If any Clerks want to join the Clerks’ eGroup, or any councillors want to join the Councillor eGroup, contact enquiries@lalc.co.uk.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
This fortnightly newsletter is provided to member councils through the clerk and should be circulated to all councillors. This eNews can also be found on the LALC website under News.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
Training courses are available to book via the portal (login required)
The Training Bulletin is issued monthly, and courses are available to book via the portal. If there is any specific training which you feel would be valuable, and we don’t currently offer it, please let us know and we will investigate. The Training Bulletin can be found on the LALC website www.lalc.co.uk/training-2-1.
Clerks – when booking training for your councillors, please ensure that their email address is correct. If not, they will not receive the booking confirmation or any joining instructions.
If you update your council email and are already booked on training, please let us know so that we can update your booking to ensure you receive the automatic reminders.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
|
Position |
Closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th November 2023 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
18th November 2023 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer (Clerk/RFO) |
16th February 2024 |
|
|
Communications & Engagement Officer |
16th February 2024 |
|
|
Assistant Town Clerk |
16th February 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Deputy Town Clerk |
5th April 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
12th April 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th April 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th April 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th April 2024 |
|
|
Senior Engagement Officer |
15th April 2024 |
Vacancy advertising
LALC can advertise your vacancy on our website and in the fortnightly eNews. This is a free service. If you do not have a pre-prepared advert to send us, please complete our Vacancy Template, which can be found in the Members Portal under Document Templates.
We also offer a paid advertising service, which ensures that your advert also appears on Lincolnshire County Council’s website, Facebook, and LinkedIn (in addition to the LALC website and eNews). The current fee for this is £75. Please complete the Vacancy Template (as above), ensuring that all requested information is completed, and then contact us at enquiries@lalc.co.uk. You will be invoiced for this service.
Please note that Lincolnshire County Council require a closing date on their advert, as well as salary information (these are mandatory fields). LCC will remove your advert once the closing date has passed, so please consider the date carefully as you will have to pay again to re-advertise if your vacancy hasn’t been filled by then.
We recommend all councils advertise their vacancy, job details, method of application and up to date contact details on their own website too.
Please let us know when the vacancy has been filled, so that we can remove it from our website/eNews. If your vacancy has not yet been filled and you are continuing to advertise, please let us know of any revised closing date. If you no longer specify a closing date, please let us know so that we can update the vacancy adverts.
The NALC Recruitment Manual (developed as part of the Civility & Respect project) is now available via the portal. Go into Knowledgebase and click on 'Recruitment Manual' in the 'Employment' menu area.
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LALC Summer Conference – 24th July
The LALC Summer Conference this year will take place on Wednesday 24th July at Belton Woods Hotel, Belton, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LN.
Featuring a choice of workshops, Q&A session, trade stands and the LALC AGM.
Confirmed so far: Unity Trust Bank, Kompan, Blachere, Worknest (H&S), Clear Insurance, Vaughtons (civic regalia), Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service
The full programme will be announced nearer to the date.
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Thank you from a grateful clerk
LALC recently received a thank you from a clerk for all the help and support we have given the parish council and the clerk personally over the last couple of years.
I cannot tell you how much just knowing you are all there, ready with advice gives a degree of comfort to us all in our more difficult moments. So - A very big THANK YOU to all at LALC. Please keep up your excellent work.
LALC are here to support our member councils through whatever issues you may be facing.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
Don’t miss out! Places available on the Emergency Planning training – 16th April
This will be the only Emergency Planning training via LALC this year, so don’t miss out.
Join us for an interesting and informative day at the County Emergency Centre in Lincoln. The day will focus on the resilience programme and how groups and individuals can get involved.
Topics covered:
What is an emergency
Who is Lincs Fire & Rescue
What is emergency planning
Emergency plan development
Training available:
Responder Zero
Flood awareness
Operational response
Rest centre management
Recovery opportunities
Ready for Anything Volunteers
Other speakers including the Lincs Fire & Rescue Drone Pilot (explaining the drone's capability during flooding) and a representative from British Red Cross will be in attendance together with further speakers to be confirmed.
