January 2014 - Your Local Ratby, Kirby Muxloe & Leicester Forest East

yourLOCAL 6200 delivered FREE to homes and businesses in Ratby, Kirby Muxloe & L.F.E.

Interesting ideas for your conser vatory...

With escalating heating costs in the winter and with glass/polycarbonate roofs acting as green houses during the summer, is it time to re evaluate your conservatory in line with modern requirements.

January 2014

The Kirby Muxloe Players Now that all the festivities are over and the weather seems to be nothing but wind and rain, are the children grumbling that there’s nothing to look forward to, nothing to do and nowhere to go? Take heart! There’s always the Kirby Players pantomime! We have been painting sets, checking the lights. King Rat has been brushing his whiskers, Fairy Bowbell waving her wand and someone has been checking whether the streets of London are paved with gold. Have you guessed it yet? Oh no you haven’t! But, of course you have the Kirby Players are getting ready for their performance of ‘Dick Whittington’ which will open on Sunday 26th January matinee only at 14.00 and Tuesday 28th January – Saturday (inc matinee) 1st February at the Kirby Muxloe Village Hall Station Road.

Charnwood conservatories specialise in the remodelling of existing conservatories. We start by removing the existing roof covering and running in new structural elements to the roof where necessary. proof & breathable membrane to eliminate condensation, and insulate the roof with Kingspan rigid foam between the rafters and Super Tri-Iso multi foil below, to give an over all heat loss compliant with the high levels required by current building regulations. ight

We look forward to seeing you there, ready to follow the adventures of Dick as he seeks his fame and fortune, sets sail to Morocco, survives a shipwreck to of course, live happily ever after!

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In the meantime the Kirby Players wish you all a Happy New Year.

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Decorating your home gives personality to your individual tastes and good lighting is essential in this.

We can help you to design and install lighting to suit your desires, with the amazing effects that modern LED technology can create, or the concealed contemporary and beautiful lighting can create the atmosphere you’ve always enjoyed in your most peaceful of rooms.

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BT Sport has launched a search for youth sports TV presenting talent, unveiling its BT Sport Young FA Cup Presenter of the Year competition.

Live now on btsport.com, the competition will present the winner with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being part of BT Sport’s live FA Cup Final TV coverage on May 17. On FA Cup Final day from London’s Wembley stadium, the winner will film a segment for BT Sport’s broadcast of that match alongside BT Sport’s lead football anchor Jake Humphrey. Continued on page 4

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County Councillors Report

your LOCAL Articles, News & Advertising:

Ratby and Groby Division County Councillor Ozzy O’Shea

Tel 0116 2394 336 or 07808 585 825 - Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Open Box Promotions 42 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe Leicester, LE9 2HQ Contact Sarah on

0800 6446 150 Email articles, news & Ads to: info@localsonline.co.uk Visit the website at www.localsonline.co.uk 6,200 copies distributed to homes and businesses in Ratby, Kirby Muxloe and L.F.E. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press - 01530 262020 info@norwoodpress.co.uk www.norwoodpress.co.uk Your Local is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities.

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Your Local Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies.

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NEXT ISSUE OUT Monday 10th February 2014 Advert Deadline: 3rd February

Parking on grass Verges and Green Open Spaces and Pavements.

I have received numerous complaints from residents regarding people parking on grass verges and on our green open spaces. I would urge drivers not to do this especially at this time of the year when the grass is saturated. By parking vehicles in this manner the wheels churn up the grass and leave it a muddy unsightly mess. The County Council does not have the resources to repair the damage to grass verges and Green open spaces caused by vehicles parking in this manner. Remember that green open spaces and grass verges were placed there to be just that not car parks and I would ask residents politely not to park on them.

I also receive regular complaints of vehicles parking on the Footpaths, please remember Footpaths are provided for pedestrians and not motor vehicles.

The police will take firm action on vehicles obstructing the pavement if mothers with pushchairs and disabled scooters cannot get by.

Damage to Property and ASB. Over the past few weeks I have been made aware of various incidents where residents have been targeted with anti social behaviour. Damage has also been caused to litter bins and fences in the village. Someone thought it great to overturn two of the grit bins I helped the Parish Council obtain this

year. All of the incidents that have been brought to my attention I have reported to the police. I am awaiting feedback from the police on how these enquiries are progressing, as I have given them some positive leads. I would urge all residents no matter how trivial they think it may be to report damage and anti social behaviour to the police and that goes for all crimes. Please call the police on 101 remember if you don’t report it the police have no idea it’s going on. If incidents are reported the police can put extra resources into Ratby to stop it which I will request.

A50/A46 Traffic Island, Groby.

The work is now complete and the traffic signals appear to be working in the correct sequence to their credit the County Council had the work completed for the Christmas holidays ahead of time. I hope it improves people’s journeys using that route.

I would like to thank you all for your continued support and to remind you that I am only a phone call or email away.

I would like to end by wishing you all a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Ozzy O’shea.

Markfield Library Book & DVD Sale!

Head over to Markfield library and bag yourself a bargain!

Our sale includes both adult and children’s stock and will be held from Saturday 8th February – Friday 28th February. Stock up your book shelves with popular authors and recent best sellers and check out ourex-rental DVDs and talking books too.

