Sophie Coulson

The Nomad Trust in Lincoln has been awarded a $3,500 grant as part of the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation’s (MDRT) Quality of Life Grant Program.

The grant will help to improve the facilities so that the volunteers of The Nomad Trust can offer breakfast and an evening meal ‘on site’, as well as offering support during the day in order to ‘signpost’ individuals to other organisations to enable them to access the help that they need to address any inherent difficulties in addition to offering housing solutions.

Representing the MDRT, Terence P. O’Halloran, a Chartered Financial Planner, presented the grant to Brenda Shiels of the Nomad Trust on June 25 at the initiation of work on the new facilities.

Terence has been a supporter of the Nomad Trust for many years both personally and also through Bailgate Rotary Club.

Created in 1959, MDRT is an international, independent association of nearly 36,000 of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 78 countries.

Through its Worldwide Grant Program MDRT is committed to improving the quality of life in communities around the globe.

Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $28 million in more than 70 countries throughout the world and in all 50 U.S. states, with the majority of these funds being raised by MDRT members.

This year, the MDRT Foundation will award almost $1 million in grants to more than 100 charities.

Just over half of households in Lincoln have renewed their £25 yearly green bin collection subscription.

More than 15,500 garden waste bins have so far been paid for under the scheme in its second year, and the price has been frozen at £25 for the first bin – around 50p per week.

Anyone who hasn’t renewed their service will no longer have their garden waste bins emptied.

The garden waste collection service accepts grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, flowers and plants, twigs and weeds.

To save money, residents can spread the cost by sharing a bin with a friend or neighbour.

Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection, said: “We’re pleased so many households have renewed their service, showing they have found it good value for money.

“We would encourage anyone else who thinks they may find the service useful to sign up or renew as soon as possible to get the most benefit from the scheme.”

Those who pay for the garden waste collection service will be sent a sticker that needs to be placed on their green bin, so there is no confusion as to who has paid for the 2014-15 year.

People can sign up on the council website, or by calling the garden waste payment line on 01522 873255.

Anyone who doesn’t want to sign up for the service is reminded they can compost garden waste at home, or take it to a household waste recycling centre.