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36 9 Ways to raise Grateful kids this Christmas

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18 New Year New Start 20 Thai Green Tofu Curry 22 Lincolnshire Bred 24 Which Wine should you choose? 26 Healthy Festive Flavour 36 9 Ways to raise Grateful children this Christmas!

Editor-in-Chief Jackie Osborne jackie@localbuzzmagazine.com Senior Designer Daniela Fre' studio@localbuzzmagazine.com Digital Media info@localbuzzmagazine.com

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Your Local Buzz

Community park improvements for the New Year Work to install new play areas at Popley Community Park is set to get under way at the end of the month as part of major improvement scheme at the open space area. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is upgrading the play equipment and facilities at the popular park with £400,000 funding from developers’ contributions.

a junior and toddler play area, seating, perimeter fencing, outdoor gym and a teen play zone. Exciting new proposals have now been developed for the play areas and teen zone, including a parkour area. There will also be improved landscaping including nature trails, wild flowers and wildlife improvements.

The equipped play areas will need to be closed from late November for the refurbishment work to take place safely but children and adult users of the community park in Popley Way can look forward to the different play zones for varying ages reopening early in the new year.

Work has already taken place to install the perimeter fencing and new planting will begin this month, alongside the work on the play areas and teen zone. The outdoor gym equipment and new seating will also be taking place over the winter and it is expected the full project will be completed in March 2021.

Local people were asked for their views on what new play equipment they’d like to see in the park and what features could be improved. As a result, the five priorities created for the space were

Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Natural Environment Cllr Mark Ruffell said: “Popley Community Park is a well-used

Grant funding to support local businesses during latest national restrictions Businesses that have been forced to close as a result of the latest COVID-19 national restrictions are now able to apply for grant funding from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. National restrictions are in place between Thursday 5 November and Wednesday 2 December following a rise in the number of people contracting COVID-19 and as part of this, the government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. Following further guidance from the government on financial support for businesses, grants of up to £1,334 per month are available for businesses with a rateable value of up to £15,000, grants of up to £2,000 for businesses with a 6

rateable value of £15,000 to £50,999 and £3,000 per month for properties with a rateable value of £51,000 and above. To access the funding, businesses will need to provide further details to confirm their eligibility for a grant as well as their payment details by completing a form online at www. basingstoke.gov.uk/local-restrictionssupport-grant. Following the completion of the online form, grants will usually be paid to eligible businesses within two to three working days. Alongside this government support, the council is finalising a new discretionary grant scheme to support other businesses who are

and much-loved neighbourhood facility and I know these improvements will be well received by those people who use it. We asked residents what they wanted and I’m really pleased we are able to deliver a range of new facilities from new play equipment to a parkour area and places to sit, relax and enjoy the beautiful soundings. The winter months will see our contractors carrying out work within a COVID-19 safe environment and therefore it will be necessary to close the play area in the park until the new year, but I hope users will agree the new equipment will be well worth the wait". For more information visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk

For more information visit www.basingstoke. gov.uk not eligible for other grant funding and have had to close or have been severely impacted by the new national restrictions. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Improvement Cllr Hannah Golding said: “I am pleased that we have now received further guidance from government and are able to provide this vital support to businesses who have been affected by the latest national restrictions. “We know this is a difficult time for the businesses affected by the latest national restrictions, on top of an already challenging year, so we will be paying these grants to all eligible businesses as soon as possible.” LOCAL BUZZ

Local

Issues Keeping our care home residents connected West Berkshire Council is working hard to ensure that residents in their care homes can stay connected with their relatives and friends during the coronavirus pandemic, and recently revised their Care Home Visitors Protocol to take account of Lockdown 2 and the latest Government guidance. All of the council's care homes now have a dedicated room to allow visits to take place, each situated near the entrance of the building and set up with screens to ensure that everyone can see each other face-to-face whilst distancing safely. Graham Bridgman, West Berkshire's Executive Member for Adult Social Care said: "We are well aware how much people just want to give their loved ones a hug. Sadly, that's not possible right now, although we know that there is ongoing work aimed at testing all visitors - with a screening pilot across Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall - and a desire to improve visitor access. As soon as there are national changes to testing processes and we can improve visiting for all our care home residents, we will update the protocol again. In the meantime, we're doing as much as we can to make sure people can at least see each other safely. We know how important these visits are to both residents and families and we're doing everything possible to ensure that people can get together regularly". Care home residents also love getting messages and cards through the post. During the first lockdown, local schools sent letters from the children which brought real joy and our homes welcome Christmas Cards from the public, particularly for residents who may not have loved ones to send letters to them. For more information visit www.westerberks.gov.uk

Kit Malthouse MP

Family safeguarding model success A ground-breaking scheme to protect vulnerable children in West Berkshire is being hailed a success by an independent evaluation commissioned by the Department for Education. Under the new 'Family Safeguarding Model', the number of children entering care has dropped by more than 40%. In the first year of the new model, 20 fewer children from West Berkshire went into care, a drop of 41%. In the second year, another 14 fewer children went into care, a drop of 29%. The programme brings groups of professionals together under one roof to provide intensive support to parents whose problems with substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse put their children at risk of harm. Based on the Family Safeguarding Model pioneered in Hertfordshire, teams of skilled professionals work together with families and with the support of a clinical psychologist to tackle the root causes of these issues. Reports of missing young people within West Berkshire also dropped by 26% in the first year. Dominic Boeck, West Berkshire's Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education said: "The success of adopting the Hertfordshire model is clear. By taking an empowering approach, we've been able to actively engage with our families and identify what they would like to change and how they can achieve this. In short, the model enables prevention which, in turn, stops risks escalating. By placing all the specialist support a family would need under one roof to work hand in hand, we've been able to provide the right support at the right time which has produced incredible results for our families. Feedback from parents and carers on the new model has consistently stated that because they are being 'worked with' rather than 'done to', their chances of making lasting, beneficial changes to their lives had improved as a direct result of Family Safeguarding."

Major progress towards defeating COVID-19 as we approach Christmas Many people have gone through the toughest months of their lives this year, however we end 2020 with hope and good news. As we edge towards Christmas, we have the prospect of an effective Covid vaccine, it’s a major breakthrough. Safety trials are ongoing with several vaccines, tens of thousands of people are being tested around the world, with the leading contenders being over 90 per cent effective. We’ve secured some 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and over 300 million doses of other leading candidates – including the jab from Moderna and from our very own University of Oxford We are advancing our plans to distribute a vaccine once one is approved. We are also rolling out 600,000 rapid tests across England so that people in high risk groups can be tested weekly. These tests can tell whether you are infectious in minutes. As we make great progress towards defeating this virus, we can look back with pride to how we helped our neighbours and those more vulnerable than us at the height of the pandemic. We pulled together and showed the best of British in our towns and villages. There is still a way to go. As we enter the Christmas period, I would ask you to think local. The local pubs, shops and restaurants who have been hit hard by this pandemic and who will need our support more than ever. We are getting through this, let’s continue to look out for each other and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Kit Malthouse Malthouse MP MP Kit and Minister Minister for for and policing and and crime. crime. policing 7

Supports

Council supports campaigns to Christmas for those in need Christmas Gift Giving Campaigns show people in need that others are thinking of them. West Berkshire Council is supporting two great Christmas gift giving campaigns this year to show people in need that others in their community are thinking of them. The Council is launching its annual Giving Tree campaign, which provides gifts for victims of Domestic Abuse and their families over Christmas. This year they have created a special Community Santa project for people who have been experiencing hardship due to Covid and have been nominated by their communities to receive a gift. Due to restrictions as a result of the pandemic, this is being done digitally this year and the Council is asking people to choose a recipient via two digital pages for Community Santa and

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Giving Tree at www. info.westberks. gov.uk. They will be able to select a label with anonymised information on the person they will be buying for, for example 'Girl age 9' or 'Man age 82'. Once they have made their choice, they will receive details on how to arrange delivery of the gift to the council, which will then arrange for gifts to be distributed to individuals. The campaign also provides a good opportunity to support local businesses by buying gifts from local retailers. West Berkshire Council will be using its social media channels to encourage gift givers to 'Shop Local' this Christmas, whether online where necessary or in person when possible.

Graham Pask, Chairman of West Berkshire Council said: "We are proud to be supporting The Giving Tree again this year as it has shown great success in previous years and are also excited to have developed the new Community Santa campaign so that more people in need can experience a little festive cheer". Although the pandemic has

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added a layer of complexity to how we're running the campaigns, we have worked hard to make sure both can take place in a Covid secure way". "We've seen incredible community support and strength during Covid and this is reflected in the number of nominations for gifts that we are receiving for Community Santa".

Of course, we know that many gift givers will themselves have been affected so we're asking them to donate what they can as every donation, regardless of size, is so very welcome."

The Giving Tree remains as important as ever during a time of stress and upheaval for many people who are suffering Domestic Abuse and having to leave their homes in order for them and their families to stay safe." We asking local people to go to www. info.westberks.gov.uk/Christmas and donate a gift to a fellow resident who is having a particularly difficult year.

Local buzz Magazine is not responsible for any content provided by third parties - we believe the source of information to be true and reliable.

LET'S MAKE BRITAIN KIND AGAIN!

#KIND20 is a global movement for social empathy and worldwide kindness. We use all social media and invite people to share photos and videos of their acts of kindness and/or express gratitude towards any kindness done to them. Furthermore, we recognise and showcase these stories and music to inspire to MAKE BRITAIN KIND AGAIN! This revitalising movement has so far reached over 2.5 million people. Kindness seems to be the new currency in our new KINDemic world. Our #KIND20 campaign has metamorphosed from the global foundation, tuff.earth who championed social integration and community cohesion locally and globally for the last 10 years. This campaign started only 12 weeks ago from the back streets of London, it has now reached the coastlines of Australia , the valleys of Kashmir, the Shantytowns of Uganda, the geysers of Iceland right across the Atlantic to the Rockies in the USA. #KIND20 plans to ensure by the year-end there will be more cases of kindness than cases of COVID19. Many Unsung Heroes globally are being honoured as KIND20 Champions for their selfless services. Now we would love your support to spread the message

of Being Kind to your family, friends, even strangers, particularly in your local community and the nation by abiding by all the guidelines in place designed to protect all our citizens of the UK. Let's support our neighbors in their time of need and spread the message of positivity and kindness. We would love you all to enthuse people of all cultures in and around Britain to find their local champions in their towns and cities, so together we can MAKE BRITAIN KIND AGAIN and let's turn the year of 2020 into #KIND20. We are also looking for PR Marketing firms who are happy to find sponsors for the new currency of the world called kindness. Because there is no price to help deliver a better BRITAIN for all our children. KIND20 is on a mission to bring positive teams on board to steer people to a

kinder alternative and to ensure that we as multi-cultural Britain walk into 2021 and the decade with Hope and Optimism, so MAN-KIND can transform into KIND-MAN. Currently tuff.earth is partnering: NEEDS Marketing in Reykjavik, Iceland; Plane Crazy in Mumbai, India; Civic Reputation in Melbourne, Australia; My Passion My Life Media, Nigeria, Africa, French Consultancy U.K Mr. Geoff Baker UK (former publicist of The Beatles & Sir Paul & Linda McCartney). We look forward to welcoming you all on board to grow our local teams globally with your fresh ideas of what kindness can do for the BRITISH people, so let's turn 2020 into #KIND20 SO LET'S MAKE BRITAIN KIND AGAIN!

