Quarterly

Issue 23

7/5/12

Apr

May

June

2012

WWEDED

2727THTH

JJUNEUNE

It is an early morning start for the Olympic Flame as it is carried through Louth, Legbourne, Withern and Maltby le Marsh on its way to the coast.

It starts at 7.45 am in Louth and is carried from the top of Grimsby Road down to Bridge Street and onto Upgate finishing somewhere near Meridian View. At 8.07 am, torchbearers will start to take the flame through Legbourne, at 8.28 am through Withern and at 8.44 am through Maltby le Marsh.

Do consider joining us in Do consider joining us in

celebrating this event !celebrating this event !

InspireInspireInspireInspireInspireInspireInspireInspire DayDayDayDayDayDayDayDay Event Event Event Event ---- Wednesday, 16th MayWednesday, 16th MayWednesday, 16th MayWednesday, 16th May As part of this event, you are invited to take part in a short walk which will take 45 min. Registration is essential. Contact Tracey Richardson on 01507 613446 or 07825 989418 or by email to tracey.richardson@e-lindsey.gov.uk Meet at Meridian Leisure Centre LN11 8RS by 12.30 pm at the latest. Walk starts 1 pm.

10,000 metre Olympic Challenge

Tues, 26th June Our walking group, Walk ‘n’

Natter are running a second Olympic Challenge walk!

Registration from 12 noon in the Multi-Purpose Room at

Meridian Leisure Centre,

Walk starts at 12.30 pm and will be in two halves. We will

stop for lunch after about 3 miles before returning to

Louth. Please let us or Tracey Richardson (see below) know

if you wish to take part in this

walk for 50s and over, or come

along on the day.

We have until 1st June to vote for Louth to become “Britain’s Favourite

Market Town” in the Countryfile Magazine Awards.

There are two ways to vote. Send an email to

awards@countryfile.com or visit

www.countryfile.com/awardsvote When you get

half way down the page you see a round blue button

‘Click Here’. You then type in your contact details

and type Louth in the 2nd box “Britain’s Favourite Market Town”.

Dog Micro-chipping £10£10 23rd May, 30 th May and

8th June

ELDC has added more dates to its dog micro-chipping roadshow. The microchip costs £10 and is the size of a grain of rice. It contains all the owners contact details and is inserted in the dog’s shoulder blade, causing no discomfort.

• Wednesday, May 23 between 11am and 2pm at The Co-op, Northgate, Louth

• Wednesday May 30 between 12.30pm and 2.30pm at The White Horse, Louth

• Friday June 8 between 10.30am and 1pm at the Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth

For more information on the micro chipping campaign or an updated list of all the clinics that carry out micro-chipping in East Lindsey, contact the ELDC on 01507 601111 or e-mail dog.warden@e-lindsey.gov.uk

Dying Matters Awareness Week

www.dyingmatters.org

The charity, Dying Matters, works to

transform public attitudes towards

dying, death and bereavement so that

people become more likely to talk

about their end of life wishes. They

have over 16,000 members and find

that the benefits of having difficult

conversations about dying and

making plans become increasingly

evident.

Dying Matters Awareness Week,

takes place from 14-20 May.

This year’s awareness week is

focussing on “Small Actions, Big

Difference“ aimed at encouraging

individuals to take simple steps that

can make a big difference to people

when they are dying or bereaved;

whether it is through sharing their

wishes with someone close to them,

writing a will, or making an effort to

call someone

nearing the end of

their life or who has

been bereaved.

It all helps.

NOTE The day following the

publication of our previous Open

Voice newsletter, we learned

that ‘UK Online Centres’ had

sent out notices saying they

were no longer in a position to

pay tutors across the UK who

help people learn basic

computer skills through their

Go-On courses.

As a result of this, regrettably,

for the foreseeable future,

there are no Friday

afternoon computer courses.

Nordic Walking . There are two special Nordic Walks in July.

The first is on 19th July as part of Marshes Month and will start from St Clement’s Church in Saltfleetby at 2 pm. The walk will be about 3.5 miles. Contact Tracey on 07825 989418 if you wish to go, particularly if you do not have your own poles. The second Nordic Walk is on 29th July and is part of the Horncastle Family Fun Day. Details from Tracey.

