A new group set up for people who have experience of self-harm and their families is holding an information day.

Spalding Self-Harm Self-Help Group is holding the session from 2pm to 3.30pm at the Johnson Community Hospital on June 3.

The group has been set up to offer a safe place to talk openly about self-harm with others who understand and will provide up to date and accurate information about local support and self harm.

One the day there will be information stands from Rethink Mental Illness, Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum, Spalding Estates Neighbourhood Policing Team and the group itself. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information call group development officer Lauren Bate on 07436562335.

Public loos in Market Deeping are to have a £45,000 refurbishment.

South Kesteven District Council is due to start work on the upgrade on Monday and finish by June 18.

The council says a single loo will remain open to the public on the Horsegate site, next to the town hall, for the duration of the work.

A council spokesman said: “All toilets are being refurbished including the ladies’, gentlemen’s and disabled facilities.

“The current toilet facilities require updating to make them more appealing to the public.

“The last deep clean at the site took place last autumn.

“Whilst this was successful and noticed by many, it was still thought the facilities required this new investment of £45,000.”

An actor working on a project to shoot a film in South Holland has launched an online campaign to raise £2,000 to help make his dream a reality.

Steph Genovese is the writer, producer, director and lead actor in action-thriller Dishonoured, which is set to start filming in and around Spalding, Holbeach and Boston in the coming months.

Before he can get the cameras rolling, Steph, of Holbeach, desperately needs to raise £2,000 to cover the cost of insurance costs and some props.

So far his campaign on Kickstarter – the world’s biggest funding platform for creative projects – has raised £653.

Backers have until 9.30pm on Sunday to support Dishonoured which will be made entirely in the local area, by local residents and volunteers.

“The idea is to create a film using only artists and crew from the South Holland area. All the cast and crew are giving their time voluntarily to allow this film to be produced.

“Our costs revolve around insurance, props we sadly cannot blag for free, hall hire, and transportation, and we would also like to be able to provide the cast and crew with refreshments during days of filming if we are lucky enough to secure this amount,” explained Steph, who has already invested around £3,000 of his own money in the project.

In return for sponsorship, backers will receive rewards if the target is met – the first 500 to pledge £5 will receive a postcard signed by the cast while the first 100 to give £10 will have their name added to the end credits.

For a £150 pledge there is the chance to name a lead character and for £500 you can land a speaking role in the film without having to audition.

Steph, who has worked as an extra and on shows including Sky Atlantic’s Fortitude and the forthcoming Pan movie starring Hugh Jackman, decided to write his own movie to give 
himself a break and help others get involved in the industry 
locally.

As well as landing the services of professionals including cameramen, Steph is also due to start auditioning around 200 hopefuls soon – once he has paid for the insurance costs.

If the target isn’t met he will have to pay the fees himself, but says this may hold up production. Dishonoured is the story of John Venonesser, a former UK secret services agent who was dishonourably discharged after disobeying a direct order from Downing Street.

He is left with nothing, and after becoming a recluse for several years is forced out of retirement when his only friend mistakenly gets sucked into the world of a viscous mob renowned for human trafficking, slavery and forced prostitution.

nTo make a pledge 
visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/799331197/dishonoured

Residents in Lincolnshire are invited to join the thousands of householders across Lincolnshire who have already switched, collectively saving over £4million on their energy bills.

Across the UK, over 15,000 families saved a whopping total of £4,367,381 in February’s auction round with Lincolnshire Energy Switch scheme – money that can be put to much better use if it’s not paying energy bills.

Over 2,400 households in Lincolnshire have now switched saving an estimated £480,000 between them.

{http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/switch|Anyone can register here, whether you rent your home or own it.}

February’s auction saw suppliers bidding with deeply discounted, exclusive tariffs that were better than those available in the market, leading to a huge 98 per cent of people able to make a saving.

All you need is your annual gas or electric statement or bills covering the last 12 months to hand. Once you’ve registered your interest, energy suppliers will then be invited to compete with their best offers at an auction.

Offer letters stating the potential savings will be then sent to your address or by email and you could be saving hundreds of pounds later in 2015 with lower bills to pay.