Seasonal

Christmas

FOOD

Take the stress out of Christmas with these easy yet scrumptious festive food ideas!

Goes perfectly with Christmas cheese and cold meats

Apple & Cranberry Chutney Great for gift hampers and served with festive meat and cheese.

Brussels Sprouts Pad Thai Vegans will love this pad Thai that you can make on Boxing Day to use up leftover Brussels sprouts. You could also cook the dish using fresh sprouts.

Christmas Salted Caramel Yule Log Treat your Christmas party guests to a salted caramel yule log or bĂťche de NoĂŤl, decorated with redcurrants. It makes a great centrepiece dessert.

Dangerously easy to make and wonderful to eat!

Panforte Enjoy this honeyed Tuscan dessert with candied peel at the end of a meal with sweet wine or coffee, or wrap up and give as a homemade Christmas gift.

Mince Pie Brownies Combine two favourites in this clever mash-up of brownies and mince pies. These sweet treats will prove a big hit throughout the festive season.

Marmalade Glazed Roast Duck Try roast duck as an easy alternative to the usual turkey dinner on Christmas Day. A sticky Seville orange and marmalade glaze makes it even more festive.

A roast duck is a great option for a dinner party, as a good-sized one will serve four people perfectly.

The origins date back to the crusaders who discovered it in Turkey. The soldiers used this staple on their long marches as it kept well due its excessive honey based content. Honey was abundant in Turkey and in the Middle East and formed part of the Turkish delight and other desserts.

What to eat to

Boost Imm What we eat, or don't eat, can affect our immune system. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables appear to have a lower risk of getting an upper respiratory tract infection like the common cold. Even just one added apple a day may help keep the doctor away.

For more

check out What to eat to Boost Immunity NutritionFacts.org

munity Studying the relationship between various risk factors and influenzarelated hospitalizations in the United States, researchers found that a 5 percent increase in the prevalence of obesity was associated with a 6 percent increase in hospitalization rate. Physical inactivity had worse outcomes, resulting in a 7 percent increase in hospitalizations. Low fruit and vegetable consumption, however, had the most impact, increasing flu-related hospitalization rates by 8 percent. The common cold isn’t always innocuous. For instance, a cold during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with a number of birth defects, including anencephaly, one of the worst, which causes a fatal malformation of the brain. More recent data suggests that the cold-related fever is the real culprit, as anti-fever drugs appear able to prevent the possible birth defects caused by the common cold. It’s best, of course, not to get sick in the first place. One thousand women and their diets were followed before and during pregnancy. It was found that “women who consume more fruits and vegetables have a moderate reduction in risk of [upper respiratory tract infection] during pregnancy, and this benefit appears to be derived from both fruits and

Dr. Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

vegetables instead of either alone.” Whole fruits and vegetables provide a natural balance of all sorts of things that may improve our immune function in a “complementary, combined or synergistic manner that could account for the protective effect observed from high consumption of both fruits and vegetables”—or maybe that’s the only way they got enough in their diet. The women who appeared protected in this study were eating nearly nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day, compared with only five servings of fruits or four of veggies. This suggests that the arbitrary five-or six-a-day minimum may be insufficient for effective immune function. In one famous study, elderly individuals were randomized into groups that ate either five servings of fruit and veggies a day or two servings a day. The five-a-day group showed an 80 percent improved antibody response to their pneumonia vaccination compared to the two-a-day group. Even though only about 30 percent (12 out of 40 people) of the five-a-day group reached their target levels of servings, they still did six times better than the two-a-day group. But maybe eight, nine, or ten servings a day would have worked even better. The takeaway: eat more whole fruits and vegetables.

His latest books: How Not to Die, the How Not to Die Cookbook, and How Not to Diet all became instant New York Times Best Sellers. 100% of all proceeds he has ever received from his books, DVDs and speaking engagements have always and will always be donated to charity.

Brol 16 16

Bowl with Sautéed Greens from The How Not to Diet Cookbook ook Savory breakfast lovers, rejoice! This BROL Bowl with Sautéed Greens from The How Not to Diet Cookbook is a great way to check off Daily Dozen servings first thing in your day. BROL stands for barley, rye, oats, and lentils. This dish reheats well, so consider making extra portions and storing them in airtight containers in the fridge.

Ingredients: • 1/2 cup dried black lentils, rinsed • 1/2 cup hulled barley, rinsed • 1/2 cup rye berries, rinsed • 1/2 cup oat groats, rinsed

• 1/2 cup light vegetable broth (or

no-salt added veg broth)

• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion • 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1 small carrot, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon white miso paste

• 6 ounces tuscan kale, tough stems

removed, coarsely chopped

• 1 cup cooked basic BROL, warmed • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast • Ground black pepper

• 1 lemon cut into wedges

Method:

In an electric pressure cooker or multi-cooker, such as an Instant Pot, pressure-cook the lentils in 1 cup of water on high. (I use the Steam setting.) Allow time for natural pressure release so the remaining water gets absorbed. Remove the cooked lentils from the pot and set aside.

Combine the barley, rye and oat groats in the cooker. Stir in 3 cups of water. Pressure cook for 30 minutes or use the Mixed Grain button if your cooker has one.

Add the cooked lentils to the cooked grains and toss gently to combine. The Basic BROL is now ready to use in recipes. You can also portion and freeze this to use as needed.

5. 6. 7.

Next, heat the Light Vegetable Broth in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot and cook, stirring until the vegetables are softened about 7 minutes. Stir in the miso paste, kale and cook stirring until the kale is wilted and tender, about 4 minutes. Drain off any remaining liquid. To serve, spoon the warmed Basic BROL into a bowl. Sprinkle with the nutritional yeast and black pepper to taste. Top with the hot kale mixture and serve with lemon wedges.

Dr. Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

New Year

NewStart!

Are you overindulged during the festive holidays? Forget extreme diets or a complete health makeover – the chances are you will have abandoned it within a couple of weeks. This year make real changes that have a lasting effect on your health. Leading Nutritionist Christine Bailey and Founder of the Lean & Nourish Club suggests making small sustainable changes that fit into your lifestyle and schedule. The truth is no one diet is right for everyone. It’s about finding what works best for you and then focusing on this rather than jumping from one fad diet to another. Through years of working with people on their nutrition, I have found that there are several factors to consider when it comes to finding the right diet that is sustainable for you in the long term. Whatever diet you choose it has to fit in with your goals – for example, are you looking to lose weight, gain muscle, boost energy 18

it’s a new fitness programme or a completely new eating plan. Scale back and make small specific changes. For example, try changing your breakfast initially – maybe swap that cereal for a protein smoothie. Batch cook a few recipes so that you have options for when you are tired or busy. Use your lunchtime break for a walk or to plan your evening meal. When you focus on just a couple of small changes at a time – whether that’s ditching the takeaways or swapping your chocolate bar for a piece of fruit, you begin to ingrain healthy habits that are more sustainable.

levels or tackle an ongoing health concern? Does it include foods you like to eat? Does it work with your lifestyle and schedule? Here are some tips to help you make lasting changes:

Small, Consistent Changes Don’t attempt to change everything in one go whether

Low Carb, Higher Protein One of the easiest ways to shift

Christine Bailey MSc PGCE MBANT CNHC www.christinebailey.co.uk

smoothies are also an ideal way to cram in more vegetables and nutrients too6. Don’t like greens? Try adding a spoonful of green superfood powder like chlorella, spinach or kale into your smoothies or at the end of cooking a soup. These foods provide fibre and plenty of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. A green protein smoothie is also a simple healthy breakfast option – starting the day with a healthy nourishing breakfast is more likely to encourage you to stick to a healthier eating pattern through the rest of the day too. a few pounds is to reduce your carbohydrates and increase your protein. Studies1,2 consistently show that low carb eating combined with higher protein intake is an effective strategy for getting results. Studies3 have shown they make people feel less hungry, boost metabolism, making it easier to lose weight.

Reduce Portions4 The Japanese are well known for keeping lean, and one of the reasons appears to be their tradition to eat only until they’re 80% full. The Japanese tend to eat less, exercise more and have smaller portion sizes. They don’t snack or eat late at night, either. Most people don’t gain weight overnight… it happens slowly, over the years

linked to consistently eating more than their bodies need. Reducing your portions at every meal is an easy strategy to make a real impact long term. Swap your dinner plate to a side plate or a bowl. Plate up your food before sitting down to eat and resist the temptation to go back for seconds. Avoid snacking. Have a glass of water or make a hot drink instead.

Include more soups and smoothies This time of the year there is nothing better than a warming soup. Some research5,6 suggests that more liquidbased meals like soups and smoothies may help people feel more satiated and as a result, they eat significantly fewer calories. Soups and

Make a Healthy Fakeaway If you’re tempted to order a takeaway at the weekend, why not make your own healthier version instead. Not only are you saving money but you will slash the calories without sacrificing on your favourite meals. A single portion of takeaway curry can contain over 1,000 calories and a considerable amount of saturated fat, salt and sugar. You’d need to cycle for about three hours to burn it off. You can reduce the calories by replacing some of the meat for tofu or beans and pulses. Bulk up a curry with vegetables and opt for low-fat coconut milk or yoghurt instead of cream. Continue on page 18. 19

Try our lean nutrient-rich Thai Vegan Curry for the perfect weekend treat

Thai Green

Tofu Curr Nutritional Information Nutrition per serving 235kcal, Fat 14.3g, Carbohydrates 13.1g, Protein 12.2g Fresh, light and fragrant this curry is super easy to make from scratch and the addition of tofu provides plenty of protein. It is much easier than you think to make up your Thai curry paste â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything is placed in a Nutri bullet and processed until smooth. I have added a selection of vegetables to this curry which you can vary depending

18 20

on taste and what you have available. The paste can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 3-4 days. It can also be frozen in ice cubes so you could make up a batch ready for creating delicious curries in a hurry. Adding chlorella at the end of cooking gives the soup an excellent deep vibrant green colour.