All items are very reasonably priced - don’t miss our bargain book sale! For more information call the library on: 0116 3053642.

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Continued from front page He or she will also get to bring their family or friends to the big occasion and watch the match courtesy of BT Sport. Runners-up prizes include FA Cup semifinal tickets and football shirts signed by the BT Sport presenting team.

To enter, contestants - open to UK residents aged 13 to 16 years old - simply need to shoot and record an original, one minute, single-camera-shot of themselves presenting a news report around the 2013/14 FA Cup. Entries can be shot using a smartphone or professional camera but cannot include additional footage, interviews, music or graphics and should feature only the individual entering the competition.

Ratby Village Society Our meetings are held in the village hall, Main Street, Ratby at 8pm on the third Tuesday of each month except July, August and December when there are no meetings.

Admission: members £1.60, casual guests £2.50 including refreshments. Non-members are very welcome.

Tuesday 18th February –

AGM and supper celebrating our 40th anniversary.

Contestants then simply need to upload the video to their a YouTube or Vimeo account and send the URL to BT Sport as part of the entry form submission on the BT Sport website.

Tuesday 18th March –

‘Egyptology’ , the architecture and mythology together with exhibits. A talk by Susan Tebby.

Humphrey, who will help identify the winner as a judge, said: “BT Sport is thoroughly enjoying covering the FA Cup, the world’s oldest and greatest domestic football competition. We want to celebrate the tournament by unearthing future talent and great stories, by giving youth an opportunity to join in with BT Sport. This could be a great moment for one lucky girl or boy - I cannot wait to view the entries and present with that winner on FA Cup Final day.”

Tuesday 15th April –

‘Technology of the English country house’.

A talk by Wendy Freer.

Grant Best, BT Sport’s senior executive channel producer, who will judge entries alongside Jake and the BT Sport team, added: “Watch the FA Cup with us on BT Sport and send us your entry based on the stories and dramas that this year’s FA Cup competition will present. We’re looking for bright, engaging and captivating young talent as we celebrate the magic of the FA Cup this season.

Pay close attention to all of the terms and conditions on the btsport.com website to make sure you are available on certain dates. You will also need your parent or guardian’s permission to enter, and, you might need a Child Performance Licence from your local council to take up the prize, so do plenty of research!”

Entries remain open until midnight on 17 February, after which a final four shortlist will be drawn up and those shortlisted contacted on 20 February before 5pm. The final four will then attend a special judging morning at BT Sport’s state-of-the-art studios at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 3 April, where they will receive top tips on TV presenting from Jake and the BT Sport team, before recording a non-live, short piece to camera on the BT Sport TV set. The competition is open to UK residents aged 13 to 16 years old who have parental/guardian permission to enter, with full terms and conditions available at btsport.com/youngpresenter.

The ‘Great outdoors’ Saturday 12th April 10am – 4pm at Ratby Sports Ground, Desford Lane, Ratby. LE6 0LE. Free Parking.

A gathering of clubs, groups and local businesses involved in outdoor pursuits and activities. Watch the displays/ demonstrations taking place and perhaps discover a new interest or challenge in life. Visit ratbyvillage@aol.com Two local charities – LOROS and the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Leicester benefit from monies raised at the event.

Do you know an inspiring youngster?

The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award for Young People 2014 aims to identify, celebrate and reward the very best examples of achievement by young people in Leicester and Leicestershire.

The award is open to 13 to 19 year olds, and individuals can be nominated by other young people, their school, parent/carer, or any other agency or individual.

Five categories are available: • • • • •

Young Braveheart; Young Volunteer; Young Voice; Young Most Improved Sports Player; and Young Artist.

The closing date for the 2014 awards is 31 January 2014.

To find out more about the awards and to nominate a young person please visit www.leics.gov.uk/llawards

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yourLCOAL, Bringing Local Businesses and Local People Together

NEWTOWN LINFORD Council Clears Over 170 Tonnes of Leaves!

CHORAL SOCIETY A Choral Collection at St Philip and St James Church, Ratby Tickets are now available for the Choral Society’s winter concert, which will be held in St Philip and St James Church, Ratby, at 8pm on Friday 31st January and Saturday 1st February, 2014, The Concert will feature great choral music from the past three hundred years. The eighteenth century will be represented by Antonio Vivaldi’s well known work the ‘Gloria’, and the nineteenth century by the Mass in Bb composed by Johann Hummel. The programme also includes a two pieces composed in the twenty first century. The first of these is Will Todd’s ‘The Call of Wisdom’ which was sung at the Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service and the other is John Rutter’s ‘Carol of the Magi’ The Choir will be accompanied by an orchestra, and Beth Williams will be the guest soprano soloist.

Tickets are priced at £10, and are available from Newtown Linford Village Stores, Ratby Post Office, Peter Sayer 01530 243822, and any member of the Choir.

Iris Sayer

Fun but healthy way to start 2014!

THOSE looking for a fun way to make a healthy start to 2014 in The Blaby District could try a new sport that is quickly growing in popularity.

In its 5th Birthday Year, the Enderby Dodgeball Club are on the look out for both new male and female players for 2014.

A REMARKABLE 174 tonnes of autumn leaves have been removed from Hinckley & Bosworth’s roads and footpaths since October by the Borough Council’s mechanical sweeping team.

