B Inspired Magazine: June - July 2020

Issue 23 | June - July 2020

FREE COPY

A MAGAZINE INSPIRED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Featuring Our Community Special Feature: Staying At Home Sponsored by Beacon Wealth Group

OUR EXPERTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

OUR EXPERTS

SARAH-JANE FEATHERSTONE Legal Beacon Wealth Legal Ltd

TONY LARKINS Money Beacon Wealth Management Ltd

KATIE KITSON Marketing B Inspired Publications Ltd

Every issue Sarah-Jane and her team will be providing insights into law.

Every issue Tony will be providing an insight into financial matters.

Every issue we will be providing you with an insight into marketing.

CONTRIBUTORS Front Cover Stars Katie Dundas-Todorov Lisa Ellison Katy North Katrina Hyland Rachel Martin Lynette Daffern Lynne Otto Emily Plattern Jo Oram Becky Chisem Emmeline Lyster Belinda Hicks Amanda Dibben Emily Mayes Elena & Katie Kitson Debi Sheridan Lucy & Oliver Ali

Kids Story Karen Larkins

Staying At Home With Beacon

Family: YoungMinds Parents Helpline

Local Businesses: FlexiFitness St Neots Buckden Day Nursery Dogs Delight Wholehearted Ceremonies Mama YGT ACE Property Maintenance PilatesWorks Eco-plumb FITSTEPS St Neots With Lynne The Whitehouse Holiday Lettings Liontooth - St Neots.

M. A. Motors (St Neots) Sensory Philosophy Everybody Sling Dance- St.Neots CLiCKiTY-CLaCK PaRTiES!

St Neots Museum Music Review Cory Blose Advertiser St Neots Little Dragons Taekwon-Do Community Spread Local Residents for VE Day

K Fit ACE Building Services British Gymnastics Foundation Community Spirit: Local Fairy Gardens Animal Hunt St Neots Community Support St Neots Goes On A Bear Hunt Rock Snakes Thank you Messages: Katie Dundas-Todorov Mellisa Bee DIY at Home: Jo Oram Belinda Hicks Linda Riddy Kira O’Driscoll

If you would like to take part in a future issue, contact the B Inspired team - hello@binspiredmag.co.uk DISCLAIMER: B INSPIRED Publications Ltd cannot be held responsible for the content provided by the contributors and advertisers to the magazine, or service provided by the local businesses. Copyright belongs to B Inspired Publications Ltd.

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CONTENTS

Hello!

Welcome to B Inspired Magazine, a magazine designed and created, with and for, the local community.

I would like to start with a big THANK YOU! Like everyone I would like to thank the NHS and keyworkers, BUT I would also like to thank YOU! Our local community!

I create this magazine with and for our local area and I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received not only for participation in this issue but also the love on Facebook.

As I said in a recent Facebook video, I don’t make money from this magazine, as everything goes back into the running costs, as well as the printing and distribution.

With that in mind a big thank you also goes to our regular advertiser St Neots KD and a BIG thank you to Beacon Wealth Group! They are a company that are always helping the community, but don’t always like to push too hard that it is them. They do it to genuinely help rather than just recognition, and as such we have been able to bring you our special Staying at Home feature!

Thank you and please keep safe and Katie Kitson well.

Editor About B Inspired: Connecting with Wyboston, St Neots, Paxtons, Kimbolton, Grafham, Offords, Buckden, Godmanchester, Huntingdon and all areas in-between, to give YOU a voice.

This magazine is created WITH YOU. Your thoughts, pictures, reviews, events, businesses, clubs... If you have something to share we want to hear about it.

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CONTENTS - BUSINESS 4 MARKETING Katie from B Inspired Magazine talks about Small Business Marketing now

6 MONEY Tony from Beacon Wealth Management talks about Investments

8 LEGAL Alex from Beacon Wealth Legal talks about Immigration

10 MUSIC WITH CORY BLOSE - CLUTCH

12 ST NEOTS MUSEUM 14 STAYING AT HOME WITH BEACON

24 COMMUNITY SPIRIT 26 ENTERTAINING YOURSELF & OTHERS 28 FREE ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

- FAMILY 30 SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN 32 KIDS CORNER STORIES - Tilly Trimble Investigates

34 HOW TO MEASURE CHILDRENS FEET AT HOME 36 KIDS CORNER GAMES

15 THANK YOU MESSAGES

38 ST NEOTS KD

16 DIY AT HOME

39 B SEEN

19 LOCAL BUSINESSES

40 BEACON WEALTH GROUP

22 VE DAY

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BUSINESS - MARKETING

MARKETING WITH B INSPIRED PUBLICATIONS LTD 7Ps - A Brief Summary Of Marketing and Why It Works At a time when businesses are questioning whether they have got their marketing right to help keep them going and hopefully excel, I thought I’d explain the main principles many marketers follow which might help you address your own questions.

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ccording to the Chartered Institute of Marketing, “Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.”

What Is Marketing?

Quite often people think marketing is just about advertising or selling, it is in fact the key management discipline to ensure companies can interpret their consumers desires, to match or hopefully exceed them.

Every product we buy, every shop we visit and every choice we make in our consumer society is affected by the force of marketing as it shapes our mindset.

Marketing Is Pivotal To Business No matter the size of your business, big or small, it is important to make marketing a central point of your focus. If done right we will be able to know your competitive market inside out, and therefore ensure that you are tapping into key trends and reaching clients at the right time, in the right way and at the right price.

If you fail to focus on marketing and tap into your consumers mindsets then you will find it a

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lot harder as it is something your competitors can easily do.

Marketing Is Competitive By its very nature marketing is competitive as you are trying to reach your consumers better than others, however with the increased use of digital and mobile technology the competition is even higher, as you now have a chance to touch base at all aspects of their life.

Why Marketing?

If you are in business you probably do know who your audience is, and follow your instincts to figure out what it is they want and how to meet those expectations, potentially leading to introducing new lines and extending services.

If this is you, then you are marketing, potentially without even realising it.

This unconscious marketing is okay for smaller businesses, but if you don’t know that you are doing marketing, then it will be hard to be consistent over time. Whilst this might work fine for small businesses, as you grow it will prove to be quite problematic.

How To Create A Proper Marketing Strategy Applying a simple marketing framework is vital and will enable

you to stay ahead of competitors whilst ensuring you can exploit all the latest technological developments.

The 7Ps in this issue talks about the aspects you should have in your marketing plan, and help build on what you are potentially already doing.

Starting A Marketing Plan Once you have worked out your 7Ps you can put your marketing plan together.

Marketing focuses on the fundamental practices that every company has to carry out including: - Identifying customers - Researching their needs and preferences - Analysing influencing factors for buying from you rather than competitors.

In order to create a strong marketing strategy you need to start with a detailed and ongoing investigation of the market you are in, its sub-markets and/or segments.

It is possible to be overwhelmed by marketing and think that it is going to cost the earth to do, but all you have to do is ensure that your strategy is coordinated, considered and realistic in terms of budget and resources and you will be surprised at what you can achieve.

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7P’s Traditionally the process of considering the 7Ps together is called Marketing Planning.

1. Product – There is no point selling something nobody wants, therefore think about what they need FIRST, instead of what you want to offer and then hope to find a market for it.

Develop the right product/ service with the right quality to meet expectations (value is in the eye of the beholder).

