spalding@vetsavers.co.uk

Some dogs will eat anything and everything - including their medications.

However, most dogs are reluctant to gobble down pills and capsules, especially if they’re large or require chewing and taste odd or smell a little different to them.

Some dogs are wary of anything unusual and will refuse all types of medications but sometimes its medication that they need to survive so it’s so important that they are getting them and not spitting them out once out of sight of you!

Here are a few tricks that can make giving your dog medication easier for you and for them:

l . Whenever possible, purchase chewable medications from your vet. They’re flavoured, so they taste just like treats.

2. Try mixing your dog’s medication into his meal. If he eats his food enthusiastically, he might not even notice the pill is in there. If you feed your dog kibble, add a small amount of canned food or a soft treat, like a cube of cheese, and push the pill inside. Alternatively, you can simply stick your dog’s pill inside a soft treat or wrap it up in a soft cheese food slice and offer it to him.

Nine times out of ten these methods will work.

You can also try using special items on the market, such as beef flavoured hollow treats that you can put a pill inside of and the dog would never know.

If your dog tends to chew treats rather than swallow them whole, make them small. Give him a few unmedicated treats first, one right after the other, and then give him the one with the pill inside – so your dog doesn’t have time to notice that you’ve just sneakily fed him a pill.

Dogs who enjoy catching treats tossed to them will often catch and swallow a pill if you act as though you’re tossing a treat. Grab a handful of small treats and toss them to your dog, one right after the other.

Somewhere in the midst of the treats, toss the pill or toss a soft treat with the pill hidden inside. With any luck, your dog will catch and swallow it before he even notices it was different.

The downside of this method is of course if the dog doesn’t catch the treat and its wasted or another dog gets it so we recommend this method only be used in sole dog households and in an area that the pill can be retrieved if missed.

If All Else Fails...

It’s best to use the tricks above to avoid causing your dog unnecessary stress. However, if those procedures fail, you’ll need to open your dog’s mouth and insert the pill directly. Before you start, get a tasty treat and keep it within reach.

1. Hold the pill in the fingers of one hand. Place that hand on your dog’s lower jaw and the other hand on his upper jaw. Lift his head up toward the ceiling.

2 . Open your dog’s mouth and twist your hand around so you can insert the pill. Place the pill to the side of your dog’s tongue as far back as you can reach, and then quickly withdraw your hand as you close your dog’s jaws. (The action is similar to feeding a baby bird small wads of moistened bread).

3. Continue to hold your dog’s jaws closed with one hand, while keeping his nose pointed up at the ceiling, and gently stroke his throat downward with the other to encourage him to swallow.

4. As soon as you think your dog has swallowed the pill, offer him the tasty treat so that he takes it and swallows again.

Right after giving your dog the pill, keep an eye on him for a minute or two. Some dogs learn to hold the pill in their mouth and then spit it out when you’re not paying attention.

If your dog requires daily medication for a period of time, he might run and hide from you when it’s pill time.

To avoid problems, you can teach your dog in advance that whenever you open his mouth and put something in, it’s almost always a tasty treat. There are also ‘pill givers’ available on the market.

* Next week I will cover giving tablets to a cat!

A lawyer is calling for an independent public inquiry to look at plans to close Spalding Magistrates’ Court before “this vital service is lost forever”.

Rachel Stevens, from Criminal Defence Associates, made the plea in her response to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service’s (HMCTS) official consultation, which ended on Tuesday.

Miss Stevens has twice joined South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes to fight the court closure at meetings in London with Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling, who will decide the court’s fate following a recommendation from HMCTS.

Since December 19, when the Spalding court was de-listed, witnesses and defendants from South Holland, Bourne and The Deepings have travelled to courts in Lincoln, Grantham, Boston and Skegness.

Family cases are heard in Lincoln, which means people in outlying villages like Sutton Bridge have a 100-mile round trip for a hearing.

HMCTS claims it will save £40,000 by closing the court and that costly works are needed to make the building fit for purpose.

But opponents dispute the supposed savings, as other services are picking up the tab, and say it will cost £50,000 a year to maintain an empty building and there’s no need to spend significant sums to keep it open.

Miss Stevens said the relatively small saving of £40,000 saving should be weighed against the “devastating impact” its de-listing has had on courts taking Spalding’s workload and the delays in cases being listed and heard.

