Soap Box Derby returns for 2022

• Bikaneri Bar & Restaurant - The Crescent, Lancaster Road
  Delicious North Indian cuisine. Something for everyone with meat, vegetarian and vegan choices. Relaxed surroundings and a full bar.
• KEY Sound Piano and Keyboard Specialist - 35-37 Regent Street
  Nationally renowned and family owned piano and keyboard specialist. Full range of manufacturers and something to suit beginners to professional.
• MCC Hobby Centre (Model.Collect.Create) - 47 Castle Street
  Bringing hobbies back to the high street! Great displays and experts on hand to offer advice. Workshops and demonstrations throughout the year.
• Paul Edwards Interiors - 1A New Buildings
  Recently relocated to their fabulous new showroom. This is home interiors at its best, with everything you need to create an amazing space. Pop by for inspiration and great advice.

Following recent changes and the end of free testing, we thought that the attached information prepared by LCC for their Covid Champions would be useful to share. It seems to answer lots of the common questions.

For further information about vaccinations, please follow the link below to NHS Leicester CCG.

Feed the Hungry is a key local charity who have been collecting donations for Ukraine families and they continue to take these essential items out to Poland and Hungary. They would like to express their thanks to all those who have supported their efforts to date.

They now have families from Ukraine arriving in our Borough via both the Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme who, thankfully, have also been able to access clothing and other essential items by visiting the Feed the Hungry storage facility. There have been many messages of thanks from families saying how much they appreciate this support, and how much it has helped them, with many having had to flee their homes with little more than the clothes they stood up in.

Feed the Hungry is now seeking more volunteers to help them sort the incoming donations, so that everything is ready and accessible for when Ukraine families arrive:

They are looking for volunteers to help sort clothing, shoes and bedding to accompany a welcome pack of food and hygiene products.

Could you help? Are you available on Tuesdays or Fridays between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm over the coming weeks (1 Nutts Lane Industrial Estate, Nutts Lane, Hinckley, LE10 3EJ)

If you are able to help, whatever time you can spare, please contact either Elaine or Gwyn by email: elaine@feedthehungry.org.uk / gwyn@feedthehungry.org.uk

We are pleased to share details of the Green BELLE grants project which provides funding to local SME’s to undertake energy efficiency / carbon saving measures in their businesses.

The project will close to applications after June 22 and so we thought that, with the current rise in energy and other prices, local SME’s may be open to looking at such money saving measures.

The project includes advice/support from an officer who can help with identifying the most suitable energy saving solutions etc.

To check if your business may qualify and for more information on the project, please visit the Green BELLE website at www.greenbelle.org.uk

Leicestershire County Council’s SHIRE Community Grants programme for 2022-23 is now open for applications.

The SHIRE Community Grant programme enables VCSE (Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise) sector organisations to deliver community-based projects, services and activities which help to improve the lives of vulnerable people in Leicestershire.

Eligible organisations will be able to apply for a small grant (max £3,000) or a large grant (max £10,000) for community based projects and activities that are specifically focused on supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people and communities.

They are particularly interested in funding services, projects and activities that will:

• improve the lives, health and wellbeing of vulnerable or disadvantaged people and communities in Leicestershire
  
• provide community-based early intervention and prevention solutions which help to reduce demand on Council and other public services
• complement existing services already being delivered

The SHIRE Grant programme for 2022-23 will be administered over 3 rounds of funding. Round 1 is now open and the deadline for applications is Wednesday 8th June 2022.

Please visit the Shire Community Grants link below or see the documents attached.

We are pleased to attach the latest newsletter from our local policing team.

Additionally, officers are warning elderly residents to be vigilant when withdrawing money from cash machines.

It follows a small number of thefts from victims who have typically been approached mid-transaction and distracted or pushed to one side.

The victim’s account has then had the maximum withdrawal taken in some cases.

Officers are investigating the incidents but are issuing the following advice:

• Be aware of people standing too close or trying to distract you while using the machine
• If someone is too close to you, get your card out without withdrawing any money and walk away
• If possible use a cash machine located inside a bank’s premises
• Report suspicious activity to the police on 101

To receive updates about local issues as they arise, you may wish to consider signing up to the Neighbourhood Link service below.