News NK - June - October 2020 - North Kesteven District Council

Look who’s flying in to the District: 2 metres apart – page 3

Craft, draw, learn and make with our pull-out activity pack – pages 9 to 12

Champion your community volunteers – page 20

JUNE - OCTOBER 2020

NEWS NK

The newspaper for all North Kesteven residents

STAY ALERT Please read this important information If you read nothing else in this NewsNK, dedicated to bringing you useful information, contacts and guidance for your response to Coronavirus, please take note of this column.

And check out the Council’s website and social media channels for latest Government and Council information as it is updated.

Thanks to four-month-old Ivy from Sleaford for summing up the spirited response of public services, residents and businesses to the Coronavirus situation. (Flisswjphoto.co.uk)

Working together: safely and securely Coronavirus is impacting on all of our lives, in dramatic and rapidly changing ways.

But be assured that, as your local Council, we are continuing to work hard to support you, your families, your communities and businesses during this difficult time.

As well as implementing Government guidance to get help to those in need as quickly as possible, fulfil our duties and inform everyone of what is expected of us all, we have developed many new ways to ensure everyone is well supported.

North Kesteven District Council is also playing a central role in shaping, promoting and delivering the county-wide response.

The Council has continued to operate fully, maintaining its critical services, stepping them up where demand requires and re-

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk

shaping them where necessary to ensure they fulfil requirements on social-distancing – but remaining fully connected and contactable throughout.

And we’ve had some really positive responses, so thank you.

As we move forward in the roll-out of the national strategy on easing parts of the lockdown, the Council’s role in that – and your understanding and participation – will be critical.

As Government looks to open up more shops, eateries and in time leisure centres, we will be helping businesses to ensure safe working practices and social distancing.

The Council’s expertise will also be called on in supporting a rollout of testing and tracing.

Further updates can be found on our website. Visit: www.nkesteven.gov.uk/coronavirus

@NorthKestevenDC

Stay at home As much as possible

Keep your distance If you go out.

2m where possible

Limit contact With other people.

Meet with only one other

Work from home If you can.

If not, stay safe

Wash your hands Regularly & every time you return home

Don’t leave home If you or anyone at home has symptoms

Stay Alert : Control the Virus : Save Lives

/NorthKestevenDC

Welcome

Welcome to NewsNK – the newspaper for all North Kesteven District Council residents.

This issue is different to the usual NewsNK in that it is primarily focused on bringing you the most up-to-date Coronavirus advice and guidance, at the time of printing (May 22, 2020).

Updated guidance can be found on our social media channels, online or in local media.

4–5

Our Communities

6–7

Our Economy

8 & 13 9, 10, 11 & 12

Leisure guide – at home Activities pull-out

14 – 15

Our Environment

16 – 17

Our Homes

18 – 19

Our Council

20

Community Champion Awards nomination form

North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7EF. Main telephone number: 01529 414155 This newspaper is edited by the Council’s Communications Team. Each copy costs 5.6p to print and 9.3p to deliver direct to your door. making your three annual copies less than 45p per household.

Email: communications@n-kesteven.gov.uk Phone: 01529 308061 NewsNK is also available online at: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/news

With North Kesteven’s unique positivity, strength and resilience, together we will get through this Cllr Richard Wright Council Leader Welcome to this special edition of NewsNK, produced in response to Coronavirus and the challenges we continue to face, together.

These pages are a handy directory of the help and support available from us, your local council, and the many partner agencies and organisations also offering assistance at this time.

Please keep it for easy reference to help yourself and others.

Of course the situation is ever-changing and the guidance issued centrally is evolving as the circumstances of the pandemic change, but we’ve tried to make this as relevant and informative as we can at this point.

As with everyone, every home, every business and every organisation, your Council is not immune to the impacts of Coronavirus.

In a matter of weeks we’ve transformed to become a socially-distanced organisation, our teams adapting quickly to keep North Kesteven is a District of caring, positive and resilient people.

I’ve said it before and I feel it all the more right now: I couldn’t be more proud to call it home.

We celebrate this special spirit annually in our Community Champion Awards, but in 2020 our residents’ response is

services running and find innovative solutions, such as remote working and virtual meetings, to continue serving you.

Colleagues have switched jobs to deliver our essential and important services; forming a first-line response to Coronavirus: > making calls to check in with vulnerable residents, linking them to support and keeping them connected; > ensuring businesses can access support to help them keep going and strengthen their position to bounce back when they can. > bolstering Wellbeing Lincs to deliver hope and essential supplies to the most vulnerable in self-isolation.

We’ve also got our eyes set firmly on the future and that all-important recovery phase for our District to ensure that together, we will pull through this.

We are at the heart of the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum – a partnership of councils, health and emergency services – ensuring the wellbeing,

safety and capacity of our communities is paramount.

At North Kesteven, we’re working through the Government’s roadmap for rebuilding the country with understanding of what each stage will mean for you, our communities and businesses. Follow updates @northkestevendc on social media and sign up for e-newsletters (see below).

Through your efforts, Lincolnshire and North Kesteven have so far escaped the worse of the pandemic. I do however offer my sincere condolences to those of you who have been touched by this and lost loved ones.

Our pledge is to do everything we can to maintain this position. Our focus is, and always will be, the health of our residents and communities.

I wish you the best of health and I ask you to continue your vital part in this pandemic; following the Government’s advice, spelt out on the front page and throughout this NewsNK.

clearly something else.

Our communities are helping each other through Coronavirus in myriad ways – looking out for neighbours; volunteering to get food, medicine and support to those who are vulnerable, alone and shielding; refocusing businesses to provide for essential need;

motivating, inspiring and staying alert and active.

These actions are a shining ray of positivity.

Nominations are open until July 31, so maybe you could use this time to bring these actions to our attention for a real community clap of appreciation.

See the back page.

With reception and contact centres currently closed, you can still access the Council online at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk; by email: customer_services@n-kesteven.gov.uk or by phone on 01522 414155.

Page 2

Sign up at

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/stayconnected

Keep your distance As more shops and businesses begin to open under phased lockdown recovery measures, you should expect things to continue to look and feel a little different.

As part of its plan for a safe and steady

recovery, the Government continues to require social distancing of 2 metres.

And it requires the District Council to play its part in helping businesses and the public to achieve this.

We are working through

For latest information please visit

what this means over the months ahead, with partners such as traders, the police and parish and town councils.

It may require measures such as pavement widening and signage, creating cycle paths, one-way flow barriers and rigorous restrictions on customer numbers in any business at once.

Please follow carefully all guidance and signage as it’s for your own and workers’ safety.

And follow our social media, website and local media for more information on this and what it means – as well as updates on other aspects of the Coronavirus response and recovery.

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Working together to support our communities Made over 6,825 follow up calls to vulnerable residents across the district.

Maintaining 31,727 collections for the 2020/21 Garden Waste service.

4,427 people

Over helped via Wellbeing Lincs.

Paid over £19.5m to support 1,743 North Kesteven businesses during COVID-19.

Maintaining our services Approx 950 tonnes of residual waste collected per week.

394 Building Control inspections have been completed remotely and in person if safe to do so.

12,000

Around letters of assistance sent to residents.

Supported our essential services and partners where needed through redeployment

45

of colleagues since March 23.

Registered 178 planning applications.

Responding to approx

1,000 customer service calls per week.

20,538 views

on the coronavirus webpage.

5,327 views on the service disruptions webpage.

32 requests from

businesses for Coronavirus guidance on how to provide takeaway services answered by our Environmental Health team.

Nine e-newsletters to share Coronavirus messages and help communities stay safe – including an

18.5k

e-newsNK with subscribers – among our business, garden waste and other e-newsletters.