This statistic, which is the equivalent in weight to 35 fully grown elephants, is even more remarkable considering the council has only two full time mechanical sweepers in operation. The council’s Clean Neighbourhoods Officer, Luke Clements, said: “The removal of leaves is a priority at this time of year to help prevent the risk of drain blockage. There is also a health and safety concern as wet and compacted leaves can be a skid or slip hazard to vehicles and pedestrians respectively.

“In addition, if the leaves remained on the ground, it would lead to a build-up of detritus at the kerbside, reducing the effectiveness of the kerb.”

Deputy Council Leader David Bill added: “Keeping the streets clean is one of the top priorities for any council and I have long thought that our team does this superbly. Their work is much appreciated.”

In the new year the mechanical sweepers will revert to their standard cycle where they aim to sweep every kerbside in the borough over a 12 week period.

Kirby Muxloe Local History Group The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group meets generally 6 times a year, and membership is open to all. Visitors are always welcome to all our meetings, which generally take place in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Kirby Muxloe.

Details of the dates of meetings, together with the topics that will be covered, are shown on the notice board in Kirby Muxloe library as well as on the Group’s web site: www.leicestershirevillages.com/kmlhg Our next meeting and the first in 2014, will take place on Thursday January 16th , when the Desford Pedallers will be giving a ‘Hands-on’ History of the bicycle.

The following meeting, on Thursday 20th March, will take a ‘Virtual Walk’ through Richard III’s Leicester, and will be led by Widow Grooby (Alison Coates).

A date for your diary: The Group are organising a WW1 Exhibition, to recognise the 2014 Anniversary of the outbreak of war.

This exhibition will take place in the Village Hall on Saturday 5th April. More information will follow.

The Enderby Dodgeball session will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30pm to 10.30pm at the Enderby Leisure Centre on Mill Lane. Sessions are for those aged 15 and above the club age range is 15-40 plus. New members do not require any experience as all rules are taught on the night. All new members receive a welcome pack on their first session.

Some pictures of ‘Old’ Kirby Muxloe are now displayed in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall, so if you visit the Hall, you might like to look at them.

Further information is available from Simon Moody on (07743) 098544 or by email at: enderbydodgeball@googlemail.com and website www.enderbydodgeball.co.uk

Monday 10th February 2014 - Advert Deadline: 3rd February

The Group are always looking for photographs of people who have lived/worked in the village and events that have taken place in Kirby Muxloe.

NEXT ISSUE OUT

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LADIES WHO LUNCH Ladies, if you enjoy a good meal, good company and good entertainment you might be interested in joining the Newtown Linford Lunch Club. Despite the name you do not have to live in Newtown Linford.

We meet at the Forest Hill Golf Club on the third Wednesday of the month for a three course meal after which we are entertained by a speaker. In recent months we have enjoyed talks about Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Advertising Ephemera and Poetry amongst others. Talks coming up shortly are entitled ‘Achieving your own Style’; ‘Wild Charnwood’; There’s more to Leicester than cheese’ and ‘the Little Theatre’.

There is a friendly atmosphere, the venue is pleasant and the food is good. Why not give us a try? The three course meal with coffee is £16. If you decide you would like to join our club membership is £20 per year; this pays for the speakers. For more details or to book a meal phone 0116 2304420.

Local Police Warning From PC Katie Harris With the bad weather arriving, I would just like to take this opportunity to remind people not to leave their cars running unattended whilst waiting for the ice to defrost. The local team will be conducting ice patrols early mornings, please don’t get caught out by thieves!

Over the past month Ratby has seen a slight increase in anti social behaviour around the Ferndale Park area, if anyone witnesses any incidents or can provide any useful information please contact Leicestershire police on 101 to ensure the information is passed effectively and efficiently. The team have increased patrols in the area.

The next beat surgery will be held at 3pm on Monday 27th January 2014 at Ratby Library, this will be held by the local PCSO Ed Green, please take this opportunity to have a chat with Ed about issues in the village, these beat surgeries will be held on a monthly basis at the library, the dates will be confirmed on the Leicestershire Police website http://www.leics.police.uk/events/2014/02/22/ratby-beat-surgery-5 please visit and meet Ed, everyone is welcome!

Have your say on community safety priorities in Blaby District Residents are being asked what they think are the priorities for community safety in Blaby District.

The Community Safety Partnership, a range of agencies who work together to make the district a safer place to live, work and visit, are carrying out a consultation to find out what concerns are most important to the local community.

The results of the survey will then be used to inform the Crime and Community Safety Priorities for the area from 2014 to 2017.

Councillor Maggie Wright, portfolio holder for Community Services at Blaby District Council, said: “This is the residents’ opportunity to directly influence how the Community Safety Partnership sets its priorities for the next few years. We want to reach as many people as possible to get involved in sharing their views.”

The public consultation runs from Friday 20 December 2013 until Monday 20 January 2014.

To fill out the survey online visit www.blaby.gov.uk/ communitysafetyconsultation Paper copies will be available at the council offices in Narborough, the Blaby Joint Service Shop, and other key community buildings during the consultation period.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

PC Katie Harris

Local News Stories Wanted Call us now 0800 6446 150

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your LOCAL, Bringing Local Businesses and Local People Together

Borough Councillors Report Cllr Ozzy O’Shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Bevington Close, Ratby.