Spalding East and Moulton county councillor Richard Fairman said of the HMCTS consultation paper: “I have never seen an official document so full of lies and half truths. A saving that imposes costs on others is robbery.”

• HMCTS is preparing a response to the consultation.

The owner of a Spalding pub at the centre of a dispute of noise levels is “optimistic” following talks with the council.

Pete Williams, of The Punchbowl in Spalding, met with South Holland District Council, along with his solicitor, for talks regarding a noise abatement order he received.

The order would mean that the Punchbowl would no longer be able to put on its regular Sunday afternoon live music events, which lead to over 2,000 people signing a petition to save the weekly event.

Following the meeting Pete said: “We’ve had a really productive meeting with South Holland District Council and we have decided that we are going to work together to resolve any issues both parties have.

“I’m very optimistic about the future.”

Due to damage caused by storms over the weekend, the Sunday event moved indoors at the pub.

Pete said: “We could potentially keep the bands indoors on a Sunday and just continue to use outside for people to have a smoke or a chat.

“It really did work on Sunday – people were having a great time.

“It’s something we never thought of doing, but maybe it’s a blessing after thinking that what we were going through was the end of the world.

“I think what has happened over the past few weeks with us has actually helped the town, as it appears to have been binding people together – the support has been great.”

A spokesperson from South Holland District Council said: “Our decision to serve a noise abatement notice was made after being contacted by a resident who had complaints about noise levels from the premises.

“Our officers investigated the matter and, after careful consideration, decided to issue the notice.

“Our officers met with Mr Williams with regards to the order served on the Punchbowl and discussions are ongoing.”

This Sunday, reggae and ska tribute band Zeb Roots will be peforming at The Punchbowl as part of the live entertainment afternoon which starts at 4pm and finishes at 7pm.

Sutton Coldfield Town 2 Spalding United 0

It should have been a different story.

Instead this will be a tale of what might have been for Spalding United.

The Tulips created chances, missed them, went behind to a set-piece and conceded again late on.

Overall the performance was pretty positive - particularly before the break.

Although the second-half display offered little prospect of a fightback, Spalding were solid with signs of encouragement for the next few months.

The opening day was always going to be a tough test against Sutton Coldfield Town who know what this division is all about, despite having a new-look squad.

In five of the last six seasons, the Royals have finished in sixth place - just missing out a play-off spot.

The newly-promoted Tulips, though, are fancied “to be right up there” as home manager Neil Tooth wrote in his programme notes.

Coming up as United Counties League champions, they already have plenty of experience at a higher level.

The spine of the side is strong with centre-backs Kern Miller and Nathan Stainfield behind midfield pair Michael Leary and Lewis Webb.

However, this time Spalding were without prolific striker Andrew Tidswell and you would have expected him to convert at least one of those early opportunities which fell to Jordan Thomas.

After only three minutes Thomas tried to lob the ball over keeper Lee Evans but it was a comfortable catch.

Around the half-hour mark there was a better chance as Chris Hall’s powerful run ended with a pass which put Thomas clean through, only to smash the shot off Evans.

In between Hall had been unfortunate to see a header crash off the crossbar following Adam Jackson’s left-wing cross.

Those moments proved crucial when poor defending allowed Jordan Tunnicliffe to head home Tom Turton’s corner three minutes before half-time.

Spalding struggled to pose a real threat in the final third after the interval.

However, five minutes after being pushed up front, Chris Hall fired over and soon afterwards Leary’s penalty appeal was rejected.

Towards the end Mitch Griffiths and Stainfield both sent headers off target.

But by that stage it would have been too little, too late because Justin Richards held off Miller to roll in Sutton Coldfield’s second goal with seven minutes left.

Last season Spalding only failed to win two away league games - but it won’t be that easy this term.

In the UCL they could afford to miss a couple of chances, knowing more would come along.

The Tulips will need to improve and, who knows, there might be something to cheer when they return to play on the 3G pitch at Coles Lane against Romulus on the final day of the campaign.

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN

4-4-2: Evans; Kolanji, Tunnicliffe, Male, Gonzales; Taylor, McNaught, O’Callaghan (sub Leek 61 mins), Turton; Richards (sub Clarke 85 mins), Robinson (sub Edwards 76 mins). Subs not used: Walker, Gwilliams.