For latest information please visit

Subject to the impact of the lockdown easement announced from May 13, the Government is aiming to roll-out the following phases: From June 1 (phase 2): > Phased re-opening of non-essential retail and more shops > Limited school return From July 4 (phase 3): > Start to look at reopening hospitality businesses such as pubs, food outlets, restaurants, cinema and leisure > Opening of churches and places of worship > Opening of personal care businesses, barbers, hairdressers, salons, etc To open, it is essential these can operate ‘securely’ with adequate safe distancing.

For many people, isolation because of Coronavirus could be more dangerous to them than COVID-19 itself, especially in circumstances of domestic abuse.

If you are concerned about your own welfare, or that of anyone you know who you feel may be at risk of being abused, please react as you would in normal circumstances.

Help is available through EDAN Lincs on 01522 510041 or email info@edanlincs.org.uk or the Council’s Housing Options Team on 01529 414155 or email housingoptions@ n-kesteven.gov.uk.

In an emergency call 999.

Equally any concerns you have over safeguarding of children or vulnerable adult can be raised with the District Council who will respond.

Our offices are currently closed, but ...

All tenants written to,

2,000

with in the highest vulnerability groups, and those with additional needs living alone, followed up on a one-to-one by officers.

We’re here for you www.n-kesteven.gov.uk 01529 414155

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/Coronavirus

In other news...

The Red Arrows are staying in Lincolnshire, it has been announced – relocating to RAF Waddington.

Set to move before their current home at RAF Scampton closes in 2022, they will continue to practice to the north of Lincoln.

Waddington was chosen from three locations. The MOD said it was ‘the best possible home for The Red Arrows,’ as they now move into the assessment and planning stage.

The Reds were previously based at RAF Cranwell and will be a welcome addition to the District’s aviation heritage.

Although the intended presentation of Veterans’ Badges on Armed Forces Day is on hold, would-be recipients can still apply for the recognition of their service.

Badges are available to anyone, of any age, who has served in the army, navy or air force, plus the merchant navy as a regular, reservist or on National Service.

To apply to have a badge presented, whenever we can, email armedforces @n-kesteven.gov.uk

Community Champions

2020

Times like these bring out the best in us.

Who do you think deserves recognition for what they do, quietly, unpaid and unsung in your community?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 3

Our Communities To enhance the wellbeing, safety and health of all our communities; inspiring and supporting a sustainable and flourishing future

Stay home

as much as you can

Get the help you need call 01522 782189

Stay alert

Look out for those most vulnerable

Keep it up

You’ve responded brilliantly

12,000+

residents written to, to ensure they know how to access essential support We’re doing all we can to help our District, including those who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus.

Our colleagues are on the ground, making this happen.

We’ve written to more than 12,000 residents and followed up with calls to almost 7,000 – at a rate of up to 500 a day – to be sure they know about the help already on offer through us, and the county-wide Coronavirus support they might want to access.

We have trained more than 50 of our colleagues from all over our Council to make these calls – so you can be assured whoever is on the other end of the line will be a friendly voice.

We’re also re-thinking all of our services to ensure they’re focused on best ways to respond to the new and evolving situation.

Community Champions

2020

Does someone stand out in your community for their hard work, dedication and commitment?

Have they been doing it over a long period or with great intensity?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 4

Residents’ wellbeing is our greatest concern Working in partnership with others, through the countywide Wellbeing Lincs service, we are helping look after the most vulnerable in our communities.

Operated by Lincolnshire’s district councils to support adults to live safely, confidently and independently in their own homes, Wellbeing Lincs is one of the agencies responding to calls for help to ensure people get support.

There are two groups of people – the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ who need to shield themselves from Coronavirus due to health or other reasons, and the ‘clinically vulnerable’ who may struggle to get the medicine, food and other things they need while self-isolating.

Through Wellbeing Lincs, work has been going on to link people up with the appropriate support - including help from the many

community groups in our District which amaze with their efforts.

The majority of these requests are for help with getting-in household essentials, regular access to prescriptions and similar needs.

A number of Council staff have been redeployed to support this work and many more to undertake follow-up calls to the 12,000-plus residents we’ve contacted because they are identified as being in greatest need of self-isolating.

After two months of lockdown, more than 4,427 people had been assisted through Wellbeing Lincs – with all requests from ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ individuals completed or in progress.

Wellbeing Lincs remains active in its usual supportive role. Contact them on www.wellbeingLincs.org or 01522 782140.

Coronavirus testing – all you need to know You can now apply online for a Coronavirus test if you are: > Showing signs of having COVID-19 symptoms > Aged five or over This is a change in the testing guidance announced on May 18.

Coronavirus symptoms are: > A high temperature; > Loss of the senses or taste and / or smell; > A new, persistent cough.

Testing urgency: You need to get the test done in the first five days of having symptoms.

It’s best to apply in the first three days as it may take time to arrange.

Apply at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Tests can be carried out at a location or a kit sent for self-testing at home.

The Government is also looking to roll-out a programme of track and trace subject to the outcomes of an ongoing trial, using mobile phones and downloadable apps. Follow news and guidance around this.

People who have certain medical conditions are classed as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ to COVID-19.

It is vital that they are put into contact with all the support networks available and we urge people to accept any such offer of assistance rather than suffer in silence through pride, humility or modesty.

If you need help yourself, or to request support for a vulnerable person you know, visit: www. gov.uk/coronavirus-extremelyvulnerable This includes the delivery of shopping essentials and prescription medication.

People who find themselves vulnerable – self-isolating over a long period with no other access to support, food and medication – should register for help on 01522 782189 or visit www.lincolnshire. gov.uk/coronavirus/requesthelp If you can help people who are self-isolating and feel able to volunteer to join one of the many community responses, call 01522 782189 or visit www.lincolnshire. gov.uk/coronavirus/volunteer Supermarkets and pharmacies are being asked to make extra provision for unpaid carers to access what they need for themselves or the vulnerable people they care for.

The idea is to prioritise and support unpaid carers to obtain food, exercise, medicines or other essential supplies, for themselves and for those they look after and keep safe, as required.

See page 19 for more health guidance and tips on making your own face covering

Apply for a test at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Our Communities

Community response has been astounding Our District has wowed us with its very own – but characteristic – brand of positivity during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Many people have leapt into action to help those around them – from simply looking out for immediate neighbours to volunteering as NHS volunteers, making scrubs and providing essential supplies for health workers and even mobilising or forming new local response groups.

Some of these are detailed below, but do tell us of expressions of community resilience you are involved with or have experienced.

Together with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) we’ve been working to validate these groups, helping complete all the necessary checks and identifying how best they can be supported.

Validated groups are connected with calls for help, triaged through the new Lincolnshire helpline and Wellbeing Lincs and other means, which ensures this goodwill can be directed in the right places.

If you’re a community group which has not yet registered with the LRF, please do so, using the details below, or call on 01522 782189.

Remember, we can only connect those people and groups we know about.

NOMINATIONS OPEN Maggie John was awarded for her neighbourly care and concern in 2019. Who do you want to thank this year?

Nominate them today.

Register to help or for help at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/coronavirus

At the outset of the lockdown, The Holdingham Helpers group was set up to help the elderly, the less able, the unwell, and NHS and care workers locally.

The 41 volunteers helped 70 people in the first two months, many more than once, with shopping, collecting prescriptions, advice and friendly phone calls; many referred by Wellbeing Lincs.

The group also distributed leaflets to 4,000 homes and have re-distributed food parcels, sent to people on a priority list but which were not needed.

Typically, the community response in Heckington has been full-on with a new internet radio station set up and the vicar broadcasting a church service weekly.

Forty five volunteer residents, co-ordinated by a further four, are helping isolated and vulnerable households throughout the parish to assist with shopping, prescriptions collection etc.