Christine Bailey MSc PGCE MBANT CNHC www.christinebailey.co.uk

Ingredients Serves 4

Curry Paste • • • • • • • • • • • •

A handful of coriander leaves 2 garlic cloves 1 small onion chopped ½ tsp fresh root ginger 1 green chilli - deseeded 2 lemongrass stems, chopped 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 1tbsp tamari soy sauce Juice of ½ lime 2tsp xylitol or maple syrup 1 tbsp fish sauce or vegan ‘fish sauce’

Method

Make the curry paste. Place all the ingredients in a blender or Nutri bullet with a little of the canned coconut milk and blend to form a thick sauce.

Place the tofu between kitchen paper and press to remove any excess moisture. Cut the tofu into 2cm cubes. Place in the bowl and add the cornflour. Toss to coat in the cornflour.

Heat the oil in a sauté pan until hot. Add the tofu in batches and cook until golden. Remove from the pan and place on a plate. Add the mushrooms to the pan and sauté for a minute until soft. Then remove and place on the plate with the tofu.

In the same pan, add the curry paste and heat for a couple of minutes. Add the coconut milk, stock, vegetables and kaffir lime leaves and gently simmer for 5 minutes.

In a small bowl place the chlorella, soy sauce, fish sauce and cornflour. Add 1-2tbsp water and mix to form a paste.

Pour in the chlorella paste with the tofu and mushrooms and heat through. Season with black pepper.

Curry • 350g tofu, firm • 2tbsp cornflour • 1tbsp olive oil • 400g can light coconut milk • 60ml vegetable stock • 125g shiitake mushrooms, sliced • 10 baby sweetcorn, halved lengthways • 1 green pepper thinly sliced • 100g sugar snap peas • 2 Pak Choy, leaves separately • 2 Kaffir lime leaves • 1 tbsp tamari soy sauce • 1tsp fish sauce or ‘vegan fish sauce’ • ½ -1 packet (3-6g) of Sun Chlorella powder • 2tsp cornflour • Black pepper • Fresh Thai basil or coriander leaves to garnish • Cooked Basmati rice to serve

Serve with rice and garnish with basil leaves and coriander.

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Lincol

The county of Lincolnshire has a coastline to the east, which is bordered by the North Sea and boasts some of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK.

The county of Lincolnshire has a coastline to the east, which is bordered by the North Sea and boasts some of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK. The county town is the city of Lincoln, which holds much interest, historical and otherwise, as does numerous other parts of this county. Lincolnshire is also recognised as a prime agricultural area, growing many grains, fruits, vegetables and flowers, etc. Cattle, sheep and other animals are also a big part of Lincolnshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success as well as events and sports plus a great number of places and venues of interest. The Lincoln Distillery Ltd (Est. 2017) is very proud to be the producer of Lincoln Gin. The gin is made in very small batches using two 30 litre copper stills, which results in excellent quality

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and flavour for the smooth, finished product. Lincoln Gin has a most impressive bouquet and a wonderful mouthfeel of citrus, which extends through to the palate and the exceptional finish, utilising botanicals of Juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, liquorice root, lime, beetroot, lemon, grapefruit, elderflower and orange to great advantage. Fabulous on its own for a tonic mix and splendid in cocktails. Contact 44 (0) 772 0886 936 hello@thelincolndistillery.co.uk www.thelincolndistillery.co.uk

lnshire Bred

A Little Luxury Distillery was established during 2011. Today, this award-winning Sleaford company is known for producing small batch, handcrafted, high-quality, distinctive Lincolnshire spirits. Their Gins, Gin Liqueurs and Rums have superb flavours and regular ‘devotees’. Angels High Gin (created as a tribute to the bomber personnel of Lincolnshire) – think grapefruit and lemongrass – and Pure Luxury Gin – think citrus – are two of this company’s gins that are very popular, indeed. Great with mixer/tonic, too – watch Angels High Gin change colour when tonic water is added! Coffee Rum is a further impressive production. Richlyflavoured, smooth and fabulous on its own and I like it in or to accompany a good latte, with vanilla. Contact: 44 (0) 794 2930 326 sales@alittleluxurydistillery.com www.alittleluxurydistillery.com These are just two of the companies which can be located in Lincolnshire that produce excellent drinks products that are also found in retail outlets and restaurants, etc. Also, online ordering is easy too, with orders being dispatched quickly and efficiently.

Trevor Langley Wine Appreciator

Which

Wine

should you choose? I was always a bit hazy about which wine to serve with which food. They didn’t teach that sort of thing at our local comprehensive. Then one day a chef friend explained that far from being an elitist concept it was simply about marrying flavours that blend well or complement each other, much like cooking. I managed to get her to distil her wisdom into this handy guide.

Fish

Vegetarian food

A delicate fish dish calls for a delicate wine, such as Pinot Grigio. If the fish is more robust and served with a rich sauce, it will require a more full-bodied flavoursome white like Chardonnay. Salty seafood marries surprisingly well with champagne.

There is a misconception that vegetarian food should only be served with white wine. But medium reds, like Merlot work well with lots of vegetarian dishes, particularly tomato-based recipes.

Chicken or Turkey Choose a full-flavoured white, like a white Côtes du Rhône, or a delicate red, such as a Frappato.

Juicy red meat For beef or steak a rich red, such as a Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon will work well or even a Rioja.

Spicy dishes These require a spicy wine. Look for a Malbec, Syrah or Shiraz will all hold their own. If the spicy food is vegetarian, then a dry Riesling will pair well.

Cheese board Some cheeses go better with red, some with white. Sauternes and Stilton are a perfect match, while Chardonnay works well with brie. A dry Rosé is a good all-rounder. Remember, the main rule is to pair the characteristics of the dish with the characteristics of the wine. So, a buttery sauce will work well with wine also described as ‘buttery’. Experiment and enjoy!

43 25

Healthy

Festive Fl

The festive period isn’t normally associated with healthy eating, but Dr Michelle Braude says it doesn’t have to be this way and that many of the foods we often associate with Christmas and New Year are actually very healthy if used in the right way.

To start

Dairy-Free Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Doctor and nutritionist, Dr Michelle Braude shares a healthy meal packed full of festive flavours

You’ll have a hard time believing this soup is so low in calories and fat, and totally dairy free.

Ingredients Serves 8

• • • •

1 tbsp. olive oil

•

1½ litres of vegetable stock (made from MSG-free vegan stock powder)

•

1 cup unsweetened almond/ cashew milk

•

1 tsp. sea salt

•

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

•

Truffle oil, to drizzle

•

Pumpkin seeds or za’atar to garnish, optional

Method

‘You just have to be creative’ she explains. ‘Below I’ve used some popular festive flare to create a flavoursome feast which uses some of my favourite festive ingredients. Salmon is jam packed full of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for a healthy brain and nervous system. If you go for a low sugar version, dark chocolate is actually a rich source of anti-oxidants, whilst nuts are packed with important nutrients.

Variation: stir through a tsp. of ground turmeric and a sprinkling of curry powder for a delicious twist on this recipe!

900g frozen cauliflower 1 large onion, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onions and garlic until translucent. Add the cauliflower and saute for several minutes until cauliflower softens. Pour stock over and simmer until the cauliflower is soft (around 30-40 minutes). Blend with a hand-held blender. Season with black pepper to taste and stir the almond/ cashew milk through. Re-heat until just warm. Ladle into bowls and drizzle with truffle oil. Garnish with pumpkin seeds or za’atar to serve.

The main event Grilled Salmon & Baby Potatoes on a Bed of Greens & Barley A showstopper of a dish that will leave your guests asking for more.

The perfect side

lavours Ingredients Serves 4-6

•

1 whole side of salmon fillet (around 1kg), with skin removed 1kg baby potatoes, washed and cut in halves

Coat the salmon with 2 tablespoons olive oil, soy sauce, dried mixed herbs and pepper. Place on another parchment lined baking sheet and place in the oven 20 minutes before the potatoes are ready. Roast salmon for 18-20 minutes.

For the dressing:

An incredibly versatile recipe, this salad can be served alongside the salmon, but is also substantial enough to make a delicious light lunch or dinner on Boxing Day or in early January. Quinoa is packed with protein, so with the heart-healthy fibre-filled pistachio nuts, avocado and pomegranate seeds, this salads ticks all nutrition boxes.

Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Mango and Pomegranate

Ingredients Serves 2 as a main course, 4 as a side dish

•

170g uncooked red quinoa (or regular white quinoa)

•

1 ripe avocado, diced

•

1 small ripe mango, peeled and diced

• • •

80g pomegranate seeds

6 tablespoons olive oil divided

Blend together the balsamic vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper, and squeezed out roasted garlic. If too thick add a bit of water.

½ teaspoon dried rosemary

Complete the dish:

•

½ teaspoon salt

Combine a few tablespoons of dressing with the cooked barley, and the rest with the mixed greens. Arrange greens on a platter. Sprinkle the barley over the greens. With a large spatula place the salmon on the greens and barley and place the baby potatoes all the way around the salmon. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the salmon to decorate.

A few handfuls of spinach or salad leaves

• • • • • • • • • • •

8 cups mixed greens

•

Balsamic glaze – for drizzling

250g cooked barley (or brown rice) 1 head of garlic

¼ teaspoon black pepper 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce ½ teaspoon dried mixed herbs A third of a cup of balsamic vinegar Salt & pepper, to taste

Method

1. 2.

For the salmon: Heat oven to 200°C. Toss baby potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, rosemary, salt and black pepper. Cut a 1/4 off the head of garlic horizontally, and wrap it in foil. Place potatoes and garlic on a parchment lined baking tray and roast in the oven for 40 minutes.

Variation:

You can also decorate with pomegranate seeds, flaked almonds or chopped spring onion

20g pistachio nuts, shelled 4 spring onions, thinly sliced

For the Dressing:

• • • •

1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp sesame oil 2 tsp low sodium soya sauce

Method Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions. Allow to cool slightly. Put all the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together the dressing ingredients. Add to the salad, and toss well to coat.

samstirhC

countinue on page 22. 27

Healthy

Festive Pud

Guilt-free Chocolate Protein Pudding

Using fat free yoghurt and xylitol (a natural sugar alternative), instead of sugar, you won’t believe these delicious puddings are actually healthy when you taste them.

Ingredients Serves 1

•

170g 0% Greek yoghurt

•

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

•

1 tbsp. xylitol (available as Total Sweet in stores)

•

¼ tsp vanilla essence

•

Toppings (optional): blueberries, dark chocolate chips, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, chopped walnuts

•

Agave or maple syrup – to drizzle

Method

28 28

Mix all the ingredients together well in a mixing bowl, until the cocoa powder is fully mixed in, with no lumps left, and a smooth, pudding-like consistency is reached. Spoon into a serving bowl.

