Broughton InTouch April-May 2023

Gardening Projects courtesy of the Boughton Astley Volunteer Group (BAVG)

Broughton InTouch

BAVG Freephone: 0808 528 4477

Email: BAVGoffice@bavg.org.uk

Website: www.bavg.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1191840

BAVG Community Allotments

With a hint of Spring in the air, we have been busy opening up the Broughton Astley Community Allotments again & putting a new project plan in place for 2023.

Our volunteers have been amazing as always and have already cleared the remainder of the site and started digging the plot ready for the next stages of the plan.

The next phases following that will be micro-plots for anyone wanting a smaller, more manageable plot, or a small plot to start out in gardening; a children’s area; a group work area; a high-level planter for our disabled community; and composting - with plenty more to follow.

We are now on the lookout for volunteers to join our register, who can offer anything from time, knowledge or surplus tools/seeds etc…. No matter how little or much. We value everyone who can help. In addition if there are groups that may want an outdoor space to work on or companies that want to boost their charity, sustainability or environmental credentials, let us know.

We are also looking for anyone in Broughton Astley with any wood working skills or in interest in helping build the micro-plots. All help is really valuable and appreciated.

Please get in touch via our Facebook page BAVG Community Allotments or by emailing bavgallotments@bavg.org.uk

Many thanks to Nest Estate Agents for sponsoring this edition, see the back page for details.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to sponsor future editions.

This newsletter is available to read digitally, for free, on If you would like to opt out of receiving a paper copy please email us.

Deadline for the June/July 2023 edition is 1st May 2023. We accept features and information from any charity or not-for-profit organisation within our community. Email intouch@bavg.org.uk

Broughton Astley Volunteer Group

InTouch and responding to our community’s needs

An established BAVG working party are making a real difference to St Mary’s church wildlife garden. The snowdrops are looking beautiful at the moment too.

The group meets on the last Saturday of the month from 10am-12pm and refreshments are provided.

If you want to get involved or help us put in a path; which is one of the next stages being looked at, please get in touch.

The BAVG coffee mornings first started in June 2021 and now regularly welcome 50 residents each Monday morning, at St. Mary are free biscuits and sometimes cake, there are also occasional visitors and speakers giving helpful information and advice.

Due to it’s popularity, is has been decided from 3rd April, refreshments will be available from 10am instead of 10.30am if you fancy an earlier drink! Anyone welcome, feel free to join us!

Coffee Morning Every Monday

St. Mary’s Church, Broughton Astley

10.00am - 12.00pm

St Mary’s Wildlife Garden

Broughton Astley Volunteer Group

InTouch and responding to our community’s needs

Defib Training

Are you confident in using a Defib or performing CPR in an emergency?

The village now has 5 defibrillators and the BAVG along with the Broughton Astley Scout group are delighted to bring you the opportunity to attend an awareness session around the use of Defibs and CPR. This 1 hour session will build your confidence in using a defib and performing lifesaving CPR in the event of an emergency.

The Group Scout Leader Phil will deliver this practical session aimed at people of all ages. The sessions will be held at the Scout Hut opposite the Village Hall on Wednesday 19th April & Wednesday 10th May from 7.30-8.30pm.

Sessions are limited to 20 people, if you are interested in attending please contact

New Age Kurling

The Broughton Bus

Broughton Astley Volunteer Group

Our regular shopping trips to Hinckley, Lutterworth, and Broughton Aldi remain very popular, but we do have the occasional spaces. Watch out for our new timetable posters on Council notice boards and at the BAVG coffee mornings – where you will be able to meet some of our bus drivers who can answer any questions you may have.

To book your seat use either of the contact numbers given below. As many of our customers have said, the bus offers an

affordable way of socialising, combined with some local shopping!

Since our last fundraising update for the new bus, we are very pleased to report a totally unexpected £15k donation from a local gentleman and a £3k award from the Parish Council This means we are now within £5k of reaching our funding target! Thanks go to all the organisations/businesses who have supported us so far, and we hope to announce a delivery date in time for the next bulletin!

Your bus is managed entirely by an enthusiastic volunteer team which has been increased, thanks to two new drivers who are now fully ‘on board’. If you have even a small amount of spare time to help with the equally important ‘non-driving’ aspects of running the bus, we would be pleased to hear from you. You could make the difference in safeguarding the service for the community.

Call 01455 283001 or 282966

What a busy few months we have had at Lutterworth

Community Transport! Despite threats of strike action the NHS have been really ramping up their out-patient appointments with a knock on effect for us. Getting to a hospital appointment from our area can be incredibly difficult if you do not have access to a car or friends and family who are able to drop everything to take you. The knock-on effect of delays in accessing treatment can have a massive impact on quality of life and even lead to an early death in some cases.

