In Touch with Stowmarket May 2020

D S MEAD

ALL BUILDING, CAVITY WALL & LOFT INSULATION WORK UNDERTAKEN

30 years experience

Tel: 01449 745769 Mob: 07803 173000

In Touch with Stowmarket

™©© ™

& Stowupland

Vol. 19 • Issue No. 2 • NOVEMBER 2013

Volume 25 • &Issue No.RESIDENTS 8 • MAY 2020 FREE to STOWMARKET STOWUPLAND 50p where sold

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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.

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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ColourPlan Print: 01473 400379 E: steve@colourplan.co.uk Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions.

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 Stowmarket & Stowupland is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd

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Please recycle.

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/stowmarket

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:

Stowmarket Town Council Stowmarket Self Isolation Helpers Mid & West Suffolk Community Helpers & Requests Mid Suffolk District Council Suffolk County Council COVID-19 Information Centre

@StowmarketTC @MidSuffolk @suffolkcc @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

Stowmarket Town Council would like to send its best wishes to everyone during these uncertain times. We are grateful to each and every person who is doing their bit, whether you are a keyworker, working from home, home schooling your children, social distancing from friends and family, going shopping as little as possible, shopping for at-risk neighbours or clapping every Thursday for our keyworkers, we are all in this together.

To show the towns appreciation for the NHS, we raised a rainbow flag over the town, and we are encouraging people to do the same by decorating their windows with a display dedicated to anyone they would like to celebrate. We would love to see your efforts! Please email any pictures to: support@stowmarket.org for a chance to be included in our Fly the Flag video!

We continue to man the town council phones and remain a point of contact for anyone who needs assistance. So far, we have spoken with several residents who are in the high-risk and shielded categories and have been able to connect these individuals with organisations who are well placed to help them.

If you are in genuine need of help, there is a Suffolk County Council scheme, Home, But Not Alone, which is connecting volunteers to vulnerable people in order to get help to those who need it. They are open from 9am to 5pm daily and have a Freephone number: 0800 876 6926

#SaveLives

9 am – 1pm. If you are donating a large amount of items, please call the food bank: 01449 774000, to arrange a suitable time.

The market is still open for business on Thursday and Saturdays. The stalls have been limited to essential-items only, and social distancing measures are in place. Tariffs for stallholders have been paused during the pandemic. Stallholders are also working to provide provisions to the food bank as necessary.

All play areas, equipment and skate parks remain closed to the public in line with government instructions. Parks remain open for exercise reasons only.

It has been necessary to postpone all town council events up until August, including the Food and Drink Festival, StowFiesta and the Annual Council Meeting. We are working with stakeholders and will resume our event calendar when safe to do so.

There has been a rise in scammers targeting vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak, and we urge people to stay safe. Some scams are very convincing and sophisticated - we urge people never to give out personal information before you have verified their credentials. You can report scams to Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040 Our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages are updated with relevant Stowmarket news regularly, and we have launched a page on Facebook called Stowmarket Boredom Busters, which is filled with ideas to keep the whole family busy during the lockdown.

You can find more information about everything mentioned here, and more, on our website. There is a dedicated coronavirus advice section, as well as tips on avoiding fake news and links to trusted sources. It also contains information on what the town council is able to directly help with, and links to other councils and organisations.

CONTACT DETAILS Website: www.stowmarkettowncouncil.gov.uk Facebook: Stowmarket Town Council Twitter: @StowmarketTC Instagram: stowmarkettowncouncil Phone: 01449 612060 Email: info@stowmarket.org Food Bank: 01449 774000 Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040

The Stowmarket foodbank staff are doing a fantastic job during these difficult times. Demand for the foodbank has increased from an average of 60 deliveries a month to delivering an average of 54 per week. We have made our vehicles available for the purpose of collecting donations from supermarkets, a trip that Heather Tooke, Community Centre Manager, undertakes twice weekly. Mayor Paul Ekpenyong donated £100 worth of food and Tesco manager, Scott Garrod, donated an entire trolley-full of Easter eggs.

We are urging everyone who is able to please donate to the food bank if possible. Drop off points are located in the supermarkets and a new drop off point at the community centre is open Monday – Thursday

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In Touch online:

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

PROPERTY RESTORED IN LESS THAN A MUSEUM CONNECTS COMMUNITIES WEEK TO HOUSE VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WITH REMOTE VOLUNTEERING A property in Sudbury has been transformed in just five working days in order to provide urgent accommodation to people at risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

Babergh District Council’s teams joined local firms in working round the clock to transform the Lees, in Newton Road. They undertook the major task of getting the building – only recently returned to the council – repaired, decorated, fitted with essential appliances and furniture, and fully checked within days to allow the first seven households to move in.

The Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket may have closed its doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that work has stopped. With their remote volunteering project Search for the Stars truly shining during this time, the museum is providing an outlet for those looking for a project to get involved with from the safety of their own homes.

The need for provision of housing for the district’s most vulnerable residents, including rough sleepers and those experiencing homelessness, has increased as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The council brought forward plans to refurbish the building following the government’s offer of emergency funding to help provide accommodation and services to rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness.

Contractors Whybrow Property Solutions even removed the kitchen units from their own premises to install at the property, while other firms agreed to make all-important deliveries of furniture before closing their doors on Friday.

Cllr Jan Osborne Babergh District Council cabinet member for housing, said: “This property has only recently been returned to the council and the housing and building services teams have done an amazing job. It is testimony to how council staff and local business have worked together during a time when we are facing so many challenges in being able to complete this project in just five days. It’s excellent to now be able to offer somewhere safe for people sleeping rough, staying in night shelters or assessment hubs, who didn’t have a secure home or somewhere safe to self-isolate if required.”

BEFORE

AFTER

The Search for the Stars project, generously funded by Esmée Fairbairn and the Headley Trust, aims to transfer all of their 40,000 paper-based object records over to the museum’s online collections management system.