SPALDING UNITED

4-4-2: Roberts 6; Bore 7, Miller 7, N Stainfield 7, Jackson 7; Hall 7, Leary 7, Webb 7, Thurlbourne 7; Thomas 5 (sub Waumsley 79 mins), Burbeary 5 (sub Griffiths 55 mins, 6). Subs not used: G Stainfield, McKue, Ebdon.

REFEREE

Simon Gudger

GOALS

Tunnicliffe (42 mins, 1-0); Richards (83 mins, 2-0).

BOOKING

Kolanji (re-enter play without permission).

ATTENDANCE

102

STAR MAN

Chris Hall - always looked a threat.

The great-granny who scuppered the first attempt to build a £300million wood-fuelled gasifier at Sutton Bridge is now taking her fight to the Local Government Ombudsman.

EnergyPark Sutton Bridge has put in an amended plan for the gasifier – dubbed by locals as a “cancinerator” – but the parish council, MP John Hayes and opponents want it decided at an independent public inquiry rather than by South Holland District Council’s planning committee.

Shirley Giles (74) had the planning committee’s original approval quashed in the High Court because it was found to be unlawful on a key issue concerning sustainability – the council blunder cost taxpayers £10,500.

The planning committee is due to deliver a second verdict on August 27, but Mrs Giles has written to the Ombudsman, the local government watchdog, to complain about the district council’s handling of the application so far.

She said: “I am concerned that South Holland’s planning committee are unable to be impartial on this one because the council were involved in introducing the land owners to EnergyPark Sutton Bridge and mediated between the two parties.”

Mrs Giles said she and fellow residents have repeatedly sought answers from the council, which haven’t been forthcoming.

Among key questions that have never been answered are:

l Where will the fuel stock come from?

l How are Lincolnshire County Council highways able to compile a traffic and transport assessment of the roads if they have no prior knowledge of where the fuel will be coming from?

l Where will the fly ash residue be transported to?

l Will the fuel stock come through the ports of King’s Lynn and Sutton Bridge?

l Why is there no cumulative impact assessment available?

Mrs Giles and fellow residents delivered a petition to the council, asking for a full council debate and for the gasifier decision to go to a public inquiry, but has been told there will be no debate and the petition will go to the planning committee.

On Wednesday residents of Sutton Bridge and Wingland can vote in a parish poll – a local referendum – with a question asking if they want the EnergyPark Sutton Bridge application and an EDF plan for a gas-fired power station on the banks of the Nene to go to a public inquiry.

The poll runs from 4pm-9pm at The Curlew Centre in Bridge Road.

Gasifier opponent Jenny Rowe is organising transport for those who cannot get a lift to the centre – she can be contacted on 01406 350093.

The Bridge Hotel at Sutton Bridge was once the hub of village life with its 80-seat restaurant, function suite for 200 people, lounge bars and meeting and conference rooms.

But, since it closed its doors around half a dozen years ago, it has gradually slipped further into decline and has become a target for squatters and vandals who have smashed windows and trashed much of the interior.

Parish councillor Jenny Rowe remembers the heyday of the hotel and wants a new owner to step in and bring back the glory days.

She said: “It was great. It was always the flagship of the village.

“Everyone had their weddings there. There used to be discos and parties, they had a wonderful big old dining room that was packed for Sunday lunch and all the businesses here had their functions there.

“It was a lovely old place. It’s not a listed building but it is a building of historic interest.”

The 21-bedroom hotel sold at auction in 2010 for £195,000.

Last year it was on the market with Davey and Co with an asking price of £395,000 but now the company is looking for offers over £325,000.

Jenny said: “They used to let out 19 bedrooms.

“It’s the only hotel between King’s Lynn and Boston that can accommodate so many different functions.

“I am really surprised that JD Wetherspoon or somebody like that haven’t considered taking it on board.”

A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged with a burglary in Pinchbeck Road, Spalding.

The incident was first reported to Lincolshire Police on August 9.

Dimitrijs Afanasjeves, who has no fixed address, was kept in custody in connection with the crime and appeared before Lincoln 
District Magistrates Court on both August 11 and August 12.

No ruling was reached and Afanasjeves was remanded in custody where he will remain until he appears before the court via video link on August 21.

The case continues.

Police are hunting vandals who smashed a window at the offices of law firm Ringrose Law in Hall Place, Spalding, between August 8 and 10.