2. Price A product or service is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Be competitive (this doesn’t mean you have to be the cheapest), smaller firms can beat larger via quality of service, better value for money...

Think about price positions and look at it from a client’s perspective. The more they pay the more they will expect. New clients also tend to be more sensitive to price than existing, so look after them.

3. Place Be available in the right places, at the right time, and in the right quantity. The place people buy needs to be appropriate and convenient to your clients, this

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applies to both bricks-and-mortar as well as e-commerce.

Important aspects: delivery, where you display your product/ service, if only online it needs to be seen in multiple locations.

4. Promotion What you do and what you can offer to clients. This includes branding, advertising, PR, corporate identity, social media, sales management, special offers and exhibitions.

Focus on a two way dialogue, gaining attention and being appealing with a consistent message. Why you and not someone else...?

5. People Every single person who comes into contact with your clients will make an impression. Many cannot separate service/product from people. Therefore your team are of paramount importance. Make sure you have procedures in place for both on and offline.

6. Process People tend not to just buy for a product or service, they invest in an entire experience, which starts when they discover you, and lasts through purchase and beyond.

Analyse how you deliver your product or service, including the

behaviour of who delivers it.

A good first impression is important, find out where leads come from and make sure that process to buying is seamless.

7. Physical Evidence Choosing something unfamiliar is risky for a client, because they don’t know what they are getting themselves into, until after they have purchased. Show them, help them see what they are buying.

Small steps, a clean and tidy homepage/reception area is reassuring. Adopt an approach that fits your product/service.

Showcase testimonials.

Further Details: B Inspired Publications Ltd focuses on the positives of the community and is designed to give everyone a voice based on this.

Website: www.binspiredmag.co.uk Email: hello@binspiredmag.co.uk Tel: 01480 471169 Facebook: /B Inspired Magazine

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BUSINESS - MONEY

MONEY WITH BEACON WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD Is Now The Time To Invest?

Tony Larkins, Beacon Wealth Management Ltd’s, Managing Director.

This issue Tony talks about taking his own advice and the impact Covid-19 has had on the investment market.

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hat strange times we live in. Ordered by the Government to work from home while key workers keep the country going and Scientists look for ways to save us.

Never in our lifetime have we experienced something this catastrophic to create such uncertainty.

With so many questions around the future, here’s what we know right now about finances...

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Investments Affected Share prices have dropped dramatically over the last 18 months with USA/China trade wars; Brexit; and various elections, and sharp rises have followed each problem. The same is expected from the recovery of Covid 19.

That said, I think the world has changed, or at least the view of certain aspects of it has.

Now still looks like a good time to buy and whilst some of my clients are looking to capitalise and many ‘wishing’ they could, there are a couple who feel the shock is too much and are

switching to a cash fund.

In my opinion there has never been a better time to invest than now.

Six weeks ago I carried out my own advice and invested for my ISA’s and, at the time of writing, these have grown 8%: I shall now be investing this year’s ISA as soon as possible.

Funds are still likely to be volatile, but Fund Managers can make money in a falling market as well as a rising one by agreeing to buy or sell certain shares for a

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EXPERT

fixed price sometime in the near future.

In it for the long run Scientists are predicting a second, and possible third wave of increased infections as lockdown starts to be relaxed, which may lead to a further tightening.

An investment is usually for a long time and what really matters is what went in, and what it’s worth when you need it.

Rather like a car journey, it’s what time you left and what time you arrive. The traffic lights, road works, and diversions are annoying and can be unsettling, but arriving on time is what matters.

Affects on Businesses Many companies will continue to struggle and unfortunately some will not make it through.

Cash on a balance sheet was always seen as a sign of a company under utilising its options; now, like the banks, I think there will be a move towards doing this.

Environmental Focus Our investment team are

working really hard in changing portfolios, when markets demand, to help shield our clients from most of the drop. Now it’s about being bold and holding on until the end if you can.

Investors, Wealth Managers like ourselves, and Fund Managers are going to be putting more emphasis on investing in sustainable companies and with the even larger potential threat of environmental collapse, in Environmental and Socially conscious companies with strong Governance (ESG). As a current finalist of Best ESG Adviser in the UK, we know companies will be trying to look different to score high for ESG without actually walking the walk.

I didn’t see the Coronavirus coming and our portfolios are still cautious with 40% - 50% held in cash, and I could be wrong as funds can go down as well as up, but I don’t think the markets have been like this before. They have been down of course, but not with low

inflation and low interest rates and not with a sustainable demand for goods and services.

You may not have had time before, so now is a perfect time to analyse your finances. Contact me for a free telephone or video meeting.

Further Details: Should you require financial assistance for pensions, savings, investments, mortgages, protection, long term care, employee benefits... contact the team at; Beacon Wealth Management Ltd. Website: www.beaconwealth.co.uk Email: info@beaconwealth.co.uk.

Tel: 01480 869466 Facebook: /BeaconWealthGroup Twitter: /BeaconWealthIFA

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BUSINESS - LEGAL

Beacon Wealth Legal WILLS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T HAVE ONE In every issue a representative from Beacon Wealth Legal provides an insight into the legal world.

In this edition they explain the importance of having a Will, and what it could mean if you die without or with an out of date Will.

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ou may have often wondered whether you should have a Will and found the thought quite daunting.

A Will is an important document regardless of your wealth or age, and it safeguards a person’s right to many decisions, including who will administer your estate, who will receive your estate and who serves as a guardian for young children.

It is a mistake to assume that your next of kin will inherit your entire estate (or an equal share) if you do not have a Will.

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Will requirements In order for a Will to be valid you must follow strict but simple steps.

• These include: • Make it voluntarily • Be of sound mind • Make it in writing • Sign it in the presence of two witnesses who are both over 18 (and are not beneficiaries; who in turn would then sign as witnesses or acknowledge the signature) Any changes to your Will must

follow the same signing and witnessing process.

If You Are Ill or Have Dementia If you can’t sign the Will, it can also be signed on your behalf, as long as you’re in the room and it is signed at your direction. However, you must have the mental capacity to make the Will, otherwise the Will is invalid. Any Will signed on your behalf must contain a clause saying you understood the contents of the Will before it was signed.

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What Happens If You Don’t Have A Will If you don’t make a Will, you will die ‘intestate’ and your estate may not go to the people you want.

There are special rules for how your estate will be distributed; these are called intestacy rules.

If you have a spouse or civil partner and children, your spouse or civil partner will inherit all your personal possessions and at least the first £250,000 of your estate, plus half the rest. Your children will then be entitled to the other half of the balance.

If you have a spouse or civil partner but don’t have children your spouse or civil partner will inherit your whole estate, including your personal possessions.

If you and your partner aren’t married or in a civil partnership and you haven’t made a Will, they have no automatic right to inherit from your estate.

This applies even if you’ve lived together for a long time or have children together.

If you have children and your spouse or partner is deceased your children will inherit everything, divided equally between them.

Never make alterations on the original document.

If you are making a minor amendment to your Will, you can add a supplement, known as a codicil. This must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the Will, although the witnesses don’t have to be the same as the original ones.

If anything substantial needs to be changed, you should make a new Will and cancel your old one.

Separated?

Separation has no effect on a Will so your spouse/civil partner could still inherit under your Will, or on intestacy if you do not have a Will, no matter how long you have been separated.

