Charities and Funds for and by the people of Middle Rasen

This village has two charities which are available to aid eligible applicants. For more information visit the Village Hall page or click below

Remember, when you visit funding organisations they may also be commercial enterprises and we cannot verify their credentials or make recommendations concerning those purporting to be charities.

Two Middle Rasen charities, The John Wilkinson Trust and the Middle Rasen Community Fund, continue to support Middle Rasen individuals and organisations.

In the past year the Nursery has received leavers books for those going to “big” school, presents from Father Christmas and contributions towards a summer outing and the new store shed.

The charities have also supported the primary school with contributions to their In-touch screens for each classroom, leavers books for those going to secondary school and the CD which can still be purchased from the school.

Several individuals and families have also been supported, this is usually to give a family or individual a helping hand in the short term, something that nobody should be embarrassed to request. You do usually need to be in receipt of certain forms of benefit to be eligible and everything is dealt with in strict confidence.

Organisations who have benefitted from the charities in the past year include the Charity Gala, the Horticultural Society, Coffee, Cake & Chat, Outdoor Bowls club, Luncheon Club and the Braemar Club.

The charity trustees Pete Dawson (Chair), Gary Fenwick, June Fritzsche, John Padley, Dave Pattison and Carole Sellars (clerk) are keen to be joined by a couple of new members. There are generally about five meetings a year, on Wednesday evenings, always lasting less than two hours. If you are interested in becoming a trustee, or wish to apply for some funding, then please contact Carole Sellars, Smiths Top, Mill Lane, Middle Rasen, LN8 3LE or email smithstop@btopenworld.com or contact any one of the other trustees.

This article is a reminder that if you find yourself going through a difficult time financially (and you live in Middle Rasen), perhaps because of your mortgage going up significantly, or simply because of the cost of living, then please don't hesitate to contact me, or any of the trustees, and we can talk about what support the Fund could give. We are unable to pay cash, to help with household costs, but we can contribute towards buying necessary items when they need replacing, etc.

If you contact me directly, as the clerk, then confidentiality can be assured and the other trustees don't need to know who is making the application.

If you are an organisation serving Middle Rasen, the Fund could also help you and we have the ‘sister' charity, The John Wilkinson Trust, which supports schools and individuals with their costs in relation to education.

The charity trustees are Pete Dawson (Chair), June Fritzsche, Dave Pattison, Gail Dennis, Neil Hollingsworth and me, Gary.

For LIVES, 2020 was an incredibly challenging year, but with that firmly behind us, we can focus on 2021 and what it has to offer.

Even though the country spent time isolating and movements were restricted, LIVES First Responders were still in the heart of their communities attending to 999 medical emergencies.

Due to COVID this presented a number of challenges, one of which was around the deliverance of essential training. Being a LIVES Responder isn't just about being there in a medical emergency, there are many hours of training that must be completed before going out to a call, as well as compulsory continued training. Their usual face to face training had to be cancelled for a large part of the year, but behind the scenes the LIVES Education team designed and rolled out online training ensuring everyone was able to keep up to date with their training and maintain their confidence in their lifesaving skills.

The charity wouldn't be able to do what we do without the invaluable support of the people in the communities of Lincolnshire. If you would like to hold a fundraising event, arrange for a talk from a representative of LIVES, take part in one of our events or even have us as your charity of the year, then we would love to hear from you. You can contact us on fundraising@lives.org.uk or you can find us on Facebook or call 01507 525 999

For months, dedicated crafters across the two counties have been getting out their knitting needles and crochet hooks to make hundreds of bright yellow helicopters and post box toppers to help spread the word of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA).

The Lincs & Notts Yarn Bomb Challenge is part of the charity's 30 th Anniversary, celebrating its life-saving work. Since 13 May 1994, the air ambulance has responded to 29,420 missions, its team of doctors, paramedics and pilots taking an emergency department directly to the scene of some of the most serious incidents in Lincs and Notts. LNAA receives no government funding for its daily operations, instead it relies on the generosity of people living and working in Lincs & Notts to raise the £13million needed to keep the helicopter in the sky and critical care cars on the road 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The response to the call for knitters and crocheters earlier in the year has been phenomenal with over 800 people offering to create their own knitted masterpiece. As a result, helicopters are landing on post boxes, in parks, on gate posts, in shops, on park benches and even in churches! Every corner of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire is being covered as more come into land daily! And eagle-eyed spotters have sighted helicopters at Middle Rasen too!