A Ringrose Law spokesman said: “We believe it was just an act of vandalism that has been reported to the police and we are hoping to get the window repaired soon.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

A driver in his late 80s collided with a shop in Donington after becoming ill at the wheel of his car.

Emergency services were called to a hairdressing salon in the Market Place at 10.15am this morning.

The driver of the car, a local man, is thought to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel and was taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital for treatment.

Motorists are advised the road may be closed for some time while a collision investigation takes place.

Any witnesses, who have not already spoken to police, should speak to officers at the scene or call 101, quoting the incident number.

Bourne maintained their lead in the Lincolnshire Premier League, despite being pushed hard by basement boys Market Rasen.

Will Bradford hit a century as Rasen reached 207-8 and then had the league leaders in trouble at 78-4 before Pete Morgan’s side rallied to win by three wickets.

Navel Grazette, who had earlier taken 3-39, top-scored with 60 while the consistent Carl Wilson (52) also weighed in with another half-century as Bourne sealed another victory.

Colin Cheer again impressed for the leaders with a four-wicket haul.

Market Deeping were whittled out for just 63 as they went down at third-placed Woodhall Spa.

Teenager Patrick Brown took 4-26 and Mehul Adatia gave support with three wickets but, having restricted the hosts to 162, Deeping’s batsmen never threatened to reach their target.

David Sargent top-scored with a modest 18 in a disappointing batting display.

Spalding’s batsmen also failed to shine as they were removed for just 66 in the club’s defeat at Skegness.

James Hook took four wickets as the hosts were dismissed in their final over for a useful 307 – inspired by a superb 126 from New Zealand ace Brendan Young, who also starred with the ball.

In reply, Spalding failed to fire with the bat with only Charlie Kearns – who scored 29 not out, having earlier taken three wickets – performing with any credit.

Spalding’s top-five order batsmen contributed just 15 runs between them while there were also three ducks among in their depressing scorecard as Young took six wickets in just eight overs.

Billingborough remain second from bottom following their defeat at Louth.

The hosts reached 215-9, thanks to a knock of 66 from Graham West, with Billingborough all out for 154.

Why would anyone want to become a football referee? Certainly not me.

Taking it on – even if I was fit enough (definitely not) – would mean following in the footsteps of several members of my family.

My dad and his brother have both done it, my cousin was named Spalding Sunday League’s referee of the year last season and now his son has started as well.

It’s a classic cliche to say being a referee is a tough job – but then we all join in the criticism anyway.

So far this term I’ve been to four games in the Chroma Sport & Trophies United Counties League’s Premier Division.

There have been a total of five red cards – each of them justified in my opinion. Yet each time the referee has faced verbal abuse as a result of his decision.

That’s what makes me wonder is it really worth it? Yes, there will be mistakes – that’s human nature. But surely they wouldn’t get it wrong on purpose.

At a professional level, of course, there is some extra pressure because so-called experts are always ready to analyse every decision over and again with the benefit of TV replays.

Many of these ‘pundits’ are former players who would have never considered becoming a referee because they know it’s not going to be easy. Even if they were going to give something back to the game, it would usually be through coaching.

It must be a real concern – but no surprise – that over the next few years there will surely be even fewer people who want to be an official.

Let’s hope enough people are prepared to take the abuse from players, coaches, supporters and TV pundits. It can’t be easy.

We’ve all watched games, live or on TV, where we think the referee or his assistant has got it wrong.

Some decisions will be made where it comes down to interpretation of the laws – but often we do need more common sense from those officials as well.

Max Cusack took five wickets as Moulton Harrox defeated Woodhall Spa in the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division on Saturday.

Cusack helped to bowl the visitors out for just 78 after Matthew Barnett (56) and skipper Chris Beale (62) had recorded half-centuries for the hosts.

The pair helped Harrox to a total of 197-8 and they went on to win by 199 runs thanks to Cusack’s fine bowling display.

Third-placed Bourne were nine-wicket winners at Welby after bowling the hosts out for just 89.

In reply, Robert Dunn and Archie Stroud were unbeaten on 38 and 33 respectively while Jordan Temple played his part with four wickets.

There was double disappointment for Long Sutton batsman Chris Booth on Saturday.

He fell agonisingly short of a century with a superb knock of 93 and then saw his side beaten by three wickets in their South Lincs and Border League Premier Division clash wth Lindum Ramblers.

Booth scored more than half of his side’s 182-6 but that figure wasn’t quite enough as Grant Watkins hit 95 as Lindim got over the line.

