The first occupant of a new SKDC development in Bourne says she’s delighted with her dream move to the new property.

Lucy Hetherington (24) was the first to complete the purchase of a modern apartment in Wherry’s Lane and moved in last week.It is the first scheme from Gravitas Housing, a commercial company owned by South Kesteven District Council. The £3m development offers modern town centre living, while the sale of the homes will generate income to help build much-needed affordable housing.Cabinet Member for Growth, Cllr Barry Dobson, said: “It’s great to see new life breathed into the heart of Bourne. Attracting residents to come and live in the town centre is an essential part of our vision for the district.“These are affordable properties that enable young people to get on to the housing ladder and will contribute to the vitality of the town centre as they are close to a wide range of shops, services, facilities and employment opportunities, all within easy walking distance.“They can be purchased using a variety of Help To Buy options. Some are on the market with 20% off, as Discounted Market Sales, to give the buyers a great start on the property ladder.“As a result of the planning agreement, Gravitas will be able to use some of the proceeds to build more affordable housing and meet a strong local demand.”There are 20 two-bedroom apartments and five three-bedroom town houses, with 25 parking spaces.Lucy said: “It was such an easy process to buy here and I’ve had great communication from SKDC.“I’ve been commuting to Bourne from Doncaster for 18 months so to move in here with a two-minute walk to work is like a dream. I was the first in the block so I chose the top floor with views across the town centre.”An SKDC survey identified a low supply of town centre homes coupled with buoyant demand for quality properties in Bourne.Eight of the two or three-bed Wherry’s Court homes are already reserved. Four are available at a lower-cost home ownership option. For more information contact 01778 420011.

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‘Party in the Park’ headlines busy 2020 Cadwell Park calendar

Cadwell Park will host another busy season of motorsport in 2020, centred around the enormously popular Bennetts British Superbike Championship ‘Party in the Park’ on 21-23 August. The venue will host a wide array of club-level events on two and four wheels too, ensuring that there is plenty of motorsport to enjoy at the Lincolnshire venue throughout the year. The ‘Party in the Park’ will bring thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the Wolds for three days of non-stop BSB action featuring the finest motorcycle racers in the country. Machinery from Ducati, BMW, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki will fly over the iconic Mountain leap at this summer highlight with super-talented riders like Australian Josh Brookes in the saddle. Other major events this season include the Modified Live car show in May plus the Vintage Motorsport Festival and Historic Worlds Trophy, both celebrating the venue’s heritage as well as the golden past of four-wheeled competition. As ever, Cadwell Park will host events for the majority of the UK’s leading motorcycle racing organisations, further cementing the venue’s reputation as a favourite with bikers at a grassroots level. In August, the ever-popular International Sidecar Revival will captivate spectators with incredible on-track exploits – expect plenty of heart-in-mouth moments! Cadwell Park will also host some less traditional events towards the season’s end with the Norasport supermoto event in the autumn ahead of the customary Rally and Fireworks finale on 22 November. The circuit itself has undergone a number of upgrades over the winter, including track resurfacing, the addition of more hardstanding in the paddock and an impressive new spectator bank at Chris Curve, offering an improved experience for both visitors and competitors in 2020. 2020 Cadwell Park Calendar 18-19 April Classic Sports Car Club Racing 2-3 May 750 Motor Club Car Championships 8-9 May MSVR Club Car Championships10 MayModified Live 24-25 May Thundersport GB – King of the Mountain 13-14 June No Limits Club Bike Championships 20 June Vintage Motorsport Festival 27-28 June BMCRC-MRO 2020 Championships 4-5 July BARC Club Car Championships 11-12 July CRMC Classic Bike Weekend 18-19 July NG Road Racing Club Bike Championships 26 July Classic and Modern Motorsport Races 8-9 August International Sidecar Revival 21-23 August Bennetts British Superbike Championship 5-6 September Suzuki Live! 12-13 September No Limits Club Bike Championships 19-20 September HSCC Historic Wolds Trophy 26-27 September VMCC Vintage Motorcycle Championships 24-25 October Thundersport GB – Thunder in the Wolds 31 October – 1 November British Supermoto Championship 22 November Stage Rally and Fireworks

A Stamford business owner who is more used to helping people keep their vehicles and other property safe has netted a new deal which could help to save an endangered species.
 
Tony Byles, of Activus Tracking, has been contracted by a research team from the University of St Andrew’s in Scotland to provide trackers for their project which aims to safeguard the future of the flapper skate – a species of fish which is slowly dying out because of the ease with which they are caught by fisherman in the North Sea.
 
It is part of a Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) project – which brings together several organisations including the Scottish government –  and follows on from a test project which involved Tony providing trackers to monitor the movements of fishing vessels off the coast of Scotland.
 
The test scheme has been heralded a success and Tony is now hoping it will proceed to a full-scale project and he will be asked to provide trackers for the whole fishing fleet – a deal which could be worth around six figures.
 