Remarried or Divorced?

If you marry, remarry or enter a civil partnership, this cancels a previously existing Will.

Divorce doesn’t automatically invalidate a Will made during the marriage, but does exclude your ex-spouse or civil partner from benefiting or acting as an executor if they are mentioned in the Will.

It is important to arrange a new Will if you marry, separate or divorce.

Storing A Will A Solicitor can guide you through the process simply and ensure that everything is completed correctly and importantly ensure that your If you don’t have a partner or Will is valid. children then parents, brothers, You must ensure that your Will is sisters, and nieces and nephews stored safely and that you let your may inherit your estate. executor/s of the Will know where it is stored.

When Should You Update At Beacon Wealth Legal we can Your Will? look after and store our clients You should review your Will Wills for them, ensuring peace of every five years and after any mind that they are safe and that the major change in your life such as a process will be easier when they are new Grandchild or moving house. needed.

Further Information To find out more information about Wills and some of our other services, visit our website where there are a host of free leaflets to explain the processes.

Get The Right Help Please REMEMBER having a D.I.Y. or poorly drafted Will can cause problems for your loved ones at a later stage, which can result in high costs and delays.

By contacting Beacon Wealth Legal you can be sure that your Will shall provide the best protection for your property and affairs. We are offering remote advice via telephone and video meetings, as well as electronic forms.

Further Details: Should you require legal assistance from a firm with a wealth of knowledge and legal advice contact Beacon Wealth Legal Website: www.beaconwealthleagal.co.uk Email: enquiries@beaconwealth.co.uk Tel: 01480 219699 (Head Office St Neots) Facebook: /BeaconWealthGroup Head Office: 26 Market Square, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 2PJ (Also in St Ives, Sawtry & Kimbolton)

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MUSIC

CORY BLOSE For this issue we are turning the spotlight onto our contributor, Mr Cory Blose.

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Cory has been presenting the weekly rock show, Rock Into The Weekend on Huntingdon’s local radio station, HCR104FM, every Friday night for the last 7 years.

He also has a show on London based Total Rock joining esteemed rock journalists such as Malcom Dome & Dom Lawson among others.

he Corona-virus outbreak in the UK has affected virtually every facet of our lives, one area that has been hit hardest is the arts and the music industry in particular.

Every live music event, be it a small pub gig, theatre show or outdoor music festival has likely been cancelled or postponed to 2021 at this point. On top of the effect on live performances, many musicians are delaying album releases until a time that it is safe for people to congregate in larger groups again so we can enjoy live music once more.

We caught up with Cory recently to discuss his music journey: 10

Where did your love of music come from and where did your obsession with rock music in general come from?

It’s always been there, I do not ever remember music not being in my house.

My Dad had these huge Mission speakers that were so big that we used them as a side-table when they broke! He also had a lovely Technics system and reel-to-reel player that I still have to this day.

We used to play these tapes on there and the one that sticks out the most was a song by Heart that I can’t remember properly but I know I played it back and forth, back and forth. I then moved onto the rest of my Dad’s collection of

Aerosmith, Boston, Bad Company, early Bon Jovi and more so music was always there.

I was put into guitar lessons when I was really young but they only lasted a couple of years.

My Dad also gave me his vinyl collection, he’d only play them once to record them onto the reel-toreel or tape so they were in mint condition.

My Mum was into music too so it was just always there. To me, I can’t understand the people who say “I don’t like music”.

So music was always with you as a child but the music you love from 10 to around 16 years old always sticks with you and shapes

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MUSIC

your taste, what was on your radar around that time?

At 10 years old I remember begging to go see Guns N Roses, that was the first band I wanted to see live.

At that time I was obsessed with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi & Guns N Roses. One of the first CDs I got was the Beavis & Butthead soundtrack which I still have to this day.

My friend Danny bought me Led Zeppelin II for my 12th birthday and I also got Jimi Hendrix’s greatest hits around this time too. But the real life changing moment was discovering Black Sabbath when I was 13. Not long after this there was a documentary on Channel 5 about Ozzfest (an annual touring festival in USA founded by Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne) and my friends and I swore that if Ozzfest ever came to the UK we would go. It was then announced the next summer to take place at Milton Keynes Bowl with Black Sabbath headlining with support from Foo Fighters, Pantera & Slayer. I saved all my dinner & pocket money for months to be able to go.

As I got a bit older the nu-metal scene appeared and I loved bands like Korn, Coal Chamber and others until I went to university in 2002.

You mentioned guitar playing, did you ever consider performing yourself?

I had guitar lessons in junior school. When I went to secondary school there were no lessons so guitar stopped.

My friends were learning instruments too so I toyed with either being a drummer or a bass player but I focused on drums.

Some of my friends and I formed

a local band called Misspent Youth and I was the drummer without ever having played the drums at one point!

A friend was filling in on the drums until I learned how to play but unfortunately I never got the drum kit. My Mum bought me half a drum kit from a car boot sale convinced that music was just a phase. I always joke with my Mum that she didn’t believe in me enough to buy the full kit!

I did what every frustrated, failing musician does and got involved in the back end. I still went to practices being part of the band for a time and got involved in helping set up gigs, being a roadie and selling merchandise.

When I went off to university it all kind of stopped, I did some street team work for bands in Lancaster but that was about it for a number of years. But I was always a fan.

When did you consider making the leap into radio?

I considered it when I was at university, however a friend set up a nightclub in Peterborough in 2010 so I helped out with the rock nights and booking bands.

Again I was on the periphery doing a bit of artist liaison and other things. In the summer of 2012 I joined Huntingdon Community Radio as a volunteer on the Politics show, at the time there was no rock show on the station and the manager had no intention of ever giving space for a rock show.

After about 6 months I joined a show starting on Friday nights at 10pm. The show was clearly popular as I was one of 6 presenters on a rota.

After a period of settling in we started approaching PR companies

and record labels who then began sending us singles in advance and interviews with bands.

After about a year the presenter line-up was reduced to myself and Ross Kitson presenting every week until Ross left the show in 2014. My friend Danny came and helped on occasion but really I’ve presented the show on my own since then.

With some of the interviews you’ve conducted, what have been some stand-out moments for you?

My personal highlight is interviewing Clutch as they are my favourite band, I’ve now interviewed them a number of times including at Download & Leeds Festivals. In fact, their lead singer (Neil Fallon) recognized me in the crowd at Download.

The biggest highlight beside Clutch is when I first attended the Classic Rock Awards in 2013 which was a big deal, I interviewed Black Sabbath & most amazingly Jimmy Page which was a real heart racing moment. I managed to get an exclusive from him about the Led Zeppelin album reissues which at that point was just a rumour. I was lucky enough to attend the following year and seeing Alice Cooper & Brian May both standing in front of me having a conversation was surreal, they are two of the nicest people.

Lemmy from Motorhead was at the Classic Rock Awards before he passed away in 2015 and as far as I am aware, I was one of the last people to interview him before he sadly passed. Again, he was such a nice bloke and died 6 weeks later.

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ST NEOTS MUSEUM Current restrictions mean that they are still closed, but they have been putting their heads together to find new ways for you to access their collection!