Book your places via the portal (login required).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
An Evening With……
Our first Evening With event featuring Paul Drury takes place at The Heath Village Hall & Library, Bracebridge Heath, on 23rd April from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Paul and colleagues from the Social Prescribing Team will be talking to local councils about volunteering, social prescribing and the relaunch of the Armed Forces Covenant. We need a minimum number of places booked for this FREE event to be viable and may have to cancel if we don’t receive more bookings so don’t miss out.
Our second Evening With event has just been announced for 22nd May from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at the Tower Gardens Pavilion, Skegness. Join Superintendent Patrick Coates from Lincolnshire Police (East Area), discussing ‘The Impact of Tourism and Growth on Policing and how we manage it’. Places are £10 per person.
Places for both events can be booked in the usual way via the LALC portal (login required).
If you have any suggestions for further Evening With events, please let us know. These new events have been organised in response to feedback and suggestions from members, but we do need your support for them to be viable.
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Latest News
To see the latest NALC news: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/news
To see the latest SLCC news: https://www.slcc.co.uk/news-publications/
(No login is required).
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NALC opposes the erosion of the democratic planning system
NALC has opposed further erosion of the democratic planning system by voicing concerns about the government's push to extend permitted development rights (PDRs).
In response to the government's changes to various permitted development rights consultation, NALC argued that, in principle, it was against the unfettered extension of PDRs. However, it did not oppose those PDRs that will help combat climate change, such as making it easier to set up electric vehicle charging points and ground-source heat pumps.
NALC believes removing the right of local planning authorities to make decisions on planning applications and local (parish and town) councils to comment on them constitutes a further loss of democratic input.
NALC supports that Assets of Community Value be subject to the removal of PDRs by imposing an Article 4 direction, which the local planning authority makes. It restricts the scope of PDRs about an area, site, or development anywhere in the authority's area.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities consultation contains proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and seeks views on proposals relating to permitted development rights.
Read the full consultation response:
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NALC’s young councillors network meeting sparks discussion on local governance
NALC National Network: Young councillors met on 19 March 2024 to discuss the challenges of being a young councillor, annual parish meetings, and councillor allowances.
The network featured a presentation from NALC’s Star Council Awards 2023 Young Councillor of the Year winner, Cllr Cameron Palin of East Cowes Town Council in the Isle of Wight. He shared his journey into politics and his experiences as a young councillor. Reflecting on his engagement with politics from the age of 14, Cllr Palin recounted his advocacy efforts aimed at addressing pressing community concerns. His political activism resulted in his election to the council at 18. He stressed the significance of local action in effecting tangible change.
Cllr Palin addressed the hurdles younger councillors face, particularly the struggle to be taken seriously in a field dominated by older colleagues. He highlighted the importance of perseverance and proactive engagement, advocating for a more inclusive approach to local governance that values the voices and contributions of younger representatives.
The network discussed whether annual council meetings are a good opportunity for councils to engage with the public and young people. One councillor shared insights from their council’s experience, noting that their annual meetings attract various organisations. They emphasised the value of networking and the importance of commemorating the council’s accomplishments from the past year.
The network addressed councillor allowances, with participants exploring the potential impact of financial incentives on enhancing participation, particularly among younger demographics. NALC proposed a comprehensive survey to gauge opinions and gather insights on the issue.
The network will next meet on 4 June 2024.
Find out more: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/our-work/nalc-national-networks#young-councillors
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Funding opportunities for .gov.uk domains
As you may already be aware, the Cabinet Office has secured funding to help councils with the initial cost of setting up a .gov.uk domain. This is a discount of £100 + VAT which is applied at the point of purchase by those Approved Registrars taking part in the Parish Council Domains Helper Service. The aim of the funding is to make it easier for councils to move across to, and enjoy the benefits of, a .gov.uk domain.
Please note that this funding is limited to helping a maximum of 1,000 councils with their move to a .gov.uk domain and is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Current funding will run until March 2025.
More information: https://tinyurl.com/24trm4vn
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Government publishes council tax levels for 2024/25
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published information on council tax levels set by councils in England for the financial year 2024/25.