For the last couple of months we have been working with officers to get the area in front of the 4 Bungalows repaired and the heras fencing removed. Officers have confirmed that as soon as the weather improves and we get a dry period, the area in front of the Bungalows will finally be grassed over and put onto a maintenance programme.

We have also arranged for the alley way at the side of this area to be cleaned and put onto a maintenance programme as well.

Dumping of Rubbish in the alley way leading from Wolsey Drive to Ash Close.

We have had several complaints regarding the dumping of Rubbish in the alley way. On two occasions over the past 6 weeks we have had to arrange for officers to clear this alleyway of rubbish that has been tipped.

This simply has got to stop; officers will take enforcement steps against anyone found fly tipping. This alleyway should be kept clear as it is a bin run for the refuge collectors.

Remember as council tax payers each time the council has to clear this fly tipping, we are all footing the bill. If you know who is doing it please report it. We have also arranged to have this alley way put onto a regular maintenance programme as well.

We have also had the street light restored by the Borough Council on the alley way

Cllr Chris Boothby Tel 0116 2388301 or 07704345637 Email Chris.boothby@hotmail.co.uk

between Bradgate Drive and Markfield Road distributor road after resident’s complaints.

Warning Regarding Hot Ashes.

Residents have been asked not to put hot ashes in their wheelie bins after an incident involving a refuse lorry in Sutton Cheney on Friday (27 December).Hot ashes that had been put in a bin caused the load on the back of a Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council lorry to catch fire. The crew acted quickly and tipped the load on to the road and the fire service extinguished the fire quickly. Fortunately, the incident occurred near the start of the round so the lorry was fairly empty. Damage to the vehicle was minimal and the vehicle continued with its round. Residents have been asked by the council to make sure that ashes are stored in a metal bucket until fully cooled before being transferred into a black wheelie bin. Ideally the ashes should be bagged to prevent the small particles blowing back out of the vehicle as the bin is emptied.

Residents to have their say on Crime and Disorder People within Hinckley & Bosworth are being asked for their views on what they think are the most important types of crime for the Community Safety Partnership to focus on in the next three years. Residents' views, alongside actual crime and disorder data, will

help to determine priorities for the partnership for the next year, while the results of the survey will also be used to inform the Crime and Community Safety Priorities for the area until 2017.

Residents can get involved by completing the survey on line at www.hinckley-bosworth.gov .uk/haveyoursay or by requesting a paper copy. Paper copies can be picked up from the council offices at the Hinckley Hub or requested from the Community Safety Team on 01455 238141. Ozzy a retired Police Officer: said “it is important that the partnership, are tackling the issues that are of most concern to the people of Ratby.” We both want to encourage as many people as possible to fill in the questionnaire so that the decisions they make are based on what is really needed. We will also arrange for some paper copies are sent to the Parish Council Offices in the village.

The results of the survey will be published in the spring edition of the council's Borough Bulletin residents' newspaper.

We would both like to thank you all for your continued support and to remind you that we are only a phone call away.

We would like to end by wishing you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Chris & Ozzy.

Working for you.

We Need More Local News Stories..

We need more of your local news stories, let us know what your group is up to, it’s all printed free of charge and is a great way to let the community know about your events. Local football teams, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Hockey, Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, Schools, Clubs, keep us updated on your season with a monthly article Call Sarah for a chat on 0800 6446 150 or email us at info@localsonline.co.uk or visit our website www.localsonline.co.uk

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Ratby Primary School News....

New Year, New Start Each year most of us make resolutions to ensure that the year ahead is a happier and healthier one.

Thanks to the children at Ratby Primary School, 2014 really will be a new start for two special children elsewhere in the world.

Last year our children took part in a sponsored silence organised by Mrs Anstey, with the aim of raising about £200 to take part in the ActionAid Sponsor a Child programme.

Thanks to the generosity of families and friends, the actual figure raised was £844.65 – enough to sponsor two children for at least 3 years!

Christmas Capers

Christmas is always one of the highlights of the year in primary schools, and 2013 was no exception for the children and staff at Ratby.

One of the highlights was our annual Christmas Fayre, organised and run by Steph Lewis and the PSA. There was so much to see and do, with lots of festive stalls and games, and a chance to visit Father Christmas in his grotto (ably assisted by two very familiar-looking elves).

After the Christmas Fayre came Carols Around the Tree. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side, and the service had to take place in the school hall. The rain couldn’t dampen our spirits though, and Rev. Peter lead a super turn-out of families in a selection of carols and readings to share and celebrate the Christmas story. The accompaniment by Ratby Brass Band made the event feel wonderfully festive, and helped everyone to get in the Christmas spirit. Thank you to all those who supported us.

We are now proud to be supporting a 5 year old girl called Belyse who lives in Burundi, Africa; and an 8 year old boy called Assadullah, who lives in Afghanistan. The money we raised will enable these children to attend their local primary schools for the first time, enabling them to receive an education and give them the best possible chance in life. Our children will also have the opportunity to write to Belyse and Assadullah and receive updates on how they are doing.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who helped us to raise this money. The response we had from our school community was incredible, and we feel privileged to be able to have such a huge impact on the lives of these children.

