Oracle November

February 2018 November 2020

Your all-seeing local

ORACLE OR CLE Thorpe Garrison, ThorpeBay, Bay,Southchurch, Southchurch, Shoeburyness, Leigh, Chalkwell, the Garrison & Shoeburyness Westcliff & Southend Conservation Area

COMPETITION! WIN 3x Articial Intelligence Massage Chair treatments worth £60 RECIPE PAGE Smoked Trout Pate with Lemon and Horseradish LOCAL ISSUES High Street suggestions LOCAL NEWS Love Leigh Cliffs

Oracle photo competition 2020 entry - Autumn views from the Southend Cliffs by Kim Hosker

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November 2020

ORACLE

WELCOME

If you would like to keep up to date with the local news, Southend Borough Council provides Oracle with the latest bulletins which are uploaded via southendoracle.co.uk.

These updates include the latest local information on Covid 19 for both residents and businesses. Plus, to add some cheer to Christmas this year, Southend Oracle Directory is running a separate competition, to win a PlayStation 5, please see the back page for details.

10 % CREAM

Experts in the Thorpe Bay Housing Market

The ongoing High Street situation is a subject very close to my heart, ex leader of the Council Nigel Holdcroft has written for 'Local Issues', giving suggestions on how to stop further decline.

This month’s competition is offered by a brand-new business, Beyond Image, Southend. With Covid safety in place, Beyond Image offer Artificial Intelligence Massage Chairs, built with sensors that precisely detect your body type and spine length and adjusts accordingly. The chair then targets the areas that need a firm, relaxing massage.

See the article on pages 6 & 7.

Win 3 x AI Massage Chair treatments worth ÂŁ60 open to 2 winners!

To enter please go online to oraclepublications.co.uk and visit the competition page giving your name and contact details, the closing date is 30 November 2020.

Good luck and stay safe this bonfire night.

Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1AN

170 The Broadway Thorpe Bay SS1 3ES

Oracle is now 100% recyclable

01702 588 599

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838 www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk

Oracle Publications and Creative Media @oracle_essex Est. 2005 Printed by Print Acumen, Rettendon, Essex

November 2020

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CONTENTS High Street suggestions

9/10

Local Issues from Nigel Holdcroft

Love Leigh Cliffs

18

Local News by Carol Sherwin and Carol Lambert

Winter is coming

26

Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

Smoked Trout Pate with Lemon and Horseradish 38 Recipe by Judy Barden

Tips for teaching your kids financial skills

44/45

Money Matters by Rob Burgeman

Brainbox Useful Numbers Advertiser Index

Advertorials

Beyond Image WDC Physiotherapy High-Tech Membrane

54 60 62 6/7 33 52/53

All rights reserved. No part of Oracle Publications UK Ltd may be reproduced or used in any form Publications or by any means or inor All rights reserved.

No part of Oracle UK Ltd either may bewholly reproduced part prior permission thewholly publisher.

Oracle Publications UK used without in any form or by any means of either or in part without prior permission Ltd is editorially autonomous and the opinions expressed are not those of the publisher. Oracle Publications UK Ltd is editorially autonomous and the of the publisher stated. opinions expressedunless are notexpressly those of the publisher unless expressly stated.

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November 2020

STAYING IN IS THE NEW GOING OUT! CARPETS VINYLS LAMINATES MODULEO KARNDEAN RUGS REMNANTS ENGINEERED WOOD ES

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Advertorial

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ew and exclusive to the area offering a wide range of massages using our AI (Artificial Intelligence) powered massage chairs. Come and experience our COVID-19 safe retreat.

3 times a week. Regular use of our massage chairs can help reduce stress, improvement on sleep, muscle/pain reduction and lower blood pressure- It is essential to keep healthy and remove bad toxins.

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Sit back and relax. The massage chair had built in sensors that will precisely detect your body type and spine length, adjusting roller settings to ensure that the chair targets the areas that need a firm, relaxing massage instead of blindly hitting areas inches away from your trouble spots.

