On this week’s Winchester Now:
- Mary Blaxland reports on how the extreme heat this week has affected local activities and services, including: significant additional pressure on NHS services; some schools closing early; bin-collections being brought forward to earlier in the day; amended timetables for public transport services; activation of the Severe Weather protocol by the city council to support rough-sleepers; a number of supermarkets having to close refrigerated food units as their cooling systems struggled to cope in the heat; there was an increase in purchases of fans to stay cool; and some outdoor tourist attractions closed some days.
- Derek Palmer talks to Hampshire-based charity ‘Testwood Lake Sailability’, who provide boating experiences for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
- News-in-brief:
- Armed Forces Day has been marked in Winchester this week with the raising of the Armed Forces Flag outside the Great Hall, and a parade by Ministry of Defence personnel from Worthy Down. There are more than 85,000 people in Hampshire connected to military life, including serving personnel, reservists, cadets, veterans and families.
- A new initiative to improve police support to victims of domestic abuse is being trialled across Hampshire. Domestic Abuse specialists are being employed in the police control room, to provide advice to those handling initial reports of abuse. The specialists will be provided seven days a week, by the charity Stop Domestic Abuse.
- More people than ever across Hampshire are using the NHS App to manage their healthcare, with the latest figures showing a significant rise over the past year. 70% of people aged 13 and over, are now registered with the NHS App. The move has been welcomed by NHS bosses as it frees up time for frontline staff.
- Thousands of school children, from church schools from the Church of England Diocese of Winchester, have gathered at Winchester Cathedral this week, to mark the end of their primary school education. They took part in workshops and attended a special service. The pupils have also created an art installation as part of a project on refugees. Visitors will be able to view the installation until August.
- Students on a new course at the University of Winchester are learning about the healing qualities of gardening, as part of First Years on the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship. They’ve learned how spending time in nature can improve mental wellbeing.
- Shout-outs:
- In Small Charities Week, to the thousands of small charities who make a positive impact in our communities every day, helping others, with much of this work done by dedicated volunteers.
- To ‘Hatt’s Off to George’ for raising nearly £35K for charity in memory of 25-year old George Hatt who passed away last year due to a brain tumour. He initiated the fundraising after his diagnosis in 2024, and family and friends have continued his legacy, financially supporting charities that cared and helped him in his lifetime, including The Brain Tumour Charity, and the Mountbatten Hospice.
- To the Alresford Watercress Festival which raised just over £8,500 for children’s cancer charity, Abby’s Heroes as a result of last month’s event.
- To all the local businesses, social enterprises and charities announced as winners at the recent Winchester Business Excellence Awards! Among the winners on the night were Remedi Health as ‘Business of the Year’; Action Hampshire as ‘Charity of the Year’; and the prestigious ‘Millennium Egg’ was awarded this year to local charity Wonderseekers.
- To Brasserie Blanc, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Raymond Blanc visited the Winchester restaurant on Jewry Street to celebrate with staff and diners.
- To charity Brendoncare’s ‘Otterbourne Hill’ wellbeing team who were national finalists at the Stars of Social Care – Care Home Awards, being nominated for their “exceptional person-centred care.”
- To all the Hampshire Hospitals staff members and teams who have been nominated in this year’s Hampshire Hospitals People Awards – there has been an incredible, record-breaking 904 nominations made!