So far this year, LNAA's crews have responded to 1,162 missions, signalling that 2023 will be the busiest year on record. At the same time last year, they were called to 1074 emergencies, the year before 1007 missions and 3 years ago 616. Head of Operations Chris Bailey said: “The rise in missions that LNAA now respond to is twofold, firstly we have increased our ability to reach incidents and we now fly the air ambulance at night, the only Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) unit in the region to do so. We have also increased the number of highly skilled and qualified doctors and paramedics we have on the LNAA team, and this year we will cover over 900 twelve-hour shifts”. “Secondly, we have given our teams additional equipment and training to do more for the critically unwell patients they treat. We have provided our crews state of the art patient monitors, increased the amount of blood we can carry (and have so far transfused 90 units of blood products this year), and are constantly developing and using high end prehospital interventions such as invasive blood pressure monitoring. All this results in LNAA being able to reach more patients, both day and night, and ultimately we are able to save more lives”.

This increase in life-saving capabilities comes at a cost and with missions on the rise, the charity needs to raise £10m this year.

Across Lincs & Notts the crew is called to the most seriously ill and injured patients, taking the hospital to the scene, whether that is at the roadside, in remote countryside or along the coast. Whether by air or by road, the doctor-paramedic team carry state-of-the-art equipment to perform a range of procedures, from anaesthetics to surgery – all at the scene of the incident. All of this is made possible by donations from supporters of all kinds, of all ages and from a range of backgrounds. CEO Karen Jobling said: “Our vision to be by the side of more patients delivering world-class care, is underpinned by our values of Teamwork, Respect, Innovation and Compassion. To this end, we strive to continually innovate to make that happen. We hope bringing awareness to everyone will encourage you to find out more about our work.

“We need to raise £10m this year. It is a daunting figure for anyone, but every donation helps us to get to that target. You don't have to be a member of the crew to help save lives and we are so thankful to the people who support us.”

Age UK Lindsey is an independent local charity, working for over 30 years to promote and improve the wellbeing of older people living in this area. Our service delivery covers East Lindsey, West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire, our aim being to help reduce loneliness and social isolation, increase awareness of pension age benefits and to enable digital inclusion.

To assist in delivering the services we rely on our team of amazing volunteers - they really are at the heart of everything we do. Due to an increase in referrals in the West Lindsey region we now need to add to our number of volunteers.

Befriending Volunteer - Being a Befriender means you are there to provide some much-needed company for older people who are feeling lonely or socially isolated. You can do this by simply having a cup of tea with them, playing games, discussing hobbies and interests, talking about family and friends as well as sharing special, important memories with them. All we need is an hour of your time each week and there is the option of Telephone Befriending if it's more suitable for you.

Our Digital Volunteers are there to assist older people in our community who may not be familiar with digital technology or don't have the confidence to use it. Being there for support means they can keep in contact with family and friends, make GP appointments, do online shopping or simply listen to the news, all of which makes people feel less isolated. A good basic knowledge of digital technology, plus a patient, warm manner is all that's required.

Our shops play a vital part in helping fund the charity so we can continue to provide services to those in need. We currently need Volunteers in our Market Rasen shop to cover all hours. All we ask is that you can do at least one three-hour shift per week. The tasks range from serving customers, manning the till, steaming and sorting donated stock. We encourage those who are interested to have a 'taster' session first. All training is given.

There are so many benefits to volunteering, including: A positive feeling of giving something back to the community, it increases your own sense of confidence and wellbeing, you can make new friends, learn new skills. We will provide references after six months.

If you would like to know more about volunteering with us, please call 01507 524242 and ask to speak to Lin Wood, Volunteer Coordinator, who would be happy to have a chat (working hours are Monday - Thursday 8.30 - 4.00, Friday 9.00am - 1.00pm) email: info@ageuklindsey.co.uk or visit our website www.ageuk.org.uk/lindsey .

In advance of Remembrance Day 2023 Market Rasen Rotary and friends were very active again doing a house-to-house collection in Middle Rasen in aid of the Tealby and Market Rasen Royal British Legion branch. Rotary has been doing this collection since 2015 and since that time has collected nearly £3,200.

There were 7 collectors this year in the village, and there were also donations from the children of the Middle Rasen Primary school. A total of nearly £620 was raised. Middle Rasen was the only area in which there was a house-to-house collection. In Market Rasen collections points were installed in the Co-op, Boots, Tesco, De Aston school and in many of the bars, restaurants and other retail outlets.