The project will make the museum collection accessible to everyone with some records already searchable through their website. Along the way the star searching team have also been identifying ‘star objects’ to be researched for an upcoming travelling exhibition Fake News in the Age of the Horse.

All volunteers need to take part is a laptop, so when social distancing began the museum started to get more requests from people wanting to take part.

Over 40 people reached out about getting involved, in addition to over 200 who have already taken part.

Volunteer Elza Zeneli explains: “During such a difficult time I thought that volunteering to help people in a small way would be the best use of my time, especially giving back to my community. I am very proud to given an opportunity to represent my voice within this exciting project that focuses on making history and culture accessible to all particularly to those who are more vulnerable/in rural areas. It’s a truly inspiring project to be a part of.”

Search for the Stars has been running since the end of 2017 and recently hit the 14,000 record mark thanks to the efforts of volunteers both onsite and remotely, across the country and worldwide with volunteers taking part in countries such as Australia, the USA and Canada.

Jin Lu, another volunteer, said: ‘I’m volunteering because this is a great opportunity to convert any anxiety or uncertainty into satisfaction and fulfilment. You don’t need to go out but you are still making contributions and developing yourself.”

The project is headed up by museum curator Kate Knowlden who has been tirelessly co-ordinating the work being done.

If during isolation and staying indoors you have had a clear out and don’t know what to do with your leftover foreign coins and notes, broken or unwanted jewellery, sat navs, mobile phones, cameras and more, Stowmarket Parish Church would be very pleased to recycle them for you.

This saves them going into landfill and helps support the local community through the church.

When we are out and about again items can be left in the special collecting boxes in the church or the library.

Thank you.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of interest we’ve had in this project from people who have had to give up other volunteering roles or have been unable to work or continue their studying. It’s really moving to see how people are still so giving during such a difficult time, and it’s going to make a massive difference to the accessibility of our collection.”

Volunteers are given copies of object records which they then transfer into an online collections management system, each object is a fascinating look at a different part of East Anglian history.

Though the project is suited to adults and older teenagers, the museum has also developed a family resource to accompany the project. Be a Historian is available free to download from their website.

For more information visit: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome STOWMARKET BELLS UPDATE Please continue to check out progress on our website or Facebook page.

The removal of the original bells has been unavoidably postponed but the bell hanger will take them away for maintenance and tuning as soon as is practically possible.

The church clock is now out of use for a while but this is only a temporary measure.

We look forward to bringing you good news in due course. In the meantime, keep safe and well. www.stowmarketbells.org.uk / Facebook: Stowmarket Bells

EMERGENCY FUNDING POT AVAILABLE TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS Community groups and organisations can now apply for immediate grants of up to £2,500 as part of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ response to COVID-19.

Over £80,000 is being made available to both new and existing groups in Babergh and Mid Suffolk who are playing a key role in protecting vulnerable residents and helping our communities remain resilient during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Grants of up to £2,500 can be applied for to cover increased costs incurred by groups as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), including general running costs, ongoing staff costs, volunteer expenses, utility bills and the purchasing of food or other consumables. Larger requests for funding will be considered under exceptional circumstances.

The Emerging Needs Grant has a straightforward application process, enabling our councils to respond quickly to help ease the challenges our residents are facing during the crisis. Community officers will continue to work closely with district councillors, towns and parishes and community groups to ensure financial support is available and directed to meet needs as they emerge within communities.

Cllr Derek Davis, Cabinet Member for Communities for Babergh District Council said: “We recognise that it’s more important than ever before to provide support to our residents who are experiencing difficulties. In response to this we have simplified our grants process, to make financial help available quickly and easily for those who need it most.”

Cllr Julie Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing for Mid Suffolk District Council said: “I am delighted that groups and organisations are pulling together to relieve the financial hardship of residents, or to assist the vulnerable who are self-isolating at home. This grant scheme will allow for their hard work to continue, providing comfort at this uncertain time.”

The Babergh and Mid Suffolk Communities Team, bolstered by the redeployment of other council officers, are currently identifying groups and organisations that could benefit from this funding.

For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/taqacw7

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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Caring is at the heart of everything we do...

Together we respect, with compassion we care, through commitment we achieve

Barking Hall

Hillcroft House

Uvedale Hall

Part of the Healthcare Homes Group

Part of the Healthcare Homes Group

Part of the Healthcare Homes Group

Barking Hall, Barking, Near Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8HJ

Hillcroft House, Finborough Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1PW

Uvedale Hall, Coddenham Road, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8AX

Tel: 01449 720793

Tel: 01449 774633

Tel: 01449 722250

Specialising in general nursing, dementia and end of life care.

Specialising in dementia care.

Providing residential care.

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Barking Hall, Hillcroft House and Uvedale Hall have been rated Good in all areas by CQC (2019)

Good

open to the public 8

In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE AND CHARITY SHOP We apologise for having to cancel the Chocolate Bingo which I know so many were looking forward to. The Christmas version is already booked for November 21 so save the date!

I think it will come as no surprise to you all that I have had to cancel the summer visit for the group. There is a possibility of our bringing a smaller group in the autumn and/or December, however I do feel that we must take each day as it comes and just look to a time when we can return to what we have always thought of as ‘normal’, whatever that may be Whilst the charity shop remains closed and our presence in the community is at an extremely low level, I do hope that you will not forget us altogether and that we can regroup in the future. Please do not deposit donations outside the shop – there are notices giving numbers to call and where possible we will arrange collections. Not only do goods get ruined when left exposed to the weather, but there are residents at the rear of the shop and it makes access very difficult and unpleasant for them to negotiate

The second picture shows the young lady she is today, now 21 years old. She credits her success to the support she received from the charity.

