This issue includes information about adult learning opportunities, family hubs and cost of living scams. You can also read about firefighter reporting times, Lincolnshire Rural Support Network and courier fraud.

Learning new skills – what can it do for you?

Lincolnshire County Council’s adult skills and family learning service provides a wide range of skills and wellbeing courses, including the new Multiply maths skills programme. Covering everything from learning maths to improving your IT skills, we work with local training providers to provide a huge range of accessible courses, with both formal and informal learning. Most are free and some can be completed from home.

Learning new skills can help boost your self-esteem, connect you to others and enhance your CV. Our courses support adults aged 19+ and are delivered by a team of trained professionals, who will support you to develop your skills, confidence, motivation and resilience as they guide you through your learning journey and help you reach your goals. Details of Multiply maths courses, as well as many other courses for adults across the county can be found at 2aspire.

Family Hubs coming to Lincolnshire! More support for all families to give children a better start in life

Lincolnshire County Council has been selected as one of 75 local authorities to benefit from the government’s Family Hubs programme.

The Family Hubs programme aims to make a positive difference to parents, carers and their children by providing high-quality, joined-up, whole-family support services from conception and through a child’s early years until they reach the age of 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive councillor for children’s services, said: “It’s well-known that a child’s early years have a significant impact on their later life. So, we want all Lincolnshire children to have a happy, healthy start in life and be well prepared for school. “There is clear evidence that by supporting all families, identifying risks early and preventing problems from escalating, we can achieve better long-term outcomes for children and their families. That means we must ensure families get the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Cost of Living scams and courier fraud

With household budgets stretched by rising livings costs, consumers are being warned to be on their guard against scammers offering deals that are too good to be true. All over the UK criminals are taking advantage of the financial hardship and government grants to scam people out of their hard-earned money.

For one in four (24%) UK adults, losing just £100 would tip them into serious financial crisis, unable to pay bills, buy food or buy other essentials. 

Courier fraud happens when criminals cold call you purporting to be a police officer or bank official, convincing you to hand over cash, bank cards or any high-value items to a courier that’s been sent to your home. 

Fraudsters may claim money has been removed from your account and the staff from your local bank are being investigated. They may say an individual known to you has been arrested but the “police officers” need money for evidence.

Remember banks or the police will never ask for your PIN, bank card, or any financial details or ask you to withdraw money or buy items on their behalf to be picked up by a courier.

Check out this link for more advice and information about scams to look out for, what you can do to protect yourself, and how you can take a stand against scams.

Report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online here.

Reporting fire response times

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is proposing to change the way it reports the time it takes fire appliances to attend incidents, to match how the Government reports it. This isn’t a change to how the service responds, but simply how attendance times are reported.

To have your say on these proposed changes, visit Let’s talk Lincolnshire. There are just two questions about the change so it won’t take long. The survey is open until 23 February 2023. There’s also more information about the benefits, challenges and existing arrangements. 

Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN)

LRSN provide emotional and practical support at times of anxiety, stress and change to our rural communities. At a time when the farming and agricultural community are facing huge challenges, this volunteer-led organisation provides a one-to-one service, tailored to individual needs. It works towards solving problems experienced by farmers and growers in Lincolnshire.

LRSN offer:

  • confidential emotional and practical support over the phone or face-to-face
  • practical solutions in partnership with a range of professionals
  • a countywide team of volunteers from an agricultural background
  • a helpline open 8am – 8pm every day of the year
  • health screening checks at Louth Cattle Market, Spalding Horticultural Auction, Melton Livestock Market and via a mobile clinic

To find out more information, sign up to their newsletter or to contact LRSN visit their website: Lincolnshire Rural Support NetworkHelpline: 0800 138 1710 or helpline@lrsn.co.uk