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In Japanese culture, it is common to have massages

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Experience 3 different chairs:

Experience the euphoria of the northern lights in our ‘Twilight’ room. l Reflexology. Our foot roller technology adds reflexology. As your back and legs are massaged by the chair, the foot rollers will gently activate pressure points on your soles to improve blood flow and provide soothing comfort. l Deep Tissue. The deep, kneading motion of the 3-layer massage airbags mimics the motion of human hands to promote circulation, leaving you feeling refreshed and alive. l Swedish. The squeezing motion of powerful airbags acts like the hands of a licensed masseuse to deliver an invigorating massage that rolls out tension and revives your body. l Flex Stretch. It grabs the shoulder and the foot with its gentle airbags and makes smart see-saw

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November 2020

l Zero Gravity. The zero-gravity experience of the massage chair promotes overall well-being, reducing your heart rate, soothing stress and calming both body and mind for a one-of-a-kind relaxing experience. Our chairs innovate the real relaxing position during a massage. Our massage chairs optimize the reclining angle up to 180 degrees - The studies in massage techniques show that the human body is more relaxed in a 180-degree position.

Also discover the wide range of massage chair skills such as Shiatsu/Wavelet, Kneading, Wave Rolling etc.

Evoke your senses whilst receiving your massage gazing over the Lake ‘Tanganyika’. l Night Healing. Gives you an effective and relaxing stretch and massage before bedtime. It loosens your whole body that leads to relaxation. l Air Massage. Air massage brings you comfort by repeatedly pressing and releasing – Envelop your body with 31 airbags to relieve all the accumulated fatigue. It is equipped with the feature that allows you to adjust the strength for each body part as per your comfort.

movements to stretch your body, increase spine flexibility and ease breathing.

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l Stretching. Unique stretches to relax and loosen muscles. The whole body is carefully stretched as the body is held in place with airbags and back and legs are moved up and down simultaneously. l Kneading. A variety of kneading techniques are available that have been tailored to match your neck, shoulders, back and hips. It concentrates on those specific areas such as the stiffness around your neck and shoulders or the fatigue in your back and waist caused by desk work or lack of exercise.

l Head Massage. Its unique head massager with airbags located at the forehead, temples and bac of the head offer a refreshing, wave-like kneading gentle kneading to smooth away tension.

Discover our 35 courses-23 automatic courses and 12 spot concentration technique to get the perfect massage tailor made to you.

l Stretch Flex. Stretching function allow the relaxation and comfort- with its gentle airbags and see-saw like movements to stretch your body, increase spine flexibility and ease breathing.

You will receive a massage experience that is exactly right for you – you will not want to leave.

Book a 30-minute appointment for only £20 online through our website www.aimassage.co.uk

l Neck & Shoulder. The rollers can extend to 12.5cm touching those hard to reach spots giving you that massage like no other. They effectively knead the route between back of the skull to shoulders.

Beyond Image - 01702 612502 455 Woodgrange Drive, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3EB FREE PARKING AVAILABLE! info@aimassage.co.uk | www.aimassage.co.uk

November 2020

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November 2020

LOCAL ISSUES

High-street suggestions

A

s we struggle to combat this

stretching the length of the shopping.

horrendous pandemic there is

We now hear that the owners of the Victoria

little doubt that even before its

Shopping Centre are seeking to sell and there

outbreak Southend High Street was already

are rumours that Southend Council may be

“vulnerable� and that covid has made

considering acquiring the site. I can only

the situation worse with less footfall and

hope that these rumours are unfounded.

increasing numbers of void properties.

The Victoria has been transformed over the

We all know many of the underlying problems to include the influence of internet buying, failing businesses and over large units with rents and business rates to match.

years from the unwelcoming wind tunnel open to the elements and yet even with this investment it has clearly remained a struggle to attract tenants. Perhaps this is in part due to the factors I have already mentioned.

