April LOOP Magazine 2020 Issue 40

Networking in your local community...

In this issue:

Recipes by Chef Jay Geddes Swanwick Marina Planning Space Times Computer Know How! Business support - COVID19 Domestic Support (Legal) Wickham Festival www.loopmagazine.net

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Front Cover: Jay Geddes Chef to the stars

Issue 40 April Edition

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Reaching over 40,000 in our Local Community:

Locks Heath • Sarisbury Green • Titchfield • Stubbington • Park Gate • Titchfield Common Hedge End • Botley • Swanwick • Warsash • Bursledon • West End • Whiteley • Hamble • Wickham Lee-on-theMagazine Solent • Boorley Green • Fareham • contactus@loopmagazine.net Bishop’s Waltham • Waltham Chase • Knowle • Shedfield 1

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Click Here https://www.loopmagazine.net/advertising/ Enquiries: Contactus@loopmagazine.net Editor: blake@loopmagazine.net Advertising and features: sarah@loopmagazine.net Space Times UK: Blake Hopley BSc (hons), MSc, MResSci Front Cover: Chef Jay Geddes Production: LOOP Magazine Contributors: Chef Jay Geddes Fashion: Thomas Marrington

No part of LOOP should be reproduced or used in any form, either whole or in part without express written permission. While every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies contained within this publication or within advertisement featured in this publication.

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Contents Page 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 26 18 20 22 24 25 26 30 38 41 42 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 63 64

Wartime Recipes by Chef Jay Geddes Slow cooked beef & dumplings Bake your own Wartime Loaf Lord Woolton Pie Curried Potatoes and Breaded Spam Gooseberry Tart Swanwick Marina Planning Approved Gosport Marina retain 5 Gold Anchors British Motor Yacht Show deferred Space Times UK – April Fashion fights Coronavirus WGS Tree Services Local Trades Eastleigh Borough Council News Finance and Legal Police and Crime Commissioner Corona virus support services Hampshire Constabulary Covid-19 and family issues – FAQ’s HM Government COVID19 Support for businesses Crime Prevention Update Solent LEP Task Force Crowdfund Solent LEP Computer Knowhow – Hypersonic Health and Wellbeing – Gig Buddies Where to get help during COVID19 Canine Partners appears on national TV with Olympian Iwan Thomas Netley Court Care Home celebrates outstanding rating - Cinnamon Care Place of Pride Photograph Competition WIN £500 News from the Royal Navy – Gosport Aviation Society Wickham Festival set to take place!

Bishops Waltham Festival The Overtones Jay Geddes Recipes – Heart Warmers

If you want to know what’s happening in your local community – the places to go, the events to visit, the shows to see - get in the LOOP! If you want competitions, prizes, photos,articles, directories of local leisure and great discount offers at local shops and restaurants - get in the LOOP! If you want a magazine that’s your indispensable one-stop shop for local news, information and listings – get in the LOOP! Business advertisers – if you want a great response from your local community and a great return on your investment – then ask about our special competitive rates today – and get in THE LOOP! #GetinTheLoop be a part of your community www.loopmagazine.net

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Cope with food rationing using simple WW2 recipes

As we face rationing and empty shelves for the first time since WW2 – having less in your cupboards doesn’t mean we can’t cook up a bit of survival spirit. Top chef JAY GEDDES - Chef to the stars and regular LOOP Magazine Recipe

contributor has put together six, easy-to-cook wartime meals which appeared in the Daily STAR (more Heart Warming recipes on page 48) – and they can all be made easily with staples from your kitchen.

Slow cooked beef & dumplings

A traditional British staple that is easy to freeze if you want to batch-cook.

Method: Preheat the oven to 160°C. Heat the oil in a medium-large casserole pan with a tight-fitting lid then gently fry the onion and bacon for five minutes until softened.

Meanwhile, dry the beef piec-es with kitchen paper and dust with the plain flour, tapping off the excess. Add to the onion pan along with the vegetables, tomato purée, wine, stock, rose-mary and some seasoning (the meat and veg should just be covered with liquid – if not, Ingredients: top up with more stock or water). Turn up the A big glug of olive oil One onion, peeled and roughly chopped heat, bring to the boil, cover and put into the oven.

Four rashers of bacon Cook until the beef is tender – about three Two braising steaks, cut into 4cm chunks hours. Half an hour before the beef is due to be Plain flour, to dust ready, make the dumplings. Sift the self-raising flour into a large bowl then stir in the suet, Two medium parsnips, cut into 2.5cm parsley and lots of seasoning. Add 100ml of pieces cold water then stir to make a soft and slightly Two medium carrots, cut into 2.5cm sticky dough. pieces Carefully take the casserole out of the oven, One large leek, cut into 1cm slices remove the lid and discard the rosemary sprigs.

Four tbsps tomato purée Check the stew’s seasoning.

Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of the dumpling 220ml red wine dough, gently roll into balls and place on top of 700ml beef stock the stew, spacing apart.

Six fresh rosemary sprigs Return to the oven (without a lid) for the final 30 Salt and pepper, to taste, plus extra for minutes of cooking (or until the dumplings are the dumplings For the dumplings: lightly golden).

130g self-raising flour Check the seasoning and serve with mashed potatoes, if you like. You can also freeze this 70g suet dish for up to one month.

Two tbsps dried parsley

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Bake Your Own Wartime Loaf

Introduced in 1942, this bread was made from wholemeal flour to combat shortages of white flour during World War Two. Ingredients: 900g wholemeal flour Six tsps quick-rise yeast Two pinches of sugar One tsp salt One tbsp butter or margarine 620ml warm water One tbsp rolled oats (for the top)

Place the dough into flour 1/2lb tins that have been floured, then brush the top with a little water and sprinkle on some rolled oats. Leave to rise for about 20 minutes, then place in the oven at 180°C for around 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of the loaf). Remove from the oven and cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

Method: Place the flour in a large bowl then mix in all of the dry ingredients except the rolled oats.

Add the butter or margarine then pour in the warm water and mix thoroughly.

When the dough comes together, knead for 10 minutes Until it is silky then place back in the bowl and cover.

Let the dough rise somewhere warm until doubled in size then knead it briefly again. contactus@loopmagazine.net

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Lord Woolton Pie

This pastry dish was widely served during WW2 to provide a nutritious, veg-packed meal.

Ingredients: Potatoes, for mashing Various in-season vegetables such as swedes, turnips, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, leeks, onions and carrots Flour, butter and milk, for the mash and sauce Salt, pepper and herbs such as sage or thyme for the sauce Strong Cheddar cheese, grated

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Method: Wash and peel the pota-toes and save the peelings to bake in the oven with salt and herbs.Dice the potatoes and cook in salted water until soft, then mash with butter, a little milk and add salt. Peel, wash and dice the veg as applicable and boil until nearly cooked, then drain and place in a pie dish. For the sauce, use a dessert-spoon of butter and melt in the pan. Add two dessertspoons of flour and mix. Slowly add in the milk and keep stirring.

Add salt and herbs and pepper. Pour the thick sauce over the vegetables.

Put the mashed potato in a bag with a hole in the corner, then pipe it over the veg and sauce.

Finish by placing some grated Cheddar cheese over the top, then place in the oven at 220°C for about 30 minutes until the potatoes have browned.

Curried Potatoes

Another popular and filling WW2 staple.

Ingredients: 1.3kg washed potatoes in their skins Two dessertspoons curry powder Two dessertspoons medium oatmeal A good pinch of salt, plus extra to taste Vinegar, to taste Method: Place the potatoes in boiling water and parboil for about 10 min-utes.

Mix the curry powder, oatmeal and salt together. Slice the parboiled potatoes into 1cm chunks or wedges, ensuring that the potato surfaces are moist before you gently toss them into the curry powder mixture. Place the pieces on a baking

tray and cook in the oven at 230°C for about 25 minutes – or until the outsides start to crisp. Finish with extra salt and vinegar for that traditional chip shop taste.

Breaded Spam

The tinned luncheon meat was popular among both civilians and soldiers.

Ingredients: 1 tbsp ground paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 20g panko bread crumbs One tin of Spam, sliced into serving-size slices 20g plain flour Two large eggs, at room temperature Method: Preheat the oven to 220°C. Mix the paprika, garlic powder and bread crumbs together, coat the Spam slices in flour then egg wash, then roll in the bread crumbs mixture.

Place on a tray that you’ve covered in greaseproof paper and bake for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can shallow-fry them for four or five minutes, or until golden brown. contactus@loopmagazine.net

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Gooseberry Tart

You can also replace the gooseberries for other fruit, such as redcurrants and rhubarb.

Ingredients: 250g all-butter shortcrust pastry Plain flour, for dusting Three large eggs 220ml double cream 90g caster sugar One tsp vanilla extract 250-300g small gooseberries – can be found in tins Icing sugar, to serve Method: Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until large enough to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Trim the excess pastry from around the edge then line the tin with baking parchment, fill with baking beans and chill for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 200°C. Bake the tin for 15 minutes then carefully lift out the parchment and beans. Bake for five minutes more or until biscuity. Meanwhile, beat the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla together then strain into a jug.

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Scatter the gooseberries into the tin then pour in the vanilla custard mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes un-til the custard is set and the gooseberries are tender. Cool a little before serving, or cool completely and eat cold, dusted with icing sugar.

Maritime

Swanwick Marina - Planning Approved For Sales Pavilion and Restaurants

Premier Swanwick is delighted to announce that a planning application for a Pavilion building to house boat sales and marine businesses, along with a new food, beverage and facilities building, overlooking the water, has been approved by Fareham Borough Council.

The approved planning also includes a new bridgehead entrance structure, additional car parking and trolley storage at the marina.

These new landside developments follow the recent completion of Swanwick’s new floating marina a £4m investment by Premier Marinas. The new floating marina offers 333 berths (6m-40m); an overall increase of 59 on the old configuration.

Alongside this, all Swanwick berth holders now benefit from a berth measuring at least the length of their boat. This feature, coupled with fairway and pontoon specifications that exceed industry standards, make berthing

easier and safer - particularly for power boat owners who can now step directly onto their pontoon from the back of their boat.

But one of the most innovative aspects of Premier’s new marina lies at the centre section, where berths are set 700mm above water the water (200mm above standard industry height) to reduce sailing boat customers’ deck to pontoon ‘jump down’ when berthing their vessel.

General Manager at Swanwick Marina, Graham Bristowe is pleased to receive the go ahead to continue with the land development of Swanwick Marina: “In these most testing times, this is great news for Swanwick Marina. We know that our tenants and berth holders alike will be happy to see the continued investment on their site”

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Maritime

PREMIER’S GOSPORT MARINA RETAIN 5 GOLD ANCHORS AWARDS Following an assessment of Gosport Marina and its facilities, Premier is delighted to announce that the marina has retained its prestigious 5 Gold Anchors Award.

This award, made by The Yacht Harbour Association, is the highest level attainable and is indicative of the superior quality of customer service and range of facilities provided at both marinas.

The Gold Anchor Award Scheme is a voluntary assessment programme, established over 25 years ago and which offers a trustworthy measure of excellence for boat owners when looking for a visiting or annual berth. Internationally recognised, The Gold Anchor Award Scheme ratings can vary from 1 to 5 gold anchors and involve a three stage process; an independent assessment, a ‘Mystery Shopper’ visit and a berth holder’s online questionnaire. All these findings contribute to the final Gold Anchor rating.

This winter, Premier Marinas invested significantly in a new ticketless car parking system at Gosport. Jonathan Walcroft, Marina Manager CMM at Gosport is very pleased with the outcome: “My aim is to make sure that when customers arrive at the marina they have a safe and secure

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Maritime parking space. This new system enables the team to have full awareness of who is parking on site at all hours.”

British Motor Yacht Show 2020 deferred to 11-14 June 2020 Premier Marinas Swanwick announced today that The British Motor Yacht Show 2020 will now run from 11th to 14th June 2020. This deferral comes in response to the rapidly changing Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation.

Now in its seventh year, the June show is set to feature a stunning line up of top British brands, Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker plus over 20 high profile overseas motor boats and tenders.

Graham Bristowe, Premier’s Swanwick Marina General Manager explained further: “Following discussion with our show partners Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker we believe that moving the show into June is both a prudent and responsible approach to the Coronavirus risk as it is presented at this time.”

For those who wish to visit the British Motor Yacht Show in June, further information on the exhibitor line up at Premier’s Swanwick Marina can be found at

Premier Marinas

Established in 1994, Premier Marinas owns and operates nine of the UK’s most prestigious marinas. All based on the South Coast, locations include: Eastbourne, Brighton, Chichester, Southsea, Port Solent, Gosport, Swanwick, Noss on Dart and Falmouth in Cornwall.

With over 5,000 berths combined, Premier Marina strives to be the finest marina operator in the UK, providing first-class boat storage services and quality boatyard facilities at all its marinas.

Premier Marinas is owned by the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation that exists to improve health for everyone. Wellcome has a diversified investment portfolio and a long-term approach to investment, as a result of which it aims to spend around £1 billion a year supporting scientists and researchers in Biomedicine, the humanities and the social sciences, and public engagement and education in these fields.

www.britishmotoryachtshow.com.

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SPACE TIMES UK

By Blake Hopley BSc (hons), MSc, MResSci

We are in for several treats this month, we have already had the brightest full moon of the year, the Pink Super Moon plus Venus is performing spectacularly! But that is not all, we also have some shooting stars to look out for. The ancient constellations of Leo and Virgo dominate the skies this spring. Leo does indeed look like a recumbent lion, it’s hard to envisage Virgo as anything other than a ‘Y’ in the sky.

Aprils Constellation

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Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is an international favourite. In Britain its seven brightest stars are known commonly as the plough, children today generally haven’t seen an old fashioned horse drawn plough, only the rusty remnants at the side of a road or in a display in museums. They have been frequently renaming it as the saucepan!

However in North America it is known as the big dipper.

The plough is the first star pattern that most get to know, it is always on view in the North Hemisphere and the two ends of the bowl of the plough point directly to the Pole Star Polaris which always lies north.

Ursa Major is unusual in that it contains a double star that you can spot with the naked eye. Mizar and Alcor. And unlike other constellations most of the stars in the Plough lie at the same distance and were born together.

8th - Full Super Moon, Pink Moon.

