LOCAL HEROES This month sees International Women’s Day taking place. We meet some of the county’s most extraordinary local women, making a difference in their communities.

Breaking The BIAS

Tuesday 8th March 2022 represents International Women’s Day, the theme of which for 2022 is #BreakTheBias. This month we meet several local women who perform extraordinary jobs or roles in their community and who envisage a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination...

KAREN JOBLING

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AIR AMBULANCE

“The role of Chief Executive was my perfect job, marrying the charity sector with aviation. It’s hard work and no day is ever the same. But it’s worth it!” says Karen Jobling the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance’s Chief Executive...

“I was in the right place at the right time.” says Karen Jobling, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

“I was brought up on the Isle of Wight originally, and I was definitely expected to hold my own against my three brothers. I was raised to know that women can do everything that men can do!”

“I graduated from RAF Cranwell and worked in aviation, specialising in radar, before leaving to work in the charity sector for organisations in the cancer prevention arena and also an animal welfare charity. In between I had also learned to pilot light aircraft as I always loved to fly.”

“My dream job came up six years ago, the perfect combination of working in the charity sector and in aviation. I’ve had the privilege to lead the team at the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance through a period of transformation ever since. The charity has around 80 people, around half of which are crew and paramedics. We’re also very grateful for the work of around 150 fantastic volunteers.”

“Aviation, the charity sector, and healthcare are each very heavily regulated areas of work, and as we fall within all three categories, it’s a challenging job, with a lot of problem solving. But that’s where the pleasure is when we get it right, which we do, of course.”

“The service is highly visible in the county not just in the respect of our helicopter, but the two critical care cars we also run and the additional helicopter we took on last summer, to look after those enjoying Lincolnshire’s beautiful East Coast as the country emerged from Covid restrictions and people took to stay-cations. But for a service that’s so visible, some people are still under the impression that we are funded from the NHS or from central or local government.” “That’s not the case. Our operating costs are around £7.5m each year and one hundred percent of that is raised by the communities we serve.” “Lockdown during Covid initially saw a reduction in our workload, but it also saw a dramatic drop in our fundraising, falling by about £800,000 below our target; a real concern.” “There are other less visible developments, too, that have enabled us to do more. We’re currently pursuing registration as an independent healthcare provider with the CQC, which will afford us more independence when it comes to our operations... it will enable us to develop the service we offer and reflect the unique highly trained, pre-hospital critical care team we have.” “Another recent change is that we now directly employ our own paramedics instead of seconding them from EMAS, which brings a number of advantages including the development of paramedic specialists and continuity of care.” “In May 2021 we also moved to our new headquarters, purpose-built for our needs, to enable us to take the service to the next level. With an investment in night vision equipment, too, we can now offer a 24/7 service. Meanwhile, the AgustaWestland 169 helicopter we run now provides greater range – about three hours of flight, although we refuel more frequently than that –and a faster speed of about 160mph.” “We now have a state-of-the art helicopter with the best airframe to help us save more lives and achieve better patient outcomes. But above all, our greatest asset is the people that we have working really hard to ensure our service is the best it can be.

“At a time when every second counts, keeping our iconic yellow helicopter in the air can mean the difference between life and death for anyone unfortunate enough to need the service.” >>

Saving Lives in the Sky...

n The service was founded in 1994. n The service receives absolutely NO funding from the NHS, EMAS, local or national government for its day-to-day operation. Its £7.5m operating costs are raised entirely by fundraising. n In 2021 the service responded to 1,400 missions. In 2020 that was 1,095 and 877 in 2019. n During 2021 we transitioned from a 24/5 service to a full 24/7 clinical service and since the 1st Sept we have covered 24 hours every day with a clinical team. n RTCs and medical incidents have been the main incident type the charity’s teams have attended accounting for 76%, the rest have been assaults, sports and leisure, industrial incidents, incidents on the railways and accidental. n The service covers 3,500 square miles, with its population of over 2.5m people. 21

ERICA LEY

AIR AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC

SAVING LIVES IN THE SKY

Erica Ley was the first paramedic to be directly employed by the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Service...