If you’re not able to register online, you can register offline at your local council or by calling 0800 048 8439 until 5pm on Monday, May 18.

It’s open to all energy users, whether you are on dual fuel, electric only, pay monthly or quarterly or have a prepayment meter.

The scheme is organised by South Kesteven District Council, Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council, East Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council and West Lindsey District Council and is administered by the UK’s leading collective switching expert, iChoosr Ltd.

Vandals ripped aerials from cars and covered other vehicles in blue paint.

The attacks happened in Coggles Causeway and St Paul’s Gardens, Bourne, on Monday night. Police have appealed for witnesses to call 101 quoting incident 391 of April 21.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Spalding is now open seven days a week, Lincolnshire County Council has announced.

Local residents are now able to recycle their household waste at the centre on West Marsh Road every day from 8am to 4pm right up until October 31.

The council says: “Keen gardeners will be able to get rid of their garden waste whichever day suits them best. It’s worth noting that the HWRC is quieter in the week.

“As well as garden waste, all household waste is accepted for recycling including cardboard, books, CDs, food tins, drinks cans, mixed textiles and clothes, TVs and monitors. Commercial waste will not be accepted.”

There are also Household Waste Recycling Centres at Bourne, found on the Pinfold Lane Industrial Estate just off Spalding Road.

The Bourne centre is open Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (9am to 4pm), and closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Boston’s centre is based at Slippery Gowt Lane in Wyberton, and it too is open every day of the week from 9am to 4pm.

This tip accepts small quantities of Bonded White (chrysotile) asbestos, by appointment only on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Key Stage 2 children at Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School who have been learning bout Indian culture welcomed Sunita Patel to the school.

Pupils learned about the Hindu faith, listened to stories, learned new dances, tried on clothes, painted rangoli patterns (both indoors and outdoors) and tasted foods too. A wonderful time was had by all.

South Holland District Council has hit back in a row over council tax bills in Holbeach.

Confusion about this year’s 5.3 per cent precept, compared to just under two per cent set by parish councillors in January, was revealed in the Guardian last week.

The Government has slashed the amount set aside to help low income earners, pensioners and others unable to pay their council tax in full.

Parish councillors claimed it had not been told of the cut in the Council Tax Support Grant, passed on to parish and town councils by South Holland District Council on behalf of the Government.

But a district council spokesman said: “We contacted Holbeach Parish Council in January to advise them of changes to the parish support grant so that they could take this into account when setting their budget, as we did with all parish councils.

“South Holland continues to pay a reducing interim parish support grant when many other areas are not doing so and when central government funding is reducing.”

Deputy district council leader Paul Przyszlak added: “We implemented a grant scheme to dampen the effect by a reducing amount over time and the effect on Holbeach Parish Council required a further increase in their precept.”

New businesses across the county have the chance to win free trade space at this year’s Lincolnshire Show.

Grow with the Show is open to 18-30 year-olds in Lincolnshire who set up their own business in the last 18 months - or are looking to turn their talent into a viable business in the near future.

If you are a baker, potter, landscape gardener, or artist, the show wants to hear from you - but be quick as the deadline for applications is this Friday.

The Lincolnshire Show, set to take place at Lincolnshire Showground on June 24-25, attracts about 60,000 people over the two days, and is described as ‘the perfect platform for growing businesses’.

Jayne Southall, CEO of the Lincolnshire Showground and Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said: “We want to hear from all fledgling businesses looking to kick-start their business.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with the University of Lincoln, a great partner for the competition.”

The winner will receive a trade space at the show or an area to perform their talent and two ‘highly-commended’ applicants will be invited to the show to see what it has to offer local businesses. Applicants will be judged by a panel of three judges.

Applications close on Friday with the winner and runners-up being announced on Friday, May 8.

Application forms can be downloaded from the show’s website www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk and completed forms can be returned to the Lincolnshire Showground, Grange De Lings, Lincoln, LN2 2NA.

What happens to the vegetable peelings of produce heading for supermarkets such as Asda and Marks & Spencer was revealed in a tour of the UK’s leading renewable energy operator based in Holbeach.