A community larder has been set up with significant local support, expertise and donations and local children have been baking cakes and biscuits for key workers and volunteers, while others are making masks and gowns for healthcare workers.

Since restrictions began, a group of 55 volunteers in Dunston have been helping residents with shopping and collecting medication.

Others offer support with phone calls to residents identified as self-isolating or in the ‘shielding’ category, which have become a real lifeline and fostered new friendships and connections.

With donations of readyprepared meals and bar stock from the village hall, CHIPS – Community Help in Particular Situations – have also supported residents that live alone.

Branston’s established emergency plan group of 117 volunteers sprang into action, delivering a new leaflet of helpful information to every household.

Within days their work had helped to protect 74 self-isolating vulnerable individuals and a local food bank was set up to support people in difficulty.

Donations flooded in from villagers, the village surgery, Coop, Morrisons and Branston Ltd to ensure it was well-stocked.

A timely and effective response that has been outstanding and continues to contribute to the welfare, safety and lives of villagers.

Volunteers for the Leasingham and Roxholm Community Support group, like many, have been very busy doing essential shops, collecting prescriptions, delivering leaflets and food and calling the most vulnerable in the community.

At Easter children’s cards were delivered to those self-isolating in the two villages and The Glass Room in Leasingham has raised funds for Sleaford’s New Life Community Larder by making and selling glass rainbows.

Within the first month of the ongoing situation, Sleaford New Life Community Larder provided a whopping 308 food parcels to more than 660 people.

Additionally the 39 volunteers and drivers picked up medical prescriptions and personal shopping for vulnerable individuals required to self-isolate.

It also supported 500 secondary school students and others with regular Free School Lunch packs.

E See page 9

Email Communications@n-kesteven.gov.uk to tell us about similar responses

An established befriending scheme in East Lindsey – ConnecTED Together Friendship is now operating countywide.

Offered by Community Lincs and extended under the National Emergency Trust’s response to Coronavirus, the befriending service offers regular wellbeing and friendship calls, support and signposting for advice.

Email: ted@lincsymca.co.uk or call on 01529 301965.

Community groups can access funds to help residents through the current situation.

North Kesteven District Council administers the Sleaford REP Community Power Fund which has £25,000 to distribute annually within five miles of Sleaford.

Maximum grants of £5,000 to ‘improve the lives and wellbeing of people living within the area and bring benefit to the community’.

Information on further funding streams can also be found at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/funding Parish councils may have localised funding streams and organisations such as Rotary and Lions clubs too. Also each of Lincolnshire County Council’s 70 councillors can grant up to £3,000 to eligible groups doing important work in their community.

Visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ communityfund

Community Champions

2020

Our neighbours are often more than just that, they go above and beyond to help us – and more so at times like this.

Tell us if you couldn’t do without yours.

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 5

Our Economy To enable all of our communities to flourish from high quality employment growth and the opportunities of the Green Economy

Work from home if you can

Only go to work if it’s safe to

Keep 2m away

from others outside your home

Avoid public transport if you can

2,000+

businesses engaged with to advise them of new and changing grants, loans and support Council officers have worked around the clock to contact as many businesses as possible to ensure they are aware and encouraged to apply for the unprecedented government financial package designed to protect enterprises.

Additionally, a rent reduction was agreed for tenants of the Council’s 110 workshop units and work has continued behind the scenes progressing a range of major projects and re-thinking the way visitor attractions remain vibrant in a virtual world.

We’re keen to hear from businesses pioneering new paths through the pandemic.

Tweet us @BusinessNK.

Community Champions

2020

Has a business local to you made a difference to your community – maybe they’ve supported a project or contributed to a community group?

Or maybe they’ve served the community well at this time.

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 6

Business support for firm foundations The Council’s Economic Development team, with support from across the Council, are working tirelessly to ensure businesses know about the various support mechanisms.

Handing out £19.54m in total, they If you are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been adversely affected by Coronavirus you might be able to claim a grant from the SelfEmployment Income Support Scheme.

This offers a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months, and capped at £7,500 altogether.

This is a temporary scheme, equivalent to the furlough programme.

It may be extended, so sign up for the BusinessNK newsletter and follow BusinessNK on social media for any updates.

The grant will be subject to Income Tax and self-employed National Insurance. HMRC will work out if you’re eligible and how much grant you may get.

The scheme covers people who carry out a trade that has been adversely affected by the virus and who traded in the tax year up to April 2020, who intend to trade in the current year or who traded in the year 2018-19 and submitted their tax return before April 23.

You should not claim the grant if you’re a limited company or operating a trade through a trust.

See the gov.uk website, below.

were able to reach and support 89% of identified businesses within the first eight weeks, which was one of the best rates nationally.

A few businesses could not be reached. Contact the team if you need any other support.

A Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan has been launched to help small and medium-sized businesses affected by the pandemic.

Loans of between £2,000 and £50,000 are available, with cash released within days for eligible businesses.

The Government guarantees 100% of the loan with no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months and low rates of interest agreed by lenders for the remaining period of the loan. Loan terms will be up to six years.

The scheme will be delivered through a network of accredited lenders.

The Bounce Back Loan bolsters the existing package of support available to the smallest businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic; ensuring that small firms who need vital cash injections to keep operating can get finance in a matter of days.

The loans are easy to apply for through a short, standardised online application.

N See page 9

Up to May 21 it administered: • £19.54m to 1,743 eligible businesses in total.

• £14.2m to 1,428 businesses in Small Business Grant (max £10k) • £1.74m to 174 businesses in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (max £10k) • £3.52m to 141 businesses in Retail Hospitality Grant (max £25k) The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until the end of October to protect jobs and support economic recovery.

Under the programme, furloughed workers will continue to receive 80% of their current salary, up to £2,500, until the end of July.

From August, there will be greater flexibility for furloughed workers to return to work parttime – where it is safe to do so – with employers asked to pay towards the salaries of their furloughed staff. These employer payments will substitute the Government contribution, ensuring that staff continue to receive 80% of their salary, up to £2,500 a month.

The aim was to get people back to work in a measured way.

Through the initial weeks of the programme, the job retention scheme had protected 7.5 million workers and almost 1 million businesses nationwide.

This extension and changes gives more flexibility to businesses while protecting livelihoods and future economic prospects.

Emerging detail will explore how furloughed workers are supported to do additional training or learn new skills during this period.

www.gov.uk/guidance and search for the support mechanism by name

Our Economy

Opening up as a COVID-secure firm Businesses looking to get back up and running, with workplaces operating as safely as possible, should follow a five-point plan.

Under measures to beat the virus and restart the economy, to protect jobs, restore people’s livelihoods and fund the country’s vital public services, guidance is set out at www.gov.uk/guidance This ensures workers’ health and safety is put first.

Detailed by workplace type with practical steps, it applies to businesses currently open and those shops considered to be in a position to begin a phased reopening from June 1.

> Work from home if you can > Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment with workers or trade unions > Maintain 2 metres social distancing wherever possible > Where people can’t be 2 metres apart, manage transmission risk > Carry out rigorous cleaning.

Guidance for other sectors that are not currently open – such as hairdressers – will be developed and published ahead of those establishments opening to give those businesses time to plan.

There is a notice to display to show staff, customers and others that best advice has been followed.

During the pandemic, businesses are diversifying and adapting services to suit current requirements.

R H Displays & Exhibitions in Sleaford have adapted their offer and are currently providing clients with office and retail COVID-19 protection such as desk screens, moveable full height protection screens, reception/sales desk protection screens and sanitising stations.

Tell us if your business is contributing to the COVID-19 response.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is seeking to connect sources of supply and demand to support Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 response.

The new Lincolnshire Together website aims to link health, care, education and voluntary organisations with businesses.