The second set of photos shows Masha who came to us when she was seven years old. Without going into a lot of details, she had a very poor start in life, living in very bad conditions and first watching her mother, then her grandmother pass away right in front of her.

Please do keep in touch and if anyone is in need of anything, feel free to contact me. If we can help we will do our best to do so.

The president of Belarus is known to have said, “The Coronavirus will not be a problem (probably because he has not given permission for it to be so). Just drive it out by getting on your tractor and ploughing!”

The other piece of advice, which we obviously cannot condone, is, “take a drink of Vodka each day”.

Belarus possibly does not face the same problem as we do as although the country is the same size as the UK the total population is less than that of London City. People in the villages rarely see a stranger and tend to just go to work, come home and then repeat the cycle. We can just hope the children and families we support remain safe and healthy and, of course, our thoughts have also to be with the hundreds of children in the Cancer Hospitals throughout Belarus and hope that the virus does not reach them.

I recently put this on Facebook but in case you do not subscribe, this is the little girl who started it all for us in 2007. When she went home she kept saying the ‘knitted hat’ (under the charity hat in the photo) did not belong to her. It was only years later when she could speak English well did we find out that she hated the hat so much she had pretended it wasn’t hers so she didn’t have to take it home!

We had lost touch with her but then managed to find her as a teenager living in a hostel. We have kept in touch with her since then and are really pleased to be able to tell you she now has everything she wished for in life – a family of her own. She is married to a very kind and caring young man and has two beautiful children.

These are just two of our success stories and these plus many others have only been achievable with the support of you all. Thank you are just two little words but with such a big meaning!

Stay home stay well and stay safe. Best wishes to all.

Elizabeth Parker: 01449 760343 FB: @Ccllmidsuffolk

WOOLPIT STEAM 2020

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT TALKING NEWSPAPER

Due to the continuing Coronavirus outbreak the committee of Woolpit Steam has decided that this year’s event will be cancelled.

It is with reluctance that Newstalk has decided to stop sending out their talking newspaper for the foreseeable future.

We would like to thank everybody who was planning to support us this year and look forward to welcoming you all back on 5 and 6 June 2021.

The majority of our team are from the at risk category so are self-isolating by staying at home.

The 2019 event raised £17,200 which was distributed between local charities and community groups.

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB

We will resume as soon as possible.

ROTARY TO THE RESCUE The members of Stowmarket Rotary Club are keen to do their bit to help the community of Stowmarket in these difficult times. The Coronavirus has caused real hardship for many people, with loss of jobs and income, due to circumstances outside their control.

In accordance with the latest government guidance and for the health and safety of our members, speakers and judges, that there will be no meetings until further notice.

To help a little, Stowmarket Rotary Club is donating £500 to the Food Bank to help buying supplies.

We send our very best wishes to all our members, their family and friends.

The club is unable to organise any fundraising events during these lock down days, but we will use our funds, as far as they go, to alleviate hardship in the community.

For more information visit: www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

We are also donating £500 to The Salvation Army for them to use where most needed.

Stay safe and well!

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

STOWMARKET POPPY APPEAL SOCIAL AND AWARDS EVENING After the hard work of the main appeal in November, our volunteers look forward to our annual awards and social evening when we get together and reflect upon our success during a relaxing and enjoyable evening. This year was a big year for awards as many volunteers had clocked up five to forty years of service volunteering in various ways for the Poppy Appeal. It’s good to have an opportunity to share some of the highlights.

The awards were presented by Stowmarket Poppy Appeal Patron 2019/2020, the Town Mayor Councillor Paul Ekpenyong

Mick Robinson collected his fiveyear service award; Mick spends many hours collecting at B&M, at LIDL and counting following the appeal. As a sub-organiser Mick also helps distributing and collecting supplies to volunteers.

Rick Grant collected his 25-year award. Rick is a sub-organiser taking out and collecting tins and supplies to individuals and businesses. He collects at Combs Co-Op and Lidl and is part of the counting team.

Clive and Carole Penton collected their 20-year service awards. Carol and Clive collect at TESCO and support the counting team.

Frank Kelly with wife Carol both collected their 10-year service award.

Carol and Frank collect at ASDA, Lidl and Combs Co-Op.

Mr John King collects his 30-year service medal. John collects at LIDL.

The recipients of the Malcolm Ranson Award The late Malcolm Ranson was a big supporter of the Poppy Appeal for many years and did a lot of work helping and supporting the Poppy Appeal organiser and deputy, Viv and Rachel Oakley. This local award was set up in his memory and the third recipients of the award are Keith Cooper (middle) and Clive Penton. Keith and Clive mainly manage the collections at TESCO with support from RAFA and LIONS members. Over the past five years collections have gradually increased at TESCO to the extent that it now makes up one quarter of the town’s Poppy Appeal income. This award for exceptional service reflects their hard work.

10

Graham and Anne Jolly have collected house to house for 40 years. Here they are collecting their service awards.

Bridgit Sanderson collected her 40year service award. Bridgit spends many hours collecting at ASDA each year.

Mum and daughter, Shirley Martyn and Fiona Buchele. Shirley is our administrator, completing all the paperwork and licenses that the volunteers and businesses need and she also completes around 350 thank you cards after the appeal to let everyone know what they have collected.

Fiona is new to the Stowmarket team and is both a collector and part of the counting team. Shirley and Fiona also manage the additional admin and counting that happens during the rest of the year.

In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

Kelly Griffiths, caterer for the RBL Club, serves canapes during the evening. Kelly is also on board as one of our collectors.

Mother and daughter, Gladys Hatt and Carolyn Thompson who both collect at Combs Co-Op and are part of the counting team.

Liz Warren and her partner Bryan Birch. Liz collect at ASDA and both Liz and Bryan collect on the annual Poppy Pub tour.