We’ll keep you posted on their progress.

Have a January clearout with Freeuse Anyone having a January clear-out can recycle old and unwanted items via a free give and take website. www.freeuseit.org enables Leicester and Leicestershire residents to upload items they no longer want - and for others to claim them and take them home for free.

Run by the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, which is made up of the county, district and borough councils and supported by Leicester City Council, the website has enabled more than 170 tonnes of waste to be diverted from landfill since it was set up in December 2009.

Pam Posnett, chairman of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “It often makes sense to have a January clear-out to get rid of old and unwanted items and make way for the new festive gifts.

“Freeusing can help ensure items find new homes rather then being sent to landfill. What is one person’s rubbish can be another person’s treasure.”

Items that have been listed on www.freeuseit.org so far this month include a scanner, cake and biscuit tins, TVs, a computer monitor and sofas*.

As well as the website, a Freeuse smartphone app is also available to use.

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How fast can a Bunny Run? On the morning of Sunday 6th April you can attempt a serious 10K or a fun 3K in the beautiful Beacon Country Park at Woodhouse Eaves.

Whether you run for the enjoyment of it orsponsored for charity, both runs are suitable for all abilities and are entirely off-road along woodland pathways and bridleways although only the 10K includes hill climbs.

Everyone finishing gets a medal and there will be a host of prizes as well as the opportunity for a warm-down massage.

If you simply want to watch or to take the family, there will be hot food and drinks, a bouncy castle, an Egg Hunt and games for the children. The event is organised every year

by The Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon and full details are available at www.beaconbunnyrun.org

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Richard Farleigh – ex-Dragons’ Den star – appeals for EAST MIDLANDS to learn about fostering I am writing to you on behalf of the 500 children in the East Midlands who urgently need loving fostering homes. With the country currently experiencing a shortage of 9,000 foster carers, I am encouraging your readers to learn more about fostering now, and give children a loving home.

After a difficult start in life I was fostered as a child. From my own experiences of growing up in foster care I know what difference a foster family can have on a child’s life, from offering love and support to helping them have a future to look forward to. I’ve gone on to have success in the financial sector and now invest in and assist start-up businesses across the world, though your readers may know me from Dragons’ Den. It’s why I’m supporting Action for Children’s Fostering Myth Busting Academy, and the charity’s drive to find loving foster parents for vulnerable children and young people who urgently need stable homes in the East Midlands.

Foster carers play a crucial role in society yet Action for Children found that one in ten people have misconceptions about what fostering is and why children and young people are placed in foster care. It also found that one in three people believe if you live in rented accommodation, are unemployed or are gay you can’t foster - all are untrue. It’s essential we correct these myths and encourage more people from the East Midlands to consider fostering.

I would urge your readers to visit Action for Children’s website at actionforchildren.org.uk to find out more about fostering. For people in the East Midlands this could be an important first step to opening up their home to a vulnerable child or young person in desperate need of help.

Yours sincerely, - Richard Farleigh

Pearls of wisdom that can greatly increase the effectiveness of your capital In 30 years of advising clients I have applied certain rules that need to be adhered to when making investment recommendations, they may not be rocket science but you ignore them at your peril.

Debts or expenditure come first, never borrow to invest! Usually it is best to clear or reduce debts, particularly credit cards, before investing money in the longer term. You should also exclude any capital earmarked for expenditure over say the next 12-18 months from your investment plans.

Diversify, don’t have all of your eggs in one basket, otherwise you might be subject to ‘feast or famine’, at different times. Cash deposits using bank or building society accounts don’t fall in value but may provide a return that is lower than the rate of inflation. Asset backed investment using shares, government gilts or corporate bonds can fall in value but do have the potential to grow at a rate that exceeds the rate of inflation in the medium to long term.

Risk to your capital comes in many different ways such as not maintaining its purchasing power, adopting too high a risk approach for your peace of mind or not having a suitable investment strategy for the period of time you wish to invest for.

Taxation is important but don’t put the cart before the horse! Many people have invested in ISAs with tax efficiency as their first and sometimes only consideration. What’s more important is that your chosen investments satisfy your personal circumstances or needs and that you’re happy with any risks involved. Once you’re satisfied over these points you should then and only then, look at the tax efficiency of the investments in question.

The arrival of those Sunday blues What will your coming week be like? It is likely that you started thinking (and worrying?) about it at 4.13pm on Sunday afternoon.

That is the time of the weekend when the ‘Sunday blues’ begin – that mild sense of depression and anxiety that many of us get about the week ahead.

Nearly half of us admit that our Sunday evening comfort is dulled at the thought of Monday, according to research by Premier Inn. Mind, the mental health charity, has found that the recession has only increased this unease. Psychologists suggest that ways to counter the Sunday blues include having a busy schedule, doing exercise and being around other people.

Tony Richard

Ashwood Law Wealth Management Independent Financial Consultant • Inheritance Tax Mitigation

• Retirement Planning • Pension Advice

• Investment Strategies • Life Assurance and

Critical Illness Cover

Purpose and period of investment requires a clear understanding of what you are trying to achieve, such as income and growth or just growth and when do you need to achieve your objectives by? Have you considered segmenting your capital to meet different objectives over the different time periods of short, medium and long term?