Thirty thousand tonnes of unavoidable organic waste a year, enough green energy to power the equivalent of 3,000 homes, is generated by QV Foods peelings to power its 24/7 processing and packing facility.

Any excess power is put back into the local electricity grid for homes and businesses.

To see how the power is procesed, government minister John Hayes, who is standing for re-election after being the Tory MP for 18 years, visited the Tamar Energy anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.

The AD plant is a joint venture with A H Worth, the parent company of QV Foods, one of the county’s largest food growers and processors. Mr Hayes said: “It’s been fascinating to visit this innovative partnership between QV Foods as a major local employer, and Tamar Energy.

“AD offers a superb way of generating renewable energy both locally and nationally and at the same time as offering an efficient waste management solution.”

Ricky Maylin, Tamar Energy’s plant manager, said: “AD is an exciting technology, and this plant’s ‘closed loop’ system of converting organic waste into green power really shows its potential.

“We’re really pleased with the successes we’ve had here in partnership with QV Foods.”

Duncan Worth, chairman of QV Foods, said: “Getting an AD plant off the ground is not a commitment to be entered into lightly, and I’m glad to be working with a partner like Tamar Energy.

“That said, AD can deliver real benefits; the most obvious one is cheaper electricity.

“Our farming operation now has a supply of liquid biofertiliser saving us a significant amount too, and we’re reducing our food supply chain carbon footprint.”

Massive building works costing around £1million are planned at Spalding’s Monkshouse Primary School with a new hall, two extra classrooms and remodelling of the existing layout.

Builders are now putting up a new classroom, due be finished by the end of June, and headteacher Sue Goodsell hopes that – subject to planning consent – work will start on the big remodelling project in late June or early July.

Mrs Goodsell said: “We are very excited about it.

“The key difference is that we are going to get a new hall, which is very significant for us because our existing hall is too small for us to get the whole school in together – a much bigger hall is something that the children have identified as something they would like.”

She said the new classrooms mean Monkshouse will be able to have a two-form entry, instead of one-and-a-half, to cope with growing pupil numbers.

Other new features include a library and medical room, which will be housed in the re-modelled existing hall.

Lincolnshire County Council has applied to South Holland District Council for planning consent. The county’s design and access statement says the proposal is to take the school capacity to 420 pupils by September 2016.

There are about 362 children on the roll at the moment, while the existing capacity of the school is 315 places.

The statement says a mobile classroom is on site to accommodate the additional children.

Thousands of people will be making their way to the new home of Magna Carta in the year of its 800th anniversary.

And even if people in the district don’t get the chance to visit Lincoln Castle, the permanent home for the historic document, there is a chance for them to become involved in the anniversary.

Lord Cormack, an authority on Magna Carta and a key figure behind the Lincoln exhibition, is giving a talk on the subject for Holbeach & District Civic Society at the Reading Rooms in the town next Thursday, April 30 (7.30pm).

It’s regarded as a “major coup” for the society, and one brought about thanks to Coun Nick Worth, who had contact with Lord Cormack.

Nick says: “I am really looking forward to the talk by Lord Cormack. He has extensive knowledge about Magna Carta. He is a fascinating man.”

Roger Taylor, who chairs the civic society, said members “felt it was appropriate for the 800th anniversary to have a talk on the Magna Carta and the way it affects Britain today and us as individuals.”

Lord Cormack will talk in detail about the Magna Carta, and also briefly about another historic document, the 1217 Charter of the Forests. The talk is open to the public and entry is £4 to non-members.

The new Magna Carta vault will be officially opened on June 8.

On June 27, Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition – the biggest held in the county – will open at the Usher Gallery and The Collection and run until September 27.

It is this that Spalding is most closely linked to as treasures normally housed locally are being loaned for the exhibition.

Spalding Gentlemen’s Society curator Tom Grimes says four pieces are being made available from the collection, and said: “The society is proud to have in its collection items which are of such historic importance and welcomes the opportunity to share them more widely.”

A 16th century astrolabe, or star chart showing the position of stars at any given time, is being loaned. It was made by Sir Christopher Hatton, Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I.