Marshes Month in July is being organised by the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes partnership project. Throughout July 2012 there will be many events around Saltfleetby, Huttoft, Anderby and Burgh-le-Marsh to celebrate the history and culture of the coastal grazing marshes. Key events include the Discovering History weekend of 21st & 22nd July where there will be free heritage events all around Saltlfleetby including workshops of traditional skills, a living history event and drainage museum open days. For a full listing please contact the project team on 01507 329596 for more information or visit the website. www.lincsmarshes.org.uk

The RNID is now called “Action on Hearing Loss”.

Their information line is still 0808 808 0123, a number that is also free from mobiles, and the Text Phone is 0808 808 9000.

However their email is now informationline@hearingloss.org.uk and their website www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk

www.lincs.police.uk

For all non-emergency calls, members of the public can now call the Police by ringing

101.

The new national 101 number is charged at a flat rate of 15p from landlines no matter how long the call lasts. The police are in negotiation with the larger mobile phone providers to also get a flat rate of 15p but this is not the case at present. From 8 am - 10 pm a switchboard operator will answer and outside of these times, the call will be answered by a ‘Call Taker’.

Louth HealthWatch Group The first Louth HealthWatch Group was well attended. The group will keep an eye on all Health and Social Care services that people experience and use, look into reports of poor care or treatment, as well as become well informed about the changes in services, new services and which organisations provide them. There is another meeting on 24th May starting at 6.30 pm until about 8.30 pm. It will be held at Trinity Centre on Eastgate. You are most welcome to come along and speak up about Health and Social Care issues.

Enquiries to Heather Emmerson 07595 778036 or 01522 705190

Many cultural, heritage and sports events

a and activities are listed on the East Lindsey

LIVE website and they feature local artists as well as performances,

dance, music, street theatre and comedy by national and international

artists. The much-talked-about Lions are in the Louth’s market place,

day and night between 23rd - 26th June. If you have received this Open

Voice by post then details of events are on the enclosed leaflet.

The 61 strong Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra from Sweden are on at

the Embassy Theatre Skegness on 17th June and a full production by

the Garsington Opera of Offenbach’s La Périchole will be screened live

on 1st July to Skegness beach. No charge for this last one. The opera

starts at 7.45 pm but there is entertainment before then and a firework

finale afterwards. HOPE IT DOESN’T RAIN! More information from Lorrie

Stock at ELDC on 01507 613456 or at www.eastlindseylive.org

Trip to York - Saturday, 18th August The cost will be £10 per person and the pick up points will be:- 9 am Park Avenue shops, 9.30 am Indoor Bowls Club, Wallis Road & 10 am Bus Station. It will take approximately 2½ hours to get to York and the coach will leave for Louth at 4 pm. The coach is fully accessible so please discuss with Sandra when you book if you have a mobility aid, wheelchair or mobility scooter (max speed 4 mph).

To book, please contact our Secretary, Sandra Stringer on

01507 604991 as soon as possible. A further trip is planned for 24th November going to the Christmas Market in the grounds of Chatsworth House. This will also cost £10.

Below are some courses which the Lincolnshire Community and

Voluntary Service are offering anyone who is on a committee or

who may be thinking of becoming involved in an organisation or

community group. They are all free. The full list is on their

website www.lincolnshirecvs.org.uk. Alternatively ring

Tina Clark on 01025 365580 ext 257 for more information of if you wish to

enrol. The LCVS is based at the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre, St George’s

Road, Boston PE21 8YB and they also have an office at Tedder Hall, Manby.

Confidence Building This two-hour workshop will look at techniques to make you more confident. June 6th - Stanhope Hall, Horncastle - 2pm till 4pm.