2. 3.

Top with toppings of your choice. Drizzle agave or maple syrup. To make the pudding more ice-cream like, you can pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes before tucking in.

ddings

The ultimate snack Quick and easy to make, these ‘no-bake’ clusters (my take on those famous Hazelnut balls) require just a few ingredients. Delicious and low in sugar, they’re perfect home-made treats.

Method

1. 2.

Ingredients Makes approximately 20

•

340g 90% cacao dark chocolate

•

226g hazelnuts (or other nuts)

•

Pinch of salt (if using unsalted nuts)

•

Xylitol to sweeten

3. 4. 5.

Line a large baking tray with baking paper or foil and set aside. Melt the chocolate in a heavybased pan over a low heat. Keep stirring, making sure you don’t burn the chocolate. As soon as the chocolate has melted, turn off the heat. Add the nuts to the melted chocolate, and xylitol to sweeten to your taste, and stir well until they are fully mixed in and coated. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto the prepared baking tray. Allow to cool. Place in the fridge and allow to set for several hours. Remove from the baking paper or foil.

Dr Michelle Braude founder of The Food Effect @thefoodeffectdr thefoodeffectdr

www.thefoodeffect.co.uk 2927

A state-of-the-art

digital platform intends to revolutionise the way communities support their local state schools, bringing much needed support to teachers.

When the precocious son of the founders of LetsLocalise started at a reputable state school in Berkshire, he was shocked and more than a little disappointed by what he found. Despite the limitless energy and creativity of the teaching staff, he found the school to be in a shabby condition, its equipment often aged or broken and the opportunities to engage pupils in external trips and activities that might broaden their horizons to be limited at best and non-existent at worst. The conversations at home triggered by these observations led to an idea with the potential not just to transform the prospects of state schools; it also offered an opportunity to strengthen local communities, by bringing multiple people, organisations and businesses into close relationships with their local schools. The lightbulb moment for Gaurav and Divya Garg, based in Wokingham in Berkshire, came when surveys prompted by their son’s observations showed that in excess of 60% of people in a given community wanted actively to help their local schools. They just had no idea how to do so. What if this reservoir of goodwill could be tapped into and piped into local schools?

Given the background of the Gargs and friends and colleagues in innovation, technology and community activities, the solution emerged in the shape of a digital platform, LetsLocalise, that could highlight the demand in schools and connect it to ‘supply’ out in the community. A critical perception in the framing of the idea came in the realisation that support for schools needed to come in a variety of formats. Yes, financial support would be important but so too would be volunteer time, expertise, work experience – in fact, anything that would help pupils get a clearer window to the world beyond the core curriculum. The idea behind the concept is that state schools register on the platform and headteachers and their teaching teams identify the programmes and activities that they would most like to pursue but currently cannot, due to insufficient financial or human resource. A typical selection for a single school might be a campaign to raise funds for basketball hoops, a request for help with painting and decorating, an appeal for volunteers to act as exam supervisors, an appeal to experts to talk about their chosen profession and a request for internships or work experience opportunities for pupils.

Once a school has posted the details of these programmes on the site, individuals in the local community, local organisations and local businesses are approached and asked to register on the platform too. Those registering can then browse through the range of requests across a range of schools and choose how best they can help. A critical stage in the development of these school-community connections is in finding ways of reaching beyond pupils’ parents and bringing in support and resources that would not normally find their way into schools. Reaching the very people without school-age children, who said they wanted actively to

Join

Let's Localise today!

help but did not know how. LetsLocalise has managed to break down ways of supporting schools into neat categories, which can be easily navigated on the website. So, for example, there is Pledge a Penny, Pledge a Minute, Pledge a Resource, Working with Schools, Expert Time and Corporate Connect. No headteacher or teacher will ever have had access to a platform with the scope and range of LetsLocalise in their professional lives. It is a multi-sided platform that enables multiple participants to engage at the same time. So, instead of Websites through which schools can simply share information with their pupils’ parents, LetsLocalise can bring individuals, organisations and businesses onto the platform simultaneously, creating multiple connections and offering scope for engagement between schools and would-be supporters in a wide range of relationships. The LetsLocalise story moved from the drawing board to the real world in November 2019, when the founders and the team of colleagues and supporters they had built up, launched a pilot across seven schools in Berkshire. In fact, the company had to cap the number of schools it first engaged with because virtually every headteacher to whom the idea was outlined wanted to participate.

“Like all brilliant ideas, the LetsLocalise concept is rooted in simplicity. Headteachers can see that tapping into that reservoir of goodwill that we are convinced exists out there in every community is a ‘no brainer’. Why would a school not want to tap into the support networks that can be constructed from their local communities?” says co-founder, Gaurav Garg. LetsLocalise is a service offered free of charge to all state schools.

Testimonials: Shirley Austin Headteacher at The Forest School, Winnersh, Berkshire "I would say it’s a great opportunity to link in with your community, to work with great people. It’s a unique opportunity because not many people step forward and give up their time like this company does, so I would say grab hold of the opportunity, publicise it lots, be patient and stick with it, and work hard with the team around you because they’re there to help you.”

Simon Cope Headteacher at Wildridings

Primary School Bracknell, Berkshire “I think LetsLocalise is just such a fantastic project. It does take time to get it up and running – but once it is up and running, keep pushing. At the end of the day, the only people that are going to benefit are the children of the school so it’s definitely a worthwhile project. I would recommend it to anybody that’s looking to get involved with them. “For me, it’s a no-brainer to get involved with LetsLocalise and we’re very excited about the future.”

www.letslocalise.co.uk 33

tips for living well in lockdown

Being a parent or carer in these uncertain times can be very difficult indeed. In fact, it’s physically and mentally exhausting! Life has been thrown upside-down and we have no idea of when a sense of normality will return. So how can we make this time a little bit easier?

Here are 5 tips to help us not only survive, but live well during lockdown

Adjust your expectations Life is just different! We can’t do all the things we used to, yet we are always looking forward to what we’d like it to be. These can leave us in a trap of not knowing where we stand. However, it helps when we focus on the present and take life one day at a time.

Take time out for yourself

Board games anyone? It’s easy to waste hours on social media sites. Children love their games consoles and mobiles, too. But they rarely help us feel rested. Technology is usually an individual sport too. So why not get out some old-fashioned board games? I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t like a game of Uno. Children love playing games together.

What do you enjoy doing? What helps you to relax? It is different for everyone, and we have different amounts of time available. But looking out for yourself gives you the capacity to look after others. A car without petrol can’t go anywhere!

us feel safe. But we also like a bit of variety. Think about creating a timetable, so it becomes a routine each day, but plan in some different activities. Get the kids to help write it too.

Each day is a new day Family life can be stressful and exhausting, and some days go wrong. But the next day can be better. Get some good sleep, reflect on what needs to change, apologise if you need to, and try again.

Good luck – and remember: don’t just survive, but live life to the full.

Routine and variety Although these two ideas seem like opposites, they complement each other. Children and adults need routine. We like to know what is coming up because it helps

Charles Applegate Head Teacher at St Mark’s -CofE Primary School, Basingstoke 35

Ways to Raise

Grateful Chi Chr

Want to raise grateful kids? Worried that Christmas has become a pile of presents? Check out these 9 inspirational ideas to help your children feel thankful this festive season. Gratitude is an important emotion that is good for our body and brain. We feel thankful and appreciative of the people who support us, positive experiences, and the good things in our lives. After a tough year, Christmas is the perfect time to get your children thinking about everything they must be grateful for. A 2019 study found that gratitude is linked to happiness in children by the age of five. Raising grateful children helps them grow up as happier adults. Being grateful has other surprising benefits for children.

them select which ones they would like to do. They will be more grateful on the big day if they have shared the work that’s gone into making it special.

So, amid the festivities, presents, and excesses of Christmas, can you teach your children to be grateful? We’ve nine ideas to help you build gratitude into this special time of year.

They tend to be more optimistic and satisfied with their lives. Grateful teens are less materialistic, less likely to be depressed and even have better exam grades.

Reduce the Amount of Gifts Worried that Christmas is becoming nothing more than a vast pile of presents? If your children always get everything they want, they will learn to expect rather than appreciate what they receive. Try cutting back on presents using the “four gift rule.” Instead of heaps of gifts, you focus on just four things: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.

Help Your Community

Start a Ritual

Let Them Contribute Do you find Christmas exhausting? If you are spending all your time running around making your children happy, find ways for them to get more involved in the preparations. Draw up a list of jobs and let

It has been a hard year for so many families enduring lockdown, being furloughed, and losing jobs. Help your children be grateful for all they do have, rather than dwelling on what they do not. Find ways for your family to help in your community. Offering a service or donating time is just as important as giving money to charity. What better time of year to make a difference to someone in your neighbourhood.

Christmas feels like a natural time to be t hankful for all the things we have. Start a family routine where you talk

ildren this ristmas about feeling grateful every day. Try sharing three things you feel grateful for at bedtime, start a gratitude jar, or begin a journaling diary where everyone records positive moments from their day.

Say Thank You Making your child say thanks may seem forced, but it’s a good way to remind them they’ve been given something. The Raising Grateful Children Project explains gratitude has four parts: noticing the person, thinking about what they did, how it makes you feel, and what you can do to express your gratitude.

Helly Douglas - Writer Helly is a teacher and content writer, specialising in education and parenting.

Instead of a quick text after Christmas, buy cards and get your children writing short thank-you notes for the presents they have received.

Look for the Positives

Be a Role Model

All children experience feelings of jealousy and envy. It is easy to dwell on what we want, not what we have. Gently show your children how lucky they are by talking about things they can be grateful for beyond presents under the tree. Teach them to look at the brighter side of problems and look for solutions.

It is not just children who feel jealous sometimes. With the rise of social media, it’s all too easy to see how much everyone else seems to have

compared to you. Stop and reflect on what you must be thankful for in your life. Tell your children how much you love them and model being grateful this Christmas.

Show Respect to Others

Get into Nature

Sometimes we are all guilty of being less grateful than we could be to the people who help us. Show your children you offer respect to everyone, especially at Christmas when we all feel a bit frazzled. When they see you thanking people who assist you, they will follow suit.