1st Mid Suffolk Boys Brigade and Girls Association – Highly Commended in the 2019 Poppy Window Competition (presented on the evening)

Alison Holland receives 25-year award

Home Start Mid and West Suffolk – runners up of the 2019 Poppy Window Competition (presented on the evening)

#SaveLives

Specsavers – 2019 winner of the Poppy Window Competition

British Heart Foundation – 3rd Place 2019 Poppy Window Competition

After the event, some further awards were presented with the help of the Town Mayor, Councillor Paul Ekpenyong. Alison Holland retired from collecting due to ill health following 25 years’ service and the Mayor and the Poppy Appeal Organiser visited Alison at home to present the award.

Additionally, the Stowmarket Poppy Appeal window competition continues to be well supported by our business stakeholders.

This year Specsavers won with runners-up Home Start Mid & West Suffolk; third were British Heart Foundation and highly commended went to 1st Mid-Suffolk Boys Brigade and Girls Association for their poppy window at Stowmarket Library.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

TRINITY HALL, ONEHOUSE

UPDATE FROM THE REGAL

Good news for the villages of Onehouse, Harleston and Shelland and the people of Stowmarket. Thanks to substantial grants received from Viridor Credits and from The National Lottery Community Fund, work has recently started on building a new toilet block at the Trinity Hall, Onehouse.

Once The Regal closed for the refurbishment/expansion project on 23 February we began work on the launch of Regal on the Road at the John Peel Centre. We were very excited to be opening with the new James Bond film No Time to Die on 2 April, but on 4 March Universal Pictures moved the release date to 12 November, citing ‘a challenging global theatrical market place’. We replaced it with Trolls: World Tour and Military Wives, but seeing the news that was coming from China and Italy at the time, we were beginning to realise that our 2 April launch date was very unlikely. On 12 March we decided that we should postpone opening at the John Peel Centre and a week later Boris Johnson announced that all cinemas would close to combat COVID-19.

The work now underway is Phase One of a refurbishment plan to upgrade this much used local facility making it fit-for-purpose for years to come.

The Trinity Hall, owned by the church, is a small building situated in Onehouse, a village on the western outskirts of Stowmarket. Many groups from Onehouse, Harleston and Shelland and beyond regularly use the hall, covering differing interests, from a weekly Community Coffee Morning run by the local Good Neighbours Scheme, to a weekly dog training class and lots more in between.

After several years of planning for a major refurbishment of the hall and efforts to obtain grants, the situation became critical during the winter of 2018/19 when the ceiling of the somewhat old toilet block was seriously damaged and threatened closure of the hall. Thankfully, emergency self-help provided temporary repairs enabling the hall to stay open. Necessity meant that the project now needed to be tackled urgently as a phased project, beginning with a new toilet block.

Work on The Regal site continued until 27 March, but has now paused ready to commence once it’s safe to do so. The Mayor of Stowmarket Paul Ekpenyong is pictured at the official handover of the site to Mixbrow Construction.

We hope we are soon able to welcome you to Regal on the Road at the JPC, but in the meantime, please keep safe and visit our Facebook page for a daily ‘TV Movie of the Day’ recommendation.

A period of fundraising, the application and receipt of various small grants then culminated in substantial funding of £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund and then £25,000 from Viridor Credits.

Sadly, at this time the Coronavirus crisis has brought all building work and use of the hall to a halt, but it will recommence as soon as the situation allows and it is safe to do so. Whilst building work is on hold the Trinity Hall Refurbishment Committee continue with plans and fundraising to rapidly move onto Phase Two of the project, the replacement of the hall floor.

The Trinity Hall might be closed and building work stopped, but the activities held in this small hall are vital for many local people with friendships and social contact essential to their wellbeing. During the Coronavirus isolation the organisers of events such as the weekly coffee morning use their lists of members to maintain contact regularly by phone, email and all available means, checking their needs, their health and wellbeing and encouraging them in turn to maintain the friendships that they have built up by keeping in contact with each other by phone, email or by social media.

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have changed the way everybody is working, including the Chamber. This means that for the foreseeable future we will be holding virtual networking meetings via Zoom.

So you’ll have to provide your own refreshments on Friday 1 May from 10am to noon, and for breakfast on Friday 15 May, starting at 9am.

But we would love to see you!

We are also sending out weekly e-newsletters with tips, advice and the latest information for businesses.

To sign up for newsletters and receive all the latest info and booking links go to https://stowmarketchamber.co.uk and fill in the form at the foot of the homepage.

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS WOOLPIT AND DISTRICT MUSEUM As the museum is closed at the moment and we are unable to welcome visitors to see our displays, we thought we would give a ‘taster’ via In Touch of some of the things you will be able to see once we are able to reopen.

#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.

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 photograph, originally a postcard, is of the village centre looking across towards the church. The Woolpit Institute is the building on the corner with two men standing outside and next to it is the cottage which now houses the museum and Teacups.

We know the photograph was taken before 1920 as the cottage is faced with Woolpit white bricks and these were removed in 1920 when it was incorporated into the Institute and dedicated to the 25 Woolpit men who gave their lives in the First World War. The upstairs windows were reconfigured at the same time.

The Post Office is shown next to the cottage and stayed in this location probably until the early 1930s. It then moved next to Addison’s and is now ‘The Old Post Office’.

NETTLE LIFE AT ORCHARD BARN Springtime young nettles are the best! Yes, when it comes to using nature to enhance our health and enjoying some delicious taste, there’s nothing better than nettle soup. Just pick the tips of the nettles and add stock/vegetables and simmer until all are tender; anything goes. Drinking nettle tea is another fabulous way to partake – recommended max of four cups per day. Just steep the leaves in hot water, drain and drink. What other ways might you think to use nettles?

At Orchard Barn we have lots of nettles and if they don’t end up in our soups or tea, they certainly help nourish our compost heaps. Sarah makes nettle liquid feed for the plants at OBee by steeping nettles in rainwater for thelonger-the-better, then draining the content to produce the liquid.

