FU Loves The Midlands #2

HAPPY EASTER!

 

It seems a little surreal that we’ve got here but got here we have – we hope you managed to get your hands on enough chocolate to see you through the long weekend and have plenty of things planned to do whilst staying at home to make the most of the sunshine.

Us? Well, we have a weekend planned in the garden and we’re going with a festival theme! Rugs on the lawn, music playing, sunbathing and dancing round the garden in between BBQs. We might even pop the telly in the garden and replay a bit of Glastonbury online!


So we’re not alone, we’ll be sharing all the festival-feels with family and friends over the webcam on a tablet.  All the fun of having friends over, but less washing up at the end – win!

As we’ve said before, it’s all about the little victories in life, so let’s celebrate them and show that we’re all still winning. Share your successes with us, tremendous and tiny here.

Once again, if you’ve got a story that you’d like to share, get in touch by email: [email protected] or [email protected] or call us on 07713 740 272

Have a lovely Easter, stay safe and stay home.  Oh, and if you know someone who’d enjoy this newsletter, please do share the love.

Jon, Kevin and the #FUfighters.x


OBLIGATORY BAD JOKE
What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner?

The cold shoulder…


 

BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT FUNDING PORTAL NOW LIVE

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the government announced there would be support for small businesses, and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. This support takes the form of two grant funding schemes administered by local authorities, the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

After some initial teething problems due to volume of applications, the portal for Leicester businesses is now LIVE at Leicester City Council’s website. Go to

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-support-grant-funding/


FREE LIVE CONCERT BY LEGENDARY TENOR ANDREA BOCELLI THIS EASTER SUNDAY

Italian tenor and global music icon Andrea Bocelli will give a solo performance at the historic Duomo, the cathedral of Milan, Italy, this Easter Sunday that will be exclusively streamed live globally on the tenor’s YouTube channel, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTUOek4LgU&feature=youtu.befrom 6pm.

In a concert representing a message of love, healing and hope to the world, the Duomo, currently closed to all, will open its doors for Andrea Bocelli who will be accompanied by the cathedral organist, Emanuele Vianelli, playing one of the world’s largest pipe organs.  A real Easter treat.


LIVING WELL UK LAUNCHES DEDICATED CRISIS CALL-LINE FOR KEY WORKERS

With key workers across the country continuing to work around the clock to save lives of those affected by Covid-19, West Midlands charity, Living Well UK, has rolled-out a new initiative – in partnership with the Birmingham & Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group – to ensure that their workers’ mental health needs are supported at this crucial time with the launch of a free call-line, offering access to trained counsellors and talking therapists and, in more severe cases, immediate mental health triage support exclusively for those on the frontline.

To seek advice, support or counselling, call Living Well UK’s dedicated lines now. For the key-worker support line, call 0121 633 1217 and for general support call 0121 262 3555. For more information on Living Well UK and its services, visit https://livingwellconsortium.com/


GENERATIONS EXHIBITION SHINES LIGHTS ON COVENTRY’S GYPSY ROMA TRAVELLER COMMUNITY

Belgrade Theatre and Coventry University have teamed up to celebrate International Romani Day with an online preview of an exhibition originally scheduled to take place at the theatre this month.

Titled, Generations, the exhibition shines a spotlight on Coventry’s Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community, and features images of Roma families captured by local photographer Antony Weir.

The project has been organised in partnership with Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) as part of the ongoing Roma Project, an initiative founded to tackle the exploitation of the Roma community and to advance their social inclusion in Coventry.

To view the exhibition online, please visit belgrade.co.uk/stories/generations-online.


IS THIS THE LIFE CHANGE YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

So many of us are feeling scared right now: fear of economics and finance, constant uncertainty, a lack of routine and a lack of contact. So, my question: How can you use what is happening right now to define you?  Amanda Daly, The Turnaround CEO, considers the question and offers her top-level insight here.



FREE KIDS WELLBEING JOURNAL TO DOWNLOAD

Nuffield Health have developed a personalised wellbeing journal for children getting them to chart how they feel, what exercise they’re doing, what they’re eating and how they’re resting and relaxing. The motivational journal is full of creative activities and challenges to do at home and can be filled in online or printed off. Visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/kidswellbeing
to get your copy


THINKING ABOUT PUTTING A WILL INTO PLACE?

The last few weeks have been life changing and made many of us decide it’s high time to stop putting off much of our ‘life admin’ with wills being top of the list. So it’s been a busy, if somewhat surreal, start for new Wills and Probate Solicitor Claire Brown at Dodds Solicitors LLP. Claire tells us all about  how to organise your will during lockdown. Find out here.


HOSPICES LAUNCH NEW SERVICE FOR SPECIALIST CARE AT THE END OF LIFE DURING COVID-19

Adult hospices across Birmingham and Solihull have come together to create a single hub to help provide the very best end of life care during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

HoBS – Hospices of Birmingham and Solihull – featuring John Taylor, Birmingham St Mary’s and the Marie Curie Hospice (West Midlands), have joined forces to launch the new service, which aims to provide rapid and expert support for local people and their families at the end of life. Based at John Taylor Hospice in Erdington, the HoBS team is formed of specialist nurses, supported by palliative care consultants, healthcare assistants, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and administrators, who will be running a telephone hotline service.

