< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYOur main ring attraction is The Black Eagles, an acrobatic troupe originally from Tanzania. We shall have a full programme of ring activities throughout the day. THIS YEAR OUR CHOSEN THEME FOR THE SHOW IS 'DAIRY PRODUCTS'The show is held on Sunday May 19th. 9.30am - 5.00pm The show ground is located along Green Lane opposite Canterbury Close in Woodhall SpaPhone: 07785 526665 Email: info@woodhallspashow.co.uk www.woodhallspashow.co.ukCharles H Hill Ltd. Moor Lane, Horsington, Woodhall Spa, LN10 5HH. Tel: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk Looking for a great gift idea? eeYeNewT earJANUA£2.95 ARY2019 NeN oooeY uo 2019t d r happyreaders anew yearall ourppyewwishingrshapourreadingall fitnessNew ye2 n businesFamily OLNSHIRETODAY.NETTOLNSHIRETODAYNEToungearsy WWW.LINCWWWLINCe30+ y BLMwww.blmgroup.co.uk1st 3 issues only £1Lincolnshire Today’s gift subscription for only £27.55 with free delivery Call 01472 310301 or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/34157-61.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:25 Page 4LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 61WOODHALL SPA PETER SCOTT 1 The Broadway WOODHALL SPA 01526 353935 Open 7 daysand see it for yourself first-hand. If one somehow manages to tire from all the amenities and attractions on offer in Woodhall Spa, there’s always the highly anticipated annual events to get stuck into. Taking place this year on Sunday 19th May, the Woodhall Spa Country Show aims to provide “an affordable, entertaining and educational day out for the whole family”. It’s run by a tireless team of volunteers with all proceeds fed back into the village to support the work of other community organisations. It’s a great example of a whole community working together for its own benefit and a model for English village life. Then there’s the 40s Festival. Forties weekends have become fashionable in recent years with towns and villages right across the country getting in on the action. But for our money Woodhall Spa is still one of the best. As with the Country Show, the 40s Festival is run by a team of volunteer residents with profits distributed to good causes throughout the village. There are events happening right across the village, but they’re concentrated at the picturesque Jubilee Park. This year they’ll be living history groups, vintage vehicles, charity stands and festival market, competitions, concerts, dances and entertainments. With the Festival taking place on the 13 and 14 July, there’s plenty of time to get your vintage costume sorted. It’s no coincidence that Woodhall Spa has such a strong relationship to this period with the village playing an important role during World War II. Built in 1941, RAF Woodhall Spa was an important base just miles outside of the village. Closer to home, large sections of the village were used by the military during WWII, most famously The Petwood Hotel served as an RAF officer’s mess for the 617 Squadron – better known as the Dambusters. The village enjoys a proud link with this heroic squadron with the Dambusters Memorial in Royal Square erected back in 1987. There’s no single thing that makes Woodhall Spa such a © Richard Picksleyspecial village, but a combination of all the above and more. Unlike other places, it’s managed to maintain a hold on its independence and elevate its unique features into nationally beloved institutions. Weather you’re visiting for the history, for golf or to see a film in the woods, there’s more on offer in Woodhall Spa than you could ever hope to squeeze into a single weekend. Not bad from a village that started life as a failed coal mine. 57-61.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:26 Page 5Proudly serving the families of Gainsborough and the surrounding areas for over 50 yearsFor a prompt, sympathetic service from a recognised family business41 Heaton Street, Gainsborough, DN21 2EA01427 810619 www.cliffbradley.co.ukȼ.%2 0!ˏ$ ,!(ˏ+"ˏ!/0ȼ 5ˏ * ˏ%#$0ˏ!.2% !ȼ.!ȥ, % ˏ"1*!. (ˏ,( */ˏˏ62 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYCARINGLeaving loneliness behind It is a sad and unfortunate fact that loneliness is rife within the elderly community of the UK. According to Age UK, 3.6 million older people live alone in the UK, 2 million of which are over 75 and 1.9 million of which feel regularly ignored or invisible. This feeling is only emphasised at this time of year as we approach the festive season. As friends and spouses of older individuals pass on, it can be difficult to remain integrated and social in society. Loneliness is not only a negative emotional experience, research has found that it is harmful to health – it is as much of a risk factor of early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and has as bad as an effect on us as obesity. It is also associated with hypertension and sleep problems. In addition, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has warned that loneliness has a strong effect on increasing risk of malnutrition, as loneliness can cause people to lose motivation to care for themselves. However, with the Government’s recent £20 million investment in tackling loneliness and the increasing number of options available to help battle the epidemic in our region, beating loneliness is becoming easier. Helping the older person in your life find and use the services and tailored activities available is an important starting point to reduce or prevent their loneliness. There are numerous befriending services now established across the county which provide a great source of company. Befrienders are usually volunteers who will visit for a chat, accompany the person to an activity, and/or ring them regularly to provide some companionship. Befrienders are particularly helpful for those who live alone and may only see and talk to people when they are out shopping. They provide a new friendly face to