Urtica Dioica (stinging nettles) literally means ‘to burn’, and haven’t we all been stung by a nettle at some point? To which we grab a nearby dock leaf and rub like mad over the sting. Once cooked, however, they are safe to devour.

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.

What do nettles offer? They contain nutrients for a start – A, B, C and K. They contain minerals – calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and sodium. And they contain fats, amino acids, polyphenols, and pigments like beta-carotene and carotenoids.

So, what are the benefits of these fiery plants? They may treat hay fever, may lower blood pressure by shedding excess salt, may aide blood sugar control, may protect your liver against toxins, and they may support wound/burn healing by applying a nettle cream (note I say ‘may’).

You do need to look out for potential side effects which come from handling nettles. You could inject yourself with histamine, serotonin or formic acid from the ‘hair’ of the nettle. These can cause rashes, hives or itchiness.

(NB: pregnant women should avoid eating nettles as they may stimulate contractions.)

Always speak with your doctor if you are on medication before partaking of nettle glory. Of course any ideas in this article on the benefits of nettles are taken at your own risk!

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

BUSINESSES URGED TO ACCESS FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE Businesses in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are being urged to find out what financial support is available to them as well as seeking advice and guidance in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

More information about the range of business support available can be found on the Coronavirus Business Advice website: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-advice

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the government has announced a package of measures to help small and large businesses as well as the selfemployed who have been impacted by COVID-19.

For businesses looking for opportunities to innovate within their business, the government has outlined the support and grants available to help businesses grow, strengthen leadership and talent and adopt new technologies. Find out more on the Wider Business Support website: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/wider-business-support-from-government

The full range of financial packages and support measures can be found on the government’s business support website which includes FAQs and links to wider business support. There are also specialist funding opportunities available for organisations and individuals including from the Arts Council and Sport England.

Coronavirus Financial Support Both large and small businesses and the self-employed can access a range of support measures to help them through these unprecedented times caused

by COVID-19. These schemes include: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Business Rate Holiday for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Small Business Grant Funding Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Support for Businesses Paying Tax COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility Business Rates Holiday for Nurseries VAT Deferral Deferral of Self-Assessment Payment

More information about who is eligible, how to apply and when the support schemes are open for applications is available at: www.businesssupport.gov. uk/coronavirus-business-support Business Advice and FAQs The government has created a series of FAQs for businesses impacted by COVID-19. These are broken down into three main areas: • General Business Issues • Business Closures and Stay at Home Guidance • Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) There is also information on how to access support including: • • • • •

Business Support Helpline HMRC Helpline Find a Job service New Technology Challenge – funding available Directory of Business Representative Organisations

In Babergh and Mid Suffolk, there is help and guidance available from trained advisers at the New Anglia Growth Hub: www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

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Small Business Grant Funding This week many small business owners will be receiving letters from Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils about how to access the COVID-19 Business Grant Fund.

This is a cash grant of either £10,000 or £25,000 for businesses who are eligible for Small Business Rate Relief as well as businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Eligible businesses will be asked to submit their details through an online form for the grant to be processed. More information can be found on our COVID-19 Business Grant Fund webpage: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/business/business-rates/grant-funding-schemes Arts Council: Emergency Response Package The Arts Council is making £160m of funding available for both organisations and individuals during the coronavirus crisis. This is available to organisations who already receive Arts Council funding as well as those who are outside the regular funding streams. Freelancers and individuals can also apply for financial support. More information is available on the Arts Council website: www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19 Sport England: COVID-19 funding To help Sport England’s partners, clubs and community organisations cope with the short and long-term impact of the pandemic, an emergency fund of £195m has been made available to help organisations get through the crisis as well as for the recovery of sport and physical activity in the longer term.

More information is available on the Sport England website: www.sportengland.org/news/195-million-package-help-sport-and-physicalactivity-through-coronavirus Cllr Michael Holt, Babergh District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said: “These are incredibly difficult times for many businesses, and we urge large and small business owners as well as the self-employed to investigate and apply for the financial support available to them in order to see them through this challenging time caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Cllr Gerard Brewster, Mid Suffolk Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said: “There is a host of support and guidance available for all businesses and I would ask businesses to seek advice either from general business specialists such as the New Anglia Growth Hub, but also their own professional bodies who may have specific advice for these unprecedented times.”

For more information about Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ response to COVID-19, please visit: www.babergh.gov.uk or www.midsuffolk.gov.uk

In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT Branch News We hope and trust that you are all well. The committee members fully understand that these are worrying times and we will do all we can to assist where we can. To begin with the club itself is closed and all meetings (club, branch and associations) have been cancelled until further notice.

In addition to this, all activities are cancelled until further notice.

Please protect yourself against fraudsters. Never give out personal details. The members who are able and willing to assist will be more than happy to identify themselves if you request assistance by presenting their RBL membership card along with another document containing a photo (driving licence for example) and we would expect you to ask for this, at least when first meeting us (from a distance of course).

We will keep you informed of updates as and when we receive them via our website and on our Facebook page: www.branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/stowmarket

STOWMARKET POPPY APPEAL The unprecedented situation we find ourselves in means that our year-round fundraising efforts are currently paused or cancelled, including our plans for VE Day.

Stowmarket Town Council are also providing coordinated support via their website: https://stowmarkettowncouncil.gov.uk Some updates from County: • Welfare: All BCS hospital and housebound visits have stopped.

• If you find yourself in need of support and are eligible for Legion help, please call the contact centre on 0808 802 8080.

• National Conference has been cancelled in its current form.

• Member HQ has created an email address so members can contact the department if they have any queries about COVID-19 in relation to membership activity (all the staff are now working remotely from home): memberQs@Britishlegion.org.uk Additionally, membership cards are now being printed once a week and cheques are being banked every two weeks. Please be patient.

