Community Counts – news and resources to help local people
Welcome to the Community Counts column on Hello Lincoln – a round-up of the news from the groups, schemes and organisations that may just be able to provide the support or help you or your family need.
In this edition you can find help with heating oil bills, contribute to improving Lincoln’s Ermine Estate and get bespoke advice on how to settle into a new area as a member of a military family.
Much of the information in these columns has been supplied by CVS Lincolnshire (see story below) but increasingly groups working in the wider community are getting in touch with their news – all are welcome.
We’ll also be running special focus features highlighting the work of organisations helping others in their communities so please tell us about those running in your area too.
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And don’t forget you can find out what lots of organisations are up to through the pages of our What’s On guide – just click on the blue button link on this page.
We Are Ermine Drop-in Session
We Are Ermine is about local people, community and working together to make the Lincoln housing estate a better place to live.
Residents are invited to get involved and help make a difference in their neighourhoods and can start by attending this session on Friday (April 17), between 10.30am and 12.30pm at the Ermine Library and Community Hub on Ravendale Drive, LN2 2BT.
Go along to the friendly drop-in session and hear from:
CVS Lincolnshire – How to become a community leader, chair a meeting and develop new skills.
Lincoln Bishop University – Help to create future editions of Ermine News, create a new website for the area and manage social media pages.
Florens Collective – Learn photography and be part of a worldwide photography project
Refreshments will be provided and activities for children available. Pop in, have a chat and find out how you can get involved in your local community.
Military Move and Mingle
This initiative is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to deliver its Serving Families On the Move Programme. CVS Lincolnshire will be supporting newly relocated service families to settle into life in Lincolnshire.
The personalised support aims to create opportunities for relocated family members to be a positive and valued part of the community improving wellbeing through connections and reducing loneliness and isolation.
CVS Lincolnshire knows about the needs of armed forces relocated families through its membership of The Lincolnshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Board and also as part of The Lincolnshire Military, Veterans & Families Wellbeing Network.
Social isolation and loneliness were the top themes encountered by relocating service families because of:
- Frequent moves and being in transient communities
- Living in relatively isolated locations away from family and support networks
- The need to build confidence and motivation
- Having self-worth and own identity
CVS Lincolnshire staff (Armed Forces Community) have ‘lived experience’ of relocating to a new area and have faced the challenges associated with the frequent moves.
The project will be delivered to service families newly posted to:
- RAF Waddington
- RAF Digby
- RAF Coningsby
- RAF Cranwell
- Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham
- Sobraon Barracks, Lincoln.
The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Families in a new posting have more accessible information to support them to settle into a new and unfamiliar location.
- Newly arrived families report improved wellbeing by being introduced to and connected with activities provided in their new area.
- Fewer newly arrived and relocated service families report feeling isolated or lonely and more service families say they have effective support networks.
- Families feel more able to navigate the challenges of relocation, because their relationships are stronger.
Support offered:
- Initial contact will be made with newly arrived families across Lincolnshire within six to eight weeks of their arrival and two to three sessions offered.
- The Health and Wellbeing Officer will meet the service family/member(s) to identify and address any immediate and emerging need(s).
- Support is provided by offering solution planning and helping the family to access resources and navigate an unfamiliar location and setting. The Health and Wellbeing Officer will offer to accompany people to groups, activities and services and make the necessary introductions and help them familiarise and integrate into their new community.
- The focus will be on connecting to the community the benefits of which include a sense of belonging, developing and fostering new relationships and connections, building confidence and resilience and improving overall health and wellbeing.
Contact Vanessa by on 07458 016054 or email to
Heating Oil Support Scheme
The Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF) Heating Oil Support Scheme is a UK Government initiative, delivered locally by Lincolnshire County Council, to support low-income and vulnerable households with the rising cost of domestic heating oil.
Households that rely on heating oil are not protected by the national energy price cap, unlike those using gas and electricity. This leaves them more exposed to sudden price increases. To help address this, over 5,000 households across Lincolnshire may be eligible for a one-off £300.00 voucher towards the cost of heating oil.
This scheme is strictly limited to one application per household and priority will be given to low-income households who are in the highest need of support.
Applicants must:
- Have low income (under £36,000 combined for household)
- Have savings of less than £6,000
- Not be on a mains gas supply and utilise heating oil as the primary fuel for heating and/or hot water
- Be at risk of losing immediate access to heating or hot water due to a lack of heating oil
- Be able to pay the difference between the vouchers value (£300) and the cost of the heating oil including delivery
Get help via (links lead to different pages)
- West Lindsey - Lincolnshire Community Foundation website
- Lincoln City – Lincolnshire Community Foundation website
- North Kesteven – Lincolnshire Community Foundation website
Reminder – Women’s Health Day
A Women's Health Day will be held in Lincoln on Saturday, April 18, in a bid to improve services.
The event has been organised by a local women’s health group that is campaigning for services to be better co-ordinated.
It will be held between 11am and 3 pm, at Grafton House on Newland and a key aim is to bring together community services that help improve women’s physical and mental health.
For full story see https://tinyurl.com/3exdhrrw
What is CVS Lincolnshire?
Two bodies dealing with the third sector across the county - Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) and Voluntary Centre Services (VCS) - have joined to form CVS Lincolnshire.
The new CVS (Community and Voluntary Servives) will have a stronger infrastructure body to improve services, reduce duplication, and deliver greater value for local communities, partners and funders.
The two bodies had previously worked in close co-operation as the Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Partnership (LCVP) but formally joined on April 1.
“Ultimately, the change is about ensuring long-term sustainability and improving outcomes for communities across Lincolnshire,” said a spokesperson.
“This merger is about building something stronger for the future. By bringing our organisations together, we can focus our resources where they matter most - supporting local people and helping communities thrive.
“It allows us to work smarter, respond better to need, and create a unified voice for the voluntary sector in Lincolnshire. Our priority is making sure local organisations feel supported, heard, and equipped to succeed.”
CVS in Lincoln is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm at City Hall on Beaumont Fee – call 01522 551683.