Data specific to local (parish and town) councils includes:
Parish precepts in 2024/25 will total £783 million, which is £75 million higher than in 2023/24 and 1.9% of overall council tax.
The average Band D precept charged by local precepting bodies (including local councils) for 2024/25 will be £85.88, an increase of £6.74 or 8.5%.
The statistical release also shows:
The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England (including local councils) for 2024/25 is £2,171, an increase of £106 or 5.1% on the 2023/24 figure of £2,065.
The overall council tax requirement is £41.2 billion, £2.5 billion higher than in 2023/24.
The total tax base for setting council tax in 2024/25 is 19.0 million Band D equivalent dwellings, compared to 18.7 million Band D equivalent dwellings in 2023/24.
DLUHC will publish individual parish data for 2024/25 in May 2024
Read the statistical release on council tax levels set by local authorities for 2024/25:
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NALC supports The Carbon Literacy Project's new toolkit
NALC has welcomed The Carbon Literacy Project's new toolkit for local (parish and town) councils.
The toolkit equips councillors and officers to lead by example, cascade environmentally sustainable and socially responsible values, and engage residents in practical and transformative action. A panel of councils has reviewed and piloted it to help understand and promote Carbon Literacy.
The Carbon Literacy Project enables the delivery of a day's worth of practical and relevant climate action training that maximises the learners' ability and motivation to contribute to tackling the climate crisis. As part of the training, all learners commit to taking two significant carbon reduction actions within their control, and successful learners are certified as Carbon Literate. Over 85,000 learners from over 6,000 organisations have certified Carbon Literate learners across all seven continents. At COP21, the UN recognised Carbon Literacy as one of 100 transformative action programs worldwide, which could materially change how we deal with climate change if rolled out at scale.
Find out more about The Carbon Literacy project:
https://www.nalc.gov.uk/our-work/climate-change#the-carbon-literacy-project
Email: localauthorities@carbonliteracy.com
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CiLCA certificates required for intermediate external audit
You might be aware that PKF Littlejohn recently informed clerks that one of this year's intermediate audit* requirements involves demonstrating proficiency in using the General Power Of Competence (GPOC) by presenting their Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). To assist those who may not have a copy of their CiLCA certificate, SLCC have updated their website to enable candidates to capture a screenshot of their qualification in the account area (SLCC login required). However, SLCC are currently awaiting clarification on whether this method of documentation will be accepted.
LALC will provide a further update once this is clarified.
* PKF Littlejohn will notify individual councils which fall into the intermediate audit requirement for this year. (An intermediate review is automatic for councils where your income or expenditure is greater that £200,000. In addition, PKF Littlejohn decide a random sample each year of up to 5% of smaller authorities for intermediate review).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰꙰
Neighbourhood Policing Team Plan
Lincolnshire neighbourhood policing teams (NPTs) have set out in eight new accessible plans how they will keep communities safe. Each NPT area features its own unique characteristics and challenges, and our teams listen throughout the year to those who live and work there to understand their concerns.
In doing so, they can tailor our policing response to local areas of concern. In the past year, for instance, we’ve reduced the number of caravan burglaries on the east coast and made a real impact on drugs supply in West Lindsey. The new plans followed on from the success of last year’s summertime policing plan, which received positive feedback from both the public and our partners.
That concept was expanded to plans for each neighbourhood area, which include:
An introduction from the local inspector or chief inspector.
How we will tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Our plans to protect the public from harm.
The ways in which we will help those in need.
Find the neighbourhood policing plan for North Kesteven on the Lincolnshire Police website: https://tinyurl.com/2p9sjvb6
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Government Report on Rural Proofing
The government has published its policy paper “Delivering rural opportunity: third report on rural proofing”. The government’s aim is to “to enhance the quality of life for people living and working in the countryside, tackling disadvantage and harnessing the rich human, economic and natural potential that exists across rural England.”
The paper includes a section on communities with a focus on health, thriving communities (including a mention of the Community Ownership Fund), education, and rural crime.
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Are the defibrillators in your community registered on The Circuit?