Christmas feels like the height of consumerism, full of presents, food, and excess. Escape outdoors with your children to enjoy the feeling of being in nature. Help them be thankful for the smell of clean air, sun on their faces, the ice under their boots. It is an easy way to get back to being grateful this Christmas. 37

Present Presen t with P These handmade, embroidered products offer ‘one of a kind’ pieces, created by the women of Stitch Sainte Luce from recycled cotton. Each item is unique and sustainable, offering an exquisite present with real purpose, which will bring invaluable income to families in Madagascar, who need our support now more than ever.

Stitch Sainte Luce is a women’s Cooperative in Madagascar, supported by the charity SEED Madagascar, which has taught embroidery, as well as business skills in maths, sales and English language, to over 100 women. They can produce and sell the products to help bring an income to families in the poorest country in the world, where almost 80% of the population lives on less than £1.80 per day and coronavirus is having a devastating effect

Gifts for £10 and under

1. Glasses Case – Made by Kirisy

www.stitchsainteluce.org

2. Bookmarks Clerie with one of her cushion covers, whose design is inspired by Madagascar’s unique wildlife

38 34

Christmas Decoration

More detail on the Stich Saint Luce Cooperative

Purpose Gifts for £10 - £30

Gifts for £40+

Stitch Sainte Luce has brought much more than an income stream to the women involved in the project and the craft skills they have learnt have also helped to empower them and given them hope for the future. The women have always been encouraged to develop their own style, rather than being pushed towards Western designs, helping Products can also to build their self-confidence and be bought allowing them to progress as from Etsy artists. Many of the women are www.etsy.com exceptionally creative and through collaborative pieces, where several women work on the same article, the Cooperative produces highly detailed and delicate pieces of artwork that are desired by a whole range of customers – from interior designers, schools, African collectors, fellow embroiderers and artists. The result is that these women not only now create one of a kind pieces of art, but have built a closer women’s community, have closed the gender income gap within their households and have established lifelong skills that ensure financial stability.

3. Purse – Made by Meliny 6. Cushion Cover - Made by Guerceline

“The studio is a place where we can be together as friends. We work together, we talk together, and we laugh together. We need that in our lives”- Esterline

4. Bow Tie

5. Ties – by numerous embroiders

7. Cushion Cover - Made by Esterline (President)

Each of the products that are produced by Stitch Sainte Luce is one of a kind and every item is unique. Products that can be bought directly from the Cooperative’s website - www. stitchsainteluce.org/products, where you can also learn more about the project and the women involved. 39 35

How yoga can help

Pre

Women prepare their body for Trying to get pregnant can be a very fun but also stressful experience. If you’re trying for the very first time, you usually don’t know just how fertile you and your partner are so it’s often a guessing game as to the outcome. However, yoga has been proven to help couples in their quest to conceive with fertility yoga having a direct impact on the physical body. The Studies

Yoga helps to reduce stress

Dr Alice Domar has done the most famous studies linking yoga to fertility at the Mind/Body Institute at Harvard Medical Center. In her studies, ‘infertile’ women (i.e. women who had been trying to conceive without success for over a year) were assigned to either a control group, or to a group who participated in peer-support discussions, or to a group that received training in mind/body techniques such as yoga and meditation. Her studies showed that women who practised mind/body techniques achieved pregnancies at a rate almost three times that of the control group (Domar, 2002).

So, physical benefits aside, yoga helps to improve stress and improve emotional and mental health – something that is imperative to nourish when going through fertility treatments and struggles which are physically, emotionally and financially demanding.

The reason is that yoga therapies benefit reproductive functions, both in men and women. It improves the overall integration of physiological systems including modulation of the neuroendocrine axis, which improves reproductive functions by reducing stress and balancing the neurohormonal profile. 40

Stress can negatively impact our ability to become pregnant when the adrenal glands pump stress hormones such as adrenaline into the bloodstream, therefore robbing the uterus and ovaries of the rich blood flow and oxygen they require to function at their best. Yoga and meditation, on the other hand, can elicit the ‘relaxation response’, a term coined by cardiologist Dr Herbert Benson in the late 1960s. Breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditations used during yoga postures help to elicit this relaxation response. Not only that but they balance complex

emotions, aid sleep and rest and help to develop selfcompassion. Yoga also helps an individual feel more empowered, making them feel more in control.

Tailoring postures according to the menstrual cycle The postures used within Fertility Yoga are adapted dependent on a woman’s menstrual cycle. As a general rule of thumb, asana for the first half of the cycle helps stimulate the ovaries to help optimise ovulation. Twists and prone (postures on your tummy) such as locust and cobra are suitable for this. Asana for the second half of the cycle focuses on increasing blood flow to the pelvic area and thickening the lining of the uterus. Asana such as low lunge and

egnancy side angle pose are good for this. These poses also have more of a Yin (calming/passive) quality to them. Generally, in the second half of the cycle, I would recommend avoiding deep twists (gentle, open twists are sufficient) and avoid prone postures.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fantastic, low-impact way to tone and tighten your body, often in a group where you can meet other women just like you, boosting your self-esteem an encouraging you to exercise more.

YogaBellies has just launched a brand new course called YogaBellies for Fertility. This class is perfect for women who are trying to conceive, or those who want to get their body in the best possible condition for conception. The 8-week classes cover a different topic each week, focusing on stress management, nutrition, relaxation, fertility support and the power of positivity.

Inversions such as downward facing dog and legs up the wall pose are definitely to be avoided during the menstruation period.

Exercise keeps you healthy Exercise is essential to all men and women, no matter what stage they are in life. However, maintaining a clean and healthy body while trying to get pregnant is a great idea and regular yoga sessions support this.

Cheryl MacDonald Find your nearest class here

www.yogabellies.com

Founder of YogaBellies and Annie Perry, YogaBellies Fertility Yoga Teacher 41

Working out

whilst on your Hormonal changes associated with your period can lead to fatigue, emotional swings, bloating and increased muscle aches. This is definitely something that should be taken into consideration when planning workouts and likewise, when taking part in any competitive sporting activities.

However, having a period does not mean that a fitness regime has to stop altogether, rather if you plan ahead and listen to your body, working out during this time is entirely possible – and indeed beneficial. The key thing is not to expect too much and to be mindful that it may well feel harder both emotionally and physically on those days. Notice this and accept it.

The ups and downs of your cycle Women definitely perform differently depending on where they are in their cycle. For instance, around ovulation, women will likely smash a workout and feel strong. However, whilst on their luteal phase, their energy will deplete and it’s likely that they will only perform at about 60% of their capacity. This is when people start getting frustrated with their performance and then give up. As previously mentioned, if you take note of this and accept it, you’re unlikely to have any surprises and it shouldn’t impact your motivation too much. 42

Diet plays a big part Changing your diet whilst you are on your period can really help with energy levels. It’s vitally important to include lots of nutrient-packed fresh ingredients at this time. Eating little and often will keep your blood sugar stable too. Likewise, be sure to include protein in every meal; this can help keep you fuller for longer. Including plenty of iron-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables will really help too. Also make sure you are drinking lots of water and try to avoid processed foods, alcohol and caffeine too. During your period you’re going to crave starchy and sweet foods but try to avoid them if you can.

eriod

cramps or are feeling down, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the mental and physical strength to push yourself through a 5k run. If that’s the case, try some yoga instead. Listen to your body.

Mood

Pain and symptoms You might be surprised to know that exercise actually improves blood circulation in the pelvic area, meaning less menstrual pain, so it’s definitely worth giving it a try. In terms of alleviating symptoms, using the time to focus on stretching, doing Pilates or Yoga is a really good way to release and help with those niggling issues such as lower back pain, headaches or tummy aches. One pose that is great for period cramps is child’s pose; this flexes your reproductive organs, as well as releases tension in your back, shoulders and neck.

What exercises to try Ultimately, if you feel fine, you can carry on with your current workout schedule, just know that you might not perform as well and that’s ok. However, if you are feeling a little more fragile during this time then a long walk, a gentle swim or some yoga stretches are great, but so too are some light cardio workouts and even running. The key is to do something you enjoy and that feels good. If you’ve got particularly strong menstrual

A workout or physical activity will also make you feel better overall, mainly because exercise stimulates endorphin production in your body. These feel-good hormones not only relieve the symptoms of PMS, but they will make you feel much better and even improve your sleep too.

Don’t skip Most importantly, don’t skip a session all together; just do something a little more achievable like a stretching or Pilates session instead. That way you won’t feel like you have let yourself down, and of course your body will thank you too. If you are struggling for motivation, then consider investing in some stylish gym clothes that make you feel and look good, whether you are on your period or not. Sounds crazy, but it will make you feel 100 times better when working out.

Understand your body The best thing you can do is to understand your body better. Track your energy levels and how you feel emotionally and physically throughout your cycle so that you can plan ahead and be prepared for any energy dips. Don’t beat yourself up about it if you can’t take on a strenuous session. There’s always tomorrow.. Anna Cousins

Online Personal Trainer 43

Are your G Do you struggle with setting and achieving goals? If yes, you are not alone. Goals have become the only way of achieving dreams by holding people to account, however, they work well for some but not so much for others.

Goals – The Upside

Goals – The Downside

What’s the alternative?

Everyone knows that setting goals is a way to achieve what you want. They are used to measure, motivate and create a sense of accountability, a sort of judgement of a person’s worth.

But many people struggle with them, you can almost hear the inward groan of despair at the mere mention of goals.

I believe by changing the word to INTENTIONS changes perspective. It implies less pressure than a goal. Notice (mindfully) the subtle and more positive difference in the energy around the word?

Why? I believe people set goals because they think they ‘should’, ‘could’, "must", "have to", however it is not really what they WANT. Think New Year’s Resolutions? Perhaps there is a good reason they do not last beyond the end of January! People usually set goals because they think they want them, but generally, it is to meet an expectation from somewhere else. It is not really something they want to do. By setting them for the wrong reasons, more effort must be invested in making them happen, more will power, more motivation which can then lead to disillusionment. Because somehow even if you set them, they can soon become a chore.

It feels less constraining, more flexible, doesn’t it? Intentions can still be a plan, still be SMART, still be monitored, but are less of something to beat yourself up with – the only person setting the requirements after all, is you!

Goals

still relevant?

•

Commitment After setting your intention, you still need commitment, right? – How much do you really want it? One way is to rate yourself out of 10, with 10 being absolute commitment to 0 – highly unlikely.

• Over 8 – Well done you! You

are on your way!

• Between 5 – 7 – Good

job! Knowing you have room for growth and still be human, will allow you to be kinder for those times when you slip up.s

Under 5 – who is this really for? You may believe it is for you, but is it really? Have a rethink about what you want instead?

This is not about letting yourself off the hook, but it is about being more realistic, you still have a life to lead! Rather than give up, know there is always tomorrow!

