Your Local Community Magazine
February 2021
Freshwater, Totland & Yarmouth Area
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Trading Standards are receiving increasing reports of a worrying scam that appears to be targeting anyone and everyone. The scammers are again using the coronavirus to con us into parting with money and details. The latest scam is an official looking text purporting to be from the NHS saying that you need to book a vaccination appointment. This will then take you to a fake NHS form which will ask for bank details to prove your identity. This is a SCAM The NHS will never ask for a person’s banking information so please do not provide it The second comes in the form of a survey scam on social media. This has been reported from the mainland however social media has no geographical boundaries! The scam purports to be authorised by the local authority and alleges to find out how residents are coping with the Covid-19 situation. Participants are requested to provide their personal details and are offered a payment of £25 for taking part. It is believed that by giving bank details for the payment the scammers will have access to their bank accounts and can take money from them. Be very wary of any links you click on social media and never give information in this way. There are still the following scams: •
Email from the Royal Mail that says due to incomplete address they are unable to deliver a parcel – asking you to click on the link to complete the information required – DON’T
•
Email from EE to say that your payment couldn’t be taken and asking you to click on a link to verify your details – DON’T
•
Text message allegedly from the DVLA to say that your payment couldn’t be taken and asking you to click on a link to make the payment due – DON’T
•
Calls from Amazon Prime stating that the annual membership of £79.99 is due for renewal – HANG UP
Remember any unsolicited communication is likely to be a scam so treat them with suspicion 2
As I put pen to paper or rather fingers to keyboard, I feel a great sense of relief that we are moving into February and coming out of January which is always a difficult month and made even worse by being in lockdown. I have no crystal ball to see what is ahead (and maybe that is a good thing) but I think we will be in battle with this virus for a while longer. Although lockdown is difficult and frustrating it’s important that we follow the rules in an attempt to try and get our lives back on track.
text or call Island Magazines on 07880 587 931 islandmagazines@gmail.com www.islandmagazines.co.uk facebook.com/islandmagazines twitter.com/islandmagazines
Here at Island Magazines, we are animal lovers, so we just had to reach out and help a local attraction that is suffering during these troubling times. You can read all about how we can all help the animals on page 8. We have also been working with a local Community Interest Company which is dedicated to supporting victims of domestic abuse and you can read more about this on page 6. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue which is packed with news and information. A big thank you to all our wonderful advertisers and contributors who make it possible to publish each month. Please tell your family and friends that we are a free local community magazine packed with news and information. If you are a local business, please consider advertising with us. I hope you all have a great February and I look forward to catching up with you again next month.
Debbie
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Totland Parish Council News Councillors have met a few times to discuss the budget for 2021/2022 and have agreed that there will be a zero increase in the Precept. We will continue to support the Sports Centre, Community Connector and Nursery and in addition we have agreed to support the Post Office. This is a valuable service to our Community, however, Totland Bay is not a stand-alone service and trades under the Island Community Ventures Ltd.
CONTACT DETAILS: Parish Clerk – Mrs Helen Gibbs - Telephone 756028 Totland Parish Council, Winchester House, The Broadway, Totland Bay, PO39 0AX.
We are working with Councillor Howe regarding Summers Lane. John has been speaking with both Island Roads and Isle of Wight Council regarding the problem that have arose since being resurfaced and has committed fully to this until the road is properly resurfaced which will allow the surface water to drain away.
Email: clerk@totlandparishcouncil.org. uk or follow the Clerk on Twitter @ TotlandClerk. The parish council also have a Facebook page which is updated regularly.
