by Martin Thomas | Jan 22, 2021 | Advertise, Aromatherapy, Bands, Brewing, Coffee, Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Docks Beers, Facebook, Fishing, Food, Great Grimsby Day, Great Grimsby Day 2021, Grimsby, Grimsby Minster, Humberside, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Minster, Twitter, Vouchers, YouTube
Great Grimsby Day
Grimsby Minster
Great Grimsby Day
Great Grimsby Day 2021 was held on Friday 22 January (traditionally held on 22 January each year) but celebrations were low key due to the pandemic restrictions. Trying to research the origins of the day has proven difficult. The earliest mention of Great Grimsby Day that I can find is via the BBC Radio Humberside website in 2008. Despite searching and searching I haven’t been able to find anything earlier or even the origins of the day. However, the further I delved into the research, the more I found. If you would like to find more search for Great Grimsby Day or #GreatGrimsbyDay
From 2025 Great Grimsby Day will be celebrated on 11 March to coincide with the signing of the Royal Charter in 1201.
Grimsby has a long history with the first charter being granted in 1201. Grimsby is famous for being Britains seafood town of course but the deeper I delve, the more history and diversity I uncover. The Grimsby Minster (pictured above) gained its Minster status on 16 May 2010 but its history goes way back to before 1114. Click on the picture above to go to the Minster website.
I thought it was fitting to add this YouTube video from the Minster featuring The Choirs of Grimsby Minster
Finding the opening subject of a blog featuring a town with so much rich history as Great Grimsby is bound to be difficult but I hope you’ll agree that The Grimsby Minster fits the bill pretty well. If you would like any more information about the Minster, its services and what it has to offer the community you can follow them on Twitter @GrimsbyMinster or Facebook Grimsby Minster
Fishing From Grimsby
A huge part of the history of Grimsby revolves around the fishing industry. Searching online I came across this wonderful Youtube video by Paul Cleary which was posted in 2014. Paul is the son of a fisherman and is donating all proceeds from the video to the R.N.L.I and R.N.M.D.S.F.
Click here to go to the YouTube video
Life And Fishing Move On
Technology and science has led to changes in fishing methods of course and JCS Fish have taken a different approach to the deep sea trawling methods:
Supplying Salmon to shops and restaurants across the country JCS Fish are at the forefront of salmon fishing and production. You can find them on LinkedIn as JCS Fish
Picture taken following a visit to JCS Fish Ltd in 2016 when they had a charity cake sale. The words ‘charity’ and ‘cake’ were enough of an invitation for me to make the trip from Lincoln! Apologies for the quality of the picture though – I’m pretty sure it would have been taken using an iPhone 5. It is a lovely view though isn’t it
Smoked
Grimsby, fish and smoked all seem to go together well so if you like smoked fish you need to visit award winning Alfred Enderby for smoked haddock and smoked salmon. Visit the website to place your order and have your selection delivered.
Click on the picture to go to the website. We all deserve something special and I think this will hit the spot. Follow Alfred on twitter for regular updates @AlfredEnderbyGY
Great Grimsby Day – A Trip Worth Making
I had never visited on Great Grimsby Day so 22 January 2022 was added in my diary to make sure I didn’t miss the sights and smells of land and sea. It would be silly to make the trip and not take in some light refreshments of course so I can recommend a visit to Riverhead Coffee for a brew and a bite to eat. This cheeky picture was take during the same 2016 trip when I stopped off at the nearby Cleethorpes cafe. There is a second shop in Grimsby too of course so even during the lockdown you’ll be able to buy your supplies for Great Grimsby Day of goodies including Stokes Coffee
A coffee at Riverhead Coffee is bound to raise a smile – Click on the picture to go to the Facebook page
Great Grimsby Day – Food, Drink And More…
The whole of Lincolnshire is always buzzing with activity. Famed for its food production, fantastic cafes and restaurants, warm hospitality and beer. We have a huge brewery industry on the rise across the whole County so it would be amiss of me to not include Docks Beers in this blog. Brewing craft beers in an old church on King Edward Street since 2018 the team deliver beer both locally and nationwide. There is no keeping a good idea down so as a result the team have expanded to include spiced rum and gin too.
…And More
It would be unusual to complete the Lincs Connect blog without including some music and entertainment so here goes; Docks Beers also includes the outstanding Docks Academy where you’re sure to find the best live music, comedy and events. Sadly the latest Red Herring Comedy Club events scheduled for February and March have had to be postponed. Another casualty of the Covid-19 lockdown precautions but the good news is that the tickets will remain valid and the event will be re-scheduled. Supporting local and big name bands and artists this surely has to be one of the ‘must visit’ venues in the UK.
Local Bands
Celebrating Great Grimsby Day without including a local band would be like….. well, ‘fish without chips’!
I’ve heard all of the Trak3 singles and in my mind, this is their best recording yet. These guys are just getting better and better. You can follow them on Twitter @Trak3_Official but don’t forget to hop over to their YouTube channel to see what else they have to offer. This one is called ‘Get It Poppin’ and I think it really deserves a listen.