It takes less than 5 minutes to register a defibrillator on The Circuit – the national defibrillator network – yet it could be the difference between life and death. Help us ensure your community defibrillators have the best chance of saving a life.
Did you know that there are over 87,000 defibrillators registered on The Circuit? Yet despite this, it’s estimated that tens of thousands of defibrillators are still unknown to the ambulance services.
Thousands of families in the UK are left devastated by cardiac arrest every year. Early use of a defibrillator with CPR can more than double the chances of survival. But if ambulance services don’t know where they are, they can’t direct people to them in an emergency. That’s where The Circuit comes in.
British Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council UK, NHS England, St John Ambulance, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives worked with all fourteen ambulance services to develop the national defibrillator network known as The Circuit. The Circuit helps emergency call handlers to direct bystanders to their nearest defibrillator when 999 is called in the ultimate medical emergency. It could make the difference between life and death.
Check whether your defibrillators are currently registered: https://www.defibfinder.uk/
Register your defibrillator on The Circuit: https://www.thecircuit.uk/
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NKDC Election staff opportunities
As you may be aware there is a Police and Crime Commissioner election taking place on 2 May and NKDC Elections Team are looking for staff to fill some roles at the election, in particular Poll Clerks at present.
If you might be interested or know of anyone else, such as parish councillors, friends and family, more information on job roles and an application form can be found at:
https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/electoral-registration-elections/election-job-opportunities
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County council announces Community Crossings Initiative
Over ten Lincolnshire crossings will be built over the next eighteen months as part of the new county council project.
The Community Crossings Initiative will cost £3.8 million in total, with £1.5 million earmarked by Executive in 2023 and the remaining coming from a combination of additional county council funding and developer contributions.
New or improved pedestrian crossing facilities are being planned for:
Newbridge Hill in Louth
B1174 High Street in Great Gonerby
A16 Main Road in Stickney
A52 Swineshead Road in Boston (downtown near Alban Retail Park)
A52 Barrowby Road in Grantham (south of Poplar Farm)
A52 Barrowby Road in Grantham (near Greenhill Road)
A15 in Thurlby (south of High Street)
Lincoln Road in Skellingthorpe
A1500 Tillbridge Lane in Sturton by Stow (adjacent to B1241)
High Street in Blyton (near the primary school)
B1397 London Road in Wyberton
Spalding Road in Holbeach
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Lincolnshire County Council Good Citizens Award
Volunteers play an integral role in making Lincolnshire a great place to live. That’s why we want to hear from you if you know any unsung heroes who deserve to have their achievements celebrated by nominating them for a Lincolnshire County Council Good Citizens Award.
This could be a young person who has raised funds for charity, a community group that has organised events to support local good causes, or people who give up their time to selflessly look out for others.
We are looking for individuals and teams of people to be nominated for the following categories:
Citizen of the year,
Young citizen of the year (aged 21 or below),
Community group of the year and
Couple/pair of the year
Find out more and make your nomination search for Good Citizens Award at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
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Sign up to the LCC Town and Parishes newsletter - email lcctownandparishnews@lincolnshire.gov.uk
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Do it online: another way to contact the police
A new policing app has been launched to allow the public to report crimes and incidents, find out information about local policing teams and access prevention advice and support for victims and witnesses of crime.
The app, called Police.UK, is available via both the Google Play and iOS App stores and has been delivered by the National Police Chief’s Council’s Digital Public Contact Programme (DPC).
It allows the public to report crimes and incidents, find crime prevention advice for a wide range of issues, such as burglary or vehicle crime prevention advice, which is nationally consistent, information about local neighbourhood policing teams, listing who is on the team, local crime information and priorities and any upcoming meetings in the community.
The app partners with the content that is available via the Police.uk website, the national policing website for services and information, as well as the functionality of the Single Online Home web platform which supports 38 out of 43 police force websites.
Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/6eey86j8
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The April 2024 edition of OUR NEWS is here
The latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales can be found here:
Highlights in April's edition:
The results from our National Crime and Community Survey 2023 are in and ready for you to read
Recordings from our spring webinar series are now available
It's time to get ready for Neighbourhood Watch Week and the Month of Community!
