In Touch with Martlesham May 2020

In Touch

™© ™©

with Martlesham

Volume 10 • Issue No. 5 • MAY 2020

Image by Jolanta Putnina (read about her on page 26)

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In Touch online:

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR KEEPING IN TOUCH Until it’s safe for our delivery teams to work again we have decided to publish online and have worked quickly to create a dedicated area on the website for each publication area.

We’re constantly adding new content and engaging with local, regional and national organisations to share often critical information and to support the local groups established in response to the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve also added a directory to make it easier to find the businesses which are still operating and available to take your call. www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk You may well be reading this online and if it’s your first visit to our website, you are very welcome.

If you have a printer and know someone who can’t access the online edition, you can download and print a PDF from the website. We have also left a small number of printed copies at key locations in the area, though I suspect they will disappear rather quickly.

Every aspect of life as we know it has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s impossible to know when we can expect ‘normal’ life to resume. Tragically many lives have been lost, including far too many NHS and healthcare staff to whom we owe an enormous debt, as we do to everyone who continues to work, in any capacity, on what is now referred to as the ‘front line’.

Many of us are working from home, fortunate to still have jobs while many others have lost theirs. Many local businesses have been forced to shut down temporarily (we hope) while others have adapted to meet a growing need for home deliveries or alternative services and products.

Through all this we have seen the emergence of an extraordinary sense of community responsibility with support networks or hubs forming almost overnight to ensure those is most need or self-isolating have access to essential supplies. In traditional Irish farming communities, a gathering such as this was known as a ‘meitheal’. Modern technology has enabled digital ‘meitheals’ to form and the sense of common good has never been as powerful as it is right now.

If you haven’t already signed up, you will probably find the following quite useful right now:

Of course, we’re also using the Mansion House Publishing Facebook Twitter and Instagram accounts to ensure information is shared quickly and widely. Do join or follow us if you can.

Instagram: mansionhousepublishing Twitter: @InTouchEast Facebook: Mansion House Publishing We’re also responding to increased demand for online advertising as companies seek out new ways to promote their business and to let customers know they are there for them now and always. If you want to know more about the advertising and e-marketing opportunities on offer, please contact our sales team on 01473 400380.

Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP EDITOR: Sharon Jenkins T: 01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

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While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Kesgrave & Rushmere is published

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In Touch Titles • Stowmarket & Stowupland • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Melton & Woodbridge • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall & Warren Heath • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit • Needham Market & The Creetings •S hotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead •W esterfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin & Witnesham • Sproughton & Burstall We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe

Sunday 10 May

is the advertising and editorial deadline for the June edition

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd

@EastSuffolk

Martlesham Parish Council

@suffolkcc

East Suffolk Council

@FirstIpswich

Suffolk County Council

@Most_Active

COVID-19 Information Centre

@DHSCgovuk

They say participating in meaningful activities is a major contributor to our sense of wellbeing and Sew Scrubs must be the perfect example. Sewers, pattern printers, fabric cutters, fundraisers, sponsors, delivery volunteers and co-ordinators have come together to meet an indentified need and it looks like they are having a lot of fun in the process.

Others, including schools and businesses with the right skills and materials, have been making masks and face shields, sending food, posting messages and videos, helping with childcare and shopping, paying for parking... Even standing outside to applaud our key-workers at 8pm on Thursday evenings is a shared activity which certainly lifts the mood in our house, though I’m not sure Flip (our pet rabbit) would agree.

If you are looking for ways to help or donate, a quick visit to Facebook will provide plenty of opportunity but the one essential thing most of us must do is to stay at home and to maintain distance when you do go out. It’s not a lot to ask, particularly as we know it’s having the required effect.

Of course it’s also important to do some activity you enjoy and to keep life as normal as possible. I’ve been spending as much time as possible in the garden with Jack. It’s a small space but we’ve created a great number of, mostly football themed, challenges. Four weeks in and I still haven’t managed to get the ball in the bucket (‘top bins’) once. We also created our own crazy golf course using ‘stuff’ from the recycling bin and a chair leg as a putter.

We’ve only broken one window so far!

Staying informed is important too but I hope you’re not checking your phone every five minutes. I did this for the first two weeks or so and was so overwhelmed by anxiety and sadness I found myself crying uncontrollably (in a cupboard) at least once a day. Jack did wonder why my hay fever seemed to be worse than usual!

We must be hopeful. Knowledge of the virus and its effects improves day by day and the race is on to find a vaccine.

Stay strong. Take care of yourselves and of others.

Our very best wishes from everyone here at Mansion House Publishing

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

MARTLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL Parish Room, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham IP12 4PB Clerk: Mrs Susan Robinson / 01473 621632 / clerk@martleshamcouncil.org.uk www.martlesham.onesuffolk.net / www.facebook.com/MartleshamParish

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC H ­ ELP IN MARTLESHAM Dear Parishioners We are aware that many of you are supporting your families, friends and neighbours during these difficult times. Thank you for every act of kindness. We are concerned that no-one should feel left without access to essential food, household goods or medication, especially those without access to online shopping or social media. If you are struggling to get supermarket deliveries, there are local businesses trying to help.

Duncan’s Butchers and Bakery, The Square, Martlesham Heath Home delivery service for customers self-isolating. Call 01473 626044 (butchers) or 01473 626828 (bakery). Please give 24 hours’ notice, wherever possible.

Fruit & Veg Stall in the Square, Martlesham Heath Free delivery to any senior customers who are self-isolating. Call Jan on: 07730 396610.

Post Office Stores, Black Tiles Lane, Martlesham Offering delivery to customers who are self-isolating: 01473 623413 Beacon Hill Farm Shop, Martlesham, IP12 4RP Fruit, veg, eggs, milk and more. Open 9am to 5pm. Call 07709 552753 to place order for collection or go to: www.facebook.com/ beaconhillfarmshop Kiln Farm Nursery, on A1214 in Kesgrave / www.kilnfarm.com They take orders on 01473 333309 from 9.30am (no email or Facebook orders). Please do not leave a message on 1571 as they may not be able to pick them up until the end of the day.

Grange Farm Shop, Hasketon Email your order by noon and pick up the next day (some areas are delivered to): hello@grangefarmshop.co.uk / 01473 375610 or go to: www.facebook.com/grangefarmshophasketon.

Also offering early morning shopping for elderly people, 8.15-9.15am Monday to Saturday.

LOCAL FOODBANK FIND (Families In Need) Martlesham Benefice vicarage is acting as collection point: 17 Lark Rise, Martlesham Heath Or contact Rev Toby Tate: 01473 612659 / toby@martleshamcofe.org.uk) Or visit: www.facebook.com/FINDIpswich / www.findipswich.org.uk HOME, BUT NOT ALONE For those who need help and can’t get that from family and friends, there is a new Suffolk freephone number: 0800 876 6926. Please note that it is not a general Covid-19 helpline. Please only ring if you have no support so you can be matched with the right support locally. The line will be staffed from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

You can also register to volunteer by downloading the Tribe – Volunteer app from Apple Store or Google Play Store. Please also register any group that is offering local help. The service has been developed to help connect people who want to volunteer in their communities with neighbours who are most in need.

We are supporting this service with details of local support and services as best we can, but if you continue to struggle, please email clerk@martleshamcouncil.org.uk or leave a message on our answer machine – 01473 612632 – and we will do what we can to help.

We are operating a limited service as the majority of our councillors and some staff are in the vulnerable or shielding categories.

Yours faithfully, Susan Robertson Clerk to Martlesham Parish Council

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK (10-16 MAY) WITH A DIFFERENCE More urgent than ever…

At this time of year, I usually write an article inviting everyone to support the valuable work Christian Aid does in the poorer communities in the world by asking you to responding generously when a volunteer posts a red envelope through your door. However, with the current Coronavirus emergency measures things are very different this year. Very sadly, under the current circumstances house-to-house collections cannot take place and we will be unable to collect from this community the nearly £2,500 we raised together last year.

I say very sadly because the communities Christian Aid works with around the world are the very places where Coronavirus will hit people hardest. These are the places which do not have the healthcare infrastructures needed to combat widespread disease. They are also the places where many people are already living with reduced health resilience because of extreme poverty, or they are in overcrowded humanitarian camps. If infection rates start to

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develop there as they have done in Europe, people will be hit even harder than we have been here.

This is an appalling thought and it means these communities will need every penny in donations even more urgently than usual. So, although we cannot come to your door and invite you to make a donation, I am still making a personal appeal to you because Coronavirus impacts us all, but love unites us all.

Please consider making a donation online or by phone this year. Making a donation is a wonderful way of sharing love with our vulnerable neighbours living in poverty. Please give online by visiting www.christianaid.org. uk and click on the red ‘Donate’ button, or give over the phone by calling 020 7523 2269. And on behalf of the poor and vulnerable people of the world, thank you.

Carolyn Smith

In Touch online:

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

MARTLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL Life has changed beyond recognition since preparing our article for April way back at the beginning of March. Little did we know then that it would be almost completely out of date by the time it came out in April. As we prepare this article for May on 6 April we don’t know what the world will look like by the time you read this and how much life may have changed for each of us.

What we do know is that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the amazing community spirit in Martlesham with so many people coming forward to provide support where needed. Please see the letter from the council (page 4) detailing some of this support, but please note that we cannot guarantee accuracy as circumstances may have changed by then.

Thank you so much from the parish council. This crisis has affected each and every one of us in different ways and we will need to continue to support each other once we come out the other side. We can only hope and pray that you are all managing to keep safe and well and continue to do so.

Chairman Mike Irwin Here are our news bulletins.

Meeting & Events All meetings and events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice. Following government guidelines in March we cancelled all our meetings. New legislation came out on 4 April allowing decisions to be made at virtual meetings with the public allowed to ‘attend’ remotely. The practical guidelines of how this can be achieved have not yet been finalised. When these are known we will review how we can proceed given our resource constraints.

The April litter pick is hopefully just postponed to the autumn.

Sadly, the village fete had to be cancelled but we hope to see you all in 2021.

Ongoing Services Many of our councillors and staff are in the vulnerable or shielding categories but we have managed to continue providing a skeletal service with staff working mostly from home.

To prevent further spread of the disease, we were obliged to close all our play areas and the trim trail equipment following government guidelines. The trail itself is, of course, still available for walkers or joggers to enjoy the route observing social distancing at all times. We are very grateful to our volunteers who have continued to carry out visual inspections.

POP-UP FOOD SHOP Unfortunately the pop-up food shop at St Michael’s, Martlesham Heath, has been suspended until further notice.

MARTLESHAM BRASS

Our land maintenance contractor has continued to look after our sites taking all necessary precautions. Please keep your distance when you see the contractors at work.

Planning Applications The significant applications below would normally have been considered at a development plans committee meeting held in public but, as this has not been possible, the clerk was delegated to respond on behalf of the council.

McCarthy & Stone - DC/20/1036/FUL – Land East & West of The Square The parish council has lodged an objection on the following grounds: overdominance and density, inadequate parking provision, visual impact on The Green.

Suffolk Constabulary Force Headquarters site – DC/20/0902/OUT – Outline application for up to 300 new dwellings The deadline for comments was only extended to 27 April 2020 by East Suffolk Council (ESC), the planning authority, despite our request for a further delay in order to allow for full public consultation, which has not been possible because of the coronavirus outbreak. We have also been lobbying ESC to make sure that this application is determined at a public meeting of their planning committee to allow for proper representation. At the time of writing we have not yet formalised our comments but the site raises many issues of concern. Our response will be published on our website.

Suffolk Coastal Local Plan Examination Further consultation on the Local Plan has been delayed due to the pandemic.

You will find latest news on the East Suffolk Council website: https://tinyurl.com/SC-Local-Plan-Examination CONTACTING THE COUNCIL Clerk to Martlesham Parish Council, Parish Room, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham, Woodbridge IP12 4PB Telephone: 01473 612632; please leave a message if no reply and we will get back to you as necessary.