Indigo Bay are producing some great music too and deserve a listen. They’ve featured on BBC Introducing @BBCLincsIntro and I’ll be really surprised if they aren’t one of the big bands of the future. Have a listen to ‘Reservoir Relaxing’ then give them a follow on twitter @theindigobay and Facebook Indigo Bay plus their YouTube channel too of course.
Great Grimsby Day – Advert
Mandarin Therapies provides bespoke mobile complementary therapies across the whole County and beyond. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months. Contact Mandarin Therapies on 07966 174878 or book through Facebook Mandarin Therapies
Advertising
To book your advert on the local blogs email martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
Community
Your local police force @HumberBeats is here to help and inform when you need it. As a result, they have set up a ‘My Community Alert’ scheme for you to get information when you need it:
For more information and to sign up to the alert system go the the Humberside Police website by clicking on this link: www.mycommunityalert.co.uk
Visit Grimsby
Grimsby has so much more to offer than I can ever list here. You’ll find shopping at Freshney Place, Abbeygate and markets at Freeman Street, Victoria Street and of course Grimsby Top Town Market. Between them they’ll have all of your shopping needs catered for from clothing to stamps and from farm produce to flowers. For more information visit www.nelincs.gov.uk
Far too many fantastic businesses to mention in a single blog! You can have a blog of your own created by contacting martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
You’ll be able to use your dedicated blog for your own personal advertising. Get in touch for more information.
Find Locals On Twitter
Simply click on the logo to go to the twitter page:
Add Yourself To The List
If you would like to be added to this list please get in touch. It’s not too late to add a feature too as this blog will be live and available for Grimsby ‘forever’. contact martin@lincsconnect.co.uk for info.
That’s It For Now
There will be more local blogs out soon but if you would like to see what else has been posted take a look at www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs
In Case You Missed It
Click on the links to go to previous blogs:
Stay Safe
Have a lovely Great Grimsby Day everyone and stay safe.
“Putting the social back into social media” #LincsConnect is always here for you.
by Martin Thomas | Jan 7, 2021 | Aromatherapy, Barton, Choral, Covid-19, Grimsby, Heritage, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Minster, Philharmonic, Vouchers
The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom
Click on the picture to go to the website – The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom
There’s lots to see and do in Grimsby, even during a Covid-19 pandemic. For those of you who know me, you’ll know I’m a music fan. I remember going to see the Grimsby Philharmonic performing ‘The Armed Man – A Mass For Peace’ by Karl Jenkins at the Grimsby Central Hall. The tickets were a gift for my birthday in October 2016 and the performance was a real treat. Alas, the Central Hall isn’t open at the moment (more about the hall later) but the practice and performance continues for The Grimsby Philharmonic on Zoom.
The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom
Zoom Practice
The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom is something quite new and exciting because it means that members can still be together even though they’re on lockdown. I’ve been told how easy it is to join in a Zoom session but it wasn’t until this week that I discovered just how easy it actually is! I’ll explain more later in the blog.
The new Grimsby Philharmonic Zoom practice sessions start on Monday 11 January 2021 (sessions from 7.15pm – 8.45pm). As a result you’ll be able to log in and join the fun. It’s best to allow for a 7.00pm start though to give everyone time to register and get organised before rehearsals start. With a virtual festival planned practice will begin with John Rutter’s The Spring Of Thyme. It’s hoped to have a performance (live or on Zoom) during the summer with proceedings conducted by Karen Beer.
The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom – You Are Invited
The choral society membership is open to everyone and all ages so if you would like to get involved you can make contact through the website www.grimsbyphilharmonicsociety.co.uk Twitter @gyphilharmonic Facebook Grimsby Philharmonic Society and Instagram grimsbyphilharmonicsociety
Diary Date
Add Monday evenings from 7.00pm into your weekly calendar, download the Zoom App (if you haven’t already) and book yourself in by making contact through one of the links above for an evening of song and socialising.
#WhatsOnLincs The Grimsby Philharmonic On Zoom starting 11 Jan 21 at 7.15pm.
Grimsby – Music And Words
Over the last week I’ve been featuring a piece by Grimsby Minster each morning as my #LincsConnect song of the week. It’s not actually a song but I saw it and just felt it fitted nicely into the Lincs Connect sense of heritage and way of thinking. The video link to that is below but you’ll also notice a Facebook video above too which is an organ recital to raise much needed funds. Please do have a listen and make a donation if you can.
You can follow Grimsby Minster on facebook by clicking on this link: Grimsby Minster
“In To My Loving Arms”
A piece written by Ben Keaton and read by Gemma Baker. A wonderful piece describing the soul of Grimsby
Grimsby Central Hall
A ‘must visit’ theatre close to the centre of Grimsby which, if you have never been before, will surely surprise you! All quiet and in darkness now due to the National Covid-19 lockdown but definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY a lace to visit in the future. It’s a charity run organisation so your support is vital for its survival but ‘survive’ it must!