You can find out all the latest from St Neots Museum on their Facebook page: @StNeotsMuseum

QUICK OVERVIEW NEW VIDEOS

Now you can join Curator Liz Davies and Education Officer Lesley Sainsbury in MORE new videos, including craft tutorials, our popular ‘Toddler Time’ sessions, content for schools and young visitors, and ‘Curator’s Corner’ talks...

NEW BLOGS Head over to the ‘Articles’ section of our website to read our blogs on local (and not so local) history! From the ancient world to the modern day.

ONLINE EXHIBITION Take a look at their latest exhibition by artist Richard Walker, featuring a selection of works inspired by WWI and WWII. Missed their Spring exhibition? No worries, you can also find artist Sarah Wheatley’s ‘Favourite Places’...

BUTTON KNIT DISPLAY The museum may be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn about our past! They have installed a small exhibition in the window of Button knit, New Street called ‘Treasure of the Gods’ This small exhibition is a brief insight into the Kimbolton coin hoard and Iron Age Huntingdonshire, over 2,000 years ago!

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STAY SAFE, STAY WELL, STAY ALERT! - A MESSAGE FROM ST NEOTS MUSEUM

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e hope that you are all keeping well, and making the best of a very difficult situation.

After a really exciting year for the museum in 2019, when we won Cambridgeshire Small Museum of the Year, we have come down to earth with a bump! At 4.00pm on Tuesday 17th March we locked the front door of the museum uncertain when we would be able to open again.

However, thanks to the Museum’s grant from St Neots Town Council, the museum staff have been able to continue working from home and have been working hard to take the museum out to the community via our website and social media. It has taken us all a while to get used to working from home, but we have been holding regular meetings by Zoom and WhatsApp and initially spent quite a lot of time contacting everyone to cancel all our planned visits, meetings, talks and events.

EMERGENCY FUNDING AND GRANTS With the Trustees and the Management Committee they have been looking into the funding they might be able to claim to make up for the income that they are losing. They are delighted to say that their application to HDC for emergency funding to help them pay their ongoing bills, such as the intruder alarm, fire alarm, air conditioning etc. has been successful and they have received £25,000. This will go a long way to making up for the income they are losing while they are closed.

The Museum have also been busy with the help of their finance Trustees applying for a grant from the Arts Council England, to support the development of their website, extra publicity to tell people they are still active and extra time to produce website resources and to add a donation page to the website. They are still waiting to hear if they have been successful or not.

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HELP THE MUSEUM RECORD THE PANDEMIC Apart from creating a new digital museum online the museum staff and volunteers have also been thinking about how to record the dramatic changes to everyday life which have suddenly burst upon us in 2020.

The largest museums in Britain, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, are already thinking about what to collect to record the year the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, but what should a local museum collect? We are limited by the size of our storage areas, but we can still collect smaller items, photographs, leaflets and posters.

If you work for the NHS, in a care home or for one of the other emergency services, or if you have been treated for the virus, or if you have lost a relative through the virus, if you are a child or an adult, we want to record your experiences.

We are keen to collect written diary entries, video diaries, stories, poems, drawings, paintings, photographs of family life or of objects you think should be recorded, or perhaps a photo of someone who has passed away during this time and you would like to be remembered in the museum’s collections.

Please get in touch by email, or just send us your images, we need your name and address and permission to use your image in writing, but donors details will never be published without permission, although we will always identify your contribution in our permanent records.

GOING DIGITAL Like many other museums, St Neots Museum has turned to developing its website to enable virtual visitors to find out about items in our collection and to provide information and activities for all the many children and parents suddenly wrestling with home schooling.

The Kimbolton coin hoard features in one of our new videos Lesley Sainsbury, the museums Learning and Development Officer has made a series of short videos for Key Stage 2 pupils explaining aspects of the history of St Neots, ranging from ‘Who was Saint Neot?’ to the ‘River Ouse and early people’, she has also filmed some simple children’s craft activities that can be made from everyday recycling at home and Toddler Time has also gone digital with woolly mammoths and the Eynesbury giant revealed for pre-school children.

Other videos, made by Curator, Liz Davies, focus on objects in the museum including the Kimbolton coin hoard, the St Neots Quads, a child’s shoe hidden in a Duloe chimney and crime in Victorian St Neots. As well as videos, new articles about local history, including VE Day and famous surprise attacks in history, have been added to our website.

If you haven’t seen the new videos, articles and exhibitions on our website please do have a look and then let us know what you think, your comments and suggestions for new topics for us to cover can help us to improve our content.

REOPENING THE MUSEUM Although they don’t yet know when they will be able to reopen to the public they have already begun the planning process. Volunteer, Michael Fletcher, has put together a Risk Assessment for the museum which explores the changes they will need to put in place. Subject to Government confirmation, they are hoping to reopen the shop in June in accordance with non-essential retail guidance, and, hopefully open the museum in July dependent on guidance on leisure facilities.

They will need to put new measures in place so that they can comply with social distancing and it will be a while before they can have bigger groups but it will be brilliant to be open for the community again.

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STAYING IN WITH BEACON

SPOTLIGHT ON STAYING AT HOME Sponsored by BEACON WEALTH GROUP Thanks to Beacon Wealth Group we are able to bring you this very special community feature, highlighting some of the fantastic things we as a community have been doing during this time, businesses who have been affected, plus ideas to help keep us going.

Beacon Wealth Group consists of both legal and financial experts: Beacon Wealth Legal and Beacon Wealth Management.

They are still open for business but are working remotely during this time and offering video and telephone meetings.

Beacon Wealth Group www.beaconwealthgroup.co.uk info@beaconwealth.co.uk 01480 869466 Facebook: @BeaconWealthGroupLtd Twitter: @BeaconWealthIFA

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THANK YOU MESSAGES

THANK YOU MESSAGES We asked you if there was anyone you would like to say thank you to, whether they work for the NHS, are a keyworker, volunteer, family member, friend and/or neighbour and we had a lovely response, both on facebook and via email.

Thank you Vicky Oxley who set up St Neots goes on a Bear Hunt.

My kids have loved finding the bears, and the Facebook group now has so many great ideas and activities for the kids.

Thank you to local band indi and The Vegas for their new song Miss Ya and it’s awesome video - it’s upbeat but also captures the mood right now - love it - Katie DundasTodorov Thank you to all NHS, Keyworkers and Volunteers - you are keeping us all safe and keeping us all going.

Thank you to everyone staying home and following the guideline, no matter how hard.

Bus drivers, of whom one is my Mum! They are often forgotten, but so integral to the community. Use them sensibly and only if you absolutely have to!

They are transporting our keyworkers.

- Mellissa Bee

Sarah Beck was amazing at getting everyone together to celebrate VE Day. She put in a lot of hours, and it was brilliant! Thank you!

Richard Bourne for supporting local businesses before, during and no doubt after the pandemic.

The group St Neots Referals and Recommendations is a life line for many businesses, and his campaigns to put so many in the spotlight every day is amazing!

Emilly Plattern who set-up Angel Pie Baking Company. She has been distributing cakes and sweet treats to people’s doorsteps to help cheer them up.

I love the fact that you can literally nominate anyone locally and she will deliver, keyworker or not. Thank you it has brought a little light on the darkest days.

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STAYING IN WITH BEACON

DIY AT HOME During lockdown DIY seemed to become a lot of people’s focus whilst at home.

From painting and decorating to complete room and garden transformations, it is clear many of you have been very busy.