The moon will reach its full phase at 2:35 GMT on Wednesday, April, 8. April's full moon, this the second of three consecutive supermoons in 2020, known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Pink Moon, Egg Moon, or Fish Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Virgo. This full moon will occur less than 9 hours after perigee, the point in the moon's orbit when it is closest to Earth, generating high tides worldwide.

starting on Tuesday, April 14, the waning moon's orbital motion will carry it close past three bright planets—Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. On Tuesday morning, look for the moon sitting a generous palm's width to the right (or 7 degrees to the celestial west) of bright, white Jupiter — with yellowish Saturn and reddish Mars. The scene will make a fine wide field photograph when composed with some interesting landscape scenery.

14th - Last Quarter Moon The moon will reach its last quarter phase at 22:56 GMT on Tuesday, April 14. After this phase, the waning moon will traverse the final quarter of its orbit around the earth, on the way to new moon. At last quarter, the moon rises around midnight and remains visible in the southern sky during morning daylight.

Last quarter moons are illuminated on the eastern side, towards the pre-dawn sun. In the southeastern sky during the hours before sunrise, for four mornings

15th - Jupiter near Saturn The moon's trip past the planets will continue on Wednesday, April 15 in the southeastern sky in the hours before sunrise. The moon will now sit a few finger widths directly below (or 3 degrees to the celestial south of) yellowish Saturn, with brighter Jupiter positioned to their upper right (west) and reddish Mars off to their left (east).

Aprils Calendar

The arrangement will offer another lovely photo opportunity.

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16th - Moon near Mars Visible in the southeastern sky on Thursday morning between 5 a.m. local time and sunrise, the crescent moon will jump east to take up a position four finger widths to the lower left (or 3.5 degrees to the celestial southeast) of reddish Mars. Yellowish Saturn and bright, white Jupiter will be positioned a generous fist's diameter to the upper right of Mars. This will be the third of four consecutive mornings that will offer a fine photo opportunity featuring the moon and bright planets.

April will be downwards between Capella and Polaris. In binoculars, the comet should appear as faint, fuzzy grey patch, and elongated due to a developed tail. Once you've located it, a backyard telescope might also show a hint of green, a characteristic colour of these icy visitors.

21st - Lyrids Meteor Shower The annual Lyrids meteor shower, derived from particles dropped by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), runs from April 16 to 28, and will peak in intensity around 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, April 22. The 18th - all night—Comet Atlas in the dark for this year's shower. best viewing Northern Sky time will be between midnight and dawn A comet designated c/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) on Wednesday, with fewer meteors on is predicted to become bright enough the mornings before and after. The to see with unaided eyes in May. If this meteors will streak away from a point in holds true, and comets are notoriously the sky (the shower's radiant) near the unpredictable, the comet should be bright star Vega, which will be high in the observable in binoculars during April, eastern sky before dawn. The Lyrids can too. The moonless nights surrounding produce up to 18 meteors per hour, with the weekend of Saturday, April 18 are the occasional fireballs. A nearly new moon best in April month for finding it. will leave the skies nice and Once the sky has darkened, face northwest, and sweep your binoculars 23rd - New Moon inside the large triangle formed by the At its new phase on Thursday, April 23 bright star Capella, dimmer Polaris, and at 2:26 GMT, the moon will be travelling the Big Dipper. The comet's path during between the Earth and the sun. Since 14

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sunlight is only shining on the side of the moon aimed away from us, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, the moon is hidden from view everywhere on Earth for about a day.

will shine at a spectacular magnitude –4.73. Its 27% illuminated crescent phase will be apparent in any telescope or spotting scope, good binoculars—or even to very sharp, unaided eyes.

25th - Moon between Pleiades and Aldebaran

30th - First Quarter Full Moon When a lunar phase occurs on the first day of a calendar month, it can repeat at month-end — so tonight brings a first 26th - Moon near Venus In the western sky after dusk on quarter phase for the second time this Sunday, April 26, the thin, waxing April. crescent moon will make a pretty sight When the moon reaches its first when it sits a palm's width to the left (or 6 quarter phase, the relative positions of degrees to the celestial south) of Venus. the Earth, sun, and moon cause us to On the nights before and after, the moon see the moon half illuminated—on the will also be there—but lower and higher western (right-hand) side. First quarter than Venus, respectively. moons rise at noon and set at midnight, so they are visible starting in the afternoon hours. The term first quarter 28th - Venus at Maximum Brightness On Monday, April 28, the evening planet refers not to the moon's appearance, but the fact that our natural satellite has now Venus will achieve its "greatest illuminated extent" for the current lengthy completed one quarter of its orbit around evening apparition. That evening, Venus Earth, counting from the last new moon.

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FASHION FIGHTS CORONAVIRUS

As the world collectively joins in to fight against covid-19, Thomas Marrington reports on how the fashion and beauty industry is stepping up to support the global medical community

Christian Dior’s factory in Saint-Jean de Braye © LVMH

We’re living in unprecedented times. As the fallout fashion group behind high-street brands like Zara, from the spread of coronavirus ravages the globe, is offering their help to the Spanish government, almost no industry or business remains untouched enlisting their factories and logistics teams on by its impact. Amongst them is the fashion industry, distributing masks to patients and medical workers. once so reliant on the face-to-face customer GAP is doing the same, additionally supplying PPE experience, receiving some much-welcome relief resources to hospital networks in Calfornia. thanks to the explosion of online shopping - relief And it’s not just clothing manufactures. LVMH, that has enabled them in many cases to step up to the French multinational luxury conglomerate, has the challenge and join the fight. switched production to manufacture hydroalcoholic When you can help, you should help. For gel - known to you and me as hand sanitizer - to most of us, this simply means staying home to slow combat the shortage France currently faces. Where the spread of the disease, but for companies dealing they previously produced products for Parfums with clothing manufacturing, many are utilising Christian Dior, Givenchy, Guerlain and more, they their resources wisely. Chief amongst these, the now fill those infamous CD logo embossed bottles iconic American fashion house with anti-bacterial solution.

Ralph Lauren has pledged These are being delivered $10 million in donations, split “companies dealing with free of charge to French amongst multiple benefactors clothing manufacturing health authorities and to the including the World Health Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux are utilising their Organization’s COVID-19 de Paris, a commitment LVMH resources wisely” Solidarity Response Fund. have sworn to honour as long Similarly, Gucci as is necessary. announced they would be donating €2 million to Closer to home, The Body Shop is taking the COVID-19 relief effort, whilst Nike is donating care of NHS workers in the UK with care packages more than $15 million to support communities donated to hospitals across the country, whilst in where Nike employees live and work. But it’s not the US they have delivered “approximately 30,000 just donations that brands are helping with. Many units of cleansing products to shelters and senior are taking advantage of their top-of-the-range citizens communities”. manufacturing capabilities and pivoting production There are many more brands and many to masks and medical equipment. more stories, with each new day bringing updates Chanel, Burberry and Kering, the luxury from the world of fashion and beauty. It’s a reminder conglomerate home to fashion houses such as that when it truly comes down to it, the biggest Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, are all providing businesses need us just as much as we need them. health services across the globe with medical And in times of crisis, pulling together will always masks and gowns. But it’s not just the luxury make us stronger and more resilient in the face of brands pitching in to help out. Inditex, the Spanish adversity.

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Local Charity Coordinates Volunteer & Community Response to Covid-19 Community First is working with key agencies to coordinate the volunteer and community response to the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Working across Hampshire, Community First is working with districts with three clear aims: ● If you require support and advice in this crisis please - email us at support@cfirst.org.uk. We are continuing some of our own services such as Transport, Shopmobility & Wellbeing Service and we will endeavour to put you in contact with your local Community Support. ● Do you want to volunteer?

Go to www.volunteerwessex.org. to register your interest

● We are here to support our members. If you have any questions, contact us. We’ll be updating twice weekly. Go to www.cfirst.org.uk/community-first-enews/ to get on our mailing list or email support@cfirst.org.uk Tim Houghton, Community First’s CEO, says “We are working with a wide range of agencies and groups to ensure that elderly and vulnerable members of our communities are supported at this difficult time. If you are worried about a neighbour, friend or isolated relative we can signpost you to the local community support that’s available’.

Across our communities we have an army of volunteers coming forward to help those most in need. We want to build on this social action and provide people with the tools to carry on this essential role. If you are coordinating a team of volunteers and would like to offer support please contact us via our website www.cfirst.org.uk and a member of our rapid response team will be in contact with you.

Relax and let your business succeed...

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About WGS Tree Services WGS Tree Services are a family run business which started around 30 years ago and in this time they have built up a great clientèle supplying the best hard and soft wood logs around.

They cover all aspects of forestry and tree cutting, tree/hedge work, site clearance, logs, stump grinding and wood chipping.

WGS have a great customer base due to their friendly and trusted service and always welcome new customers and happy to share their knowledge on firewood and arboriculture.

Wes from WGS said: “I started logging at the age of 13 and at 16 decided to go to college to study in arboriculture. After securing various tickets in tree surgery and logging.

I started a small tree team that has developed over the years. Covering all aspects of tree & hedge work. All members of the team are friendly, hardworking and all with the relevant NTPC skilled qualifications.

No job is to BIG or SMALL and stay true to my word. I only use the best climbers and groundsman to carry out all of our work to the highest standard. Please don’t hesitate to read our testimonials from various satisfied customers.

For the last 20 years I have worked alongside my father running the family log business, as well as keeping the tree and hedge work operating in tandem.”

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In 2010 WGS bought a kindlet kindling machine to produce their own kindling wood made out of the finest soft wood. All kindling is barn stored and dry. They provide a high volume of bags wholesale and household. We cater for all orders no matter how small or large.

24 hour emergency call out Please don’t hesitate to call us ANY time of the day. We have a highly trained team ready to help you with any of your tree related problems.

Contact them for emergency calls 24 hours a day

Tel : 01489 311993 http://bit.ly/2PewV4j

WGS Tree Services sponsor Hedge End Town FC, and you can too!

WGS Tree Services are proud sponsors of Hedge End Town Football Team and are running sponsorship packages for local business to sponsor them too.

They said: “Thank you to all our sponsors we will have your signs hung round the Norman Rodway for our upcoming fixture.”

If you are interested in sponsoring the Local Football Team in Hedge End, please contact Wes Skinner on wgskindling@gmail.com or call 01489311993.

Your sign will be displayed at all fixtures for £50.00 at Norman Rodaway Sports Field, Heath House Ln, Southampton SO30 0LE

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"Hi the LOOP , My Company ' The Double Glazing Doctor ' , has had a tremendous response from our last placed advert. Certainly a very professional and very well produced ad. Keep up the great work , and long may it continue. A very happy..... Paul Parkes. 0800 00 44 22"

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Mayor and Deputy Mayor to serve a second year

The Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Darshan Mann and Deputy Mayor Cllr Cynthia Garton will both serve a second term in their respective roles until May 2021 in the light of the ongoing uncertainty over the Coronavirus crisis.

The Council’s Annual General Meeting and Mayor Making ceremony was due to be held in May 2020 but given the current situation this will now not take place be held with regulations already in place to remove the requirement for Councils to hold an Annual General

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Meeting.

Council Leader Keith House said, “The end of the current Mayoral year and the beginning of the new Mayoral year will both be affected by the coronavirus crisis with many events and activities now not taking place.

This decision allows Darshan to complete his full year as Mayor and also allows Cynthia to experience both the Mayor Making ceremony and to also enjoy her full year as Mayor.”

Council makes plans to hold Council meetings online Eastleigh Borough Council is working towards being able to hold committee meetings online following changes to current legislation.

New regulations have now come into force enabling local authorities to hold ‘virtual’ meetings during the COVID-19 crisis as a way of complying with social distancing requirements. Changes to the law means, that for a temporary period, the Council can comply with rules requiring public and press access to its meetings and associated documents through remote means and website access.

Existing legislation had meant that

meetings must be in person and required attendance of all members at a place together. The changes also relax some requirements for local authority meetings to take place during this time.

Council Leader Keith House said, “Holding ‘virtual’ meetings means Council business can continue whilst ensuring the health and safety of councillors, our staff and the public in line with official public health guidance. Using digital technology provides greater flexibility for the Council to continue to take decisions about important local issues.”

Over £1.2 million distributed to over 90 Eastleigh Borough businesses in coronavirus grants payout

Over £1.2million has been paid out in emergency support to 93 Eastleigh Borough businesses impacted by the coronavirus crisis. The grants are being distributed by the Borough Council which is currently processing a steady stream of applications; payments totalling £1,210,000 have already been paid to 93 businesses in the Borough and more are under consideration. Business owners from the Borough have shared their appreciation to the Council after receiving notification of their grant, one company owner said : “Your email has made such a huge difference to how we are dealing with everything, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Thank you to you and your colleagues for everything, your help is appreciated more than you will ever realise.”

Businesses that are eligible could receive a £10k or £25k grant depending on the size of the company. If a company is in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief or run a business in retail,

hospitality or the leisure sector and have a Rateable Value of £51,000 or less, they can complete the form to be assessed for eligibility for any grants or reliefs.

Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, Councillor Keith House, said: “The Council is committed to supporting the prosperity of local businesses and we are very aware of the difficulties and huge uncertainty that many in the Borough are suffering as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Our Economic Development team responded very quickly to the government’s initiative, and it is excellent that that so many businesses have already responded and that we have been able to provide help so quickly.”

The Economic Development team at the Council is encouraging people to continue to apply for business grants if they haven’t yet done so, and they will continue to process these over the coming weeks.

The application form can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/2RlcGmE

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FINANCE AND LEGAL powers are to give further encouragement to those few who are not conforming to understand that this cannot be allowed to continue and inappropriate and risky behaviour will ultimately come with penalties through enforcement.

"Policing’s first action though will be to engage, explain and encourage those creating risk to return home, obey social distancing and not to congregate.

Ultimately if this does not create the right response, the additional powers are welcome options to have."

The new powers are intended to ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, from today, if members of the public do not comply the police may:

PCC Hampshire responds to additional powers for policing with call for all to take personal responsibility for doing the necessary and right things to save lives and reduce risk.

Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane said: "As has been advertised for the last few days, today our Constabulary, as for other forces, has been given new powers of enforcement to assist in protecting the public and ensuring appropriate behaviours to protect us all and save lives.

"Across our area, people are doing the right thing in the vast majority of cases. I thank them again for their commitment to saving lives through limiting opportunities for Covid19 to spread. These additional

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· instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse · ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules · issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days · issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence IMAGE: Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner About the Police and Crime Commissioner The Police and Crime Commissioner is elected to make policing more accountable and give people a greater voice on police and crime matters.