Email: clerk@martleshamcouncil.org.uk Website: http://martlesham.onesuffolk.net Please follow us on our Facebook page which is @Martlesham Parish.

The full address is: https://www.facebook.com/MartleshamParish

THE ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Unfortunately our sale of pictures, cards, jewellery and plants on Saturday 16 May had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. We hope to be able to arrange an event later on and we look forward to seeing you then.

Further details of the Roger David Burrows Music Fund from Burrows family (01473 625196) or: www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk

Making music fun in East Anglia Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel our spring concert that was due to take place on 16 May. All band activities are currently suspended and will only resume when we are told that it is safe to do so.

We would love to hear from new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previously played a brass instrument and would like to come along and meet us, please email join@martleshambrass.co.uk or use the contact details below. Instruments are provided as part of your membership subscription (currently £1.40 per week).

Publicity Officer Liz Howard. e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass.co.uk

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EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION In common with most clubs and associations, we have been forced to cancel our activities for the foreseeable future.

Consequently there will be no further meetings of ESNTA until September at the earliest. Details of future meetings will be given as soon as we have a clearer idea of developments.

In Touch online:

Coronavirus in Suffolk Update

#Covid19Suffolk

For more information, visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

MARTLESHAM HEATH HOUSEHOLDERS LTD A Special Place At times like this we are reminded that Martlesham Heath is a special place to live with open spaces and a selection of local shops. We are particularly fortunate to have so much open space which is now being used by so many more people including dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and families who are all out for their daily exercise. During this time, we especially ask you to respect other people, maintain your social distancing even if you are travelling faster than others when cycling or jogging. As always, ensure your dog is under control and please clear up after your dog. Our volunteer members who own dogs have noticed an increase in dog poo and this is unacceptable. And finally, please keep to footpaths to protect the heathland.

Tree Planting Project As gorse is an invasive species and can be a fire risk MHHL is starting a programme to cut back the gorse on our open spaces. It is acknowledged that gorse does like full sun and that tree planting provides shade, inhibiting the re-growth of gorse. As a pilot, the area behind Broomfield has been planted with a selection of tree saplings: blackthorn, hawthorn, common dogwood and goat willow. Recently a group of MHHL volunteers planted some 50 saplings and we are hopeful they will grow to be an attractive area for the Martlesham Heath residents to enjoy. The trees were donated as part of the OVO Energy I Dig Trees programme.

Historical background to the development of Martlesham Heath Village The following lines are adapted from an article written by Christopher Parker for the Architects’ Journal of September 1979: A sharp distinction had to be drawn between the concept of a village and such nomenclature as ‘housing estate’ or ‘neighbourhood’. It was important to define what we understood by a village and to avoid designing and creating anything else.

As a village comprises both buildings and people, we were in some difficulty, but three distinguishing features were identified: • mixed age and income groups across a wide spectrum

It was equally important to identify what was not a village and broadly we adopted the housing estate with its stupefying monotony as typifying what we would not accept. For example, large houses in minute gardens and small bungalows in large gardens would be incorporated in our overall design.

The brief to the architects was summed up as a direction to create coherent chaos.

Wild flower areas around Eagle Way MHHL have been listening to our members regarding the grass around Eagle Way. There are two schools of thought, the first being a desire to keep the grass very well cut and tidy and the second being that we should let the grass grow so it flowers.

We feel there is a happy medium we can take and that is to set aside some areas that we can seed with wild flower seeds and thereby provide a good habitat to support bees etc. Unfortunately, this won’t just happen by not cutting the grass. We do have to seed. We are planning to seed an area near Parkers Place but to do that we need to perform some gorse removal. This has proved difficult to achieve over the winter for one reason or another and now we are well and truly in bird nesting season and the lockdown. So, we will be looking to seed in September, the next meadow sowing time.

Public access defibrillator We have been fortunate to have been granted a sum of money by Councillor Thompson from the Enabling Communities Budget to install a public access defibrillator onto the Control Tower. This will provide coverage for the open land on the western side of Martlesham Heath and the local streets to the west, for example Deben Avenue, Dobbs Lane, etc. Coverage for the Village Green and Martlesham Heath to the east is supported by a defibrillator mounted on the church.

We have the equipment but due to the lockdown we cannot install it. When the lockdown is lifted it will be installed and registered with the Ambulance Service who will issue the code to unlock the cabinet when it is needed.

• the architecture is incoherent, being in both different styles and materials; roof pitches at variance with one another and the buildings themselves angled to produce interesting and intimate groupings

We do want to thank Councillor Thompson for his support.

• a general lack of uniformity.

If there are any issues that you feel that need attention please do not hesitate to contact Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd by leaving a voicemail on 01473 612207, by email to: martleshamheathhouseholders@gmail.com or by post to Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd, PO Box 897, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP1 9PB.

The most pleasing villages have accordingly been developed slowly over several hundred years, generally using local material, but with the individual taste of the owner or architect harmonising with existing buildings or complementing them.

CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION

The majority of VE Day 75 community celebrations due to take place on the bank holiday weekend of 8-10 May have been cancelled or postponed. It is currently hoped to move events to the weekend of 15-16 August when VE Day and VJ Day can both be celebrated.

However, many will take a moment on Friday 8 May to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period.

We will remember the members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy from many countries who gave their lives or returned home injured in body and mind, the hard-working women and men who operated the factories, mines, shipyards and farms, and ARP wardens, police officers, doctors, nurses, fireman, local defence volunteers and others who toiled day and night selflessly on the home front during difficult frightening and uncertain times.

Of course we are now living in frightening and uncertain times and once again our safety is in the hands of others, many of whom are putting themselves at risk on a daily basis to do so.

We salute those, past and present, who step up to help others in difficult times. This month especially, we find inspiration in the past and strength in togetherness.

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

GORSELAND PRIMARY SCHOOL Gorseland’s staff have been busy supporting the children of key workers and continued to do so over the Easter break when lots of Easter themed crafts and games were planned for them. The children in school have enjoyed many exciting activities and opportunities. Forest School activities have provided the children with the opportunity to work outside and get creative. Lots of PE has taken place too with the help of Joe Wicks. The children have also created their own Gorseland rainbow, which can be seen on the Deben Avenue cycle path.

BRIGHT STARS Bright Stars is not meeting at the moment due to Coronavirus.

We will let you know when we restart.

Best wishes from all at Bright Stars.

If you would like further information please contact Sonya & Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196

For those children and families accessing school from home, we have created The GorseHub which you’ll find at: https://tinyurl.com/sbtmcow The activities are updated weekly and we are enjoying seeing the work you have been sending us via email: learning@gorseland.net For our smaller learners, www.hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk has a great range of activities for the under-fives.

PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP

Our staff have also been busy perfecting their dancing skills with a weekly GorseTok challenge! We have loved seeing your own videos which you have sent us. You can access GorseTok from the GorseHub link above.

In March, before stricter measures concerning the Coronavirus were introduced, volunteers (making sure to remain at least two metres apart from one another) worked to widen a couple of path sections by clearing debris, cutting back vegetation and sweeping away decomposing leaves.

In other news, the school has been awarded the Eco-School Green Flag, which recognises the hard work our eco-warriors, children and staff have done to develop environmental awareness in the school

In wildlife news, bats should be emerging from hibernation as the weather warms during April. Several species of bat use our woods as their roosting and foraging ground, including the smallest species in the UK, the common pipistrelle, which can have a weight of just three to eight grams.

While stuck at home, there are plenty of things you could do to encourage wildlife in your garden. We can highly recommend making a bug hotel, which doubles up as a good way of passing the time with your children and can be of varying levels of difficulty. There are many resources online, for example: https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2019/07/ Build-a-bug-hotel.pdf We hope to see you in the woods once this challenging time has passed, and in the meantime we wish you all to stay safe and healthy.

CEDARWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL Here at Cedarwood we have been extremely impressed by the way in which parents, staff and children have handled this situation. Parents have been so understanding and helpful. This has made it easier for all and ensured we really can help key workers and keep everyone safe and sound.

The children in school have done really exciting things and have just been brilliantly behaved. We couldn’t be prouder of our pupils and the staff looking after them.

Unfortunately, all scheduled events have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. No experience needed. For further information, please contact us at pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com / 01473 612632, visit our website or join our members’ Facebook group by messaging Duncan Sweeting.

George Pennick and Sam Cork, Nature Explorers and Young Volunteers www.pwcg.onesuffolk.net

Pupils at home have been really working hard on work set by our teachers and have been sending in their work as well as telling us about what they have been doing. We are also celebrating their birthdays.

We are so proud of our school and everyone connected to it. We send everyone in Kesgrave and beyond our best wishes and look forward to seeing you all again as soon as we can.

The biggest shout out goes to staff who have worked unrelentingly to make all this work. An outstanding team in every sense!

Well done Team Cedarwood, from Mr Stroud and Mrs Shute

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

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Photo courtesy: www.suffolkyoga.com

We all know physical activity is essential for both our physical and mental wellbeing and never has this been more important than during these difficult times of social distancing and isolation.

Here at In Touch, we are delighted to have joined forces with Public Health Suffolk and the Most Active County Partnership as a partner for the recently launched, Keep Moving Suffolk campaign.

Over the coming weeks and months there will be information, advice and useful links on the Keep Moving Suffolk website www.keepmovingsuffolk.com to help you, your family and local community to get active and stay active during these challenging times.

The website, has a range of resources, tips, tutorials and information to support you to exercise outside and inside the home, as well as resources specifically for older people and for children. It also includes information on taking care of mental health and where to get advice if people have long-term health conditions.

We would love to hear how you’re keeping active so why not film and post a 10-15 second clip of you and/or your family being active with the message – “Keep Moving Suffolk” on social media and use the hashtags #keepmovingsuffolk and #StayInWorkOut.

Dr Craig Sheridan, a practising doctor and sport and exercise medicine specialist working on the frontline at Ipswich Hospital in the fight against the pandemic, has been involved in helping to get the Keep Moving Suffolk resource off the ground: “During this difficult time it is important for us all to stay mentally and physically healthy.

“Exercise is an important way to improve mental wellbeing and is recognised to be positive in managing depression in older adults as well as improving sleep, feelings of fatigue and quality of life. Improvements in our cardiorespiratory health can happen within a few weeks of commencing regular, moderate intensity exercise and regular physical activity reduces the risks and complications of many diseases and infection.”

Dr Sheridan added: “for those who are currently free from Covid-19 symptoms, there are clear benefits to starting or continuing to exercise whilst in social isolation.

“It is important to note that strenuous exercise is not advisable for those with symptoms of infection, particularly with a fever.”

www.keepmovingsuffolk.com @keepmovingsuffolk 10

@keepmovingsuffolk

@Most_Active In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

SUFFOLK REALLY IS THE CARING COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN A CRISIS! The Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund has already raised over £500,000 with £350,000 already distributed, helping 90 organisations and over 35,000 vulnerable people in our county.

“It is the strength and desire to help from the public that can make the most difference.”

And Suffolk has really taken these words to their hearts already raising over £500,000 to help vulnerable people in Suffolk. But with over £400,000 already distributed to Suffolk Charities there is much more still be done.

Now also supported by leading Suffolk organisations including Community Action Suffolk, Suffolk Association of Local Councils, East Anglian Daily Times, Suffolk County Council, District and Borough Councils and others members of The Suffolk Collective, Suffolk is fighting the impact of coronavirus together by raising vital donation of money, but also through gifts ‘in kind’.

‘We have been deeply moved to see Suffolk already coming together to help us raise over £500,000 and our team and the voluntary sector as a whole are working night and day to make this money work on the ground supporting vulnerable Suffolk people,” said Stephen Singleton, Chief Executive of Suffolk Community Foundation. “Over £400,000 has been targeted at key issues and distributed at lightning speed to our local charities and community groups who are responding to the Coronavirus emergency.

