©Kirton News 2025

Women’s Empowerment Day

With Women’s Empowerment Day fast approaching this weekend, I wanted to share an exciting new opportunity for women in the Boston area. A group designed to encourage wellbeing, confidence, and self-care for the local community to take place at BEAM wellbeing hub. 

Starting on Thursday, April 3rd, between 1-3pm, this new group will provide a welcoming, safe space where women can explore their creativity, aim to reduce stress, and connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive environment. Through guided activities and conversations, we will encourage self-expression, relaxation, and personal growth. All participants need is a willingness to explore and enjoy the process.

We would love for you to join us at the Wellbeing Hub, at The Centenary Church in Boston and to share this opportunity with those who you feel may benefit. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to myself or @Julie Green who will be facilitating the group. 

We look forward to building a creative and empowering community together!

More books from Gillian Strugnell

Local author Gillian Strugnell has published her second book: THE REVENGE OF GRANNY WITCH. This follows on from the first story: WHEN GRANNY WITCH CAME TO STAY.

As the Easter holidays are fast approaching no doubt many children enjoy relaxing with a book! Her stories are written for the 8+ age range. They are based on fantasy adventures of Arabella and her wonderful grandmother who performs many magical tricks. Both books are available from Amazon!\

4th Annual Welding Workshop

One of the many benefits of membership of the Boston Classic Car Club is the annual Welding Workshop. Twelve members of the club enjoyed a practical workshop run by John Simpson, Chairman of the Club, together with expert welding instructor, Paul Chafer who demonstrated Mig and Tig welding techniques and patiently led attendees through their own attempts at the skill. Also, Graham Lunn, who demonstrated vehicle body lead loading, filing, sanding and paint preparation, and Mick Rollins who described how to manufacture repair panels without using expensive equipment added their own expertise to the workshop.

All instructors are Club members, as is Sandra Simpson who kindly provided refreshments during the day. Overall it marked yet another successful event (oversubscribed as usual) provided for the benefit of paid up members of the Boston Classic Car Club.

For more info please contact: John Simpson, Chairman, 01205 369146, kerbsideautos.repairs@yahoo.co.uk or Harry Wright, PR Officer, harry@adroitservices.biz

Help from Citizens Advice

I’ve recently found myself living alone after the breakdown of my relationship. My council tax bill is due soon, and I’m worried I won’t be able to afford to pay it on my own. I’m already struggling to cover the cost of my other bills. What can I do?

You’re not alone in worrying about struggling to pay your bills. It’s a difficult time for people who are battling rising costs for food and essentials - as well as seeing their bills creep up.

Fortunately, there are options available to people struggling to pay their council tax, but you’ll need to find out if you’re eligible first. You might be entitled to pay less, or not at all, depending on your circumstances, because councils offer discounts and other reductions.

Firstly, because you’re the only adult living in your home, your council tax bill can be reduced by a quarter. For example, if your bill is £1,000 for the year, you’ll only have to pay £750 now that you live on your own. You’ll need to tell your council someone has moved out of your home and the date that they left. You’re entitled to the discount from when they moved out - even if it was a while ago.

When the council works out how many people live in a property, there are certain people that don’t count - they’re called ‘disregarded people’. This includes under-18s, full-time students, long-term hospital patients, people with severe mental impairments, and many more. You can check our website for more information on disregarded people.

In some situations, everyone living in a home is disregarded. If this is the case, the council tax bill will be reduced by half. If everyone in a home is a student or severely mentally impaired, there’ll be no council tax to pay.

If you live with an adult who isn’t disregarded, but who is on a low income or receives certain benefits, you might be able to get a discount called a ‘second adult rebate’. You can find out more about getting a second adult rebate on our website. If you or someone you live with is disabled, this can also affect your council tax banding. If your home has been adapted, you can ask to be placed down one band. For example, if you’re living in a band C property that has been adapted for a disabled resident, you should only be charged council tax for a band B property.

There’s also something called Council Tax Reduction, which is designed for people on low incomes. Your council will ask for details about your income and circumstances, to check if you’re eligible. If you are, they’ll reduce the amount of council tax you have to pay.

When it comes to Council Tax Reductions, different rules apply depending on whether you’ve reached State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.

And lastly, if you’re struggling to pay for essentials, your council can reduce your bill further, or cancel it altogether, under what’s known as a ‘discretionary reduction’. This usually only happens if you can provide evidence that you’re suffering severe hardship and can’t afford to pay council tax. If you’re in this situation, ask your council for help.

If you’re not given a discretionary reduction, you might be able to appeal to a valuation tribunal. If the tribunal agrees with you, they can order your council to reduce or even cancel your council tax bill. You can find out more about how to appeal here.

Whatever circumstances you’re in, if you’re struggling with your council tax payments, it’s important to let your council know. You can find your council’s contact details on GOV.UK. Citizens Advice is also here to help you find a way forward, should you need our support.

If you need support or advice, you can contact Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire on 08082787942. Alternatively, you can email your query to: outreach@citizensadvicemidlincs.org.uk or attend one of our face to face drop in sessions.

For information about our service, drop in opening times and how we can help you, please take a look at our website www.camidlincs.org.uk

If you would like to support Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire, you can do so by scanning the QR code. Your donations will allow us to continue to help more people within our community.

Age UK Events - April 2024

In Boston we have…

Every Monday 10am – 12pm – Boston Friendship Group, The Local Community Centre, Mitre Lane, Boston PE21 6EB – this lovely, friendly and welcoming group meet every week where activities include guest speakers, prize bingo, flower arranging, seated exercise, quizzes, a raffle and much more!  Refreshments are provided (Cost £5 including raffle ticket)

Every Monday – 2pm – 2:45pm – Sapphire Socials Stroll & Sway Dance class, St Thomas Church Hall, London Road, Boston – NO partner and NO experience needed.  Learn new dances each week, while having fun, gently improving your fitness and mobility, making new friends and helping with your coordination and memory.  This stroll line dance class is set to great music from the 50s, 60s and beyond! (Cost £5)

1st & 3rd Thursday of the month, 10:30am – 12:30pm – Sapphire Socials Snooker Group, Boston Snooker Centre, Artillery Row, Boston PE21 6TY.  Join in with a game or two of snooker in this welcoming family run centre, meet new people, gently improve your fitness, and have a cuppa and a chat in the lounge with us. (Cost £4).

3rd Friday of the month – Boston College Lunch Club (booking essential via our mainline number) – treat yourself to a silver service lunch at Boston College with this lovely, mixed group of people.  Two courses for £9.95 or three for £11.95

In Wyberton we have…

1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10:30am – 12:30pm - Sapphire Socials PositiviTEA Group, Boston United Reformed Church Hall, 232 London Road, Wyberton, PE21 7AY.  A quiet place to rest, chat if you want to, get information and advice, where the kettle is always on, and a listening ear always available.  This group is open to everyone, including those living with dementia, their carers and anyone struggling with their mental health.  This group is FREE to attend.

In Donington we have…

1st & 3rd Friday of the month, 10am – 12pm at The Ruby Hunt Centre, 25 Church Street, Donington PE11 4UA – Donington Friendship Group.  Enjoy guest speakers, informative sessions from fraud prevention officers, Information & Advice services and more, singers, activities, bingo and a raffle.  This group is FREE to attend – refreshments provided.

All of our groups are aimed at combatting loneliness and isolation within our older community, helping them to make new friends and connections, keep active and mobile and have a better quality of life in the process.