Summary Goals are still relevant, but for those who struggle, changing to intentions, can open a whole new perspective, giving you more freedom in how you succeed. In addition, focussing on what you WANT, rather than MUST, leads to a greater chance of success!

Kim Searle Emotional Mastery Helping people to clear emotional and mental baggage that is causing them issues in life, freeing them up to become happier, healthier and wealthy. Questions or advice, please send an email to info@localbuzzmagazine.com.

Movi Review Yes Man (2008)

I know what you’re thinking, 2008! Yes but it’s so good we love it and to see it on Netflix now if you haven’t seen it you must! It’s one of Jim Carrey’s classics. A great feel good film for all the family. The title tells you a lot about the film. You follow Carl Allen (Jim Carry) on his search for love. As he attempts to win the heart of Allison (Zooey Deschanel) this is all challenged once he discovers a somewhat secret underground cult. Advised by many people including a stranger and work college to attend he eventually agrees. The cult leads him down a strange path but one that becomes very beneficial (in certain situations) but also lands him in some sticky tricky ones to say the least. With the main premise of only being able to say yes to anything asked well let you figure it out for yourself as to what he gets up to. It’s a great film with a main story premise

ie It’s December already! Where has 2020 gone? It all seems to have merged into one but with it being Christmas it’s a time to be festive and celebrate! So let’s get stuck into what we’ve been watching and what we think you’ll enjoy over arguably the best time of the year! that we haven’t seen before in a film. It’s inventive and it’s funny Jim Carry is the perfect fit for the role and it suits him to a T. Like most of his films it’s one you can watch with all the family everybody is bound to enjoy it.

Jingle Jangle a Christmas Journey Okay, yes we couldn’t resist any longer It’s December so it’s an excuse to get all festive. Hey, we deserve it right? After the year we’ve had. A bit of normality would be nice! So we’re kicking off the festivities with a new to Netflix Christmas movie. Before I start this a Victorian set film too so it already stands out it’s different and fresh something we needed in regards to a Christmas film. Jingle Jangle a Christmas Journey is a musical adventure following the story of a once brilliant and enthusiastic toy maker who was betrayed by his

apprentice. Shutting up shop the toy maker gave up hope until one day his curious granddaughter visited him. Together they take on a task of creating a magical invention which if they are to create in time for Christmas could change theirs and the lives of many people around the world. The main plot of the film follows the two devising the plan to create their power, mix a new, innovative, interesting story with a touch of musical and there you have it, a recipe for a fantastic Christmas film and that’s exactly what this is. We love it because it’s something that we’ve been waiting for and we’ve needed after the year we have had.

Christmas period. We have had a lot of time to watch okay lockdown was present.

Midnight at the Magnolia (2020) This one is very cliché but we love it just for that reason. Two young adults team up. They both happen to be radio hosts and they help each other over the hard Christmas period creating cheer and spreading happiness across the land. Only to find that working as a team over radio isn’t enough they want this feeling on a regular occurrence. I don’t need to say much more. It’s a great watch heart warming you know the perfect fair tail. It’s worth keeping an eye out for through December.

What to watch out for: Again were keeping it festive our top honourable mentions for Christmas films so here we are. We are just looking out for you in this

Lyndon Foord Film Review Columnist lyndon@localbuzzmagazine.com 47

Are you unsigned and talented?

The Shed Session is an exciting new YouTube platform that was launched on the 5th January this year with the sole purpose of promoting unsigned and talented musicians nationally. www.theshedsession.com

The Shed Session 48

@theshedsession

Unsurprisingly The Shed is a (large) garden shed in Brentwood, Essex that has been converted into a recording studio and multimedia space. It boasts professional grade equipment to allow the recording and production of audio visual material.

music is not right for the channel.

As you might expect this happens via a live performance of original material where a band/artist get to strut their stuff in front of the camera and have it professionally recorded for YouTube.

From there it’s a matter of being selected based upon your diversity and talent which was mentioned earlier in the article. Once selected you’ll need to make the journey to Brentwood, Essex for your day in the studio.

Ralph Mullan, the founder of the Shed Session, owner of The Shed Studio and self-confessed music addict, has played and worked with unsigned bands for many years. He has wanted to turn a dream of owning a studio and his desire to help gigging unsigned talent to climb the super tough music ladder into a reality for many years. Ralph recognised the insatiable appetite of today’s social media platforms for content and saw The Shed Session going some way towards satisfying this must have for any aspiring talent. The Shed Session welcomes and encourages diversity and wants to showcase people from all walks of life, all ages and all styles. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to think that their

To get involved you’ll need to contact Ralph at The Shed via one of the platforms listed at the bottom of this article provide an appropriate link to your material and social media sites.

If selected it is worth noting that The Shed Session is free, YES FREE!! If you are not a performer or maybe you are not selected there is still some great music to be enjoyed on the channel so why not like and subscribe to the fortnightly releases?

Ralph Mullan, the founder of the Shed Session, owner of The Shed Studio

RAYE today delights fans with the surprise release of her mini album

Euphoric Sad Songs

RAYE has been working on the 9 track project for the last year and is excited to finally unveil the body work. "This project explains the nine stages of grief. The first song is a really dramatic, confused power ballad, and then we progress through to the last song when you finally say with your full heart that you’ve healed. I'm very proud of this work and I can't wait for everyone to hear all the tracks. I hope everyone enjoys this slice of me." 'Euphoric Sad Songs' opens with the beautiful and raw 'Love Me Again' and includes the critically acclaimed singles 'Please Don't Touch' and 'Natalie Don't', alongside the Top 10 smash 'Secrets' with DJ Regard. The mini album also includes RAYE's brand new single ‘Love Of Your Life’, a disco tinged pop banger, alongside the Rapture sampling 'Regardless' featuring dance legends Rudimental and the highly emotive 'Changed Your Mind'

2020 has seen more huge success for RAYE. Her song 'Secrets' with DJ Regard reached Top 10 in the Official UK Singles Chart and has had over 160 million streams on Spotify so far. 'Tequila' with Jax Jones and Martin Solveig has been certified Silver in the UK and has had over 60 million streams worldwide. ‘Natalie Don’t’ was playlisted at both Capital FM and BBC Radio 2, with BBC News hailing it a "funky modern successor to Parton's classic Jolene". RAYE herself has amassed over 1 billion streams of her music and has a double Platinum, Gold and two Silver singles under her belt. She has written songs for artists such as John Legend, Major Lazer, Charli XCX, Little Mix, Hailee Steinfeld, Quavo, Normani, Ellie Goulding, Jax Jones, Khalid, 6LACK and Jessie Reyez, and worked with the world’s biggest songwriters and producers including David Guetta, Diplo, Bloodpop, Andrew Watt, Jin Jin, Kamille, Julia Michaels, Fraser T Smith, Fred Ball and Justin Trantor. She also co-wrote Beyonce's single 'Bigger', the opening track from the new Lion King inspired album. Her compositions have amassed over 2.25 billion streams on Spotify alone. The most tipped artist of the 2017 Tips, including No.3 in the BBC Sound of 2017, RAYE received a BRIT Award nomination for 'Best Single' with Jax Jones in 2018. This was followed by a Top 15 charting single, the Gold certified 'Decline', a record that stayed on the Radio 1 A List for a massive 8 weeks. In the last year she has collaborated on hits with both David Guetta (Stay, 87 million Spotify streams) and Young Adz (All Of My Love).

A face of fashion retailers Flannels and Converse, RAYE has also performed sold out shows at KOKO, Village Underground and Heaven, and last year supported Khalid on his UK and Europe tour. She has previously supported both Rita Ora and Halsey.

51 55

HOT DRINKS are an ideal way to warm your insides.

g u n Sup this

Tips for staying safe and warm this winter SOUP is the perfect winter warmer. Delicious and nutricious too!

Keep out the cold

Hot water bottle

Close doors and use a keyhole cover to block draughts. Buy thermal linings for curtains to keep the heat in. Have your heating system serviced regularly to make sure it works well.

"India rubber" hot water bottles were in use in Britain by 1875. Modern conventional hot water bottles were patented in 1903. They are now commonly covered in fabric, sometimes with a novelty design.

Keep your main living room at 18 - 21°C (64 - 70°F) and the rest of your house at 16°C (61°F) at least. If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep. In bed, use either a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

INVEST IN a quality carbon monoxide alarm, use one everywhere you have an appliance (including gas).

50 52

By the late 20th century, the use of hot water bottles had markedly declined around most of the world. Not only were homes better heated, but newer items such as electric blankets were competing with hot water bottles as a source of night-time heat. However the hot water bottle remains a popular alternative, it is widely used in Chile. There has been a recent surge in popularity in Japan too, where it is seen as an ecologically friendly and thrifty way to keep warm. Water retains heat for a long time, making hot water bottles an affordable and effective way to stay warm.

Wrap up warm Warm clothing, especially when it's layered, not only prevents exposure, it also helps retain body heat. Wear a warm hat and thick socks. We lose most of our body heat through our head, hand and feet, so wear a warm hat and thick socks. Layer your clothing; long underwear is thin, so it fits easily under most everyday clothing, including jeans and shirt. Bundle up with a fleece or a woollen sweater for extra warmth. Wear comfortable pyjamas, thick socks and heavy clothing while you are inside.

winter!

CUDDLE up under blankets

Stay active Regular exercise will make you feel more energetic, which should make it a little easier to get out of your warm bed on cold, dark mornings.Your body's defences will also benefit. If the shorter days are affecting your mood, being active can improve your sense of wellbeing. You may be tempted to eat more during the colder months. Exercising will also help you manage your weight better and keep your body in shape. If you're exercising after dark, keep to well-lit areas and wear bright and reflective clothing. Ideally, exercise with a friend, but always tell someone where you are going. If rain or ice is making exercise dangerous, do it another day. The weather might be better tomorrow, but an injury could take weeks to heal.

53 51

Five top tips for buying

Sustainable

fashion on a bu Firstly, let’s get one thing straight, sustainable fashion doesn't have to be expensive or exclusive. Far from it. In fact, there are some great sustainable deals out there if you just shop around and use your initiative.

In recent years, sustainable and eco-friendly fashion has turned a real corner; elevating its style sense to the level of ready-to-wear, whilst at the same time finding innovative approaches to reduce our carbon footprint. It is not a moment too soon either; especially given that the fashion industry is the world’s second-largest polluter, after oil. With this in mind we talked to some key industry commentators to get their thoughts on what they thought about sustainable fashion and whether you really can get some good finds on a budget. Shazia Saleem, founder of Pop London commented, “we have become more aware of the many ways we are harming our planet and the impact from all our collective purchasing decisions and habits. Sustainable fashion is about reducing waste, re-using and upcycling.” She continues: “For my brand, design is important, but waste minimisation is designed into the entire process from my sketches through to the final product hanging on a shop rail. My collections include yarns,

f s e i w o u

A d o i j e u

E B a t n d

Montana Marshall CEO and founder of The Dress Change, a womenswear exchange marketplace

udget With this in mind here are our top five tips to find sustainable fashion on a budget:

fabrics, buttons, trims, sometimes even size labels that are sourced from surplus except you would never think that as it isn’t an after-thought. Sustainable fashion with affordable pricing is also crucial in order to push momentum away from the usual suspects on the high street.”