And now a single donation from Vestey Food Group of over £120,000 of food has been delivered and is helping to re-fill the shelves of our Foodbanks “As a longstanding family business, Vestey Food Group have cultivated strong community links wherever we have an office, factory or depot and the Coronavirus pandemic has brought into sharp focus the vital role that business can play in supporting their community,” said George Vestey (pictured), CEO of Vestey Food Group and Chairman of Suffolk Community Foundation, from Haverhill.

“As a Suffolk man I am passionate about our county and, in my voluntary role as chairman of Suffolk Community Foundation, I am enormously heartened by what they have already achieved to support people through this crisis through the creation of the Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund. In only a matter of days, Suffolk has stepped up to support vital community projects across the board. In this instance our business can help by donating two full articulated lorries of ready meals, snacks and drinks to support vulnerable people. Suffolk Community Foundation hooked us up with Fareshare and the emergency food distribution networks that they have and together we are now able to make a significant impact on re-stocking the shelves of Suffolk foodbanks.’

“Immediate support for groups who are helping vulnerable local people is essential, especially at a time when their own fundraising capabilities have been all but wiped out and demands for their services are never higher. In addition to the enormous increase in demand for emergency food provision, we are seeing significant rises in the need to support those experiencing social isolation resulting in mental and physical health challenges, families in crisis with unemployment, rising debt and critical social challenges like domestic violence. But the message to Suffolk is that we need many more people to give what they can afford to keep the work we have started moving forward and keeping up with demand. Reaching and helping almost 40,000 so far via 90 organisations is a wonderful start.”

Donations can be made online via www.suffolkcf.org.uk, by calling the giving hotline on 01473 786911 or sending a text donation to 70085. To give £5 quote 5SuffolkCrisis, £10 quote 10SuffolkCrisis or £20 quote 20SuffolkCrisis.

Texts cost the donation you have made plus one standard rate message.

Michael Barrett, FareShare East Anglia Development Manager, said: “FareShare is committed to keeping going during the COVID-19 crisis, providing vital food supplies each week to charities and schools across Suffolk. We welcome the food donated by Vestey Foods which is needed now more than ever and will make a big difference for the projects and vulnerable people we serve.”

The Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund was launched only a month ago by Suffolk Community Foundation in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust. Launched by Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge he said:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

11

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB RELYING ON OTHERS Currently we are all subject to a lock down and social distancing for our own health and the health of others. This initial period extended through Lent and I’m sure many people continued to deny themselves a particular luxury for this season. When we give something up for Lent, we appreciate it so much more when Easter comes and we can celebrate with a special treat!

So what about those of us who didn’t make Lent sacrifices but were forced to give up socialising? How have we benefitted? I have to say, that although my husband and I have had very little physical contact with outsiders, we have actually made contact with people we haven’t seen for ages. We’ve got into the habit of inviting friends for a virtual coffee! We contact a friend or family member and arrange to have coffee while chatting through one of the online face to face media. As a church we’ve held services online and been thrilled at the response.

We’ve got into the habit of regularly keeping contact by text, phone, letter and email. In fact, we’ve been able to work at being community, as so many others have in their neighbourhoods.

This time of denial has become a time of growing community. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews (10:24,25) agrees: Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

Rev Margaret Rittman Martlesham with Brightwell

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE It’s hard to take in how much has changed in a few short weeks. In common with many organisations, we have had to suspend all of our usual meetings and events. Sadly, this included the charity fashion show we were due to hold on 6 April.

Fundraising for charity is one of the key things we do and at the end of February we held a very successful quiz evening, and in spite of the present circumstance we will be continuing to support our president’s chosen charities for the year, The Eve Appeal and Over the Rainbow.

As and when the club can resume its normal activities, there should be lots more to report, but in the meantime we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports what we do.

If you would like to know more about Inner Wheel, please visit: www.woodbridgeinnerwheel.org.uk

MARTLESHAM CARPET BOWLS The Suffolk Carpet Bowls Association cancelled all the remaining games the day before our match against Burstall, so that and two away matches are outstanding. The association hopes to complete the winter league during the summer.

Some club competitions have been completed. Martyn Shakespeare won the men’s singles and Judith Longman the ladies. She also led the team that won the club fours, alongside Gloria Dimelow, Diana Gaskin and Stephen Searby.

It seems unlikely the outstanding club competitions, the pairs and mixed singles, will take place. The AGM will be held when it becomes clear what the options are for people mixing socially again.

The lovely sunshine and beauty of nature is helping us through these strange and worrying times. Instead of our friendly meetings with lots of catch-up chat we have to keep in touch by phone and email.

One piece of good news! Our bring-and-buy sale held just before the lock down raised £115 for our charity. It was a very successful and enjoyable evening.

We do hope we will be able to recommence our meetings in September; ‘Wait and See’ is the order of the day. Hoping all our members avoid the virus and stay strong and healthy.

For more news contact Doreen Boar: 01473 622768

NOT YOUR AVERAGE WI RECIPE Having to take time apart from family and friends brings on nostalgia, which is often linked to favourite foods. Though I am an ex-Londoner, I have lived in Suffolk, very happily, for more than 40 years, far longer than I actually ever lived in London. Does that still make me a foreigner do you think? Anyway, one of the very few things that I miss about living in the big city is easy access to my favourite food. The nearest I have come over the years is the High Street in Walton-on-the-Naze for my annual treat of authentic pie and mash.

When trawling on the ‘interweb’ one day I found an Australian site called the Cockney Cobbler (https://cockneycobber.wordpress.com), a ‘whinging pom’ who misses pie and mash as much as I do and came up with a recipe which is as close as you could come to the real thing.

I have tinkered with his version a little bit, but thought it was time that London street food had its day.

Pie 500grams Minced Beef 1.5 tablespoons of Plain Flour 250ml Beef Stock (stock cube) Large size shop brought Flaky/Puff Pastry Gently fry beef in own fat for five minutes till brown, sprinkle over flour and cook for one min. Add beef stock and simmer for 15/20 minutes.

Cool and assemble either four individual pies (or as I have done before) one large one with the flaky pastry. Preheat oven to 190C/Gas 6 (or as advised by your pastry pack). Cook for 30-40 minutes until golden brown (even a little burnt in places won’t hurt).

NB: When cooled, these pies freeze really well. I pre-cut the large pie into portions before freezing. Just defrost completely before putting in hot oven again for about 15 minutes.

Mash 1.5kilos Potatoes (peeled and cut into even chunks) Boil potatoes with a little salt for 15-20 minutes, drain and mash (no butter or milk added at all).

Liquor Tradition is that the real liquor is made with water from stewing eels, but fish stock cubes work well here.

50grams Butter 50grams Plain Flour 1 litre Fish Stock (1.5 Knorr fish stock cubes in 1 litre boiling water) Large handful of chopped fresh parsley Green Food Colouring Melt butter in large saucepan and stir in flour, cook for one minute, then add fish stock and gently bubble till thickened. Add parsley and few drops of green colouring (it’s psychological).

Dish it up, not forgetting to place the mash potato onto the side of the plate and scraping down. Then pool the liquor around it all to get the authentic effect. Serve with salt, white pepper and vinegar (chilli vinegar is good). Enjoy!

June Parkin, President Martlesham WI

Vic Harrup

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DISTANCING An American professor has said, “Social distancing is vital to slowing the spread of COVID-19, but it also pushes against human beings’ fundamental need for connection with one another”. According to others we should say ‘physical distancing’ instead, but it’s probably too late to change now.

‘Social distancing’ is suddenly part of the language, although it does seem a shame to keep using these words when we’re all in this crisis together.

It’s not so bad if we’ve got company at home, but what about those on their own who can’t or don’t go to work? It’s very isolating not to be able to go anywhere but the supermarket — we can be thankful for the phone and social media. Let’s be good neighbours and look out for each other.

We could even break that very British habit of not saying ‘hello’ unless we know each other already — it’s okay as long as we’re two metres apart!

This reminds me of the question God asks Adam in the Garden of Eden, “Where are you?” (Genesis ch. 3 v. 9). Something had come in between them, which the prophet mentions later on: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah ch. 59 v. 2). We could almost call it a virus.

What does God do? He sends His Son Jesus, calling Him: “Immanuel (which means, God with us)” (Matthew ch. 1 v. 23).

The message of the Bible is that God loves us. When Jesus died to save us, He cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

(Matthew ch. 27 v. 46) — He knew more than anyone else what it means to be alone.

WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKETS Woodbridge Farmers’ Markets are cancelled for the time being. It’s not possible for us to enforce the social distancing guidelines or keep stallholders and customers safe so we need to do the sensible thing and stay away from each other. Wherever possible, it’s safest to remain at home and arrange deliveries. Several of the food shops in Woodbridge are doing this. Some of our stallholders have contacted us with messages: Bosun’s EFP can be emailed or telephoned directly if anyone wants to place an order for their special oils and dips which they will deliver free of charge: martin@bosunsefp.co.uk / 07552 719950 / anita@bosunsefp.co.uk Viv from Pinewood Catering has been baking her delicious quiches. They will be available from tomorrow at Maximus Fish, Unit 1, Friday St Farm Shop, Farnham, Saxmundham IP17 1JX. Tel: 07787 551021

COVID-19 will be with us for some time, but there’s good news in Jesus if we put our faith in Him: nothing “in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans ch. 8 v. 39).

Newbourne Farm are starting to deliver vegetable boxes. Clive explained that they don’t have a huge amount of produce available at the moment because winter crops are coming to an end and summer ones aren’t quite ready yet.

In a few short weeks there will be plenty of new vegetables available and I’ll forward details of how you can organise a delivery.

Simon Attwood

Please stay safe, stay well and stay at home!

Jesus Christ can bring you joy and peace, even in a time of sorrow.

Life | Land | Business

We can't meet at the moment but you might find some help on the links below:

www.enjoyyourbible.com for free bible courses

www.crosspaint.tv

for videos with simple bible explanations or contact us with any questions at martleshamchristians@gmail.com

Whatever life brings we’re always here for you

Jesus said: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17

For your life, land and business, Barker Gotelee is here to help.

Our friendly, local solicitors are on hand to advise you on a host of legal matters, including buying and selling property, family breakdown, making a will or developing your business.

41 Barrack Sq, Martlesham, Ipswich IP5 3RF Free parking

Visit barkergotelee.co.uk or call 01473 611211 www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

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#LoveNHS #ColourForOurCarers @milliemarotta 14

© Millie Marotta Ltd In Touch online:

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LOVE NHS INITIATIVE FROM BESTSELLING ILLUSTRATOR MILLIE MAROTTA

HOME-START IN SUFFOLK RECEIVES £390,000 FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY

Photo by Gareth Davies Photography

Bestselling colouring book illustrator Millie Marotta, author of Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom, has launched an initiative to get the nation colouring in to show appreciation for our NHS. Colouring has surged in popularity in recent years and many health professionals and organisations, including the NHS, have promoted colouring as a way to beat stress and anxiety.

In this time of crisis, many of us are feeling anxious. The Love NHS initiative offers a way to de-stress through the mindful activity of colouring in while celebrating our heroes working in the National Health Service.

Millie has kindly allowed us to provide the Love NHS illustration here but it’s also available as a download that can be printed at home: bit.ly/mmlovenhs Once coloured, the illustration can be posted on social media, put up in the window, used as a flag or be sent to a loved one.

Millie Marotta is a freelance illustrator working in her studio by the sea in a little corner of West Wales.

A pioneer in the global colouring movement, Millie had been an illustrator long before she inked her first book. Millie’s intricate illustrations are inspired by a love of wildlife and fascination with the natural world. In 2015, Millie’s debut title Animal Kingdom (published by Batsford) spent a record 22 weeks as the official paperback non-fiction No.1. Since then she has published several colouring books and stationery products, which have been translated into over 30 languages. #LoveNHS

#ColourForOurCarers

@milliemarotta

IMAGINE THAT BOOK DROP Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity are thrilled to announce that Imagine That, a leading independent children’s publisher based in Woodbridge, have chosen us as their 2020 charity of the year. They are specifically fundraising for The Children’s Appeal at Ipswich Hospital.