Chairing Meetings. The Chairing Meetings workshop is designed to support local community groups to successfully chair their meetings. July 18th - Stanhope Hall, Horncastle - 1pm till 3pm

Dealing with Difficult Situations This short workshop explores ways of dealing with difficult situations in work and volunteering roles. July 23rd - Franklin Hall, Spilsby - 1pm till 4pm

Trustee Training Week 1 Responsibilities of Trustees, Week 2 Strategic and Business Planning, Week 3 Financial Management, Week 4 Personnel Issues. Every Wednesday from August 1st to 22nd - Coningsby Methodist Church - 5.30 till 9pm

Valuing Differences and Promoting Inclusion Understanding of the Disability Discrimination Act & Equality Act. August 23th - Len Medlock Voluntary Centre, Conference Room, 10 am - 1 pm

Our last focus on Foot Health features Debra Espin who has a

MOBILE FOOT PRACTICE offering a range of treatments in the comfort of the

clients own home. Before qualifying as a Foot Health Practitioner, Debra had worked in adult and social care for the elderly for 20 years where she held NVQ level 3 in Mental Health (Dementia). Since getting her Diploma as a Foot Health Practitioner, she has worked with all ages including those with diabetes, arthritis and mobility problems. She offers nail trimming, foot health check and advice, treatments of thickened nail, in-growing toe nail, corns, calluses, cracked heels and massage of the feet. You can contact Debra for

more information or to make an appointment on 01507 601273,

on 07588 313 664 or by email: debespin@ymail.com

Her web site is http://mobilefootpracticelouth.org

Big Big Big Big Royal Royal Royal Royal Picnic Picnic Picnic Picnic in in in in Hubbard’s Hubbard’s Hubbard’s Hubbard’s HillsHillsHillsHills

The Louth Town Council has organised a FREE celebration for the Queen’s Jubilee. It is on Sunday, 3rd June from 12 noon to 6 pm. People are asked to bring a picnic mat and their own food and drink (no barbecues) and the Town Council has arranged for a magician, face painter, roving comedic acts, a musical steam organ, local folk rock bands, fancy dress competition (for best king, queen, prince, princess), novelty singing groups and buskers to be placed at strategic points and some will circulate around for the duration of the event.

In the last issue, we featured Valerie Preston Foot Health Care (Louth) 07557414417

www.foothealthlincolnshire.co.uk

The Forum’s address is:-

Louth and District Seniors’ Forum PO Box 31 LOUTH LN11 9ND

Our mobile telephone (see back page) receives incoming calls so that our

contact number is the same from year to year. The mobile receives text messages

as well as recording voice messages.

Austerity measures ! As a committee we are looking at several changes we can make in order to cut our outgoings or increase our income. We have had to give up our small unit at Clockwork Removals and Storage on Belvoir Way, Fairfield Industrial Estate where we have been storing the notice board, PA system, projector and from time to time our two printers and two laptops along with bulky literature and refreshment items between meetings. Paul Brown and Stuart Hannath have been most welcoming when we have been there and we thank them very much for their help. The Clockwork Removals and Storage telephone number, by the way, is 01507 604812. Two committee members have kindly agreed to store items belonging to the Forum in their “spare” rooms.

Our Secretary, Sandra Stringer (604991) is organising a Tombola at the Fete on 14 th July at Louth Hospital to raise funds for the Seniors’ Forum and Committee Member, Marjorie Barnes (602031) is running a Christmas Raffle at our AGM on 7 th December . If any readers can donate a prize for either of the above, please bring it to the open meeting on 1st June or 7th September or contact the people above.

With the cost of 2nd class postage now being 50p and the cost of printer ink rising month by month we have to make changes. If you have an email address which you use at home, we would like you to get in touch by email to louthseniors@yahoo.co.uk if you are happy for us to send the newsletter as a pdf file. You open the file and read it on a computer or laptop etc instead of receiving a paper version through the post. Some people do this already but we still post the newsletter to 420 households.

If anyone has any suggestions about cutting costs or raising funds, please do get in touch by email or mobile or even come to a committee meeting and tell us. We shall be meeting in the Salvation Army Centre in Church Street at 10 am on the first Friday in July, August and October. Indeed you may contact us, of course, with any suggestions at any time. Newsletter - Any format and any length ! Talking of newsletters, we are looking for someone to edit and put together the newsletter in 2013. It can be in any format and any length. It is a rewarding job and one that brings great satisfaction. All costs are met by the Seniors’ Forum and the frequency, date of publication and content can be worked out to suit the new editor.