He said: “This is a huge project for me and it’s great to be involved in something that is having an impact.
 
“The part of the project with the government is helping to track the movements of fishing vessels and has been useful in some disputes when one fisher’s pots have been moved, either accidentally or deliberately, by another, as we are able to see who is doing what, when and where.
 
“It’s also good to be involved in the project with the team from St Andrew’s who are working to protect an endangered species.
 
“The flapper skate used to be called the common skate but, because they are so easy to catch, their numbers have declined dramatically and the trackers on the fishing vessels in the area where they live and breed are enabling the researchers to learn more about them and what can be done to protect them.”
 
Tony’s Scottish work is his latest “global” project, with other projects underway or in the pipeline in Peru and Jamaica – but the majority of his work is domestic clients closer to home in Stamford.
 
He provides a range of devices which can be fitted to all kinds of vehicles to alert the owners when they are being stolen or driven in areas where they should not be.
 
Protecting from theft is not the only benefit of tracker, as research has shown that many people’s driving improves when one is fitted as the tracker makes them more aware of their speed and harsh braking and accelerating, for example.
 
This can save money as it improves fuel economy and cuts down on wear and tear on the vehicle and, in some cases, insurance companies even offer direct discounts to drivers who have a tracker fitted. An added business benefit is that the system records all mileage, saving hours of admin time.
 
Tony also provides a range of trackers which can be worn by pets, or even people, such as dementia sufferers who may be prone to wandering off.
 
Prices for a vehicle tracker start from just £120, with a monthly fee of £12, and Tony can advise on which tracker is best suited for individual needs. Huge multi-vehicle discounts are available.
 
Anyone interested can call Tony on 01780 723425 or email sales@activustracking.com
If you wish to find out which tracker is best for your vehicle, simply send the make and model of it to Tony by text, 07921 390 128 or email and he will advise you of your options.

Local Democracy Weekly: A diagnosis as long as your arm for Lincolnshire health trust

A drop-in event to highlight the support available to those living with eating disorders in Lincolnshire will take place on 5March in Lincoln.

As part of eating disorder awareness week (2-6 March), staff from the adult eating disorders team at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) have organised an event to help people to understand, identify and get support for eating disorders.

Attendees will hear from clinicians and people with lived experience about the different types of disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, learning what the symptoms are and how those who are struggling can access support.

The event is free and open to anyone who may have concerns about their own eating habits, or those of a loved one. 

Heather Killick, Team Coordinator for LPFT’s Eating Disorders Service, has run similar events in the past and said: “People seem to be aware of eating disorders from the media but not the many varied types. Often people recognise the signs that someone is struggling with food, but not many are aware of the services available to help

“This drop-in event aims to create a safe and informative space for those who are interested in finding out more, whether they have a general interest, work in the sector, or are concerned about a loved one.

“We want to encourage people to make that first step in getting help, as this can often be the hardest part.

“Our team has a mix of specialist clinicians and also a number of clinicians who have lived experience and have now fully recovered. I want to stress that getting help doesn’t have to be prescriptive, sometimes all it can take is a chat and a helping hand to start shifting an unhealthy relationship with food.”

The event will offer the chance to find out more about local NHS services, and hear stories from those who have experienced an eating disorder, and recovered. There is no need to book, those wishing to attend can drop in.

The event will take place in the University of Lincoln’s Minerva building atrium, between 12pm and 2:30pm on Thursday 5 March.

Spring Lodge, the county’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), has received the prestigious accreditation for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services. The accreditation demonstrates the commitment of the team to improving the quality of support available at Spring Lodge to the victims of sexual abuse.

Spring Lodge is a free NHS service run by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It provides practical, caring and emotional support for victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. It offers a range of services including crisis workers, self-referral for support and forensic medical examination. Service users can also receive out of hours advice by telephone.

The Independent Accreditation Programme looks for quality and consistency in service provision. It measures twenty standards across four themes: leadership and governance, access and engagement, service delivery and outcomes and evaluation. The programme is an externally audited process and to achieve the ‘Quality Mark’, the team had to submit evidence of meeting all quality standards. The process also included a site visit by the accreditation team.

Spring Lodge scored highly in all categories of the accreditation programme. Amanda Farquhar, SARC and ISVA Manager, paid credit to staff for their hard work that led to this excellent milestone.

“We have been working with victims of sexual assault for nearly 10 years and our clients always tell us what a difference Spring Lodge makes to their recovery. We are delighted to have been awarded the Independent Accreditation Programme ‘Quality Mark’ and to be recognised for the excellent ISVA services we provide. We are one of a handful of national services which have achieved this accreditation and it demonstrates the high quality of support available at Spring Lodge. We will not rest on our laurels and we will continue looking at how we can improve our services year-on-year.” 