Their programme of events for the year include book drops, wear yellow to work day and, when safe to do so, they will continue storytelling on the wards and have a bucket collection at Ipswich Town Football Club.

Recently the children’s department received many boxes of books for children of all ages who are isolating on the ward to read and enjoy.

Local family support charity, Home-Start in Suffolk, is delighted to have been awarded more than £390,000 in National Lottery funding to continue their work with vulnerable families in the Waveney area.

The project launched in 2017 as a direct response to the many support enquiries the organisation received relating to families in this location which at the time had no support service in place. After three successful years in operation in this locality with the Home-Start team and their amazing volunteers providing the much-needed support services to more than 200 families in the area, this funding will ensure that the service can continue and develop.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will allow Home-Start in Suffolk to recruit and train more volunteers specifically in the Waveney area, giving them the capacity to support even more families over the next three years in this geographic location.

The project will support families as they navigate through challenging situations, providing early intervention to prevent the family reaching crisis point and giving them improved access to health and wellbeing services to improve their general health and wellbeing as well as giving local people training as volunteers, access to accredited training, formal qualifications and skills which will benefit themselves and the families they support. By supporting marginalised communities, children’s mental health and wellbeing will be improved through integration, accessibility and opportunities accessing local services.

Tara Somers, CEO at Home-Start in Suffolk said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund continues to recognise our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue to develop the support for families in this area of Suffolk and press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to parents and children as they work through challenging times.“ Patron Miranda Kendall added: “I was thrilled to learn that the National Lottery Community Fund has given Home Start in Suffolk further recognition by awarding new funding. This sends such a positive message about Home Start’s work at a time when the organisation is skillfully adapting working methods to support families during the current crisis.”

Home-Start in Suffolk has been supporting families across the county for over 20 years and has an army of over 225 fully trained volunteers that provide vital practical and emotional support through their home visiting services. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has adapted its service model to adhere to the current social distancing regulations. The home visiting service is temporarily suspended but a regular telephone or video call support service has been introduced to help vulnerable supported families during this unprecedented time.

A further response in recognition of the huge number of families in need during the current pandemic sees Home-Start in Suffolk launching the new Families Connected Suffolk support line this month. This will give even more families access to the support they need from our team of amazing experienced and fully trained volunteers. As the support line is an additional service to the support already offered by Home-Start, the team is now working hard to source funding for this new project through donations.

To make a donation or to find out more about Home-Start in Suffolk visit: www.homestartinsuffolk.org

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

HOME, BUT NOT ALONE A new Suffolk-focused community service has been set up to support people who need help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Called Home, But Not Alone, the service has been launched to help connect people who want to volunteer in their communities with neighbours who are most in need.

AN UPDATE FROM EAST ANGLIA’S CHILDREN’S HOSPICES (EACH) As of Tuesday 7 April What we are all facing is unprecedented. We know this is a very challenging and uncertain time for everyone. For EACH the financial impact is overwhelming.

With our shops closed and the vast majority of our supporters’ fundraising activities and our own events cancelled or postponed, our loss of income is expected to be around £1,800,000 in any 12-week block.

At the time of writing, we are hopeful there will be additional funding support from the government, but this alone will not be enough and we will still need help to bridge our income gap.

It is essential we all work together to slow down the spread of the coronavirus and shield the most vulnerable, which includes the children and young people who use our services. This has meant we have suspended our planned care activities in the hospices, such as short breaks and wellbeing therapies, wellbeing groups and events, face-to-face counselling, care of the child’s body after they have died as well as our Help at Home volunteering service.

At the moment our focus is on providing end-of-life care and bereavement support, working closely with the NHS to provide capacity to care for the sickest children and responding to urgent requests for care and support as best we can.

However, we need to be able to start offering our services in full as soon as it is safe to do so. We need the help of the public to make that happen.

We are not alone. Nearly every children’s hospice in the UK is in the same position. Unlike hospitals, we all rely on the generosity of our donors to fund our services. Last year just 13 percent of our income came from statutory sources.

Some good news we have had during this period is that all three of our hospices were rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission following inspections in January.

We are only able to provide outstanding care because of outstanding backing from the public and we are calling on our supporters to continue helping us where they can.

The service will mean willing volunteers, charities, town and parish councils, community and religious groups can all log their details and offers of support on an app, while people who need help can phone to request support.

As the number of offers and requests grows, they will be matched so that the right help can be given where it’s most needed. This support could include delivering groceries, medication or essential household goods, in line with government social distancing guidelines.

Download the free app, called Tribe Volunteer, from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The telephone number for those in genuine need of help is Freephone 0800 876 6926 and will be staffed from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.

The Home, But Not Alone service was created by partners from Suffolk’s councils, police, health bodies and charitable organisations which come together as the Collaborative Communities Board.

Chrissie Geeson, the board chair, said: “In these challenging times, it has been incredibly heartening to have so many people volunteer to help others. In villages and towns across Suffolk, people have taken it upon themselves to mobilise a small army of volunteers to do what they can for people in need.

“The support service will encompass this work but will bring structure and routine to these offers of help. This is just the start of this new service, so we expect the number of offers and requests to grow.

People who want to help, or need help, should let us know and we will do the rest.

“It is testament to the hard work of all Suffolk organisations and sectors that we are able to offer this invaluable help.”

The telephone line is not a general information line for COVID-19 queries, but those in need can seek information on support with care needs, loneliness and to connect with community support.

This is a new service and will adapte to demand over the coming weeks. People are still being urged to check www.gov.uk for the latest guidance on a wide range of issues and changes caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

We were delighted our emergency fundraising appeal received over £40,000 in the first six days. It has been heart-warming to see what people have been doing to help us at a time of such great challenge and difficulty for all, and we have been really impressed with people’s creativity to get fundraising activities done at home. Examples include a family riding from Land’s End to John o’ Groats on a cycling machine, a brother and sister running a marathon in their garden and a couple growing sunflowers for 12 weeks.

Together we can make sure that vital care and support is still available for the children, young people and their families who need us, during and beyond this challenging and uncertain time.

You can support us now by donating to our emergency appeal at: www. justgiving.com/campaign/each-covid19 Or visit www.each.org.uk/get-involved for more ideas about how to do your own fundraising. Our fundraising teams are working hard from home and would love to hear from you.

Thank you.

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DEMENTIA TOGETHER FREE HELPLINE: 08081 688 000 The helpline will continue to be available seven days a week for continuous support throughout this difficult time.

Dementia Together Navigators will also be able to complete a detailed assessment over the phone offering support, education and a listening ear to you throughout this difficult time.

Dementia Together was commissioned in 2017 by both Suffolk County Council and the East and West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Groups.

The service was set up as a single point of contact for people living with dementia and their families. The service aims to ensure that people receive the right information and support at the right time.

People do not need to have a diagnosis to access the service. Anyone concerned about their memory or their relatives, friends or neighbours can contact the Dementia Together helpline. The helpline operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and also weekends and bank holidays from 10am to 4pm.

Dementia Together is continuing to offer as full a service as possible at this very difficult time. The helpline remains operational seven days a week from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

The service also consists of navigators who work in communities across Suffolk. During normal service navigators visit people in their own homes and help them to access support in their local communities. During the coronavirus crisis home visits are no longer taking place. Navigators are working from home and telephone and/or online video calls are offered instead.

Navigators continue to keep in contact with service users, providing information and offering extensive emotional support at this time.

Service users are being linked to local community networks which are offering help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and welfare calls. The current lockdown is having a huge impact on people living with dementia and their family carers. Community groups and day services which had provided an invaluable lifeline are now closed. The helpline is also receiving lots of calls from families who live far away and are concerned about elderly relatives.

Dementia Together will continue to deliver as much support as possible to people living with dementia and their families throughout this time of unprecedented crisis.

There are very particular difficulties that are being experienced by people living with dementia and their families at this time. For example, people living with dementia may not be able to retain new information and thus forget they have been told that we are in the midst of this crisis. Constantly trying to explain the current situation to someone living with dementia can cause stress not only for the person living with dementia, but also their family carers.

Service users are encouraged to take steps to look after their own health and well-being at this time. Keeping in contact with friends and families

www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

through telephone, FaceTime or Skype is important. Many calls into the Dementia Together helpline are for information on ways in which families can ensure that the person living with dementia is kept active mentally stimulated.

The Dementia Together helpline and navigators are giving lots of information on meaningful and creative activities such as reminiscence, music, dance, exercise, games, baking and many other activities that people can try. Watching films together can help too and trying to maintain a routine can be reassuring for someone living with dementia.

Current government guidelines are that people can go out for one walk a day as long as they keep a safe distance from others. Great for those fortunate to live in the countryside, however even in towns people can still get out into their gardens, perhaps for a walk around the garden, gardening, planting seeds, bird watching or simply enjoying the outdoors. We had a caller into the helpline who the navigator talked to as they were having a picnic in their garden summerhouse. The helpline have lots of information and ideas about activities that people can try at home.

Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, however many younger people under 65 also develop dementia. In Suffolk we have a Younger Person’s Dementia Network specifically for people under 65 and their families.

This group normally meets around the county monthly on Sundays. Up until recently they have enjoyed taking part in various activities including foot golf, ceramic painting, visits to Museum of East Anglian Life and a visit from Bert’s Amazing Creatures. New and innovative and fun ways are being sought to continue with the network. Members will be taking part in a quiz through zoom.

For further information and support please contact the Dementia Together helpline on 08081 688 000 or email: SRYC.DementiaTogether@ nhs.net USEFUL LINKS Pathways Care Farm: https://tinyurl.com/rzcmsg3 BBC Reminiscence: https://tinyurl.com/s53xdgt Bird Watching: https://tinyurl.com/qr3bazv Exercises to do at home: https://tinyurl.com/vwqgf6x https://tinyurl.com/tmw87k8 Music in Our Bones: https://tinyurl.com/u3tj9kg Lead Navigator Judith Goldsmith

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

HELPFUL LINKS FOR FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS The team at Home-Start in Suffolk are dedicated to supporting the families and volunteers they work with and alongside other local charities working across the county they have been looking at a variety of ways to help us all navigate through this difficult and uncertain time following the outbreak of COVID-19.

This is just a small selection of their ideas, including ways to stay in touch and prevent loneliness, ideas to help you stay calm, educational links for children, creative ideas for keeping occupied, ways to keep fit whilst in isolation, simple recipes and much more.

You’ll find much at www.homestartinsuffolk.org/supportforfamilies which is updated daily.

COMMUNICATION Physical social distancing during COVID-19 is recommended but we all need human contact and here are some ways we can work together to support each other – preventing your family, friends, neighbours and communities feeling the effects of loneliness and total isolation from human interaction.

Whether you are tech savvy or not communication is key. From a simple telephone conversation to a video chat we can all stay in touch to avoid that feeling of being alone and isolated.

It’s Good To Talk You could post notes through to your neighbours. You may have spoken to each other over years or acknowledged each other in passing but telephone number exchange may not have been a priority at the time. Here’s a sample postcard you could use that several charities are sharing at the moment to exchange contact numbers.

Hello!

If you are self-isolating, I can help.

My name is I live locally at

Facebook Messenger also has the facility for you to video call your friends and family. You’ll even find instructional videos on YouTube.

Write a letter!

Try writing letters or sending handmade cards. Those family members you cannot see or visit will be delighted to receive a special note from you.

ACTIVITIES FOR YOU Look out for fun ways to get together with other people and do things, you could even start something yourself. It could be as simple as starting a book club with a handful of neighbours which meets online or over the phone (there are free online resources available: Project Gutenberg has a library of over 60,000 free eBooks, Kindle have an app you can use on any device and there are a few free titles available along with the option of Kindle Unlimited giving you access to 1000s of titles for a monthly fee. Audible offers a free 30-day trial for audio-books and have a variety of titles available for free including some children’s books too), join a singing group or take exercise classes online that are being organised for free.

Learn a new skill and complete an online course There are a huge number of free online courses that you could take on the Open University, a great way to broaden your horizons and keep busy during your time at home.