Please get in touch by email if you would like to volunteer for this or if you are undecided and want to know more. The next step might then be to come along to a committee meeting to meet the others.

Congratulations to two of our Committee members

Janet Croft has been elected Treasurer of the Association of Lincolnshire Seniors’ Forum which also serves as

the Lincolnshire Older People’s Advisory Group. Roger Irving has been elected Vice-Chair of the

all age Quality of Life theme group which is part of the East Lindsey Local Strategic Partnership.

At our last open meeting in March, Age UK Lindsey, gave us the opportunity to purchased a Carbon Monoxide Alarm for £5 which is a huge discount on the retail prices in stores like B & Q. Margaret Brown has arranged for a representative from Age UK Lindsey to come to our meeting on 1st June with more CO alarms which members can purchase for their own home, at only £5.

Several members of the Committee of the Seniors’ Forum decided at their May meeting to contribute personally to the purchase of a tree to plant in Hubbard’s Hills in commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The young tree will already be 10 foot when it is planted in its permanent place in the Hills in November and an entry will be made in a book recording that it was donated by the local Seniors’ Forum.

The tree will cost £100 and we are giving an opportunity to all members to help us raise that amount by donating 50p or £1 at the next open meeting.

In June, our tea and coffee donations will also go towards the purchase of the tree.

We are very grateful to Cllr Jill Makinson-Sanders for giving the Forum a grant of £100

through the Councillors Community Initiative Fund.

The money will pay for the hire of the ConocoPhillips Room and the

setting out of the tables and chairs for Open meetings for a year.

The Seniors’ Forum does not accept any liability for the consequences of actions taken by individuals as a result of information printed in this newsletter. Additionally the Seniors’ Forum does not endorse or support any particular company or provider

of services mentioned in this publication.

At our May committee meeting, Diane Hansen from Lincolnshire’s Excellent Ageing explained why the programme had been started and what was currently being done to improve the quality of life of older people in our county. This is not about providing individual services but finding a way of bringing together all of the things that can make a difference to people’s lives. There are 50 organisations working together on what can be done to improve things, what is it that older people want and what is it that can be changed. One need is tackling isolation and aloneness.

The work is currently around financial support, wellbeing in the community (health, wellbeing, choice), remaining independent in the home, and accessibility issues

If you have access to the internet, see

www.excellentageing.co.uk for more information or

if you want to get in contact to share your views please email

excellentageing@lincolnshire.gov.uk or ring the central team on

01522 554501.

Louth Hospital grounds » FEte »

Saturday »14th July »11 am - 3 pm

Current and future transportation needs of older people in

rural parts of Lincolnshire There is a one year research study taking place which focuses on older people’s use and views of public transport (train and bus, CallConnect) and community transport services (eg voluntary car schemes). After all the facts and information have been collected and put together, clear recommendations for the improved provision of transport services in the county will be made.

What is needed by Mike Ward , a researcher for the year with the University of Lincoln , is a chance to particularly listen to those aged 50 or over in our area who do not currently use any public or community transport. He is also interested in hearing from any older person their views and opinions on public transport in this area. Since we are told that Mike Ward will make “clear recommendations” to LCC for improving services, this seems worthwhile to us.

If you would like the opportunity to influence what is recommended then please get in touch with Mike Ward on 01522 552555 or email Mike.Ward@lincolnshire.gov.uk or mobile (outside business hour) 07890 874188.

A Jobs and Opportunities Fair took place in Louth in March where many organisations and charities gave advice and guidance relating to volunteering, increasing skills and explained what support is available for those

who are over 50 who are looking for work.

On the next page you will see contact details of four of the home care providers whom we met at the event. Since Lincolnshire County Council does not employ any home care personnel directly we felt it appropriate to give the details of those we met at the event.

There are many such companies listed in the latest 72 page Lincolnshire Care Services Directory which is available free from the Social Services reception at Eastfield House in Eastfield Road, Louth. Telephone 600800.

A Personal Budget is a sum of money for someone who has been assessed as having substantial or critical social care needs;

though if they have over £23,250 in savings this might only be 10% of what they need to pay for the care they require. People

use their Personal Budget to pay for the help and support they need to stay independent, safe and well. They can tailor services

to meet their specific needs as agreed on a support plan following the assessment.