You can win a £50 Shop voucher for sharing your community stories
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Clear Council is here!
As you are part of the Clear Utility Solutions family we wanted to share some news about our national Council energy scheme, recently we secured our 17th CALCS partnership in England adding more weight to our buying power when it comes to negotiating your energy contract, this has coincided nicely with the creation of our new Council branding "Clear Council" and launch of our new website - Check us out - https://www.clearutilitysolutions.com/clear-council
We are extremely proud to report our schemes highlights so far!
Over 900 Councils helped across England
Over 900k kg of CO2e emissions prevented
Over £1.2 Million of public money saved
The wholesale market at a glance…
The mild weather seen in December has continued through the New Year and into Spring helping to keep energy prices in check throughout what is usually a difficult period for the grid. Recent events on the global stage such as Houthi rebels attacking shipping have seen wholesale prices fluctuate since late February but this has not had a significant impact on consumer prices.
Domestic Price Cap
Despite some excellent tariffs available from smaller suppliers throughout most of last year, competition was still lacking from some of the bigger household names and while there is some way to go before we can safely say the market is functioning normally, the situation is improving and the gap closing. Recently, two domestic energy companies have both offered fixed tariffs for homeowners roughly £200 a year cheaper than the price cap so we just need the Big Five to follow suit.
OFGEM’s new price cap tariff will come into effect from 1st April and unsurprisingly UK homes will see a reduction of 12% on the average bill. The decrease of £238 to £1690 for an average annual bill is wholly in line with industry expectations and a further reduction is also expected for the Summer / Q3 announcement, although this has been revised upwards by £19 from its previous position.
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NKDC Climate scorecard success!
North Kesteven District Council has been praised for its work on addressing climate change in a national analysis of all councils’ performance published last week.
Its work in Planning and Land Use and Collaboration and Engagement is highlighted in the new report by Climate Emergency UK, whose ‘scorecards’ rank the actions of every UK council against a number of criteria.
The report, titled “Scorecards Successes: What factors enable climate action within UK local authorities?”, places the authority 50 percentage points above average for Planning and Land Use and 28 percentage points above average for Collaboration and Engagement when compared to other District Councils.
The Council scored 14 percentage points higher than the average District Council score overall, achieving a ranking of 12th in the UK (out of 164 District Councils). It's a really positive reflection also on the support from our partners to help everyone to #ActOnClimate - thank you.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3n5r3xpu
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Government Changes to Planning Applications – Biodiversity Net Gain
The Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is introducing a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement to ‘small site’ planning applications from 2 April 2024, following its introduction to major planning applications last month (via amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in the Environment Act 2021). BNG is a government strategy to try and ensure that developments leave wildlife and the environment in a better state than it was before, requiring at least a 10% uplift of the biodiversity value found on the site prior to any application being built.
A ‘small site’ could include development such as:
Residential development where the number of dwellings is between 1 and 9 on a site of an area 1 hectare or less, or if the number of dwellings is unknown, the site area is less than 0.5 hectares.
Commercial development where floor space created is less than 1,000 square metres or total site area is less than 1 hectare.
For more information around this change, and what is means for new applications, please visit https://loom.ly/b8F9nec
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Round four of the Community Ownership Fund opens for applications
The fourth and final round of the government’s £150 million Community Ownership Fund opened for applications on 25 March 2024.
The fund aims to support communities in taking ownership of assets at risk of being lost, help community groups where the asset is already in community ownership but needs essential renovations to be sustainable for the long-term benefit of the community, strengthen community ownership across the UK, and strengthen the social infrastructure that helps communities thrive. Following successful lobbying by NALC last year, the fund was extended to allow applications from local (parish and town councils).
In this fourth round of the fund, local councils can bid for up to £2 million in capital funding and £50,000 in revenue to help protect local assets such as sports facilities, arts and music venues, museums and galleries, parks, pubs, post offices, and shops.
The first window of the fourth round is open until 10 April 2024, and the second window will open in late May.
Find out more about the fund: https://tinyurl.com/572xzahx
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Spending will increase to £783m in 2024-25
Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) shows that parish and town council spending will increase from £708m in 2023-24 to £783m in 2024-25, with the average council tax surcharge rising by 8.5% for the coming year.