And remember sustainable fashion doesn’t just have to be focused solely on cruelty free or ethically made, it can also be about simple ways to just generally reduce your waste and ensure that surplus clothes don’t end up in landfill.

Eva Katona, blogger from Captain Bobcat agrees with this sentiment and explains, “fast fashion is one of the biggest threats to our planet, for a number of reasons. Environmentally damaging production, plastic contents of the clothes that will break off at washing and inevitably end up in the waste water and then in our oceans, unethical manufacturing practices, the list is long. Therefore, we must use garments that we already have and not to produce more than we need.”

Look in your wardrobe Before you buy anything new, have a good sort through your wardrobe. Either donate any items of clothing you don’t wear to charity or get the sewing box out and find a way to upcycle them. And don’t forget you can also donate worn out clothes to charity shops too. Simply put them in a separate bag marked ‘rags’, and the charity shop will get money for them from the rag trade. The rags then get recycled, which means no landfill.

making a note of any upcoming sales in advance so you can plan accordingly.

Shop second-hand There are some amazing vintage stores out there and you can find some brilliant one-off pieces in charity shops. eBay is also great for buying things second hand if you spend some time looking.

Shop the sales Livia van Heerde, an Austrian Blogger, content creator and environmentalist, advised that you can find some real bargains when it comes to sustainable fashion in the sales. She recommended

Swap your clothes Eva Katona from Captain Bobcat recommends people look into wardrobe swaps. She explains, “I like swapping clothes, so I often pick up things from charity shops and then swap them again for other things when I get bored of them.” You may want to check the internet to see if there are any wardrobe swapping events near you. Or if you don’t fancy going out to an event there are some great options online to exchange items of clothing or accessories with women across the whole of the UK.

Make sure it’s ethically produced Eva also goes on to say that if you really do have to buy a new garment then make sure that it’s sustainably and ethically produced. There are a lot of indie shops and brands out there to pick from fortunately, so enjoy spending the time perusing.

Christmas Gift Guide

Tweezerfile

bring your blunt tweezers back to life

If you are working on Christmas Gift Guides, we would like to suggest Tweezerfile. Tweezerfile is an award-winning and innovative new beauty product that allows you to sharpen your old blunt tweezers and bring them back to life. Tweezerfile is the perfect gift for the beauty conscious and the eco-minded. The small pocket-sized beauty file allows you to bring your favourite tweezers back to life. No need to throw them away and buy a new pair. Now blunt, useless tweezers are a thing of the past â&#x20AC;&#x201C; keep Tweezerfile in your beauty bag and your tweezers will always be in tip top condition.

How does it work? Hold your tweezers with the blades together (as though you were grasping a hair), then slide the tweezer up and down the Tweezerfile, gently applying equal pressure on the top and bottom blade. After a few strokes, your tweezers will be back to their old glory, gripping even the shortest hair! Tweezerfile is a in two beautiful colours: coral and petrol blue. Available on Amazon and direct from Tweezerfile.com. RRP: ÂŁ19.99 For more information see www.tweezerfile.com Tweezerfile is an award-winning and innovative new beauty product that allows you to sharpen your old blunt tweezers and bring them back to life. Hold your tweezers with the blades together, then slide the tweezer up and down the Tweezerfile, gently applying equal

pressure on the top and bottom blade. After a few strokes, your tweezers will be back to their old glory, gripping even the shortest hair! Available in two beautiful colours, coral and petrol blue. Available via Tweezerfile.com and from Amazon.

Beauty Awards The Beauty Awards 2019 - Highly Commended Global Makeup Awards 2019 - Silver Pure Beauty Awards London 2019 Bronze

www.tweezerfile.com 57

6 your mood this Houseplants to boost

Win

A new report by Wren Kitchens reveals the best houseplants to boost your mood this winter Indoor plants can reduce 87% of toxins in the air, reduce blood pressure and make you feel calmer

It’s a well-known fact that spending time in nature is good for your wellbeing, so what better way to boost your mood than to bring nature inside. With search volumes for “house plants delivered” increasing by 400%, and “buy houseplants online” by 200% since lockdown, Wren Kitchens have revealed the best houseplants to have in your home to help boost your mood:

Aloe vera The gel from aloe vera can help to soothe acne, burns and dry skin, helping you both physically and mentally. To allow your aloe vera plant to thrive, place it in bright but indirect sunlight, and let it

dry in between watering.

Lavender Place your lavender plant in the bedroom, and the scent will help to reduce your stress levels, enabling you to sleep better. To let it grow, water it regularly and leave it in a place that gets a lot of light.

Snake plant Had issues in the past with keeping plants alive? Try a snake plant – they need minimal care, but can really help to improve your wellbeing as they add moisture to the air and release oxygen. They’re particularly ideal for people who suffer from allergies – and interestingly, they were the most Googled plant in lockdown!

nter Peace lily

English ivy

Peace lilies are great houseplants to have. Not only do they soak up mould spores in the air; they also absorb their water before releasing it back into their environment – so place your peace lily in a dry room.

Like peace lilies, English ivy absorbs mould in the air, helping to purify your home; and it also has properties that help you to stop being restless, meaning you can enjoy a better night’s sleep.

Monstera plant You’ve likely seen the Monstera (also referred to as a Swiss cheese plant) clogging up your Insta feed, but they can actually boost your mood. They purify the air, making your home healthier – plus, you can grow new plants from their cuttings.

For more plants to boost your mood, please go to www.wrenkitchens.

Style by Suze Captain Tortue is a leading French fashion brand established over 25 years ago by a husband and wife team and continues to go from strength to strength. Each collection is designed with passion and created with love from the South of France. In June 2020, local businesswoman, Susan Mannion, decided to follow her passion, quit her demanding job and become a full time Style Consultant for the fabulous Captain Tortue brand and set up Style by Suze. With a passion for clothing and accessories, particularly stylish, chic, affordable and sustainable, Style by Suze can help you create a beautiful capsule wardrobe. The clothes are cleverly designed to suit all shapes and sizes. Many of the stylebysuze

collections range from a size 4 to a size 24. There are four ranges within Captain Tortue, Little Miss, Miss, Trend and Java.

There is also an opportunity for someone to become a hostess and earn discounts against sales as well as qualify for free gifts.

There is something for everyone! The fabrics are chosen for their femininity, classical styles with positive colours in comfortable fabrics that are easy to wear and coordinate beautifully from season to season.

Simply invite your friends along and enjoy the hostess benefits and receive the clothes you love at a discounted rate.

Style by Suze offers a no-obligation, free, 1 to 1 shopping experience, or alternatively, during this difficult current climate, can accommodate a small group of 4 or 5 ladies so they can enjoy shopping together in the comfort of their own homes, by appointment in Suze's or if preferred, virtually via Zoom.

@style.bysuze

@stylebysuze

Heading After 30 years of building a successful career in sales, Mike Sheene decided to fulfil a lifelong ambition of becoming his own boss. He took over an existing Bright & Beautiful location in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since. “I had been thinking about retiring from sales for some time since I always felt that selling was very much a young person’s game. To grow a business for myself and particularly to have created something tangible that I could pass on to someone else really appealed to me, which is why I decided to start my own business.”

“While I knew I had the financial acumen to make my business a success, I felt that joining a well-known national company would be the smarter decision as I would be supported by a team of experts to help supplement those skills that I was lacking, such as marketing, HR etc.” Mike began extensively researching different companies and after meeting the Bright & Beautiful team at a cleaning show, Mike was sold on starting his own Bright & Beautiful business. “I was so affected by the teams level of professionalism and their clear passion for the business, that I felt I was surely onto a winner. Many of the other online companies I looked into weren’t long-term sustainable, whereas I’d always felt that housekeeping was never an industry that could ever be overtaken by online companies and would always be in demand.” Since investing, Mike has enjoyed a steady stream of growth, having doubled his workforce to 30 trusted professional cleaners and most recently, Mike has expanded the business

(into Marlborough) with plans in place to move into a second premises in the coming years. While Mike is very pleased with the results he has seen in such a short time frame, what he enjoys most about owning a Bright & Beautiful cleaning business is helping his local community. “It’s so fulfilling to see the impact we have on our client’s daily lives and how we help to make their day to day that bit easier and cleaner! I also loved seeing the team grow and helping members of staff develop their confidence.” www.brightandbeautifulhome.com

@brightandbeautifulmarlborough | @brightandbeautifulnewbury @BBMarlboroughandNewbury

www.learningandwork.org.uk

Inspirational

Basingstoke volunteer who supports older people with their digital skills wins national learning award here. Phil Branigan – a Digital Champion who has supported dozens of older people to improve their digital skills – has been recognised with a prestigious national award. Phil volunteers as a Digital Champion with Clarion Housing. He runs regular computer drop-in sessions at a sheltered housing scheme for the over 55s in Basingstoke.

they thought was beyond them. Phil supports his learners to do understand and use the internet and other digital technologies, helping them to access services and stay in touch with their family and friends. In addition to teaching people himself, Phil also provides peer support to other volunteers through an online forum called Digital Unite.

Phil develops personalised and bitesize support for the people he works with, helping them to develop their skills and build their confidence.

Phil has been confirmed as the winner of the national Social Impact award as part of Festival of Learning 2020. Organised by Learning and Work Institute, and supported by the Department for Education, Festival of Learning is an annual campaign which aims both to celebrate the power of learning to transform lives, and to encourage more adults to take part.