cyclists, and tractors in fields during harvest. The service also receives callouts to the Lincolnshire coast or adjacent to the county’s waterways for emergencies near water. “I was exposed to the career of a paramedic by proxy,” says Erica. “My grandmother worked on Patient Transport and my mum was a paramedic and incident commander.” “I completed a BSc in Paramedic Science and then studied towards a Masters in Critical Care before joining the East of England Ambulance Service.” Finding herself favouring more dynamic roles, Erica later spent two years working with There goes the photo opportunity. As we a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), turn up at new HQ of Lincolnshire’s local air and then spent a year teaching Urban Search ambulance service, we’re just in time to see it and Rescue (USAR) medicine, later favouring lifting off. “It’s the third time today... no, critical care, as well as spending time as an fourth,” says Erica Ley. Air Operations Supervisor, completing “There’s no average number. Sometimes the rotations on the Critical Care/HEMS desks crew doesn’t get called out in which case, we in the Emergency Operations Centre. practice real cases in simulation and viva each After a sabbatical with NATO in 2020, Erica other on medical topics so that when we returned to the UK and in October 2020, she do get the real call, we’re the best we can became the first paramedic directly employed be in complex and ever-evolving situations. by the Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire Air AmAlternatively, on a summer day for bulance Service, with a remit to lead the example, they can be out six paramedic team during transition times in a shift.” to CQC independence. You’d think that the service Today, the air ambulance is is busier in the winter with supplemented by critical its icy roads. But in fact, care cars. In partnership when the sun comes out, with medical colleagues, so too do cyclists, motor- seven core line paramedics

Keeping the care in the air...

and ten emeritus paramedics, all of whom have specialist training and an enhanced skill set, provide 24/7 emergency medical coverage and work with pilots who fly the aircraft. “We still work in strong collaboration with our NHS colleagues and EMAS, as part of an overall chain of survival to provide good patient outcomes.” “The paramedic profession has developed considerably since the days my mum joined. The focus on higher education and the awareness of human factors alongside operational training is now higher than ever for paramedics who wish to undertake enhanced interventions.” “Our clinicians are given greater scope to perform procedures above the level of ground ambulance paramedics. With the shared team approach of a doctor and a paramedic, interventions such as pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia and thoracotomy are now routine practice.” “Our new premises, which we moved into in 2021, and the fact that we’re pursuing CQC registration will ensure we can continue to push boundaries in delivering high-quality critical care to the people of Lincolnshire and The Service’s Nottinghamshire.”

AgustaWestland “We’re proud of what we do as a service and how we’ve come together as a team but we’re incredibly grateful for the collective supportThe Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Service’s that the public and our volunteers provide.

AgustaWestland 169 can fly at up It’s an essential service for the area.” n to 204mph but cruises at 160mph.

It can fly for up to 375 miles, and is 15 metres long, weighing in at 4,800kg!

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance had its busiest year ever in 2021

n Fundraising: Raise money with sponsored events from walks and runs to bake-offs and quizzes. Cake sales and coffee mornings are a vital source of income for the service’s annual running costs of £7.5m. n Play the Lottery: The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance has its own lottery with weekly cash prizes of up to £1,000. n Air Ambulance Shops: The service accepts good quality books, clothing, furniture and other pre-loved goods for its four shops. n Donations & Legacies: You can also give money and leave a gift in your will for the service. Call 01522 548469 or see www.ambucopter.org.uk.

CHRIS ROBERTS

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER

“I find it easy to listen and I’m an optimist. Some people want to talk, some people don’t want to talk. It’s about being sensitive to what they want, whether that means holding someone’s hand quietly, or joking with them...”

Sometimes it’s not what you say. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything. Sometimes just being with someone is enough. Boston’s Chris Roberts says she’s an optimist and says she can’t feel depressed for long. But as a former psychotherapist and counsellor, and a volunteer with United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, she’s also acutely aware of the range of emotions that others experience on the oncology ward and the chemotherapy suite on which she volunteers.

“I’ve lived in Boston for nearly 50 years and worked for the DHSS where we heard a good deal about people’s circumstances. It was a role in which empathy was a really good skill to have, and I took that further by training as a counsellor whilst I was working there.”

“When I left, empathy was the part of the job I really missed and I decided to either work with individuals with learning difficulties, or as a psychotherapist and counsellor... I chose the latter and it’s really rewarding.”

“My own cancer diagnosis occurred in 2010, and after three years being clear it returned. I’m now on a palliative care pathway. My own experiences of diagnosis and treatment have given me a perspective of what it’s like to be a patient and so from 2019 I’ve volunteered on both the Bostonian Ward and in the chemotherapy suite of the Pilgrim Hospital.”