spend time with and to look forward to seeing. Useful for those more bound to the house, there are social groups run by different charities where a group of older people are brought together on the phone each week to chat. Sticking with the phone, the RNIB runs a Telephone Book Club, which very usefully offers a varied list of books to choose from, available in all different formats such as braille, MP3 or in large print. While these are great options, getting out of the house to socialise face-to-face is recognised as the best way to combat loneliness. So help the elder in your life find a new activity to enjoy or one that relates to their skills and interests. If they have always had a passion for learning, why not suggest they get involved with The University of the Third Age (U3A), which has sites across the county where one can learn and meet new people. Through volunteer speakers, interest groups, outings and workshops, people are taught about a range of subjects from art to zoology. There are also clubs in our region for those enjoy hands on work, for example Louth’s Men’s Shed. While not strictly for the elderly, the charity group helps people make friends while learning new skills at a workshop for woodworking and other interests. So far the group has made everything from bird feeders to furniture used in the community. For those who are still able to get up and be active, a wonderful number of walking football clubs, ideal for anyone over 55, have sprung up across Lincolnshire, and continuing down this vein of sport, the Sporting Memories Foundation began a new support group in Grimsby this year where older people can share their memories of watching and playing sport, and take part in gentle exercise by playing games such as boccia and indoor curling. There are also a number of 62-63.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:31 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 6315 Bigby Street, Brigg, North Lincs DN20 8EJ Tel: 01652 650 520 Comforts Avenue, Scunthorpe, North Lincs DN15 6PN Tel: 01724 280 082J. Naylor Funeral Directors Independent Funeral Directors www.jnaylor-funerals.co.uk We have experienced staff to personally help you with your individual needs. Planning for the future? We can help you arrange a funeral now or help if you are planning for the future.Member of National Association of Funeral Directorswalking groups in Lincolnshire for those who are good on their feet. Activities an older person could get involved in for general relaxed socialisation include Age UK’s coffee mornings or Contact the Elderly’s regular afternoon tea parties for over 75s. It is worth noting though that Contact the Elderly’s groups tend to meet in a volunteer’s home and thus do not have a fixed location, so one must keep transport in mind if the elderly person in your life does not drive or if the transport links are not great where they live. Other programmes in the county offering wider support for potentially lonely older individuals include North Lincolnshire’s community wellbeing hubs, which offer vital support to vulnerable adults, offer an over 75 wellbeing check, and put on activities in relation to crafts, healthy eating, chair-based exercise, archery, tabletop games, and current affairs discussions. Another project in Lincolnshire to combat loneliness, is Talk, Eat and Drink (T.E.D) in East Lindsey – a project to help older people get out and more involved in social activities. T.E.D has been given over £2.5 million to make sure that by 2021, less older people report feeling lonely, more are connected with volunteering, leisure, health and social improving activities, and older people have more opportunities to have a say on the design of services available to them. An example of T.E.D’s activities includes its community lunch clubs across the region, which allow older individuals in East Lindsey to make friends over a hot meal. Also worth considering, to reduce the chance of the elderly in your life feeling lonely, is their living situation – do they live somewhere where it is easy to socialise? Do they live alone, with the family, or in a care home? Do they have a live in or visiting carer? If they are living, say, alone somewhere without many people to socialise with or without transport links that allow for travelling to social spaces, it could be time for them to consider moving - perhaps in with the family or to a care home where people are always available to socialise with. As one can see there are several activities, groups and services available in the Lincolnshire that can make a big difference in the experience of later life, making it a happy and social one which are especially useful when you yourself cannot visit every day. If you have the time, why not consider volunteering in some of these yourself, perhaps become a befriender, or invite an elder friend over – a small act can make a great difference. © Shutterstock / rawpixel.com62-63.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:31 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYCARINGTells us about Tallington Lodge care home Tallington Lodge Care Home has been an established part of the community in Tallington near Stamford for many years. Country Court Care acquired the home in 2006, and in 2016 undertook a two-year project to extend and refurbish the home. The project has seen the partial demolition of the old building to make way for a new sympathetically designed two storey extension in keeping with the original Regency period rectory. Built from traditional stone, the home incorporates state of the art design and functionality enabling staff to deliver the highest standards of personalised care in a beautiful setting. What’s new at Tallington Lodge? The new areas of Tallington Lodge feature a themed pub, courtyard café and new lounge and dining areas. The care home now has 30 new bedrooms as well as new car parking. The home’s