SUPPORT SERVICES CORONA

VIRUS

WHERE TO GET HELP DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Helplines are now available to provide information and advice, as well as practical support to frail or vulnerable residents who need urgent assistance with essential food or household supplies, collection of medication, or who are at risk of loneliness: • • • •

Hampshire Helpline 0333 370 4000 Portsmouth 023 9268 8004 Southampton 023 8083 4800 Isle of Wight 01983 823 600

If you're concerned for someone who is at risk because of underlying health issues or they're elderly you can register them, or get them to register, on the government's Covid-19 support service www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800 028 8327, to get help delivering essential supplies and any additional care they might need.

The community response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been amazing, with hundreds of individuals, groups and organisations coming forward on the ground, and through social media, to offer support. It’s great to see the community coming together to help each other but as there is no way to validate some of these groups please exercise caution in sharing personal details with unknown people.

Helplines: • • • • • • • •

Mind Charity 0300 123 3393 Text: 86463 Email: info@mind.org.uk Samaritans 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org The Silver Line (advice and friendship for the elderly) 0800 470 80 90 www.thesilverline.org.uk Age UK (telephone friendship service for over 60s) 0800 678 1602 www.ageuk.org.uk Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service 03300 165112 National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Respect Phoneline 0808 8024040 www.hampshire.police.uk Deaf? Non-emergency text

07781 480999 For crime and community information

www.hampshirealert.co.uk

Visit Neighbourhood Watch at www.hinwa-nw.org.uk

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Finance & Legal

COVID-19 AND FAMILY ISSUES

We are living in worrying times and while we are all anxious about the health risks arising from the coronavirus pandemic, there are additional concerns for parents of children.

Alongside disruption to schooling and usual routines, there may be additional concerns arising from relationship breakdown, domestic violence or other family disputes.

Social distancing has placed enormous stress and pressure on families and couples. There are increased reports of disputes and domestic violence, and child and welfare professionals are discussing how best to support vulnerable children and families.

Sarah Lightfoot-Webber, family law expert at Lawcomm Solicitors in Whiteley, takes a look at some of the frequently asked questions on the impact of the coronavirus on family law matters.

You should check the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus) for the latest guidance in conjunction with this article, as the guidelines on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are changing daily.

Child Arrangements Orders Family professionals were left adrift for several days after the initial announcement regarding social distancing and lockdown, but clarification has now been provided in relation to Child Arrangements Orders, which can be found here: https://bit.ly/2K79NSl Some of the most frequently asked questions are:

Q 1 - During the ‘lockdown’ should my children see their other parent?

Michael Gove MP has confirmed that children can travel between the homes of their parents

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in accordance with the terms of a Child Arrangements Order, but this should only be undertaken if there is minimal risk to children or vulnerable family members. If you are genuinely concerned for your child’s wellbeing or believe that your child will be at risk if you adhere to the Order, as a parent with Parental Responsibility you can make the decision to suspend direct contact for the time being but you should do everything possible to facilitate indirect contact, such as Facetime, telephone calls or using online tools such as Skype or Zoom.

Ultimately this is a decision for parents to make together, weighing up the safety concerns. If your child is to see their other parent then handovers need be kept to a minimum.

This means you should try and agree with your former partner any changes possible to reduce unnecessary travel. For example, if one parent normally sees their child on a Wednesday afternoon for three hours and a Friday evening for two hours you may wish to change this to five hours occurring on a Friday instead.

It is sensible for both parents to show a degree of flexibility and help ensure their own family and the wider community are kept safe.

Q 2 - I am self-isolating, should my children have contact with their other parent?

The World Health Organisation reports that children’s symptoms to coronavirus tend to be mild, but the UK government guidance states that if you have displayed symptoms of coronavirus everyone living with you must isolate, including children.

If your child is in one of the vulnerable categories, for example they have asthma, then it may be safer for them to isolate with your former partner away from your house.

If this occurs, anyone in your former partner’s home must also isolate. This should be for the duration of the Government’s advised isolation period (typically 14 days, but this can change if they develop symptoms).

This is a tricky decision as, although relocating would reduce the risk if your child has not already contracted the virus, if they do have the virus you could be unnecessarily putting another household at risk.

Q 3 - My former partner is isolating, should my children still see them?

No. Your children should not be exposed to your former partner if they are suspected of having coronavirus or if they are isolating due to being at greater risk of suffering severe symptoms from coronavirus.

This will be a difficult time for many families and children, and where physical contact cannot occur you should maintain contact by telephone or video calling.

Q 4 - Can my children come and live with me if my former partner is isolating, or has coronavirus?

This depends on the circumstances. The Government advice is to isolate whole households, including children, if someone that lives there has coronavirus.

If your child has an underlying condition that makes them more vulnerable to severe symptoms then it may be of benefit to move to reside with you temporarily, provided they are not displaying any symptoms.

You will need the consent of your former partner to any temporary change in residence. If there is a court order in place in relation to your contact arrangements, you may need to take legal advice.

Q 5 - My children are now off school, can I insist that my former partner shares this extra care?

It is best to try and reach an agreement with your former partner over sharing this additional care and helping out with any home schooling.

If your former partner refuses then you should

Finance & Legal

contact us for advice on further steps to take.

Q 6 – I have lost my job, how can I continue to pay child maintenance?

If you suffer a cut in your income by up to 25% then the level of child maintenance you pay will reduce. If you are now on the coronavirus job retention scheme your income still may have reduced sufficiently if you normally worked regular overtime or your earnings were over £3,125 per month. You can check the online government calculator ( https://bit.ly/2K72cDo ) to see by how much your payments could reduce.

If you have an informal agreement with your former partner over maintenance, then you should contact them directly to agree the reduced payments. If your maintenance was assessed by Child Maintenance Services, you must contact them to inform directly of the change in your income.

Q 7 – How can I alleviate tensions between myself and my ex-partner?

With the technological advances we have at our disposal it should not be difficult for parents, whether they are separated or living together, to communicate freely and easily. There are numerous co-parenting apps, all of which offer different levels of service, some of which are free and others which have either a set or a variety of paid services. It is well worth considering the use of such apps, which can be found by a simple Google search, especially if you do have difficulties communicating with each other as you are able to address and discuss matters in a neutral setting.

Our present living arrangements are undoubtedly challenging and fraught with emotion, but a co-parenting app can alleviate unnecessary pressures and allow you to work together for the benefit of the children as well as help you, as parents, to rebuild and strengthen your relationship.

Q 8 – I have heard courts are shutting down, what happens to my case?

The Courts remain open and are giving priority to critical cases, for example care proceedings and abduction. Cases are being dealt with remotely via telephone, video calling or email.

The courts are working urgently on expanding the availability of technology and in the

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Finance & Legal

meantime are using facilities such as Skype and Zoom. The Courts hope to minimise disruption to all family cases, but given the speed of these new changes, and depending on witness and client access to remote services, many cases are likely to experience some delays.

Divorces already take place online and it is expected there should be minimal disruption or delay to this, subject to staff shortages due to isolation or illness.

If CAFCASS are involved in your case, they have indicated that they will continue to deliver essential services. Their offices are all now closed, but they intend to work remotely and conduct interviews with parents over video calling if possible.

If an urgent matter arises, for example regarding matrimonial assets or finances, you should contact us urgently as steps can still be taken remotely to raise these issues.

help for victims of domestic abuse: Mankind.org

https://bit.ly/2XCjGzj Rights for women:

https://bit.ly/2yfyLMQ There is also an app, Bright Sky (available through Google Play Store and App Store), which has been created for victims of domestic abuse and includes:

• A unique UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services with contact details; • A secure My Journal tool to record incidents of abuse via text, audio, video or photo form, without any of the content being saved on the device itself; Domestic Abuse • Questionnaires to assess the Various police authorities have noted an safety of a relationship, plus a section on increase in complaints and reports regarding dispelling myths around domestic and domestic abuse. Sadly, enforced confinement with family and loved ones can very quickly take sexual abuse; a toll, with emotions escalating, fear • Links to further resources and running rampant and tempers flaring. If you are information on topics around domestic concerned, worried or experiencing domestic abuse. abuse, the most important thing to remember is that help, advice and support is available.

Q 9 - My partner is abusive, and I am worried about isolating together – what help will be available?

If you are in imminent danger of domestic abuse dial 999 and seek assistance from the police. Domestic abuse charities have issued a joint statement outlining their commitment to continue doing everything they can to support survivors and we are also on hand to help assist with any legal orders you may need to protect you. If your need is not urgent or immediate, there are various charities and organisations within your local area that can provide help, guidance and support and there is a free National Domestic Abuse 24 hour Helpline 0808 2000 247 and various websites:

www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk or womens aid: https://bit.ly/3ek1joS 28

Magazine #GetInTheLOOP

We understand there is a lot of concern and confusion following self-isolation and lockdown guidelines as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, especially surrounding family issues.

Although we may not physically be working in the office, the majority of Lawcomm staff are working from home and remain on hand to help you with your enquiries and any difficulties that you may be facing, and our essential workers are at the office ensuring the administration runs smoothly.

If you require assistance or would like to book a free consultation please complete the contact form or contact Sarah at Lawcomm. 01489

864132

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.

Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published on 1 April 2020.

If you would like further information or assistance in relation to family issues, contact Sarah Lightfoot-Webber, Head of Family at Lawcomm Solicitors, on

Finance & Legal

01489 864132

or sarah.lightfoot-webber@lawcomm.co.uk.

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The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.

This includes a package of measures to support businesses including: • a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme • deferring VAT and Self-Assessment payments • a Self-employment Income Support Scheme • a Statutory Sick Pay relief package for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) • a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England • small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief • grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 • the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank • a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans • the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

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Check the business support website for answers to frequently asked questions here

https://bit.ly/3aNA04c

Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a temporary scheme open to all UK employers for at least 3 months starting from 1 March 2020. It is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Employers can claim for 80% of furloughed employees’ (employees on a leave of absence) usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Employers can use this scheme anytime during this period.

The scheme is open to all UK employers that had created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on 28 February 2020.

Claim for wage costs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

https://bit.ly/2Xfwxr4

If your business needs short term cash flow support, you may be eligible for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan.

https://bit.ly/3bSktjF

Support for businesses through deferring VAT payments We will support businesses by deferring Valued Added Tax (VAT) payments for 3 months.

If you’re a UK VAT registered business and have a VAT payment due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, you have the option to: • defer the payment until a later date • pay the VAT due as normal Find out how to defer your VAT payment.

https://bit.ly/2xRYjPX

If you’re in temporary financial distress because of COVID-19 more help is available from HMRC’s Time to Pay scheme.

Support for businesses paying tax: Time to Pay service

All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.

These arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to individual circumstances and liabilities.

Eligibility You are eligible if your business: • pays tax to the UK government • has outstanding tax liabilities How to access the scheme If you have missed a tax payment or you might miss your next payment due to COVID-19,

please call HMRC’s dedicated helpline:

0800 024 1222.

If you’re worried about a future payment, please call us nearer the time.

Support for businesses through deferring Self-Assessment payments on account

If you’re due to pay a self-assessment payment on account by 31 July 2020 but the impact of the coronavirus causes you difficulty in making payment by that date, then you may defer payment until January 2021.

Eligibility You are eligible if you are due to pay your second self-assessment payment on account on 31 July. You do not need to be self-employed to be eligible for the deferment.

The deferment is optional. If you are still able to pay your second payment on account on 31 July you should do so.

How to access the scheme This is an automatic offer with no applications required. No penalties or interest for late payment will be charged if you defer payment until 31 January 2021. During the deferral period you can set up a budget payment plan https://bit.ly/2yDlqy0 to help you pay the deferred payment on account when it comes due. If you’re in temporary financial distress because of COVID-19 more help is available from HMRC’s Time to Pay scheme.

https://bit.ly/2xORYoi

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Support for self-employed through the https://bit.ly/3e8APqq and those who live with someone that has symptoms can get a Self-employment Income Support note from the NHS website Scheme https://bit.ly/2V3j2YZ The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) who have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

This scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.

Claim a grant through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

https://bit.ly/34iHJF4

Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees We will bring forward legislation to allow small-and medium-sized businesses and employers to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19.

The eligibility criteria for the scheme will be as follows: • this refund will cover up to 2 weeks’ SSP per eligible employee who has been off work because of COVID-19 • employers with fewer than 250 employees will be eligible - the size of an employer will be determined by the number of people they employed as of 28 February 2020 • employers will be able to reclaim expenditure for any employee who has claimed SSP (according to the new eligibility criteria) as a result of COVID-19 • employers should maintain records of staff absences and payments of SSP, but employees will not need to provide a GP fit note. If evidence is required by an employer, those with symptoms of coronavirus can get an isolation note from NHS 111 online

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• eligible period for the scheme will commence the day after the regulations on the extension of SSP to those staying at home comes into force • the government will work with employers over the coming months to set up the repayment mechanism for employers as soon as possible Eligibility You are eligible for the scheme if: • your business is UK based • your business is a small or medium-sized and employs fewer than 250 employees as of 28 February 2020 How to access the scheme A rebate scheme is being developed. Further details will be provided in due course once the legalisation has passed.

Support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates. Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses

We will introduce a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Eligibility You are eligible for the business rates holiday if: • your business is based in England • your business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied properties that are wholly or mainly being used: • as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues • for assembly and leisure • for hospitality, as hotels, guest & boarding premises or self-catering accommodation

More information on eligibility is set out in the expanded retail discount guidance.

https://bit.ly/39OiJGA

How to access the scheme There is no action for you. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill to provide this support. They will do this as soon as possible.

You can estimate the business rate charge using the business rates calculator. https://bit.ly/2Ra4tld

Cash grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses The Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme provides businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a cash grant of up to £25,000 per property.

Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 may be eligible for a grant of £10,000.

Businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 may be eligible for a grant of £25,000.

Eligibility You are eligible for the grant if: • your business is based in England • your business is in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector • your business has a rateable value of under £51,000 Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied properties that are wholly or mainly being used: • as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues • for assembly and leisure • as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

How to access the scheme Eligible businesses will be contacted by their local authority, though some local authorities have decided to operate an applications process.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.