“The staff are amazing and I’m so happy to be part of the team. I’ll do whatever I can to support them and to give something back for the care that I received. I find it easy to listen and I’m an optimist. Some people want to talk, some people don’t want to talk. It’s about being sensitive to what they want, whether that means holding someone’s hand quietly, or joking with them...” “I get an awful lot out of volunteering,” says Chris. “It gets me out of the house and I like to help, like to make a difference to someone’s experience of treatment. Of course, there are also low points, but there are some really positive moments, like when someone rings the bell at the end of their treatment.”

“Even something simple like knowing which biscuits someone prefers when they come in for their weekly treatment can make the difference between them being a patient and a person. And the importance of that can never be understated.”

Volunteers in Lincolnshire work across ULHT’s four main sites; the Pilgrim Hospital, Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham Hospital and Louth Hospital. Volunteers are coordinated by Voluntary Services Manager Andy Tysoe’s department.

“Volunteers really help to improve the patient experience. They have a luxury of time which some staff and clinicians don’t have as they need to prioritise clinical care, often on very busy wards.”

“Pre-Covid we’d have around 190 volunteers, but at the moment we’ve 133 with a further 60 due to return restrictions are relaxed. We ask for half a day a week but some volunteers are able to devote more time, which we’re really grateful for. Roles include anything from meeting and greeting patients in reception to being on the wards or working in administration areas.”

“We recently gained £25,000 funding to establish Busy Bees, which will see a pool of volunteers being deployed dynamically wherever they make the most difference. The scheme is already running in Boston and soon it’ll be rolled out to our other sites, too.” n

Volunteer within your local hospital...

ULHT is actively recruiting volunteers

n There are 223 NHS trusts in the UK including United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust. n Our local trust employs 6,544 and its key sites include Pilgrim Hospital, Lincoln County, Grantham Hospital and Louth Hospital. n The Trust serves a population of over 720,000 people. The Trust sees A&E admissions of around 144,239 each year and outpatient attendances of 674,856. Across its three main hospitals it has over 1,050 beds. n The Trust is actively seeking volunteers to join its 133 current volunteers, for more information see www.ulh.nhs.uk and search Volunteering. 25

MICHELLE COLLINS

RNLI VOLUNTEER AND PCSO

“I CAN’T WAIT TO BE BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY!”

RNLI Volunteer and PCSO Michelle Collins has been greatly missed on the streets of Skegness...

Many of us have experienced a bit of cabin fever by the time spring comes along, but Michelle Collins is very keen to be out and about again... almost as keen as the community of Skegness is to have her back out in the town again. Originally from Kent, Michelle moved to Skegness and worked in the town’s travel agency when, one day, a recruitment display for Police Community Support Officers within Lincolnshire Police caught her eye. She applied, and 13 years later, she’s still more enthusiastic than ever. Naturally, the role put her right in the heart of the community... and saw her dropping in to the town’s RNLI station. “I’d pop in and see them, work with them, and I quickly realised they were really great people. Seven years ago I applied to be a volunteer with at the lifeboat station and I’ve worked with the two services ever since.” “When I began working as a PCSO I didn’t realise the role would be as diverse. There are lots of aspects to it, from community engagement to producing reports and taking statements to working with businesses in the town, to answering questions from holidaymakers about how to get somewhere.” “I liaise with other agencies from housing providers to social services, and it’s a really visible role in the community.” “Working with the RNLI is a really sociable role too. It’s great to meet holidaymakers and help them to find out more about the service.” In October 2021, Michelle was diagnosed with lymphoma and has been spending autumn and winter receiving treatment. Compromised immunity means she’s not been well enough to risk being out in the community with Covid at large and so she’s not spent as much time out and about in Skegness as usual as she recuperates. “Skeggy is really amazing and I really have missed being in the community. I’m physically fit and when I’m working I can walk as many as 11 or 12 miles a day, so I really do have a bad case of cabin fever.” “I’m missing all of my colleagues, especially the camaraderie. My cancer is among the most aggressive but it’s also the

Supporting the Community most treatable. Recovery will take as long as it takes but I’m really hoping that by late summer I’ll be back at

A PCSO is a visible presence in work, perhaps just makingthe community supporting the work of warranted officers. Aside from tea for colleagues initially, powers of arrest and interviewing and doing what I can toprisoners, much of the role is the same as a conventional support them.” police officer. “But it’s really made me value the community I live in, and when people in the town realised why I haven’t been out and about, the good wishes I’ve received on social media have been really welcome. I do love the town and its people, and I can’t wait to be back out in Skegness as soon as possible! n

RNLI LIFEBOATS, SKEGNESS...

n Established in 1830. Then known from 1864 as the Lincolnshire Coach Shipwreck Association which handed over control of Gibraltar Point Lifeboat to RNLI. n Two salaried members of staff plus 28 volunteers (on shore and boat crews); fundraising volunteers. n Inshore Lifeboat (ILB): ‘The Holland Family.’