Following the Norman Conquest, a lot of land was taken over by the new monarchy. The society is loaning a Charter of Inspeximus, confirming that land around Spalding would no longer be used as Royal hunting grounds.

Also in the exhibition is Crowland Cartulary, a book of legal manuscripts referring to the abbey’s land holdings, and a little bible, written in Latin in about 1260.

The society may also loan an 18th century printed copy of the Magna Carta.

Lord Cormack, who is giving the talk next Thursday, says the Magna Carta established certain principles that have become part of the constitution, such as the right to trial by jury and to our right to justice.

He says: “It’s the foundation of the rule of law in our country and, in many people’s opinion, the most important constitutional document in our history.”

It was issued by King John on June 15, 1215, and then cancelled by the Pope; re-introduced in 1217 and again in 1225, forming the bedrock of our constitution.

Following a £20 million restoration, Lincoln Castle has been re-opened. It contains a special vault which is the permanent home for Lincoln Cathedral’s copy of the Magna Carta, to be opened on June 8.

There are just four original copies of the Magna Carta: one is being borrowed from the National Archives for the exhibition and the other is Lincoln Cathedral’s 1215 copy.

There is an entry charge to the castle and to the Cathedral – a joint ticket, valid for six months, is available.

Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition runs from June 27 to September 27 and is open every day of the week (10am-5pm), entry free.

She’s never been short of ambition but now Claire Hall of Percy’s Vodka Iced Teas is aiming even higher as she seeks to get backing from the ultimate entrepreneur – Sir Richard Branson.

Claire (33) has dedicated ten years of her life to turning her idea for vodka iced teas into a viable business, but in order to take her product to the next level she needs to secure some major investment to help her market her drinks.

Having already invested around £35,000 of her own savings, as well as money from relatives and grants she has won, Claire of Kirton Holme is now trying to win the opportunity to pitch her business to the Virgin boss.

Sir Richard is offering up to £1 million, under the banner of Virgin Media Business, to help fledgling businesses through his Pitch to Rich scheme.

In order to take part, Claire, who single-handedly makes all her vodka teas at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing in Holbeach, has submitted a video entry – which she is desperately urging people to vote for.

The more votes she secures the better her chance of making the 150-strong shortlist, with the final hurdle being a pitch to Sir Richard himself during a live finale on June 26.

“I really have to push this and get as many votes as possible, otherwise I won’t get the chance to pitch to Sir Richard,” said Claire.

“I need this as I have no marketing money whatsoever, so I’m really calling on Lincolnshire to vote for Percy’s.”

The idea for Claire’s brand – which includes four flavours of White Tea, Pear and Raspberry, White Tea, Apple and Elderflower, Black Tea, Apple, Lemon and Lime and Black Tea Pear and Ginger – came about soon after she left university and was working for a public relations firm in London.

She had a Eureka moment while drinking a fruit tea and thought how great it would be if she could make a version containing vodka.

From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back and is currently selling her products both through online retailer Not On The High Street and her own website, at a price of £4 for a 250ml bottle.

Despite lots of exciting collaborations in the pipeline this year - for example, Claire is due to team up with Lincolnshire chef Rachel Green on some recipes using her teas and also some dishes to accompany them – she desperately needs to secure more investment if she is to make Percy’s her full-time job.

To support Claire and vote for Percy’s visit http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/grow/percys-tea/

Voting closes on May 5.

The family of a three-year-old boy taken to hospital with earache were devastated to be told he has leukaemia – but are staying positive by launching a £10,000 fundraising campaign to help other young sufferers.

Little Lucas Devaney, of Gosberton Risegate, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – cancer of the white blood cells and bone marrow - on March 9 after his parents took him to the Johnson Community Hospital because he was suffering from repeated ear and throat infections.

When his temperature wouldn’t drop he was transferred to Peterborough City Hospital where a routine blood test led to the shocking diagnosis.

Mum Joanne (30) and dad Gareth (36), of Siltside, hope the cancer has been caught early and say the toddler is responding well to the three-year treatment plan prescribed, which includes chemotherapy and steroids.