Find your local authority.

https://bit.ly/34pAETf

Support for nursery businesses that pay business rates

We will introduce a business rates holiday for nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Eligibility You are eligible for the business rates holiday if: • your business is based in England • Properties that will benefit from the relief will be hereditaments: • occupied by providers on Ofsted’s Early Years Register • wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage How to access the scheme There is no action for you. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill to provide this support. They will do this as soon as possible.

You can estimate the business rate charge using the business rates calculator.

https://bit.ly/2Ra4tld

Further guidance for local authorities is available in the nursery discount guidance.

https://bit.ly/34iJ7Yi

Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local

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authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBRR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

Eligibility You are eligible if: • your business is based in England • you are a business that occupies property • you are receiving small business rate relief or rural rate relief as of 11 March How to access the scheme Eligible businesses will be contacted by their local authority, though some local authorities have decided to operate an applications process.

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.

Find your local authority.

https://bit.ly/34pAETf

Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

The temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme supports SMEs with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to 6 years.

The government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.

The government will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to pre-lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs. The scheme will be delivered through commercial lenders, backed by the

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government-owned British Business Bank.

There are 40 accredited lenders https://bit.ly/3bNbDUm able to offer the scheme, including all the major banks.

Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply. https://bit.ly/2Xej1nO

Support for large businesses through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45 million and £500 million.

This will give banks the confidence to lend to many more businesses which are impacted by coronavirus. Facilities backed by a guarantee under CLBILS will be offered at commercial rates of interest.

We expect the scheme to be delivered through commercial lenders. The government will provide lenders with an 80% guarantee on individual loans for businesses that would be otherwise unable to access the finance they need.

Lenders will still be expected to conduct their usual credit risk checks. This scheme allows lenders to specifically support businesses that were viable before the COVID-19 outbreak but now face significant cash flow difficulties that would otherwise make their business unviable in the short term.

The new scheme will launch later this month and will support a wide range of businesses to access finance products including short term loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance.

Businesses would remain responsible for repaying any facility they may takeout.

Eligibility To be eligible, your business must: • be UK-based in its business activity • have an annual turnover between £45 million and £500 million • be unable to secure regular commercial financing • have a borrowing proposal which the lender: • would consider viable, were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic • believes will enable you to trade out of any short-term to medium-term difficultyBusinesses from any sector can apply, except for the following: • banks and building societies • insurers and reinsurers (but not insurance brokers) •public-sector organisations, including state-funded primary and secondary schools Further detail on eligibility will be confirmed later this month.

How to access the scheme The new scheme will launch later this month.

We anticipate it will be available through a range of accredited lenders.

Once the scheme has launched, there is likely to be a big demand for facilities - businesses should consider applying via the lender’s website in the first instance. Telephone lines are likely to be busy and branches may have limited capacity to handle enquiries due to social distancing.

Support for larger firms through the COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility

Under the new Covid-19 Corporate Financing Facility, the Bank of England will buy short term debt from larger companies.

This will support your company if it has been affected by a short-term funding squeeze, and allow you to finance your short-term liabilities.

It will also support corporate finance markets overall and ease the supply of credit to all firms.

Eligibility All non-financial companies that meet the criteria set out on the Bank of England’s website are eligible.

https://bit.ly/2Rcs58z

How to access the scheme The scheme is now available for applications.

More information is available from the Bank of England. https://bit.ly/39JW1zC

Protection from eviction for commercial tenants Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19 will be protected from eviction.

These measures will mean no business will automatically forfeit their lease and be forced out of their premises if they miss a payment up until 30 June.

There is the option for the government to extend this period if needed.

This is not a rental holiday. All commercial tenants will still be liable for the rent.

Commercial tenants are protected from eviction if they are unable to pay rent.

Eligibility All commercial tenants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible.

How to access the scheme The change will come into force when the Coronavirus Bill receives Royal Assent. No action is required.

Extension of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) arrangements BIDs will be able to extend the maximum duration of their BID arrangements until 31 March 2021 by delaying BID ballots due to take place this year. This enables BIDs, and the local authorities who administer the ballot process, to

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concentrate on responding to the current emergency.

Eligibility The measures apply to any BID in England due to ballot between now and 31 December 2020.

How to access the scheme The change will come into force when the Coronavirus Bill receives Royal Assent. No action is required.

Commercial insurance

Most commercial insurance policies are unlikely to cover pandemics or unspecified notifiable diseases, such as COVID-19.

However, those businesses which have an insurance policy that covers government ordered closure and pandemics or government ordered closure and unspecified notifiable disease should be able to make a claim (subject to the terms and conditions of their policy).

Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers.

Notifiable diseases

Notifiable diseases are certain infectious

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diseases that registered medical practitioners have a statutory duty to notify the ‘proper officer’ at their local council or local health protection team about when they come across a suspected case.The government keeps an updated list of notifable diseases https://bit.ly/2XcrcRm . On 5 March 2020, the government added COVID-19 to its list of notifiable diseases.

Many insurers use diseases on this list as triggers for the activation or exclusion of insurance cover. For example, insurers’ policies that cover notifiable diseases will typically only cover a specific subset of notifiable diseases (such as Cholera or Anthrax) that the insurer will reference in the policy documentation. These policies will exclude any notifiable disease not on the insurers list, as well as future/unknown diseases (such as COVID-19). The price that the insurer charges for the policy is modelled against the risk posed by this set list of diseases.

Unspecified notifiable diseases

Some businesses will have purchased add-ons for their insurance that cover for ‘unspecified notifiable diseases’. These policies effectively

cover any disease listed as a notifiable disease, enabling the business to claim for losses for all notifiable diseases as well as from diseases that are unknown at the point the policy is written.

The effect of the government adding COVID-19 to its list of notifiable diseases is to ensure that businesses with unspecified notifiable disease cover are able to make a claim – subject to the terms and conditions in their policy. For example, someone infected with COVID-19 may need to have been on the premises.

Government ordered closure The government asked a number of different businesses https://bit.ly/34f2Sjf and venues to remain closed from 21 March onwards. Insurers have agreed that this advice is sufficient for businesses covered for COVID-19 losses to make a claim (if the only barrier to them making a claim was a lack of clarity on whether the government had ordered businesses to close). As such, intervention by the police or any other statutory body is no longer required to trigger cover in the current circumstances.

However, most businesses’ commercial insurance policies (including for denial of access) are unlikely to offer cover for COVID-19. Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers.

Event coverage Businesses with event cancellation policies that include unspecified notifiable disease extensions should be able to make a claim for the necessary and unavoidable cancellation, abandonment, curtailment, postponement and disruption of their event for reasons beyond the control of organisers and participants (subject to the other terms and exclusions of their policy).

Insurance for major events is often bespoke to the specific event, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their insurer or broker.

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Update from the Force Crime Prevention Advisor

Edition 14, March 2020

Coronavirus-related fraud reports increase by 400% in March The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reported a new trend in fraud related to Coronavirus, or COVID-19. Updated figures show there have been 105 reports to Action Fraud since 1 February 2020, with total losses reaching nearly ÂŁ970,000.

https://bit.ly/2Vd3xh6

What scams are we seeing? The majority of reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived.

Phishing emails: These attempt to trick people into opening malicious attachments which could lead to fraudsters stealing people’s personal information, email logins, passwords, and banking details.

Some of the tactics being used in phishing emails include: Fraudsters purporting to be from

Sending articles about the virus

Fraudsters purporting to be from a

HMRC offering a tax refund and

outbreak with a link to a fake

research group that mimic the

directing victims to a fake website

company website where victims are

Centre for Disease Control and

to harvest their personal and

encouraged to click to subscribe to

Prevention (CDC) and World Health

financial details. The emails often

a daily newsletter for further

Organisation (WHO). They claim to

display the HMRC logo making it

updates. Sending investment

provide the victim with a list of active

look reasonably genuine and

scheme and trading advice

infections in their area but to access

convincing.

encouraging people to take

this information the victim needs to

advantage of the downturn.

click on a link /make a donation.

Update from Hampshire Police Cyber Crime Unit Cyber criminals are using COVID-19 themed phishing emails and websites to infect devices with ransomware and steal login details. Working from Home and self-isolation is causing more people to use the internet and thus increasing the probability of being a victim.

Please read and follow the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre on: Working From Home

https://bit.ly/39VGNr5

Coronavirus related cyber attack Ransomware

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https://bit.ly/34sNaB3

https://bit.ly/2V0kkoS Magazine #GetInTheLOOP

Good Practice Guide for Knife Retailers The Metropolitan Police Service, Mayor's Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) and London Trading Standards have been working to produce a good practice guide for knife retailers in addition to collaborating on the training modules.

https://bit.ly/3ebfIUl

Alongside this is a Voluntary good practice agreement and resources to assist with training. These resources will be useful nationally although the supporting activities are only in London currently.

What is included in this toolkit?      

Training modules Responsible Retailers Agreement Good practice guide Staff Training Record & Checklist Posters (Customer and Staff areas) Stickers

DVLA warns motorists to be aware of scams DVLA has released pictures of some of the cons being used by scammers to trick motorists into handing over their money. It comes as new figures show a 20% increase in scams reported to DVLA, with 1,538 reports made to agency in the last three months of 2019.

Scammers are targeting unsuspecting customers with links to services that don’t exist and messages of tax refunds, all of which are fake. The DVLA says it will never contact customers by text or email to claim a refund All tax refunds are generated automatically after a motorist has informed the DVLA they have sold, scrapped or transferred their vehicle to someone else.

The agency never asks anyone to get in touch with to claim their refund DVLA is advising anyone with concerns about any calls, texts, emails or suspicious activity online, to always report these to the police via Action Fraud immediately.

https://bit.ly/2UVQIJc

Parent Guides to Online Games The following websites provide useful information about online safety, age ratings, and the computer games your children may be playing:

Everybody Plays

https://bit.ly/2RqaIRO

https://bit.ly/2JUHqH0 Ask about Games

Get Safe Online

https://bit.ly/39RV3Bm contactus@loopmagazine.net

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NCSC's new cyber security training for staff The National Cyber Security Centre has produced a new e-learning training package: 'Stay Safe Online: Top Tips for Staff'. The e-learning package is free and takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The training introduces why cyber security is important and how attacks happen, and then covers four key areas:

https://bit.ly/39Z3w5V 

defending yourself against phishing

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using strong passwords

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securing your devices

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reporting incidents ('if in doubt, call it out')

The training is primarily aimed at SMEs, charities and the voluntary sector, but can be applied to any organisation, regardless of size or sector. It's been deliberately designed for a non-technical audience (who may have little or no knowledge of cyber security), with tips that complement any existing policies and procedures. More information is available here.

https://bit.ly/2JRNVtZ

Clare’s Law Clare’s Law, also known as the Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme, allows people to find out if their partner has an abusive or violent past. It is named after Clare Wood, who was killed by her former partner in 2009. She did not know that he had a history of violence prior to entering a relationship with her.

Clare’s Law gives members of the public the right to ask if their partner has a history of violent or abusive behaviour. Checks will be made by police and information will be revealed where there is reason for concern.

The information means people can make informed choices about their relationship. The scheme also gives people the right to ask on behalf of a close friend or relative. However information will only be given to the person who is at risk, or someone who is in a position to protect them. Click here for more information.

https://bit.ly/3aZYoQa

New ACT App launched The Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) app provides live-time information from CT Policing, plus all the very latest protective security advice 24/7 – wherever you are.

More than a thousand specialists from across the UK have been helping officers trial this new product, including leading organisations from the security, sporting and retail sectors. https://bit.ly/2JQJCPI Available from Google Play or App Store, the app will provide access to:     

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Practical advice and guidance to help you protect your business, plus information on how to respond in the event of an attack Information on CT Policing’s suite of ACT training products, plus access to the online e-Learning package Suite of NaCTSO guidance videos Latest reference documents and publications, emergency response and post-incident guidance ACT online reporting form and confidential hotline. Live-time news updates from UK Protect

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The Solent LEP assembles Solent Task Force to tackle coronavirus

In order to support businesses across the region during these highly challenging times, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has established a new Solent business support task force. The LEP is bringing together local authorities, business representative organisations (BROs) and other relevant bodies to work together to find ways to sustain business continuity as much as possible.

The Solent Task Force has been created to share best practice and intelligence, particularly related to business rates relief and administering the small grants programme making the process quick, easy and standardised across the Solent.

Solent LEP Board Director SJ Hunt, who will be chairing the inaugural meeting of the Solent Task Force via video on Tues 31 March said: “Despite businesses hearing from the Government about the help available to them, we wanted to ensure, at a local level, that everyone has access to the information which applies to them and that the process of acquiring that help is as straightforward and streamlined as possible.

Ross McNally, CEO of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce said: “Our business community is being challenged like never before and Hampshire Chamber recognises the absolute need for all parts of the business support structure to get resources to businesses as quickly and effectively as possible. The Solent Task Force can make a great contribution and a real difference.”

Portsmouth City Council Councillor Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development, said: “We strongly support this new Solent Task Force and the excellent work that can come out of us all working together in tandem. To date, the council has already aunched a dedicated webpage of advice, a new Coronavirus Business Helpline and launched the 'Pay It Forward' crowdfunding scheme, all of which aim to help businesses to survive during this challenging time.”

In addition to convening this group, the LEP has launched a Business Resilience Programme for businesses to get 12 hours of fully-funded one-toone support. The LEP is looking at how to support businesses with the infrastructure to continue business remotely, setting up a free online diagnostic tool to review the current business position and identify tactics for building greater resilience. The partnership is also setting up online masterclasses and resources to support businesses to develop a response in relation to COVID-19.

To find out more about the support available go to https://solentlep.org.uk/coronavirus-support-hub/

“This is an unprecedented time, and it has never been more important for us to remember that we are together stronger. We look forward to working with key partners in order that we can jointly support our businesses to deliver a prosperous future for the Solent.” contactus@loopmagazine.net

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Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is first LEP to release £600,000 to micro and small businesses through Crowdfunder’s Pay it Forward small businesses to keep trading by pre-selling their goods or services and incentivising customers to buy now ensuring a continuous cash flow and enabling them to stay connected to their customers. In one week, the Pay it Forward campaign has raised £380,000 by 320 businesses through donations from 9,000 people. The Solent area which includes the Isle of Wight, the two cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, the M27 corridor and the Solent waterway - is home to over 41,000 businesses, 89% of which are micro (1-9 Solent Local Enterprise Partnership people), and 9.3% are small (10-49 (LEP) is the first LEP in the country to people). Anne-Marie Mountifield, CEO immediately release urgent funds to be Solent Local Enterprise Partnership said: distributed to micro and small “Following an extraordinary board businesses in the Solent area through meeting last week, the LEP Board the Pay it Forward campaign via agreed the immediate release of Crowdfunder. £600,000 to Crowdfunder’s Pay it The impact of COVID-19 on micro and Forward with more available if the small businesses has been immediate. demand is there. We are taking action To ensure these businesses can access to provide immediate access to essential cash flow now, the Solent emergency funding now to ensure Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is redirecting £600,000 from its local growth that a rapid response in these SME fund to micro and small businesses challenging times will make the difference between businesses through Crowdfunder’s Pay it Forward staying afloat or going under. We’re campaign. Crowdfunder and Enterprise looking for the local community to Nation have set up Pay it Forward to back their businesses and for every enable the self-employed, micro and COVID19 crisis forces small businesses to close their premises.