Why not take up a new hobby?

Try your hand at something new… knitting, art, photography, sign language, learn a new language… Search the internet if you have something in mind.

There are many options available.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING Keep fit and active indoors even though the gym is closed or your walking or running group has had to suspend activities. If you have a Smart TV and Broadband you can access apps on there to practise a new daily exercise.

How about a form of yoga that suits you? Think about ways to keep fit during isolation.

Try the home fitness workout videos from NHS Fitness Studio: www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio

My phone number is If you are self-isolating due to COVID-19 I can help with: Picking up shopping

Posting mail

A friendly phone call

Urgent supplies

Just call or text me and I’ll do my best to help you (for free!)

Coronavirus is contagious. Please take every precaution to ensure you are spreading only kindness. Avoid physical contact (2m distance). Wash your hands regularly. Items should be left on your doorstep. # V i r a l K i n d n e s s

Sharing Information Consider setting up a community or friends phone tree to communicate via landline. Coordinate phone treeself-isolating, which includes a handful of your friends If ayou are I can help. and neighbours. These are a useful way of passing messages around small social networks but could be vital social contact for those stuck at home in My name is the weeks ahead.

Hello!

I live locally at A 10-minute check-in or friendly chat can make all the difference to help people feel less isolated. You’ll find a downloadable version here: My phone number is https://tinyurl.com/tqmh6fb If you are self-isolating due to COVID-19 I can help with: Virtual Visiting If you love the idea of video calls there are a number Picking up shopping Posting mail of options available to you for this, the easiest being WhatsApp. A free app you can use on your A friendly phone call to your Wi-FiUrgent supplies mobile phone which connects or mobile data to communicate.

Alternatively you could use ZOOM, there are a number offree!) options available Just call or text me and I’ll do my best to help you (for including FaceTime and Skype and a new app called HouseParty which allows you to group chat andPlease play games together too. to ensure you are Coronavirus is contagious. take every precaution spreading only kindness. Avoid physical contact (2m distance). Wash your

18 hands regularly. Items should be left on your doorstep.

#ViralKindness

Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and Pilates and yoga categories.

The Body Coach Joe Wicks has been hosting daily PE classes for children but adults can join in too! Check out his YouTube channel. Alternatively there are number of fitness videos online that can accessed through social media, YouTube and other online services.

Tips on staying calm Stress and anxiety can stop the immune system from working so well, meaning we are more susceptible to catching any bugs or viruses, so it is essential now to be doing as much as possible to release stress. By remaining calm, we are more able to respond to developing situations more objectively rather than getting lost in a spiral of panic, fear and catastrophising thoughts.

Helen Wyre of Advance Hypnotherapy has uploaded some helpful videos to her Facebook page: Helen Wyer Advance Hypnotherapy The 30 day Coping Calendar on page 19 suggests 30 actions to look after ourselves as we face this global crisis together. Action for Happiness helps people take action for a happier and more caring world and their website offers ideas for taking care of ourselves and others: www.actionforhappiness.org Self-isolation posters could be useful to display to potential visitors and couriers of how exposure to Covid-19 could be detrimental to your health, and advising where to leave deliveries at your property. Chronically Awesome Tribe has produced a set of free downloads which you can access at: www.chronicallyawesome.org.uk

In Touch online:

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

SMALL BUSINESSES IN SUFFOLK URGED TO ACCESS £200M POT OF COVID-19 AID Eligible businesses across Suffolk are being urged to access grants of £10,000 or £25,000 to help them through COVID-19 crisis.

The government has allocated over £213m to support qualifying businesses in Suffolk who are struggling because of restrictions in place to combat the Coronavirus.

There are over 15,000 eligible businesses across the county who can access one of two grants of either £10,000 or £25,000 to help with their ongoing business costs.

The Small Business Grant Fund is available to businesses that pay little or no business rates and currently receive small business rate relief (SBRR) and/or rural rate relief (RRR). In addition, there is a cash grant available to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that have a property with a rateable value up to £51,000.

Businesses who meet the eligibility criteria are being contacted by their local authority to confirm eligibility and payment details and staff are working to get this information out to firms as quickly as they can.

Businesses must follow the process outlined by their Local Authority for the payment to be made.

Business owners who have not yet been contacted and believe they are eligible for either of the grants should check their local council’s website for further details.

The grants will be administered by local authorities; Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk

DON'T QUIT

by John Greenleaf Whittier When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns As every one of us sometimes learns And many a failure comes about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell just how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

District Council and West Suffolk Council.

Karen Chapman, from the Suffolk Growth Board representing all local authorities, commented; “The Small Business Grant Fund and Cash Grant for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses could provide an important lifeline during these unprecedented times. We urge all eligible businesses to take advantage of the financial support, advice and guidance that is available during this difficult period.”

Further information, on these two grants and all support available for businesses and the self-employed can be found on the Government business support website: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirusbusiness-support To contact your local council please visit: Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/business/business-rates/grant-funding-schemes East Suffolk Council: www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/business/covid-19-business-grant-funding Ipswich Borough Council: www.ipswich.gov.uk/businessratesgrant West Suffolk Council: www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/c19business Additional support is available at from trained advisers at the New Anglia Growth Hub: www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

UNLIMITED TITLES AVAILABLE FOR VIRTUAL BOOK GROUPS Suffolk Libraries is promoting its collections of unlimited use eBooks which would be ideal for anyone thinking of setting up virtual book groups.

Most library eBooks work like physical books in that individual copies can only be borrowed one at a time. Suffolk Libraries now has two new collections of 25 eBook titles with unlimited copies available for loan via the Overdrive service.

This means they can be borrowed by anyone with no waiting times and are ideal for book groups. There is a collection for adults and one for children and young adults.

The adult collection includes a Tale for the Time being by Ruth Ozeki, How not to Be a Boy by Robert Webb and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The collection for younger readers includes The House with Chicken Legs

by Sophie Anderson, A Dog’s Life by Ann M Martin and It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is also currently available as an unlimited eBook and eAudiobook and there is also a collection of eBook classics with multiple copies available.

There are also some unlimited use eAudiobooks available via the Borrowbox service. These include Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, The Great Gatsby

by Scott Fitzgerald and Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans.

Some of our libraries are already setting up their own online book groups or discussions via their Facebook pages. The Reading Agency also provides lots of tips and information for anyone of thinking of setting up their own: www.readingagency.org.uk/resources/4327

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

CRISIS? BUT WHICH CRISIS? So here we are in the middle of a crisis. But do we actually know which ‘crisis’ we are in the middle of?

Sure, there is the health tragedy of (to date) about 11,000 deaths of people of all ages dying unpleasantly of (or with) the COVID-19 virus.

These are all very painful individual losses for family and friends, and in no way be belittled.

Prostate Cancer Awareness & Screening With Coronavirus swirling about us, all of a sudden there is an opportunity forced upon us to stop and think about what CHAPS has been doing and what the charity should be doing when this crisis abates.

Over the last few years CHAPS has continued to stage men’s health events across Essex and Suffolk, screening particularly for undiagnosed heart disease, diabetes, aortic aneurysms, skin cancer and prostate cancer (PCa).

We always detect unsuspected disease and our efforts are much appreciated by our attendees. CHAPS could of course carry on exactly the same once things return to normal but would this still represent the best use of our resources? We think not.

The area of clinical activity that has increased most for the charity has been screening for prostate cancer. This increase has been seen by other charities working in the same field and most likely reflects publicity given to stars such as Messrs Fry, Turnbull, and Stewart reporting their personal experiences, together with reports on the increasing prevalence of the disease – over 12,000 UK PCa deaths per year which now exceeds deaths from breast cancer.

Consequently we are running bespoke PCa screening events for an increasing number of organisations such as the Freemasons, Rotary and the Lions as well as major commercial infrastructure companies right across the UK. Whilst increased publicity is certainly helpful, there remains an alarming lack of knowledge amongst many, if not most, UK men about their prostate gland in general and awareness of PCa in particular. This is compounded by lack of a medical consensus on screening and only patchy provision of the simple PSA screening blood test by GPs. In many other western counties evidence built up over the last 30 years is now clearly demonstrating the benefit of properly organised PCa screening programmes that can halve a man’s risk of dying from this most unpleasant cancer. A consensus of international experts recommends that all men should start screening with PSA in their 40s especially men at high risk. These are: Men in their 40s with an initial PSA >1.0ng/ml or in their 50’s with a PSA > 2.0ng/ml.

Black men or mixed race men of African or Caribbean descent who carry a one in four lifetime risk of developing PCa. Men with a family history of PCa or breast cancer on the mother’s side where the risk rises rapidly with every affected family member.

The companion crisis is economic. This has been brewing for a much longer time than the virus crisis. Arguably decades, and given my business interests it is the more worrying of the two crisis.

This crisis, in my opinion, is one of bad money and bad government.

Essentially we have been mortgaging our future for our comfort today.

All Governments in all nations that are generally considered developed have, since certainly 1945 or thereabouts, been welded to a sort of punk Keynesian economic policy settlement which encourages credit expansion and consumption over thrift and production, all financed by gigantic quantities of Government and other debt (of course there is no such thing as ‘Government debt’ – it is our debt – the tax payers debt), and monetary expansion.

For various reasons we have got away with these bad policies for some time. Maybe until now. The forces of economics are unavoidable and bad policies will eventually fail. Most often the failure is triggered by some unforeseen event. An event that triggers a return to reality. Bad banking (including very bad central banking and financial regulatory bureaucracy) failed in 2008 and we have been kicking the can down the road since then. There has been no meaningful banking reform and government debt, certain classes of private debt and money have continued to expand, but it will not, cannot, do so for ever. Economics will not allow it, and as I said most commonly an event triggers the end game. Is the COVID-19 pandemic this event?

Our core business is advising on and administering client investment and pension portfolios. Do not let any ‘expert’ tell you that this activity requires at least one degree in the science of rocketry. It does not.

What it does require are common sense and a very cynical world view.

It’s not hugely difficult to provide a successful client investment experience. But what we - no one - can defend you from is ongoing Government and bureaucratic failure and their universal companion, the failure of bad money. There are things that can be done to mitigate those third party failures and we have had some modest success.

So, if you would like a no obligation, no holds barred chat please feel free to contact us; on Zoom, by email – advice@wfw.co.uk, and telephone 01473 231644 or if you call us first we can arrange Facetime or WhatsApp video calls. Our office is manned daily and our staff are working remotely.

Remember, the NHS’s Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme entitles men over 50 to a PSA test. All GPs have been sent the programme so don’t be put off; it is your entitlement. Early detection of PCa leads almost always to cure whereas late detection once the cancer has spread ends eventually in death. Currently 51 percent of UK men diagnosed with PCa are diagnosed with advanced disease and in nearly one in five it has already spread widely to other parts of the body.

The future role of CHAPS Charity will be determined by where we judge the greatest need to be. At present it is to achieve a substantial reduction in our unacceptable death rate from prostate cancer.

Whilst future screening events are postponed due to Coronavirus, keep in touch via our website or contact us directly by email to info@chaps.uk.com or phone 07873 541505, particularly if you would like more information on prostate cancer. www.chaps.uk.com

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

FIVE KEY AREAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW TO SURVIVE THE CRISIS? These are unprecedented times and things are changing quickly with a lot of people suffering. One thing’s for sure, there will be an end to this.

As part of the ActionCOACH community I am in contact with 1300 Business Coaches globally and 220 in the UK. Which allows us to help businesses with the best strategies quickly.

For a fuller list of the steps your business needs to take now register for one of our webinars.

See www.actioncoach.co.uk/nikgray under events for details.

Leadership Whether you have hundreds of employees or you are working solo you need to be the leader. You need to be clear on the vision for the business to create that direction. Communicate regularly – with your team daily whether they are working or not, let them know what is going on. People worry when they don’t know, keep them informed.

Customers’ too, tell them how you’re changing, how you’re making things safe or what you’ve got planned for the future.