The parish office opening days and times are: Monday – Thursday 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Ward Councillor John Howe Telephone 753414 or email: john.howe@iow.gov.uk
Totland Recreation Ground car parking Your Parish Councillors’ are: Chairman area should not be used by local people as Jan Cave, Vince Fennell, John Howe, a second car parking space. The area is for David Filby, Steve Blamire, Helen Wood, users of the facilities and signage will be Gareth Wyre and Hilary Benns. installed shortly not allowing any overnight parking. “An excellent team offering an Recycling: Afton invaluable service” Marsh Recycling NEW! Book online www.mobilevetsurgery.co.uk Centre – This is open, Stress-free Islandwide “Friendly & reliable and you can now take professional yet Home Visits & household rubbish, very caring” Central Vet Surgery however, you MUST book a time. You cannot just turn up; you will be sent away. Keyhole Surgery
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5
It’s time to stop being a victim and start living. It can happen to both men and women, there is no preference to age or nationality. It is no longer just physical! Just because a person doesn’t put their hands on you, that doesn’t mean they aren’t abusive. ABUSE is control, blatant disrespect and hurtful words. Domestic Abuse has dramatically increased during the coronavirus crisis and lockdown. Abusers feel they are stronger than ever, they make their victims believe they have taken away all safety nets and any chances of getting help... but this just isn’t the case, there is support and help for all victims, whether you have already escaped or want to escape then help is here in the form of Break the Cycle (CIC). Their FREE ‘Mind the Gap’ course is able to create and deliver courses, coaching, mentoring and support to women and men who are suffering from abuse in any form. The 10-week course is for everyone to learn how to rebuild their confidence and move forward positively in their lives. The sessions help build support networks, learn new skills and increase self-belief. They help individuals and groups to gain the courage and confidence to stand up against oppression, control, abuse etc. They have changed the thinking of some people in such a way as they have made the decision not to commit suicide. Others have discovered they are valuable members of society after continuously being told how worthless they were and some have gone on to start their own businesses, gone back into education or, just as importantly, escaped from their abusive relationship and now live confidently on their own terms. The ‘Mind the Gap’ course is versatile in its approach to each client, and they can adapt to the needs of any client. Having written this course specifically to help people who have suffered domestic abuse, whether that is recently or historically, the results achieved by those who have attended have been truly remarkable. Break the Cycle CIC has been running since 2016 and was founded by Maggie Currie after she realised there was a gap in the support needed by people who had suffered domestic abuse. The new courses are beginning again this February, for women on 1st at 10am and for men on 3rd at 10am via Zoom. Their pilot Zoom based course was very successful so they are sure you will learn more about yourself, how you think and how you can move forward in your life more confidently. To book your place on this course please email hello@breakthecycle.org.uk or call/text 07779 189 305 www.breakthecycle.org.uk 6
Tel: 01983 339755 | Mob: 07785 531285 hgimprovementsiow@yahoo.com
Grants available for local businesses Island businesses eligible for government grant support under the latest national lockdown can now apply via the council’s website. The application forms and details of the grant help can be accessed via: www.iow.gov.uk/covid19_businessadvice Under the national lockdown there are rolling payments and top up grants for eligible ratepaying businesses in certain categories.
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Some businesses may also qualify for grant support relating to the brief period around Christmas when the Island was under Tier 3 and then Tier 4 restrictions. There is also support for ‘wet’ led pubs for late December. In addition, the council is offering government-funded discretionary grant help to businesses which may fall outside these schemes, and has created a Winter Business Support Grant scheme.
All Electrical Work Undertaken Domestic and Commercial Design / Installation / Improvements Home Automation Inspection & Reports Fault finding & Repairs All Types of Lighting
The views and opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are their own and do not reflect the views of the Editor or Island Magazines unless stated otherwise. Island Magazines reserves the right to refuse or alter material where necessary.
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Do you like this month’s front cover star? This is Bert the Red Panda and he is a resident of Amazon World Zoo Park and Bert and all the other residents and keepers are sending out a plea for your help. Amazon World Zoo Park are continuing the daily fight for survival, the pandemic and Avian flu has hit them really hard and once again their doors have had to remain closed to the public. The work continues to carry on behind closed doors as the animals still need to be fed, tended to and looked after and on average running costs per day amount to approximately £1,000. Heating, lighting, medication, feed and keeper wages are just some of the daily running costs. We as an island are known for our love of animals and Amazon World Zoo Park and the animals really need our help. They have a varied diet of vegetables and fruit and they are running low on many of the following items:Mixed Herbs - (Basil, Spinach, parsley, coriander), cabbage, chicory, collards, peppers, carrots, broccoli, courgettes, kale, spring greens, spinach, brussel sprouts, asparagus, okra, radishes, artichoke, swede, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, turnips, beetroot, celeriac, aubergine, corn on the cob or mini corn or frozen sweet corn and frozen peas. Fine beans and runner beans, cucumber, cauliflower, celery, fennel, leek, mixed salad leaves romaine lettuce, parsnip, fruit, nuts and seeds. When you are next doing your weekly shop please pop a few extra items into your trolley for the animals. Although the park is closed you can deliver and leave your donations in the container by the main gates. This is manned throughout the day and will be picked up by the keepers. If you are a Tree Surgeon or know of one and are able to donate fresh woodchip for their Sloth and Tamandua enclosures in the Twilight area. They can accept any of the following types of woodchip; Alder, Birch, Hazel, Pine, Poplar and Willow. If you can help please leave a message on 01983 867122 or message them via Facebook. You can also help them by gifting items on the Amazon Wish List. The link can be found on their Facebook page.