Businesses can post offers of support – of professional services, vehicles, PPE etc – and the coordinating local authorities and community organisations such as schools, charities and care homes can post requests for help.

Branston Ltd was approached after a food bank supplying meals to the vulnerable had run out of potatoes. It was happy to help out with an initial donation of 50kg – enough for around 400 meals. www.lincolnshiretogether.co.uk

Email Eco-Dev@n-kesteven.gov.uk to request or share any information A new discretionary fund has been set up to help small and medium sized businesses which didn’t qualify for one of the earlier business grants.

This has been made available after a national underspend in the business grants already awarded.

Businesses which could be eligible include charities, B&B’s and those with significant rent or mortgage costs.

See www.businessnk.co.uk for details and information of how to apply. And please sign up for the BusinessNK newsletter and follow BusinessNK on social media for any further updates.

Following a Coronavirusenforced delay, a four-month project to improve the A17/ A153 Rugby Club junction in Sleaford was set to start by the beginning of June.

Since postponing because of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, contractor Eurovia has identified systems of work to keep the workers at a safe working distance from each other.

This means they can safely begin the scheme while adhering to national guidance.

Ground on junction improvements was set to be broken in the last week of May.

Free support for NK businesses North Kesteven District Council offers, for free, the service of experienced business support adviser Phil Means.

Phil can assist all types of business and provide bespoke advice and support.

If you are in business and feel you could benefit from free business advice, please contact Phil Means.

Call Phil on 07920 472671; email: phil_means@n-kesteven.gov.uk

Keep up to date with the latest in business support and guidance for employers and employees: • Sign up for the BusinessNK newsletter at: www.n-kesteven. gov.uk/StayConnected • Twitter: @BusinessNK • Facebook: Search for our group Business NK • LinkedIn: Search for North Kesteven District Council • Online: www.businessnk.co.uk

Students are called on to support national food security and local food supply chains by working on farms to keep the nation fed.

A Student Land Army is being rallied for the harvest – targeted at sixth formers and students of further education colleges, universities and higher education facilities.

Participants can have a significant impact on the national effort to overcome the pandemic emergency, whilst earning an income with their peers, and supporting personal goals.

See #StudentLandArmy on Twitter and Instagram @GreaterLincsLEP You can sign up to harvest at: pickforbritain.org.uk or at www.feedthenation.co.uk

Latest on business support: www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Testing is now available and encouraged for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19.

This will more readily identify people who should be selfisolating (not able to leave home or to work) and keeping away from work; and those who could potentially be attending at work – if it is safe to do so and they cannot work from home.

Guidance is regularly updated – latest at www.gov.uk/guidance Testing is now available for anyone aged over five years old if they are symptomatic - fever, new persistent cough and change or loss of taste and/ or smell.

Up until May 18, there were restrictions on who could be tested which included anyone with symptoms who could not work from home (eg construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers).

The three main testing options are at static drive-through locations, mobile units and at home. Booking is essential at www.nhs.uk/conditions/ coronavirus-covid-19/ If your test result is negative, you could safely return to work, subject to you and everyone else in your household continuing to be symptom-free.

If positive, you’ll have to follow NHS advice around self-isolation and delay any return to work until well enough to do so.

Community Champions

2020

Keeping our communities safe is often aided by those who live in it – do you know someone who has made a difference locally to keep your community safe?

Maybe helping people to follow the guidance.

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 7

Heart of Lincs

Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum ‘Boom – 100 Years

On’ was due to launch in April, celebrating the centenary of the opening of RAF College Cranwell. As you are unable to visit the centre to enjoy the exhibition in person, we bring some of it to you here, and the team has also made exhibitions available on the Heart of Lincs website.

The ‘Boom’ exhibition features cadet life through the decades, the band of the RAF College, the architect of the building and the man behind it all.

The Driving Force Hugh Montague Trenchard was born in Taunton, in 1873, the third child of a military family.

Trenchard was not academic, only just receiving a Commission in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. In October 1900, Trenchard led an action at Krugersdorp and received wounds which caused partial paralysis. He recuperated in Switzerland and following a bobsleigh accident on the Cresta Run, the paralysis ceased. He was able to walk unaided and returned to active service in July 1901.

You can’t come to us, so we will come to you!

Cogglesford Watermill Our

millers are keen to ‘keep calm and carry on’ – alternating their time on site to ensure that they can still produce their stone-ground white and wholemeal flour. You may still hear the Mill rumbling into action on one of your daily walks!

You can buy the flour from a pop-up shop on Grantham Road in Sleaford and the Heckington Windmill Shop.

Or call Anne on 01529 308102.

Back to nature If you happen

to pass the Mill, you will notice a little nature reserve. The grass area next to the car park is thriving with cow parsley, purple archangel and good old-fashioned daisies, and the riverside is buzzing with wildlife. Our millers have spotted a kingfisher, water voles and even a grass snake!

Graffiti artists The Mill is

steeped in history, and millers of the past have left their marks all over the building – from carving

A cadet’s insight Daniel

Navigation House A unique, Grade II listed canal company office, it details the history of travel and trade by canal.

Here we share with you a collection of old picture postcards of Sleaford.

This collection stems from the first opening of Navigation House as a visitor attraction.

Sculpting history To ‘fill in’ the period of Navigations House’s history between the closure of

Mrs Smith’s Cottage

Did you know? Mrs Smith ...

• Called her cottage ‘Craven Cottage’ (after her maiden name) • Got her first TV in 1973, she loved to watch snooker, Miss World and Eurovision.

the company and it becoming a residential property, the team have been working with Harriott Brand from the NCCD who is producing a sculpture and an art book - watch this space.

Lizzie Mettam was born in the house in 1879, and lived there nearly all her life after the early death of her mother.

Never marrying, she ran the family blacksmiths business and looked after her brothers and father. The sculpture concentrates on the blacksmiths element and photos of Lizzie and her family together with tools of the trade.

Photos and anecdotes of Lizzie and Navigation House have been shared by relatives who have been found, and have since connected with each other.

1922 for £75 and her legal fees were £3 7s 6d • Had to have some improvements done in 1978 after the cottage was condemned by the Council. It had the bare minimum of a cold water tap (no sink) and an inside toilet installed.

Pearce, a volunteer at CAHM, interviewed Mike Cross for ‘Memories of a Cranwell Cadet’ – our new oral history collection about a man with an amazing life and career.

Transcripts are being loaded onto History Pin.

their names on the interior, to using the exterior walls to mark how many sacks of grain were delivered.

Keep checking our website for details! www.heartoflincs.com

Find us on social media @HeartofLincs or visit our website www.heartoflincs.com

Page 8

• Never missed a day writing in her diary, and when she forgot to take it away with her once she wrote daily entries on the back of an envelope.

• Bought the cottage in

• Was a keen gardener and claimed to have something in bloom every day of the year.

Activities Balloon-jet Use some sticky tape to attach a drinking straw to your balloon. Thread the string through the straw.

See how your jet-powered balloon flies along the string.

Looking for some ideas to keep the little kids (and the big kids) occupied?

We have got it covered!

Nature Paint Brushes

NK Open Gardens 13 & 14 June Share pics and videos of your gardens. tips and stories.

Follow @mrssmithscottage

You will need

• Twigs or sticks.

• Leaves, flowers, or other natural materials collected from a walk in the park , countryside or garden.

• Masking tape or string.

• Poster paints (you might need to add a little water to thin the paint)

Method

• Everyone will start with a twig, and some of the materials you collected on your walk.

• Hold the materials at one end of the twig, and wrap some tape or string around to secure it.

• If you are struggling to keep everything in place you might need a friend to hold things together for you.

• Now it is time to paint!

Key Questions

While painting think about these questions.