Cllr Keith Stevens, chair of the National Association of Local Councils, says parish and town councils “are the unsung heroes of local government, stepping up to play a more active role in improving their communities, and increasingly taking on more responsibilities from financially challenged larger local authorities”. While they represent just 1.9% of overall council tax, he added, “they are investing five times more in local communities than they were two and half decades ago”.
Read more:
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NKDC Reminder – Riparian ownership
As you know, many areas across North Kesteven were affected by Storm Babet and Storm Henk. Some communities have suffered repeated flooding over the years.
Acknowledging the water management responsibilities of organisations such as the Environment Agency and Anglian Water is an important part of the picture - however there are also responsibilities placed on individuals and others. Unfortunately, some are often unaware of those riparian responsibilities.
With heavy rainfall drains can quickly get blocked, and one contributory factor is poorly maintained ditches and watercourses around a settlement and the knock-on effect this has on the water systems.
Lincolnshire County Council has a Common Works Programme Team which is working hard with parishes and elected Members to identify causes of flooding and implement remedial works. They often, but not always, find that flooding occurs or is exacerbated by blocked watercourses. Many of these watercourses are the responsibility of individual private landowners/homeowners, who have a duty to maintain the watercourse.
The following leaflet explains about those responsibilities further: https://tinyurl.com/3cbz4zmv
NKDC request your support in further promoting this across your parish.
Other information can be found here:
https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/environment-climate/water-supplies-flooding-drainage-sewers/drainage
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NALC Blog - April is stress awareness month!
Author: Kathryn Cousins, wellbeing programme manager, The Stress Management Society
Mental health impacts our mind and body. It affects how we think, feel, and behave in every aspect of life, both personal and in the workplace. It can feel challenging to break free from the cyclical nature of poor mental health, as feeling stressed may result in being unproductive, leading to a higher workload, resulting in overwhelm and ultimately more pressure.
Many of us have heard the advice regarding exercise, getting over 8 hours of sleep, preparing fresh meals, staying hydrated, and meditating, but most of us simply don’t have time or energy for self-care. However, it is easy to underestimate how impactful small steps can be. Allocating 5 minutes for your wellbeing can make a significant difference. It’s a gentle but powerful way to start taking action to build your resilience and pave the way for your wellbeing to flourish.
The importance of being present cannot be overstated. When we focus our attention on the present moment, we are allowing ourselves to experience life as it unfolds. When I become present and mindful of the things around me, I feel a sense of freedom and clarity. A simple technique I use to feel mindful (which simply means ‘to be present in the moment with no judgement’) is to tune in to the present moment as I observe it with my five senses. Taking a walk, noticing how the sun feels on my skin, hearing the wind, and seeing nature around me. It’s a simple and free way to feel present in the moment. Like anything, the more you practice something, the better you get. So, by practicing mindfulness, you may notice that you find it easier to let your thoughts go and become grounded in what’s right in your present moment. Incorporating small practices into our daily routine can, over time, amount to significant changes to our wellbeing.
Some small suggestions that can make a big difference include:
Spending at least 10 minutes a day in nature.
Get your body moving through walking, dancing to your favourite track, or a quick jog.
Write out your to-do list the night before to clear up any racing thoughts.
Scribble down all the things that are worrying you, be honest about how you’re feeling, and feel that sense of relief.
Embrace positivity, write down three things you’re grateful for, and shift your focus to positive things in life.
It’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, so enjoy the journey of discovering what suits you and helps you thrive. The aim is to find short activities that inspire you, bring you joy and relaxation, and are achievable each day. It’s natural, of course, to reflect on the past and plan for the future; however, know that you can reclaim the power of your thoughts and cultivate your awareness of the present. The present is called ‘present’ for a reason. It is a gift to every one of us, so I invite you to use your present well today and every day.
Read the full article here: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/news/entry/2867-april-is-stress-awareness-month
Further information: https://www.stress.org.uk/sam2020/ or email info@stress.org.uk
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Cemetery of the Year Awards 2024
The FREE to enter Cemetery of the Year Awards (CYA) is once again available from 31 March until 30 June 2024 and is open to any burial authority (cemetery or churchyard) within the UK.
