• Thursday the 4th February was World Cancer Day and it is really important, perhaps more so than ever, that cancer patients are accessing the support they need, such as through Macmillan Cancer Support. It is also incredibly important to remember that if you suspect something is amiss with your health, you should talk to your GP. COVID-19 has been the big ‘C’ over the past year, but we mustn’t turn a blind eye to the impact cancer is still having on many people’s lives.
• Can you help our local community here in Corby & East Northamptonshire? Could you be a COVID Community Ambassador? Recruitment is ongoing to find volunteers to help keep residents informed. You really can make a difference! Follow the link to find out more: http://bit.ly/3a8eYhD.
• I thought it might be helpful for me to provide some information I have been given about forthcoming roadworks in our area, so local people have forewarning and can adapt any travel plans. As such, please find the relevant information at: https://www.votepursglove.co.uk/news/roadworks-over-coming-weeks.
• The Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service has joined forces with Crimestoppers to set up a new service aimed at reducing the number of deliberate fires. The service is called ‘Fire-Stoppers’ and allows people to provide information about suspected deliberate fires over the phone or online anonymously, following which the emergency services can then take the appropriate action. For more information, visit: https://forms.theiline.co.uk/firestoppers.
• Cold Weather Payments have been triggered this week in NN14, NN16, NN8, NN9, LE16, LE15, NN17, NN18, PE17, PE28, PE8, PE9, unlocking extra help for the most vulnerable this winter. For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility.
• Recently, the Football Foundation got in touch with me to highlight the latest investments made in Corby & East Northamptonshire to improve football facilities. Since 2000, they have funded over 135 projects locally, totalling over £2,200,000 in investments. This includes improvements to football facilities at West Glebe Park, Manor Sports and Leisure Centre and Islip Playing Field. Football is such an important part of so many people’s lives, particularly from the perspective of staying healthy, so this is great news locally!
• Highways England have been in touch to give advanced warning that the Chowns Mill Roundabout at Irthlingborough will be closed for resurfacing from 8pm on the 19/02/21 to 5am on the 22/02/21, and then again from 8pm on the 26/02/21 to 5am on the 01/03/21.
• East Northamptonshire Council are keen to remind voluntary and community organisations that they could be eligible for funding to help with their work. So any community organisation or group in East Northants that wishes to seek funding advice, or receive the regular funding updates, can contact ENC’s External Funding Manager on sdavies@east-northamptonshire.gov.uk. They’re keen and willing to help!
• I was recently contacted by Volunteer Action, a charity based in East Northamptonshire, which supports the elderly, unwell, disadvantaged and those with disabilities. The charity operates in Oundle, Thrapston and the surrounding villages from Easton-on-the Hill in the north to Titchmarsh in the south. If you would like to benefit from the support that Volunteer Action can provide, or indeed volunteer yourself, then you can find all of the details, here: http://www.volunteeractionoundle.org.uk/.
• The 18th to the 24th January was Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and the ‘Smear for Smear’ campaign raises some really important issues to help ensure people know where to find support and advice about cervical screening (smear tests), and reliable information about cervical cancer. Cervical screening can undoubtedly be life-saving and to find out more information, please visit: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/.
• The University of Cambridge recently got in touch to highlight the launch of their Foundation Year Programme, which is a fully-funded, year-long, residential programme, targeted at students who have experienced a range of educational disadvantages and disruptions. No tuition fees will be charged to students and they will also receive a scholarship to cover rent and other living costs. For more information about this fantastic opportunity, please visit: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/foundation-year.
• The National Literacy Trust and Oak National Academy have launched their new ‘Virtual School Library’, which provides free access to books for children across the UK during this national ‘lockdown’. This is a fantastic resource and I would strongly recommend that parents, carers and teachers take a look. More information: https://library.thenational.academy/.
• The St John Ambulance have been in touch to highlight the crucial role they are playing in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, which includes recruiting up to 30,500 volunteers in England with a range of roles. So far, in excess of 52,000 people have expressed an interest in volunteering as part of this and you too can get involved, here: https://www.sja.org.uk/what-we-do/Coronavirus-support/coronavirus-vaccine/. And a big ‘thank you’ to all those already doing amazing work as part of the huge national effort!
• You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or if you are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme. Information at: https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.
• With the suspension of all tours and other non-essential visits to Parliament, did you know that free tours and talks are now available to book online? These expert guided tours are a great opportunity to get to see inside the Houses of Parliament and learn more about the very heart of our democracy. More: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/virtualtour/.