Share what you have learnt with a friend.

• What texture is the material you collected?

• What shape are the leaves?

• Why did you pick that material?

• Are there any differences between materials?

Share your creations with us by tagging @mrssmithcottage on Twitter, @mrssmithscottage on Instagram, or sharing it with the Heart of Lincs page on Facebook.

We would love to see what you have created!

Dora’s

Word Search

Quack the code! Search for Dora’s missing letters!

Dora the Duck has hidden eight letters in this edition of NewsNK, see if you can find them and write them down in the spaces below. Match the icons in the right order to reveal the word.

Discovered the word? Take a picture, and share it with us on social media - Twitter and Instagram @HeartofLincs or Facebook www.facebook.com/heartoflincs

Find the missing letters and use the icons with them to discover the winning word!

Write the letters in these boxes

Page 9

Make and fly Why does it fly? Create a paper aeroplane and see how different angles and ways of throwing it helps it to fly.

Think about: • How far it flies • How it lands • Why you think it changes depending on how it is thrown.

Grab a rectangle sheet of paper; A4, A3 even reuse this NewsNK. You could also try different size planes!

Now, measure out an area in your garden or home so you can track each landing.

Wordsearch

How many of the words can you find in this wordsearch?

All these words relate to the services we provide in the district. Have fun in trying to find them.

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Recycle puzzle

1

Enjoy!

Recycling Puzzle: 1. Cardboard, envelopes, clean tins and bottles.

2. Crisp packets, food and nappy.

3. Grass and Leaves

Answers:

Page 10

Match the right items to the correct numbered bin.

2

Black Bin

AFFORDABLE AVIATION BENEFITS BUILDING CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT ECONOMY ENVIRONMENT FARM FOOD HERITAGE HOMES HOUSING LEISURE LICENSING PERMITS PLANNING RECYCLING REGENERATION SUPPORT TENANTS THEATRES VISITORS WALKS WASTE WATERMILL WELLBEING WHISBY WINDMILL

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Green Lidded Bin

Brown Bin

Dot-to-dot

Join the numbers to discover what this is.

What do you think this does for the Council?

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Housing Puzzle: 1. 6, 12,15 & 18 2. 8, 17, 27 & 38 3. 10, 20, 30 & 40 4. 16, 21, 26 & 31 5. 50, 100, 150 & 200

Page 11

Drawing Zone

Get creative by designing your very own North Kesteven crest!

Design an NK crest

Share them with us!

Any of the activities you do on this page can be sent to us via: ► Social media: Tag us in on Facebook www.facebook.com/ northkestevendc Instagram or via Twitter @northkestevendc You can also Private message us via these channels.

Are you feeling creative?

Flick through this NewsNK to get a flavour of all the services that North Kesteven District Council provides, and design a crest that celebrates this.

► By email: communications@ n-kesteven.gov.uk ► By post: Communications Team, North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, NG34 7EF

This is the formal crest we have now.

Please include your name, age and the area you live.

75

TH

ANNIVERSARY

VE DAY

OF

Saturday 27th June 2020

NO

I

ARMED FORCES DAY

DOG POO

ON OUR STREETS

DRAWING COMPETITION On Monday, June 22 we will mark Armed Forces Week by raising the official flag.

Use this template to design a poster and display it in your window. You could also take a picture and send it in to us - details above. We look forward to seeing your designs.

We are looking for your cartoon to put on posters to help remind people to pick up their dogs poo.

Find out more at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk

GDPR: North Kesteven District Council will use the ‘No dog poo on our streets’ design as part of our campaign and in publications alongside the name of the child who designs the winning poster. Your information will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In all cases we will treat your personal data with the utmost care and take appropriate steps to protect it. We do not sell your personal information to anyone and will never share your information for marketing purposes. For further information, please see the organisation’s privacy notice and terms and conditions here: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/privacy

Page 12

191211-JA2

Leisure Info See. Do. Learn. Experience.

At Home with NCCD As the lockdown continues, the team at The National Centre for Craft and Design are working from home busily preparing for when they return to a new kind of normal.

While the NCCD is closed, they’re keeping you fuelled with creative ideas and inspiration on their social media platforms; and have started delivering online sessions. Head to Facebook and search NCCD Family & Community Facebook group for more creative ideas.

The picture above is just one of the ideas shared to date.

The group is packed full of art, design, craft and dance activities, challenges and prompts to keep you and your children creative.

Why not share some of your ideas

at home Our leisure partner BETTER is now offering ‘virtual’ exercise classes online and via an app.

Staying active and motivated when you are adjusting to a new routine is always a challenge.

But there are plenty of ways to keep your body and mind healthy even when you can’t get to the gym, pool or court.

On demand access to workouts are available for free on the Better UK app, available from the Apple or Google Play stores, or at www.better.org.uk

and creations with us too?

Sketching ideas: Pattern & texture > Take a piece of paper (any size) and divide it into six sections. > Look around your home or garden to find six different patterns or textures. > Use each section to draw or trace each pattern or texture.

You could also make a view finder to help you really concentrate on the different textures and patterns.

Don’t forget to share your drawings with the group on Facebook if you can.

Looking after your health and wellbeing is extremely important. Daily exercise can help you both mentally and physically.

Why not try this Tin Toner exercise from our Health Trainer.

Grab two tins (beans/chopped tomatoes anything) out of the kitchen cupboard. You can sit or stand for these exercises; just make sure if you are standing, you stand tall with feet apart, abdominal muscles pulled in and back straight:

Stuck at home? Make a home!

Build a bug hotel from toilet roll tubes, a secret spider palace or a camouflaged creepy crawly camp by following our guide with Hill Holt Wood Ranger Gav.

1. With cans

by your sides lift both out laterally until cans are level with your shoulders, then lower back to your hips x 10 times.

2.

1. Go collecting! 2. Get cramming.

3. Decorate the tube. 4. Find a nice shady spot in the garden. 5. Cover the tubes. 6. Let the bugs move in.

With cans by your sides raise to the front, level with your shoulders and lower x 10 times.

3. With cans

Your health matters!

Life is going to continue being a bit different, so why not think about what more you can do to help your health and wellbeing.

Here are some ideas to help: Mindful Monday – take a mindful walk, have a cup of tea, be in the moment and appreciate all that is around you. Take some time to look after your mental health and wellbeing. The Mind website offers support www.mind.org.uk.

Talk on Tuesday – you may feel isolated, so get in touch with someone: phone a friend, send an email, write a note or send a letter.

Ask others how they are doing.

Workout Wednesday – set yourself a workout challenge.

This could be anything to get you moving: a walk, bike ride, home workout, dance session, game of catch with the kids or an obstacle course in the garden.

Thankful Thursday – Our day to appreciate and thank all those

Physical Wellbeing

who are helping us through the current crisis.

Feel Good Friday – Do something for your wellbeing: read a book, sit in the garden, or perhaps an act of kindness to someone to pass on the feel good vibes.

Skill up Saturday – Learning a new skill can be great fun: learn to draw, knit, crochet, craft - see what you have around the house to get started. Perhaps learn another language. Find out how to grow your own vegetables. Ask friends and family too as you may be surprised what skills people know.

Stress-free Sunday – It’s okay to take time out, relax, sit down, watch a movie, do nothing – use the time that we have to recharge.

All of these can be in short bursts of 10 minutes if you are still working, caring for others, home schooling children – fit in what you can when you can!

resting on your shoulders raise up over your head x 10 times overhead. (note if you suffer with high blood pressure, alternate one arm at a time.)

4. With

cans resting on your hips and elbows behind you, straighten your arm out behind, then bring back to hips (keep the top of arm from shoulder to elbow still and only move out the bottom of the arm) x 10 times.

5.