More speciďŹ c challenges Southend has further and more specific challenges with an overlong High Street

I believe that it would be misguided for public money to be used to acquire the development for three main reasons. Firstly

with shopping centres at both ends, high

whilst council officers have many skills these

car parking charges and concerns about

are in the areas of the public sector. They do

security. The investment by Primark in the

not have the experience or expertise to take

old BHS site is a beacon of positivity but with

on responsibility for a large and challenging

concerns as to its existing site, particularly

commercial development, particularly in

with Debenhams still struggling. The plan

trying times such as these. They have more

to develop Seaway seems to be further

than enough to concentrate on improving and

November 2020

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9

delivering council services in a reactive and

advantage of the current vacant units which

cost effective manner. Secondly investments

are available above ground floor level. Who

of this kind are driven by the correct analysis

knows with more people living and shopping

of risk. Private entrepreneurs are risking

in the centre of town it might be possible to

their own money and reputations. Council

encourage a supermarket back to the High

officers and members are risking the money of

Street with all the benefits that would bring.

Southend residents and businesses and if it all

Encourage and support the seafront

goes horribly wrong most if not all of them will be long gone with the rest of us left to pick up the pieces and the bill. Finally the Council

I would like to see a reversal of the apparent anti-car policy being pursued by the current

needs to get a grip on the problems facing the

Administration and demonstrated by elements

High Street. It would be very difficult if the

of the Queensway plan and the reality remains

Council had made a significant investment in

that parking charges are too high and this

a commercial centre at one end of the High

also needs to be addressed. Whilst if we can

Street to view future decision making on the

increase those living in the Town Centre they

High Street without factoring in this “special

may feel that a car is not necessary the reality

interest”.

remains that many of those millions of visitors

Actions which can be taken

who come to the Town come by car and that is

There are a number of actions which can be

not going to change anytime soon. We need

taken to support the High Street, some of

to continue to encourage and support the

which are reasonably short term, but these

seafront and our seafront traders which give

need to be in the context of a sensible overall

us such an important advantage over many

plan. In my view the first challenge is the

other Towns and cities of our size.

central section under the railway bridge which has an important role in connecting the two ends, but faces issues with empty units and a feeling of being unsafe, particularly at night.

Perhaps that is the ideal location for the encouragement of café culture rather than at the northern end, improving footfall and creating the required bridge. I would like to see the reintroduction of traffic at both ends of the High Street – even if only in the evenings - to address the “safety” issue.

As others have said we need to encourage housing back into the High Street to take 10

Finally I would like to see the encouragement of an area for the provision of smaller and affordable units to encourage the return of small independent traders and the arts to build on another area of the Town’s strength.

The challenge is there – let us hope that the Council is capable is standing up and delivering.

Nigel Holdcroft Former Southend Councillor who was Council Leader from 2007 to 2014 during which period the Council received external recognition being confirmed as “Council of the Year”.

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November 2020

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November 2020

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LOCAL NEWS

Love Leigh Cliffs

T

hrough these Covid times many of us have discovered outdoor spaces to enjoy which are new to us, but sadly some of these areas - such as Leigh Cliffs - have been run down over the years due to restrictions in the Council’s budget.

Saddened to see such a beautiful area so deteriorated, local residents decided to take action to restore Leigh Cliff Gardens back to their former beauty so that they can be enjoyed again by both residents and visitors.

Inspired by what has been achieved by the Friends of Leigh Library Gardens, Carolyn Sherwin decided to form a group on Facebook called Friends of Love Leigh Cliffs.

Since then Carolyn is thrilled to have found many supportive members, especially Carol Lambert, Craig Watt and Suzanne Beechey, who together have formed a small Charity. In just ten weeks they have

had over 130 members join, approximately twelve of whom have done over 200 hours of gardening.

The group are always looking for more members to join them.

Members find it very rewarding discovering some of the beautiful original structure of the gardens emerging from the undergrowth. After much clearing planting has now started with donated plants and bulbs.

With assistance from SAVS the committee are looking into fundraising possibilities for the near future – something to watch out for.

A family activity The Council has a rewilding plan in place on the steep and lower areas of the site. The group hopes to introduce bee bombs and flower bombs and to set up bird boxes and bug boxes. They will encourage members to make and bring these down as a family activity before the Spring.

The group is hugely grateful to Ian Brown, Southend Parks Services Manager, for allocating members of his gardening team to work with them, offering advice, guidance and the invaluable collection of the enormous quantity of trimmings.