“It’s all been quite a whirlwind, and such a shock to the system,” said Joanne, a sales consultant at Thomas Cook, in Spalding.

“Lucas had been poorly on and off for about five or six weeks – he was just catching one infection after another and had been on anti-biotics for nine days.

“It was the weekend and he’d been up all night complaining of earache, so rather than wait until Monday I took him to the Johnson.”

Doctors then sent Lucas to Peterborough where a chest X-ray and blood tests were carried out.

“He seemed absolutely fine in himself, we’d just popped to the hospital shop and when we got back they came and told us they were 99 per cent sure it was Leukaemia.

“We just couldn’t believe it,” Joanne added.

Still in shock, the family were sent to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, which confirmed their worst fears and Lucas started a course of chemotherapy immediately. This treatment will be followed by a maintenance phase allowing him to grow up normally, play with his friends at Gosberton Pre-School and go to school.

“He doesn’t really understand much about it, other than that he has to keep going to hospital,” said Joanne.

“He has been incredibly brave. We are a positive family and we know we are going to get through this, although there is a long three years ahead of us and it is still very early days.

“There will be ups and downs, but we’re just trying to stay positive – everyone has been wonderful so far and the medical staff are heroes.”
The idea for fundraising in aid of Addenbrookes’ C2 ward where Lucas is treated and Children with Cancer UK was sparked by his older brother Ethan (5).

He started playing his guitar one night with a cup next to him and told Joanne he was raising money for his little brother.

The kind thought snowballed and thanks to family, friends and colleagues the Devaney’s have already raised more than £7,200 to help young cancer sufferers.

More events planned include a classic car show at Ye Olde White Horse, Spalding, on Sunday, May 24, while Gareth, who works for Network Security, plans to climb England’s highest mountain Scarfell Pike and complete a Coast to Coast cycle ride.

A Cruise for Cancer gathering in Spalding, from 4pm, on May 31 has also been organised by car enthusiasts, with more than 1,200 owners pledging their attendance at Sainsbury’s Holland Market via a Facebook event page.

Its organiser Joe Hennessey (26), of Holbeach, says it will be a peaceful gathering united in one cause – “to help kick cancer’s backside”.

“It doesn’t matter how little or large donations are, anything counts towards these charities,” said Joanne.

“We have seen first-hand where the donations go – Addenbrookes has offered nothing but support and expert guidance since the diagnosis. These people are absolute heroes, their dedication and professionalism in the face of such unimaginable hardship is inspiring.”

* Donations can be made online via the family’s Virgin Money fundraising page - Lucas Devaney’s Fundraising Page – search Gareth Devaney to locate it.

Tory plans to force local authorities to sell off vacant council homes will not impact on South Holland, according to council leader Gary Porter.

He says the district doesn’t have the “massively expensive council houses” targeted by the policy in the Conservative manifesto.

Coun Porter explained: “Some of the (council) flats in London are a million quid and the argument is, once the people who are in them move out, instead of putting new council tenants in, you flog those – you first build a new one to replace the one you have just sold and use the other money to top up the RSLs (registered social landlords).”

The Conservatives plan to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants, which come under the banner of registered social landlords.

But, again, Coun Porter believes there will be minimal impact in South Holland with so few housing association properties – perhaps around 600 – and probably around only 150 of the tenants able to afford to buy the properties.

Housing charity Shelter helps millions of people who are struggling with bad housing and homelessness and it has criticised the plan to sell off housing association properties because it believes it will lead to a shortage of affordable homes.

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: “This would be yet another nail in the coffin for affordable housing. We have already seen an outright failure to replace like for like the homes sold under right to buy, with only one affordable new home built for every ten sold.

“Extending the scheme to housing associations may benefit a lucky few, but does little to help the millions of private renters struggling to cope with sky high housing costs and instability. And, with the current track record, will mean there are even fewer affordable homes left for future generations.

“At a time when more and more people are struggling to find an affordable place to live, the next government’s priority has to be building more affordable homes, not selling off the few we have left.”