Billingborough 2nd and Spalding 2nd continue to battle for the Division One title.

Billingborough are one point ahead of their rivals, despite losing to Heckington.

Richard Wells hit an ubeaten 53 for Billingborough but it wasn’t enough as Heckington closed to within four points of the table summit.

Spalding were beaten at Baston by just nine runs, Mark Richardson hitting 65 for the hosts.

Grantham 2nd, Market Deeping 2nd and Boston 2nd are also within sight of the leaders and all have games in hand.

In Division Two, Andrew Beeston hit seven boundaries in a knock of 38 as Pinchbeck defeated Boston 3rd.

Norwich United 1 Deeping Rangers 0

It was one of those games where one goal was always likely to be enough and it was a 25-yard wonder strike from Matthew Blake that won it for the hosts.

He picked up the ball on the right and was allowed to take it forward before crashing 
into the top corner from 25 yards.

David Burton-Jones had earlier gone close with a powerful long-range strike.

Deeping boss Tuncay Korkmaz, who was without new signing Martin Wormall, admitted: “I was disappointed that we created so little as that is not like us.”

Deeping: Bircham, Tinkler, Smith, Braithwaite (Lee), Holland, Burton-Jones, Flack, Ginty, Graham (Sturgess), Oliver (Porter), Parker. Subs not used: Ashton, Doughty.

Results

Wednesday

ChromaSport & Trophies 
United Counties League

Premier Division: Holbeach 4 Deeping 0, Huntingdon 2 Harrowby 1.

Division One: Blackstones 1 Raunds 4, Bugbrooke St Michaels 4 Irchester 1, Burton Park Wanderers 0 Whitworth 8, Peterborough Sports 0 Potton 0.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
Peterborough & District League

Premier Division: Oakham 2 Langtoft 0.

Division One: Coates Athletic Res 1 Whittlesey Blue Star 0, Langtoft Res 0 Baston 4, Moulton Harrox Res 2 Sutton Bridge 4.

Friday

Evo-Stik League

First Division South: Mickleover Sports 1 Newcastle 0.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
United Counties League

Reserve Division: Thrapston 2 Whitworth 4.

Saturday

Evo-Stik League

First Division South: Brigg 1 Loughborough Dynamo 3, Carlton 1 Stafford 3, Chasetown 2 Gresley 1, Coalville 2 Romulus 1, Kidsgrove Athletic 0 Goole 0, Leek 6 Rainworth Miners Welfare 0, Lincoln 1 Tividale 3, Norton 2 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1, Sheffield 1 Market Drayton 0, Sutton Coldfield 2 Spalding 0.

fa cup

Extra preliminary round: Diss 1 Holbeach 5, Norwich United 1 Deeping 0.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
United Counties League

Division One: Blackstones 5 Rushden & Higham 0, Buckingham 2 Whitworth 2, Burton Park Wanderers 1 Bugbrooke St Michaels 4, Lutterworth 3 Irchester 1, Peterborough Sports 5 Olney 2, Potton 1 ON Chenecks 2, Raunds 4 Rothwell Corinthians 2, Stewarts & Lloyds Corby 0 Thrapston 2, Woodford 3 St Neots Town Youth & Saints 2.

Reserve Division: Bourne 3 ON Chenecks 2, Bugbrooke St Michaels 6 Irchester 0, Eynesbury 1 Long Buckby 0, Harborough 0 Peterborough Northern Star 1, Huntingdon 1 Northampton Spencer 0, Olney 2 Raunds 0, Rothwell Corinthians 3 Cogenhoe 1, Rushden & Higham 1 Potton 2.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
Peterborough & District League

Premier Division: Coates Athletic 4 Deeping Res 0, Moulton Harrox 2 Thorney 2, Oakham 2 Netherton 1, Peterborough ICA Sports 3 Langtoft 1, Riverside 4 Peterborough Sports Res 5, Uppingham 1 Stilton 2.

President Premier Shield: Crowland 1 Holbeach Res 4, Leverington Sports 2 Sawtry 0.

Division One: AFC Stanground 5 Baston 1, Ketton 4 Coates Athletic Res 0, Langtoft Res 4 Kings Cliffe 2, Long Sutton 3 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 0, Netherton Res 2 Sutton Bridge 1, Oundle 2 Moulton Harrox Res 2, Ryhall 3 Warboys 3.