Working with other healthcare providers across Birmingham and Solihull, the team will assess whether patients need advice, community support, care at home or admittance to one of the three hospices’ In-patient Units for round-the-clock care. HoBS will have around 40 end of life specialists on call for people in the community, as well as additional teams at the hospice In-patient Units.

HoBS will be 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Monday 13 April. Patients and healthcare professionals can contact HoBS direct on 0121 809 1900.


20,000 EASTER EGGS CHALLENGE FOR NHS STAFF

Local businessman Bally Rama is being egg-stra this weekend by spearheading an initiative to deliver 20,000 chocolate Easter eggs to Birmingham and Solihull hospital trusts. With the help of other local businesses, he has come up with his own ‘Easter Egg Challenge’ where the target is to buy and distribute more than 20,000 Easter eggs to distribute to NHS staff in all major hospitals in the West Midlands.

It’s highly likely that most NHS staff will not have the opportunity to enjoy this Easter with their loved ones, due to the pandemic crisis, so ‘Easter Bunny Bally’, owner of Summer House Bar and Grill in Hall Green, and his team will ensure that Easter comes to them and they can enjoy a tiny bit of chocolatey comfort in these trying times.

The Summer House will be delivering across NHS Trusts on both Saturday 11th April and Easter Sunday.


CRAFTY BUSINESS REMAINS OPEN, HELPING SCHOOLS ENTERTAIN CHILDREN IN CRISIS.

Leicester based company, Specialist Crafts Ltd, is ramping up supplies of its home learning kits for schools and parents trying to keep their teenagers off the PlayStation!  The company is the largest supplier of educational art & crafts supplies in the world, with their headquarters based in Leicester,  and remains open for business during the coronavirus crisis to support schools that also have to remain open to educate and entertain children of keyworkers.

Use discount code NSEAD10 to receive 10% discount from any of the products on the Specialist Crafts websites, including their new home learning kits.   www.specialistcrafts.co.uk


VIRTUAL EVENTS IN LEICESTERSHIRE THIS WEEK

We’re a resourceful lot us Leicestershire folk and Becky Jones from the Leicester Mercury has put together a great list of virtual events happening in the county right now. From Dog Shows to behind the scenes trip at the zoo and Zumba, Zumba, Zumba! Read it here.


FIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA 
FROM YOUR OWN HOME

Coronavirus is posing a significant risk for people affected by dementia and many are cut off from the outside world, warns Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity.  The charity is hearing regularly from families, individuals and organisations, wanting to know how they can help make a difference during these unprecedented times.

No one should have to face any challenges over the coming weeks and months alone. Alzheimer’s Society continues to be there for anyone affected by dementia and, here are 5 ways you can help too, from the comfort of your own home.


DO YOU HAVE STOCK TO SELL BUT NO ONLINE SHOP?

eatPOS, the worldwide e-pos provider from Leicester, has launched a new service for businesses who are still able to trade (takeaways being a prime example), but don’t have their own online ordering page or transaction system set up.  Their intention is to genuinely help businesses keep trading where possible, so they are offering a discounted set up, no commission fees and for it to be set up within 48 hours.  This could be a big break for small businesses in the city and county.  PS Don’t forget to keep checking independentleicester.co.uk for a full list of independents still trading in the city.

Find out more at www.eatpos.co.uk




DIY TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED THIS EASTER

As the Easter Holidays begin, families across the country are looking for creative ways to keep the children entertained. With children experiencing a mixed feeling of boredom and confusion, parents can introduce them to a little DIY, which is both educational and entertaining! From making a bird house to maintaining a bicycle, click here for some ideas to keep little hands occupied!


ALUMIERMD AND CIRCADIA MEDICAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

If you’re running low on supplies of your skincare stapes, Loughborough’s Fab Clinics have stock of AlumierMD and Circadia medical-grade skincare products (which we love and use ourselves, btw) and are using profits to pay for PPE for NHS staff.

Email [email protected] to find out more.


SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: 10 FREE BOX SETS
TO BINGE DURING LOCKDOWN

With Covid-19 keeping us all inside this Easter weekend, if there was ever an excuse to stay at home on the sofa and binge watch box sets, this is it.

So, in light of those doing the right thing and staying at home, the BBC announced a few weeks ago that it would bring back some of its classic box sets to the iPlayer.

With spy-thriller favourite Killing Eve series 3 set to return on Monday (13th April) an Easter weekend of lockdown may just be the perfect opportunity to catch up on series 1 and 2 now ready for the drama’s anticipated return.

With this in mind OnlineCasinos.co.uk has put together their top picks for free box sets to keep you busy during lockdown – from BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub and UKTVplay.

See the list here 


WORDS OF WISDOM
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” 

Rabindranath Tagore

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