All Weather Lifeboat: ‘Joel & April Grunnill.’

LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE...

n Formed in 1856 under the County and Borough Police Act. n 1,100 Warranted Officers, 200 Special Constables, 149 PCSOs. n Service covers an area of nearly 2,286 square miles, protecting a population in excess of 750,000. n Divided up into four districts: Lincoln & West Lindsey; North & South Kesteven; Coast & Wolds; Boston & South Holland. HQ plus 12 stations across Lincolnshire. n Chris Haward is Chief Constable.

HELEN GRIDLEY

LINCOLNSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE

“From fires – which come in all different shapes and sizes – to other emergencies, you’re there when someone needs you. The adrenaline kicks in and you achieve total focus, performing an important role as a team...”

You can never have too much of a good thing. Or too many good people, which is why Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue is always seeking individuals from any background, from anywhere in the county, to join the ‘fire service family.’ “Some people may say it’s a cliché, but honestly, that’s what we are, a family,” says Helen Gridley. She joined the service in 2002 and was stationed in Grantham for a decade before working at both of Lincoln’s stations – North and South.

After being promoted to Station Manager, and working towards performing fire investigation, crew management and recruitment roles within the service, Helen is now stationed at Waddington’s 17-acre training facility. The place is used by other fire and rescue services too, as well as other emergency services teams to train at the different staged scenarios set up there – train crashes, collapsed buildings, workshop fires with smoke pumped in – such is the realism and wide range of challenges the facility offers. “It’s here that we bring whole-time colleagues to train, but also our new on-call fire-fighters,” says Helen. “Our aim is to dispel the myths surrounding fire and rescue recruitment Some people still think you have to be a certain height or that there is a maximum age limit to be a fire-fighter, the fact is the only criteria we have is that you are able to reach the standards required to work alongside us and of course live or work within five minutes of a fire station.”

“We’re an inclusive organisation and we certainly value difference, I am pleased to say we have more female fire-fighters than ever before and our team members are made up from varying backgrounds to ensure our workforce aims to represent our local communities.” “We try to be as flexible as possible in terms of our on-call recruitment, including working with mums and dads who need to work between the hours of school drop-off and pick-up.”

“The sense of comradeship is what makes the job worthwhile. There’s a really strong bond as you can sometimes be in a situation where you’re putting your life in a colleague’s hands. But at all times, you’re working together to achieve a positive outcome for someone during an emergency, and that’s when that really good working relationship is so crucial.”

“And that’s what our on-call fire-fighters get out of it,” says Helen. “From RTCs to fires – which come in all different shapes and sizes – to flooding, animal rescue and other emergencies, you’re there when someone needs you. The adrenaline kicks in and you experience total focus together. You’re performing a really important role as part of a team that is always valued by your community.”

“Some of our on-call recruits are self-employed, able to be flexible in the respect of their working hours, but many employers are happy to release their employees from duty when their alerter goes off. In return they gain an employee who’s upskilled in the respect of first aid, staying calm in an emergency, and in terms of how they communicate and work together in a team environment.”

“You gain all sorts of skills working in the service, and it’s a life I can very much recommend even though it’s sometimes tough. But above all, when you meet families who visit you at the station following an incident, and they thank you for holding their hand after an RTC or saving a life or their property from a fire, suddenly you realise just how rewarding the role is.” n

Your local fire and rescue service...

n The current Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue service was established in 1974, aggregating Kesteven, Holland and Lindsey services. n The organisation has three divisions –east, west, south –and 688 fire-fighters and staff including 250 full-time firefighters. n Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue also has 38 stations, 48 engines and an Urban Search and Rescue team. The service also works with EMAS to provide a co-responder service for medical emergencies. n Being a rural county, on-call firefighters are essential to the service, and so recruitment of ‘retained’ fire-fighters is ongoing. To find out more, search for fire and rescue recruitment on lincolnshire.gov.uk or call 0800 3580 204.