Did you know that it has its own Fishermans chapel and war memorial? The building ‘shouts’ grandure with its marvellous staircase and fantastic auditorium. Have a look at their Twitter page @BoxOfficeGCH to look back at some of the performances that have been put on for our delight. There are other rooms that can be hired out there too of course. As a result you’ll be able to plan your meetings, parties, gatherings or even exercise sessions while at the same time supporting the survival of some local history.
Click on the picture to go to the website contact page
Click on the picture for more information
If you’re in the Grimsby area and didn’t know this marvellous piece of heritage was on your doorstep I strongly urge you to pay a visit when it’s safe to do so. Here are some pictures from inside the chapel:
Zoom In…
Confession time! This week was the first time I’ve used Zoom. It wasn’t really a case of ‘resisting’ it or being ‘fearful’ of the technology but I just hadn’t had cause to use it before. Most of my work is done on an individual basis so FaceTime of WhatsApp video calls have been my obvious choices. However, I had an interview with Richard Watts from Barton FM radio station and he needed it to be on Zoom to record and upload it onto YouTube. I was surprised how easy it was too organise. I simply downloaded the Zoom App from my Apple store, copied and pasted the link he sent me and that was it! Even I can do it!!
The interview centred around an explanation of what #LincsConnect is and my plans for the new #ShopLincs hashtag and App too. As a result of the interview you are able to see the YouTube results here:
The @LincsConnect #ShopLincs hashtag is now live and the App should be available soon. For a little more information take a look at this blog:
Happy Impulsive New Year
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Vouchers are on sale now and valid for 12 months. Call 07966 174878 for your e-voucher
Advertising
If you would like to advertise on these blogs please do get in touch. You can email me at martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
That’s It For Now
I hope you enjoy reading my blogs. If you would like a blog about your area or something you are passionate about please do get in touch.
Stay Safe
Please follow the rules even if you don’t agree with them. We can achieve great things when we work together so please stay in if you can, wash your hands regularly, keep your distance and wear a face covering over your mouth ‘and nose’ whenever instructed.
by Martin Thomas | Dec 30, 2020 | Lincs Connect
Happy Impulsive New Year From LincsConnect
Let me start by wishing you a Happy Impulsive New Year. let 2021 begin…
2021 Here We Come…
Happy impulsive New Year. The old year has certainly been ‘different’ and 2021 is set to continue in the same manner. As we try to stay safe by not gathering in groups we’ll be missing the usual New Years Eve celebrations and fireworks. As more and more events are cancelled or fail to be organised I wish you a very happy ‘impulsive’ New Year. Look to the future and organise something when it’s safe.
You can be impulsive! ‘Last minute’ arrangements and bookings are the way forward and as life gradually becomes safer more events will be organised.
Happy Impulsive New Year
Organise or book your events on a whim. We missed our Christmas parties so organise one for friends and family in May, June or July. The warmer months should be safer and restrictions will probably be eased. Holiday bookings will be down in January and February but as life becomes safer be more impulsive. Organise it, book it and enjoy it. Travel companies and airlines will be more than happy to take last minute bookings.
Keep It Local
If, like me, you’re still not sure about travelling abroad there will be lots of local and national holidays available for us to enjoy. Local hoteliers and campsites will be happy to take your bookings so when the time is right, ‘be impulsive’.
What takes your fancy? Camping in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Norfolk for me. Getting out to enjoy our Lincolnshire towns and countryside will be high on my agenda too. If you’re able, get out into the Lincolnshire wolds for a walk. Need help? Ask me, I’ll happily organise it for you and your friends if you need assistance.
You can have a happy impulsive New Year so look forward to the summer and ‘be impulsive’!
Happy Impulsive New Year – ShopLincs
The new #ShopLincs hashtag is now live for the County to utilise in the New Year. Get behind it by adding it to your social media posts as it covers the whole county from the Humber to The Wash. Let’s spread the word.
Some local businesses have already started offering discounts for #LincsConnect users ahead of its official launch. Social media is free so they are taking advantage of the free advertising and marketing that it has to offer. A directory of local participating traders will be produced to make life easier for you and, in addition, I’m researching the production of an App. The App will enable each trader to post their own individual discounts and offers from money off to bulk buy deals or other incentives.
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The hashtag was launched on 29 December and people are already starting to use it. As a result more people will become aware of the deals on offer. I’ll be talking more about it on local radio stations including Smooth East Midlands, Lincoln City Radio and Barton FM. Once word starts to spread I anticipate more radio stations wanting to chat about it leading to a greater local awareness. Local businesses can sign up to the App. As a result there will be more traffic in their shop leading to increased sales.
You can Contact me by email martin@lincsconnect.co.uk to be a part of this new venture.
Impulsive Or Spontaneous?