Mick Kenning the Chairman and Parade Officer of the local group reported that the branch had this time raised a very creditable £7,390.

It is hoped that the collections will happen again next year in Middle Rasen village and in the wider parish area. We coiuld do with another 5 local collectors to widen the collection area. Please contact me with your name and contact details if you can help.

The amount raised this year from the Middle Rasen Parish was £602 including £63 from the joint Methodist and Anglican church service on Sunday 12 th . May.

This is represented by a banking of £547 and Gift Aid Claims amounting to £55.

This total compares with last year's total of £763, so a little down but still very worthwhile for this wonderful charity.

We distributed 697 envelopes, and this represented all the households in Middle Rasen village, and part of the Parish that sits in Market Rasen. We had 103 returns of completed envelopes, 28 of which had Gift Aid authorities. These returns were very similar to last year.

We had a 26 strong army of volunteer distributors for all the areas around the parish, and I thank everyone one of them for their support , and hope it will continue next year.

Below and above is information received from various sources, potentially bringing benefits to individuals, to the community and to parish groups. The information below may need verifying or require an update from you.

The Lincolnshire Community Foundation, a charitable trust that makes grants to people throughout Lincolnshire including what used to be Humberside. The charity get funding from the Government, businesses, private individuals and other UK based Trusts to support various themes such as children's projects and disability access projects and welcome applications from people in need. One campaign that's making a big difference in many peoples' lives is the ‘Survive Winter' initiative helping those people less fortunate with winter fuel payments etc. For more information on their grant programme and eligibility criteria please visit their website: www.lincolnshirect.co.uk

The Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency is an award-winning charity dedicated to making sure peoples' homes stay a great place to live enabling them to retain their independence during their golden years. The charity can help with issues such as adapting your home to keep up with your lifestyle or modifying it to suit your changing circumstances. They can even help out with repairs, putting up shelves or help to make your home more secure from unwanted visitors. For more information please visit their website: www.lincshia.org

Groundwork Lincolnshire is a charitable trust dedicated to environmental and economical development, helping people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, building skills and increasing job prospects as well as maintaining a greener way of life. The trust support communities, individuals and businesses throughout Lincolnshire to address environmental, economic and social issues by creating projects and services that benefit both people and the environment. If you would like further information on what Groundwork Lincolnshire may be able to offer your community, please visit their website: www.eastmidlands.groundwork.org.uk/lincolnshire/who-we-are.aspx

The HELP partnership is made up from representatives from all of Lincolnshire's district councils and the county council. Together they are working together to reduce fuel poverty and the causes of fuel poverty in the county. They are also tasked with developing and bringing to market sustainable ways for homes across Lincolnshire to heat their homes. An Affordable Warmth Strategy has been agreed and signed by all the partner authorities outlining the scope of activity required until 2016. Expert advice from the Energy Saving Trust, NHS, NEA and other third sector partners are sought at all stages of the process.

The HELP Scheme is a discounted insulation scheme available to all householders in Lincolnshire. A well insulated house stays cool in the summer as well as warm in the winter. So, whatever the time of year, it is worth installing cavity wall insulation and topping up your loft insulation to the recommended 10.5 inches or 270mm. This is perfect preparation to save money on your winter fuel bills, especially in this era of increasing fuel costs.

If you are aged 70 or over, or in receipt of a qualifying benefit you may be eligible for FREE insulation. All other residents can have cavity wall insulation installed from £49 and loft insulation from £79 – massively discounted from the current market rates. Private tenants are also eligible with agreement from your landlord. Call the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012 to arrange your free no obligation survey. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

Acis Group, which owns & manages homes across the county, is inviting organisations to apply for a small grant. The type of bids eligible include support for community resources & support for people experiencing social exclusion. Go to www.acisgroup.co.uk or call Rachel Cook on 01427 675753

A small group of ladies in Middle Rasen continue collecting specific supplies needed by the people who are still in Ukraine. The last delivery of donated soap powder and towels that had been dropped off at the former Sofology building was very warmly welcomed, thank you for your generosity. Derrann who oversees the warehouse informed us that soap powder and towels are still desperately needed. So, we would welcome any donations of boxes of soap powder (only powder) and towels. Most supermarkets sell their own competitively priced brands that are perfectly acceptable. For more information about drop off or collection please contact Anne 842099 or Valerie 843661. Thank You.