The centre is part funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and it is thanks to their additional support that Spring Lodge has been able to provide such great services to achieve the accreditation. Marc Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner, said:

“I am delighted Spring Lodge has been recognised with such a prestigious award. The facility provides vital assistance to victims and is an important part of the suite of services provided, with support and funding from my office, to help victims cope and recover from their experience. The accreditation process is detailed and thorough so to receive the Quality Mark is testament to the quality of practical, caring and emotional support provided by the staff.”

If anyone is struggling with issues surrounding sexual assault or abuse, they can learn more about Spring Lodge and the support they offer by going to www.lpft.nhs.uk/spring-lodge

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Over 200 people gathered on Friday of last week (14th) to hear from a variety of inspirational lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) spokespeople during the Lincolnshire LGBT+ conference. The event celebrated LGBT+ history month and was held in the Epic Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground.

The annual event took place for the fifth time with the theme ‘Love is Love’ and explored ideas surrounding LGBT+ challenges. The conference gives members of the LGBT+ community a voice to start important discussions about how to improve services available locally and make them more inclusive of LGBT+ people.

The programme included a variety of guest speakers, personal experiences, interactive workshops and networking sessions. The event was supported by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), Lincolnshire Police and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT).

Paul Devlin, Chair of the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), who introduced the event on behalf of organisers, said: “Despite increased education and changes in public perception, LGBT+ people tell us that their experiences when accessing public and healthcare services differ from the experience of the rest of the population. This conference continues to shape the future of the NHS and other services by training professionals and making services more inclusive.

“It has been a pleasure to open this fantastic event and to have worked alongside fellow Lincolnshire NHS organisations and Lincolnshire Police. The day has been a huge success and each organisation made a real commitment to improving the support for LGBT+ people in Lincolnshire.”

Lizzie Jordan, Founder and CEO of Think2Speak, spoke about the experiences of Lincolnshire’s transgender children and young people and her work with family support group Hodgepodge. Lizzie said: “I really believe in the power of conversation. It is one of the best prevention tools that we have.

“Not every child that is trans or gender-questioning is lucky to have the tools and support they need to express their feelings in order to be heard by healthcare professionals.”

Other speakers were also passionate about equal rights and acceptance for transgender people in society. Catherine Lawson, Squadron Leader in the RAF, shared her personal experience of transition and her new role as Co-Chair of the RAF LGBT+ Freedom Network.

Catherine described the challenges she faced throughout her journey and said: “Societal attitudes towards trans people are improving but still challenging. 34% of trans people have been discriminated against because of their gender identity when visiting a café, restaurant, or bar in the last year and 48% of trans people don’t feel comfortable using public toilets through fear of discrimination or harassment.

“We all need to educate ourselves and encourage the use of inclusive language”.

Michael Toze from the University of Lincoln, spoke about the changes in transgender rights and healthcare over the past 20 years and explored the difficulties still faced by those wanting to transition.

Dr Michael Brady, National Advisor for LGBT Health in the NHS, explored LGBT+ survey data and echoed the importance of language, especially in terms of using preferred pronouns when addressing individuals. Dr Brady said: “22% of LGBT+ young people aged 11-19 and 45% of those who identify as trans have attempted suicide. There are unacceptable levels of stigma and discrimination which impacts on mental health and wellbeing. This also affects how people in the LGBT+ community access health services”.

Video recordings of key note speaker presentations are available to watch via the LPFT Facebook page @lpft.nhs and updates from the conference are available on Twitter #LincsLGBTHM

New football leagues created exclusively for overweight men looking to lose weight are launching in Lincolnshire.

Supported by the Lincolnshire Football Association, three MAN v FAT Football Leagues are launching in Boston, Lincoln and Skegness this year to provide opportunities for overweight men to lose weight whilst playing competitive football.

MAN v FAT Football is an FA-endorsed initiative created exclusively for males who love football and want to lose weight. As well as offering enjoyment through football, there is an emphasis placed upon losing weight and becoming healthier, with points not only awarded for winning games but for losing pounds too.

One league is already up and running in Lincoln, taking place on Wednesday evenings at Yarborough Leisure Centre between 8pm and 10pm. Five teams are currently involved but there is availability for others to express an interest in joining.

A second league is starting at Peter Paine Sports Centre in Boston on Friday 21 February, with fixtures to take place on Friday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Meanwhile, on 10 March a Tuesday night league (8.30pm – 9.30pm) will launch at The Pavilion on Wainfleet Road in Skegness.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have three MAN v FAT Football Leagues launching in the county this year. The league at Yarborough Leisure Centre is only in its early stages but has already been a roaring success and I’m confident the others will be just as popular,” Jake Park, Football Development Officer at Lincolnshire FA told Lincolnshire Today.

“Losing weight can be an extremely difficult task but when a sport as popular as football in involved, everything seems much easier and more enjoyable.

“Players are weighed before games and extra goal bonuses are awarded for players who have lost the most pounds, so it becomes a real team effort which only helps to encourage commitment, both on and off the pitch.”