• Micro and small businesses which make up 98% of Solent’s economy - will receive access to £600,000 in match funding through Crowdfunder’s Pay it Forward to encourage and enable them to keep trading.

• Funds made available to plug time-lag in central Government funding.

•

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£1 put in, the LEP will do the same up to a maximum of £2,000 per micro business and £5,000 per small business. These businesses and leaders are vital to our local economy and the lifeblood of communities. We will do everything we can to protect them and enable them to bounce back.”

Rob Love, CEO, Crowdfunder said: “Businesses are telling us they need to keep trading or will go bust. That’s why we’ve set up Pay it Forward micro and small businesses as well as the self-employed can pre-sell goods and services and incentivize customers to buy now. It enables them to maintain cash flow and stay connected to their customer base which is vital if they are to bounce back quickly once this is all over. The Solent LEP match funding will take the pressure off of small businesses and enable many to protect their staff and livelihoods. We are ready and able to work with any LEP or Local Authority that is able to do the same.”

How does Pay it Forward work?

1. Someone who is self-employed, a micro or small businesses can set-up a Pay it Forward campaign by visiting https://bit.ly/3dY4ulU 2. Once set-up the person or business can pre-sell their goods or services and diversify their offer to engage existing customers and potentially reach new customers as well.

3. The business sets a financial target to meet. Throughout the process, coaching is provided by Crowdfunder to support the person/ small business to meet their target.

4. Once the financial target is met match funding is released from the LEP. 5. The total sum of the money is then released to the person/small business

Emma Jones, founder of small business support network, Enterprise Nation, said: “This is pulling together like nothing else. By using the Pay it Forward initiative, local authorities like Solent can add another level of security and speed to their fiscal support for important, local ventures that would otherwise be under threat.

By doing this they are safeguarding their own communities and retaining important services that people will be able to go back to once this crisis is over. Not all businesses will be able to withstand taking on extra debt via the CBILS, but with local authorities match-funding customer support, this could be a compelling solution." contactus@loopmagazine.net

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Solent LEP grants move forward key projects to boost the Solent region The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is working with four organisations based in the area, to support projects get a step closer to being achieved. The projects, proposed by Portsmouth City Council, ABP Southampton, the University of Portsmouth, and Solent University, each support exciting new growth plans for the area.

The LEP's agreement to work with them means that each of these proposed projects, offering a wide range of advantages to the region, are closer to becoming realities.

SJ Hunt, a Board Director and delivery champion for the Solent LEP said: “At their core each of these projects offer strong sustainability and economic development, and are hugely significant for the Solent region.

“From supporting the creation of hundreds of new jobs, providing high-tech, state-of-the-art training spaces, new laboratories and business engagement zones for hundreds of learners and businesses through to having a beneficial impact on air quality and significantly reducing the risk of coastal flooding of properties for the next 100 years.”

Portsmouth City Council's project would cover 4.5km of Southsea's seafront and aims to provide protection from coastal flooding. The project would significantly reduce the risk of coastal flooding to 10,119 residential and 1,311 commercial properties for the next 100 years.

David Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Portsmouth City Council said: “I am delighted we have progressed our bid to the next level with the Solent LEP. After six years of concerted

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effort from the project team and with unanimous support from the City Council, we are very close to achieving full funding for flood defences to protect the city from flooding for existing residents and future generations.”

The total project cost for the first phase of this project stands at £16,000,000 and the grant request is for £5,000,000.

ABP, which operates in the Port of Southampton, is developing a project to enable shore power for cruise ships at a multi-user terminal at the Europe's major cruise Port. This would be the first major commercial berth and cruise terminal benefiting from this technology in the United Kingdom. As shore power allows compatible vessels to switch off their engines,

they would emit no emissions whilst docked in Southampton. Alastair Welch, ABP’s Regional Director, said: “Shore Power represents a major opportunity for the cruise sector, the port and the city of Southampton. By giving cruise ships the opportunity to ‘plug in’ when they’re alongside will completely eliminate emissions during that time. “Our plans are also in line with the Government’s 2050 Maritime Strategy on a pathway towards lower and zero emissions.”

The total project cost stands at £6,313,171 and the grant is for £4,434,350.

The University of Portsmouth is proposing a new Centre for Creative and Immersive XR (CCIXR) within the University’s Faculty of

Creative and Cultural Industries, to host world-leading technology. The CCIXR will provide emerging XR (eXtended Realities) technology facilities and expertise in an integrated purpose-built environment for research and development, innovation, skills and economic development.

Professor Trevor Keeble, Dean of Creative and Cultural Industries said: “CCIXR builds on the University's long standing expertise in creative technologies. Our staff and students work with businesses and organisations to bring value and innovation through research and development, and our many local, national and global partnerships are key to developing the skilled workforce of the future. Investment in cutting-edge creative and immersive technologies will make this region a centre for the rapidly emerging immersive and extended reality industries, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Solent LEP to develop our plans."

The total project cost stands at £5,184,192 and the grant is for £3,617,561.

Southampton Solent University wants to complete its Maritime Strategy 2020 with the redevelopment of its Warsash Safety Training Centre, to reinforce its goal of being the global skills and training provider of choice for the maritime sector. It is aiming to deliver a unique and nationally significant marine safety training centre, focused on fire, medical, maritime and offshore, and provide a mix of classroom, changing and specialist facilities.

Professor Syamantak Bhattacharya, Dean of Southampton Solent University’s Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering said: “Development of our shore-based facilities is an important part of the University’s £43 million investment in maritime education and training. We are pleased to be working with the Solent LEP to build on our world-renowned Warsash heritage, which not only benefits the University and maritime industries but also the region.”

The total project cost is £22,278,482 and the grant, for phase three of the project is £4,400,000.

Whilst these business cases are being produced by the lead organisations involved, the LEP will work with them to support their production, with the ultimate aim of achieving the projects' objectives.

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Computer Know How! – Coronavirus Scam Watch…

FastStone Image Viewer

Since February 2020, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has identified 21 reports of fraud where Coronavirus was mentioned, with victim losses totalling over £800k.

Of the 21 reports, ten were made by victims that attempted to purchase protective face masks from fraudulent sellers. One victim reported losing over £15k when they purchased face masks that were never delivered.

Action Fraud have also received multiple reports about coronavirus-themed phishing emails attempting to trick people into opening malicious attachments or revealing sensitive personal and financial information.

One common tactic used by fraudsters is to contact potential victims over email purporting to be from research organisation’s affiliated with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

They claim to be able to provide the recipient with a list of coronavirus infected people in their area. In order to access this information, the victim needs to click on a link, which leads to a malicious website, or is asked to make a payment in Bitcoin.

More info then go to: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

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FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor. It has a nice array of features that include image viewing, management, comparison, red-eye removal, emailing, resizing, cropping, retouching and colour adjustments. Its innovative but intuitive full-screen mode provides quick access to EXIF information, thumbnail browser and major functionalities via hidden toolbars that pop up when your mouse touches one of the four edges of the screen. Other features include a high-quality magnifier and a musical slideshow with 150+ transitional effects, as well as lossless JPEG transitions, drop shadow effects, image annotation, scanner support, histogram and much more. Furthermore, there’s No Adware or Spyware and it’s Free for Home Users. For more info and to download go to: https://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Click here -> https://bit.ly/3a9uTtV

Looking on the bright side...

Although the lockdown has hit hard, a lot of businesses have realised that working from home, or remotely, is not only viable but a lot of us are already doing it. In fact, we have already assisted a lot of you to do just that.

Unfortunately, however, things can still go wrong. We are able to take on PC and Laptop repairs by prior arrangement (while exercising distance control and disinfecting equipment where necessary). We can also solve many problems remotely.

There is always a selection of spares and PCs in stock and at the moment new PCs and Laptops are still available to order.

In short Hypersonic IT are here if you need us and you can contact us here…

Office: 01489 582666 info@hypersonic.co.uk

Wayne: 07836 536400 wayne@hypersonic.co.uk Gareth: 07887 420920 gareth@hypersonic.co.uk

That’s all for this edition. Stay safe and see you all soon.

Don’t forget that you can always contact us for free impartial advice. Just give us a call at Hypersonic for hardware and software support, tuition, web design, data retrieval, commercial and home networking, all with an efficient and friendly service.

Call Wayne or Gareth at Hypersonic IT 01489 582666. Email: wayne@hypersonic.co.uk

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING “Gig Buddies Portsmouth make a huge impact in the community” Gig Buddies Portsmouth is a free scheme funded by the Portsmouth City Council to match a volunteer and adult with a learning disability in Portsmouth; with the aim of making new friends and reduce social isolation. It was established in 2017 and currently has 35 matched pairs that go out and share their interests in and around Portsmouth. We have around 100 adults with a learning disability and/ or autism on the Gig Buddy database and they often come along to our numerous monthly group events such as bowling, club nights and live music events.

During the current Coronovirus situation, our buddies are staying in touch through a variety of ways, we have a number of messenger groups off and online and are staying in contact via telephone to keep positive and ensure our buddies have sufficient interaction with the outside world, whilst staying fit and healthy. One of our buddies has devised a quiz for the social media page and we have live music streaming

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each evening from gig buddies projects in different regions all around the globe.

Gig Buddies Portsmouth has made a huge impact on the people we support in the community, we have had some great feedback by one of our Gig Buddies Mum; ‘Since our daughter has become involved with Gig buddies it has put her in touch with her peers, which is something she lacked previously.

The main facilitators of this are Mike Harris, the Project Co-ordinator and Alison, the wonderful Gig Buddy, whose friendship and involvement with our daughter has, without exaggerating, made a very positive impact on her, and our lives.

Basically, our 46 year old daughter now has a social life that is not solely dependent and restricted to her parents activities, and she is a much happier person as a consequence.’ .

If you would like to know more please contact our Project Coordinator, Mike Harris – mikeh@aldingbourne.org or visit www.aldingbournetrust.org/gigbuddiesportsmouth.

You are welcome to suggest any ideas you have and be part of keeping people engaged during this difficult time.

Helping Eastleigh residents stay physically fit - and in good mental health - during the coronavirus lockdown Advice and other resources for residents staying at home during the coronavirus crisis, that focuses as much on mental wellbeing as physical health, has been developed by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Eastleigh Borough Council have been working on ways to support residents during the coronavirus pandemic by offering advice on health and wellbeing while at home.

During this challenging time of social distancing and self-isolation the Council’s Health and Wellbeing team are providing a variety of ways to help the residents of the Borough with healthy recipes, creative ideas, streaming fitness classes and accessibility to resources from the Every Mind Matters campaign.

Every Mind Matters is a campaign devised by Public Health England and offers people tips and advice to help dealing with social isolation, social distancing and the virus itself.

The campaign also offers people a way to create a tailored mind plan within their website allowing people to take an online quiz which creates a personalised plan. It aims to help keep people connected, maintain relationships with friends and family, and how to check on family and neighbours whilst socially distancing.

Whilst The Point and The Berry theatres remain closed to the public the team have found a way around the social distancing measures by developing Connection Point, an online space aimed at keeping people connected to the creative arts during this time. Connection Point has brought together some brilliant programmes aimed at the younger members of the community with the Arts Award Discover at Home programme, the Wonderful Window Dressing challenge and storytelling sessions

with Bearface Theatre.

Hampshire libraries have free access to a huge range of different resources online, including ebooks, magazines and newspapers to help keep the mind active.

Keeping fit and active is also key to maintaining good mental and physical health, the Council have shared a range of links to fitness including online yoga courses, short home workouts and for more variety Sport England have launched a new campaign #StayInWorkOut which brings together all the free online apps, channels and resources to allow people to find a suitable workout for them.

The Council’s Cabinet member for Health, Councillor Tonia Craig, said: “The health and wellbeing of our residents during these unprecedented times is very important. The team have pulled together some brilliant resources to help reduce the impact of our residents mental and physical health during this challenging time.”

The Health and Wellbeing team have put together key resources and activities to help residents maintain mental and physical wellbeing which are available on the website. www.eastleigh.gov.uk/healthandwellbeingathome

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Health & Wellbeing

SUPPORT SERVICES CORONA

VIRUS

WHERE TO GET HELP DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Helplines are now available to provide information and advice, as well as practical support to frail or vulnerable residents who need urgent assistance with essential food or household supplies, collection of medication, or who are at risk of loneliness: • • • •

Hampshire Helpline 0333 370 4000 Portsmouth 023 9268 8004 Southampton 023 8083 4800 Isle of Wight 01983 823 600

If you're concerned for someone who is at risk because of underlying health issues or they're elderly you can register them, or get them to register, on the government's Covid-19 support service www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800 028 8327, to get help delivering essential supplies and any additional care they might need.

The community response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been amazing, with hundreds of individuals, groups and organisations coming forward on the ground, and through social media, to offer support. It’s great to see the community coming together to help each other but as there is no way to validate some of these groups please exercise caution in sharing personal details with unknown people.

Helplines: • • • • • • • •

Mind Charity 0300 123 3393 Text: 86463 Email: info@mind.org.uk Samaritans 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org The Silver Line (advice and friendship for the elderly) 0800 470 80 90 www.thesilverline.org.uk Age UK (telephone friendship service for over 60s) 0800 678 1602 www.ageuk.org.uk Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service 03300 165112 National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Respect Phoneline 0808 8024040 www.hampshire.police.uk Deaf? Non-emergency text 07781 480999 For crime and community information www.hampshirealert.co.uk

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Visit Neighbourhood Watch at www.hinwa-nw.org.uk

SUPPORT SERVICES CORONA

VIRUS

WHERE TO GET HELP DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Helplines are now available to provide information and advice, as well as practical support to frail or vulnerable residents who need urgent assistance with essential food or household supplies, collection of medication, or who are at risk of loneliness: • • • •

Hampshire Helpline 0333 370 4000 Portsmouth 023 9268 8004 Southampton 023 8083 4800 Isle of Wight 01983 823 600

If you're concerned for someone who is at risk because of underlying health issues or they're elderly you can register them, or get them to register, on the government's Covid-19 support service www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800 028 8327, to get help delivering essential supplies and any additional care they might need.