• Haig House and area offices have now been closed with staff working from home where possible. No post will be collected while the offices remain closed. This may result in a delay in reply to enquiries sent to head office and regional staff.

If you are self-isolating there are a number of RBL members who are willing and able to assist as follows: If you are self-isolating or just need a hand with something due to COVID-19 we may be able to assist with shopping, posting mail, a friendly phone call, urgent supplies or other tasks. Please contact the branch secretary, Steve Runciman at stowmarket.secretary@rbl.community or 07860 120695 and he will direct you to one of the volunteers who will do everything they can to assist you.

The good news is that the Poppy Appeal nationally has so far raised £43.3 million since 1 October 2019. Of that total, Stowmarket district has contributed £36,692.97. Thank you to all volunteers and stakeholders for their hard work and dedication and to all contributors for their generosity.

Now our focus is on the evolving situation with COVID-19 and supporting the national effort by following government guidelines in fighting this new invisible enemy. Alongside the crucial front-line NHS workforce, the military are there and their efforts are plain to see in the Nightingale field hospitals constructed at lightening pace around the UK and in the delivery of critical supplies.

We hope that the Poppy Appeal will take place as usual later in the year and we will be ready to continue our crucial work in supporting our dedicated serving and ex-serving personnel.

In the meantime, please stay safe and well.

Rachel Oakley, PAO Stowmarket, EJD59 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOMEN’S SECTION (STOWMARKET) In line with government restrictions, all meetings have been postponed until further notice. The mystery outing has been postponed until a new date can be made. We have a system where we can contact members via the phone. We wish all our members to remain well, safe and healthy.

If you have any questions please contact the chair, Sue Priest: slmpriest@talktalk.net / 07709 287816

PRIVACY AND THE TATE VIEWING GALLERY You might recall from a year or so ago, a case was brought by some people who own luxury flats near to the Tate Gallery in London.

In this case, the owners of the flats applied to the court for an injunction to stop members of the public looking directly into their flats from a viewing gallery which had been constructed at the Tate Gallery. (An injunction is a court order which stops one person from doing something.)

The claim here was that because members of the public using the viewing gallery were able to see into the adjoining flats, this constituted either a nuisance or this somehow infringed their rights to privacy under the Human Rights Act 1998. (A ‘nuisance’ is a legal term, where some harm has been caused by one person to another, as a result of the use of a property in some way.)

When this case first came to court last year, it was dismissed, and following an appeal by the owners to a higher court – the Court of Appeal – it has been rejected again.

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The Court of Appeal said that the owners of the flats should take remedial steps themselves – as “expected of owners in this context”.

This would include practical things such as installing blinds, privacy film, net curtains and that sort of thing.

The Court of Appeal was not prepared to extend the law to protect privacy rights from overlooking. It said that mere overlooking should not enable an owner to bring a case to court. The Court of Appeal observed that “even in modern times the law doesn’t always provide a remedy for every annoyance to a neighbour, however considerable that annoyance may be”.

Buttermarket, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1ED Telephone: 01449 613101 • Fax: 01449 615087 Email: info@gudgeons-prentice.co.uk

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

FANTASTIC FIRST AID

NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB

Currently only seven percent of the UK population has the skills and confidence to carry-out basic first aid in an emergency (Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation). For this reason, staff at Cedars Park Primary School organised a first aid theme to celebrate Science Week this year, full of interactive activities and drawing on the skills of several community visitors.

Because of Coronavirus this is not the article I thought I would be writing.

As most of you are aware, the indoor season at the Meadlands was cut short and the Stowmarket League have cancelled all league and cup matches. If you have paid your 2020 membership fee the options are to apply for a refund or take them forward for 2021.

Years 1 and 2 identified dangers in different contexts. They acted out different scenarios and practised spotting the risks. They had the opportunity to practise making emergency calls to help someone in trouble. Ms Mayhew, a cardiac nurse, and John, a first aider from a local business, talked to the children about their roles and the children asked them lots of interesting questions.

The green is looking really good and the new grass is growing nicely round the raised edges. It is being cut weekly to its winter length and will be ready for bowling when we are given the official all clear and the green team have completed all the preparation work which is being delayed by the virus.

A newsletter will be circulated when the green is ready for rollups.

Year 3 was visited by a local doctor. She explained how to treat bites and stings. Pupils used this information to write an explanation about what to do if you are stung.

In the meantime the message to all our bowlers and to the bowlers at all the clubs is STAY SAFE and we will see you sometime this summer.

Reading, topic and science lessons in Year 4 were all focused on the theme of asthma. Children learnt about the structure of the lungs and made working models of them using paper bags and straws. Karyn McBride, an asthma specialist from Stowhealth, brought training inhalers to teach about the treatment of asthma symptoms and children analysed live graphs detailing oxygen levels and pulse rate.

Do you know how to stop a bleed? Year 5 do. They made fake blood and learnt how react to someone who is bleeding or in shock before help arrives.

A local district nurse explained her role working within the community and pupils took part in role plays to treat nose-bleeds, cuts and symptoms of shock.

Choking was the theme for Year 6. Mr Ash Bullman from the Aiker Group ran workshops for the children about what to do if they were faced with someone who was choking. They also learnt about the importance of ‘ABC’ (airway, breathing and circulation) to help remember how to spot the vital signs in an emergency.

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When we are given official permission to resume bowling we hope there will be time to run the club competitions, triples, pairs and singles and hopefully arrange friendlies against other clubs. We would also like to arrange as many social events as possible in whatever timeframe we are given.

To any of our bowlers who want to stay in touch with fellow members, there is now a NMBC WhatsApp group. Phone Alistair Bailie for details.