Happy Impulsive New yer or should that be ‘spontaneous’? Whichever term you choose to use you’ll find yourself doing the things you want to do. As a result, you’ll have something to look forward to in 2021. We’ll have a much better year and we’ll learn to have fun again. Impulsive need not mean ‘expensive’. On the contrary, a spontaneous decision to visit the coast or go to the cinema need not break the bank. That spontaneous desire to have fun needs to be actioned upon. After the restrictions of 2020 and early 2021 you owe it to yourself to get out and have fun.
Entertainment
Fancy listening to some local music? Take a look at the LAAMB website to see what takes your fancy:
Click on the picture to go to the website
If you’re worried the website is just about music, spend time having a browse to find sections for artists and venue locators too.
Christmas…
Christmas isn’t over yet. In fact, the countdown is on for our next Christmas celebration! Was December 2020 a washout for you? Were you left feeling ‘cheated’ out of your normal Christmas? Did you miss the big family gathering? You ‘can’ redeem Christmas of course. How? It’s easy! Be impulsive – book a table at your local pub or hotel and have a Christmas party. Do it in June or July. There’s nothing to stop you so when the time is right, get it booked.
Music Vibes
OK, buying Christmas music now might seem a bit odd but once you’ve bought the track, it’s yours to play every year. You can check out a few local bands here for your Christmas music. As a result you’ll be supporting locals and will already have part of your playlist for your summer Christmas party!
Jake Newby Music
Sales from this Jake Newby Christmas single go towards funding local Lincolnshire food banks. It’s a lovely song so why not download it for your next Christmas party? As a result, you’ll be helping to fund local charities and that’s always a good thing. Not only is it a lovely song by a very talented singer but it’s helping those who may be experiencing hardship right now. In addition to his website you’ll also be able to find him on Facebook Jake Newby.
Click on this link to get your copy from Apple Music
You can download the single directly from Bandcamp here
Christmas Chris
This track was adopted by Sleaford as its official Christmas song. I can see why! Not only is this a great production but it’s a really good reminder of what we have all been through. As a result, I think this song is going to be timeless and certainly deserves adding to your Christmas playlist. ‘Christmas Chris’ AKA Chris Clark from Sleaford has produced this single to help cheer up the local children. When you see it (YouTube link below) you’ll see that he has achieved priority No 1. It’s a great video too so do give it a ‘thumbs up’ when you see it. Christmas Bubble made it into the iTunes Charts too so that’s quite a coup for Chris, the children and Street Star Live Studios in Sleaford. You can find Chris on Twitter @dedboy2000
Click on the picture to download your copy from Amazon now for just 99p
Click on the Apple to download your copy from Apple Music
Revivalry
Would you like to hear a fresh young local band? Click on the YouTube link below to have a listen. This band of youngsters have appeared several times in past blogs but I’m happy to post this again because they really are very good. You’ll find Revivalry on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube so please look them up. These youngsters hail from Cleethorpes and their average age is 15. Yes, that’s ‘FIFTEEN’ – unbelievable! It may be just me but I’m sure I can detect a touch of ‘Blondie’ in this song:
Would you like a copy? That’s easy! You can download your digital copy by clicking on the pictures below:
Click on the ‘amazon music’ logo to go straight to the shop
Click on the apple to buy from iTunes
Music, Music, Music….
I could fill the blog quite easily with lots of music links but I think I’ll save some for another blog. Don’t forget to download some local music though because it’s good to #ShopLincs
Happy Impulsive New Year
While wishing you all a very happy ‘impulsive’ New Year I also have a darker message to share with you. I’ve mentioned this before in previous blogs but it’s an important message that needs to be shared.
Domestic abuse is a daily worry for many people across the UK and Lincolnshire is no exception! Do you know someone who used to be bubbly and outgoing but now seems more withdrawn? Perhaps you never see your friend alone anymore because the partner is always around to keep a ‘watchful eye’. These are just two signs of potential domestic abuse. Some signs (bruising) are obvious but control and abuse can take many forms. What can you do about it? You can contact @edanlincs (End Domestic Abuse Now in Lincolnshire) via twitter, through their website www.edanlincs.org.uk or by phone 01522 510041.
Call the National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247 if you need help. If you need immediate help call Lincolnshire police on 101. If you are in danger dial 999 and if you need a silent call add 55. As a direct result the police control room WILL monitor and trace your call and will dispatch staff to rescue you. Don’t suffer alone. Do seek help. If you need refuge follow this link to REFUGE which is open 24 hours a day and has a ‘quick exit’ button for your safety.
If you know of someone who is or may be suffering, ‘do something about it’. There is a ‘domestic abuse’ button on the Lincolnshire Police website which will be useful for information and reporting. As a direct result, you could save someone a lot of pain and heartache.
COMPETITION TIME – Happy Impulsive New Year from LincsConnect
This is the last remaining ‘Lincoln Time Shift’ calendar and you can get your hands on it absolutely FREE of charge….