The community response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been amazing, with hundreds of individuals, groups and organisations coming forward on the ground, and through social media, to offer support. It’s great to see the community coming together to help each other but as there is no way to validate some of these groups please exercise caution in sharing personal details with unknown people.

Helplines: • • • • • • • •

Mind Charity 0300 123 3393 Text: 86463 Email: info@mind.org.uk Samaritans 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org The Silver Line (advice and friendship for the elderly) 0800 470 80 90 www.thesilverline.org.uk Age UK (telephone friendship service for over 60s) 0800 678 1602 www.ageuk.org.uk Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service 03300 165112 National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Childline 0800 1111 Respect Phoneline 0808 8024040 www.hampshire.police.uk Deaf? Non-emergency text 07781 480999 For crime and community information www.hampshirealert.co.uk

Visit Neighbourhood Watch at www.hinwa-nw.org.uk

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Local life-transforming assistance dog charity appears on national television appeal with Olympian Iwan Thomas

ASSISTANCE dog charity Canine Partners is set to appear on a national television appeal this weekend. The national charity, which has a puppy training satellite in Hampshire, trains amazing assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities, boosting their confidence and independence. The dogs are taught a range of everyday tasks including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and helping to undress a person. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency. The appeal, which aired on BBC One on Sunday 29 March, was presented by Olympian Iwan Thomas MBE and also featured heartwarming stories of beneficiaries of the charity. The appeal comes at a time when Canine Partners, which trains assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with physical disabilities, is celebrating its 30th year and needs support now, more than ever, due to the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having on vital income. “We’ve been building life-transforming partnerships for 30 years but there is still so much more we could do,” says Nicola Martin, Chief Executive of Canine Partners. “With support for this appeal we will be able to continue to

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transform lives for the next 30 years and to open the doors to the opportunity of having an amazing assistance dog to even more people living with physical disabilities across the UK.” The appeal aims to enable Canine Partners to continue transforming the lives of people like Jackie Topp, who was partnered with canine partner Babs, a chocolate Labrador, in July 2015. “She’s my reason for getting up in the morning and my reason for going out, she makes me get out and talk to people and to get fresh air, otherwise I wouldn’t go out at all,” says 57-year-old Jackie, who has a degenerative condition called Multiple Sclerosis. “I can’t imagine life without Babs now and I don’t know what I would do without her.” The charity is calling for supporters to raise awareness of the appeal by sharing its posts on social media and helping to spread the word. Watch the Canine Partners’ BBC Lifeline Appeal at on BBC One. To find out more about Canine Partners’ BBC Lifeline Appeal, please visit www.caninepartners.org.uk/bbclifeline To find out more about BBC Lifeline, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/lifeline

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Netley Court Celebrates ‘Outstanding’ CQC Rating April 2020 - Netley Court, a luxury care home in Netley Abbey, Southampton, has been awarded an overall rating of ‘outstanding’ following an inspection by England’s health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This highest rating level is only given to 3.5% of care homes in the country. In addition to the overall rating, ‘outstanding’ ratings were given for being ‘caring’ and ‘well led’. The CQC report highlights that Netley Court, which is part of the Cinnamon Care Collection, provides residents ‘with outstanding care and support and enabled them to live fulfilling lives. Residents were constantly at the heart of the service’. Feedback from residents and their families to the inspectors was that staff were ‘exceptionally caring’ and knew the residents well. One staff member summarised the care home’s ethos by telling the inspectors, ‘we all treat the residents as if they are our family’.

The inspectors were impressed by the levels of staff training, the extensive activities programme, the high quality, nutritious food prepared by the award-winning chefs and the beautiful, clean and well maintained premises. They also praised Netley Court’s strong links with local healthcare professionals and the significant role it plays in the local community. They singled out the Senior General Manager, Mark Shockledge and his management team for being ‘passionate about providing quality care’ and also highlighted ‘the effective governance system which was firmly embedded into practice’. Carole Hunt, Director, Cinnamon Care Collection commented, “Being rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC is a major achievement – it is a rating only given to 3.5% of care homes across the UK. Congratulations

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to Mark and his team who continually demonstrate their commitment to providing the highest level of care to our residents, ensuring their safety and individual needs are met at all times.”

Mark Shockledge, Senior General Manager, Netley Court adds “We are thrilled to have been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC. In terms of the CQC report, I was particularly pleased that the inspectors recognised our focus on meeting the individual needs of residents as this is core to our offering at Netley Court. The feedback from residents and their families was extremely positive – including the ‘happy atmosphere’ and ‘staff going above and beyond’, which is what I see every day. It is fantastic to get such strong external endorsement for the achievements of the whole team.”

Rebecca Bauers, Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care, added, “What really impressed me in reading the inspection report and speaking with those involved in the inspection about this service was the level of personalised support that people received, from staff who had the right skills and who treated people with kindness, compassion and dignity.

People told us they liked the staff who supported them, and staff themselves declared it a great place to work.”

Based on Victoria Road in Netley, with commanding views over Southampton Water, Netley Court provides residential care, respite care and specialist dementia care. As a result of COVID-19, Netley Court currently has rigorous processes in place regarding new admissions. For further information, please call or contact Kathryn Duffell, Home Admissions Adviser on 02380 450320 or 075 86868189 or Netley.haa@cinnamoncc.com or visit www.cinnamoncc.com

Health & Wellbeing

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Art

Place of Pride: Photographers can win over £500 by showing love for their local area Local photographers have an exciting chance to win over £500 by capturing their emotional connection with a place in their area. It's all through the launch of a new, nationwide photography competition.

Run by specialist insurance provider, Ripe Photography, the inaugural Place of Pride competition is open to photographers of all abilities.

The photograph can be of anything, but each entry must include an identifying feature of the place being captured; something that sums up its spirit. This could be a noteworthy building, a street sign, or any other distinguishable point of interest. The caption should provide a description of the place and why it has been chosen.

As well as giving away £350 to the winner, Ripe Photography will also award £150 to the runner up and £50 to third place.

Choosing the winner will be Ronya Galka, who was recently voted one of Britain’s top 10 street photographers and has previously been nominated for Best Photographer at the Sony World Photography Awards.

Commenting on the launch, Ronya Galka said: “Personally, some of my best pieces of work have been ones that create a strong emotional connection.

It’s not just about taking a well-executed photograph. It’s about the emotions that it triggers within me when I look at it.

“So, when it comes to judging the 56

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Place of Pride competition, I’ll be looking for a great image of a specific place that brings its most captivating and emotionally stimulating features of to the fore. I’m very excited to see how this comes across and can’t wait to help choose the winner. Best of luck to all the entrants!”

Place of Pride not only gives photographers a chance to get their hands on the prize money, it also represents an opportunity to gain widespread exposure. Ripe Photography will share a selection of entries on its Instagram page and across its various communication channels.

To enter Place of Pride, photographers must post an image of their chosen place on their own Instagram page, tag @ripe_photography_ in the image and caption and include the hashtag #PlaceOfPride.

The competition is open until 31st May 2020 and winners will be announced within 2-4 working weeks of the closing date.

#PlaceOfPride.

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Aviation Society members treated royally during carrier visit!

Gosport Aviation Society members enjoyed a memorable visit to aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in the RN Dockyard at Portsmouth.

The Society is for those with an interest in aviation and related topics. Where else would be more appropriate for members to visit than the impressive 280m long flight deck and huge hangars where the F-35B fighters and other aircraft are stationed when at sea - the front line in the air defence of the UK. Organiser of the visit for Gosport Aviation Society, Chairman Alan Key, said “it took a while to arrange this visit for our members and it is fair to say that we were all totally engrossed by what we saw and heard. Officers and crew gave their time generously knowing of the particular interest of our members who learnt so much.”

The visit included many areas from bow to stern including the ski-jump used by the aircraft for take-off. The flying control centre ‘FLYCO’, where much of the action takes place during operational sorties, was also on the tour along with the two impressive bridges.

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HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of its type – one of only two of the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy in the UK. The air wing at sea will typically consist of F-35B Lightning II multi-role fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare.

Gosport Aviation Society meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm for an 8:00pm start at the Royal Naval Association Club on Fareham Road in Gosport.

The annual membership subscription is a very reasonable £15 and many meetings include a guest speaker. There is no charge for social evenings and a small entrance contribution on speaker nights costs £1.50 for Gosport Aviation Society members and £4.00 for visitors.

Either visit our website at www.gas.btck.co.uk/ for details of membership and the current programme or you are welcome to just come along to one of our meetings.

Photo enclosed shows members of Gosport Aviation Society on the famous ski-jump of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

NAVY TEAM SUPPORTS ELSON JUNIOR SCHOOL INITIATIVE A group of Year 5 pupils from Elson Junior School have just ‘graduated’ from their 6-week course working with naval personnel from HMS Collingwood on a variety of leadership activities looking at the Navy’s core values.

The naval personnel from Victory Squadron worked with 10 children from the school, providing 5 2- hour sessions, weekly at the Gosport premises, with the final one taking place at HMS Collingwood, for the graduation ceremony.

The sessions focused on helping the children develop, utilising the Navy’s C2DRIL; Courage, Commitment, Discipline, Respect, Integrity and Leadership, and how these qualities can be incorporated into the Navy’s various roles.

Lieutenant Peter Taylor and Leading Physical Trainer Lauren McCarthy visited the school to deliver a variety of activities including knot tying, marching practice, STEM inspired work and various fun team building and leadership tasks.

Lieutenant Taylor was the Liaison Officer for the programme. He said “It was a great opportunity to show the children some of the Royal Navy core values and give them some team

building exercises. The aim was to bring them out of their comfort zone and develop them as individuals, and as a team, as the course progressed.”

When asked how things had gone Rebecca Hull, Family Link Worker based at the school said, “This has been brilliant. It was aimed to raise their aspirations, to try and help them see how the things they learn in school can help them throughout their lives, that school is not just about academic lessons, it’s about them developing as individuals.”

Akira Olugbemi, from year 5 said “The Collingwood group was really fun and what I enjoyed most was trying to problem-solve getting the equipment from one side of the hall to the other. The girls were most successful because we tried to figure things out and didn’t shout at each other.”

Photographs (courtesy of Keith Woodland, Crown Copyright) show: 1.

The pupils with Lieutenant Taylor and Lauren, displaying their graduation certificates.

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Whats On - Music WICKHAM FESTIVAL STILL SET TO TAKE PLACE ORGANISERS are still hoping this year’s Wickham Festival will go ahead as planned.

The Coronavirus lockdown has caused scores of music and sporting events to be cancelled or postponed with mass gatherings currently banned by the government.

But with four months still to go before the August 6-9 event, it is hoped the Wickham Festival will still take place as scheduled.

Van Morrison is set to top the bill on Saturday August 8 with top acts such as the Waterboys and Leo Sayer also due to appear at the picturesque Hampshire setting.

Organiser Peter Chegwyn said: “At the moment the festival is still on and we are just keeping our fingers crossed that the situation eases by August.

“Obviously the pandemic has caused a lot of big events to be cancelled so we are keeping a close eye on the situation but we do have a little bit of time on our side.

“We are hoping that things will improve over the next few months and that we will be able to have a huge party to celebrate life returning to normal – whatever that might entail.

“Of course we will put people’s safety first and we will follow all government guidelines but right now it would be lovely to think we might just be able to give people something to smile about.

“We have a fantastic line-up planned so we are really hoping the show will go on. At the moment we are planning in the dark and trying to cover every eventuality.

“But if people are allowed out by then, we will aim to give them a fantastic, friendly, fun festival to enjoy after such a traumatic time.

It could be a real tonic for all the fans, the traders and the artists.”

Top of the bill on the opening night is the SAS Band (Spike’s All Stars) fronted by Queen keyboard player Spike Edney starring evergreen Wickham favourites Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel), Graham Gouldman (10CC), Tom Robinson, Toyah and Madeline Bell (Blue Mink). Also appearing on Thursday are Nine Below Zero, Tankus the Henge, Peatbog Faeries and John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett.

Friday’s line-up includes Wickham favourites

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Capercaillie, Show of Hands, Eddi Reader and Dhol Foundation along with a debut for the renowned Peat and Diesel. Saturday’s bill has Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets plus Seth Lakeman as well as Van Morrison.

There will be a strong finish to the festival with Sunday seeing the ever popular Waterboys headlining alongside Leo Sayer, the South, Stanley Jordan and rising star Beans on Toast.

Chegwyn added: “Once again it is an incredibly strong line-up with a mix of up and coming artists, long-standing Wickham favourites and some big stars making their first appearances here.

“I just hope we get the chance to make it our best event yet and to see the traditional Wickham smiles after such a grim time for all of us.”

Any updates on the event will be posted on www.wickhamfestival.co.uk or on Twitter @festivalwickham.

Weekend tickets are now on sale at just £160 per adult or £80 for each Under 16 with Under 10's admitted completely free.

Adult day tickets will be available at £45 per adult for the Thursday, £55 for the Friday, £75 for the Saturday and £60 for the Sunday, Under 16’s half price.

Tickets are on sale via www.wickhamfestival.co.uk along with details of all artists confirmed for the 2020 festival which runs from August 6-9.

https://bit.ly/2PSXWdY

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Whats On At The Theatre Bishop's Waltham Festival 2020

The Festival organisers had planned to have the Festival Concert as our first event of this summer's activities on Saturday 9th May. However we are having to cancel this and all our plans for the summer since daily life in the UK has changed so dramatically due to the coronavirus epidemic. Our two theatre companies booked for June 19th and 20th have cancelled their early summer tours and the Mad Hatter's will have to wait a while for their Tea Party in aid of St George Foundation charity.

However, we are hoping to start producing events for you again in the autumn and winter of this year and will get to work on this as soon as the situation improves.

I write this on 24th March at the end of the first day of 'lockdown' when we have all had to do our civic and social duty and stay home to reduce the spread of the virus. I earnestly hope that by the time you read it there will be a much rosier outlook and the end of the crisis will be in sight.