interior décor draws on the local area for inspiration; The Welland Suite on the ground floor, named after the local River Welland, features tastefully designed sitting and dining areas for residents to enjoy. The superior ground floor en-suite bedrooms include patio style doors opening directly out onto their own seating area enabling residents to enjoy the garden. Residents can make use of the ‘boat house’, a beautiful outdoor sitting area decorated with a nautical theme. When will the new bedrooms be available? The additional 30 bedrooms are available now, offering both residential and dementia care. People are encouraged to come along to our open day on Sunday 10th March or call in any time for a personal tour of the home. What makes Tallington Lodge different? Founded in 1983, the Country Court Care Group is a family-owned and run business, with the company philosophy “Our family caring for yours” at the heart of everything they do. The staff team are Q&A Country Court Care We recently had the chance to chat with Country Court Care about their stunning Tallington Lodge Care Home. 64-65.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:32 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 65CARINGlike an extended family for residents, offering companionship and support as well as excellent personal care. The care home has great relationships with various local groups, schools and churches; the new facilities at the home will provide much more space and a fantastic venue to invite more community groups to join residents for events. What is life like for residents at Tallington Lodge Care home? When a resident comes into our home staff take time to get to know them and their family. Gaining an understanding of their history, likes and dislikes and personal preferences enables the provision of truly individual care in a way that is meaningful for each resident. There is a lively program of activities which residents can join in with if they wish. From gardening, crafts and light exercise to day trips out, there is always something for everyone to enjoy. There are companywide activities to get involved with too, from the annual gardening competition ‘Country Court Care in Bloom’ to the ‘Make a wish’ initiative. Residents wishes have included afternoon tea with their family, off-road driving and even scoring a goal in front of 20,000 people at Sheffield United - anything is possible! For more information, visit www.countrycourtcare.co, email info@countrycourtcare.com, or call 01733 571 951. The Open Day will be held on 10th March 2019 from 10.00am, which will include an opportunity to take a tour of the home, meet the care team, enjoy some of our fantastic catering and see some of the activities available for residents to enjoy. 64-65.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:32 Page 266 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYEDUCATION When it comes to educating our children and their ability to get a good job, many adults struggle over the concept of apprenticeships, but with skills shortages across the UK, apprentices may well have a golden opportunity. The East Midlands, much like the rest of the UK is facing a major skills crisis. Businesses are struggling to find candidates qualified enough to fill the positions available, and there has been much criticism over a lack of support from the government. Worryingly, according to the 2017 CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey, three in four businesses are anticipating an increase in high skilled roles, and 61% fear there will not be candidates with the correct skills to fill the roles. Next to plenty of coverage on the manufacturing and engineering industries in our region, one must not forget the major effect the skills gap is having on the service sector, which includes important industries like finance and marketing, and one must also not overlook the importance of soft skills. Though the technical skills in manufacturing and engineering are a huge concern for the nation’s future, the service sector takes up the majority of the UK’s economy, accounting for 74% of businesses, 79% of employment, 71% of turnover and 71% of the East Midlands economy. This is a matter of education even for students in Lincolnshire, and while it is something of a crisis for the industry, it’s an opportunity for children growing up and considering how to plan their futures. And for the parents who might be able to guide them. This lack of skilled workers is a problem that isn’t going away, and graduates aren’t coming out in enough numbers to solve it, leaving companies to turn towards other methods; one of which includes apprenticeships. When it comes to educating our children and their ability to get a good job, many adults struggle over the concept of apprenticeships. For a long time, they’ve been seen as the option for those who don’t make it into university or who can’t get jobs of their own. A last resort for some. It’s true that apprentices are paid less than the average worker, and this seems to be one of the major problems people struggle to get over. On the other hand, we’re fine with our children racking up to £30,000 in student debt to go to a university, even when university doesn’t come with the guarantee of a job afterwards (often depends on the course taken). The truth of the matter is that many who go to university do not find work afterwards, and some even go on to find careers in industries that have no relevance to their courses in the first place. While When it comes to educating our children and their ability to get a good job, many adults struggle over the concept of apprenticeships, but with skills shortages across the UK, apprentices may well have a golden opportunity. The apprenticeThe apprentice66-67.