The amount raised this year from Middle Rasen village was £653. This was represented by a banking of £590 and a Gift Aid claim of £63. As you will have realised, this year was different in that we didn't collect any donation envelopes due to Covid advice where it was suggested that we only deliver the envelopes and ask for any donations to be taken to one of the 19 named local distributors. We had donations from 93 village households and a collection of £63 from the Joint Methodist and Anglican Church service on Sunday 15 th May.

As a result of the Covid Pandemic, this was the first organised Christian Aid collection since 2019 and we are very pleased with the outcome, particularly in view of the strain on all our purses in these dreadful worldwide times. Thank you to all of you who donated and to the 19 local distributors - hopefully see you next year!

I am very pleased to say that The Children's Society collection boxes raised £186.35 this year. Huge thanks goes out to all the contributors - I know the The Children's Society is extremely grateful. I also want to thank Helen and Michael Robinson for all the hard work they have done behind the scenes over the last few years in helping raise this money. Helen has now handed the baton over to me and I hope I can maintain the same high standards. It would be lovely to be able to distribute more of the collection boxes around the parishes. If you feel you would like one, please contact me on alidarlington@hotmail.com or by phone 01673 838891. Many thanks once again.

Richard Harries and his walks and other activities raising funds and resources for Global Angels and other charities

Weeks Family who are supporting the Etham Maul Foundation and other charities

Smalls for All is a charitable organisation collecting and distibuting underwear to Africa. <<more>>
Shine Malawi is another group collecting for Africa and currently being supported in the village <<more>>

In January 2020 the Middle Rasen Duck Race raised £1126.10 for local charitable causes

and the 2019 Middle Rasen Tractor Run raised £1044 in support of Cancer Research UK.

I would just like to say a huge thank you to all those who helped & supported the Mesothelioma UK coffee morning on the 10th November. A total of £752 was raised for the Charity. I was diagnosed with this Asbestos related lung cancer over 3 years ago now, with no idea how I contracted this disease. Mesothelioma UK has helped me through this along with The Hope Clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary. I'm grateful - & humbled - by the thoughts & prayers of friends in Market Rasen & Middle Rasen. ...Thank you, Joan Franklin .

Sheila Robinson is raising funds for St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln with a Wing Walk at Wickenby Airfield on Sunday 21st July. To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Sheila-Robinson10 ....I have just undertaken the most thrilling fund raising attempt of my life. The Tandem Skydive. There were a few delays due to weather conditions but at 3.30pm we were given a jump suit to put on with a helmet, goggles and gloves and were introduced to our “jump” partner. We then set off for the small plane along with my cameraman who was to hang outside the plane and record my leap into the wide blue yonder.

We climbed above the clouds to 15,000 feet and launched ourselves into the air, which was minus 20 degrees, and did a freefall at 120 MPH. Exhilarating but cold! After the parachute opened, there was time to appreciate the patchwork laid out beneath us. Rob pointed out the towns and villages, the sea and the Humber Bridge and Estuary. Too soon, it was over and Rob made a perfect landing. The final total raised, £1,380, was handed into the St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln, being enough to fund medication for two weeks for the whole unit. Sheila Robinson

This challenge should have taken place on 21 st July, but due to a fault on the aeroplane, the Wing Walk had to be postponed. Ironically, the day would have been perfect for it, surely we wouldn't get such conditions again! But all our prayers were answered and on the 8 th September, the day was clear and warm. I set off for Wickenby Airfield at the appropriate time, ready for my briefing! At 2.40pm it was my turn! The pilot and I discussed the procedure and how I wanted a flight fit for an almost 81 year old. Then came the tricky bit – I had to get on to the top wing! With help from a handy gentleman, I popped up like a cork from a bottle and was ready to be strapped on!

I felt very secure and gave the signal that I was ready to go. The views of the fields, animals, houses and gardens were stunning. The wind was a bit problematic so I couldn't the high kicks I had planned to do, but I managed to wave to the crowds watching from below. It was an exhilarating, exciting and thrilling experience. I am so happy to have done it. I would like to thank my sons and partner, wonderful friends from U.3.A. and friends who came down from Sheffield to support me. I have raised about £1,600 for St Barnabas Hospice. £1600 will pay for 80 hours of home nursing care! A big thank you to all my generous sponsors for their contributing to a very worthwhile cause.

Francis Picksley is delighted to announce that the amount raised in the Church of England Children's Society Boxes in Middle Rasen this year is £331.98. Thank you to all those who support this very worthwhile cause.

Middle Rasen's Macmillan Coffee Morning raised £420 for charity.

If you or someone you know in the village needs help visit the page setting out how to access Charitable Funding from the village trusties.