If, like many, you have loved the idea of doing some DIY or have finished your current project and are looking for some more inspiration, here are a few things that people have been up to.

BELINDA HICKS FRONT DOOR RENOVATION AND BAKER EXTRAORDINAIRE Belinda wasn’t much of a baker before lockdown - but wow look at all these creations! I think her family will be asking for cake long after lockdown.

A new skill. Belinda renovated her front door herself which she confesses took a while, but the results make it look like she has bought a new door!

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Before

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JO ORAM UNIT TRANSFORMATION Jo transformed her drop-down bed unit. Adding shelving and giving the current masking tape trend a go, Jo has made what was once a piece of storage into a feature focal point, and it looks amazing!

For anyone wanting to try painting using masking tape, Jo recommends painting a base coat first, then once it has dried and the masking tape is in place , to paint over the tape with the same base paint colour to help neaten the lines once you start to add the colour in-fills.

LINDA RIDDY CROCHET QUEEN We have never tried crochet ourselves but these look very hard and time consuming to do!

Linda Riddy is the mastermind of these wonderful creations and we’d love to see what she is creating next.

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17

STAYING IN WITH BEACON

Before

KIRA O’DRISCOLL BATHROOM TRANSFORMATION Kira has been really creative in her first home; transforming her bathroom, and whilst she says it isn’t complete yet we are very impressed with the result!

We asked Kira how she updated her floor. “They are self adhesive tiles so they stick down and are perfect for DIY.” The tiles Kira has used are from Dunelm, but you can get them from many shops including online.

If any of these DIY projects have inspired you to have a go at something similar we would love to see your results, along with a before picture for comparison.

We are off to start our own project...

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LOCAL BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA Thank you to Beacon Wealth Group for allowing these local businesses to advertise for free this issue.

FlexiFitness St Neots - Little Paxton

Buckden Day Nursery

Pilates classes, online on Zoom. A time and place for us to meet and focus on your body’s strength and flexibility.

Group available for Pilates chat and videos.

Supporting the childcare needs of those that need it, open 7.30am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

Buckden Day Nursery 16, Mill Road, Buckden, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 5SS

Dogs Delight - Buckden, St.Neots

Wholehearted Ceremonies - St Neots

Lynette 07837925383/ FlexiFitnessStNeots@gmail.com FB: FlexiFitnessStNeots/

Elishia Emery - 07562545843 FB: Dogs Delight Daycare

Dog Grooming - All breeds small to large. Free run of the paddock with all the toys before their pamper.

Mama YGT

01480 810816 / info@davidson-roberts.co.uk www.buckden-day-nursery.co.uk

Facebook page: /wholeheartedceremoniesuk Susan is a Family celebrant, I create and deliver unique wedding, baby naming and vow renewal ceremonies.

ACE Property Maintenance Services Ltd

mamaygtbirthplans@gmail.com FB: Mama_YGT-111755093838277/

01480 714072 / Sales@ace-pm.co.uk FB: ACEPMSERVICES/

Online personalised birth plan discussion and writing service with a midwife turned mummy.

Local property services company based in St Neots. Free quotations, competitive quotations.

Professional, friendly family run business.

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STAYING IN WITH BEACON

PilatesWorks - St Neots & Potton

Eco-plumb

Specialist Pilates classes for all abilities online via zoom and pre recorded videos. Pelvic floor & Core workshops and courses for women of all life phases.

A small, family run business specialising in providing energy efficient heating and hot water along with gas and plumbing services.

Cover Peterborough and surrounding areas.

FITSTEPS ST NEOTS WITH LYNNE - Stageworks

The Whitehouse Holiday Lettings

A “strictly” fun dance fitness class for adults featuring easy to follow Latin and Ballroom routines. Currently classes on Zoom Mondays 3pm and Fridays 5pm. Private classes available.

Accepting bookings for our apartments from critical workers we have strict cleaning schedules with a break between clients as per the government guidelines.

claire@pilatesworks.me / 07813843980 FB: clairepilatesworks/

fitstepsstneots@gmail.com FB: FitSteps St Neots with Lynne

Liontooth - St Neots.

07590907043 / Lisa.ellison@liontooth.co.uk www.liontooth.co.uk FB: Liontooth Offering marketing services to small and medium sized businesses that don’t have the inhouse resources. No contracts and no retainers.

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07784008521 FB: ecoplumbcambs/

whitehousecottage@tiscali.co.uk www.airbnb.co.uk/p/st-neots-accommodation

M. A. Motors (St Neots)

01480 406905 FB: M. A. Motors (St Neots)

We reopened 12 May 8:30-5:30 Monday-Friday Based in Eaton Socon behind Aldi/B&M Family run garage, carry out MOT class 4/7, repairs and servicing, air con regas, vehicle alignment/tracking

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Sensory Philosophy - St Neots

Everybody Sling Dance - St.Neots

Luxury home fragrance. Hand poured soy wax candles and reed diffusers. Natural ingredients, gift wrapped in recyclable, reusable packaging.

Online gentle exercise with your Baby. Fun, easy to follow routines. Enjoy bonding with your baby and some “me� time.

CLiCKiTY-CLaCK PaRTiES!- St Neots

K Fit - St. Neots & Little Paxton

Party Entertainment Online. Themed Parties and pre recorded videos. Princesses, Dinosaur Explorer, Scientist, Harry Potter, Unicorn, Sonic, Pirates, Any theme!

Local fitness classes including Pilates, Zumba, Kettlercise, Ballet, Bootcamps, core and conditioning. Currently online during C-19.

Info@sensoryphilosophy.com www.sensoryphilosophy.com FB & Instagram: sensoryphilosophy/

07531928075 / clickityclackparties@gmail.com www.clickityclackparties.com/ FB: clickityclackparties

ACE Building Services Ltd - St Neots.

01480 714072 / building@ace-pm.co.uk FB: ACEBuildingServicesLtd/ Local building/property services company based in St Neots. Free quotations, competitive quotations. Professional, friendly family run business.

Debi: 07531928075 / everybodyslingdance@gmail.com https://everybodyslingdanc.wixsite.com/debi FB: Everybody Sling Dance Cambridge & Bedford

Katrina 07967100603 / kdanceandfitness@gmail.com www.kdanceandfitness.co.uk FB: kfitstneots

BRITISH GYNMASTICS FOUNDATION FB: BritishGymnasticsFoundation

Love To Move programme, an age and dementia friendly seated exercise session was launched online to help encourage older people to keep moving for free. Full length sessions recorded in Buckden, with live sessions each Wednesday morning on Facebook.

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21

VE DAY Thanks to local Sarah Beck, a local resident who created the Facebook group St Neots Community to Support VEday75 Celebrations, hundreds more people joined in celebrating this important event at home on their driveways, front and back gardens as well as on balconies and indoors.

Here are a few pictures shared by our local community on this fantastic group.

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LOCAL EVENTS

Sarah set up a Just Giving page alongside organising this event so that money could still be raised for The Royal British Legion.

At time of writing the total had reached

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23

STAYING IN WITH BEACON

COMMUNITY SPIRIT At times like this it is amazing to see the community unite, and they have created some fantastic activities that everyone can take part in!

Here are just a few!