Holding cans, punch alternately across the body, alternate right then left x 20 times.

You will find more exercise tips online at www.n-kesteven.gov. uk/HealthTrainer

Page 13

Our Environment To meet the challenges of climate change; delivering ambitions and creating opportunity across all our priorities

Enjoy outdoor space but do it safely

Walk or cycle if you can avoid public transport if possible

Maintain a 2m distance when out of the house

Be responsible

for your own and others’ safety

73,471

bins emptied every week as we keep refuse and recycling collections on the road Our waste and environment team has worked really hard to retain business as usual.

Working in line with Government guidance to prioritise services, every effort has been made to ensure residual, recycling and garden waste collections were fulfilled.

Whilst the focus of the weekly key workers’ applause has rightly been on the NHS, the thanks expressed to our crews is truly humbling. On the ground they have been overwhelmed with the appreciation of what they do day in, day out in all weathers.

And so ‘thank you’ to you, our residents for your kindness and co-operation.

Elsewhere across environmental services, officers have been busy responding to increased noise, smoke and flytipping complaints and helping to maintain high food hygiene and health standards.

Community Champions

2020

Cleaning up a village, creating local green spaces for all to enjoy or educating others – does this sound like someone you know?

Have they kept going protecting themselves and the environment?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 14

You now need to book a slot at the tip Thinking of taking a trip to the tip? Read this before you load up.

The county council has opened its Household Waste Recycling Centres again – but only for limited things at this stage.

And you must book a slot, using the details below.

In order to comply with social distancing guidelines attendance must be controlled and from June 1 only garden waste, wood, scrap

To book a slot go to

metal, cardboard, paper, glass, electrical items and bagged general black-bin waste will be accepted. This will be regularly reviewed to assess when other waste types will be accepted.

There are restrictions in place on vehicle size and frequency of visit, and ID and proof of address will be needed. You won’t be admitted without these and a booking.

If you choose to burn waste at home, such as garden waste, please be mindful that this can cause a nuisance to others and harm air quality for your neighbours.

Do let your neighbours know in advance, to be neighbourly and avoid any mistaken calls to any already-stretched emergency services at this time.

Consider, could you compost green waste; book a slot at the tip; or sign up for our garden waste service which at £35 is great value for a year of kerbside collections.

Detail on at www.n-kesteven. gov.uk/gardenwaste

www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/clickandtip or call 01522 782070

We are possibly breathing the cleanest air in our lifetimes and now’s as good a time as any to consider how we can work and function in a different way to maintain high levels of air quality.

National Clean Air Day has been moved from June 20 to October 8, when we were set to be challenged on whether we could

work from home more often to ease traffic pollution, use different paints and review what fuel we burn and how.

The Council has bought new air pollution monitors that give realtime readings from a hand-held device, which it will use in tandem with ongoing static monitoring of nitrogen dioxide levels.

Conscious of climate change Latest data shows that most people are conscious of the impacts of climate change on the UK and their personal lives.

The Public Attitude Tracker data for March shows: > 68% thought that climate change is already having an impact in the UK; > 56% thought that climate change is currently affecting people in their local area; > 79% thought it was affecting people in the UK; and > 86% thought it was affecting people in other countries.

The largest expected impact over 15 to 20 years is rising seas or more flooding (61%), followed by more extreme events such as storms (53%) and rising temperatures or hotter summers (52%).

More people thought that the Government should have greatest responsibility for tackling the effects of climate change in the UK (47%), compared with the public (25%) and businesses (11%).

Having declared a climate emergency the Council is scoping an action plan which should be considered by councillors in June.

More detail on the Public Attitude Tracker at

After a pause, the Council’s bulky waste collection service is back in action.

In line with our own business continuity plans and Government guidance to prioritise certain services, the collection of domestic items such as fridges, beds, mattresses etc was suspended.

It has now been re-introduced – albeit with a limited list of items that can be collected due to some disposal routes being closed.

Please check at www.nkesteven.gov.uk or call 01529 414155 for what can be collected through this paid-for service.

Limited grass cutting is back too.

Along with street cleaning and litter picking this was suspended in March in order to prioritise more essential operations.

While we’ve started cutting grass we have responsibility for, again, it will take time to get it looking its best.

As the situation evolves we hope to begin other services too.

www.gov.uk/government/statistics

Our Environment

Thanks for your thanks to our crews All our colleagues are working hard to maintain the essential services our residents need and expect.

Those on the front-line have been doing all they can to maintain some normality thanks to these important services.

Our refuse crews have been humbled by the outpouring of thanks they’ve received in the

E See page 9

Coronavirus consideration

form of waves, notes of thanks, drawings, displays with bunting, sweets, treats and more small acts of kindness on their rounds.

The hundreds of cards, notes and drawings have been displayed at the Depot, decorated the lorry cabs and kept as personal mementos.

If you’ve taken time to show appreciation to our colleagues –

See page 9

Your guide to good recycling Keep it clean, dry, empty and loose please

PAPER & CARD

goes in your greenlidd ed

No grease, glitter or grime please

PLASTICS

go in your green-l idd ed b

in

No black or brown bottles, tubs & trays accepted. Please remove all lids & plastic film and rinse

GLASS

goes in your green-lid de d

bi

n

Community Champions

Please rinse out & remove all lids

METAL

goes in your green-lid de d

n

bi

We don’t want any plastic bags, crisp packets and black or brown food containers thanks – put these in your black bin.

And please don’t bag your recycling – keep it loose.

Sign up for more waste information

Nominate them at: Lincolnshire

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/StayConnected

✁

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/recycle

2020

Our health and wellbeing is extremely important, and often supported by others – is this the case for someone you know?

Who’s helped you to get through this situation in mind, body or soul?

Empty and clean please

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/AZrecycling

Looking for a positive lockdown legacy for the environment ?

– see page 18

K

n bi

Please help our refuse crews by continuing to dispose of waste correctly in the correct bins, and avoiding items that should not go in any bin such as hot ashes, batteries and gas cannisters.

If your household is selfisolating due to Coronavirus, please also help our teams stay safe by ensuring used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths are: > disposed of securely within bags. > placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. > put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your black bin.

It is extremely important that tissues are NOT put in recycling bins (ever).

If you’re ever unsure what goes into which bin you can check at

thank you, it is much appreciated!

If you’re grateful for the way any colleague has made a real difference we’d love to hear about it. Drop us a message on social media @northkestevendc or give us a call or email and we’ll ensure the message gets through to them and our management teams.

You may have noticed how we operate with three crew in a refuse truck cab.

Operating within the 2m social distancing guidelines has been a massive challenge but the Council’s priority has been its workforce, as without a workforce we have no service.

In collaboration with others across the county, we digested, reviewed and applied national guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, industry leaders, Local Government and Unions and put in place control measures to ensure that we could continue with a crew of three in a vehicle.

This has had its own draw backs, as when anyone (or anyone in an individual’s household) displayed COVID-19 symptoms, the whole crew had to go into self-isolation. Thanks to the ability to test our essential, key workers, we were able to speed up the process of getting staff back to work and keeping your collections on the road.

Staff are the most valuable asset any organisation can have and this Council is immensely proud as to the commitment, dedication and self-sacrifice colleagues have gone to, ensuring the refuse collection vehicles keep collecting.

Thanks again for your support.

www.nkawards.org Page 15

Our Homes To deliver sustainable housing growth and pursue energy efficient development to meet the current and emerging needs of all our communities

Stay home

as much as possible

Work from home if you can

Wash hands often

and every time you return home

Be creative

in how you live and work to ease any anguish

2,000

NK tenants called or visited to check on their welfare Housing workers – both within tenancy services and across the wider team, including homelessness prevention and housing options – have been very busy ensuring everyone’s welfare.