Anyone wishing to discuss any aspect of NMBC can contact either Alistair Bailie on 01449 720759 or Pat Hadden on 01473 831308.

STOWUPLAND BOWLS CLUB As with the majority of sporting events, we are sad to report that bowling has understandably been included and all League and Cup games have been cancelled over the entire summer season.

Of course the person we all feel for most is Nick, our greenkeeper, who worked tirelessly throughout the close season to produce a beautiful playing surface. He and his loyal band of helpers will continue to maintain the green at a somewhat lower level to ensure it’s in good order, especially if we find we are able to hold a few rollup sessions in due course.

In the meantime, our bowlers will find something to pass the time. Clearing that long list of things to do at home, supporting any friends/neighbours with shopping and so on.

Our members join me in wishing all followers of In Touch a safe and trouble free summer.

David Begg

In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

THE SALVATION ARMY Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket IP14 1NE Although the building is currently closed for all weekday and weekend activities, The Salvation Army is still here for you. If you need any kind of help or support, please contact us on 01449 614133.

You are welcome to our online Sunday Service at 11am. Find us on YouTube: Stowmarket Salvation Army From Major James Lloyd: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers” Psalm 1:1 (NIV) I remember a time in my life when my faith was really shaken. A school friend passed away when I was 14 and it felt like my world was crashing down around me. I began to question God and wonder if everything the Bible taught was ev true.

It’s easy when something big and bad happens in your life to begin to question your faith. For most of us, COVID-19 has been one of those times in our lives. It’s big and it’s bad and it might be causing you to question your faith.

NO NEWS FROM THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Yes, you correctly read my headline and it certainly feels very strange not being able to invite you to see what’s on at the URC. As with all places of worship, we are following the government’s guidelines and only being open on Sundays for individual prayer.

All our normal activities have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

However, as a congregation we will still try and help whenever possible.

Our church secretary, Miss Anne Scarff, is able to deal with pastoral concerns while we await the arrival of our new minister. She can be contacted at: 01449 774792 The church office telephone and email will be monitored on a regular basis for all other enquiries: 01449 675045 / stowmarketurc@btconnect.com I finish with words written by the Rev’d Richard Edwards based on Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

We are all entering a new and uncertain era in which many of the things we have taken for granted are being suddenly changed and the lives of all of us are affected. Because of health worries some are self-isolating, others are having their plans for this year totally disrupted, many have real financial concerns as jobs are cut and all of us face an uncertain future.

The first followers of Jesus faced the collapse of their familiar world when their beloved Lord and Master was arrested and crucified. The conversation of two followers of Jesus with a stranger on the Emmaus Road makes that very clear. Their hope that Jesus might be the one to redeem Israel seemed dashed and the remaining apostles of Jesus were meeting together behind closed doors in fear they too might be arrested. Yet suddenly all was changed as the risen Jesus appeared to them. Desolation and despair turned to joy and life took on a new meaning.

Each of us is uncertain what the remainder of this year will hold for us but I hope we will regularly pray for one another and keep in touch by telephone and in other ways, sharing any news of those in special need. We need to pray for wisdom for our leaders in church and state as they have to make day to day decisions.

Here’s the truth. Bad things will happen. COVID-19 is no exception. But where do you turn when bad things come your way?

If you want to be blessed and content in life, like today’s verse describes, you’ve got to choose to follow God’s word. You can’t let what seems good, feels good or what other people say determine your contentment.

Instead, you’ve got to look to God to be your source of peace in these times.

If you’re going to stay steady in your faith, you’ve got to be so planted in your relationship with God that nothing sways you.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 So today, take a quick check. Have you allowed your circumstances to dictate your happiness? Have you allowed the voices of other people to become louder than God’s voice in your life? If so, determine to change.

Choose to follow after God. Let Him and His word be your contentment and peace.

CHRISTCHURCH, NEEDHAM MARKET Two words keep cropping up as I journey through these days of isolation. One is ‘structure’ and the other is ‘resourceful’. Let me explain…

Our Methodist minister, Rev Rita Carr, has been sending out a Sunday service to all members of our congregation both by email and by post. A huge task to undertake and we are very grateful for this while we are unable to meet together in church.

One of Rita’s accompanying emails explained how she tried to find a pattern for her day, rather like a timetable. She divided her day into three parts – one part for church related work, one for household jobs and one for herself, doing something she specifically enjoys. That seemed like an excellent idea because, with all this extra time many of us have now, it would be very easy to drift along and get nothing done. A structured day can help us achieve.

My daughter is home schooling her five year old son and insists that, on weekdays, they get up and dressed as they would on a school day and the day is divided into different aspects of school work with time for exercise and creative play. Snack time, playtime and lunch time are roughly how they would be on a school day. Tasks need to be completed before starting something else. They are both enjoying working and playing within this framework. Structure like this can help us to have a purposeful and enjoyable day.

I am learning to be resourceful. I’m not always able to get what I want when I shop for food so I have to adapt some of the meals I was going to cook. This has been quite an adventure and I have been surprised at some of my tasty inventions! It isn’t just with food either; we are learning to do a lot of things differently because of the unusual situation we are in.

Most of all it has been great to read about resourceful people and businesses who can adapt what they usually do in order to make masks and scrubs and even parts for breathing apparatus so much in demand by the NHS. Resourceful restaurant owners are changing to delivering meals to the vulnerable, nurseries are taking orders and delivering plants so that they don’t all go to waste… and so many more examples of people being resourceful, kind and helpful.

God bless us all and keep safe.

It should give us hope for the future to see so many good things coming out of a very frightening situation.

John Webb and all at the URC

SN

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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

Coronavirus in Suffolk Update

#Covid19Suffolk

For more information, visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus 18

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#SaveLives

SUFFOLK SCOUTS ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL MOOT FOR 2021

Suffolk Scouts have announced an exciting event taking place in Suffolk in August 2021. Their first Suffolk International Moot (SIM) is open to Scouts and Guides everywhere and will be taking place at Ipswich’s Trinity Park.

