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.
Much of the information in this first column has been supplied by Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Partnership, but we’re inviting all groups working in the wider community to get in touch with their news.
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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.
Ready to make a difference in children's lives?
Join the Classroom to Career Skills Bootcamp — a free, in-person programme designed for aspiring educators looking to re-enter the workforce or switch careers. Over 10 weekly sessions (starting January 2026), you'll explore child development, inclusive education, behaviour management, and more — all while building confidence and career readiness.
Delivered at Ermine Library & Community Hub
Register your interest:
No experience needed just your passion and potential.
Busy Saturday at Mint Lane Hub
A Student Skillshare and Eartlincs Drop-in sessions will be held at Mint Lane Wellbeing Hub today (Saturday) between 2-4pm.
Visitors are welcome to take along clothes to mend – with skilled assistance on site and there’s also the chance to try out basic DIY with over 80 tools to borrow from the Library of Things.
Learn about volunteering opportunities and find out about local climate change action while you enjoy tea, coffee and biscuits.
Email:
Website: stufftoborrow.lend-engine-app.com
Parkinson’s café
The Bailgate Parkinson’s Drop in Café held its third successful meeting in November and organisers have been pleased to the response from sufferers of the disease and their carers.
“We meet again on Wednesday December 10 when you are welcome to enjoy pork pies, mince pies together with hot drinks and most importantly company and support,” said volunteer Martin Dickie.
“The Drop-in Café gives the opportunity to be listened to and give each other support and advice on how to handle this neurological disease. It is free for any Parkinson’s sufferer and their carer (donations are welcome) and parking is available.”
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder with a wide variety of symptoms. In the UK, a new person is diagnosed with Parkinson's every 20 minutes, with Parkinson's UK expecting around 172,000 diagnoses by 2030 and predicting that 1 in 37 people alive today will develop the condition in their lifetime. The condition predominantly affects people over 50, but approximately 10-20% of cases are young-onset Parkinson's, diagnosed before the age of 50. Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain, leading to reduced dopamine levels and affecting movement control.
The exact trigger is unknown but is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
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Adult training opportunities
Health and wellbeing charity Shine Lincolnshire is offering a range fully funded adult learning and accredited training opportunities.
The programmes cover a variety of valuable and practical topics, including:
- Slow Cooker Cooking
- Five Ways to Wellbeing
- Mental Health First Aid
- Healthy Habits
- Introduction to Peer Support
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Volunteering in the Community & Third Sector Roles
- Supporting Friends, Family, and Community Mental Health
- Managing Mental Health for Employability
- Suicide First Aid for Children and Young People
For more information, or to book onto any of the courses, please contact:
A&E survey for young children
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board is supporting the Urgent Emergency Centre (UEC) Programme to understand why more young children (0-5 years) from deprived backgrounds need emergency treatment than those in other demographics.
The aim is to understand why parents and carers take children to Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) or Accident & Emergency (A&E). The main focus is on children aged 0 to 5 years, but views are welcome from anyone with a child of any age.
If you’ve taken your child to A&E or an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), please take a few minutes to share your experience by following this link to the survey on the NHS Lincolnshire website.
This survey is part of a project to improve urgent and emergency care and make sure all families can get the help they need when they need it.
Your feedback will help improve urgent care for families across Lincolnshire.
Digital Weight Management Programme
Are you ready to take control of your health, from the comfort of your own home?
If so, the Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) is free, flexible and tailored to you.
- Provides access to expert nutrition and diet advice
- Supports healthy habits
- Helps understand weight change
- All from your phone, tablet or computer
The programme provides free, personalised support for patients with a BMI over 30 who also have high blood pressure and/or diabetes, helping improve health and wellbeing.
It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.
Join thousands who are taking control of their health with this easy-to-use digital programme.
Whether you are just starting out or getting back on track, it’s here to help.
To start your journey to a healthier lifestyle, you need to speak to your GP or a local pharmacist who can refer you to the programme.
You can get more information on the programme, by following this link to the NHS website.