ENCHANTED WOODS

AUNTIES WOOD, LOVES FARM / PIGHTLE, EATON SOCON / PAXTON PITS Facebook page: @Enchanted Forest Eaton Socon @The Enchantment of Aunties Wood A magical walk amongst some of our local wood areas, has found home to some brilliant home-made fairy magic!

The creativity is brilliant, and everyone is encouraged to take part, although at a safe distance, and please do not touch or move any items, or, if adding items you are asked not to add any glitter or items the local wildlife could eat and be hurt by.

ANIMAL HUNT PRIORY PARK If you go into the woods today you may find these fantastic animals hiding.

Someone has made and hung pictures of different wildlife animals around Priory Park ready to surprise you on your walks.

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ST NEOTS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

www.sncs.org.uk Available everyday 8am - 8pm on 0333 3355 344 For anyone self isolating who needs some support. You,may want someone to chat to over the phone, have some mail posted, prescription collected or have some shopping delivered to your doorstep.

ST NEOTS GOES ON A BEAR HUNT YouTube: @St Neots Goes On A Bear Hunt

There are over 1,100 bears around St Neots hiding, ready for you to find them.

Put out by local residents they are all assigned numbers and during your walks you can see how many you can find.

ROCK SNAKES

PRIORY PARK, ST NEOTS / POCKET PARK, ST NEOTS / LOVES FARM PIRATE SHIP / LITTLE PAXTON SCHOOL / BUCKDEN CHURCH / GREAT PAXTON HIGH STREET / OFFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Facebook page: @St Neots Rocks @The Loves Farm Rock Snake Everyone is invited to paint a rock and add it to the ‘snake’ at every location.

Something colourful to brighten your day as you walk past.

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STAYING IN WITH BEACON 26

ENTERTAINING YOURSELF AND OTHERS Staying at home this long can be hard so we have put together some ideas to help pass the time.

Whether you are at home alone, with children (big or small), there should hopefully be something here for you.

We would also love to see some of your own ideas. #StayingAtHomeWithBeacon #BInspired

LEGO CHALLENGE

CREATE PLANTS

There are challenges for almost everything, and this challenge above has a different challenge every day for 30 days. Just Google Lego Challenge.

If you aren’t very green fingered but your children love them, why not make your own. This way you don’t have to worry about keeping it alive.

SHADOW ANIMALS

CREATE PICTURES

It doesn’t just have to be animals. Choose what you would like to draw, and where the sun creates its shadow place a piece of paper, and trace it. :)

No matter the age you can have fun recreating images from nursery rhymes/ songs, videos... You could even use the pictures to create your own 2021 Calendar now that is being organised!

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TOILET ROLL FACES

BUILD A FORT

With the hype of toilet rolls recently, why not put them to further use and make some funny faces.

You could use your sofa, blankets, clothes, table and chairs, bedding, table cloths... who doesn’t love being a kid and hiding in their own fort?

TARGET GOLF

STRING MAZE

Have an empty box? Why not cut a few holes out for target practice.

They can even be used for a car garage, or snail races...

Who hasn’t fancied themselves as a James Bond?

The difficulty level is up to you.

PUPPET SHOW

RECREATE A PART OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE

Another one if you have an empty box.

Cut out or make your favourite animals, characters, stick them on straws/ice-cream sticks... and let your imagination run wild.

Have you seen the Lion King opening sequence recreated with toys, and a Rafiki mask?

What would you recreate?

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STAYING IN WITH BEACON

FREE ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCES Compiled by a home education group and being distributed widely, here are some excellent resources for home education for the kids.

DK Find Out

https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/…

Activities and quizzes

Khan Academy

https://www.khanacademy.org Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level.

Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.

BBC Learning

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/coursesearch/ This site is old and no longer updated and yet there’s so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision. No TV licence required except for content on BBC iPlayer.

Futurelearn

https://www.futurelearn.com Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).

Seneca

https://blockly.games Learn computer programming skills - fun and free.

Scratch

https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/ games/ Creative computer programming

Ted Ed

https://ed.ted.com All sorts of engaging educational videos

National Geographic Kids

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/ Activities and quizzes for younger kids.

Duolingo

https://www.duolingo.com Learn languages for free. Web or app.

Mystery Science

https://mysteryscience.com Free science lessons

https://www.senecalearning.com For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.

The Kids Should See This

Openlearn

Crash Course

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.

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Blockly

https://thekidshouldseethis.com Wide range of cool educational videos

https://thecrashcourse.com You Tube videos on many subjects

Crash Course Kids

https://m.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids As above for a younger audience

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Crest Awards

https://www.crestawards.org Science awards you can complete from home.

iDEA Awards

https://idea.org.uk Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.

Paw Print Badges

Big History Project

https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home Aimed at Secondary age. Multi disciplinary activities.

Geography Games

https://world-geography-games.com/world. html Geography gaming!

https://www.pawprintbadges.co.uk Free challenge packs and other downloads.

Many activities can be completed indoors.

Badges cost but are optional.

Blue Peter Badges

Tinkercad

The Artful Parent

https://www.tinkercad.com All kinds of making.

Prodigy Maths

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/aboutblue-peter-badges If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.

https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/ Good, free art activities linked to from this Facebook page

https://www.prodigygame.com Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.

Red Ted Art

Cbeebies Radio

The Imagination Tree

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio Listening activities for the younger ones.

Nature Detectives

https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org. uk/naturedetect‌/ A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!

British Council

https://www.britishcouncil.org/schoolresources/find Resources for English language learning.

https://www.redtedart.com Easy arts and crafts for little ones

https://theimaginationtree.com Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.

Toy Theater

https://toytheater.com/ Educational online games.

Twinkl

https://www.twinkl.co.uk This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents in the event of school closures.

Oxford Owl for Home

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/ Lots of free resources for Primary age

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FAMILY

Supporting Your Child During The Coronavirus Pandemic Tips, advice and where to get support for your child’s mental health during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from Young Minds.

Five things you can do to support your child.

1. Talk to them about what’s going on. Find out how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking about, let them know it’s okay to feel scared or unsure, and try to answer their questions and reassure them in an age appropriate manner.

Remember, you do not need to know all the answers, but talking things through can help them feel calmer.

2. Help them to reflect on how they’re feeling and encourage them to think about the things they can do to make them feel safer and less worried.

3. Reassure them that this will pass, you’re there for them, and you will get through this together.

4. Spend time doing a positive activity with your child

(such as reading, playing, painting or cooking) to help reassure them and reduce their anxiety. This is also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’.

5. Keep as many regular routines as possible, so that your child feels safe and that things are stable.

What can you do if your child won’t stay home?

1. Give your child clear and strong messages about why it’s important to abide by the rules. For example, remind them that this is for their safety, for yours and the people around them.

2. Remind your child that this is not a punishment, it’s temporary and things will go back to normal.

3. Think about whether a compromise is possible, such as increased time talking on

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the phone or through video messaging with their friends, or making sure they have space in the home to have private calls or be on their own.

4. Talk to them about what might help at this time, reassure them that you understand how difficult this is and that it won’t last forever, and try to come up with a few things that might help your child stay in the home.

5. When they do go out for their exercise, ensure you set some expectations for them.

For example, they should remain in public spaces, such as a local park, and not go into other people’s homes or meet up with anyone else.

Remind them that being with people who they do not live with is breaking the law and a police officer will separate them and may fine them or you.