Click on this image and send your details to John via his ‘contact’ page
This unique calendar shows a ‘mashup’ of pictures which takes us back to the way things used to be. The images are cleverly blended to show ‘then and now’ images for a little bit of history of our local area. Contact John at Light And Dreams Photography to enter the FREE draw. This is the last remaining calendar so you’ll need to be quick. The winner will be drawn at random on Sunday 10 January 2021. You can follow John on Twitter @jpbphotography
Good luck
Happy Impulsive New Year – That’s A Wrap…
Let me finish by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Don’t forget to make it a ‘Happy Random New Year’ too of course.
In Case You Missed It
Take a look at some of my previous blogs and do pass them around to let your friends see them too. Advertising space is available for 2021 so contact me if you would like to have your advert here.
Don’t rely on algorithms to make your Lincolnshire connections
by Martin Thomas | Dec 3, 2020 | Charity, Christmas, Covid-19, Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, Donate, Facebook, Foodbank, Hashtags, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile, Social
Click on the picture to hear the new single and have the opportunity to buy your own copy. Every purchase will help someone local so that will make you a Lincolnshire Christmas Social Hero too!
Christmas Angel by Jake Newby
Lincolnshire Christmas Social Heroes are all around us and this charity fund raising single is a perfect example. It’s been a pretty bad year for most of us and it’s fair to assume that the local (and national) charities have been hit very hard as we tighten our belts and reign in our spending. It’s important to remember though that if we don’t have the cash to spend we might be able to use our talents and skills to help others. Jake Newby from Louth has done just that! You can click on the picture above to go straight to his website to listen to the new song ‘Christmas Angel’. If you buy a copy you’ll instantly become one of the Lincolnshire Christmas Social Heroes too!
Why? Because all proceeds will be going to help local food banks! Not only is it a lovely song by a very talented singer but it’s helping those who may be experiencing hardship right now. In addition to his website you’ll also be able to find him on Facebook Jake Newby.
You can also download a copy from iTunes. Just follow the link by clicking on the picture below:
Click on the picture to download your copy from iTunes
You Can Donate To Become One Of The Lincolnshire Christmas Social Heroes
Find out more by clicking on this picture. Gemma will be really pleased to hear from you and you can become a Lincolnshire Christmas Social Hero too.
On the subject of Lincolnshire Christmas Social Heroes, meet Gemma from @vegoutlincoln on Twitter who is collecting cash donations through her Just Giving page. You can help by donating a little bit of cash of course. Just click on the picture above to donate if you can. Here’s a quote from Gemma to explain: “This Christmas we would REALLY love to be able to support our local community by building plant based food packages for the Lincoln Food Bank… As a business we will be compiling food packages ready for delivery to the food bank on 18th December.” It goes without saying of course that your donations will be funding plant based meals for those with special dietary requirements.
Local Lincolnshire Food Banks
I know the subject is Lincolnshire Christmas Social Heroes but The Lincolnshire Food Partnership is very active in our region all year. They work tirelessly to make sure as many people as possible have access to food. It’s a partnership of several different organisations who come together to coordinate and distribute food to those who need it. You can find them on twitter @food_lincoln or click on the link above/picture below to go to their website. Being in food poverty is a real problem and has been heightened during the current pandemic. If you can help them in any way please do contact them. If you’re in need of help in any way please don’t be afraid to ask. The food banks are here to help.
Click on this picture to go straight to the interactive map and locate a food bank near you. They’re there to help but will also be grateful for donations
Getting Around Lincolnshire At Christmas With The Lincoln DialaRide Social Heroes
Food is vital of course but it’s important to remember other aspects of what it takes to be a Lincolnshire social hero. I’ve been watching the ‘comings and goings’ of the Lincoln DialaRide team over the past few months and it’s fair to say they’re doing a fantastic job. “Lincoln Area DialaRide Ltd is a Registered Charity. It’s managed by a Board of Trustees that includes users of the DialaRide (DAR), Voluntary Car Scheme (VCS) & Shopmobility services.” That pretty much sums up the description don’t you think? There is still more and more, and more…. to add but the list of good deeds they do is far too big to mention it all here.