Sills & Betteridge Solicitors 
Lincolnshire League

Premier Division: CGB Humbertherm 1 Sleaford Res 1, Nettleham 0 Horncastle 2, Skegness Town 6 Market Rasen 0, Skegness United 3 Louth Res 0, Wyberton 4 Ruston Sports 0.

Fixtures

Tonight

Evo-Stik League

First Division South: Goole v Sheffield, Gresley v Sutton Coldfield, Loughborough Dynamo v Carlton, Market Drayton v Leek, Newcastle v Kidsgrove Athletic, Rainworth Miners Welfare v Mickleover Sports, Spalding v Brigg, Stafford v Norton, Stocksbridge Park Steels v Lincoln, Tividale v Coalville.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
United Counties League

Reserve Division: Desborough v Rushden & Higham, ON Chenecks v Irchester, Peterborough Northern Star v Raunds, Thrapston v Blackstones.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
Peterborough & District League

Premier Division (6.30pm): Coates Athletic v Thorney, Leverington Sports v Moulton Harrox, Peterborough ICA Sports v Riverside, Pinchbeck v Holbeach Res, Sawtry v Stilton.

Division One: Baston v Ryhall (6.30pm), Ketton v Langtoft Res(6.30pm), Kings Cliffe v AFC Stanground (6.30pm), Oundle v Peterborough ICA Sports Res (6.30pm), Wisbech Res v Sutton Bridge (7.30pm), Netherton Res v Whittlesey Blue Star (8.05pm).

Tomorrow

ChromaSport & Trophies 
United Counties League

Reserve Division: Bourne v Eynesbury, Bugbrooke St Michaels v Whitworth, Harborough v Cogenhoe, Olney v Huntingdon.

ChromaSport & Trophies 
Peterborough & District League

Premier Division: Crowland v Deeping Res (6.30pm), Netherton v Langtoft (8.05pm).

Division One (6.30pm): Coates Athletic 
Res v Warboys, Moulton Harrox Res v Long Sutton.

Diss Town 1 Holbeach United 5

Another classy summer signing, Ash Fuller, opened the scoring after eight minutes and Dube got the first of his treble 25 minutes later.

The Tigers went 3-0 up on 42 minutes when former Oadby skipper Jake Duffy netted, but Diss reduced the arrears a minute later through Jordan Rocastle.

Dube added strikes on 53 and 78 minutes to complete a five-star display and the Tigers will now host either Walsham-le-Willows or Boston Town, who replay tomorrow.

Holbeach: Conroy, Allen, Gibson, Pinner, Spencer, Stevens (Parker), Beeson (Meade), Duffy, Dube, King (Treacher), Fuller. Subs not used: Delahoy, Steadman, Warfield, Lovelace.

Lee Dube is already proving an inspired summer signing for Holbeach United after hitting hat-tricks in both of his starts to date.

The summer signing from UCL Division One champions Oadby followed a midweek treble against Deeping Rangers with another hat-trick as Holbeach won 5-1 at Diss in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Saturday.

Delighted joint-manager John Chand said: “Lee is a good player and I am sure he will go on to bigger things.

“He has a great all-round game and he is really enjoying his football here.

“We’ve got to be happy with how the season has started.”

A monthly column from Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service

Are you a community group, a charity or a not-for-profit organisation, large or small? If you are, do you need help?

This could be one-off help or maybe you need raffle prizes, or to raise money for a particular outing or event. LCVS works with lots of South Holland businesses and organisations that want to help local groups and encourage their staff to volunteer. It is possible staff may be able to volunteer for an hour or two during working hours, or raise money for a charity dear to their hearts.

If your group needs any help please contact us on the details below.

Trustees helping trustees

Local businesses already support community groups and charities in different ways, for example Moore Thompson, in partnership with LCVS, hold bi-monthly meetings for trustees and committee members to discuss current topics.

The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 9 at Hills Department Store at 7.30am and this month the topic is Reserves Policies – all trustees and committee members are welcome. If you would like to attend please contact Gill Williamson on 01775 718008 or gill.w@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk by September 3.

New volunteering opportunities

This month some wonderful groups need volunteers. Could you help out at a social group held each Friday at Johnson Hospital? Volunteers are needed to help run this support group.