A note of thanks to our sponsors whose support makes all we do possible:

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Whats On

THE OVERTONES come to WEYMOUTH Pavilion on Sunday 28th June 2020!

Multi-platinum selling vocal harmony group, The Overtones are delighted to announce their 11th UK Tour taking place this June / July 2020! Tickets are available

from https://bit.ly/38yQICp With 5 top 10 albums and 10 sold out UK Tours, The Overtones will embark on their 11th UK Tour taking place this Summer. For the last decade, The Overtones have been a household name after appearing on dozens of television shows across the UK and Europe including Dancing On Ice, BBC Breakfast and This Morning to name just a few. After headlining at world renowned venues like The London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall. The Overtones have built a name for themselves as one of the UK’s most prolific live acts. From performing at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at Buckingham Palace to singing at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in front of one million people. The Overtones have entertained at some of the biggest events on the planet. In 2019, the group welcomed new member, Jay James who rose to prominence working with the likes of John Legend and as a finalist on The X Factor.

The announcement heralds the start of an exciting new era for The Overtones. The Overtones member Mike Crawshaw says, “We love performing classic songs and favourites from our albums, there will be plenty of surprises on tour this Summer”, says Mike Crawshaw.

“Over the last 11 years we’ve learnt a thing or two about throwing a party! People come to our shows to let their hair down, get their spirits up and dance their hearts out.

We want everyone to leave an Overtones concert with a huge smile on their face and a spring in their step. This year will be our best tour yet!” With their innate charm and adherence to vintage-modernist style, and a devotion to the timeless appeal of male vocal harmonies, The Overtones are a bridge between pre-rock’n’roll classicism and lively 21st Century entertainment. They’ve sold over a million albums, made countless TV appearances and filled venues to capacity on tour after tour, all the while building a relationship with their fans that has real depth and devotion.2018 saw the group release their sixth album ‘The Overtones’.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

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Twitter http://bit.ly/2Pdj9PE Jay Geddes www.jaygeddes.com

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Chef to the stars

Food lover and celebrity catering chef Jay Geddes tells the Loop what it takes to be a professional chef.

Jay Geddes is a renowned chef born & bred in Southampton who has made his way to the top one step at a time. He has come from working with Michelin star chefs and serving the England football team in the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton, to catering for stars from Beyoncé and Rihanna to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kings of Leon.

We caught up with him to learn what it takes to be a top chef, and to gain tips on how to cook like a professional.

What inspired you to get into cooking?

“Around nine years ago I was working as a chef in the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton. The head chef at the hotel was a great guy and a phenomenal Michelin star cook. He taught me a lot in very short space of time about cooking, and I grew under him there.

“One day I got an unexpected phone call on my day off, which I was expecting to be work asking me to come in! But it turned out to be the head chef from work. He said he had been contracted with some work that he couldn’t do, and that he had recommended me instead. He told me he knew me, trusted me and believed in me to do a great job.

“I went to Dublin to work on the catering team for a Chris Brown show, and at the end, the head chef asked if he could keep my number. I thought nothing of it. But before I knew it, I was working with Rihanna and Beyoncé!”

Do you get to travel overseas much for work?

“Elite catering are based in London but we also have offices in America, so we’ll look after the clients on this side and they’ll look after them on the other side.

“Justin Bieber was a last minute call for a one-off date in Cardiff. I get a lot of one-off dates where they only need me for one gig, or I could get booked for a whole 6-10 date tour.

“I don’t get to go overseas much myself, but I get to travel all over the UK and occasionally I will venture into Europe. I’ve got Guns & Roses at the Stade de France in Paris next month and, unless I get approached privately, that’s about as far overseas as I go on a regular basis.

“It’s not just the musicians that need feeding either. We often cater for comedians and even game shows – everyone has to eat, not just the musicians!

“These tours that the musicians and comedians go on can be extremely demanding, and we have to give them food that will keep them going on their tours. I’m also a qualified sports nutritionist so, although the artists usually know what they want before they go on tour, I can assist them with food that will keep them going for the couple of hours they are on stage, as well as their fatigue from travelling. Food is fuel; and on these tours it’s really important that you look after your body.

Continued...

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers “In terms of food trends, everyone seems to be into avocados recently. They are really popular with the artists as well as the public.”

Who would be your dream audience to cook for?

“I would say the Royal Family, but I’ve already cooked for them! A long time ago I was at Windsor Castle, and again it was complete luck. One of the chefs got sick and somebody recommended me for the job. They did a quick background check on me and that was it! That meal we covered for about 300 people, so it certainly was hard.

“I never really get phased or star struck around any of the stars I cook for; I just love cooking!

Whether I’m cooking for Beyoncé or John Smith, you will get the same amount of passion from me in my cooking.

“If you love food, and you love your job, it doesn’t matter who you’re cooking for. As long as there is a smile on the person’s face when they eat the food – that’s all that matters.”

What are your plans for the future?

“Next year I’m hoping to bring out a cookbook. It’s early doors yet but we are thinking about a Christmas release next year, so I’m very excited about that. The dishes that will be in the cookbook are going to be as simplistic - and at the same time as tasty - as possible.

“A lot of people can look at a recipe in a cookbook with 10-15 ingredients and think to themselves ‘I can’t do this!’ So rather than including loads of ingredients, we’re going to keep it simple with minimal ingredients, whilst still including lots of good flavours.”

Any tips for cooking?

“The best piece of advice I could give is that people eat with their eyes. If you put a dish in front of someone and it looks beautiful, and uses lots of different colours, it adds that something extra to a dish. It’s almost like food fashion. Keep it simple and sexy – that’s my motto.

“I sometimes go to down to the community college as a guest just to give some of the young up and comers some advice and to give something back to the community. At the moment there is a national shortage of chefs in the UK. We need to get more people into cooking and catering in the UK.”

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Focaccia bread Ingredients • • • • • • • •

4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet) 2 cups warm tap water 1 teaspoon butter for greasing pan 4 tablespoons olive oil divided Italian seasoning or finely chopped fresh herbs flaky sea salt

Prepare the dough: 1.

In a medium-large bowl, combine flour, salt, and instant yeast. Stir well. Add the warm water. Using a Danish Whisk, sturdy wooden spoon or a rubber spatula, mix until all of the flour is incorporated. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

2.

Lightly butter two 9-inch cake pans. Line pans with parchment paper. Pour one tablespoon of olive oil into the center of each pan. Divide dough in half with a large spoon or rubber spatula and place one piece of dough in each pan, turning to coat with oil. Tuck edges of dough underneath to form a rough ball. Cover each pan tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough balls to rest for 2 hours depending. The dough should cover most of the pan.

Bake: 1.

Preheat oven to 450˚F with a rack positioned in the center of the oven.

2.

Drizzle another tablespoon of oil over each round of dough. With oiled fingers, using both hands, press straight down and create deep dimples that go all the way through the dough (in other words, you'll actually be making deep holes.) If necessary, gently stretch the dough as you dimple to allow the dough to fill the pan.

3.

Sprinkle tops with Italian seasoning (or fresh herbs) and flaky sea salt.

4.

Transfer the pans to the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 425˚F. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, until the tops are golden and the undersides are crisp. Remove pans from the oven. With a metal spatula remove bread rounds from the pans and transfer to a cooling rack.

5.

Serve warm or allow to cool completely then store in a zippered bag.

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Crab toasts Serves 4-8 Ingedients: • 500g fresh brown crab meat • 40ml lime juice • 6 drops Tabasco • ½-1 tbsp mayonnaise • Salt and black pepper • 8 thick slices of dense white bread such as sourdough or Poilâne • Clarified butter, for spreading • 1 tbsp chives, chopped • A pinch of fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt • Handful of watercress Method: 1. Mix together the crab meat, lime juice and Tabasco and stir well. Now add the mayonnaise. How much depends on the mixture - if it’s quite wet, add only ½ tbsp; if it is thick, add 1 full tbsp.

Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Then put in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

2. Just before serving, lightly brush the slices of bread with the clarified butter, then either chargrill on both sides or place in a hot oven (about 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6) for about 5 minutes, to toast.

Spread the crab mixture onto the grilled or toasted bread, sprinkle with chives and fleur de sel, and serve immediately.

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Ultimate chicken noodle soup 4 servings Ingedients: • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 carrots sliced • 2 celery sticks diced • 1 onion diced • 6 garlic cloves sliced • Sea salt and black pepper • Half a glass of dry white wine • 1 pint of chicken stock • 1 and a half pound of of skinless chicken breast and thighs • 1 pack of egg noodles • Half a squeezed lemon • 2 tsp on dill • 2 tsp of flat leaf parsley Method: 1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.

Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine and cook until syrupy, 1 minute. Add chicken stock and chicken pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes.

2. Remove chicken; shred thighs with two forks and chop breasts into large bite-size pieces. Return meat to pot; discard bones.

3. Add noodles to soup and cook, stirring often, until tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, dill, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

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Asparagus Risotto Verde Ingedients: • 1 pound asparagus • Handful parsley tops or spinach leaves • Salt • 3 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil • ½ cup finely chopped shallot or onion • ½ cup pinot grigio (or other dry, white wine) • 1 cup Arborio rice • 4 cups of light broth • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano • Fresh lemon juice from half a lemon • Thinly sliced red radish, watercress and fennel fronds (optional) for garnishy Method: 1. To make the risotto: Bring a small pan of salted water to a boil. Trim off the bottom inch of the asparagus and discard. Cut off the first 3 inches of the tips; slice the remaining stalks into 1-inch lengths. Drop the tips into the water and cook 1 minute; remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl filled with ice water. Drop the chopped stalks into the boiling water and cook exactly 3 minutes.

Immediately remove the stalks with a slotted spoon and put in a blender along with the parsley or spinach. Add a pinch of salt and ½ cup of the cooking water and puree until very smooth.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat until the butter melts and sizzles (but doesn’t turn brown); add the shallot and 1 teaspoon salt and cook it softened, 1 minute or so. Add the rice and stir to coat with the fat, cook until the rice begins to crackle, 1 minute.

3. Pour in the wine, stir it around and boil until it’s evaporated. Pour in 2 cups of the stock, bring to a steady bubble and cook until absorbed, stirring frequently for 7 – 10 minutes.

4. Add another cup of stock, another ½ teaspoon salt and continue cooking until almost absorbed.

Watch carefully at this point – the rice will be nearly ready when the grains have swelled in volume and the liquid becomes thickened. Taste the rice – it should be tender all around, and very slightly al dente at the core. Add more liquid if needed, ¼ cup at a time until you feel it’s done. There should be some thick, starchy liquid still left in the pot. You might not use all the stock.

5. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the reserved asparagus puree, remaining butter and half the cheese. Stir in the lemon juice and taste the risotto for seasoning, adding more salt to tast if needed. Gently stir in the asparagus tips.

6. Serve in bowls, topping each one with some radish, watercress and fennel fronds with additional cheese on the side.

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Lobster thermodor Serves 2 Ingedients: • 250ml milk • 3 bay leaves • ½ small onion, thickly sliced • 6 black peppercorns • 1 cooked lobster (about 750g) • 45g butter • 15g plain flour • 50g shallots, finely chopped • 120ml dry white wine • 1 tsp English mustard • 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon • 1 tsp chopped fresh chives • 1 tbsp double cream (optional) • Pinch of cayenne pepper • 40g Gruyère, finely grated Method: 1. Put the milk, bay leaves, onion and peppercorns in a small pan. Bring to the boil, then set aside for 10 minutes for the flavours to infuse.

2. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the cooked lobster and cut it into small, chunky pieces. Keep the tomalley (the grey-green liver) and any roe separate. Put the cleaned out half-shells in a small baking tray. Preheat the grill to high.

3. For the sauce, reheat the milk gently. Melt 20g of the butter in another small pan, stir in the flour and cook for a few seconds. Strain in a little of the hot milk and whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in the rest of the milk, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring now and then. You should be left with 200ml sauce with the consistency of thick cream.

4. While the sauce is simmering, melt the remaining butter in another small pan, add the shallots and cook gently until soft but not browned. Add the wine, turn up the heat and simmer rapidly until the liquid has almost disappeared. Stir in the white sauce, together with the mustard, tarragon, chives, cream (if using), cayenne pepper and 25g of the grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

5. Stir the lobster meat into the sauce, with the tomalley and any roe if you wish, then divide the mixture equally between the cleaned half-shells. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, slide under the grill, then cook for 3-4 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with new potatoes and a light, green salad.

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Courgette and Sweetcorn Pie Ingedients: • 4 tablespoons butter • half of a white onion, diced • 1 cup of sweet corn • 2 large courgettes, sliced very thinly (about 4 cups) • Handful of sliced mushrooms • 1 tablespoon dried basil • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 12 ounces shredded cheese (I used both Mozzarella and Cheddar • 4 eggs, beaten Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat.

Add the onions, courgette, and mushrooms. While the veggies saute, cut the corn kernels off the cob ( or use frozen ) Add them to the pan and continue to saute until the veggies are soft, 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat.

2. Once the mixture has cooled for a few minutes, stir in the basil, oregano, salt, cheese, and the beaten egg. Line a pie pan (9-inch or larger) with parchment paper or just grease a pan with nonstick spray. Transfer the mixture to the pan. Arrange the top so the courgettes slices lay flat and look nice. Top with a little extra cheese for looks, cover with greased foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes to brown the top. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting into slices.

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Fish Cakes, Beurre Blanc Sauce Ingedients for the Fish Cake: • 450g cod or haddock fillet • 2 bay leaves • 150ml milk • 350g Maris Piper potatoes • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest • Small handful fresh chopped parsley • 1 tbsp chopped chives • 1 egg • flour for shaping • 100g panko breadcrumbs • 4tbsp sunflower oil • watercress to serve Method: 1. Mix all the sauce ingredients together. Set aside. Lay the fish and bay leaves in a frying pan. Pour over the milk and 150ml/¼ pint water. Cover, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 4 mins.

Take off the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 mins to gently finish cooking the fish.

2. Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes into even-sized chunks. Put them in a saucepan and just cover with boiling water. Add a pince of salt, bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 mins or until tender, but not broken up.