To summarise, the world of investment can accommodate each individual’s needs. Sensible and well thought out planning can help you to invest capital without losing sleep at night, even through turbulent times! It is however important to obtain advice from someone you can trust, both now and in the years to come, in order to maximise the potential for your investment objectives.

A very happy and prosperous new year to you all!

The value of investments and the income from them may go down. You may not get back the original amount invested.

Tax treatment is based on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

Telephone: 01530 267 158 Email: advice@ashwoodlawwealth.co.uk Web: www.ashwoodlawwealth.co.uk Inheritance Tax Planning is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Tel: 0800 6446 150 - Email: info@localsonline.co.uk - Web: www.localsonline.co.uk

13

FILMREVIEW Last Vegas - 12A Last Vegas is a laugh-out-loud take on The Hangover with a genius 60+ cast and the director of the cult classic Cool Runnings. Billy (Michael Douglas) is finally getting married to a much younger woman and wants to celebrate his stag night in Vegas with his childhood friends. Putting their gripes with each other behind them, they head out to recapture their mis-spent youth, but Vegas is a very different place now. Can they step up and do Sin City justice with medication to remember and early bed-times to observe? Last Vegas is warm, touching and, most of all, very funny.

Twelve Years A Slave - 15 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.

In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

WIN

2 CINEMA TICKETS THANKS TO NORWOOD PRESS PRINTERS All you have to do is tell us how many Harry Potter films there have been.

Email us your answer along with your name, address and telephone number to info@localsonline.co.uk or send in your answer to Your Local Magazine, 42 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester, LE9 2HQ Closing Date Friday 24th January 2014

14

Words on the Street Authors @ Leicestershire Libraries

An exciting NEW programme of author events is being launched this spring in libraries across Leicestershire.

Be inspired by bestselling authors and catch debut authors at the start of their careers, meet like-minded people, enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine and buy your own personal copies of books for signing on the night.

Book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

• Alison Moore introduces Kieran Devaney: Saturday 1 February, 6pm Oadby Library • Alison Weir: Friday 7 February, 7pm Oadby Library • Graeme Simsion: Saturday 8 February, 7pm Loughborough Library • Gervase Phinn: Wednesday 12 February, 7pm Melton Library & Wednesday 12 March, 7.30pm Hinckley Library • Lesley Pearse: Thursday 20 February, 7.30pm Loughborough Library • Alison Moore: Friday 28 February, 6pm Wigston Library • Leanda De Lisle: Saturday 1 March, 2pm Blaby Library • Lindsey Davis: Thursday 6 March, 7pm Loughborough Library • Marianne Whiting: Friday 7 March, 6.30pm Oadby Library & Saturday 29 March, 2pm Glenfield Library • Stephen Booth: Friday 14 March, 12noon Coalville Library & Monday 24 March, 7pm Blaby Library • Lynda Page: Saturday 22 March, 2pm Glenfield Library • Christina James: Thursday 27 March, 6.30pm Oadby Library

Warning on Hot Ashes HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH residents have been asked not to put hot ashes in their wheelie bins after an incident involving a refuse lorry in Sutton Cheney on Friday 27 December.

Hot ashes that had been put in a bin caused the load on the back of a Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council lorry to catch fire. The crew acted quickly and tipped the load on to the road and the fire service extinguished the fire quickly.

Fortunately, the incident occurred near the start of the round so the lorry was fairly empty. Damage to the vehicle was minimal and the vehicle continued with its round.

Residents have been asked by thecouncil to make sure that ashes are stored in a metal bucket until fully cooled before being transferred into a black wheelie bin. Ideally the ashes should be bagged to prevent the small particles blowing back out of the vehicle as the bin is emptied.

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Glenfield U3A Carols & Cakes event at the Memorial Hall, Glenfield.

The event was hosted by the Glenfield U3A for the Singing For Fun choir, led by Anne Hughes, to raise money for the charity for the blind - VISTA. Sue Disley (chair of the VISTA trustees), was present and gave a short talk on the 155 year history and the work of the charity.

Several U3A members beavered away making cakes for the afternoon, and the new catering team did a fantastic job setting up the hall, serving the refreshments, and clearing away.

A HUGE thanks to all U3A members involved and of course to the 25 members of the Singing for Fun choir who made the event possible.

72 tickets were sold raising £360. £30 was paid for the hire of the Memorial Hall.

Donations and card sales raised a further £114. £444 in total was raised for VISTA - not bad for a couple of hours of pure enjoyment, and members said they would like to see it repeated next year.

It is truly inspiring to see our members pull together to make these community events such a success.

Looking forward to more this New Year.

Gill Tapping - Publicity Officer Glenfield U3A

"Charity Whist Drives "Charity Whist Drives are held on the 1st Thursday of every month at 7.30 p.m in the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley.

Admission £2.00. Large free car park. All players welcome".

Why a cat is good for you Do you own a cat? Then your risk of heart attack or a stroke could be reduced by more than a third.

Apparently, owning a cat lowers your stress and anxiety levels. (Unless of course, kitty scratches the new couch, or flatly refuses to come home at night.) But even so, a recent study at Minnesota University has found that cat owners tend to outlive non-cat owners.

It is thought that stroking a cat could reduce the level of stress-related hormones in the blood. Reducing stress is known to help protect against heart disease, by lowering blood pressure and reducing the heart rate. Which sounds purr-fect...