Would you like to volunteer with teenagers? We have two opportunities: the Vista Crew, a fortnightly Saturday youth drop-in centre, would like volunteers to help out and have some fun; South Holland Youth and Community Development Team is looking for Youth Support Volunteers, working with young people in youth clubs or where they congregate.

There are opportunities in a new charity furniture recycling project due to open soon in Pinchbeck, selling second-hand furniture to the general public. Could you communicate with people, making them feel at ease, be flexible with time and be happy to work on your own and as part of a team?

• Contact us: call us on 01775 718008/768833 or email spalding.v@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk

There have been two instances recently when Natalie Winford has had to sign on as a LIVES First Responder in her place of work.

On one occasion, Natalie, who lives in Lutton, was able to provide assistance during the 25 minutes it took for the ambulance to arrive.

“If that person was having a cardiac arrest it might have been too late,” says Natalie.

She uses that as an illustration for the importance of First Responders and to back her crusade to get a defibrillator positioned at one or more points in every single town and village throughout the district.

She says: “The more you have the better. The speed you get to someone makes the difference between life and death.”

While she is crusading on behalf of LIVES – and the medical emergency services – Natalie also puts in an appeal for everyone to make sure their house name or number is clearly visible from the road, something again that will assist response times.

As well as being a LIVES First Responder, Natalie is co-ordinator of LIVES in the Gedney area and group trainer.

Her family has given her ample experience of the medical world, or as Natalie puts it, “25 years of intense caring”.

That started with the premature birth of Christopher, now 25, with a lot of medical complications. In addition to his health problems, Christopher has been diagnosed with asperger’s, but has still managed to attain a degree in film and moving image.

Elliott (23) is fit and healthy now but again had complications as a baby when his twin sibling died.

Twenty-one-year-old William, who has two sons of his own, suffers from asthma.

Their sister Lucy, born deaf, died aged nine from a rare condition.

The children are all from a previous marriage, while the youngest, Samuel, is Natalie’s son with partner Carl Russell.

Natalie’s attitude to the years of caring and stress – including battling the medical profession to get treatment for Lucy when she was just two – is astonishing.

“I was just blessed I had them,” she says. “A lot of people don’t get blessed with children. I think having the church background helped as well because you think, ‘I have been given this for a reason’.”

Having just finished a degree in English and History, Natalie decided, as well as working as a bank support worker for Sense, that she would use her experience to assist others through LIVES.

LIVES First Responders are all volunteers who have been trained to provide first aid until an ambulance arrives.

The ambulance service will ring Responders on duty, depending on the nature of the emergency and the level of their training – up to Level 3, when Responders are trained to put in airways and use collars and spinal boards.

The Gedney area LIVES group is relatively new – it currently has two people trained to Level 1 and two to Level 2.

It funds equipment and training from donations, such as when Responders provide first aid cover at community events. Natalie Winford and her son Elliott are doing a parachute jump on behalf of LIVES and Sense next month.

Natalie says the group needs more Responders, but would also like help with things like collection boxes, because they are currently doing everything themselves.

For more information about LIVES, phone 01507 525999 or email info@lives.org.uk

An organic composting business and nursery at Crowland has had plans approved to cover 24 hectares of land with solar panels.

The panels, together with a planned anaerobic digester plant and biomass boiler, will lead to the creation of an Energy and Recycling Park at the site of Organic Recycling Ltd and its sister company Bettaland.

Now the business, run by managing director Andrew Riddington, is looking for a growing partner to take over additional glasshouse space – and benefit from the enormous energy savings offered by the renewable energy complex.

A company spokesman said: “Up to 40 per cent of the production cost of items grown under glass can be in the cost of heating. The energy for this will be sourced from the renewable energy complex on the farm.

“In addition, compost produced from the existing green waste recycling facility on site can be used as a growing media, also reducing the carbon footprint.

“Rainwater can also be harvested on site for reuse.”

The spokesman went on to say the total energy plant would reduce CO2 emissions each year by 28,000 tonnes – equivalent to taking 11,000 cars off the road.

He continued: “The glasshouse will be used to potentially grow vegetables or plants that traditionally would have to be imported from warmer climates, saving vital resources.

“The project will create further jobs in the area, bringing the total number employed to around 30 and will divert up to 150,000 tonnes of material each year from going to landfill.”

There are opportunities for someone to run their own business from the eight hectares of glass or work in partnership with Organic Recycling Ltd. Email marketing@organicrecycling.co.uk