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:33 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 67EDUCATIONWe are proud of the success of our learners, it’s not just about numbers and statistics. At the heart of our programmes are the people and how it affects their lives and their future careers. Some of their stories on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and on our website. We also offer short courses and NVQs in the workplace: and help get you started in a job. To see the range of work based learning and qualifications available through First College from hospitality to accountancy, early years to management (and many more) go to www.firstcollegelincs.co.uk or call us on 0800 019 2722. Bringing learning into the workplace TO TALK TO US YOU CAN CALL FREE ON 0800 0192 722Traineeships and Apprenticeships can help you to improve your skills and knowledge, gain qualifications and feel more confident in your abilities.““some courses have extremely high employment rates – history for becoming a history teacher is an unusual example – many other courses do not, and often leave graduates searching high and low for work. Apprenticeships offset this by paying apprentices less for a time and using that money to invest in on-site training. In a way, it is not dissimilar to university, except that instead of a someone learning in a classroom and paying in debt for it, they are learning in the field and being paid for it. Paid less, yes, but still being paid compared to the university student. Apprentices are also trained specifically for the role at hand, giving them not only the skills to excel in their chosen industry, but a certain degree of job security. Companies who take on apprentices do not do so for cheap labour; the cost in having an apprentice’s work watched over and teaching them is often more than any savings, as it usually means giving a more experienced employee the responsibility of looking over them. Employers take on apprentices because there are serious skills shortages in specific industries. Engineering, construction, IT and more. These industries are powerful ones, but not necessarily well-known ones. People often think of becoming solicitors, accountants, journalists, teachers or sports stars, and that means there is a record low number of graduates in courses such as civil or structural engineering. This forces companies into difficult situations where they need to either fight for the limited pool of students against any and all competition, or train up new employees themselves. The latter, while harder, is often the safest in the long term, which is why apprentices benefit so much. In addition, the Government subsidises some of the employer’s costs, making it more viable for them to take on apprentices. It goes without saying that university and higher education may well be seen as more profitable on average – although, again, it depends on course. There are some apprentices who, when they are taken on fully, will earn more than some graduates can hope to! What apprentices do offer, however, is certainty. The certainty of specific, real-world training, a real-life job at the end of it, qualifications and a foot up on the corporate ladder. Benefits which far outweigh the initial cost of slightly lower wages than average, and don’t leave the individual with debt the will need to pay back over the next twenty years. It’s something worth thinking about in today’s uncertain world.© Shutterstock / Elitprod66-67.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:34 Page 2The chiffchaff is one of Britain’s earliest migratory arrivals. Although some of them remain all year round, the majority fly in from Africa or the Mediterranean from the end of February and into March. Clearly the climate agrees with them as they’re also one of the very last to leave again after the summer. As one might be able to deduce, the bird’s name is onomatopoeic after its recognisable song “chiff chaff chiff chaff” performed from the tree tops. This common warbler is easy to identify from its song but can be easily mistaken for its cousin the willow warbler. Where the willow warbler has pale legs and a long yellow eye stripe, the chiffchaff typically has dark leg and a short pale eye stripe. Similar in size to the blue tit, the chiffchaff There are many signs of spring in the natural kingdom, but certainly one of the most charming is hearing those first early calls from songbirds, whether native or those that have migrated in from afar. The chiffchaff is one such bird, arriving in England ahead of all the rest. Lincolnshire wildlifeis dull green above and pale yellow below with an off-white belly. It can also be set apart from others by its distinctive quick tail wagging movements. Due to their early arrival, the breeding process begins in April and May. A typical year will see up to two clutches of eggs produced, each containing, on average, between four and nine eggs. The birds nest close to or on the ground, hidden among brambles or nettles. They’re built by females from stems and leaves and lined with feathers. Males shirk most of their parental responsibilities, leaving the females bearing the brunt of the burden. The best chance of seeing a chiffchaff for yourself is by visiting a lowland woodland area, though it is worth keeping an eye on parks and gardens. With all the tasty snacks found in our gardens, the birds are becoming a more common sight on domestic feeders. When they’re not tucking into fruit and suet treats, they’ll be hunting for insects and spiders, snapping them up off the floor or out of the air in flight. You know spring is on the doorstep when the song of the chiffchaff fills the air. Try and see if you can spot one for yourself and if you’re quick and patient enough to get a snap, be sure and share it with us on social media. 68 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY© Shutterstock / Michal Pesata 68-69.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:35 Page 1© Shutterstock / Martin Pelanek68-69.qxp_Layout 1 18/02/2019 11:35 Page 2Next >