Adrian Kensit
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We have managed to crawl our way through to February and have survived January which is (in my opinion) the worst month of the year.
in their windows at home. While in many countries Christmas decorations are traditionally removed on the twelfth night (January 5) for other countries it is customary to remove them on Candlemas.
But what is February about, is there anything to look forward to? I have been looking into what is happening across the globe during this extra short month.
Send a Card to a Friend Day Sunday 7th February
- Everyone loves and appreciates their Some events can be celebrated without friends, and we all just breaking lockdown rules and others can be assume that they know attended remotely. Some are traditional how much we care and some I have never heard of. and that we are always thinking about them. National Sickie Day 2021 - Monday Sadly, many of our friends will experience 1st February - Under normal circumstances and certainly not through a loneliness and feel lockdown pandemic, statistics have shown under appreciated from time to time. That’s just how life goes. That’s why Send that the first Monday in February is the a Card to a Friend Day exists, and why day when people are most likely to pull year after year it is so popular! a sickie. One of the factors attributed to this is the first payday since Christmas, meaning people have been out celebrating A small gesture that we may not think makes any difference could actually make all weekend with a particularly heavy our friends’ day. All it takes is a cute little one. Another theory is that card with a nice personal message in it to people tend to re-evaluate put a smile on their face. This could be their career path in January, an e-card that you send to them online, a meaning that a lot of store-bought card, or better yet, a home these sickies are actually to made one that oozes thoughtfulness, ideal attend interviews. for your extra special besties. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on celebrating your Candlemas Day - Tuesday 2nd friendships on this special day! February – The Christian Festival of lights. The day marks the midpoint of St Valentine’s Day – Sunday 14th Winter, halfway between the shortest day February - also called the Feast of Saint and the spring equinox. Candlemas also Valentine, and is recognised as a significant commemorates the ritual purification of cultural, religious, and commercial Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son. It is also the day when all the candles, that celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. It’s the day when are used in the church during the coming people show their affection for another year, are brought into the church and a blessing is said over them. On Candlemas person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love. night, many people place lighted candles 10
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or pet rescue centres and make a donation Pancake Day – Tuesday 16th of food or treats. You could also look into February – also known as Shrove Tuesday, how to volunteer is a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes, and also the last day of fat eating or gorging before the fasting period of Lent. This moveable festival is determined by Easter. Whether you are a savoury or sweet pancake lover or a traditionalist with just lemon and sugar, enjoy it and have that extra one or two. Life’s too short not to.
Random Acts of Kindness Day - Wednesday 17th February - This
international celebration has grown in popularity each year. It is celebrated by individuals, groups and organisations, nationwide, to encourage acts of kindness. It is a favourite day to many, as people everywhere are enjoying doing these acts of kindness.
National Love Your Pet Day Saturday 20th February - Love Your
Pet Day is a great day to show your love for our little furry friends. Whether you’re a cat lover, a dog lover or you’ve got a family of chimpanzees sharing your home with you, today’s the day to spoil them even more than you normally do and show them how much they mean to your family. If you love pets but don’t have any you could still get involved by calling by your local Cats Protection, Feline Welfare, RSPCA
to spend a little time at your local pet rescue centre, maybe walking one of the dogs there or giving a little bit of your time to the cats at the cattery.