Carers can have a Carers Assessment and may be granted a personal budget to spend on agreed help, support or a break for

them as a carer.

Promoting Choice is a project funded by the Department of Health for 3 years and in Lincolnshire it is being run by the charities Age UK Lincoln and Age UK Lindsey. The aim of the project is to help people learn about Personal Budgets and to get more older people who qualify for financial help for social and home care etc, to choose to use a Personal Budget. A leaflet describing the service and who to get in touch with is enclosed for members who joined more than 2 years ago. We were not given enough copies to send to all members but will ask for more to send out in August to those didn’t get one. In the meantime if you wish to know more, contact Janet Freebury on 07508 342203 or Gary Burr on 01522 696000 (office)

0303 123 1251 www.housing21.co.uk

Gail Mumby Housing 21,

Care and Health Services, 7 Albion Place,

Louth, LN11 9AE

(up the side of Morrisons)

Housing 21 have the contract to

provide the ‘extra care’ service at

Elizabeth Court.

Home Care Direct www.homecaredirect.co.uk enquiries@homecaredirect.co.uk 0845 061 9000 Gary Smelt Community Liaison Officer

“We are the UK’s leading personal budget support at home service which gives people like you and/or your family complete choice, control and flexibility over your support at home. We act as the legal employer of personal carers chosen by our clients”

We shall continue this look at Personal Budgets and Home and Personal Care next time including Penderels Trust, Individual Budgets Network Lincs, HCD and Lifestyle Brokerage.

Alderson House, Saltfleet Road,

Theddlethorpe, Mablethorpe LN12 1PH

Libertas is a home care service

01507 206666

Jane Dodwell

01754 776655

info@libertascare.co.uk

www.libertascare.com

Alderson House is an independent

provider of services for adults in and

around Lincolnshire.

“Your Personal Assistant will visit you at

home at the times you choose, and help

you with the things you want help with”.

Tracy Eastlake Manager

01472 355 055

Ladysmith Road GRIMSBY DN32 9SH

tracy@wouldcare.co.uk

www.wouldcare.co.uk

“Would Care Services has been launched following requests from people seeking a reliable, personal home care organisation, where old fashioned manners matter and service is paramount”.

From April 2013, HealthWatch Lincolnshire will • represent the views of people who use services, carers and the public on the new Health and Wellbeing Board (set up by LCC).

• provide a complaints advocacy service from 2013 to support people who make a complaint about services.

• report concerns about the quality of health and social care to Healthwatch England, which can then recommend that the Care Quality Commission take action.

On www.cqc.org.uk on the home page there is a link to all the latest reports on all health organisations eg hospitals, care homes, dentists, home care services, ambulance etc. You can also search using your postcode to see reports on

Health and Social care services near you, NHS and private.

A meeting was held in Horncastle in May to ask people what other things they would like the new Health Watch in Lincolnshire to do as well as those listed on the left, and how we wanted it run.

In February we sent out with our newsletter forms (in a blue 3 fold leaflet) to enable people to become members of the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (L CHS). Getting members is vital for LCHS to become an NHS ‘Foundation’ Trust since LCHS needs members and governors to help shape their plans for the future and ensure the services they provide are what is needed locally. The Government wants all NHS Trusts to become NHS ‘Foundation’ Trusts within the next two years. If LCHS does not get ‘Foundation’ Trust status we believe that it would be a big blow for the NHS in Lincolnshire, but especially for us since the majority of nurses at Louth Hospital and in the community are employed by LCHS. It would also mean that we may not have the same level of influence on the services provided in the Louth area. We urge you to consider again joining if you have dismissed the idea first time around. It is free to become a member. If you do not have the form, you can ring 0845 602 4384 to become a member or join online at www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk

Remember, as a member you do not need to do any more than receive the regular newsletter, or you can choose to become more involved if you want. Please ring them if you are unsure whether you are on their list of members already eg if you

are uncertain if you have posted the form.