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EXPERT

How you can access mental health support and treatment for your child during the Coronavirus pandemic.

If your child is already being treated by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or another mental health service, get in touch by phone with the service and/or their key workers to discuss how their support will continue during the pandemic. Many services will be offering online or telephone support in place of meeting faceto-face, so this is something you can ask about.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health and need professional support, contact your GP. In line with NHS advice, avoid going to the GP surgery in person if you can. To speak to a doctor or book an appointment, you can phone the surgery, use their online contact service if they have one, or visit the surgery’s website to find out the best way to get in touch.

If your child experiences a If your child is already seeing a mental health crisis and they therapist or counsellor, or needs need urgent care, you can seek professional support in the emotional support and would benefit from starting therapy or following ways: counselling while the pandemic If a health professional has is happening, it may be possible already given you a crisis number to arrange online or phone to call in this situation, call this sessions in place of face-to-face. number.

Ask the professional supporting If your child is already under your child about this, as well as any other ideas they have for how the care of CAMHS or another they can make sure some contact mental health team and they have continues, rather than cutting off a crisis plan that states who to contact when they need urgent support abruptly. care, follow this plan.

Your child can still access If your child needs urgent care emotional support from but it is not life threatening, you helplines, textlines and online chat services anytime they need can call 111 for advice. to – and Childline, Samaritans and If there is a medical emergency, the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger for example if your child is injured all provide 24/7 support. The Mix or you are worried that they or is also providing online and phone someone else is at immediate risk support as normal. You can find of harm, call 999. organisations offering support If you’re unsure about anything for young people around specific and need some advice, you can mental health issues such as call our Parents Helpline for free. anxiety, depression and self-harm on our Parents Guide to Support.

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Contact Details YoungMinds Parents Helpline Available to offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25.

Trained advisers are here to give you help and advice, whatever the question.

Call for free: 0808 802 5544 Mon-Fri, 9:30am - 4pm.

You can call the Parents Helpline directly but if you’d like to get in touch via email you can use the form on their website, where they will endeavour to reply within 3 working days. https://youngminds.org.uk/ contact-us/parents-helplineenquiries/

Further Help: If you need further help after speaking to one of our Helpline advisors, we can refer you to one of our specialists – whether it’s a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, psychologist or mental health nurse.

They will arrange a phone consultation within 7 days of your call.

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FAMILY

YOUR STORIES TILLY TRIMBLE INVESTIGATES Local children’s author, Karen Larkins, shares with us another of her stories, in this next instalment will Tilly find out what happened to that key?

The story so far:- Tilly has noticed a holly wreath still hanging on a front door in May and is compelled to find out why.

There seems to be no one at home and Tilly wants to go inside to see if that solves the mystery.

She has found a door key, but a crow has attacked her for the second time and has flown away with the key.

Part Three It was Sunday and Tilly, Matthew and her Mum were in the park. It was a lovely sunny day and Mum had packed a picnic.

Tilly lay on the red tartan picnic blanket with a full tummy and gazed up at the white fluffy clouds. She had been cross with herself for allowing the crow to get the better of her and take the key, and she was very puzzled as to why a crow would want a key.

Her Mum had told her crows were clever birds but even so, she couldn’t imagine him opening a door with it.

“Come on love, Matthew’s getting restless. We’ll go to the pond and try pond dipping.”

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Tilly’s Mum’s voice broke into her thoughts and she stood up and played chase with Matthew while her Mum folded the blanket and put it in the basket under the pushchair.

Once Matthew was safely buckled in, Tilly picked up the fishing nets. They had one each; a blue one for Matthew and a pink one for her.

When they reached the pond Mum unbuckled Matthew who thought it would be a good idea to go for a swim. Mum held him firmly round his waist and tried to help him dip his net without getting his feet wet. Tilly grinned and dipped her net into the murky water.

There wasn’t much to find in the pond, just a few soggy leaves and Tilly was soon bored. She looked up and saw the old dead tree. She thought back to the last time she was in the park and remembered the hole she’d found with twigs and black feathers inside. An idea popped into her head.

“Mum, can I go and play on my own for a bit please?” She asked and her Mum nodded. “I’ll take Matthew to the swings.” She seemed relieved to be leaving the

pond. “Don’t go too far and meet us at the swings in about half an hour.” Mum said as she struggled to make Matthew sit back in his pushchair.

Tilly put her wet fishing net against her shoulder as she walked towards the tree. There were some other children playing football nearby and they called out hello and asked her to join them, but she was on a mission and just waved and shook her head.

She reached the tree and headed straight round to the hole.

She stood on the gnarled tree root and pulled herself up so she could peer inside. It was very dark and she couldn’t see much more than a few shapes.

She stepped down, took the fishing net in two hands and slowly lowered it inside the tree.

She had to step on the root again to make herself tall enough, but sure enough she felt the net touch the bottom of the hole.

She made the net perform a scooping action and walked backwards thus releasing the net from the hole.

It was half full of twigs, leaves and black feathers.

She deposited her spoils on the

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KIDS CORNER - STORY grass and dipped the net inside the tree again. This time there were some pieces of string in amongst the twigs.

She put that load with the first and dipped the net inside the tree again.

Tilly was enjoying herself and thought tree dipping was a lot more interesting than pond dipping.

On her fourth dip inside the tree Tilly pulled out more twigs, more brown leaves and some old corks. She put it all on top of the growing pile next to her and noticed something glinting.

She bent down and picked up a key. ‘I was right.’ Tilly thought.

‘This is where the crow lives.’

This time Tilly put the key in her jeans pocket and hurriedly put all the detritus back in the hole.

“CAW! CAW!” Tilly jumped as the crow swooped low over her.

She put her arms above her head and started to run, but there was someone in her way as she saw a pair of yellow boots in front of her.

With her arms still over her head she looked up into the face of the kindly man she had previously met in the park.

Tilly thought it was odd that he was wearing his reddish brown raincoat and boots when it was such a lovely sunny day.

“Now what have you done to upset that crow then?” He asked.

“It’s okay; you can take your arms down now, she’s flown away.”

The man put his head to one side, rather like a bird might do.

“You haven’t done anything silly, like mess with her nest have you?”

The old man winked.

“Well, I only took back what it stole from me yesterday.” Tilly said looking skywards, but the crow was nowhere to be seen.

“You don’t want to go upsetting

that crow. She’s not nice when she’s upset.”

Tilly wondered what the man was talking about.

“I’d leave well alone.”

He said. “That old bird can be very dangerous you know.”

Tilly was perplexed.

“Why are you calling the crow her? How do you know it’s a girl? I thought you said all birds were Mr?” “Well, that was a magpie, but this crow is definitely a girl.”

Tilly looked back at the tree and then back at the man, but he had disappeared. Tilly shivered and ran to the swings. ***** After school the following day Tilly volunteered to go to the shops to buy some milk for her Mum. She walked along Carters Way and watched the sky for any signs of crows.

She knew she was walking the wrong way to the shops but she couldn’t wait to solve the mystery.

She put her hand in her jeans pocket and felt the roundness of the pound coins her Mum had given her and also felt the sharp edges of the key.

All day at school she’d been wishing for time to speed up so she could go to Carters Way, but everything had seemed to go so slowly and she was certain that the hour of maths had really been two hours.