Staffed mainly by volunteers the Lincoln DialaRide has been serving the community for 30 years. Not only does it provide local transport to hospitals and shops but the service also takes people to funerals. Delivering food for the Food Bank to those unable to collect as well as being a drop off point for collections. This really is just scraping the surface of the huge amount they do for the community. Other services include providing mobility for shopping for those who are less able. If you would like to volunteer for your community you might like to contact Lincoln DialaRide. Here are the links for Twitter, Facebook and their website: Twitter @lincolndar Facebook Lincoln.dar website www.lincolndialaride.co.uk
#NoExcuseForAbuse
Domestic abuse affects women and men regardless of age, education, religion, race or sexual orientation. It’s not something we should tolerate in our society but it’s possible that some ‘victims’ may not even know that they are victims! If you would like to reach out for help End Domestic Abuse Now (EDAN) @EDANlincs is here for you. You can follow them on Twitter or check out their website : www.edanlincs.org.uk where you’ll find a handy ‘Escape From The Website’ button on the top right of the page. Take a look at this video on Facebook or YouTube:
Domestic abuse is never OK. If you’re in danger of harm call 999. EDAN Lincs is here to support you. Click on the pictures to view the video on Facebook or YouTube
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Ask about the 20% discount for emergency services, NHS and Armed Forces
Christmas Presents Needed In Lincolnshire
Well, maybe not too cold if you’re indoors with the central heating on but spare a thought for the homeless. Circumstances can change quite quickly if bad luck hits; It could mean you don’t have a roof over your head! Thankfully there are several fantastic charities in our area who regularly ‘step up to the mark’ to help those in need. I don’t want to try to list them all because I’m bound to miss out someone important. The Lincoln YMCA is one of several organisations that help to get people off the streets and into housing. Would it surprise you to know that they have 175 residents currently in shelter at the moment?
The Lincoln YMCA Shoebox Campaign 2020 need our support. Be a Lincolnshire Christmas Social Hero. Just Click on the picture to go to the website for more information or find them on Twitter @YMCAlincs
If you have any spare shoe boxes please donate them to the YMCA. Better still, if you can provide any of the items listed in the picture above please feel free to include them too. Don’t forget to mark the box ‘Male’ or ‘Female’ though for certain items. Moving up to the North of our County you’ll find more projects underway with the YMCA Humber team. You can support them by organising your own fundraising events. Take a look at the picture below for more information:
Support @YMCAHumber with their project ‘Give As You Live’ by setting up your own fundraiser challenges. You too can be a ‘Lincolnshire Christmas Social Hero’ Click on the picture to find out more
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together
We may not be able to physically spend a Lincolnshire Christmas together but I’m sure we’ll do our best to to make it festive and fun.
If the Covid-19 virus restrictions allow I hope there’ll be some form of limited travel allowed. On a personal note I think I prefer to spend my time with my family at home. Yes, it’s going to be different and difficult but ‘hopefully’ it’ll be a restriction for just this year. I’ve no doubt it’s going to be lonely for many people but with a little lateral thinking and our community spirit I’m sure we’ll find a way to reach out….. Read More…
Click on the picture to read more about ‘A Lincolnshire Christmas Together’
For A Lincolnshire Christmas Use #LincsConnectChristmas
If you’re wondering who is posting on the hashtag I suggest you have a look today. For a Lincolnshire Christmas use #LincsConnectChristmas on your tweets to reach more local people. Don’t forget to search the hashtag too because you’ll find lots of lovely gift ideas there. The hashtag isn’t just for Twitter though; There are posts on Facebook and Instagram too so go to your search bar and type in #LincsConnectChristmas to see what comes up…. Read More…
Click on the picture to read more about ‘For A Lincolnshire Christmas Use #LincsConnect’
That’s All For Now…
That’s it for the blog at the moment but I do intend to update this one and post several more blogs too. Get in touch with any requests by emailing me at martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Nov 15, 2020 | Aromatherapy, Art, Christmas, Cleethorpes, Covid-19, Discount, Facebook, Foodbank, Grimsby, Hashtags, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile, Shop, Twitter, Vouchers, Website
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together
We may not be able to physically spend a Lincolnshire Christmas together but I’m sure we’ll do our best to to make it festive and fun.
If the Covid-19 virus restrictions allow I hope there’ll be some form of limited travel allowed. On a personal note I think I prefer to spend my time with my family at home. Yes, it’s going to be different and difficult but ‘hopefully’ it’ll be a restriction for just this year. I’ve no doubt it’s going to be lonely for many people but with a little lateral thinking and our community spirit I’m sure we’ll find a way to reach out.
Christmas Is Coming Early
Obviously Christmas Day won’t be changing – December 25th will still be the day to celebrate with presents. FaceTime/Zoom/Teamer etc will help with an element of ‘cyber togetherness’ even if we can’t celebrate with physical togetherness. What will you be doing? You can make time for others less fortunate of course. I’ve made contact with a few agencies in the County and will post a few links later for those of you who are willing to have a look.
I’ve heard back from Cath who runs the Grimsby Food Kitchen and she told me that the traditional Chinese/Indian buffet will be held on 13 December for the homeless thanks to a generous £500.00 donation y Micky Dalton. Meat has been paid for by generous public donations and the outstanding support of Gary’s Meat in Freeman Street, Grimsby. As always though they need donations so please make a donation of £2.00 if you can. You’ll find more info on their Facebook page.