Watch less news. It will have a negative impact on you and your thoughts.

Stick to one daily update then turn it off. You need to be the most positive person in the room. Celebrate wins and communicate good news with everybody.

Finances Firstly complete a cashflow forecast these can be done simply, if you’re not sure, ask your accountant or call me. Look at your expenditure ask yourself what can be stopped or postpone? Speak with your suppliers ask them how they can help you. Predict the next 90 days income what’s the worst case what’s best case. What do you need to survive?

Can you take advantage of the 80% furlough scheme for your staff?

Check .gov website for what you are entitled to on grants and where you can apply for the business disruption loan. Even if you don’t use it.

It’s interest free for 12 months so you can pay it back if you don’t use it.

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What next?

How are you changing? How can you ‘pivot’ to change your direction?

When the gyms closed down one gym rented its static bikes out to members to use at home and continued to run classes virtually.

Just like communication, marketing is important right now. Yes, your message will have to change, people’s needs and buying habits have changed. So, you change with them. What do they need now? How can you help them? If you have a solution to their problem and you are helping them then you should be selling to them right now, it’s the right thing to do.

Plan Most businesses fail because they haven’t got a plan. It’s easy to put off planning and working ‘on’ the business, because it’s thinking time and thinking is difficult. We’d rather do something we know how to do, like working ‘in’ the business. As a leader people look to you for direction.

You get that confidence and direction from planning. Reflect on what’s worked and what’s not. What do you need to focus on for the next 90 days? Break it down into small tasks or actions which when combined will have a big impact. If you need help join our free 90 day planning sessions online.

Reach out Finally, reach out. Everyone is in the same boat so reach out to others for help. A business coach or an accountant. We are giving away free webinars and free oneto-one sessions with business owners during this period to make sure everybody gets through this.

Follow this link and have a chat: https://calendly.com/nikgray

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People in every community will face the challenges of Covid-19 in some way – from needing basic provisions to help while they are unwell.

Think of others, consider your actions & be kind

As self-isolation sel increases, we need to ďŹ nd new ways to stay connected and check in on one another for our physical and mental wellbeing.

Sha phone numbers Share and stay in touch.

Connect and reach out to your neighbours

Keep up to date, share information and be a positive part of your local community conversations.

Make the most of local online groups

Diierent groups in our communities are at increased risk and isol social isolation and loneliness are key concerns for all ages.

There are things you can do like volunteering for local support services or donating to ban to help. food banks

Support vulnerable or isolated people

Support anyone a who may be anxious about Covid-19. Sign post them to the correct advice from Public Health England and encourage people to foll follow the correct hygiene practices.

Share accurate information and advice

5 things you can do to make a positive diierence in your community

Community Action Response: Covid-19

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

KEEPING PEOPLE CONNECTED ActivLives is a small, grassroots charity which has been working in Ipswich and across Suffolk for 13 years, supporting and motivating people to improve their own health and well-being; keeping people connected with their communities to reduce social isolation and loneliness and providing access to learning, training and volunteering opportunities to enable people to gain skills and employment.

ActivLives normally provides a wide range of face to face activities and support including, community gardening, Men in Shed projects, singing and physical / sport activities such as walking football, Boccia, New Age Kurling, seated and standing OTAGO exercise, health walks and social activity. We also have specialist hubs for people living with dementia and their carers and for carers and former carers. These activities bring people together to enable them to meet and make new friends, build support networks in the community, volunteer and learn and share skills.

Unfortunately, we have had to close all our activities because of Coronavirus which has had a great impact on the organisation. However, we are a very flexible and resilient organisation with very passionate and dedicated staff and key volunteers who are currently keeping an eye on our gardens and exploring different ways so that we can keep in touch and support our members and volunteers while they are self-isolating at home.

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For those who have access to the internet we will, over the coming weeks, be posting a variety of videos that might interest not only our members, but also the general public who may not know about our organisation. We will have general information to support people through the lock down.

There are videos showing how to keep moving with seated and standing exercise for people to do safely at home with our lovely Step by Step instructor Jo. There are singing videos on our Facebook page with Gina, our amazing music facilitator who leads our community singing groups.

There are two quizzes each week, gardening videos will be coming from the ActivGardens team and a reminiscence arts project is being planned.

For those members and volunteers who cannot access the internet we are keeping in touch by phone and helping in whatever way we can.

That may be doing some shopping, collecting prescriptions, just having a weekly chat on the phone or setting up WhatsApp groups so members from our different groups can keep connected while the sessions are closed.

We hope that people who haven’t heard of us or don’t currently use our services across Suffolk will enjoy following our home page, joining in with our videos or finding the information we post useful during these unprecedented times. www.activlives.org.uk Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

DON’T BECOME A VICTIM CRIMINALS ARE USING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO SCAM THE PUBLIC Law enforcement, government and private sectors partners are working together to encourage members of the public to be more vigilant against fraud, particularly about sharing their financial and personal information, as criminals seek to capitalise on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.

Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud*.

Your bank or the police will NEVER ask you to transfer money or move it to a safe account.

Criminals are targeting people looking to buy medical supplies online, sending emails offering fake medical support and scamming people who may be vulnerable or increasingly isolated at home. These frauds try to lure you in with offers that look too good to be true, such as high return investments and ‘healthcare opportunities’, or make appeals for you to support bogus charities or those who are ill.

Reports from the public have already included online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived and a number of cases have been identified where fake testing kits have been offered for sale.

Criminals are also using government branding to try to trick people, including reports of using HMRC branding to make spurious offers of financial support through unsolicited emails, phone calls and text messages.

This situation is likely to continue, with criminals looking to exploit further consequences of the pandemic, such as exploiting financial concerns to ask for upfront fees for bogus loans, offering high-return investment scams, or targeting pensions.

Huge increases in the number of people working remotely mean that significantly more people will be vulnerable to computer service fraud where criminals will try and convince you to provide access to your computer or divulge your logon details and passwords. It is also anticipated that there will be a surge in phishing scams or calls claiming to be from government departments offering grants, tax rebates, or compensation.

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Please see below for more information on the most common COVID-19 frauds and the steps you can take to keep yourself safe.

Online Shopping and Auction Fraud More people may fall victim to #onlineshopping fraud as they self-isolate due to #COVID19. You are a victim of online shopping fraud if you buy goods from an online seller that never arrive.

Computer Software Service Fraud As more people work from home due to #COVID19, fraudsters may capitalise on slow networks and IT problems, to commit computer software service fraud. Be wary of cold calls or unsolicited emails offering you help with your device or to fix a problem Lender Loan Fraud People may be worrying about their finances during the #COVID19 outbreak. Lender loan fraudsters will use the opportunity to: • approve your application for a fast loan regardless of your credit history • ask you to pay an upfront fee • take your payment and never provide the loan Pension Liberation Fraud and Investment Fraud Fraudsters could try to take advantage of the financial uncertainty surrounding #COVID19 by offering people sham investment opportunities.

If you get a cold call or unsolicited email offering you a deal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Mandate Fraud As more people work from home due to #COVID19, fraudsters may try to get you to change a direct debit, standing order or bank transfer mandate, to divert funds to their bank account, by purporting to be an organisation you make regular payments to.

Phishing A number of #COVID19 related phishing emails have been reported to Action Fraud. These emails attempt to trick you into opening malicious attachments which could lead to fraudsters stealing your personal information, logins, passwords, or banking details.

As of March 26, the government has only sent one text message to the public regarding new rules about staying at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Any others claiming to be from UK Government are false.

“Criminals are able to use spoofing technology to send texts and emails impersonating organisations that you know and trust. We would remind anyone who receives an unexpected text or email asking for personal or financial details not click on the links or attachments, and don’t respond to any messages that ask for your personal or financial details.”

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER JOLANTA PUTNINA We regularly used beautiful cover images taken by Jolanta Putnina so we thought you’d like to know a little bit about her.

Based in Ipswich, Jolanta is originally from Latvia and has been taking photographs since she was a child.

It’s both a passion and a profession for her and her work is much in demand from environmental portrait sessions and weddings to commercial event coverage. Her camera of choice is Nikon and she also has mastered Photoshop in post processing to produce stunning images that we are delighted to share with our readers.

“Ipswich is my home since 2006,” explains Jolanta. “I love photography, hand-made art, couture garments, travels and meeting new people. I am Latvian born and grown-up under the communist regime in the Soviet Union in the last century in the ‘60s. My father was a dissident and ‘The Iron Curtain’ locked down our family. But, the lack of informative and physical freedom turned into creativity in my life.”

When did you first become interested in photography?

I remember myself, as soon my eyes were on table-top level, my father allowed me to be in the darkroom where the magic happened. I was amazed by the mystery of how images pop-up on a paper from nowhere.

My father loved photography, and over the years he explained all the chemistry and behind-of-scenes moments. As a teenager, I spent many hours taking photos and working in the darkroom. Then photography was not my only hobby. I was pretty good at textile crafts and drawing.

Emptiness and dark boring colors (dictated by communist’s standards) in clothes shops in the Soviet Union developed creative thinking. I liked to be original and attractive. At the age of twelve, I started to make clothes. I learned from my mistakes and masters until I nailed it at the Savile Row level. I made living from crafts for many years and I asked photographers to take photos of my more attractive works before they were gone to clients. But I was missing the wow moment in these images and I decided to come back to photography and learn again.

You are so fortunate to do something you love as a job. How did you make this happen?

I simply decided how I want to spend the rest of my life. I had sacrificed a lot of my time and health for other people, and I wanted to change something. I put all my skills in one place and took steps towards a freelance job.

What advice can you share with those of us who struggle to take a decent picture of anything?

The key is practise, practise, practise. My favourite saying about photography is by the German photographer Almut Adler: “Taking photos is like writing with light, like playing music with shades of colour, like painting with time and seeing with love.” I like this quote and it is my guideline. A photographer must love the subject that they are taking the images of.

I had to make a big jump into digital photography. Technically, I had to learn everything from scratch. I put a lot of effort to update my skills. Mostly, I got my theoretical knowledge from online courses and workshops. Post production also is very important and I enhance my knowledge every time after the software – Lightroom and Photoshop – is updated. Photography is like any other craft and it is time-consuming.

You take the most beautiful images of nature and landscape. What’s the key to capturing that special moment?

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My heart belongs to nature. To be a photographer of nature means a lot of planning, traveling, observing and waiting. A list of equipment in my backpack is long but, let us be minimalistic. I need only five things to take a good photo of landscape and nature. These five are – a camera, a lens, a tripod, an alarm, and luck. The most important is the alarm because timing is everything. The sunrise will not wait for a photographer.

You must find current restrictions very frustrating. Have you been able to take pictures from your home or garden?

Current restrictions are not frustrating for me. I sneak out to lonely places, sometimes. But this summer will be extremely different. I think that I will have plenty of time to improve my skills in ‘table-top’ photography. I have several subjects on my to-do list like food, cosmetics, and jewellery. Also, I am managing a few different kinds of projects at the moment. I love painting on canvas and silk and make garments for myself and my models.

Do you take commissions? Can you tell us about some of the work you’ve been commissioned to do?

I had the photo project The Golden Dress when I made a garment especially for the private photo session. I was re-creating the iconic photo of actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1946. In the meantime, I filmed the backstage video of myself doing the sewing. I invite readers to watch it on social media platforms. I am sure that a professional portfolio, a good dress for a woman, and perfect timing are life-changing things. So, additionally, to photo sessions, I offer styling and dressmaking. I’m open to new projects related both to photography and crafts.

The last season I was busy shooting weddings and events. I had plenty of photo sessions. I saw clients using images on their social media platforms and web pages. Also, a few of my photos were published in the East Anglian Daily Times at the end of September 2019. I had private orders for enlargement prints, as well. Now and again, I helped businesses by creating content images for digital marketing. When I see my client’s success, it inspires me and makes me happy.

Where do you like to go with your camera when you have free time?

