Cosby Parish Council

Vaccine success continues

It is fantastic to see that the Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength, with more than 13.5 MILLION having received their first dose. You can keep track of the vaccine take up by visiting the Government website.

If you are over 75, or over 70 and clinically extremely vulnerable (with a shielding letter) there are some NHS vaccination slots available for anyone eligible and waiting for their first dose of the vaccine.

These appointments are available at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester General and Leicester Royal Infirmary. Book online now. Please remember that you will need to prove you're in the priority groups when you go for your appointment.

The priority list is still being worked through, and invitations to receive the vaccine are being delivered in several ways, including via GP and/or with a letter from the NHS.

Remember that the vaccine IS safe. When it's your turn to receive one, having the vaccine will help protect you and the people you come into contact with. Not only are these vaccines rigorously tested and approved for use across the world, both Pfizer and Moderna have published a full ingredients list to highlight how safe it is.

Find out more about the vaccine and how work is being done locally by visiting the Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group website.

Rapid asymptomatic testing

If you live or work in Leicestershire AND cannot work from home or you are a key worker with no symptoms of coronavirus, you can visit a rapid test centre to get a FREE test.

Rapid asymptomatic testing helps to prevent the spread of the virus. With around a third of people with Covid-19 not experiencing any symptoms they are an important part of identifying cases to reduce infection rates. You can get tested at any of the County Council's centres if you meet the eligibility criteria above.

Find out full details on the locations, including one in Blaby, on the County Council website.

Help us shape Blaby Town Centre

We're starting an exciting project to make a wave of improvements to Blaby Town Centre and we'd like your input to make sure the funding is put to good use with our short, two minute survey.

The funding from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and their "Business Rates Pooling Project" will help us refresh the Town Centre with new features such as planters, benches and bins.

Let us know what you think by visiting the survey and tell us your views.

Tell us how green you are!

It's our ambition for the Council to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the district to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Local communities are at the heart of this ambition, and we want to hear about anything you're doing to go green in your day-to-day life. Whether it's owning an electric vehicle, growing your own food or even just reducing the amount of single-use plastic in your home, our goal is to hear about resident's own initiatives and what works for you.

We are looking to launch a Green Network soon which will involve members of local communities from across the district. More information will be available soon, and anyone interested in being part of the network can register by emailing climate.change@blaby.gov.uk

Grant payments pass £3 million mark

More than 1500 local businesses in the district have now received £3.3 million pounds in grant payments since November.

The announcement of the second and third lockdowns in November and January meant that many of our local businesses were eligible for support. Our teams have been working hard to make sure that all of those eligible businesses received the funding they are entitled to. Find out more about Business Grants on the website.

Local Plan Consultation

Thank you to everyone who has given their feedback on the Local Plan Consultation so far. Your views help to make sure this plan is shaped by local communities.

You know your area best, so your input is important. Please set aside the time to read the document and fill in the consultation before 12 March 2021.

Remember, you can answer as many of the 32 questions as you like in giving us your views. Visit the webpage now for full details.

Cold Weather Payments to be made

If you're receiving one of the following benefits, you are eligible for the Government's winter Cold Weather Payment:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

The £25 payment is made when the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.

Use the postcode checker now to find out if you're eligible.

A Time of Connections

Five days of FREE taster sessions including singing, physical activity, arts & crafts, and mindfulness are taking place next week as part of an effort to support wellbeing, and beat loneliness during the pandemic.

From 15-19 February you can access a range of activities, from a Men's Support Group and Wellbeing Workshop, to Women Over 45 group and Nordic Walking.

Find out more by reading our event email.

Every Mind Matters

If you're dealing with stress, feeling low or not sleeping well, there are simple steps to take to feel better. Complete the refreshed Mind Plan Quiz to get your personalised, easy-to-follow NHS action plan.

Debt help

If you, or anyone you know is struggling with money, we are urging people NOT to ignore it and not to feel alone.

The Leicestershire First Contact Plus website has information about the help on offer in the district, and has also produced a leaflet with advice about the best options available. » Less