3. Lift the fish out of the milk with a slotted spoon and put on a plate to cool. Drain the potatoes in a colander and leave for a min or two. Tip them back into the hot pan on the lowest heat you can and let them dry out for 1 min, mashing them with a fork and stirring so they don’t stick. You should have a light, dry fluffy mash. Take off the heat and beat in 1 rounded tbsp of the sauce, then the lemon zest, parsley and chives. Season well with salt and pepper. The potato should have a good flavour, so taste and adjust to suit.

4. Drain off liquid from the fish, grind some pepper over it, then flake it into big chunks into the pan of potatoes. Using your hands, gently lift the fish and potatoes together so they just mix. You’ll only need a couple of turns, or the fish will break up too much. Put to one side and cool.

5. Beat the egg on a large plate and lightly flour a board. Spread the breadcrumbs on a baking sheet.

Divide the fish cake mixture into four. On the floured board, and with floured hands, carefully shape into four cakes, about 2.5cm thick, One by one, sit each cake in the egg, and brush over the top and sides so it is completely coated. Sit the cakes on the crumbs, patting the crumbs on the sides and tops so they are lightly covered. Transfer to a plate, cover and chill for 30 mins (or up to a day ahead).

6. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. To test when ready, drop a piece of the dry breadcrumbs in - if it sizzles and quickly turns golden brown, it is ready to use. Fry the fish cakes over a medium heat for about 5 mins on each side or until crisp and golden. Continued...

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers Ingedients for the Beurre Blanc Sauce: • 1 cup of dry white wine • Half white wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon finally chopped shallot • 1 lb unsalted butter, cold • Kosher salt to taste Method: 1. Cut the butter into a medium (½-inch) cubes and return the butter cubes to the refrigerator to keep them cold, which is very important.

2. Heat the wine, vinegar, and shallots in a saucepan until the liquid boils, then lower the heat a bit and continue simmering until the liquid has reduced down to about 2 tablespoons. This should take about 10 minutes.

3. Once the wine-vinegar mixture has reduced to 2 tablespoons, reduce the heat to low, take the cubes of butter out of the fridge and start adding the cubes, one or two at a time, to the reduction, while you whisk rapidly with a wire whisk.

4. As the butter melts and incorporates, add more butter and keep whisking. Continue until you only have 2-3 cubes remaining. Remove from heat while whisking in the last few cubes, and whisk for a moment or two more. The finished sauce should be thick and smooth.

5. Season to taste with Kosher salt. Traditionally the shallots would be strained out before serving, but doing so is optional. Serve right away.

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6 days I was cooking in the sky

Jay was apart of the phenomenal event of dinner in the sky that was brought to southampton. Jay hosted over 20 flights and cooked over 1200 meals meals in the 6 day event.

If you missed out you can sign up to his website to be the first to know about future tickets before they go on sale.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Pea soup, honey roasted gammon and crispy egg Gammon: 1 gammon steak 1 carrot, finely sliced 1 onion, finely sliced 1 bay leaf 5 sprigs of thyme 5 peppercorns 1 1/2 tbsp of dijon mustard 3 tbsp of honey Pea soup: 500g of frozen peas 1000ml of water 1 sprig of mint Salt Black pepper Crispy egg: 6 eggs 60g of plain flour 60g of breadcrumbs 40ml of white wine vinegar 650ml of water Salt Pea Salad: 280g of fresh peas Fresh mint 1 lemon olive oil Salt Pepper

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Method 1. Preheat the oven to 170ËšC/gas mark 3 2. Place the gammon, vegetables, herbs and peppercorns in an oven dish and cover with water. Place in the oven and braise for 1 1/2 hours 3. Meanwhile, prepare the rest of the dish. For the soup, bring the water to the boil. As it reaches boiling point, add the mint and then the frozen peas, cover with a lid until it returns to the boil 4. Remove from the heat, strain the peas and mint, reserving 2 cups of the hot liquid. Remove the mint as this was only used to infuse and will not be blended with the peas 5. Blend on a high speed until you are left with a soup, adding the cooking liquid gradually until you reach the desired consistency. Season to taste and pass through a fine sieve into a bowl set over ice to cool.

Store in the fridge until required 6. Pod the fresh peas, then blanch in some lightly salted boiling water for 30 seconds. Refresh the peas in iced water to stop the cooking process, then pop the peas out of their skins 7. Whisk the oil and lemon juice together with a little seasoning until it comes together. Set aside until ready to serve 8. Once the gammon is cooked, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the stock 9. To prepare the crispy eggs, bring a large pot of water to a simmer and pour in the white wine vinegar.

Crack the eggs into individual cups and gently pour each egg in the water. Maintain a very gentle simmer until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still soft and runny. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper 10. Add flour, the remaining beaten eggs and the breadcrumbs to separate bowls. Roll each egg in the flour, followed by the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs and set aside. For a thicker, crispier finish, repeat the egg and breadcrumb stages for each egg.

11. Before serving, reheat the soup in a pan on the hob. Meanwhile, place the shelled peas, pea shoots and fresh mint leaves in a bowl and dress with the lemon juice and olive oil dressing 12. Slice the cooled gammon steaks into lardons, mix together the honey and mustard to form a glaze over the gammon. SautÊ the lardons in the glaze in a hot pan until golden 13. Deep fry the eggs at 180°C until crispy and golden, then drain on kitchen paper and season with some salt 14. Divide the salad between plates, sprinkle over some gammon lardons then finish with a crispy egg.

Transfer the soup into a pouring jug and serve immediately.

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Pea and Mint Soup - serves 6 Ingredients 20g of butter 2 onions, peeled and sliced 2 garlic clove, peeled and sliced 450ml of water 1 pinch of sugar 500g of petit pois 1 handful of fresh mint 4 tbsp of double cream 6 x sea bass fillet or sea bass, skinned, filleted and pin-boned, weighing 1kg if fresh from fishmongers Method For the bass - put grease proof on a tray. Lay out fillets, season and olive oil, place in oven at 180 degrees and cook for 8 to 10 mins ( guideline only For the pea and mint soup - melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onions and garlic and cook to soften; set aside. Bring the water to the boil, add salt and a good pinch of sugar, throw in the peas and cook until just tender.

Remove from the heat, add the mint leaves and immediately blitz in a liquidiser, adding the onions and garlic.

Pass through a sieve, and when re-heating to serve, add the cream and adjust the seasoning.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Smoked cheddar and spring onion cakes Ingredients 700/800g jersey royal potatoes 160g smoked cheddar or vegetarian alternative Generous knob of butter 2 heaped tsp English mustard Bunch of spring onions Seasoned plain flour for dusting Good splash of olive oil Chopped walnuts and crisp leaves to serve Method Peel the potatoes, cutting any large ones in half. Put in a pan of lightly salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes or until completely tender, then drain and return to a low heat to steam dry.

Grate the cheddar or vegetarian alternative into the potato with a good knob of butter and 2 heaped tsp wholegrain mustard, then pass through a ricer or push through a metal sieve with the back of a spoon. Season generously. Trim and finely chop a bunch of spring onions, then stir through. When the mash has cooled slightly, shape into 8 small cakes, then dust lightly in the seasoned plain flour. Heat a good splash of olive oil in a pan and fry the cakes for 5 minutes on each side or until golden and crisp, though soft in the centre, flipping over carefully with a fish slice or palette knife. Fry in batches with extra oil if necessary. Serve with a salad of chopped walnuts and crisp leaves.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

One pot chicken chili This Healthy One-Pot Chicken Chili takes only 30 minutes to cook and tastes like a coolweather dream! Whatever the season, everyone who tastes this chili will be going back for more. You can literally do this in 3 easy steps.

This healthy one-pot chicken chili requires only one big pot and the amount of minutes it takes to watch a sitcom‌ Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 30 mins serves 6 - 8 Ingredients 3 TB olive oil 2 medium onions, roughly chopped 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 4 bell peppers, mixed colors, seeded/roughly chopped 2 1/2 tsp kosher salt 2 1/2 tsp chili powder 2 tsp granulated sugar 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 2 cans (28 oz. each) crushed tomatoes, with all juices 1 whole, cooked rotisserie chicken, meat shredded 2 cups good quality chicken broth Optional for Serving: chopped fresh cilantro for garnish shredded cheese corn tortilla chips Instructions In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil until hot. Add onions and garlic. Stir on medium-high heat 3 minutes or until tender. Add bell peppers, salt, chili powder, sugar, cumin, and paprika; stir 2 minutes on medium-high heat.

Increase to high heat and stir in crushed tomatoes with juices, shredded chicken, and broth. Bring to a rapid boil. Immediately cover and reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with optional toppings, as desired. Chili keeps well covered and chilled for several days. (In fact, flavor intensifies wonderfully the next day.)

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Brioche and white chocolate bread and butter pudding with rum soaked raisins Ingedients: • 30g butter for greasing • 500ml of milk • 1 orange zest • 1 dash of vanilla essence • 50g white chocolate broken up • 50g caster sugar • 2 eggs • 150g raisins soaked in rum • 1 brioche loaf cut into slices Method: 1. pre heat oven to 180 gas mark 4.

2. To begin, grease a large baking dish with the butter.

3. Pour the milk into a large pan and heat until almost simmering - keep stirring to ensure the milk does not burn. Add the white chocolate, orange zest and vanilla. Continue to gently heat and stir.

4. Meanwhile, whisk together the caster sugar and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Once the milk has started to simmer, pour 1/3 of the milk into the sugar and eggs and mix well.

5. Pour the milk, egg and sugar mixture into the pan with the hot milk. Continue to cook on a low heat, stirring continuously until a thin custard forms. Remove from the heat and continue to stir for 2 minutes.

6. Arrange a layer of sliced brioche along the bottom of the greased baking dish, scatter over a handful of raisins. Repeat the process to make more layers and use up the remaining brioche and raisins.

7. Carefully pour the custard onto the brioche so it soaks through and covers the bread. Leave to soak for 15 minutes.

8. Place the brioche and butter pudding in the oven and cook for 40 minutes until the surface is golden brown and the custard is just cooked and has started to set.

9. Remove the dish from the oven and divide into bowls.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Autumn Fruit Pie Ingedients: • 800g (1¾ lb) cooking apples, such as Bramley • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 100g (3½ oz) caster sugar • 2 tbsp cornflour • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • 225g (8oz) blackberries • fresh cream, custard or vanilla • ice cream, to serve Pastry: • 360g (12oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 185g (6oz) cold butter, cut into • small cubes • about 2 tbsp milk, to glaze • 2 tsp caster sugar, to glaze Method: 1. Make the pastry: put the flour in a large bowl with the butter. Rub together with your fingertips until you have incorporated all the butter. Add about 6 tablespoons of cold water until the mixture holds together. Gently gather up, then pat into a ball. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut off just over half the pastry and leave the rest wrapped. Lightly flour the work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the pastry into a circle about 35cm (14in) across. (See below, Make a light pastry crust).

2. Carefully line the pie tin with the pastry. (Line the tin without stretching.) Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan/425°F/gas 7).

3. Quarter, peel and core the apples, then cut them into slices about 5mm (¼ in) thick. Put them in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Mix the sugar with the cornflour and cinnamon in a bowl, then toss with the apples. Tip in the blackberries and briefly toss everything together. Be gentle when tossing, or the fruit will break up. Tip the fruit into the pastry-lined tin.

4. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into long strips, to make the lattice its a simple up and under (look at the picture for details).

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

White chocolate, strawberries and a cheeky prosecco cake Makes 6-8 Ingedients: • 1 Punnet fresh strawberries • 2 Eggs • 5 tbsp Strawberry jam • 120g Golden caster sugar • 320g Icing sugar • 120g Self-raising flour • 2 140g packets White chocolate fingers • 230g Margarine unsalted butter • 8 tbsp Prosecco Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/gas 4. Line two 5 inch baking tins and grease well with margarine/butter.

2. Cream the butter and the sugar together until the mixture is nice and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well.

4. Sieve the flour into the bowl and fold into the mixture.

5. Divide the mixture evenly between both tins.

6. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

7. Once ready, take out the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Frosting: 1. Cream the butter on its own for about 5 minutes on a medium speed.

2. Sift the icing sugar into the creamed butter and then mix together on a slow speed. Gradually increase the speed until it forms a thick paste.

3. Add the prosecco and whisk together for one minute. Set aside.

Assemble the cake: 1. Take the cooled cakes and carefully slice the domed top off of each to provide a flat surface. Slice each cake in half with a sharp knife so you have got 4 thin cakes. Place the bottom section onto a board, using a small dollop of frosting to secure it in place.

2. On top of the bottom layer of cake add a tablespoon of jam and smooth down with the palette knife, leaving about half an inch to the edge, you don’t want your jam to seep out the edges. Repeat on every layer of the cake apart from the top one.

3. Place some frosting on the top layer of the cake then spread it all over and down the sides, covering the cake entirely.

4. Now add the chocolate fingers. Work your way round the cake, pressing them lightly into the frosting to hold them in place.

5. Add the strawberries to the top of the cake leaving them whole. Put as many as you can fit on.

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Jay Geddes Recipes - Heart Warmers

Cherry chocolate fruitcake Ingedients: • 2 cups dried cherries chopped • 1/2 cup brandy or rum • 3/4 cup unsalted butter • 1 1/2 cups sugar • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ¼ teaspoon almond extract • 3 large eggs • 2 cups of all purpose flour Method: 1. Combine the dried cherries with brandy, rum, or water. Cover and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, stir, then set aside to cool.

2. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease the pans of your choice: two 8 1/2” x 4 1/2” loaf pans, five 7” wooden bakers, six 7” paper bake & give pans, one 12-cup bundt-style pan, or two 6-cup bundt-style pans.

3. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, flavors, and cake enhancer.

4. Beat in the eggs one at time. Stir in the flour alternately with the milk.

5. Combine the dried cherries and their liquid, candied cherries, Jammy Bits, chocolate chips, and nuts. Stir into the cake batter.

6. Spoon the batter into the lightly greased pans, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 50 to 100 minutes; the smaller the pan, the shorter the baking time. When done, the cakes will be a light golden brown all over, and a cake tester inserted into the center will come out clean.

7. Remove the cakes from the oven. If you’re removing them from the pan(s), wait about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a rack. If you’ve baked them in paper pans, they can stay right in the pan.

8. If you’re using simple syrup, brush the warm cakes all over, continuing to brush until you’ve used it all. If you choose not to use the syrup, you may wish to brush the warm cake(s) with brandy or the liquor of your choice.

9. When completely cooled, wrap well and let rest at least 24 hours (or for up to a month, brushing with liquor or syrup weekly), before serving.

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