Keep well this summer

Summer is finally here, and for many of us, the lighter nights and warmer weather make it the ideal time to improve our health and wellbeing. It’s important we carry on taking care of ourselves and those around us, taking time to recharge, keeping up to date with vaccinations, and keeping safe as we head out to enjoy the summer season.

Take care of your health

Keep active

If you can, keeping fit and active is a great way to take care of both your physical and mental health. There are plenty of great walking routes across our area, ranging from the 25-mile ‘Johnson Silver Lincs Way’ from Grimsby to Louth, to the six-mile ‘Wold Newton Circular’ walk in the countryside.

See some of the walking routes below and get inspired.

Water and grass area in Cleethorpes Country Park

Find out more about the indoor and outdoor activities you can do to keep active this summer.

Check-in on your neighbours

If you are aware of a neighbour, friend, or relative who is over 65 or has a long-term condition and may find it difficult to get out, check that they are warm, and well and their medicine cabinet and food supplies are stocked up. Having some company may also reduce social isolation.

Prepare for allergies

As we step into summerthere are plenty more flower buds, trees and insects around us, which can trigger a lot of people’s allergies. Follow these tips to make sure you’re well-prepped to cope with any hay fever or seasonal allergies:

Try to avoid cutting the grass, pulling weeds or other types of gardening if they make your allergies worse.
Keep your medicine cabinet stocked.
Pharmacists provide good health advice on a range of minor ailments if you need to see a GP and information about getting your vaccines.
Keep your windows and doors shut if the pollen count is high, usually in the early morning and the late evening.
Avoid keeping fresh flowers in the house.

Take care of your mind

We know that a change in the season doesn’t simply cure low mood, stress and worry, and it can even be overwhelming for some to adjust to the change from the dark, cold winter months. Though managing these feelings can feel impossible, there are small changes we can make to make a difference and take care of our mind.

Five ways to wellbeing

Connect – Talk and listen, be there, feel connected

Connecting with the people around us is a great way to remind ourselves that we’re important and valued by others. There are plenty of activities going on in North East Lincolnshire, and you can find them on the ‘What’s on calendar’.

Be active – Do what you can, enjoy what you do, move your mood

By being active we can look after our mental and physical health at the same time. As the weather improves it’s a great time to try out the walking trails across North East Lincolnshire.

Take notice – Remember the simple things that give you joy

Taking notice of our thoughts, emotions and surroundings is a great way to stay present and pay attention to our needs. Why not have a spring clean and see what hidden gems you find?

Keep learning – Embrace experiences, see opportunities, surprise yourself

Trying new things can improve your mental well-being by helping you connect and boosting your confidence. Whether you want to get back into education, get involved with greening up your community or simply explore the things to do in North East Lincolnshire, find something that works for you!

Give – Your time, your words, your presence

Acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental well-being by creating a sense of reward. This could be something as simple as checking on your neighbour or friends and family you haven’t seen in a while. There’s also loads of different volunteering opportunities in North East Lincolnshire where you can find different ways to help others and give back.

Heading to the beach?

As we head into the summer holidays many of us will be heading into Cleethorpes. Prepare for your visit by checking the weather forecast. Find safety advice, tide times, wind speed and the weather at Met Office – Cleethorpes Beach. The Resort Team are available 365 days a year to provide safety advice and make sure people are staying safe on the beach.

Stay hydrated – Drink water and fruit juice regularly and avoid alcohol.
Stay safe in the sun – Find shade during the hottest parts of the day, make sure you and the kids use sunscreen (the higher the factor the better) and reapply often, wear a hat and sunglasses and loose-fitting clothes.
Help vulnerable people – Keep an eye on ill or older people, as well as babies and young children, to ensure they are following these tips to stay cool.
Relax – Try to avoid physical activity like sports if it’s really hot outside. If you need to, do it during the cooler parts of the day.

Dogs are allowed on Cleethorpes Beach from the 30 September to Good Friday each year. After Good Friday, you must not take your dog onto the beach between the Wonderland Slipway and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre. Dogs are welcome to visit the stretch of beach between Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and the Humberston Fitties all year round.

Beware of fast incoming tides. Check tide times before you visit and leave sand banks six hours before high tide.
Safe swimming. Always remain within the yellow buoys to swim safely. Red buoys are for the use of motorised crafts only.
Wear clothing designed for swimming. When wet, normal clothes can cause you to sink!
Wear suitable footwear. Weever fish like to bury themselves in the sand, and they can sting!
Avoid inflatables. Inflatables should be avoided in open water. They can get caught by wind blowing out to sea and outgoing tides. The resort team puts up orange flags to show the strength and direction of the wind.

Beware of mud and soft sand. If you find sinking mud STOP, turn around and retrace your steps back to safety. If you do get stuck, don’t struggle as you will sink further. Remain calm, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
Stay away from the rocky groyne. This stretch of rock is used to re-establish sand levels and reduce the impact of waves on the sea wall, but can be dangerous to climb on – especially when it’s wet!

Staying safe

Domestic Abuse

If you are in an emergency

If you are concerned about the safety of yourself or someone else, please ring 999 and ask for the police. If you are unable to speak, when the operator is on the line, press 55 on the keypad.

You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you or someone you know, it’s important to tell someone.

For non-emergency incidents, contact Humberside Police on 101. Alternatively, you can find local services and report an incident online at Advice about Domestic Abuse | Humberside Police.

Crime prevention

As the weather gets warmer, we are more likely to start opening our windows. Make sure to close and lock your windows when you are not in the house to prevent thieves from being able to get in.

Make your home more secure by following some basic advice:

Lock all doors and windows, and ensure any PVCu doors are locked properly by lifting the handle and using the key,
Keep keys and valuables secure and out of sight,
Consider installing a doorbell camera, internal camera and burglar alarm,
Ensure gates are locked, and tools and ladders in a locked shed,
Secure bins at night as these can be used by burglars as climbing aids to gain access to upper-floor windows.

Rough sleepers

It is essential for those who are rough sleeping to keep as safe as possible in the heat. Our outreach teams will have water, suncream, and sun hats available for those who need them. We will also provide Harbour Place with these, so please ensure you are engaging with the street outreach teams who can provide these.

If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing your home in the next 56 days, please contact the council’s homeless team as soon as possible on 01472 326296 Option 1.

If you see someone sleeping rough, let the council know by downloading StreetLink from your usual app store.

Things to do

Love Exploring

Get out and about over the half term with the Love Exploring App, a free, augmented reality game that leads you down trails to play mini-games and learn fun facts. This Summer holiday you can find the Love Exploring Mega Mini Beast trail around North East Lincolnshire!

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Kids jumping at a holiday activity event

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides holiday activities in North East Lincolnshire to families that are eligible for benefit-related Free School Meals. Your child’s school will send out a booking link to use tokens over the Summer holidays.

Go green

Graphic drawing of people painting trees and holding a lightbulb

Summer is a great time to get out in the fresh air, and gardening is a fun activity that will keep you up and moving.

North East Lincolnshire Council has launched the ‘Greening Up Our Place’ tree planting programme. Get involved and help green up your community.

Related websites

Get vaccinated – Let’s Get Better

Met Office – Cleethorpes Beach

Find local events, groups and clubs at Community Spotlight.

Visit LiveWell for tips to improve your physical and mental health.