Via direct calls and visits, letters and a dedicated Facebook page contact has been kept up, while many other officers have been supporting the broader county response.

Whilst construction of around 60 new council homes has been on hold, behind the scenes the Council’s new-build team has been cracking on with its plans in readiness for a bounce-back including an approval for 33 units at Kyme Road Heckington.

Building and routine repairs will re-commence as soon as possible.

Community Champions

2020

There are hundreds of sporting volunteers in our district – has someone made a difference in your physical activity for the better?

Or right now, have they helped you to maintain your fitness in lockdown?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 16

Ensuring homes are safe places to be Housing officers are working hard to ensure our tenants have all the support they need, in a place they can really call home.

All tenants living in the Council’s 3,850 properties have been written to with information and support available.

Follow-up calls and/or visits have been made to 2,000, to make sure they are coping and not struggling on in silence.

Where required, officers are making contact face to face, adhering to strict guidelines. If you’re a Council housing tenant

with us and are finding your situation difficult and/or have concerns about struggling to pay your rent please don’t risk falling behind – speak to us at the earliest opportunity.

Call your Neighbourhood Officer on 01529 414155 to arrange a callback to discuss options available, advice and support.

We are also creating a hardship scheme to help those eligible housing tenants in arrears as a result of Coronavirus, and will share more detail on this with tenants when finalised.

Together with our contractors we are ensuring emergency repairs requested by tenants, or which present a risk to health, are prioritised.

Please ensure you report all emergency work.

In the event that an emergency repair is needed, or there are essential works to a Council property that must be carried out, the contractor will ensure this is done with your health and welfare in mind.

Gas safety checks must be carried out – appointments will be made with the health of the household paramount.

We’re also creating a new e-newsletter, called @home, to share the latest information with tenants. If you receive an email about this, please do sign up.

NK tenants should report repair needs at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk There has been an increase in reports of doorstep traders offering things like garden work or home maintenance such as repairs to roofs.

If someone knocks on your door and you are not sure who it is, do not open the door.

Doorstep sellers and traders rely on you to engage with them. If you don’t open the door in the first place, then you can’t be persuaded or pressurised into paying for work you don’t want or need.

Any suspicious callers or traders should be reported to Lincolnshire Police on 101.

Be alert: stay safe: stay secure.

S See page 9

Whilst finances are tight, it’s good to find out how your energy provider can help you to keep your bills down.

Energy companies are offering unprecedented help including topping up prepayment meters.

This situation could easily exacerbate or push people into fuel poverty and as we’re all at home more, bills are higher than usual, so it makes sense for us all to check out the available advice.

The Government has agreed measures with energy suppliers to help with bills and prepayment.

If you’re struggling with your energy bills or supply, look on your energy supplier’s website first and call if you need to, to see what they can offer.

Advice for all to keep bills to a minimum is on the NKDC website; look for ‘keeping warm and saving energy’ under the resident section.

We know Coronavirus is making it even harder for those without settled housing or who find themselves at increased risk of, or are already homeless.

If you or someone you know require emergency assistance please call our Housing Options team on 01529 414155 Monday to Friday; email: housingoptions@nkesteven.gov.uk or call 01529 308308 out of hours.

Officers are working hard to help make life better for those in need, finding emergency accommodation and going the extra mile wherever possible.

And if you or anyone you know is suffering domestic violence or abuse, it is important to seek all the support that’s needed.

The stay at home guidance does not apply in circumstances where you need to get out of the house for your safety.

Are you a tenant? Did you know there’s a dedicated Facebook page for you?

Money matters: help is at hand Residents who may be financially stretched as a result of Coronavirus are assured that there is help available.

All people of working age who are in receipt of Council Tax Support and have an outstanding amount of Council Tax to pay will see their balance reduced, by up to £150. If you qualify for this your Council Tax account will be updated and a revised bill issued.

As your Council we still require funds in order to provide the essential services our residents need, so unfortunately we cannot simply waive the Council Tax. But further help is available: >You can make a claim for Council Tax Support – a means tested reduction based on the income you receive. Details at: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ counciltax >You can delay some or all of

T See page 9

your Council Tax payments. For example, if you normally pay over ten months you could move your two free months to the start, rather than the end, of the year. Email counciltax@lincoln. gov.uk or call on 01529 414155 to go through your options. > If you are in receipt of Housing Benefits and need help and advice, you can contact the Benefits department. Email: nkbenefits@lincoln.gov.uk >Deductions for the recovery of Universal Credit and legacy benefit overpayments, Social Fund loans and Tax Credit debts are paused. >It’s a good idea to ensure you’re not paying too much Council Tax, as discounts are available depending on eligibility - for example for single occupancy, short term vacancy for new owners of empty properties or while energy efficiency work is underway. Additionally extra charges apply where homes have been empty for two years or more. See www.n-kesteven. gov.uk/EmptyHomes

Coronavirus is one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced together in North Kesteven.

We want you to know that we’re here and ready to help.

We’re operating and answering your queries. You can email via our website or call 01529 414155 if it’s essential you speak to someone in person.

More than ever, it’s important to let us know about a change in your circumstances as you may be entitled to help and support.

You can do this via the electronic forms on our website at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk If you have a general Council Tax enquiry, email counciltax@lincoln.gov.uk including your name, address and account number in the message.

For support or advice relating to income and what benefits are available to you and your families please contact our Welfare Reform Support Team.

A dedicated team can answer your questions, liaise with partners and signpost to further potential opportunities.

They can provide calculations and discuss processes.

You can contact them via email welfarereform@lincoln.gov.uk or via telephone 01522 873592.

Let people know who your emergency pet carer is.

In case you need to go to hospital, use the RSPCA’s emergency pet carer form below and display it at your home so people know who to contact to maintain care for your pet.

Our Homes

Working from home, looking after children, dealing with social-isolation... it all takes its toll on our mental health, and even more so for young minds.

Children and young people have different ways of dealing with an unusual situation where they are kept away from friends and not allowed to play as usual.

The current situation can be daunting for both the carer and the child, but there is always help and advice available via the NHS’s Every Mind Matters guidance at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/everymind-matters How a child reacts to Coronavirus is wide-ranging; worrying about their health; behaving differently, getting more angry, distant or acting up.

Use reliable advice at www. gov.uk/coronavirus and explain things well.

Here are 10 top tips to help parents and carers – with more detail online: 1. Listen to what your child says and how they’re feeling 2. Be clear about what’s happening 3. Limit news and conversation about Coronavirus 4. Keep close and regular contact 5. Create new routines 6. Get active indoors 7. Eat healthily and avoid too many treats 8. Ensure everyone gets good sleep 9. Look after your own mental health and get support 10. Play games and have some fun

Community Champions

2020

We’ve seen young people show amazing bravery, begin community projects and inspire others!

Do you know a young person who’s making a massive difference right now?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org

Check out our website for more housing information

www.n-kesteven.gov.uk

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Our Council To aspire to be a high performing, valuefor-money Council that embraces the challenges and opportunities of the future

Stay alert

to changes in guidance

Stay alert

for good physical and mental health

Continue to adapt in your daily lives

Control the Virus

Don’t risk undoing the good work

The Lockdown Guide to a cleaner, healthier, zero-carbon NK forever Many of the changes made in recent weeks are better for the environment – and for us. So why stop when the lockdown is over?

Follow our Climate Action Plan: > Move – Driving less and moving more contributes to clean air and improves health and wellbeing. >Eat – Discovering the quality and availability of local fruit and veg and the ease of a lessmeat-based diet, when getting to the shops for fresh meat is hard, tackles climate change and keeps you healthy. Less packaging means less waste too. >Grow – Mowing less, planting flowers, flowering grasses and trees absorbs emissions, tackles heatwaves and supports wildlife. >Switch – Having everyone at home causes more energy consumption. Switch off and look to switch energy provider.