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together – Click on the picture to go to the Grimsby Food Kitchen Facebook page
Christmas Decorations In November…
Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ for you? Many people don’t want to think about Christmas before December but we’re in uncharted territory this year! I’ve been talking about Christmas since 7 September and trying to get people enthused. Why? Because it’s been a bad year for most traders and general public alike. If I can encourage people to plan their online shops early perhaps we can salvage some of the poor sales. In addition, if more people shop early for Christmas and, most importantly, shop locally, we’ll have a better survival rate for local businesses into 2021. ‘A Lincolnshire Christmas together’ really is our key to success. It’s not just about spending the day with family and friends (or not as the case may be) but making sure we stick together by shopping locally.
Black Friday?
Black Friday is an American tradition so why it’s popular over here I have no idea! In Britain it used to be the ‘end of season sale’ or ‘the winter sale’ followed by the ‘January sales’ and ‘Boxing Day sales’. It would be nice to get back to our own traditions wouldn’t it? At a time of financial uncertainties how useful is a big sale before the biggest spending season of the year? Looking at Black Friday with my cynical head on, it’s just a way of trying to get us to part with our hard earned money in the big stores.
Cyber Monday
The last Monday in November has become known as cyber Monday. It follows Black Friday and is, for many, the last pay day before Christmas. Many bargains can be had online but please don’t forget to support our local traders in their online shops and on the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag. Please be aware that scammers and hackers will have posted ‘bargains’ too and they will do whatever they can to steal your money. Please stay vigilant and remember ‘if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is’!
Lincolnshire Discounts
How would you feel about having a ‘free to use’ local discount scheme?
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together for all of us
A window, till or website sticker advertising local discounts will be appealing to shoppers. A screenshot of the discount logo presented at the till when making a local purchase will be easy to use. Terms & Conditions being open to shop and service owners for individual discount as appropriate will be easy to manage. Each provider setting a specific discount or offer rather than having a set figure imposed will make the scheme more workable too. Creating a special discount on ‘end of range’ items, ‘buy one, get one half price’, 10% off selected range or donations made to charity etc will give the provider the flexibility needed to make the scheme workable.
Tailored to fit your own requirements, a dedicated App will be the obvious next step. By working together we can create our own County wide scheme that will benefit everyone. I’ve mentioned it on twitter and it certainly generated some interest so do let me know if you’d like to join in. I’ll be interested to hear from traders and customers so please feel free to email me with your thoughts: martin@lncsconnect.co.uk
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A Lincolnshire Musical Christmas
If you’ve read my previous blogs you’ll know that I like to support everything ‘local’ and that includes music too. The @LincsConnect twitter account has a weekly featured artist, band or choir so that’s definitely worth popping over to see. With that in mind, I thought I’d share a song by a group of youngsters who’re surely destined for greater things. You’ll find them on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube so please look them up. These youngsters hail from Cleethorpes and their average age is 15. Yes, that’s ‘FIFTEEN’ – unbelievable!
Have a listen to the latest recording by Revivalry by clicking on this picture. Link to YouTube
Lincolnshire Shopping Lists
Do you make a shopping list? Santa likes a list so when you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas visit the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag on twitter and Facebook. There are lots of lovely gift ideas so have a look at the posts by our local traders. After all, every penny spent there will be helping someone local and keeping the local economy going.
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together – Click on the picture to go straight to the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together – #LincsArtCraftHour
If you like arts, crafts and hand made jewellery etc visit the #LincsArtCraftHour hashtag for local inspiration. We’re really lucky to have such talented people in our County so please do support them.
Click on the picture to visit the hashtag but better still, please do join us on Twitter if you get the chance
A Lincolnshire Christmas Together – Local Shopping
During the recent #LincsArtCraftHour sessions we have seen quite a few artists and crafters joining in and showing their gift ideas. The hashtags highlight some of them so please take a look to see what they have to offer. Clicking on the picture below will take to some of our fabulous traders.
After all, Christmas ‘is’ coming and I’m sure that you’ll agree that it’s good to support our local traders:
For a Lincolnshire Christmas use the hashtag #LincsConnectChristmas and don’t forget to click on this picture to find some local traders who have lots of goodies for you
Dark Side – Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse ….. Rather than going away, this ugly and often hidden form of abuse is now more prevalent than ever.
Locked in together can cause some anxieties and tension for families but we usually have coping mechanisms and rational thinking that allow us to overcome the tensions with simple distractions. However, abusers and those suffering from abuse (physical, mental, emotional or financial) can really be finding life even more difficult now. Domestic abuse doesn’t have age limits or gender preferences. If you know someone who is suffering call the police today. You’ll find some useful numbers here but if there is an immediate threat of harm call 999. The Covid 19 lockdown won’t stop the police from carrying out their duties. They’re here for us 24 hours a day.
Click on this picture for more information. There is ALWAYS someone to help you
Click on the picture to go to the Lincolnshire Police Facebook page
Help Me Help You In Lincolnshire With #LincsConnect
Help me help you in Lincolnshire with #LincsConnect by interacting with the many local users. It can’t have escaped your attention that I’ve been busy on your behalf. #LincsConnect help and support is a given with retweets on twitter and posts on Facebook to help promote your business and events. Blogs too of course! I know you appreciate what I do and I appreciate the fact that you share what I’m doing too. I still need you to help me, help you in Lincolnshire though.