I do not have free time. I am always busy. But I like to escape from the crowd and noise to lonely places now and again. Usually, it is a forest or sea coast. There I observe nature. I watch sunlight creating shadows and colours matching in plants and moving clouds in the sky. I listen to the sounds of nature – wind, and birds in the forest and waves in the sea – and I absorb peace. But my camera bag always is with me, in case if something interesting comes up on my way.

What advice can you give to someone who wants to be a professional photographer?

The mastery is not happening in the blink of the eye. Equipment is important but I have to explore what it does, at first. I am still working with an amateur Nikon camera because I have understood that the most important component is the person behind the camera and not the price of your equipment. The image is not happening by itself. A person is taking the image. It all depends on what is in the brain when you press a shutter button. I advise learning from the world’s best photographers because the market is overloaded with average ‘professional entrepreneurs’. I wish good luck to myself and to everybody who is thinking of being a professional photographer.

Where can readers see more of your work and follow your progress?

People can see my extended portfolio online. Also, I am kindly inviting your readers to follow me for inspiration on Instagram and Facebook platforms. www.jolantaputninaphotography.co.uk

In Touch online:

Use your calendar to record your daily kindness acts.

month Monday

year Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Congratulations

Saturday

Being kind sends a powerful message about our connections to each other and the world around us.

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Sunday

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738) and Isle of Man (0752). Illustrations: Š Sara Chew/BRC. BRC18-303

The power of kindness calendar

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

PRETTYS COVID ASSIST Help is at hand for local businesses that need legal advice as a result of the devastating Covid 19 outbreak.

Prettys solicitors in Ipswich are offering up to an hour of free consultation without obligation to assist and support local businesses.

With an 80 strong team Prettys have served the local community since they were founded in 1906. As a recognised leader in commercial law and personal law they work regionally, nationally and internationally.

Prettys’ business experts are inviting local businesses to get in touch for free specialist advice with their lawyers who specialise in corporate and commercial, property, employment, commercial disputes and have first-hand experience of advising on all aspects of business in which difficulties have arisen because of the Covid 19 outbreak.

Whether a business has a question about business contracts, restructuring, employment matters or disputes that have arisen because of the pandemic this is the chance to obtain free legal advice.

This offer is extended throughout April and May. To reserve a consultation please email covidassist@prettys.co.uk or visit www.prettyscovidassist.co.uk and complete the application form.

To ensure that an appointment is booked with the right specialist you will need to provide your name, the nature of your concern, name of your business, business location, and of course your contact details.

Rural Coffee Caravan is one of many charities which has transformed its service in response to current need. Their website is a great source of information and ideas and they have created this flyer which you can tape to a bin, pop in milk bottle, give to a supermarket worker or in fact any key worker. You can download it direct from: www.ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

WINNERS OF SUFFOLK HIGH SHERIFF’S AWARDS 2020 The winners of the Suffolk High Sheriff’s Awards 2020 have been announced on a special live show on BBC Radio Suffolk after the annual awards ceremony at Wherstead Park had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus.

After Roz Eminson (pictured), the High Sheriff, praised the standard of this year’s one hundred entries, the winners were announced by Lesley Dolphin from BBC Radio Suffolk and Tim Holder from Suffolk Community Foundation who administer the High Sheriff Fund and co-ordinate the award ceremony. The winners in each of the seven categories were interviewed on the special programme, presented by Graeme Mac.

Long Service Award: Sponsored by Ashtons Legal Drena Black, Waveney Domestic Violence & Abuse Forum “I feel that particularly in these demanding and worrying times we need something to lift our spirits and what better way to do this than to have an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the exemplary and incredible contribution of those working in our voluntary sector,” said Suffolk’s High Sheriff, Roz Eminson. “Indeed, we are already seeing evidence of volunteers stepping up and going above and beyond whatever the normal call of duty is to help others manage during this crisis. We are seeing the best of the human spirit and the High Sheriff’s Awards are a wonderful way in which we can show our appreciation and thank all those who give their time so willingly, and with dedication, for the good of the less fortunate people of Suffolk.”

Strengthen Your Community: Sponsored by East of England Co-op Gainsborough Community Library, Ipswich

“With the national morale booster for the NHS following on at 8pm, it felt absolutely right that we should all be together in Suffolk to say a big thank you to our own volunteers, community groups and charities,” said Tim Holder from Suffolk Community Foundation. “Aside from us all doing our bit by staying at home, their work combined is having such a powerful effect on keeping our vulnerable people safe and well and less likely to need help from our heroes in the NHS. We needed to celebrate them last night, but also to reinforce the ongoing central call out of the Home But Not Alone Campaign in Suffolk from Community Action Suffolk and others for more volunteers to come forward and help their neighbours, local communities, charities and community groups and also for people to help financially to support all this work if they can by making vital donations to Suffolk’s central Coronavirus Community Fund.”

Caring for the Environment: Sponsored by East Anglian Daily Times Farlingaye School Green Council, Woodbridge

To find out more about how to volunteer please visit: www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk

Suffolk’s Road to Recovery: Sponsored by Barnes Construction Green Light Trust, (Lawshall, Minsmere, Ipswich and others)

To make a donation to the central Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund, please visit: www.suffolkcf.org.uk

The winners announced are: Volunteer of the Year Under 30: Sponsored by Birketts Rifaii Al Nayef from Suffolk Refugee Support Volunteer of the Year Over 30: Sponsored by Ipswich Building Society Grzegorz Kowalczyk from Orwell Mencap New Group of the Year: Sponsored by PolicyBee Lowestoft Boxing Academy

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SARABAND SNAPS UP IAN MAITLAND THRILLER spine 22 mm

IAIN MAITLAND

Indie publisher Saraband has signed Felixstowe-based mental health author Iain Maitland for a thriller about unsolved murders of LGBTQ+ victims.

MURDERS 1981-

The Scribbler will be published under Saraband’s crime, mystery and noir fiction imprint Contraband on 12 May.

They thought the killer was long gone...

IAIN

MAITLAND “Brilliantly creepy.”

BARBARA NADEL

In The Scribbler, newly qualified DC Carrie and her much more experienced colleague DI Gayther are the unlikely pairing tasked with investigating a series of cold cases, specifically unsolved murders of LGBTQ+ victims. “Back in the Eighties, these had not been considered a priority for police

resources,” Saraband said. “But times have changed and so has the whole matter of how policing is done. Gayther may trust his old-style hunches, but DC Carrie favours technology-driven, algorithm-based methods.”

Hunt said: “Iain Maitland has a dark, original and chilling imagination and an uncanny ability to write disturbed characters whilst wrong-footing the reader along the way. He finds brilliant stories in the neglected corners of crime and punishment and keeps us uncomfortably glued to the pages as the tension escalates.”

Maitland is the author of the thriller Sweet William (2017) and Mr Todd’s Reckoning (2019), both published by Saraband, as well as two non-fiction books on mental health: Dear Michael, Love Dad (2016, Hodder & Stoughton) and Out of the Madhouse (2018, Jessica Kingsley Publishers).

An ambassador for Stem4, the teenage mental health charity, he also speaks on mental health issues in the workplace.

AN EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM THE SCRIBBLER Newly qualified Detective Constable Georgia Carrie walked slowly up the steps of the temporary portacabin office to the side of the main police station building, balancing two full mugs of tea, one in each hand. She stopped to read the sign, ‘DI Gayther, Cold Cases’ and the handwritten scrawl above it, ‘LGBTQ+’. She put the mugs down on the top step to open the door and then paused for a moment, thinking what she might say.

“When was this…?

She opened the door. Picked up the mugs. Stepped inside. The older man, in his battered grey suit and brown loafers, looked up as the young woman put the mugs of tea on the desk. One on his side, the other on hers. He smiled briefly and nodded his thanks. She went to say her opening words, “Good to see you again, sir”, but as she did so, he turned the papers he was reading round so they were facing her on the desk. Old man in a hurry, she thought.

“He is described as white British and would now be in his fifties.”

“Read this, Carrie,” he said abruptly, pushing two sheets of A4 paper across towards her.

She took the sheets and sat down at the desk and began reading the first one. He picked up his mug of tea and swung round on his chair, his back to her, looking out of the window towards the back of the main building and what looked like a building site. The police station was being renovated. Ladders, pots and paints and stacked-up scaffolding seemed to fill the whole space. It was a mess. He hated mess.

“Still At Large,” she read the front page headline of the local newspaper out loud, “The Scribbler.”

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“Two years ago. Thirtieth anniversary of the first killing,” he replied. He gestured towards the two sheets and she carried on reading without speaking.

“Police are still searching for The Scribbler, the serial killer who murdered six people in Norfolk between 1988 and 1990.”

“The first victim was Donald Worthington, a 53-year-old abattoir supervisor.”

“The second victim was 42-year-old office clerk Andrew Marven.”

“The other four victims, middle-aged men from the Norwich area, were found dead in the summer and autumn of 1990.”

“Police believe The Scribbler may have killed twelve men in total.”

She wasn’t sure who to ask about first, but this was one of an endless stream of cold cases they’d be looking at over the coming days, so she decided to come straight to the point.

“And so … ” she said, “why are we looking at this case again now? First of all?”

“Because he’s back, Carrie. The Scribbler is back.”

Iain Maitland

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BRAIN TEASERS FOR CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) RIDDLES It’s time to get your thinking caps on. You’ll find the answers on page 34 but no peeking!

1: What’s bright orange with green on top and sounds like a parrot?

2: What’s really easy to get into, and hard to get out of?

FIND THE WORDS Including two letter words, there are 250 words hidden in ‘Chocolate Ice Cream’.

‘Ceramic’ is one to get you started but you may want to get the entire family involved!

3: What word contains 26 letters, but only has three syllables?

4: A girl fell off a 20-foot ladder. She wasn’t hurt. Why? 5: What has lots of eyes, but can’t see?

Say the colour of each word!

6: I am often following you and copying your every move.

Yet you can never touch me or catch me. What am I? 7: Grandpa went out for a walk and it started to rain. He didn’t

bring an umbrella or a hat. His clothes got soaked, but not a hair

on his head was wet. How is this possible?

8: I add lots of flavour and have many layers, but if you get to

close I’ll make you cry. What am I? 9: What has legs, but doesn’t walk?

10: You see me once in June, twice in November, but not at all

in May. What am I? Use the Egyptian alphabet to write your name or share it with your best friend and use it to write coded messages!

Parents you could use this to create clues for a treasure hunt.

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

HERE TOGETHER: TODAY & TOMORROW St Elizabeth Hospice launches urgent appeal for support While preparing to cope with the impact of Coronavirus on its end of life care and bereavement services over the coming weeks, St Elizabeth Hospice has launched an urgent appeal to the public to support their local hospice in light of all fundraising events being postponed and all 31 retail shops closing.

The clinical staff at St Elizabeth are working in partnership with the NHS and partners at speed to significantly expand our services both in the community and at the hospice in response to Coronavirus, whilst continuing to care for patients with non-Covid end of life and palliative care needs.

A new rapid response co-ordination centre has been created in the past week to cope with the expected increase in demand for clinical advice and end of life care in the community, doubling the capacity of the hospice’s existing OneCall telephone advice helpline.

Last year, the hospice cared for over 3,000 Suffolk patients and their families at a cost of £10.5m, of which 75% was raised by the community through the shops and local fundraising – income-generating activities which are now impossible due to social distancing and self-isolation.

Chief Executive Ru Watkins has called on the local community to support the hospice’s new Here Together appeal to highlight the role of St Elizabeth at the clinical frontline of the current pandemic and to make sure that its end of life care can continue unaffected when the crisis is over: “Every family who has come into contact with our consultants, doctors, nurses, carers and volunteers over the years knows how dedicated they are to our local community. We are still here with our patients delivering the care they need today so ask everyone to support our efforts together.”

With all fundraising events postponed or cancelled, many supporters are looking for alternative ways to support the hospice. As local supporter Wendy Goddard says: “St Elizabeth Hospice was there for me and my family when my daughter Zoe sadly passed away and their support was outstanding. Last month I was due to hold a charity night for 300 people to raise funds to support the hospice but sadly this has had to be postponed. I would ask you to do what you can in this time of need to support our local hospice together.”

