once in the job. One issue was that for many years they were marked out as professionally different to men, implying that they do not face the same dangers. 

For example, until 1993 they were given separate female warrant numbers and even until 1999, women in the police force had their rank title unnecessarily prefixed with the word “Woman”, or the letter W in abbreviations such as ‘WPC’. 

Today, our female police officers play an equally significant role in protecting our community and are recognised as such. Women also now rightly make up the ranks of highly specialist units such as in armed response and counter terrorism and have gone on to hold the highest ranks of leadership in the force. 

In the past ten years, the proportion of women in all 43 police forces has increased each year with over 40,000 women now serving, this is 31% of all police officers. I hope that these numbers will continue to rise as part of the national police recruitment drive to hire 20,000 new police officers by 2024.

So, if you know someone who would like to follow in the footsteps of our very own Edith Smith, ask them to apply to join the force today to play their part in keeping our town safe.