If you have time available and are fortunate enough to have access to a car, have a think about how you would get to hospital or even the health centre if you didn’t have it or were not able to drive due to your condition. There are many people in this situation who you may be able to help.

We are also in dire need of people who would like to drive our minibuses on trips out. This can be an extremely rewarding experience, and is really not that daunting. We give nationally approved training to our volunteers so there really is no reason not to give it a go.

If you are interested, please ring Graeme on 01455 555571.

Thank you all for your fantastic support once again, with almost 400 kg donated to us in January and February from the Broughton collection points. We know that times are tough for us all, but your help is so needed and so appreciated.

Don't forget that we have a new donation point in Broughton Astley. The team at theSPAR Broughton Astley Unit 5 Devitt Way Broughton Astley LE9 6NQ havekindly set up a donation point for us, so do look out for the collection basket by the tills and donate if you can.

We are extremely short of the following:

UHT Milk (Whole or semi please)

Sponge puddings

Rice pudding

Custard

Instant Mash

If you need support, please do ask one of the local referral agencies for help who can also refer you to us if required:

Local Area Coordinator:

John Barraclough 07732 824556

Citizens Advice : 0808 208 2138

Broughton Astley Volunteer Group: 0808 528 4477

Twitter: @LuttFoodBank

Facebook: Lutterworth and Villages Foodbank

www.lutterworthvillages.foodbank.org.uk

Rainbows, Guides and more. We have a fabulous selection of rooms for hire that could serve your corporate or community event:

✔️ Training sessions

✔️ Conferences

✔️ Business lunch meetings

✔️ Networking opportunities

✔️ Community groups

✔️ Children's birthday parties

✔️ Plus more

For rates and availability please contact office@suttonelms.co.uk

Throughout the week we facilitate a wide range of activities and events. From baby and toddler groups to Renew Wellbeing, The Elms Cafe,

It has been another busy few months with the st BA scouts. This term we saw our eldest Scouts take part in two events including the Monopoly challenge where they head to London for the day to get as many of the monopoly squares as possible. They also took part in the Leics Scouts Rugby Fun Day with the Tigers.

Our other groups continue to be busy holding joint meets by the fire, welcoming guests to speak to us and lots of other activities which keep them busy.

We currently have over 50 children wanting to join our Squirrel section and we are actively looking for new volunteers to lead a new group on a Monday between 5 - 6. If you want to find out more, please contact Phil Burton for more information at phil.burton@broughtonastleyscouts.org.uk.

We have had a very interesting start to 2023 with two excellent guest speakers.

In January local artist Jayne Good demonstrated “Wet on Wet” oil painting. With what seemed just a few strokes of green paint to form leaves and stems, then shades of pink to form petals, Jayne completed the most beautiful floral painting in a very short time. Jayne holds regular workshops and completes commissions.

in 1576 in Leicestershire! In 1880 a conference decided that deaf people should be taught to speak and sign language was banned. However, in 1985 a campaign was started to recognise British Sign Language as an official language, which was legally confirmed in 2000 and the BSL Act was passed in 2022.

We put a display of green hearts in the library to recognise the annual NFWI campaign #Show the Love for Climate Change Awareness month, explaining what we encourage the Government to do to tackle the climate, nature and cost of living crises.

News from St Mary’s

In February Daisy Edwards, teacher of British Sign Language for Leicester’s Go Learn programme, told us the history of sign language, which was first documented in use

Our next meetings will feature South American music and Recycling with a Difference. Visitors are always welcome – call 01455 282118 for more information.

St Mary’s Church News

St Mary’s is very happy to be able to announce that the Revd. Pauline Cummins has been appointed as Associate Priest to the parish. She was licensed by the Bishop of Loughborough, The Rt Revd Saju Muthalaly, on Sunday 12 March 2023 at 3pm at St Michael's Stoney Stanton. Pauline is looking forward to working in the parish and getting to know people here.

The beginning of April is a busy time at St Mary’s beginning with the Community Market on Saturday 1st from 10 – 12.30. A new feature of the Community Markets will be a drop in Repair Shop where there will be an opportunity for you to get small appliances etc. repaired if feasible.

On Good Friday 7th we will have a wonderful presentation of Stainer’s Crucifixion – A Meditation on the Sacred Passion - at 6pm This is one of the most popular of English choral works. All welcome.

In addition to our normal services at 9.45 each Sunday, On Easter Day (April 9th) we will have a great celebration of the Resurrection at 9.45am followed by an Easter Egg hunt.

On April 16th we have Messy Church with a theme of New Life.

Over the weekend of May 6, 7, & 8 we will be having celebrations of King Charles III Coronation.