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Freshwater Parish Council
Working For The Community. Cllr Anne Bamford
2021 is going to be an exciting year for Freshwater Parish Council with two large projects being approved at our Zoom Parish Meeting in January. Skatepark
An enthusiastic Skate Park user volunteered to do a presentation for the councillors at our January Skatepark meeting showing some of the choices that are available for us to consider. His proposal included both a new skatepark and a separate pump track and to consider it to be put on The Stroud near the current play area. This would accommodate all riders including skateboards, scooters and bikes. We need a design that has a long life and is both attractive and welcoming to all. A park where families can picnic and for people to be able to spend time to watch or participate. Ensuring that the design is challenging for the most proficient riders but also has an area for beginners and small children. It is likely that for us to get funding for this that the project should be over two years. As a parish we want to involve project partners who can contribute their own ideas to this project. We already have started a list of companies that have already come forward so please do not hesitate to
contact the parish office if you would like to become either involved or would like to make a donation. The parish will also be including this in our Public Consultation as we would like to hear the views of residents in the local area. Gate Lane Toilets
At the beginning of January the clerk and myself had a Zoom meeting with the Isle of Wight planning department as we were seeking advice about our application for the new toilet design. They were very helpful and working with the architect the Clerk is putting in our application. We did explain that the new design is slightly larger to facilitate a disabled toilet that the present design does not have. We hope to go forward with this project and get this building finished this year. The councillors have agreed that we pay for this new asset through a Public Works Loan to enable us to carry the costs over a number of years. We are very aware about the importance of having a better public convenience especially within this popular tourist area at Freshwater Bay.
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Freshwater Parish Council
Working For The Community continued
Parish Meetings
Just to remind you that our monthly Parish Meeting is on the first Tuesday of the month. The meetings are always open to members of the public. At the moment these are taking place through Zoom. If you would like to attend please contact the Clerk. Email - Heather Rowell: clerk@freshwater-parish.org.uk Parish Office: 01983 752000 The West Wight Help Hub are able to help anyone struggling financially to feed themselves or their families either through providing a supermarket voucher or food hamper of essential items. They are still able to help with hot food/ prescription deliveries.
All Saints School in Freshwater are taking in any unwanted laptops/ipads for children that haven’t got anything to work on at home. The tech man at this site can upgrade/wipe and put all necessary parental controls on for the children and does not mind if they are not good as he will even dispose of them This service serves Yarmouth and Shalfleet too and computers can be taken to these sites if donors can’t get them to All Saints.
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Your Local Independent Minibus Service
FEBRUARY 2021
Despite the current “lockdown” FYTbus will continue running its “Covid” service, as below:FYTbus ROUTE A and ROUTE B buses will be running 3 times EVERY
WEEKDAY MORNING, but there is NO AFTERNOON SERVICE on Route C. Timetables are available on our minibuses and published on our website, and can also be obtained by contacting our office on 01983 752917. Standard adult fare is £2.50 but travel is free if you have a concessionary bus pass. If you have a FYTpass your fare is just £1.00 (details of how to apply are obtainable from our office or on our website - www.fytbus.org.uk ).
“MEDICAL TRIPS” are available to help you reach appointments in Newport or at Brookside Health Centre, and can be booked on the above phone number or via The Hub at West Wight Sports Centre on 01983 752168.
SATURDAY SHOPPING TRIPS to Newport are available twice per month for anyone who can’t purchase their “essentials” locally. For information, and to book, please call the office number (01983 752917) or visit the FYTbus website. Our Charity Shop on The Broadway, Totland, is currently CLOSED but we hope to resume our normal opening times as soon as the Covid restrictions allow it. Protecting YOU and our volunteers - We don't want the people who use or work for our service to be put off by the fear of catching the virus, so we are doing our best to keep our vehicles and our premises as clean as possible, and providing handgel for passengers, shop customers and volunteers to use. We also limit the spaces where passengers can sit on the minibuses, and ask our customers to wear a mask or facecovering when they are on the bus or in the shop, and to observe the correct social distancing.
Wight Community Access – FYTbus, Winchester House, The Broadway, Totland Bay. PO39 0AX Tel: 01983 752917 Web: www.fytbus.org.uk Email: info@fytbus.org.uk