Phil finds great satisfaction in helping people to master something that

Award winner, Phil Branigan, said: ‘I get great satisfaction when I see people

While digital skills are becoming ever more important, 12 million adults across the UK lack basic digital skills, with skills gaps being a particular issue for those aged 55 and over.

comprehend something that they thought was beyond them. I love using a bitesize technique whereby each nugget of information can be practiced and absorbed, so that complex features and functions become easily comprehendible.’ Paula Blackledge, Digital Champion Coordinator at Digital Unite said, “Phil’s passion for digital technologies and the benefits it can bring to someone’s life is what has driven him to support so many people as a Digital Champion, and his mentoring of other Digital Champions through the forum has been fantastic. Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute, said: ‘11.9 million UK adults lack the essential digital skills needed for day-to-day life and 3.9 million are offline altogether. Phil’s passion for and dedication to supporting people to develop the digital skills they need is outstanding, and is more important now than ever. We are delighted that Phil is this year’s Social Impact Award winner.’ ‘Festival of Learning awards celebrate the commitment and achievements of outstanding adult learners, tutors, projects and employers. These stories show us how transformative lifelong learning can be, not just for individuals but for families, communities and society as a whole. As we look to build back better after the pandemic, we need to redouble our efforts to provide access to lifelong learning opportunities for all.’ 63

Helping

you to be

Given what a year 2020 has been, the way we have been adapting and perhaps discovering more about ourselves and others as many of us work from home, have you noticed differences in the way you approach situations and/or people? Maybe you have been wondering why you seem to relate better to some people than others? Why do some people seem to be on your wavelength whereas others have very different thought processes and styles? Have you been asking yourself “Why don’t they get it?” when an idea, conclusion or plan of action seems obvious to you? Understanding personality type is the first step to personal and professional

60 64

growth. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) assessment helps you understand your strengths, preferred working styles, and ultimately helps you to see your potential; helping you to be you. Used individually to provide selfawareness and clarity of purpose, the MBTI assessment also helps to create a better understanding and appreciation of others. The MBTI® is the most widely used instrument for understanding personality differences – differences that can be the source of much conflict, misunderstanding and miscommunication between people. We love making practical use of the MBTI® tool with teams and individuals

you for many purposes - to enhance awareness and understanding of self and others, leadership impact, relationship building, influencing, conflict management, stress and communication to name but some of its uses. Based in Berkshire, A4People is an HR and Training consultancy working with you to provide commercially focused support with a portfolio of services that drive and enable successful business performance, drive change and encourage and inspire individuals to reach their full potential. Getting the best from your people; our business is to help your business. A4People, helping to build the bigger picture.

www.a4people.com solutions@a4people.com 44 (0) 7769 198222 / 7500 069626 A4People @a4_people A4people

The Affordable

IT Support for Home and Businesses

Based in Swindon, SupportWise are an IT company who work with businesses of various sizes and industries, as well as the public who require IT support, consultancy and repairs from Swindon to Andover and everywhere in between. With ten years SupportWise aim to leave their customers feeling assured that their IT requirements will be handled professionally and securely by the team. At SupportWise, the emphasis is on bringing the human touch back into the IT industry. With many companies opting to direct customers to call centres, often outside of the UK, they are hoping to change that standard by providing customer-focused support from a local base. When customers entrust their IT support to them, they guarantee there will always be an approachable and professional voice at the end of the phone. Every call they receive is guaranteed to be answered by a qualified technician. Whilst 91% of issues can be solved remotely, the fact they are local, provides also an opportunity for a technician to be onsite, same day, if necessary, giving their customers the knowledge that come rain or shine, they will be there to support them. Their aim is to make IT support affordable and inclusive for both business and home users, so they provide bespoke solutions to suit all needs and budgets

on a per customer basis, enabling them to keep their systems reliable, efficient and secure without needing to pay for any unnecessary extras. Their services include support for IT needs of all types comprising expert advice on existing software and jargon free support for both software and hardware installations, as well as providing maintenance for systems and processes giving their customers confidence they are compliant and protected from cybercrime. Furthermore, they are Microsoft partnered which enables them to provide several Office 365 packages as well as migrations. Constantly adapting with the times to ensure their customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; IT infrastructure is kept up to date come what may, SupportWise has also revised the way they work due to Covid-19. They believe businesses need to change and adapt to keep services running, and as such, they have recently

launched a web hosting service. They host and manage their customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; websites securely through Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most connected data centre, ensuring they are all hosted within the UK and kept secure 24/7; this also means they are green energy certified. SupportWise will also help keep business running smoothly regardless of the where their employees are based, ensuring business can still communicate smoothly by providing services such as Circleloop and Microsoft Teams. Part of their strategy is to plan and respect that businesses evolve quickly and they can scale according to what their customers require. If their clients need to increase or decrease their monthly service, they simply adjust to their requirements. Moreover, they offer options of a 30-day rolling contract or 12 months contract and therefore giving their customers the power and freedom to decide how long they require IT support for their business.

Why not give SupportWise a try? For a free quotation, please contact 66

Chris Goodchild on 0330 113 7749.

Giesswein Woolpops neon pop slippers.

With the colder weather approaching, staying cosy is top of our lists, but that doesn't mean we have to keep the colour at bay.

Put some pep in your at-home step with our colorful Woolpops. These comfortable slippers are made of high quality virgin wool, which, thanks to our 3D Knit Technique, are comfortable, soft and flexible. Since Woolpops are made of breathable sheep’s wool, your feet always stay both warm and dry. Their slip-free sole, which is made of natural rubber, is dyed with food coloring and makes for a cool, vibrant color accent. The footbed has low arch support.

PATENTED NATURAL RUBBER SOLE Patented Anti-Slip Sole, which is made of natural rubber, offers both optimal grip and security. Plus, they’re paired with a soft midsole made of virgin wool.

SUSTAINABILITY MISSION

As the brand is built around quality and sustainability their main goal is to use and reuse resources thoughtfully before, during and after the production process. From recycling scrap material with a 0% wasted material policy, local production, 0% oil use, 100% use of renewable resources and 90% recycled water in the production process Giesswein has a huge Green Strategy company policy. They also 100% support a no mulesing process and animal ethicacy standard - meaning happy and safe sheep! The brand also supports recycling and has made 100% recycled ocean plastic flats and jackets, to give plastic a second life. Their Flats also contain a biodegradable sole, utilising organic materials where they can! From recyclable materials and boxes in their packaging, to creating ideas like adding sole inserts with their flats to help with better fit and reduce carbon footprint on returns, Giesswein takes sustainability seriously.

£44.90

available in various colours

MACHINE WASHABLE Woolpops can be washed at 30°C in the washing machine - simply choose either the wool or delicate setting. Please don’t use fabric softener. Then, just let your slippers air dry (no dryer).

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY COLOUR ACCENTS The luminescent coloUr accents of the natural rubber sole are coloured with the help of sustainable food colouring - completely chemical-free. 67

How to run your business safely Risk assessment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic As an employer, you must protect people from harm. This includes taking reasonable steps to protect your workers and others from coronavirus. This is called a COVID-19 risk assessment and it’ll help you manage risk and protect people. You must:

• identify what work activity or situations might cause transmission of the virus •

think about who could be at risk

• decide how likely it is that someone could be exposed • act to remove the activity or situation, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk If you have fewer than five employees, you don’t have to write anything down, but it might help if you do. Find out more about managing risk and risk assessment. The Public Health England report Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 shows that some groups of people may be at more risk of being infected and/or an adverse outcome if infected. You should consider this in your risk assessment. We have produced guidance to help you work safely (be COVID-secure) and manage the risk associated with running your business at this time. It includes practical measures you can take, for example:

•

putting in place social distancing measures

•

research to advertise your product Whether your business is B2B or B2C, by implementing digital and print advertisements correctly, you’ll be able to successfully grow your presence and ultimately foster more conversions and sales. Now more than ever, advertisements with a planned strategy allow your company to have more visibility throughout a much wider audience. However, if your ads aren’t well thought out, you most likely won’t get the outcome you’re hoping for. Whether it be the design, channel or messaging elements, every aspect of the advertisement needs to be taken into consideration for it to work in your favour. To determine the best ways to create and implement your strategy, you should look at researching the market first so you can get most out of your campaigns. Take a look at these 5 steps into your own marketing strategy to help your company get the advertising results you’re looking for:

Determine your target audience. Knowing who you want to see your product is the first step in creating an advertising strategy This is key to the success of your investment Discover media habits of target customers

Look for a strong and well stablished medium with a large circulation Check in on the competition

3. 4. 5.

See what your competitors are doing and have a strategy in place – check the process Decide on an advertising medium source print or digital media Schedule your advertisements appropriately always budget for a campaign rather than having a single exposure

staggering shifts

• providing additional handwashing facilities For more information please access www.hse.gov.uk

5 Steps for using

If you need help with your marketing planning, please do talk to us on 01635 200 006. Happy marketing!

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FREE during lockdown!

BuzzConnect

Our networking events at Metro Bank have been postponed due to Corona virus, however, we are providing a FREE business promotion when you register for the Zoom networking events. Join is three times a month and receive a free editorial space to promote your business.

back and with a great incentive to local businesses! supporting

As an incentive to local businesses and an opportunity to market your company, Local Buzz is offering a FREE full page advert when you attend 3 consecutive BuzzConnect Zoom events.

#KIND20

Join BuzzConnect on the first, second and third Thursday between 8.30-10am! Our meetings are fun, welcoming, structured, uplifting and informative.

Our BuzzConnect Ambassadors, Metro Bank, James Cooper-Kreston, Lamb Brooks Solicitors, Donnington Grove Hotel, Andrew Street Wealth Management and Local Buzz are looking forward to welcome you to the next events. Please register here www.buzz-connect.co.uk/bookonline

What are the benefits of joining BuzzConnect?

BuzzConnect

Effective networking

If you have come along to one of our events, you will have noticed the warm and welcoming approach that we take. We RAISE  encourage everyone to get your profile. involved and promote what BUILD  they do.

a local network of suppliers and customers.

BuzzConnect was created to bring

COLLABORATE people together and we believe that 

with other local businesses.

there should be no exclusions, no long-term contracts and no DEVELOP  “performance pressure” such as business and leadership skills. speaking to the room and giving a 2-minute introduction about BE PART  your company. of a community that represents you.

Our monthly networking at Metro Bank is hugely popular and will always free, however, due to Covid-19 we are running our networking events via Zoom. BuzzConnect Business networking is evolving and it will continue to grow for years to come. Make sure you join the BuzzConnect Networking Group on Facebook and LinkedIn, so you can share your company information for free and be part of a thriving business community.

BUZZCONNECT AMBASSADORS

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donnington-grove.com

andrewstreetwm.co.uk

metrobankonline.co.uk jamescowperkreston.co.uk

www.lambbrooks.com

livingpaintings.org

www.buzz-connect.co.uk

OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: TYPICAL AWARD AMOUNTS OF

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Applications are now welcome from community groups in our branch towns who require support. Applications from not-for-profit organisations which continue to support vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic are particularly welcome. Visit www.newbury.co.uk for further information and to download an application form. Deadline: Sunday 1 November 2020. Terms and conditions apply.

Call: 01635 555777 | Visit: www.newbury.co.uk Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we will communicate with you in English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 8075

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