YOU’VE MADE IT ANOTHER WEEK, GIVE YOURSELF A HAND!
Is anyone else marking the passage of time by how many times you’ve put out the bins?Thursday just seems to come around so quickly (and also soooo slowly) these days. Just me? Worryingly it’s become the highlight of my week! Organising the recycling, cramming the wheelie bin full of the other stuff and making ‘must go to the tip, one day’ piles in the garage. I’m finding it strangely cathartic!
With another week of lockdown under our belt we think we should all say well done. It’s not been easy and if anyone had said a few months ago that 99% of the country would willingly stay home and not socialise then I’m not sure I would have believed them, so it’s an amazing achievement by all of us. This week, when clapping for our emergency services, add an extra clap in for yourself too. #clapforME
Give yourself another clap if you’ve already been in touch to book in a FREE Thirty Minute Mentoring session with myself or Kevin. We’ve had a great response and have spoken to some lovely people – just click here to get the ball rolling and start talking.
As we keep saying, Silence is not golden, we’ve all got to keep talking! Once again, if you’ve got a story that you’d like to share, or if you just want a chat, get in touch by email: [email protected] or [email protected] or call us on 07713 740 272
Enjoy what’s set to be another sunny weekend, stay home and stay safe, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy the content below.
Take care
Jon, Kevin & the
#FUfighters.x
obligatory bad joke
I’ve just started reading an amazing book about lubricants.
It’s non-friction.
2000 VAL VOLUNTEERS SEEK CHARITIES IN CRISIS
A campaign by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire – in partnership with Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council – has seen an unprecedented response from its appeal for volunteers.
In just two weeks, over 2000 community-minded individuals have responded to the call-out, offering their help, expertise – or sometimes just an ear to listen – to crisis-stricken charities and voluntary groups across the city and county who have seen their normal support network collapse due to the Coronavirus outbreak and lockdown measures.
So far, Voluntary Action LeicesterShire – who are the Nationally Accredited Volunteer Centre for Leicester and Leicestershire – have been able to ‘match-make’ the skills of 639 of the 2000 to voluntary groups or projects who have initially stepped forward – including a major project for Loughborough University.
But today, they are making a fresh appeal…
The Leicester-based ‘charity hub’ is, today, making a fresh appeal to charity projects or voluntary groups themselves, who may be struggling under the radar and who could be supported through this initiative, to get in touch as there are a further 1300 willing volunteers yet to be placed – be that in providing front line assistance, back-office support or for DBS-linked work. VAL are also keen to stress that these individuals come with a VAL assurance and due diligence has been operated, which means the right person (or people) can be matched to the right group.
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire can be contacted on 0116 257 5050 or www.VALonline.org.uk
SEE CURVE’S WHAT THE BUTLER SAW FOR FREE
The show must go online at Curve and we’re thrilled that they will be sharing an archive recording of the 2017 Made at Curve and Theatre Royal Bath co-production of Joe Orton’s contemporary classic, What The Butler Saw – especially as we never got a chance to see it!
What the Butler Saw was Orton’s final play, completed just a month before his untimely death. This Made at Curve production, directed by Nikolai Foster, was performed 50 years after the death of the celebrated Leicester playwright.
Archive recordings are made by theatres on a single camera at the back of the auditorium and are never usually intended for public broadcast, so it’s a real treat to see! The video is also available with captions, so everyone can enjoy it. The captioned archive recording will be live here from 7pm on Sun 19 April. Join the conversation online with #CurveButler
https://www.curveonline.co.uk/news/watch-our-archive-recording-of-joe-ortons-what-the-butler-saw/
WIN! A £5000 PUBLICITY PACKAGE WITH FU MEDIA & DLUXE MAGAZINE
Publicity specialists, FU Media, and luxury magazine, DLUXE, have joined forces to offer an exclusive competition to win a year-long publicity package – worth over £5000.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply CLICK HERE.
T&Cs apply. Competition closes 31st May 2020.
CHAMBER WEBSITE IS A HUB OF INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES
East Midlands Chamber of Commerce is still very much open for business and its website has an excellent section devoted to helping businesses affected by the Covid-19 outbreak including downloadable templates, legal advice, grant and funding information and health and wellbeing information – you can access it here
DOUBLE O NO, NO, NO!
You’ve not had the full lockdown experience unless you’ve watched at least one James Bond film in the last couple of weeks, but did you know that Burt Reynolds turned down the iconic role of 007? Using Deep Fake technology, you can get a glimpse of what it might have looked like – our minds are blown! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foqeQM-7PSg
‘THERE WITH YOU’ FUND RELEASED
There With You is a new fund that launched yesterday in conjunction with Randal Charitable Foundation and LeicestershireLive that aims to help support those in Leicestershire who find themselves in need due to the Covid-19 crisis. It’s providing access to small grants (up to £300), to provide everyday items that most of us take for granted.
The fund aims to raise £250,000 via individual and business donations and was launched on the back of a grant from the Randal Charitable Foundation, which will see £96,000 made available for grants immediately.
You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ThereWithYouFund or businesses can contact Charity Link at [email protected]
CRAFT BEERS BROUGHT STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR
Market Harborough’s, Braybrooke Beer Co, started in 2017 with one aim: to make really good lager. Their belief is that beer doesn’t have to be complicated, so long as it’s made in the right way with commitment to quality – and that’s exactly what they’re doing. We are loving their beer home delivery service – yes, you read that correctly – that’s open to homes within a 20-mile radius of the brewery in Market Harborough and are currently offering 25% off for NHS workers during this difficult time.
