Lincoln care agency in administration, but all jobs safe says CEO

Students at the University of Lincoln will be tested for coronavirus before being allowed home for Christmas.

Asymptomatic students will be voluntarily tested from Monday, November 30 for two weeks until Wednesday, December 9.

The testing programme takes place at the uni’s sports hall, with results within an hour for each of the two tests required, three days apart.

If they test negative, students can travel home immediately, but if they test positive they must isolate in Lincoln before going home.

This means that teaching will move online for two weeks from November 30 to December 9, with the winter term ending on December 18.

All teaching will be online from December 10, with the university waiting for further government guidance before making a decision on how students will be taught in January.

Students will receive an email from the university inviting them to take part in the testing. These emails will begin to roll out on November 25.

After receiving this email, students should register for a test and turn up at the sports hall at the appointed time, and they should receive results within an hour of testing.

It will be a voluntary service, meaning students aren’t required to do the test if they don’t want to.

People who are displaying symptoms are still being encouraged to book a test at the Lincoln walk-in facility.

Students can choose to stay in Lincoln over Christmas should they want to, and 24/7 support services have been organised by the university across the festive period.

A spokesperson for the University of Lincoln said: “We are pleased to be able to offer asymptomatic testing for students from 30 November, as part of the national Test and Trace system.

“Students who have no symptoms of coronavirus can check that they are able to travel without being at risk of spreading the virus. At Lincoln, the winter term finishes on 18 December.

“Our students are, as always, our number one priority and a range of facilities and support services will be available for students who remain in Lincoln throughout the Christmas holiday.”

If you are a student and don’t receive an invitation email by December 1, contact the University Test and Trace email at [email protected].

For more information and FAQs about the testing programme, visit the University of Lincoln’s website.

DJ Judge Jules will take centre stage in Scunthorpe next year as he performs iconic dance classics with a 10-piece live band.

Julius O’Riordan, the British dance music DJ known by his stage name Judge Jules, has been one of the scene’s best known names for more than three decades.

DJ Judge Jules, who was voted best DJ in the world by DJ Mag in 1995, will perform at The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe on Friday, October 8, 2021.

Tickets went on sale at 10am on Wednesday, November 25 for the all standing event priced at £32.60.

DJ Judge Jules has curated every element of this performance and the music has been selected to represent the breadth and scale of his career.

St Barnabas Hospice ran its annual Light Up A Life procession through Lincoln on Tuesday night, streaming it virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The annual torchlit procession usually allowed people to walk through the city holding flaming torches, before ending up at the Tree of Life at Lincoln Cathedral.

The tree will be up until January 7, allowing people to honour a loved one this Christmas, with each light decoration representing someone different.

Even at 30ft high, it dwarfs in comparison to our cathedral. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Last year’s Light Up A Life walk saw hundreds turn up to honour their loved ones, but that wasn’t possible this year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was broadcast on St Barnabas Hospice’s social media pages and website at 7pm on Tuesday.

Finlay Macghee from RAF Waddington’s pipe band joined the procession. | Photo: St Barnabas Hospice

Candles and lights could be dedicated in memory of people in your life. | Photo: St Barnabas Hospice

The virtual service saw candles lit as part of the Light Up A Life campaign, with a flaming candle representing a loved one who was lost this year.

Candles were lit for St Barnabas, the local community and all the loved ones we lost this year. | Photo: St Barnabas Hospice

Speeches from Ann Fradgley, spiritual and pastoral care chaplain, St Barnabas chairman Tony Maltby and staff nurse Annie Penrice honoured those who died in this difficult year.

St Barnabas staff walked the torches up to Lincoln Cathedral and the Tree of Life. | Photo: St Barnabas Hospice

Following the poems and speeches was a solo performance by Finlay Macghee, a member of the RAF Waddington pipe band.

Amazing Grace was played as two candles were walked and held by the Tree of Life outside Lincoln Cathedral, where reverend canon John Patrick celebrated the work of St Barnabas.

The Tree of Life at the cathedral was where the procession ended up. | Photo: St Barnabas Hospice

Hymns, memories of loved ones and gorgeous scenes of the tree were shared on the video before a closing message of hope from Chris Wheway, CEO of St Barnabas.