In parallel to managing the garden restoration, the group is actively engaging with the Council, the Police and Sir David Amess MP, who recently visited the site and spent much time evaluating its needs. The demise of the shelter is a much bigger project and will be vastly expensive.

by Carolyn Sherwin and Carol Lambert Facebook: Friends Of Love Leigh Cliffs

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November 2020

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November 2020

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November 2020

Strong community Strong partnership Strong schools

Academy Committee Governor Vacancies

We are seeking to appoint new Academy Committee Governors for our SECAT schools – Richmond Avenue Primary School, Hinguar Primary School, Thorpedene Primary School and Shoeburyness High School who can make a real difference to the future life chances of young people in our Trust and communities.

Our mission is to achieve outstanding outcomes for the young people in our community by providing an engaging, challenging and linear learning experience from 3–18, that equips them to live happy and successful lives.

We are looking to further strengthen the Academy Committees to support the Headteacher and staff in continuing to achieve outstanding outcomes. The Academy Committees report to the Trust Board. Their work is vital for the Trust Board to be plan strategically for the development of the Trust.

You do not need to be a parent or carer of a child at any of the schools within our Trust. You may already be a member of an Academy Committee within the Trust and would be willing to also support this Academy Committee.

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FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED OVER 60 YEARS

Jewellery Repair Centre

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November 2020

“I’m the Queen of Scones!”

Joyce’s scones were legendary but she struggled to make them like she used to. Having once been very sociable and independent she hadn’t been able to do as much in recent years.

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HAIR & BEAUTY

I

Winter is Coming: Prepare your skin for the big chill

don’t know about you, but for me summer feels

vegetables, including broccoli and even brussels

like a very distant memory. Especially after an

sprouts- and E – found in a variety of seeds, nuts,

autumn that was wetter than an otter’s pocket.

veg and everyone’s favourite, avocados – is to be recommended.

Now, with winter on its way, it’s an ideal time to update and refresh your skincare regime and

At the end of the day, washing your face and then

prepare for the colder, harsher weather.

applying moisturiser before you go to bed will help

First thing in the morning, add a slice or squeeze of fresh lemon to your glass of water. It not only helps to start your day well hydrated, but that cheeky vitamin C hit also helps to decrease wrinkles and blemishes, while purging toxins from the blood,

to keep your skin nicely hydrated. Don’t forget, when it’s cold outside, many of us tend to keep the heating on overnight, so a good quality moisturiser will be a key ally in making sure you wake up with a healthy glow in the morning.

giving you clearer skin.

Before you go for a walk

Your essential skincare routine

Blessed as we are to live by the sea and near

Now, I know that I said that summer was a distant memory but wearing an SPF cream should still be part of your essential skincare routine, even in the depths of winter. Even though the sun may not be as prominent during these months, it can still damage your skin.

Treat yourself to a product that contains hyaluronic acid, a super-hydrating ingredient that keeps skin cells plump and skin looking healthy and youthful.

Of course, a healthy diet rich in foodstuffs that contain vitamin C - such as citrus fruits and

beautiful countryside, it’s worth remembering to wear gloves and pop a little bit of lip balm on before you go for a walk, run or bike ride. Our hands can take quite a pounding in winter, especially as we’re washing them more frequently to avoid the germs that cause various ailments, so make sure you use hand cream regularly. Similarly, a little lip balm stick about your person is a great way to swerve a cracked and crumbly appearance, unless you absolutely LOVE wearing your mask all day?!

by Craig Smith Director of Grateful Heads Hair Salon Providing Providing expert expert hair care hair care to Essex to Essex for 30 foryears.

30 years.

Isn’t Isn’t it time it time you made you made your your headhead grateful? grateful?

01702 01702 340965 340965 32 Alexandra 32 Alexandra Street, Street, Southend Southend SS1SS1 1BU1BU 26

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November 2020

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November 2020

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Computer

Smartphone

Tablet

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November 2020

Advertorial

“I know I need to do something about my shoulder pain but I’m worried about making the wrong decision, so I’ll wait a bit longer and see what happens…”

T

he title of this article is a very familiar story that we hear in our physio rooms on a daily basis.