The three categories of cemeteries in this year’s competition are:
Large burial grounds above 10,000 graves
Small/medium burial grounds up to 10,000 graves
Parish, town and community councils
New: This year we are introducing a photographic element to the competition to allow a subjective section to the scoring process. This will only involve the CYA finalists during adjudication. Extra marks will be awarded for the maintenance and appeal of their cemeteries and used to determine the gold and silver places in their category creating another dimension to the competition.
The winner will receive a CYA gold award certificate and a CYA press release that can be used to promote your work in your local newspaper. Silver award certificates will be presented to the runners-up along with CYA press releases to promote your work.
The competition will also include a new category in this year’s competition: The Best New CYA Entrant Award, for the highest scoring new entry in CYA 2024.
Is Your Cemetery up to Standard exercise
This is a simple survey for your cemetery that will allow you to see where you are in providing a modern service for the bereaved. Please answer honestly – yes or no – to the whole question. Your individual results will never be published, but the accumulative results will be shared with all participants. You can print your own survey and send it to your elected members if you wish. The object is to highlight where your cemetery could be improved, and provide some best practice examples of how to achieve this, often at very little expense.
The BRAMM Memorial Masons Award
A chance for memorial masons to showcase their work, the Memorial Masons Award will be open to any memorial already fitted in a cemetery within the last five years. It will be marked on its design and innovation qualities and the winner will receive £1000 prize money along with a CYA gold award certificate and a CYA press release that can be used to promote your work. Silver awards will be presented to the runners up along with a CYA press release to promote your work. If you have a suitable memorial – simply send a (max of three) photographs of the memorial (after obtaining permission from the family).
The CYA competition is designed not only to improve standards within burial grounds but also to encourage compliance with legislation and support best practice with information from leading burial authority organisations.
Read more: https://www.slcc.co.uk/cemetery-of-the-year-awards-2024-2/
To enter any of the categories in this year CYA competition, simply go to www.cemeteryoftheyear.org.uk
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SLCC Annual Awards 2024
Celebrate the skills, dedication and professionalism of senior officers serving councils throughout England and Wales by putting forward your colleague(s) for SLCC’s Annual Awards 2024 – now open for nominations!
Submit your nomination(s) before the closing date on Friday 16 August 2024. A panel appointed by SLCC’s Board of Directors will determine the best three nominees in each category and winners will be announced at National Conference 2024.
The various categories of awards are:
Heart of the Parish Award: this new award aims to recognise the invaluable contributions made by clerks to smaller parish councils, and celebrates those who through their tireless efforts, whether as a sole employee or as part of a smaller team, serve as the beating heart of their communities, embodying dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment.
New Clerk of the Year Award: celebrates the achievements of a clerk who has demonstrated exceptional promise and excellence in the early stages of their career. We’re seeking nominees who have displayed unwavering commitment to their role and who has less than three years of service in the profession (entering their role after 1 October 2021). Previous winners have been recognised for revitalising struggling councils, having tackled challenges efficiently and effectively, introducing new and innovative projects, or for simply being an inspiration.
Bryan Metcalf Award for Volunteering: in memory of one of SLCC’s greatest and longest serving volunteers, this award honours clerks who have generously given their unpaid time and effort to support SLCC’s mission, showing exceptional service and commitment to our members and the sector. Previous winners have been recognised for serving as board directors, various branch roles, mentoring roles and much more.
Long Service Award(s): recognises a select few nominees annually who have dedicated themselves to serving the local council sector and SLCC over an extended period of time. Please note that successful nominations must have 30 years’ of service as a clerk and active involvement with SLCC.
Complete your nomination here: https://tinyurl.com/5drfm97j
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Calling all community knitters – join the Lincs & Knotts helicopter challenge!
Help celebrate the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire air ambulance 30th anniversary year and make helicopter postbox toppers or yarn bombs to display in your local community.
Find out more: https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/volunteer-for-us/lincs-knotts-helicopter-challenge/
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