Green tariffs are often the cheapest. Good to insulate too.

Community Champions

2020

Whether through music, art, theatre or dance – do you know of a group or individual that has inspired others?

Even in these times, who’s maintaining a vibrant arts and cultural scene?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org Page 18

Geared up for an evolving response The ongoing and evolving Coronavirus pandemic requires an ongoing and evolving response, which the Council is well-placed to provide.

Every part of the Council’s services and functions have been impacted, with some operations halted such as leisure and visitor attractions, and others ramped up such as wellbeing concerns and business engagements.

Across all areas, 390 colleagues are continuing to work hard – most visibly in refuse and recycling collection – and re-shape and rethink the way they carry out their work, in the main from home. Even customer service calls are being handled remotely with the same professionalism as ever.

Throughout everything it does, the Council is focused on ensuring people Stay Alert, Control the Virus and Save Lives.

One of the most visible changes to life at the Council is the abandonment of physical meetings to ensure councillors can maintain social distancing.

After a few weeks, a remote meeting took place via Microsoft Teams where a politically balanced group of 14 Members conducted Council business instead of the usual 43. This was wholly in line with fresh legislation.

After this a Planning Committee was held in a way that enabled full public scrutiny and timely decision on planning applications.

Further meetings will follow to ensure decision-making continues in a way that makes a positive impact on lives, but the Annual Council Meeting is on hold until it is safe to return to physical meetings, which means the current Chairman and ViceChairman continue in post.

Unfortunately there are scammers looking to take advantage of Coronavirus to target people and businesses.

Be sure to wash your hands of Coronavirus scams by taking a look at friendsagainstscams.org.uk and making others who may be vulnerable aware.

If you think you have been caught by a phone scam, hang up and call your bank, from a different phone.

• For advice on scams call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 11 33.

• To report a scam, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Are you discovering digital connectivity for the first time and struggling to make it work for you?

While our regular digital hubs at Heckington, Osbournby, and Ruskington can’t operate and the new hubs in Sleaford and Waddington are on hold, they’ll re-open as soon as it’s safe to.

To understand more about the hubs and find out how our digital support co-ordinator Rachael can help you to make sense of devices, online shopping and connecting via Zoom or similar, email: Rachael_Gordon@n-kesteven. gov.uk or call 01529 308110.

Like many others, the important Building Control function continues, but in a virtual world.

Developers, contractors and members of the public can still access the team as staff work from home. The unit remains fully functional and able to carry out the full aspects of the job from plan checking, site inspections through to responding to dangerous structure reports 24/7.

All requests for visits have been met, under safe distancing measures, and some inspections have been carried out via WhatsApp video. The team can be contacted on 01529 308158.

Planning officers are operating in a similar way and after a break in putting-up site notices for new applications, they’re going back up now and neighbour letters being sent. Visit www.nkesteven.gov.uk/planningonline

E See page 9 As we all spend more time at home than usual, please consider how behaviour and activities you consider acceptable might slowly become a nuisance.

Be a good neighbour by: > Being friendly; even at 2 metres apart, a hello in passing goes a long way. > Showing tolerance; no neighbour can always be perfect and we all have different lifestyles. > Being respectful; reduce noise levels, clear rubbish and maintain your garden areas.

You can read more on being a good neighbour at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/noise

Sign up to an e-newsletter to keep up to date with Council news

Here to help with health During lockdown, NKDC’s resident Health Trainer Debbie Chessum is still available for support with the following: Weight loss / Weight Gain Are you struggling to keep to a healthy weight? As we live, shop and eat differently, perhaps unable to access the food we usually get, we may be tempted to snack more on unhealthy foods.

Debbie can support you with weekly food diaries, weekly weigh in’s (via email or phone), tips, advice, recipes, snack ideas and help setting realistic targets for weight loss/gain.

Increasing Physical Activity For some people activity levels have decreased. Debbie can offer suggestions for home exercise for all abilities, from seated exercises to high intensity. There are apps that can help increase activity such as NHS Choices, Active 10 and Couch to 5K and other ways to increase activity such as gardening, cleaning, painting.

Talk to Debbie for more ideas.

Stopping Smoking Do you find you are smoking more during lockdown? Are

you considering stopping smoking to improve health, wellbeing and not to mention finances? For information on patches, gums, inhalators, medication or cravings.

Debbie can advise you on the support options and refer you to agencies to get you started.

Reducing Alcohol For some people the current situation has led to increased drinking, maybe in excess of the 14-unit advised weekly maximum.

Contact Debbie if this is something you would like support to change. There are many different ways to start reducing intake and some excellent support services.

Mental Health There are so many challenges on us all right now: worries, pressures, anxieties, changes in our routine and home lives. If you find you’re struggling with your mental health, please get in touch, as there may be services that can support you at this time.

Call Debbie on 07733368676 or email Deborah_Chessum@n-kesteven.gov.uk

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Community Champions

2020

Groups and organisations that have been running for a long time, rely on long-standing loyalty.

Who do you know that’s shown such dedication?

Nominate them at:

www.nkawards.org

A new NHS Coronavirus Status Checker has been launched to help aid the response to the pandemic.

People with potential COVID symptoms are being asked to complete this, so that information collected can form part of a core national dataset, optimising modelling speed and accuracy.

While this is the official checker service, ideal for streamlining this process others, such as JoinZoe or Let’s beat COVID, can be used where appropriate.

The status checker can be searched for online.

Health agencies are urging people to ensure they continue to attend all regular vaccination appointments– and to still seek medical care for all other health needs.

By keeping up with jabs, you will protect your own and your family’s health, prevent outbreaks of serious diseases and reduce pressure on the health service.

Equally it’s important to remember that the NHS is ‘open for business’ with every care taken to ensure everyone’s welfare and wellbeing.

If you need help with dental problems at this time, you can still call your dentist as normal 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

They will advise you on alternative arrangements in place and refer for urgent treatment if needed.

Out of hours, contact NHS111.

Ways to craft your own face covering Recommended for use in enclosed places where it is difficult to maintain a 2m distance, a cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.

It can be as simple as a scarf or bandanna that ties behind the head.

It is important to continue all other hygiene measures: handwashing, regular cleaning and disinfecting, not touching the face, distancing as best as you can etc.

The Government has posted two easy-make ways to craft your own face covering online – see link below.

Face covering guidance

You can use an old T-shirt (ideally small or x-small), taking a 20cm strip from the bottom and making a few snips, without the need for sewing.

Alternatively for a sewncloth, more fitted version, you need two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric, two 20cm pieces of elastic, string or cloth strips, and needle and thread.

Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of two, people with respiratory conditions or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly such as primary age children unassisted, or those with breathing difficulties.

www.gov.uk/government/publications

Page 19

Do you know someone who has helped your community?

Either in response to coronavirus or more broadly

Nominate them today!

Award Nomination Form

Please tick the most suitable Award Category

Community Spirit

Contribution to Sport

Community Business

Contribution to Health & Wellbeing

Contribution to a Better Environment

Longstanding contribution to an organisation or group

Contribution to Community Safety

Young Achiever

Contribution to Arts & Culture

Good Neighbour Award

Name of nominee: Address of nominee: (their address) Contact number: (if known) Email address: Referee: (you) Address of referee: (your address) Contact number: Email address: Reason for nomination: (attach follow-on sheet if necessary)

✁

Nominations have been extended to Friday, 31st July 2020 at noon. Return completed forms to: NK Community Champions, Communications Team, NKDC, PO Box 3, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, NG34 7EF or email: champions@n-kesteven.gov.uk Alternatively you can submit your nomination electronically at: www.nkawards.org