With that being said I’d like to tell you about one of our clients Louise who came to see us after falling and dislocating her shoulder. Louise had shoulder surgery and knew she needed expert care to get her back to the quality of life she had prior to the injury.

She didn’t want rush in to paying for something like physiotherapy with just anyone so was recommended to us by her London based surgeon.

Louise admitted she was scared to pay out for physiotherapy for it not to work for her.

What we had to do firstly was to help Louise know a little more about what we do at WDC Physiotherapy because when physio is “done right”, it can be hugely effective. Physiotherapy is able to help people living with shoulder pain - particularly people who have been putting up with it for a long time.

The main reason it works so well I’ve seen it work firsthand thousands of times over the last 21 years I’ve been practicing and here’s the main reasons it works so well: If your shoulder is painful, stiff or stuck, and NOT moving properly, it’s slowly getting weaker and developing bad movement patterns which in the end will cause wear and tear of the joint and the tendons around it (and it’s that that is causing your pain to get worse). This will be the case whether you have had surgery or not.

Put simply what we do with physiotherapy is give your body a helping hand. It’s a case of getting your body moving well again using hands on techniques and getting all that is stuck, “unstuck”. Once you are moving better, we get the muscles that are weak and not working as they should to start working properly and get them strong again with our specific shoulder pain rehabilitation programmes.

November 2020

We do understand that more often than not people in pain unless told who to go to by their doctor or surgeon just don’t know what to do for the best and don’t know where to start. Let’s face it we all have so many options out there these days for helping our aches and pains that it can be so confusing and often too many options means we get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing.

But doing nothing means you will stay stuck forever and that’s no fun!

See how we can help If this sounds like you or someone you know why not take advantage of one of our free 30 minute Discovery Visit Appointments with one of our therapists to see how we can help. Don’t take our word for it check out the testimonial below which is from Louise which you can find on our website www.wdcphysiotherapy.co.uk “When I dislocated my shoulder, I needed major keyhole surgery to repair a torn bicep tendon, detached cartilage and rotator cuff injury following which I was lucky enough to be introduced to Wendy to work with for my rehabilitation. She has a wonderful hands-on approach, soothing away aching and knotted muscles, tendons and related issues, as well as a constant supply of beneficial exercises to rebuild weak muscles. I found her diagnostic skills to be excellent. Six months later, I had achieved remarkable mobility and now I would barely know the difference between one shoulder and the other.

She offers a very patient-friendly atmosphere, being caring, knowledgeable and thorough in her practice.”

Louise, 54, Brentwood If you are looking for some help with shoulder pain, please call us on: 01702 613542 or visit our website: www.wdcphysiotherapy.co.uk for more information.

WDC Physiotherapy 01702 613 542 www.wdcphysiotherapy.co.uk

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November 2020

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FOOD

Smoked Trout Pate with Lemon and Horseradish

Served with Melba Toast. Serves 6-8 as a starter

the crusts and then holding the toast with the flat of

or as a canapĂŠ.

your hand, run the knife through the middle of the

Ingredients

slice so you have two wafer thin pieces. Cut these in half on the diagonal ( you should now have 4

275g / 10oz smoked trout fillets

triangles) and then put on a baking sheet. If using as

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

a canapĂŠ cut in half again so that you have 8 small

125g / 4oz cream cheese 75ml / 5 level tbsp horseradish sauce Salt and freshly ground black pepper

triangles. Repeat with all the slices of bread and then place in the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes are until

142ml / 5fl oz double cream

curled and golden brown. Leave to cool.

6 -8 slices medium-sliced white or brown bread

l To serve as a starter: using two dessert spoons shape

Dill to garnish

quenelles of the smoked trout pate and place on a plate with dressed leaves and Melba toast on the side.