#LincsConnect – is here to support all things Lincolnshire but it only works when we work as a team. With 11,000 Twitter followers (steadily growing) I know that your help is working for me too. However, at the risk of sounding cheeky, I still need more help. We’re heading for a major recession and rise in the cost of living so working together as a team is even more important than it ever has been. You’re still posting your work using LincsConnect and I’m very grateful. LincsConnect is trying hard to share your work around Lincolnshire, Newark, Retford and Hull but I really need to ask more people to search the hashtag #LincsConnect (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) to help share the messages and support each other.
Just imagine, if all 11,000 local followers each searched the #LincsConnect hashtag and shared just one message….!
Additional Blogs By LincsConnect
If you would like to read more about the ideas and tips please follow the link in the picture:
To see more about how you can Help me, Help You In Lincolnshire just click on this picture
That’s All For Now…
That’s it for the blog at the moment but I do intend to update this one and post several more blogs too. Get in touch with any requests by emailing me at martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Nov 1, 2020 | Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Discount, Download, Facebook, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Lockdown, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile, Shopping, Special Offer, Vouchers, Website
Lincolnshire Lockdown V2.0
Lincolnshire Lockdown V2.0 isn’t what we want but we can work together to turn it to our advantage. If you work with #LincsConnect we can get results together. As the country enters its second Covid-19 lockdown on Thursday 5 November 2020 we need a plan. Lincolnshire has been in this situation before and as a result we’re better prepared now. Do you have a plan for Lincolnshire lockdown V2.0? Your first round of plans may have worked well and as a result you’re just needing to make some minor adjustments to keep trading. Perhaps the first lockdown was a disaster for you? As a result you’ve tweaked and manipulated your plan to make it work this time. Good for you, that’s exactly what is needed to keep going.
Free Advertising
We all like something that’s ‘free’ but we probably also know that nothing is truly free! Twitter – that’s free! Facebook and Instagram are also free too so where’s the catch? Simple! If you want ‘free’ advertising you have to invest your time. By investing your time your posts are more likely to be seen and acted upon. Would you like to know how to do it?
Social Media Interaction
I’ve said it many times before; the clue is in the name. ‘Social’ media should be exactly what it says in the title. Actually ‘talk’ to your followers.
There’s a TV advert for a room freshener implying that the character has gone ‘nose blind’. In social media terms, if you post, post, post with no interaction your followers will see your posts but they won’t register in their mind. Because of this you need to talk to your followers. Talking and interacting with your followers will help them to remember you as that nice person/organisation/business who takes an interest. Talking to your followers doesn’t mean telling them how good you are and what you have to sell them. Instead, you should show an interest to let them know you care. As a result they’ll ask you what you do and what you have to offer. Regardless of your product or service you don’t need to do the ‘hard sell’.
Lincolnshire Lockdown V2.0 – Lincolnshire Discount Scheme
Would you be interested in joining a local discount/special offer scheme? A scheme where ‘you’ set your discount level or special offers. As a result it could lead to more people visiting your social media pages and/or shop and buying your products. Shopping in your physical store, website or virtual store could suddenly be more appealing. What if the logo is readily downloadable from social media platforms to be stored on a mobile device ready for use when shopping? Matching the downloaded logo from a smart phone with the logo displayed in your window, on your social media page or website to claim a special offer sounds appealing.
What if the download is free? Surely that would make it even more appealing to the shopper. As a result they try your shop over others because they know there is something in it for them. Store cards sound great but often don’t live up to expectations! What if you offered a 5% discount to customers who present the logo? Perhaps you might prefer to have a special offer on selected items rather than all of your stock. It’ll work for service providers too of course.
Lincolnshire Lockdown V2.0 – Feedback Please
Does this discount/offer idea sound good to you? I really need your feedback (positive or negative) before I decide to take the idea forward so please do let me know your thoughts. You can leave a comment at the bottom of this blog or email me at martin@lincsconnect.co.uk
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Help Me, Help You
To help me help you please add a link to this blog in your social media advertising. If you’re talking about Christmas, Christmas gifts, Christmas offers and postage you can add a link to this blog to help explain that you’re trying to compete against ‘the big boys’ but at the same time you’ll be increasing readership of this blog. With that achieved I’ll be able to reach out to more people to help advertise your business. We really can help each other.
Incase You Missed It
Lincolnshire Lockdown V2.0 – Local Shopping
Below is a list of some local traders taking part in the #LincsArtCraftHour on Monday lunch times. Please take a look to see what they have to offer. After all, Christmas ‘is’ coming and I’m sure that you’ll agree that it’s good to support our local traders:
Twitter, Facebook & Etsy/Folksy
Stay Safe
Look after yourselves and you neighbours. I’ll be back with another blog very soon.
