Herald - Issue 411

Page 50 • The HERALD • 26th August 2021 v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v If you come into any of these categories, then you will need to complete a self-assessment. Other services that we can provide M G ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES Telephone & Fax: 023 8089 1351 • Email: mgeere@btinternet.com Specialising in Bookkeeping and Accountancy Services in and around the New Forest and Waterside area, be assured of a local and friendly service. Are you self-employed? Are you a small business? Are you a landlord? Do you have investment income? NEW LIMITED COMPANY SET UP VAT RETURNS CREDIT CONTROL OUT OF HOURS CONSULTATIONS BUSINESS PLANS PAYROLL • CIS GENERAL BOOKKEEPING CORPORATION TAX Don’t let this be you at the end of the tax year ASK A PROFESSIONAL Back ON the Saddle in a Heartbeat County Council Welcomes Government Investment to Boost Rural Broadband Wessex Heartbeat has announced its sixth annual Cycle Sportive event. Sponsored by the Hendy Group, the leading Hampshire cardiac charity is urging people across the region to saddle up and get peddling, in the hope of raising thousands of pounds. Taking place on Sunday 19th September , participants will have the choice between a 40-mile route, or an extra-gruelling 70-mile route across the beautiful Test Valley, travelling through historic market towns and cities including Romsey, Salisbury and Winchester. Mark Busby, commercial director at Hendy, is excited to be supporting the cycling event again: “We feel extremely privileged to be able to support Wessex Heartbeat’s Cycle Sportive, and it’s fantastic to see that the event can go ahead again this year. Our personal health has been put in the spotlight over the last 18 months, and many people have taken up cycling as a way to get fitter and healthier. What better excuse to put your skills to good use while raising vital funds for this important charity.” John Munro, CEO of Wessex Heartbeat, added: “The Cycle Sportive is crucial for not only helping raise vital funds for Wessex Heartbeat, but also to help people get fitter. We are over the moon that we have been allowed to host the event for a sixth year in a row and can’t wait to see some familiar – and new – faces for what will be a brilliant day.” Money raised from the Hendy Wessex Heartbeat Cycle Sportive will go towards the cardiac charity’s refurbishment of its home-from-home Heartbeat House. In addition donations will go towards a revolutionary project which will enable surgeons to get an accurate 3D printed model of a patient’s heart before surgery, giving additional insights and improving peace of mind for patients and their families. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessary steps will be put in place to follow strict health and safety procedures. On the day, the route will be arrowed and marshalled and there will be mechanical support provided on route by Giant, Southampton, as well as refreshments at Embley Park and Littleton. To register for the event, please visit: www.heartbeat.co.uk/Event/cycle2021 e Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Keith Mans has welcomed the recent announcement by Government of an investment boost that will enable the delivery of broadband to ‘hard to connect’ rural areas across the county. Hampshire is set to receive a share of between £148 million - £250 million committed to the region as part of the Government’s Project Gigabit in the rst tranche of the national scheme. Commenting, Councillor Mans said: “I am delighted that Hampshire is at the vanguard of the Government’s Project Gigabit programme. We have made the case at a national level to ensure our residents are among the first to benefit from this funding to deliver digital infrastructure in ‘not-spot’ areas that have proved to be stubbornly unviable for commercial suppliers to reach. We estimate this investment for the region could deliver gigabit broadband to an additional 150,000 properties, enabling rural communities to get connected, whilst fuelling job creation and economic growth.” e vast majority of Hampshire – more than 97% of premises - can access superfast broadband, and since 2013, the County Council has championed high speed connections for those in rural locations - enabling 115,000 more homes and businesses to get connected. Project Gigabit will incentivise commercial operators to reach the areas that are the hardest to reach at scale. Hampshire and Isle of Wight have been allocated a share of between £148 million - £250 million as part of the Government’s £5 billion investment. e Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is set to procure contracts for the region’s roll out in February 2022, with delivery expected in 2023. is comes a er Hampshire County Council recently committed a further £1 million to provide a ‘top-up’ to the Government’s existing Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme worth up to £3,000 per property. is is helping people in ‘broadband not-spots’ where it is most costly to connect, to get a fast, reliable broadband service. To nd out more, go to: Hampshire Superfast Broadband. Gigabit-capable broadband (also known as ultrafast broadband) has speeds of up to 1,000Mbps or 1Gbps. For more information on Project Gigabit visit: Two million rural homes and businesses to bene t in £5 billion broadband upgrade - GOV.UK (www. gov.uk) Mark Busby from Hendy and Tina Richardson from Wessex Heartbeat SPECIAL OPEN DAY TO TACKLE NURSE SHORTAGE Oakhaven Hospice is holding a special recruitment open day to help tackle a nurse shortage. e Hospice, in Lower Pennington Lane, Lymington, urgently needs extra day and night nurses to sta the In-Patient Unit at the heart of its service. A number of sta have retired recently or moved areas. e informal drop-in style open day, including a tour of the Hospice, is being held on Monday 6th September from 10.30am until 2.30pm in the Coates Centre at the Hospice. Lucy Smith, Director of Patient Services, said: “The work of a hospice can be a mystery, even to other healthcare professionals. Open days give us the opportunity to welcome interested nurses and often to surprise. Many who work in the NHS are keen to spend more time with patients and that is exactly what we do. NHS pensions can be transferred. We can show just how rewarding it is to work in palliative care. And we offer beautiful surroundings.” Lucy added: “The pandemic has put huge pressures on all aspects of healthcare and hospices are no exception. At Oakhaven we expanded our services during lockdown to support the NHS but now we need to fill the gaps in our staffing rota to ensure that we can continue to provide the end-of-life care that our patients and their families deserve.” Jenny Butler, Ward Manager at the Hospice, said: “ Open days are a fantastic way for nurses to find out about us and what we do. It’s actually how I joined 17 years ago – Oakhaven did a recruitment day. Many of our nurses stay with us for a long time, so this is a rare opportunity to join a special team providing care that is hugely valued by patients and relatives.” Oakhaven Hospice, which serves most of the New Forest including Totton and the Waterside, employs over 20 nurses along with doctors and other specialist sta . e Hospice also supports patients and their families in their own homes and provides a range of wellbeing and complementary therapy support. An open meeting for Lyndhurst Men’s Shed is being held on Tuesday 21st September at 7pm in the Chestnut Room at Lyndhurst Community Centre . If you are interested or know someone who might be please go along or contact them: enquires@lyndhurstshed. org.uk, ‘Lyndhurst Shed’ on Facebook or by calling Pete on: 023 80812067. Lyndhurst Men’s Shed Open Meeting – They Need You! NEW FOREST BUSINESS SUPPORT HOUR New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) offer a free weekly Business Support Hour each Wednesday at 3pm. Each week will focus on a specific topic from a local business expert. An important element of these sessions is the interaction between attending businesses. Whilst the rst half hour is focused on the chosen topic, the second half will allow businesses to share ideas, opportunities or issues. You can sign up to attend this support hour via the NFBP website: www. n p.org.uk/events