• Older people in Corby & East Northamptonshire may be understandably worrying about managing over the coming months. The ‘Age UK Winter Hub’ has information on looking after your wellbeing, how to get support, and ways to help each other get through this winter. Well worth a look! See: www.ageuk.org.uk/winter.
• Sport England have introduced a funding stream called the ‘Return to Play Fund’, which sees £16.5 million available to support groups, clubs and organisations impacted by Coronavirus. The funding is broken down into three tranches and information about applying can be found, here: https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/our-funds. I really welcome this funding and hope it can help sporting organisations here in Corby & East Northamptonshire to weather the COVID storm!
• I am pleased to be supporting Sport England in their campaign for people to keep active during these challenging times, as their research has shown that activity levels have been dropping. Getting moving is incredibly beneficial, not only for physical health, but also for mental wellbeing. Sport England has a whole host of free workouts, which can be found, here: https://www.sportengland.org/jointhemovement. So, Corby & East Northamptonshire, let’s get moving!
• East Northamptonshire Council has produced a handy guide for recycling locally, so please do take a look and help to keep your recycling clean, as well as only recycling the items shown. If we don’t, all the good work literally goes to waste – with the whole lot agonisingly going to landfill! More: https://tinyurl.com/ybv2yau6.
• SEMLEP’s ‘Growth Hub’ has joined forces with Buckinghamshire Business First, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, New Anglia Growth Hub and OXLEP Growth Hub, to deliver a series of webinars helping businesses prepare for international trading in 2021 and beyond. These webinars will run through to March and you can find out more, here: https://www.semlepgrowthhub.com/events/. A very useful opportunity for local exporters!
• In addition to the above notice, SEMLEP’s Community Grants programme is open for applications. Voluntary, community and social enterprises can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 to deliver projects that help get people back into work or training. For more information, visit: https://www.semlep.com/community-grants/.
• Northamptonshire County Council has launched its third Community Flood Resilience Pathfinder project, which allows local communities to apply for support to reduce the likelihood of flash flooding. There are a few obvious areas locally that could potentially qualify for the scheme, and to find out more and apply, visit: https://www.floodtoolkit.com/pathfinder/.
• Thanks to improvements to the Charity Commission register of charities, you can now check for registered charities based in Corby & East Northamptonshire at the click of a button. Go to the charity register now to ensure you’re giving safely to recognised charities and make sure your kind donations do exactly what you intended them to:
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/constituency-search
• A particularly concerning aspect around our collective national effort to fight Coronavirus is the impact it is understandably having on people’s mental health. In response, I am pleased that our local councils and the NHS have launched a mental health support line, and whether you are feeling lonely, anxious, frightened, or struggling with other issues, there is friendly, professional support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 0300 330 1011.
• In addition to the above notice, the British Red Cross have set up a Coronavirus Support Line, open 7 days a week for anyone feeling worried or lonely. If you or someone you know is lonely, or finding it difficult to cope during these uncertain times, please call the free and confidential British Red Cross Coronavirus Support Line on 0808 196 3651, which is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
• A project that aims to remember all those who have very sadly lost their lives in the UK as a result of COVID-19 is being led by St Paul’s Cathedral in London, supported by community and faith leaders from across the country and HRH the Prince of Wales. Family, friends, or carers of those who have died can submit, free of charge, the name, photograph and a short message in honour of a lost loved one, via the ‘Remember Me’ website (www.rememberme2020.uk). Like us all, my thoughts are with all those who have sadly lost someone at this very difficult time, and this is a fitting tribute to remember them all.
• Around all the wonderful work going on in our community and the national effort to fight Coronavirus, I am really saddened to hear of the small minority of people who, disgracefully, are trying to take advantage of vulnerable people at this hugely challenging time. I am aware of several scams, and urge you to stay extra vigilant. Be suspicious around phone calls, texts and emails you weren't expecting, or people claiming to be from the Government, HMRC, or the local council. More information and advice, here: https://bit.ly/2HtMqE9.
If you have anything you would like to be featured next week, please email all the details to pursglovet@parliament.uk.
Also, if you have taken any photos of constituency landscapes or landmarks, which could be featured in my ‘Community Notices’ headers, please send them in and I will try to use as many of them as possible (and credit them accordingly!), as a celebration of the fantastic place we live and work in. I know we have many budding photographers in our community and it would be great to showcase their work!