All the beers are available to shop here https://www.braybrookebeer.co/shop
FU MEDIA OFFER FREE ‘30-MINUTE MENTORING’ SESSIONS
As you may have gathered by now, FU Media like to talk and if you’ve met us in person then you know that’s definitely true! Since 1999, we’ve championed the idea of keeping in touch and staying connected – and it’s more critical now than ever before, be that for the preservation of your business, sanity or both!
Talking to your customers, appealing to new ones and promoting what you do as a business in an engaging way is what will give you the very best chance of surviving this difficult period and emerging in fighting-shape on the other side. Those that quietly hibernate will be slower to respond, giving you advantage when the good times return, which is why FU Media has announced the launch of a new service: ‘30-Minute Mentoring’.
In this one-to-one Zoom session, you are openly invited to talk about you and your business needs with the FU founders, Kevin Urquhart and Jonathan Fraser. Areas of advice might include: Social Media and Website Updates, PR and Press Releases, Marketing & Advertising, Design, Mentoring and Access to Professional Services:
Feel free to pick up the phone on 077137 40272 (Kevin Urquhart)/ 0772 5809654 (Jonathan Fraser) or email directly on [email protected] / [email protected] to book your free, ‘30-Minute Mentoring’ session today.
SICK OF ALL THAT BANANA BREAD YET? THEN WHY NOT MAKE IT BOOZY?
Another thing that’s fast become a lockdown tradition is baking Banana Bread; our Instagram feeds are currently flooded with banana bread galore and it is B-A-N-A-N-A-S! So, whether you have hopped onto the trend already or are yet to dabble, Aldi has upped the ante by adding a bit of blueberries and booze to the mix – and we’re right on board!
If you fancy indulging in something boozi-ful and sweet, Aldi’s Triple ‘B’ Banana Bake is straight forward and easy to make with the key ingredients of Bananas, Blueberries and Booze! A scRUMptious choice ideal to whip up in the afternoon, before catching up with friends via Zoom and showing the result on the ‘gram.
The Triple ‘B’ Banana Bake
Ingredients: 150g blueberries, x2 ripe bananas, 140g self-raising flour, 140g caster sugar, 140g Aldi’s Perfect for Cake spread, x2 medium eggs, 1tsp baking powder and 50ml of Spiced Rum – try Aldi’s Old Hopking (£10.49).
Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line the side of cake tin with non-stick baking parchment. Peel bananas and chop. Whisk bananas, rum, eggs, spread, caster sugar, flour and baking powder until smooth or blend in a food processor. Put a third of the batter into the bread tin and sprinkle over a third of the blueberries. Repeat this until you have used all the ingredients. Bake for 40 minutes, or until risen. Allow to cool, then slice, serve and enjoy!
SANDERS SENIOR LIVING PROVIDE MEALS FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE
Graysford Hall in Stoneygate have committed to an initiative to help feed the vulnerable. Run by Sanders Senior Living, the team, who care for older people, including those living with dementia, wanted to do their bit during the lockdown period so reached out to local charities, volunteer organisations and their local council to work together and form a recipient list for their meals on wheels service, which began earlier this week.
The chefs and their catering teams each aim to provide an extra 200 hot meals per week, delivered from door to door by volunteers from the homes’ local area. Those receiving meals can look forward to dishes such as shepherd’s pie; chicken in mushroom sauce and beef stew. Recipients so far include those in sheltered housing, isolated elderly people and deprived families.
For more information, and to make contact with a Sanders Senior Living care home for ways to be involved, please visit www.sandersseniorliving.co.uk
LOOKING FORWARD: LET’S CELEBRATE WITH JANE BARBEARY
Quorn’s Jane Barbeary is a television journalist, news reporter and newly qualified wedding and naming celebrant. Here she explains what celebrants do, and the growing trend for more personalised ceremonies.
COVID-19 WORKPLACE HYGIENE GUIDANCE
Sitemark, the independent benchmarking service for the facilities management industry, has launched a workplace hygiene information film in response to the Coronavirus outbreak to enable businesses to maintain clean and hygienic facilities and users/staff remain healthy. As we unlock buildings in the coming weeks, this will become increasingly important to avoid a second wave of infections, so take note.
AVOID THE DENTIST DURING LOCKDOWN
With regular dental check-ups off the radar for the time-being, it’s crucial to take extra-special care of your gnashers on lockdown. The expert team of dentists at Together Dental have created a ‘Top 10’ of things you can do to maintain good oral health from home.
- Moderate your diet
Increase the amount of vegetables that contain healthy fibre; reduce the frequency of consumption of sugary and also acidic foods and drink such as fruit teas and fizzy drinks.
- Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth
Brushing before bed leaves your mouth clean overnight, when your mouth becomes drier, and bacteria begins to multiply.
- Brush-up on your brushing technique
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, when you get up and before you go to bed, for two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
- Slow down!
Most people brush their teeth in a hurry. To do a good job of cleaning your teeth it is important not to rush it. Work slowly in soft, gentle, circular motions.
- Go electric
A manual toothbrush is effective so long as you brush ALL the surfaces of ALL your teeth and gently angle the bristles towards the gumline. Electric toothbrushes take the effort out of brushing, allowing you to focus on your technique.
- Fluoride, fluoride, fluoride
Use fluoride toothpaste. Adults should use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,450 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.
- Floss
Flossing once a day reduces plaque in between teeth, the gumline and helping to lower any gum inflammation in your mouth.
- Stop Smoking and Moderate your Alcohol intake
Smoking is not just bad for our general health but puts us at risk of oral cancer. Smoking and drinking together increases the risk of mouth cancer by up to 30 times.
- Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by exposed dentine and can be caused by over-zealous tooth-brushing. Changing to a softer brush and using a sensitive toothpaste may help.
- Think of looking after your teeth as part of your positive personal routine
Habits such as getting up at a regular time, following the same personal hygiene routine, eating and exercising at set times can all help to support a positive mindset.