The Here Together appeal is being launched across the hospice’s social media platforms to raise awareness of St Elizabeth’s frontline role in continuing to care for some of Suffolk’s most vulnerable patients throughout the pandemic and our shared commitment as a community to protecting its vital services today and tomorrow.

#SaveLives

COMMUNITY ACTION SUFFOLK SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITIES & ORGANISATIONS DURING COVID-19 As we all make our way through these uncertain times, Community Action Suffolk (CAS) is continuing to support organisations and volunteers to deliver vital services in communities. Not only are organisations across Suffolk continuing their usual services wherever possible, but there is also an incredible rise in activity with many organisations changing and adding to their offer to meet the huge rise in demand. Alongside this, the surge in people wanting to do whatever they can, however big or small, to care for others is truly heart-warming.

CAS has been involved in supporting a whole range of groups and ‘movements’ to promote themselves and encourage others to follow suit in recent weeks.

Many of these spring from individuals who simply want to show they care to those in close proximity to them, from ‘Backyard Buddies’ and ‘Tear down the Fence’ initiatives, to groups of residents setting up ‘Emergency Response’ schemes akin to Good Neighbour Schemes. It is important to ensure that this is done in a supported and safe manner so CAS has produced a suite of new resources and guides to help with this which can be found on the website (details below).

In addition to work with local groups and organisations, CAS is also supporting various campaigns to recruit and support volunteers. The Suffolk Collaborative Communities Board, made up of key strategic partners from across the county including CAS, has recently launched the Tribe Volunteer app specifically to recruit volunteers during the pandemic in Suffolk alongside an accompanying telephone helpline for those in need of support. Volunteer Suffolk, the county’s volunteer brokerage portal for organisations that need volunteers is also still going strong.

If you would like to volunteer during Covid-19, or need to recruit volunteers for your organisation, click ‘I want to Volunteer’ on the homepage of the CAS website for more information on both these portals.

Suffolk’s business and voluntary sector community are also being encouraged to come together as part of a county-wide campaign to help more organisations deliver their important work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteering Matters and Community Action Suffolk are collectively calling for charities, groups and social enterprises to let them know of their specific ‘need’ at this critical time, and for business leaders to step forward with help in areas such as planning, IT, legal advice, logistics and media relations. Businesses are encouraged to list how they would like to help. They can do so by completing the survey at: www.volunteeringmatters. org.uk/what-we-do/support-us/working-together While all this is going on, CAS still has another ‘day job’ to do – to continue supporting the already established voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Suffolk to stay operational, safe, well governed and as financially resilient as they can. We are continuously lobbying national government with the support of national partners to make provision for those on the ground carrying out activities. We cannot emphasise enough how important these groups and organisations are at this time and you too can help by showing your support on social media using #EveryDayCounts.

Or call the hospice on: 01473 723600

This is a challenging time for every Suffolk resident, but at CAS we never cease to be amazed by the dedication, commitment and kindness that Suffolk residents show on a daily basis, and we are so proud to be able to help our voluntary, community and social enterprise sector play their part. Stay safe, support each other, and keep going Suffolk, you are all incredible!

To find out how to get involved or fundraise for us, please contact your hospice community fundraiser, Fiona Gin: fiona.ginn@stelizabethhospice.org.uk / 07740 405764

For more information on anything Community Action Suffolk is doing, or to contact us, visit www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or follow @CASuffolk on Twitter.

To donate to the appeal, visit the hospice Just Giving appeal page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/SEHCoronavirusAppeal

Hannah Reid, Director of Innovation & Business Development

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SUFFOLK LIBRARIES GOES ONLINE AND INTERACTIVE TO KEEP PEOPLE STIMULATED AND ENTERTAINED

Although library buildings across the country are currently closed, Suffolk Libraries is making sure that people stuck at home can still get access to books, music, films as well as new interactive streamed sessions.

Several libraries have already been recording and streaming live singing and rhyme sessions for young children, as well as running craft and Lego activities to enjoy at home. These videos have already been enjoyed and shared thousands of times. Quizzes and virtual book groups are also being introduced as Suffolk Libraries explores different ways to keep people entertained. Full details of these new sessions can be found at: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk (go to ‘online and streamed events’) Suffolk Libraries is also promoting its extensive eLibrary which provides free access to around 60,000 titles including eBooks, eAudiobooks, online newspapers, magazines, music, films and educational courses. There is plenty of content for families too with books on how to make crafts, eAudiobooks for children and Kanopy Kids which offers free streaming of programmes and movies.

Extra content is being added to cope with the significant increase in demand with around a 200 percent increase in people using the eLibrary and streaming services over the past week. Visits to the Suffolk Libraries eLibrary webpages increased from nearly 2,000 to over 9,000 in just one week at the end of March.

If you’ve not already signed up to use this service you can do so online at: suffolklibraries.co.uk/elibrary Bruce Leeke, Chief Executive of Suffolk Libraries, said: “It’s a very challenging time for everyone at the moment and with library buildings closed we’re doing everything we can to provide content, information and entertainment. We’re working on plans to keep in contact with regular customers who might be isolated but we’re delighted that so many of our wonderful staff have risen to the challenge to run online activities which will hopefully make a difference to people across the county.”

Home Library Service volunteers have also been encouraged to stay in touch with their customers too.

Suffolk Libraries is also helping to promote Suffolk’s new Home, but not alone scheme. People can call 0800 876 6926 for information or support during the current crisis.

Wash your hands of coronavirus scams!

Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams.

Be aware of people offering or selling:

Protect yourself and others:

Virus testing kits - these are only offered by NHS.

Don’t be rushed into making a decision. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Vaccines or miracle cures – there is currently no vaccine or cure.

Only purchase goods from legitimate retailers and take a moment to think before parting with money or personal information.

Overpriced or fake goods to protect yourself from coronavirus such as anti-bacterial products.

Shopping or medication collection services.

Don’t assume everyone is genuine. It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

If someone claims to represent a charity, ask them for ID. Be suspicious of requests for money up front. If someone attempts to pressurise you into accepting a service they are unlikely to be genuine. Check with family and friends before accepting offers of help if you are unsure.

Home cleaning services.

Be a good friend, help to protect your family, friends and neighbours from scams.

Read it.

Share it.

Prevent it. #Coronavirus #ScamAware

Contact For advice on scams call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 11 33 To report a scam call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.

To learn more about the different types of scams visit www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk www.keepingintouchwith.com/mar tlesham

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ALMOST LOST IN TRANSLATION A short story by Beryl P. Brown The flea market was rammed. Mid-morning sun blazed on the hordes of people forging paths to the stalls and traders. Some attempted to worm deeper into the market, certain that better bargains were to be had in the further reaches. Tourists, too hot, too overcome by the tide of humanity that, good-natured though it was, seemed a threat, pushed their way to the exit and their tour buses.

lucky rabbit bag would be lost forever.

This was my favourite place; I made sure I was here every Sunday morning. I loved the crush, the noise, the smell – not, as someone who had never been to a Parisian flea market would assume, predominantly garlic, but a mixture of perfume, exotic oils, street food and coffee.

My words seemed to flow through the crowd like a Mexican Wave as the message was passed on. I held my breath and squinted into the sunlight, but the white hair reached the place where the road dipped again and the man disappeared.

There has to be an exception to every rule and, as I was soaking up the ambience, a man caught my elbow and breathed the reek of garlic into my face. I swung away, ducking behind a large German tourist shouting into his phone and smelling of suntan oil. The German apologised as his shoulder knocked into my bag. I lifted a hand in response and pushed on towards the stall that sold the best coffee in Paris.

I was swept along, tears stinging, I didn’t care where I ended up.

I was sipping my espresso when I noticed a man hovering at the edge of the crowd letting people flow past him. This was odd; no one gave way here. It was the garlic breath man, I remembered him not just for his breath, but because of the white hair that hung down to his shoulders.

I drained the little cup, thanked the stallholder in my appalling French – I really should take lessons – and slipped into the crowd. Glancing behind me, I saw the white haired man scanning around. I slid quickly in front of a pair of tall teenage boys before dodging around an elegant French woman enveloped in a cloud of Chanel.

I walked on for several minutes, weaving my way through until the sound of a tolling church bell let me know that I was about halfway along the road that was completely taken over by the market every Sunday.

The crowd had thinned for a second and, relaxing, I was enjoying the space when something thudded into my back. I was thrust forward and felt my bag being ripped from my hand.

‘NO,’ I yelled, staggering to keep my balance. I raised my head in time to see the white haired man elbowing through the crowd, the straps of my rabbit bag clutched in his fist.

I couldn’t lose that bag; it was my most important possession. The red rabbit appliqued to the flap was my good luck charm and it went everywhere with me.

‘Thief,’ I yelled.

Stupid, I told myself, as a few people looked at me curiously.

‘Voleur.’ I screamed.

People turned, I could see the man’s head above the crowd but he was disappearing fast.

To my eternal embarrassment, I then shouted. ‘Le homme avec le cheveaux blanc est un voleur.’

I’d got attention. People scanned around but then shrugged and stared at me.

What was the matter with them?

The man was vanishing into the crowd when it struck me that I’d said the thief was a man with white horses! Why hadn’t I learned French properly? My

The crowd ahead was thick now but, beyond the church, the road rose slightly and I could just spot the white hair in the far distance.

That subway scene in Crocodile Dundee came back to me, and I screamed, ‘Le sac avec le lapin rouge.’

Someone tapped me on the shoulder and pointed. Miraculously, my bag was being passed back through the people.

When it reached me, I hugged it to my chest and shouted, ‘Merci mes amis.’

As soon as I could, I fought my way aside and found an alleyway where I could escape and have privacy to check my bag.

I unzipped it. It was packed with wallets, purses and mobile phones. I lifted out a wallet and opened it. Stuffed with Euros. The picture of the big German tourist grinned at me from its plastic window.

A leather purse wafted expensive perfume as I flipped through the plastic cards.

Two of the mobiles had macho cases – the type teenage lads carried. They’d have learnt a hard lesson about hanging on to their belongings in a crowd.

At the end of the alleyway I threw the empty wallets, purses and phone cases into a waste bin and swung the bag over my shoulder. The lucky rabbit had done its job, but I’d need to think hard about next Sunday. The robber nearly robbed; I could be losing my touch. passed on. I held my breath and squinted into the sunlight, but the white hair reached the place where the road dipped again and the man disappeared.

I was swept along, tears stinging, I didn’t care where I ended up.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder and pointed. Miraculously, my bag was being passed back through the people.

When it reached me, I hugged it to my chest and shouted, ‘Merci mes amis.’

As soon as I could, I fought my way aside and found an alleyway where I could escape and have privacy to check my bag.

I unzipped it. It was packed with wallets, purses and mobile phones. I lifted out a wallet and opened it. Stuffed with Euros. The picture of the big German tourist grinned at me from its plastic window.

A leather purse wafted expensive perfume as I flipped through the plastic cards. Two of the mobiles had macho cases – the type teenage lads carried.

They’d have learnt a hard lesson about hanging on to their belongings in a crowd.

At the end of the alleyway I threw the empty wallets, purses and phone cases into a waste bin and swung the bag over my shoulder. The lucky rabbit had done its job, but I’d need to think hard about next Sunday. The robber nearly robbed; I could be losing my touch.

Beryl P. Brown lives in Manningtree. Many of her short stories have been published and frequently enjoy competition success.

Her debut novel, May’s Boys: a boy wants a mother, a woman wants a son… was published in February and is available in print and e-format from booksellers and online suppliers.

For further details detrails visit: www.berylpbrown.uk

Answers to the riddles on page 31 1: Carrot; 2: Trouble; 3: Alphabet; 4: She fell off the bottom step; 5: A potato; 6: My shadow; 7: Grandpa was bald; 8: An onion; 9: A table; 10: The letter ‘e’

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