When school finally ended she was again thwarted from her mission by her Mum who had asked her to watch Matthew.

‘Thank goodness the milk ran out and Mum can’t drink black tea’

Tilly murmured to herself.

Then suddenly she began to panic. What if there was someone in this time? What if there was something scary inside the house?

What if the house was filled with a poisonous gas and she breathed it in? Tilly’s heart pounded as all these questions whirled around inside her head until she told herself to stop being silly.

‘This mystery has to be solved and it will be solved today,’ she thought as she walked along the front path of number 64.

With a shaking hand she rang the doorbell. “Better check noone’s in.” She muttered to herself.

No-one answered the ring and she inserted the key into the lock.

‘This might not be the right key.’

She suddenly thought and half hoped it was someone else’s key.

She was torn. She was frightened that it was the wrong key and also scared that it was the right key.

She held her breath and turned the key until it clicked. It was the right key.

To be continued….

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FAMILY

MEASURING ET YOUR CHILDS FE It is inevitable that children’s feet will have changed size over this period of lockdown, however how do you know what size they are now if you don’t have a foot gauge? Here’s a few methods to work it out.

FEET AGAIN ST WALL Have your child sta nd with their heel against a wall, on top of a piece of pape r.

Making sure the pa per and heel both start at the same place mark a straight lin e (make sure your pencil isn’t at an angle) and mark from th e longest toe this could be the sec ond toe.

Repeat on their ot

her foot.

Measure in centim etres the distance in a straig ht line from their heel to their biggest toe on both feet and us e the largest foot as the measu rement to go by against the char t.

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DRAW AROUND FEET Get your child to stand in the middle of a piece of paper that is bigger than their feet and draw around both feet, making sure that your pencil is in a straight line (not angled).

Measure in centimetres from the heel to the biggest toe in a straight line.

Using the biggest measurement compare it to the chart for the correct size.

FOOT PRINTS ble getting If you have trou and still st your child to also work, n ca d ho this met feet are r provided thei down. ly m fir d presse of your Cover the sole friendly ild ch in et fe ’s child to stand em th t paint and ge per. on a piece of pa sure the feet Once dr y mea the biggest to el from the he res. toe in centimet d doing We’d recommen having a d an this outside arby. ne er at w of l bow uld co ts in (Wet footpr ils) fa se el l al if k wor

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T FEET SIZE CHAR Actual Foot UK Size Length (cm)

Actual Foot UK Size Length (cm)

10-10.3

17.6-17.9 10.5

1.5

10.4-10.7 2 18-18.3 11 10.8-11.1 2.5 18.4-18.7 11.5 11.2-11.5 3 18.8-19.1 12 11.6-11.9 3.5 19.2-19.5 12.5 12-12.3 4 19.6-19.9 13 12.4-12.7 4.5

20-20.2

13.5

12.8-13.2 5 20.3-20.7 1 junior 13.3-13.7

5.5

20.8-21

1.5 junior

13.8-14.2 6 21.1-21.4 2 junior 14.3-14.7 6.5 21.5-21.8 2.5 junior 14.8-15.1 7 21.9-22.2 3 junior 15.2-15.4 7.5 22.3-22.5 3.5 junior 15.5-15.8 8 22.6-22.8 4 junior 15.9-16.2 8.5 22.9-23.1 4.5 junior 16.3-16.6 9 23.2-23.5 5 junior 16.7-17

9.5

23.6-23.9

5.5 junior

17.1-17.5

10

24-24.3

6 junior

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FAMILY

S CORNER ID K E L T IT L / IG B It doesn’t matter how old you are, we all like to have fun.

QUESTION TIME is a seahorse?

1. What type of animal C) Fish D) Shell id chn Ara B) A) Crustacean

st? dog breeds is the smalle 2.Which of the following ahua ihu Ch D) n nia era dle C) Pom A) Dachshund B) Poo ?

3. What colour are zebras h white stripes wit ck Bla B) pes A) White with black stri above the of ne D) No C) Both of the above the largest wingspan?

4. What existing bird has Condor D) Albatross A) Stork B) Swan C) Answers 1 - C, 2 - D, 3 - B, 4 - D

FUN FACTS The first person to perform a successful C-sectio n in South Africa was Dr. Jam es Barry...a doctor who was ac tually a woman.

Lego is the largest tyre manufacturer in the world.

In 1981, a black lab named Bosco was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, Ca lifornia.

For a brief time, M elbourne was named Batmania.

4% of the sand on Normandy beach is made up of shrapnel from D-Day that ha s broken down.

JOKES 1. What makes the calendar seem so popular?

2. Why did Mickey Mouse take a trip into space?

3. What is it that even the most careful person overlooks?

4. How is Europe like a frying pan?

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train is 1. If an electric iles an m 60 at going east a strong is e er th d an hour which way westerly wind, e from the ok sm e th does dr train ift? u take, the 2. The more yo e behind. av le u yo more ? e What ar they licate that 3. What is so de breaks it? e m na saying its Answers: oke 1. There is no sm ric ct ele m fro g comin trains.

2. Footprints 3. Silence.

Answers: 1. It has a lot of dates!

2. He wanted to find Pluto!

3. Their nose!

4. It has Greece at the bottom.

R

TONGUE TWISTE great gre Growing grey goats graze

36

RIDDLES

en grassy groves.

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B INSPIRED BY POLYGONS

What picture can you create in the polygons? Simply colour them in and find out.

- Don’t forget to share them with us on social media!

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B SEEN If you are a local business who is looking for a low cost way to enhance your local presence contact the B Inspired team.

FINANCE Beacon Wealth Management Chartered /Independent Financial Advisers Location: Kimbolton info@beaconwealth.co.uk 01480 869466 www.beaconwealth.co.uk

FITNESS ST NEOTS LITTLE DRAGONS Taekwon-Do Location: St Neots Instructor Paul O’Brien 07599 763187 www.stneotskd.co.uk

LEGAL Beacon Wealth Legal Solicitors

Location: - St Neots - Kimbolton - St Ives - Sawtry enquiries@beaconwealth.co.uk 01480 219699 / 475871 www.beaconwealthlegal.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT Limelight Entertainment Princess

Location: St Neots amy@limelightentertainmentuk.com 07825 331453 www.limelightentertainmentuk.com

MEDIA GUIDE EXPERT - Double Page Spread - Section on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

£150 - £200

SPONSOR £45 - £125 - Choose a double page ‘theme’ (sports/charity) for your target audience to feature for free - Section on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free WHAT’S ON GUIDE £45 /£75/£125 - Quarter, Half or Full Page Advert in magazine - Inclusion on website - Inclusion on weekly social media Guides - Inclusion on weekly newsletter Guides - Free Inclusion in Goodie Bags BACK PAGE ADVERTS - Full Page Advert - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

£150

*NEW* BUSINESS ADVERT £45 / £75 / £125 - Quarter, Half or Full Page Advert in magazine - Help support a community page for your target audience - Included on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free FULL PAGE EDITORIAL - One page to feature an article about you - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

£100

B SEEN £120p.a - Contact details prominently displayed - Included on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags DISCOUNT ADVERT - Prominent location - Included on our website - Free Inclusion in Goodie Bags

£35

JOB ADVERT £75 - Prominent location in magazine - Inclusion on website - Inclusion on Newsletters *Goodie Bags handed out at large local events*