If you are concerned about an unexpected side effect of a drug, make sure you discuss it with your GP. However, you can also report it

to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using the Yellow Card Scheme. This applies to all drugs and vaccines including those bought over the

counter. Call 0808 100 3352 to report by phone or visit www.mhra.gov.uk

The MHRA is the government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health.

The ‘Rent a Room’ Scheme If you let a furnished room in your own home to a lodger and your total income from letting the room comes to £4,250 or below, you can get this income tax-free under the ‘rent a room’ scheme. More information on the DirectGov web site, www.direct.gov.uk East Lindsey District Council suggest that you start by going to www.SpareRoom.co.uk

Once on the website, you enter your postcode and then have a look at what people want, and are prepared to pay, as well as what rooms are already advertised to rent. It is free to advertise. Other options are the classified advertisements or a local Lettings Agent.

At the last open meeting, 82 people gathered to hear Mark Egan from the Citizens Advice Bureau give a presentation about changing electricity provider or electricity & gas provider to save money. This was followed by local GP, Dr Neal Parkes, in his capacity as Medical Director for

Louth And District Medical Services to update us about the Urgent Care Centre at Louth Hospital.

FORUM MEMBERSHIP. Over 570 older people have joined the Louth and District Seniors’ Forum since it started. If you are reading this newsletter and you are not a member, you may wish to consider joining. Membership is open to anyone over 50 in the area 10 miles (approx) radius of Louth. It is FREE to join. Just get in touch by email or mobile/text with your name and address.

Lincolnshire County Council

As individuals we may wish to put in place a record of what is

important to us so that if we experience ill health or an unforeseen event, like an accident, and become unable to make decisions we can be reassured by knowing we have already made clear our preferences.

Planning Your Future Care is a 5 page form that helps you to think about your future care needs and is invaluable for sharing your wishes and preferences with family members/carers/professionals well in advance of any ill-health requirements. The electronic version is available on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk if you search for ‘Planning my future care’ or Google ‘Planning my future care, Lincolnshire’. The form can be downloaded, filled in and saved and updated on your home computer as your circumstances change. Hard copies are also available through your GP Practice or by calling the Lincolnshire County Council Customer Service Centre on 01522 782343.

Do not attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) form .

A new form is being used across the East Midlands by health professionals, to record people’s wishes for health professionals to not attempt CPR. To find out more information about Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment, such as CPR, there is a national website www.adrt .nhs.uk.

There is a Mature Driving Course being run from the Life Skills Academy at North Kyme (LN4 4DG) (on the road between Horncastle and Sleaford). The cost is £20 with theory in the morning, a light lunch then with an instructor for an assessed drive. There is no test. If you wish to book a place or have a query, call Andrea Dixon on 01526 861170 or send an email to andrea.dixon@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

This has been arranged by Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

Public Transport

Information

There is a new Number 51 bus timetable (from 2nd April), a new Interconnect Network Guide, a Days out in Lincolnshire 2012 and a new Explore East Coast guide. The latter two are excellent if you are exploring in the summer. Copies are available from Tourist Information Centre in Town Hall in Cannon Street. We shall also have some copies at the next Open meeting.

Big Cake Sale – Louth Hospital by Amy Reeve

It’s our 30th birthday and in celebration I am holding a ‘Big Cake Sale’ at Louth Hospital Woldside Unit (accessed through Urgent Care Centre) on Saturday 9th June, 10am - 1pm to celebrate! Everyone is invited so come down for a cup of tea and a slice of cake – then why not take an extra slice home for afternoon tea! To help the hospice more, why not bake and donate some cakes (whatever flavour, size, style you like!!). Your donation would be greatly received and would help make the birthday ‘Big Cake Sale’ a wonderful success to celebrate 30 years of care by St Barnabas Hospice. They look after hundreds of adults and their families in Louth and throughout the county. If you would like to donate a cake or for more information please contact Amy Reeve, Community Fundraiser on 07515171927 or e-mail amy.reeve@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Margaret Brown , who is a member of our Committee, has spoken with Ian Mickleburgh, the