Women in UK Politics

Facts & Figures

n As of February 2021, 220 Members of the House of Commons (MPs) are women. This is a record high, and 34% of all MPs. 220 were elected at the 2019 General Election, up from 208 at the 2017 General Election, and 191 in 2015. n Of the 552 women MPs ever elected, 306 (55%) were first elected as Labour and 172 (31%) as Conservative MPs. n The Local Government Association reported that in 2018, 36% of local authority councillors in England were women. n In January 2021, there were 10 women serving as Head of State and 13 serving as Head of Government. n The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reported that the UK was ranked the 38th in terms of women holding positions in a country’s lower or only house... that’s out of 193 worldwide parliaments. 30

VICTORIA ATKINS

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, LOUTH & HORNCASTLE

“I can’t be negative about the job because it’s a huge privilege to serve as an MP, especially on Lincolnshire’s East Coast,” she says. “It always strikes me how our area hides its light under a bushel. But between the rolling landscapes and the sweeping beaches, it’s a wonderful place to live and a wonderful place to be an MP...”

Appearances can be deceptive. At the time we were working on this feature, partygate was rumbling on and MPs from both sides of the Commons were harrumphing in scenes that we generally regard as being indicative of how British politics is played out. “I don’t think it’s recognised enough but behind the scenes there’s a lot of cross-party work,” says Victoria Atkins, MP for Louth and Horncastle. “As a minster working on the Domestic Abuse Bill, there was a truly collegiate cross-party relationship.” “Three years in the making, it was one of the first pieces of legislation that was heard when we went back into the Chamber after Covid which I think shows the Government’s commitment to helping the 2.3m people whose life it will effect, and the children whose lives are impacted too.” Since 2015, Victoria Atkins has represented the constituency of Louth and Horncastle, taking over from Sir Peter Tapsell whose tenure began in 1966 and lasted just under 50 years. Graduating from Corpus Christi where she read law, Victoria was called to the bar and specialised in fraud before being shortlisted for the constituencies of Salisbury and Tonbridge before being selected over three other candidates for Louth and Horncastle in July 2014. She was elected in May 2015. From 2017, Victoria served as the Safeguarding Minister before also being appointed Minister for Women responsibly for policy on gender equality. In September last year, she became Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, as well as becoming Minister for the resettlement of Afghanistan refugees and most recently working with The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). “Much like making legislation, casework is a huge part of an MPs responsibility too. Day in, day out, we can help constituents, often those facing incredibly difficult circumstances who turn to their MP as a last resort.” “I’ve a brilliant team of four who help me support constituents which really can make a difference to lives. I am delighted that we have just under £24million for Mablethorpe and the East Coast which will also make a huge difference to the lives of local residences.” And so, the most visible part of British politics – frustratingly – remains the most raucous and adversarial part, despite the huge amount of work that Victoria and her colleagues invest in their work elsewhere. Female MPs in particular are better represented in both houses than ever before; there are around 220 female MPs in the Commons, about 34% of all MPs. In 1919 the first female MP (Nancy Astor), sat in the Commons. She was born in the US though, and so it’s Margaret Wintringham who was the first British-born MP to sit in the Commons representing… that’s right, Victoria’s seat, Louth! “100 years on there’s still more to do,” she says. “In every debate, every piece of law, I try to think about my constituents and in particular the children who live in the area.” “Especially around International Women’s Day, issues like the gender pay gap and the way women are treated generally remain very much relevant issue in politics a century on.” “Research has been conducted which proves what we knew anecdotally; that female MPs are treated worse on social media than their male colleagues. It doesn’t bode well for how women are treated in the rest of society.” Despite social media being wild west, though, Victoria is encouraged by the effort that Parliament is making to ensure women are well-represented in the Commons, and can represent women better, as a result. 50:50 Parliament is a cross-party organisation who try to encourage more women into politics, whilst the Conservative Party has a new caucus to ensure legislation is sufficiently well-drafted to ensure women are well-represented too. In addition, Ask Her to Stand is a campaign that ensures people can nominate an aspirational woman they know to stand for Parliament.

“I can’t be negative about the job because it’s a huge privilege to serve as an MP, especially on Lincolnshire’s East Coast,” she says. “It always strikes me how our area hides its light under a bushel. But between the rolling landscapes and the sweeping beaches, it really is a wonderful place to live and a wonderful place to be an MP.” n