This has been a year like no other. We’ve all been challenged personally and professionally, learned more about ourselves and had a chance to re-evaluate our priorities.
The pandemic has changed us as individuals, and it’s changed society. It’s caused us to reflect on what’s important to us, to our families, our communities and to the world.
I think people have reconnected with their local area and there’s a great opportunity to build on that engagement and work together in 2021.
For example, our Love Local suppliers stepped up when food shortages hit earlier this year, keeping our shelves stocked with essentials like meat, fish, cheese, bread and eggs.
In turn, when hospitality venues shut, many of our producers lost vital income. So, we took on extra products to help, including butter bound for farmers’ markets and crisps poised to be sent to pubs.
Even when the supply chain returned to normal, our customers continued to buy the local products they’d come to love. Sales of the range are up 23% this year, worth £4.6 million to the local economy.
The community effort during the early stages of lockdown is also something that endures.
We worked with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum to identify 110 community groups and voluntary organisations helping the effort. We linked each group to one of our food stores and pharmacies. Volunteers were given passes so they could access essential groceries and pick up prescriptions for those isolating. In some places, we connected volunteers together so they could form a new support network.
The stories from these groups are inspiring and we’re helping many of them to continue their good work, from setting up food banks to befriending groups.
We’ve piloted a new scheme this year which sees Community Co-ordinators employed to focus on making connections in their local area. The team have already worked on some exciting projects – such as bringing together representatives from 27 food banks and community larders to share ideas, build relationships and talk about long-term support. I’m excited to see how this will develop in 2021 and what our communities need.
There’s much to learn from this year. At Lincolnshire Co-op, we will continue to listen and collaborate with others to help make life better in our communities.
If 2020 were a brand, what would its tag line be?
There’s power in working together.
Ursula Lidbetter is the chief executive of the Lincolnshire Co-op and chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
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We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a fail to stop in Welton, Lincoln.
It’s believed a black or grey 4×4 or SUV vehicle collided with a silver Mini Cooper that was parked along Cliff Road. The incident was reported just after 3pm today.
If you witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage available, please get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 275 of 1st July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 275 of 1st July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
A snack bar in Lincoln has been told to make improvements in several areas after being given a one-star food hygiene rating.
Monks Road Snack Bar, located on 23 Monks Road, was visited by city council inspectors on May 25, 2022 and the rating was recently published on the Food Standards Agency’s website.
The standards found at the time of inspection showed that improvement was necessary in the areas of ‘hygienic food handling’ and the ‘Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building’.
It was also deemed that there was “major improvement necessary” relating to the ‘Management of food safety’.
Monks Road Snack Bar was previously given five-star ratings in June 2016 and September 2018.
The Lincolnite tried to contact the business on numerous occasions throughout the day on Friday, July 1 but the line was continuously engaged.