The BBC reported that extending the right to buy to housing association tenants “would be funded by new rules forcing councils to sell properties ranked in the most expensive third of their type in the local area, once they become vacant, with every house purchased replaced on a one-for-one basis”.

Coun Porter said existing council tenants still have the right to buy and described it as a good thing because it enables people to get on the housing ladder and gives benefits like access to capital to start small businesses.

People needing help with money problems, transport and health service can find it in one place through a free advice service for Lincolnshire.

Lincs2Advice has almost 300 organisations registered with it, helping people to find the best-placed source of advice for their needs.

The service is supported by Lincolnshire Police whose spokesman said: “We work with many partner agencies, for a variety of reasons, to ensure the safety of members of the community.

“One of our partners is the Lincolnshire Advice Network, which is lottery-funded, to assist members of the public to access information when needed either by telephone or website.

You can call Lincs2Advice on 0300 303 8789, email infohub@lincs2advice.org.uk or visit www.lincs2advice.org.uk

People interested in community safety across the Holbeach area are invited to a meeting in the town tomorrow.

Holbeach Town and Rural Community Panel meets at the Age UK Pop-In Centre in Church Street where a public forum will be open from 6.30pm until 7pm.

Recent priorities for the panel have included the tackling of vehicles with faulty lighting, speeding and flytipping.

PC Scott McCaig, community beat manager for Holbeach, said: “The panel is made up of members of the public and whilst the meeting will have members of the police present, the issues don’t have to be crime-related.

“Attending the public forum gives local people the opportunity to raise concerns they may have about Holbeach and the surrounding rural area.

“Any problems put forward will be discussed by the panel during the closed session when several priorities will be chosen.

“This is a chance for residents to influence what the police and panel focus on for the next three months, so what is decided really can make a difference.”

A family-run coach operator based near Market Deeping stands a chance of being recognised for its excursions with a leading industry award.

Shaws Coaches of Maxey has been shortlisted in the National Coach Tourism Awards, run by Coach Monthly magazine, with the winner to be named during a dinner and presentation evening at the West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire on May 14.

whether it has scooped the awards.  

Shaws is one of seven finalists in the Day Excursion Programme of the Year category after judges recognised both innovation and creativity in its tour programme throughout the UK and Europe.

It is the sixth consecutive year in which Shaws have been nominated for the award which the company previously won in 2012 and again at last year.

Jane Duffelen, a partner in the coach company, said: “This is a fiercely contested category and to be shortlisted again is a huge honour.

“We are proud to have reached the final for six years running and it is a recognition of the variety of holidays and day tours that we offer.

“At the same time, we are always looking for interesting new ideas and try to react to public demand by introducing contemporary destinations such as the new Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester.

“When we won last year, the judges noted our ability to run day excursions to new, less familiar, and unusual destinations, as well as the excellent customer feedback we were able to show.”

A drunken man punched his partner and then bit her wrist, leaving teeth marks.

Marcin Lakomczak (32), of Winsover Road, Spalding, woke up in the small room they shared and complained that his partner had given his food to her child, Boston magistrates heard.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said the woman – in frustration – lost her temper and struck Lakomczak on the back of his head.

She said Lakomczak retaliated by punching her, causing pain and bruising, and by biting her wrist, leaving teeth marks in her skin.

The pair then tussled – pulling each other’s hair – before the woman managed to escape the house and call the police.

Earlier in her statement, the woman said there had been previous incidents of domestic abuse, which she hadn’t reported to the police, and that “she feels scared of him”.

Lakomczak pleaded guilty to common assault at a hearing on March 11, when sentence was adjourned for a probation report.

At Wednesday’s resumed hearing, he was given a year-long community order with 120 hours’ unpaid work and a requirement to undertake a 60-day rehabilitation activity.

He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Presiding magistrate Mrs Sarah Jennings told Lakomczak: “We regard this as a very serious offence so we hope you will take it seriously.”

Lakomczak, who was not legally represented, told the court he had stopped drinking and has found a job.

He did not know if he and his partner would get back together again because his bail conditions stated he could not contact her. The court did not impose a restraining order barring future contact.