Area Highways Officer, about the Number 51 and Number 10 stopping on Upgate or Newmarket. This followed a letter we sent from the Seniors’ Forum to Dave Skepper at Stagecoach about a number of matters that had been raised by members. Mr Skepper assured us that “it is agreed that passengers can board the services at the Mercer Row bus stop and the Pack Horse on the inbound journey to Louth Bus Station and stay on the bus to continue through to the outbound trip. Drivers at Grimsby and Lincoln have been reminded of this arrangement”. He explains to us why the stop in Upgate opposite St Mary’s Church was introduced and why it was only temporary and says “In the light of your comments I have contacted Ian Mickleburgh at Lincolnshire County Council Highways and asked him to meet in Upgate with our Grimsby management team to site a stop for your convenience. You will appreciate that buses cannot stop on a regular basis at this location until a safety audit is concluded and a bus stop has been formally confirmed” We made a suggestion in a second letter to Mr Skepper to consider a bus stop near the Boar’s Head or the car park in Newmarket. Mr Mickleburgh has now invited two of us to go along to the ‘site meeting’! When a new stop is decided upon, we shall strongly encourage LCC to clarify the new arrangements in the newspapers.

Seniors’ Forum OPEN meetings

Friday mornings starting at 10 am

Other meetings

7th September Supermarket Deals and Hubbard’s Hills Trust

7th December AGM and

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway

ConocoPhillips Room above Louth Library

soundGENERATION During February and March over twenty of us enjoyed

weekly sessions generating musical sounds, using

percussion instruments and singing some familiar and

unfamiliar songs.

These music sessions were run by Claire Inman of

soundLINCS. Many thanks, Claire!

There is no Walk ‘n’ Natter on 5th June, the day of the extra bank holiday.

http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/WalknNatter

At their May meeting, the Committee decided to look for ways to enable singing sessions to be organised again. Further update in August or November Open Voice newsletter.

at Louth Hospital

After months of construction and

refurbishment work at Louth Hospital,

the brand new Endoscopy and Urology

suite was opened by Cllr Robert Palmer,

the County Councillor for Louth Marsh

and his wife Mrs Maureen Palmer.

These are state of the art facilities – the

latest and the best! This new

combined unit - the location used to

be known as the Phoenix ward and

before then the Allenby ward - means

that more people will be able to

choose to have treatment at Louth.

Photograph of Sue Milner, Endoscopy Nurse with Steve Bibby, Endoscopy Support Doctor

✂✂ ✂✂

Are you someone with parenting experience who may like to

share your time and experience?

Home-Start East Lindsey is a local charity offering support, friendship and practical help to families across East Lindsey.

Throughout the district there are families who are struggling to

cope. By giving them practical and emotional support Home-Start

East Lindsey helps them rebuild their family lives and give their

children a better future. Each year over 80 mums, dads, and

grandparents become volunteers for Home-Start East Lindsey

sharing their time and experience to give support to families in

need. Home-Start East Lindsey currently take referrals for families

with a child under 8 years.

Jane Berni, the Volunteer Coordinator explains, “Our trained volunteers, who have parenting experience themselves, provide non-judgemental practical and emotional support, during a weekly home visit. They befriend and support families through a range of difficulties, including issues such as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness and disability. They can also offer support to those who are just finding parenting a bit of a struggle. “We prepare our Home-Visiting Volunteers well via 10 weekly Preparation Course sessions. The course is not academic and is designed for people of all abilities. Once linked to a family, all our volunteers are fully supported in their work with the family, by one of our Coordinators”. For more information about volunteering with Home-Start, or to find out about the support they can offer families, call 01507 610665 for a chat with Jane or Tracey or email: hseastlindsey@btconnect.com or visit: www.home-starteastlindsey.org.uk

They work from their office base within the Methodist Church building in Nichol Hill, Louth LN11 9NQ.

OPEN MEETING Over 50s

Friday, 1st JuneFriday, 1st JuneFriday, 1st June

10 am - 12 noon ConocoPhillips Room, Library

ALL WELCOMALL WELCOMALL WELCOMEEE

Teas and coffees on arrival from 9.40 am

Enquiries: Mobile: 07974 880 157 or Email: louthseniors@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter @LouthSeniors

Services provided by St Barnabas’

Lincolnshire Hospice Amy Reeve and Ruth O’Melia

& A presentation about

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf