News :Waltham

Local people will get the chance to step inside a working forge, learn traditional blacksmithing skills and make their own souvenir as part of a new heritage project in Owston Ferry.

Owston Ferry Smithy has been awarded £3,600 through North Lincolnshire Council’s Cultural Futures programme to run free blacksmithing taster sessions at The Old Smithy & Heritage Centre.

The project, called Sample the Smithy, will give residents the chance to engage directly with local heritage through small, supervised sessions using the forges and learning basic blacksmithing techniques.

It will also help bring the historic smithy to life, support essential repairs and improvements to equipment, and test demand for future workshops.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is living heritage – not something behind glass, but something people can touch, try and experience for themselves.

“The Old Smithy is part of Owston Ferry’s story, and this project will help open it up to more people, protect traditional skills and give residents the chance to make something with their own hands.”

The project is one of 14 new arts and heritage schemes awarded funding through Cultural Futures, a multi-year programme supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and North Lincolnshire Council to increase cultural activity across the area.

Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for Ashby, Bottesford and Scunthorpe, said: “There is something powerful about heritage you can actually take part in.

“Blacksmithing is practical, physical and creative, and these sessions will give people a real connection to the past while helping secure the future of a much-loved local heritage site.

“It is also a brilliant example of rural communities leading their own cultural activity, supported by volunteers who care deeply about keeping local history alive.”

The wider funding round will also support projects including a portable exhibition telling the story of Burton upon Stather’s role in the build-up to D-Day; a new 80-mile walking trail linked to Olaudah Equiano, John Wesley and stories of freedom and reform; a community film festival for North Lincolnshire; a multicultural celebration at The Baths Hall; and creative projects bringing young people, older residents, artists, volunteers and community groups together.

The projects awarded funding are:

Burton upon Stather Heritage Group – The BSHG Information & Display Unit

A portable walk-through exhibition telling the story of Burton upon Stather’s role in the build-up to D-Day, including Operation KATE and secret tank testing at the Tank Ramp site.

Epworth Old Rectory – The Equiano Way

A new 80-mile walking trail linking North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and Hull, exploring stories of freedom, faith and social change connected to Olaudah Equiano, John Wesley, the Pilgrim Fathers and Salim C. Wilson.

Indian Cultural Association North Lincolnshire – River of Talent 2027
A multicultural celebration at The Baths Hall featuring music, dance, Indian cuisine and community awards recognising contribution and social impact.

Kimberly Performing Arts – Stories in Motion
An intergenerational performing arts project bringing young dancers together with older residents to share memories and local stories through dance and musical theatre.

Oasis Hub – Layered Landscapes: The Scunthorpe Tapestry
A multi-generational creative project using photography, texture-mapping and textile art to reimagine Scunthorpe’s industrial architecture and community identity.

Over the Bridge – Artist Residency
A supported residency for an emerging local photographer to create new work inspired by North Lincolnshire’s people, places and heritage, culminating in a public exhibition or presentation.

Owston Ferry Smithy – Sample the Smithy
Free blacksmithing taster sessions at The Old Smithy & Heritage Centre, giving people the chance to use the forges, learn traditional skills and make a souvenir to take home.

Shepherd Creative – Lincs Film Festival
A research and development project and one-day proof of concept event to test demand for a future community film festival focused on northern stories, emerging talent and accessible participation.

STEAMPunx Lincs – Legends of the Humber: Creatures, Coast & Curiosity
A creative heritage project exploring folklore, landscapes and the environment through storytelling, art, poetry, imagined creatures and a cabinet of curiosities-style exhibition.

Street Beat – Culture Fusion
A dance project exploring cultural identity, heritage and racism through urban dance, guest artist workshops, choreography, performances and community sessions with young people.

Ted Lewis Centre – Dive with Ted Lewis into The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine
A project celebrating Ted Lewis’s work as Animation Clean-up Supervisor on Yellow Submarine, including oral histories, research, exhibitions and a live Beatles tribute event.

The Ropewalk – Barton Shops & Shopping: A Community Archive Project
A community-led heritage project collecting memories, photographs, objects and oral histories about Barton’s retail history, creating a digital archive, pop-up displays and workshops.

The Tent Project – Her-Story Project
A creative project supporting women in Scunthorpe to share experiences through art, craft and writing, with support from creative practitioners and wellbeing specialists.

Wilderspin National School Museum – The Art of Play: Past, Present and Reimagined
An artist residency led by Annabel McCourt exploring play, mischief and childhood through archive research, workshops, storytelling and a public exhibition.

In total, more than £63,000 has been awarded in this round.

The Cultural Futures programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and North Lincolnshire Council.

Find out more information, including the full criteria and how to apply for future funding, on the Cultural Futures webpage or email culturalfutures@northlincs.gov.uk.

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The council has helped the Coritani Academy expand education provision and create 20 additional places in Broughton as part of its commitment to ensure more children with additional needs can learn closer to home.

The expansion will create 20 new places and is backed by a £450,000 investment and responds to growing demand for children with additional needs – a challenge made harder in rural communities.

It is part of the council’s commitment to keep more children connected to their families, friends and communities while giving them the support they need to thrive.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Parents, grandparents and teachers tell me all the time that more and more children are needing extra support and that, for some, the traditional classroom environment simply isn’t the right fit.

“We have listened and we are doing something about it. We don’t just say we want every child to have the best possible start in life – we back those words up with action.

“We made a commitment to improving the lives and opportunities of children and young people across North Lincolnshire, and this is another example of us keeping that promise.”

The council is already rolling out specialist resource provisions and study hubs across primary and secondary schools, creating calmer spaces and smaller teaching environments for children who need extra support while allowing them to remain part of everyday school life alongside their friends.

These plans will create more than 200 additional places across North Lincolnshire over the coming years, helping more children remain supported within their own communities wherever possible.

The investment also follows North Lincolnshire Council’s recent Outstanding children’s services judgement from independent inspectors Ofsted.

The Outstanding judgement also recognised the council’s wider commitment to supporting children with additional needs, with inspectors praising strong partnership working, early support and tailored help for disabled children and those with additional needs.

Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families and young people, said: “We know that when children stay in their own schools, close to home, surrounded by friends and trusted adults, they thrive. Parents feel supported. Teachers feel empowered. And children grow in confidence.

“Children remember the moments they felt safe, included and understood. This is about creating more of those moments, while making sure children still feel part of their school and community every single day.”

The new provision will see a vacant building repurposed to create the new spaces for up to 20 pupils.

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Porters Garage in Barnoldby Road has reopened under the JET brand

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The presenter was guest of honour at the official opening of Waltham Gateway Academy and Scartho Gateway Academy

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Openreach engineers are now in the area

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Hundreds of North Lincolnshire households have received support with heating oil costs after the council launched a scheme designed to help rural communities hit by rising fuel prices.

More than 1,000 households have come forward since the scheme launched, with almost 700 payments reaching residents in recent days.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader,  North Lincolnshire Council, said: “When this funding was announced, we made it clear that we wanted help to reach local people as quickly as possible.

“The response shows just how important this support is for rural communities across North Lincolnshire. Hundreds of households have already received payments and more are being processed every day.

“This is exactly what the funding was intended for – helping people with the cost of keeping their homes warm and providing practical support when it is needed most.”

A further 250 applications have already been approved and are due to be paid this week.

Cllr Tim Mitchell, cabinet member for finance and efficiency, said: “We know households that rely on heating oil face different challenges to those connected to mains gas, particularly in villages and rural areas.

“That’s why it’s encouraging to see support getting directly to local residents. For many households, this funding will help ease some of the pressure created by higher fuel costs.

“If you registered an interest but haven’t yet completed your application, please check your emails and come forward as soon as possible so we can make sure you don’t miss out.”

Everyone who previously registered an interest in the scheme was contacted directly when applications opened. Around 300 households who expressed an interest have yet to submit an application.

Residents who need help completing their application can visit any North Lincolnshire community hub, where staff can provide support to access and complete the online form – hubs are in Ashby, Barton, Brigg, Crowle, Epworth and Scunthorpe.

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Waltham Gateway and Scartho Gateway Academies are the first new primary schools in North East Lincolnshire in decades

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Appleby residents are stepping up their fight against speeding motorists as three new speed indicator devices are set to be installed across the village – funded through a community grant.

The £10,195 project has been backed with £8,979 from North Lincolnshire Council’s Community Grant Fund, with the Parish Council adding £1,216 to get the scheme over the line.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Residents have been clear that speeding is a concern, and this project shows what happens when local people take action to make their community safer – and the council back them to take control.

“These new indicators will help tackle dangerous driving and send a strong message that Appleby is a place that looks out for its neighbours.”

The devices will be positioned at key points to alert motorists, reinforce speed limits and encourage safer, more considerate driving through the village.

The speed indicator devices have been proven to cut average speeds and improve driver awareness, with studies across the UK showing measurable reductions in speeding – particularly in rural village settings like Appleby.

Cllr Neil Poole, deputy leader and cabinet member for highways, said: “This investment gives Appleby practical tools to slow traffic and keep people safe. It’s a smart, community-led solution that will make a real difference on the ground.”

Since it launched in 2011, the Community Grant Fund has powered hundreds of local projects across North Lincolnshire – helping villages, clubs and community groups to bring their ideas to life.

From youth sports and local arts to village halls and safety schemes like this one, the grants are all about strengthening communities and delivering what matters to local people.

If you’ve got an idea that could make a difference where you live, visit the community grants page to find out how to apply.

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