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.
Email
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.
Speech and Language Drop-in Sessions
The NHS is piloting Speech and Language Drop-in Sessions across the county included two in Lincoln.
Parents with a child aged 4 years or under that are concerned about their speech, language and communication development, can now attend one of 10 drop in sessions located weekly at 10 children’s centres designated as Family Hubs, including St Giles and Lincoln North Children’s Centres.
For dates and times follow this link to the NHS Website
No referral is necessary. Please note spaces will be limited for each drop- in session and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Virtual drop in sessions will also be available for nursery settings and any parents/carers not able to access one of the Children’s Centres, please email
At the drop-in session a child’s speech, language and communication development will be assessed by a member of the Speech and Language Therapy team and parents/guardians will be provided with activities and strategies to help support their speech, language and communication needs as indicated.
Free Funding Webinar – Raising Funds Through Christmas Shopping
Community groups, non profits, charities, social enterprises, CICs, faith and voluntary organisations are invited to join a free online session with easyfundraising to learn how to raise extra income during the busy Christmas shopping season.
The session will explain how good causes can access unrestricted funding when their supporters shop online.
Over 8,000 well known online retailers including John Lewis, eBay, Argos, M&S, Tesco, Boots, Sainbsbury’s and many more donate a small percentage of each purchase, at no cost to the shopper.
These donations can provide valuable funds to support running costs or local projects. The webinar will include a live demonstration of how to use the free easyfundraising platform, practical tips for getting started, and a Q&A with easyfundraising’s Becky Coleman.
The webinar will take place on Thursday, October 30 from 12.30pm to 1.30pm online - follow this link to book your free place on Zoom.
Oasis therapeutic garden, Cherry Willingham
Green Synergy and Cherry Willingham Parish Council are working towards an agreement whereby the charity will take over the running of the Oasis therapeutic garden on Cherry Fields for 25 years.
The Oasis Garden, which opened on October 1 will be the third community green space operated by Green Synergy and its aims to restore the village facility through a phased programme of projects and programmes supported by staff, volunteers and our local communities to enable people to socialise, learn and thrive through gardening and social therapeutic horticulture.
Physical health checks for people with mental health issues
Do you live in Lincolnshire and have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis? Or do you live with, or support someone, who does?
The Lincolnshire Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Transformation team is inviting people with personal experience to help create better ways to spread the word about annual physical health checks.
People with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis can have more physical health problems. A yearly health check helps to find problems early and keeps you, or the person you live with or support, healthy.
You can help by:
- Telling us awareness can be raised about the annual physical health checks? For example, what kind of information would catch your eye (posters, social media, video, website)?
- How can the team can invite people to their annual health check, so they feel encouraged to attend and make an appointment? (e.g. letters, text messaging, phone calls)?
- Telling the team what words or pictures would make things easier to understand?
The group will be held online on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, November 5, 1pm to 3pm.
To get involved or learn more, please send an email to
Please let the team know by Friday, October 31 so it can send you further information and the meeting link.