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POPULAR DEMAND SEES CHARITY EXTEND SUPPORT SERVICES Registered charity, the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, is pleased to announce a new support initiative beginning in February 2014.

Support Thursdays will take place on four Thursdays in every month.

The drop in sessions will run from 10.30 a.m. until 2.00 p.m. at Ulverscroft Manor.

The sessions are open to anyone with a disability or illness, carers, or anyone who feels isolated. Kathleen Wass, Support Services Manager, said “the Support Thursdays have been introduced following a pilot scheme in 2013.”

The sessions will commence on Thursday 6th February and run as follows; 1st Thursday – Health and Wellbeing which includes the opportunity to participate in seated yoga - £2.50 per session or chiropody / reflexology £13.00 per session.

2nd Thursday – Coffee and Chatter – come along and meet new friends in the splendid surroundings of Ulverscroft Manor. Bring your knitting or a book or just enjoy a laughter and chatter day.

3rd Thursday – Support for Carers – If the person you look after couldn’t cope without your assistance then you are a carer and deserve some help and support. Chiropody and reflexology available priced at £13.00 per session. A Support for Carers Leicestershire worker will be attending 10.30am until 12.30pm.

Last Thursday – MS Drop in – Relaxation class 11.00am until 12 noon for a healthy body and mind - £2.50, chiropody and reflexology also available priced at £13.00 per session.

Mrs Wass also said that “the Foundation has received many positive enquires and bookings for the forthcoming sessions. We look forward to welcoming you and hope to provide continued support and advice throughout 2014 and beyond.”

The drop in sessions are free to attend, with light refreshments available for a small charge. Advance booking is essential for any additional activities.

If you would like further information or would like to book in to any of the therapy sessions then please telephone Kathleen or Helen on 01530 244914 or email admin@shuttlewood-clarke.org.

NEXT ISSUE OUT Monday 10th February 2014

First Time Flying On Saturday 25 November Cadet Parker, Chambers and Kerr had the opportunity to get their first flying experience in a Glider. 644 VGS at RAF Syerston, welcomed all three on a Cold Bright day. Perfect conditions for Gliding with the wind being just right.

Each Cadet completed three take offs and landing and also got the chance for some hands on at the controls of the cockpit. The Cadets were said to very much enjoy the day and to put practice to the theory they had just previously learnt whilst undertaking their First Class Classifications.

Christmas Camp 2013 Cadets and Staff from 2070 (Glenfield) Squadron attended the annual Squadron Christmas camp on Friday 29th Nov – Sunday 1st December in Edale, Derbyshire.

The squadron has held its annual Christmas camp at The Peak Centre in Edale for many years and has become something the Cadets and Staff alike look forward to.

On Saturday the cadets completed a day walk across Kinder Scout, this was a great opportunity to put into practice key navigation skills such as setting the map, taking bearings, following linear features and judging distances using pacing and times.

The weather was clear and crisp providing the cadets with a fantastic view of the Hope Valley and also Cadets visited the crash site of two Sabre aircraft. The cadets returned to a Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings before an evenings entertainment with games, a Gang Show and a buffet to finish.

On Sunday the Cadets had an indoor climbing session with a qualified instructor where they completed various different climbs in pairs using blindfolds to really put their communication to the test. Afterwards they all visited Mam Tor to view the Hand-gliders and Para-gliders.

All were said to enjoy the weekend and celebrating Christmas together, putting an end to a successful year for the squadron.

For more information visit www.2070sqn.co.uk Flight Sergeant ATC M Parker

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Health Matters in yourLOCAL...

What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

Hope you had a lovely Christmas. It is the time of year again where we look at ourselves and think what should I change and do differently this year. For many of us it may be something simple such as staying positive or giving up something. Nationally around 7 million of us will make a New Year’s resolution to improve an aspect of our health. After the overindulgence of Christmas, most people see the New Year as an opportunity for self-improvement.

The most common New Year’s resolutions to do with health are losing weight, getting fit and quitting smoking.

There are so many ways to lose weight, but essentially it boils down to calorie intake and calories burnt. As long as the calories you eat are less than the calories burnt, you will lose weight. You should take time and count the calories in your food in order to ensure that you stay within your limit.

Dieting reduces your calorie intake and exercise increases your calories burnt. By doing both you have a greater chance of losing weight.

A couple of tips for dieting have to be to try and fill up with fibre. Eating food with lots of fibre will help you feel full for longer, so you’re more likely to stick to your calorie limit. We spend on average about a third of our day at work, so it makes sense to consider what we eat during working hours also.

Joining a group can help as it gives motivational and behavioural support. Other things that you can try include taking medication supplements such as XLS medical or Ali. These products are available to use for people who are clinically overweight and only as part of a calorie controlled diet. At The Village Pharmacy Kirby Muxloe we currently have XLS Medical on special offer. 30 pack only £11.99 and 120 pack only £29.99.

By getting fit you can also lose weight.

Walking is one of the easiest and most effective ways of increasing your activity.

Things you can do to increase your walking are: Find a walking partner or join a walking group. Walk up and down stairs and escalators instead of taking the lift, or get off the lift a few floors early and use the stairs.