We continue to enjoy having the Broughton Astley Volunteer Group Coffee mornings each Monday from 10-noon and trust that people enjoy a warm welcome in our church.

Church social activities continue to be arranged – for latest details please visit our website http://www.stmaryandstmichael.co.uk/Events.htm or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bacsschurches/

Everybody is welcome at St Mary’s.

EXCITING NEWS

Broughton Astley has a new Guide unit opening after Easter.

Does your daughter want to Join Guides and is aged between 10 and 14.

Please email lutterworthgirlguiding@gmail.com or register via https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/.../register-your-daughter/

PARISH COUNCIL

LONG SERVICE AWARD

At the Parish Council Meeting on 16 February 2023 our Grounds Maintenance Assistant Nick Algate was presented with a card and gift voucher to mark his 15 years’ service with us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Nick for all his hard work over the years and may it continue.

We are also pleased to announce that he recently passed the NAMM City & Guilds qualification in Safety Inspection & Assessment of Memorials in Burial Grounds. This now allows the Parish Council to undertake their own testing of the memorials at the Frolesworth Road Cemetery on a regular basis commencing in April this year.

PRECEPT INCREASE FOR 2023-2024

The Parish Council continues to strive in providing residents with the best value for money. This has allowed the Parish Council to keep any increase in council tax to a minimum and in some years even reduce it.

However, this year, the Parish Council has made the difficult decision to increase their portion of council tax for the tax year 2023/2024 by 0.19p per week for band D properties, which in real terms works out to less than the price of a pint of milk per month.

The Parish precept has increased to consider the foreseen expenses for 2023/24:

Substantial rises in cost of utilities and to general expenses. Removal of rebated red diesel fuel costs (full fuel duty rate must now be paid) Cost of elections to be held in May 2023

Staffing cost increases (determined at a national level)

Please be assured that each year the Parish Council’s finances are scrutinised by the Administration and Finance Committee before further debate and approval is made at the Full Parish Council meeting by your elected Members.

Parish Councillors contact details can be found on the Parish Council’s website www.broughton-astley.gov.uk if you have anything you wish to discuss with them.

PARISH COUNCIL

LOCAL ELECTIONS

Elections for the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Anyone wishing to find out more information about becoming a Councillor should peruse the ‘Good Councillors Guide’ and ‘It Takes All Sorts’, published our Website by following this link https://www.broughton-astley.gov.uk/councillors.html if viewing this article on-line.

Alternatively, visit our website and select ‘About the Council’ ‘The Council’ ‘Councillors’ where information on our current Parish Councillors and the Wards they represent is also shown.

VOTING – Photo ID will be required to vote at a Polling Station from May 2023.

Voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at Polling Stations, so please be prepared and prevent yourself from being turned away and unable to cast your vote if you do not show the appropriate identification.

Details of what is accepted can be found on the Electoral Commission Website www.electoralcommission.org.uk

FROLESWORTH ROAD RECREATION GROUND

will be open from 6.30am until 9.30pm from 1 April 2023.

“

Iwillworkinpartnershiptohelp

BroughtonAstleyarereceiving fundsfromtheUKSharedProsperity Fundforsmallscaleimprovements inthevillagecentre.

realisetheseprojects.”

NeilBannister

Nest would like to introduce the newest member of the family business, our Broughton Astley office. We are located opposite the Co-op and we support all the surrounding villages and communities.

We are a long-established estate agent with branches across Leicestershire, but we don’t want to mislead you, we are still an independent agent and family run. A business that was derived from passion for our

customers and the communities in which we operate.

Our Directors, Sara Quatermass and Robert Taylor have over fifty years combined experience. We are committed to delivering the best ethics within the industry. Our fabulous team members are long standing, local, and extremely knowledgeable. Most of them having worked with Sara for many years.

At ‘nest’ we understand that every client is an individual. Therefore we always aim to provide a bespoke and compassionate service. Maximising your investment is our core business, but we do not stop there, offering you indispensable face to face interaction with the very best in modern technology to assist us with our traditional values.

To ensure a moving experience that is second to none, our ‘nest’ umbrella works closely with Nestegg mortgages and Duckletts lettings, to help and guide in every step of your new adventure.

In addition to our services, we are committed to the communities in which we serve, across our four branches we support many local charities, Schools, football teams and village projects. I think the highlight of 2022 was sponsoring Broughton Astley Santa’s grotto, it was wonderful to see the children faces light up when receiving their gifts.

We would like to thank the Broughton community for welcoming us with open arms over the past year and half in our new Broughton office and look forward to working alongside you in the future.

Looking for a new nest? We offer a free market appraisal please call us or pop in and say hi, we are a friendly and very approachable.

The Team: Trilby, Debbie & Sara