The theme of Go Higher, Faster, Further captures the essence of the event, which is to create opportunities for adventure, learning and gaining #skillsforlife, a fundamental principle of the Scouting movement.

Held over six days from August 26-31 2021, the event offers a range of exciting activities including many water activities on the beautiful River Deben. These include rafting, open canoes, kayaks and even stand-up paddleboards for the really adventurous. There will also be a range of vertigo inducing activities like abseiling, crate stacking and aerial runway.

Scouts and Guides attending can also choose from a number of creative activities including backwoods cooking, a craft tent and whittling. There will also be activities covering self-awareness and community, and a range of social activities to do during the evenings. A full list of activities can be found on the SIM website: www.suffolkmoot.com

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County Commissioner Mark Pearson commented: “We are delighted to announce our very first Suffolk International Moot (SIM). SIM will bring together up to 2,000 Scouts and Guides from all over the UK and the world to take part in our widest range of activities yet. Whilst this is our first international event, Suffolk Scouts have delivered a number of successful Moots in past years helped along by an army of volunteers providing support to our Scouts and Guides. We will also be holding a cub day for younger members. At the moment we have a number of vacancies for volunteers with details on our SIM website.”

Booking for the event has now opened with an early bird offer available.

Mark commented further: “In these uncertain times I think it’s important to have something to look forward to. SIM represents incredible value for money and this is a great opportunity for all those keen to get something in the diary for summer 2021 by taking advantage of these early offers.”

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#LoveNHS #ColourForOurCarers @milliemarotta 20

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LOVE NHS INITIATIVE FROM BESTSELLING UNLIMITED TITLES AVAILABLE FOR ILLUSTRATOR MILLIE MAROTTA 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.

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.

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

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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

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/stowmarket

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

24 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:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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

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

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.

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

RADIO TIMES

A short story by Derek Curry “Fantastic,” Ginger said, staring enviously at my radio, “can I hold it?”

I held it tighter against my chest. “No you can’t,” I said, “you’ll only drop it, or move the dial and lose the station.”

“No I won’t,” he insisted. “Go on, I just want a closer look. Is it brand new?”

“Of course it’s new.” I sighed and handed my beloved radio over as if it were a precious jewel - which of course it was, to me.

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.

Ginger slipped it into his shirt pocket, trying it for size. “So how do you turn it on then?” he asked, pulling it back out and fiddling with the dial.

“That’s it,” I said furiously, “now you’ve lost the station.” I snatched it back. “It took me nearly two months to save up for it and you treat it like a toy! It’s a Dansette RT66 for goodness sake, not some Hong Kong rubbish.”

We glared at each other but I couldn’t stay angry with Ginger for long. We’d been friends since our secondary school days and now, in 1962, we were teenagers and, at sixteen, we’d been holding down jobs for nearly a year.

“Look,” I said, “this is the on/off switch and volume, and this,” I turned the larger dial carefully until a voice sounded from the little speaker, “is where you tune it in.”

But something wasn’t quite right. It was only four o’clock and Alan Freeman should have been introducing Pick of the Pops after Movie Go-Round had ended, like on every Sunday. I was looking forward to listening to Ray Charles singing I Can’t Stop Loving You again.

What was coming out of the radio was some sort of news, which shouldn’t have been on until ten thirty. And the news didn’t sound right either; it was normally read by some posh man, but the voice was a woman’s and she didn’t sound particularly posh, just sort of normal.

Ginger and I glanced at each other in puzzlement and concentrated on what was being said: “Here is a summary of the news on Sunday June the 14th 2020. The Health Secretary announced earlier today that there would be a further easing of the self-isolating restrictions next week. In his statement he thanked the public for following government guidelines and staying at least two metres from other people for the last several weeks, saying that the self-discipline exhibited by U.K. citizens was what was defeating Covid-19, but that the discipline must continue.

“With the end of panic buying, retail outlets are now able to open at preCoronavirus times, with the usual restrictions on supermarkets’ Sunday opening. It is anticipated that there will continue to be a high demand for ‘click and collect’ in the future.

“The government expects continuing flare ups of the epidemic in some regions of the U.K., but the Health Secretary has assured the public that the NHS is ready and able to cope with any further emergencies while work on a vaccine continues.”

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 radio reception was fading so I turned the Dansette in various directions to try to improve it. As the volume dropped I turned it up and made tiny changes to the tuning but eventually the woman’s voice evaporated completely into the rushing sound of static.

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.

“I dunno,” I said. “Perhaps it was some sort of radio play. Anyway, it didn’t make any sense. What’s ‘self-isolating’ and who is Covid-19 when he’s at home? Perhaps it’s science fiction like in The Eagle or a Captain Marvel film.”

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.

“Nah,” Ginger said, “I reckon there’s something wrong with that cheap old radio you bought.”

www.chaps.uk.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

One more small adjustment and suddenly there was Alan Freeman introducing Pick of the Pops.

“What was that all about?” Ginger demanded.

I punched him playfully on the arm. “Jealously will get you no-where,” I said.

“Come on, never mind Coronavirus, let’s go and see if my mum’s got any Corona Dandelion and Burdock pop in the cupboard.”

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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

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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

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.

“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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Long Service Award: Sponsored by Ashtons Legal Drena Black, Waveney Domestic Violence & Abuse Forum

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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

BRAIN TEASERS FOR CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) RIDDLES It’s time to get your thinking caps on. You’ll find the answers on page 41 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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

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 technologydriven, 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

In Touch online:

#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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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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 38

@keepmovingsuffolk

@Most_Active In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

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/stowmarket

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In Touch online:

#StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS

#SaveLives

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 35 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’

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

41

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42

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To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

43

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