Get off public transport a stop before your destination and walk the rest of the way. Ditch the car, if you need to drive to work, try to park further away from your destination and walk the rest of the way.

As we are now in winter and temperatures have dropped, you may be tempted to hang up your exercise gear and hibernate. Don’t,

keep going and keep exercising.

If you feel that going outdoors is just too much, then exercise at home, simple exercises can be done at home using things around the home. E.g. Walking up and down the stairs.

Regular exercise will make you feel more energetic, which should make it a little easier to get out of your warm bed on cold, dark mornings. Your body’s defences will also benefit. There is some limited research suggesting that moderate exercise can strengthen the immune system, thereby reducing the risk of coughs and colds.

However, more research is needed in this area. If the shorter days are affecting your mood, being active can improve your sense of wellbeing. You may be tempted to eat more during the colder months. Exercising will help you manage your weight better and keep your body in shape.

A key thing to consider when exercising is to do something that you enjoy. If going to the gym does not interest you, then take up an activity or sport such as badminton to keep yourself active.

In keeping healthy, one of the best New Year’s Resolutions has to be stopping smoking. There is a vast amount of research and evidence to say that stopping smoking will ensure a healthier and better life. If your New Year Resolution is stopping smoking, come into the Village Pharmacy where our trained advisors will help you stop smoking. I have listed a few benefits of stopping smoking. You will have more energy, improved smell and taste, less stress, longer life, better breathing, whiter teeth, younger looking skin and improved fertility.

It is never too late to stop smoking. As soon as you stop your body starts to improve. This is what happens: • After 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal.

• After 24 hours your lungs start to clear.

• After two days your body is nicotine-free and your sense of taste and smell improve.

• After three days you can breathe more easily, and your energy increases.

• After two to 12 weeks, your circulation improves.

• After three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing improves.

• After one year your heart attack risk is half that of a smoker.

• After 10 years your lung cancer risk is half that of a smoker.

If you would like to have any more information about anything mentioned above or would like to join our stop smoking service, please call us on 01162387353 or pop in to The Village Pharmacy, Kirby Muxloe where one of our highly trained pharmacist will be happy to help.

Everyone at The Village Pharmacy would like to wish all our customers a Very Happy New Year.

Thank You Your Local Pharmacist Irfan Kassam MPharm (GphC) MRPharmS

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Counting the birds that are counting on you Big Garden Birdwatch 25th and 26th January 2014 It will be eyes to the skies on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2014, as the nation takes part in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch. The activity is the biggest garden wildlife survey in the world and last year almost 600,000 people counted the birds in their garden.

This year, participants will be hoping that further declines of garden favourites recorded last year have slowed down. Starlings hit an all-time low in the 2012 Birdwatch but their numbers then sunk by a further 16 per cent last year. Numbers of house sparrows, which are of high conservation concern, dropped by 17 per cent in gardens compared to 2012, whilst bullfinches and dunnocks fell by 20 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

These worrying declines mirror the findings of the State of Nature report which was launched earlier this year by 25 UK wildlife groups with the backing of Sir David Attenborough. The report revealed that 60 per cent of the wildlife species included are in decline, and one in ten of these could be the road to extinction in the UK unless something is done to save them. (See note 1).

Big Garden Birdwatch, which has been running for 35 years, provides the RSPB with masses of information about changes in numbers of garden birds in winter, and helps to alert conservationists to significant declines in UK garden species like house sparrows and starlings. And this year, for the first time, participants are being asked to log some of the other wildlife they see in their gardens too.

The RSPB wants to know whether people ever see deer, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs frogs and toads in their gardens, to help build an

overall picture of how important our gardens are for giving all types of wildlife a home.

The charity will gather useful information about these other species and share them with its conservation partners after the survey.

Once the RSPB knows which species people are regularly seeing, it will also be able to tailor its advice on giving nature a home so that people can help their wild visitors nest, feed and breed effectively. Participants don’t have to count these other species over the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, just tell the RSPB whether they have ever seen them in their gardens, at any time of year.

To take part, people are asked to spend just one hour at any time of Big Garden Birdwatch weekend noting the highest number of each bird species seen in their gardens or local outside space at any one time. They then have three weeks to submit their results to the RSPB, either online at www.rspb.org.uk/ birdwatch or in the post.

Richard Bashford, RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Manager says: “Thousands of people have been giving nature a home in their gardens across the country and Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to reaping the rewards by seeing what creatures are finding a refuge there over the winter. (See note 2).

“And these are birds that really count on us. At this time of year in particular they come to our gardens for help – with food, water and shelter. Millions of people around the UK help give them a home by providing these things and the Big Garden Birdwatch allows us to check what impact their help is having.

“The situation has been dire for birds like starlings and sparrows over the last 30 years, but by knowing the exact situation, we can help to put things right.”

Some birds have had better fortunes over the years. Sightings of popular species like blue tits, great tits and coal tits have increased since the survey begun in 1979. Goldfinches, which were absent from the Big Garden Birdwatch top 15 in the early years, have featured regularly as a top 15 species since 2004.

From 16th December 2013 you can register to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2014 at www.rspb.org.uk/bird watch

“Every single person who takes part in the Big Garden Birdwatch is helping us learn about what is happening with our much-loved feathered friends.

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