Age UK’s Digital Champions scheme, assisting older people in the community to become more confident using technology. This will enable people to keep in touch with friends and family, learn how to shop online and also help pursue hobbies and interests.
The trustees of Thornton Community Centre would like to give huge thanks to all residents and visitors who have supported the various fund-raising events at the hall over the past couple of years.
These include regular quiz nights, scarecrow festival, art exhibition, carol singing, ceilidh, fashion show and much more.
The money raised has gone to assist the community centre make improvements and purchase new equipment for the hall.
The hall was erected in 1973 thanks mainly to the fund-raising efforts of residents Bill Welsh, Leonard Chaplin, Iris Gleeson and many others; but forty-seven years on and there is much to do to upgrade the hall.
Whilst many of the improvements can’t be seen by the public, they include a new kitchen, purchase of sports equipment, a portable public address system and microphones, new crockery, new interior noticeboards and more; culminating in the purchase and erection, at substantial cost, of two, new, large noticeboards at the entrance to the hall.
GillatphotographyGillatphotography
Another huge thanks here to resident, wildlife artist Alexia Swirkowski, who has given hours of her time to produce a beautiful village logo for uswhich has been used to great effect on the new noticeboards.
Designed by Alexia ClaireDesigned by Alexia Claire
Hopefully you will gradually see this logo appear around the village not just at the Community Centre.
Other ongoing projects to be financed at the hall include the purchase of a projector and screen, the refurbishment of the toilets, installing a hearing loop, construction of an area of decking off the patio doors at the hall, and doubling the size of the car park.
Would you like to offer your help for a few hours a month by becoming a Trustee at the community centre? Meetings are held once a month (Covid permitting) on a Thursday evening.
The Community Centre events sub-committee have worked tirelessly for months to bring ‘entertainment’ to the village, trying hard to find something for all age groups, whilst raising much needed funds.
But we had also become very aware that we really need to make improvements in other areas of the village too, which we can’t do under the ‘umbrella’ of the Community Centre (one charity is not allowed to help another financially), and we had just made the decision to form an independent group of village fundraisers that could help not just the Community Centre but also the church, and any cause that needed help locally; including raising funds for a seating area behind the hall, flower troughs, Christmas decorations, annual seniors Christmas party and more.
This has been discussed with the Parish Council and we have the full support of our local parish councillor Colin Harris.
Then Covid19 struck and brought all our plans to a halt.
We are hoping to start up again in the New Year once we can get together again in person.
If you would like to become involved and help the village in any way, whether it be to raise funds, or grow plants for the new planters the Parish council are purchasing for us (with a grant from Bardon Quarries), or to help fund raise in general/apply for grants or sponsorship, have any fresh ideas then email thorntonvillage@aol.com and with your permission I will keep a database of ‘helpers’ to call upon once we have beaten Covid and can begin to get back to normal.
To keep up to date with what is happening in an around the village check out and become a follower of the village website www.thorntonvillage.org.
If you have information relevant to Thornton or immediate surrounds don’t just put it on FB or Nextdoor remember to send it for inclusion on the website too.
Meg Ashby is collecting donations of food, Christmas hamper goodies, toiletries, pet food, and cleaning products to help local people who are finding this year particularly challenging financially.
Feed the need is a new Food Bank that serves our area and is based in Coalville.
It was founded this year by Fliss Middleton and is supported by a team of volunteers.
It is run on a self referral basis and is for people suffering hardship maybe for the first time.
Meg will be collecting on Wednesday evenings for the next 3 weeks – between 5-6pm.
If you would like to make a Christmas grocery donation please put your name in the comments or private message Meg on https://nextdoor.co.uk/ and Meg will send you a private message to get your address for collection.
Meg thanks the 8 amazing Neighbours whom she collected from this week.
Your donations were fantastic and will be put to good use making Christmas that much happier for someone. 😁👍👏👏👏
If you can’t contact Meg via Facebook or Nextdoor send an email to thorntonvillage@aol.com to be forwarded to her.
Thornton Village Calendars are now available from The Corner Shop in Thornton. They are behind the counter so just ask Raj for one. A great stocking filler for Xmas.
Cost £5 – with £1 from each calendar being donated to Thornton community centre.
Photographs and calendar produced by local resident Colin Harris
Reports of online shopping fraud have surged by 30% over the pandemic as many of us continue to shop online in light of current restrictions.
Figures from Action Fraud show that criminals conned 17,407 shoppers out of almost £13.5 million over the Christmas period last year, an increase of over 20% when compared to the same period in 2018.
Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online, ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as shoppers search for bargains and gifts for loved ones in the run up to Christmas.
Top tips to shop online securely this festive season:
Where to shop: Making a purchase from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.
Your information: Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.
Payments: If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, ensure that the webpage where you enter your payment details is secure (website address starts with “https”). Using a credit card to pay online also means that should the worst happen and your payment details are compromised, your main bank account won’t be directly affected.
Phishing: Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. Not all links are bad, but if you’re unsure, don’t use the link – go separately to the website. Report any suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk You can also report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726.
The Government has announced today, that from Wednesday 2nd December, Leicester and Leicestershire will be in Tier 3of the new designated tier system. The restrictions are as follows. Tier 3: Very High alert This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place. In Tier 3: • you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues • you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’ • hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services. • accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training • indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes: • indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play • casinos • bingo halls • bowling alleys • skating rinks • amusement arcades and adult gaming centres • laser quests and escape rooms • cinemas, theatres and concert halls • snooker halls • indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within: • zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves • aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions • model villages • museums, galleries and sculpture parks • botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses • theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs • visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes • landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms • leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close • there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators • large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events • places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies • weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events • organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place • organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s • you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible • avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey • for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list Exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers • as part of a single household, or a support bubble • for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other people’s homes • for childcare, education or training – meaning education and training provided as part of a formal curriculum • for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and children’s playgroups • for formal support groups, and parent and child groups – up to 15 people aged 5 and older • to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care • for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians • for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them • for birth partners • to attend a funeral – with no more than 30 people present – or a commemorative event such as a wake for someone who has died – with no more than 15 people present • to see someone who is terminally ill or at the end of life • to attend a wedding or civil partnership – with no more than 15 people present • to provide emergency assistance • to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm • to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service • to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable or to provide respite for a carer • to facilitate moving home
From Wednesday 25th November until Friday 4th December, service 26 will be affected by the closure of Merrylees Road in Thornton.
Leicestershire County Council have granted a road closure at the above location to allow for carriageway patching and associated works.
These works will be carried out on weekdays only between the hours of 07:30 and 17:30 each day for the duration.
Service 26 towards Coalville will divert via Markfield Lane, Thornton Lane and Reservoir Road to Main Street in Thornton and will then return to the normal route. This will be reversed towards Leicester.
During this time, we will be unable to serve Botcheston. Temporary bus stops will be in place on Botcheston Road on both sides to allow passengers to board and alight (near to Markfield Lane turn).
Invitation to attend a free, online Cyber & Fraud awareness session I hope you might be interested to note that the RCC has scheduled a free cyber & fraud awarness session delivered by Leicestershire Police Cyber Protect Officer. This is open to all in Leicestershire & Rutland and free to attend.
If you are interested in attending, please register using the relevant Eventbrite link above.
I will confirm attendances nearer to the date of the session and provide joining instructions via Zoom, if you have any problem accessing/registering at the Eventbrite website please let me know.
Thornton 