Method

l To serve as a canapĂŠ: using the small sized pieces

Place the trout in a food processor with the lemon

of melba toast place a teaspoon of pate in the middle

zest, cream cheese and horseradish. Pulse until the

with a frond of dill.

mixture is just smooth. Season to taste with 2tbsp lemon juice, salt and ground black pepper.

l To get ahead. The pate can be made and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance or freeze for up

Lightly whip the double cream and then fold into the

to a month. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge before

trout mixture. Transfer either to small ramekins or

using. The melba toast can be made and stored in an

dish, cover with cling film and chill for at least 3 hours.

airtight tin until ready to use.

To make the melba toast, preheat the oven to 170c/ fan 150/gas 3. Put the bread either in a toaster or

by Judy Barden

under the grill and toast lightly til just turning golden.

Next month: Pear, Mincemeat and Marzipan cake

Remove and on a board using a sharp knife remove

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November 2020

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Advertorial

MONEY MATTERS

Tips for teaching your kids financial skills

P

arents faced with home-schooling their children may be feeling overwhelmed.

Yet there are plenty of ways to get creative as a family, including bringing money matters to life as part of the home curriculum. Here are some suggestions to get started:

1. Budgeting Involve your children in your finances by going through your bank statements, explaining your spending and how you manage your account.

Ask them to help establish where costs could be cut. Make it fun if you can by getting them to design their own bank statement or account, and how they would use this.

2. Set a savings goal Get your children to start saving towards something they want – such as a new game, or toy. Ask them to calculate how much they 44

will need to save each week or month, and for how long, to meet the cost. This could help build a valuable savings habit that will potentially build their future wealth.

3. Lead by example You could demonstrate the value of regular savings by opening an account on their behalf. For example, you can slot up to £9,000 into a Junior ISA in the 2020/21 tax year – compared to the previous £4,368.

You can demonstrate that the sooner you start, the bigger the potential pot your child will have when they reach 18. This could be a handy way of explaining how savings build over time. Children can also open a standard ISA account from age 16, into which they can save up to £20,000 each tax year to benefit from tax-free interest and growth. On top of the JISA limit, this means they could save up to £29,000 a year without paying any tax.

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November 2020

4. Give jobs a reward Boost their pocket money if they do chores around the home, such as tidying, ironing or cleaning the kitchen. This will help you during a difficult time and provide money that can be put towards their savings goal. The harder they work, the greater the rewards - and the sense of achievement.

5. Pay bonuses and consider deductions If tasks are completed without prompting, pay a small bonus. Conversely, if tasks aren’t completed successfully, consider a deduction.

Consider a monthly statement to show their earnings, and how these have accumulated.

6. Free online resources There are plenty of free online resources.

For example, if your children are a little older, the Open University offers a course on managing money for young adults which can be done at home. This can be used for the Duke of Edinburgh Award skills development – a worthwhile way to spend time during lockdown.

Elsewhere, the Money Advice Service has plenty of other tips for teaching children about money, alongside a wealth of resources.

The value of investments and any income from them can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Opinions expressed in this document are not necessarily the views

Brewin Dolphin 020 3201 3900 www.brewin.co.uk November 2020

held throughout Brewin Dolphin Ltd. No investment is suitable in all cases and if you have any doubts as to an investment’s suitability then you should contact us.

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. While we believe it to be correct at the time of writing, Brewin Dolphin is not a tax adviser and tax law is subject to frequent change. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances; therefore, you should not rely on this information without seeking professional advice from a qualified tax adviser. The information contained in this publication is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.

Rob Burgeman Brewin Dolphin 020 3201 3900 www.brewin.co.uk Brewin Dolphin Limited is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

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November 2020

Cloudy2Clear, A Local Service With A Smile.

I think we can all agree that the sooner we see the back of 2020 and this dreadful corona virus the better. That said, there are also some heart warming positives that we can take out of this situation. It has often been said that we can only really get to know one another and realise what is truly important in times of crisis. I think few would argue that in this case what has proven to be important is local community spirit.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Chris Miller it became clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of

supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Chris commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help again”.

All C2C employees operate a strict social distancing policy.

For a free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit cloudy2clear.co.uk.

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November 2020

Advertisement Feature

Winter is Upon Us! Is Your Roof Secure?

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