Things in the Illingworth Library November 2023

Library Things

You will find the Illingworth Library at our temporary home on the first floor of 26 Northumberland Road for the duration of the helipad build. Our Estates colleagues have made us feel right at home! Our study spaces with laptops are proving popular, please email or call to book a study space.

Things in the News

‘Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’ 

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on ‘Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’ The consultation will be open until 6th December 2023.

The consultation itself can be found here

The Power of the Ordinary

A report from the Centre for Mental Health ‘The power of the ordinary’ finds that through the Children in Need funded ‘A Million & Me’ programme, tens of thousands of children have seen an improvement in their mental wellbeing. This has been done by enhancing the ‘scaffolding’ around children – providing resources and capacity for the parents, trusted adults and the systems surrounding them – which then has the power to support children’s mental wellbeing and prevent mental ill health. 

A mixed picture in the latest figures on childhood obesity

NHS Digital reports the latest figures on childhood obesity. The prevalence of primary school children living with obesity continued to fall in 2022/23, after reaching highest recorded levels during the Covid-19 pandemic.  However, obesity prevalence among year 6 children, aged 10 to 11, remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Things to do in November

Watch out for the giant E.coli as BioFest comes to town

The University of Sheffield launches BioFest, a unique new festival running throughout November. The festival is dedicated to sharing and illuminating cutting-edge bioscience research. A definite highlight will be Luke Jerram’s giant inflatable E.coli and Glass Microbiology sculptures, which will be on display in the Winter Garden and Millennium Gallery throughout the festival. Martha Clokie of the University of Leicester will be giving a guest lecture on Bacteriophages; killing bacteria to save lives on 24th November, in the Firth Hall. 

It's a Sheffield Thing

A totally biased spotlight on small businesses in the Sheffield area

There is a bit of a DIY theme to this section, probably because I spend far too much time on an endless cycle of house maintenance. If you’re looking for any shade of paint (or any decorating tools), head to Carracks of Crookes which has been in business since 1947. They can match any colour and I have found that their paint is both cheaper and better quality than you’ll find in a big DIY store. Some of their vintage wallpaper stock was used on the sets of ‘The Full Monty’. You can’t get much more Sheffield than that.

Things in the Illingworth Library October 2023

Library Things

The next Randomised Coffee Trial will be happening in November. This is your chance to meet up with another Sheffield Children's colleague chosen at random. We always get great feedback from people who take part so why not give it a go? We do all the work of matching you up, all you have to do is meet up virtually or in person: sign up here

Things in the News

Vapes '95% safer' than cigarettes messaging has backfired

The BBC reports on the disastrous results of the positive messaging that was used when vapes first appeared, which focussed on their use as a way to quit smoking. The risk to children was not mentioned, as it was not anticipated that vaping would become popular among non-smokers and children. The BBC speaks with Dr Mike McKean who is vice-president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The Good Childhood Report

This year’s Good Childhood Report from the Children's Society reveals that many young people are unhappy with their lives. 10% of the children aged 10 to 17 who completed the Society's household survey in May and June 2023 had low wellbeing, and almost a third were unhappy with at least one specific area of their lives.

Ethnic inequalities in mortality in England

The King's Fund has published an interesting piece delving into data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which has provided the most comprehensive and up to date national profile of ethnic inequalities in mortality overall and from common physical conditions. It shows a complex picture of ethnic inequalities in mortality in England. 

What are Sheffield's 65,000 students studying?

Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

Online newspaper The Sheffield Tribune turns its attention (momentarily) from the battle over the Leadmill to the latest intake of freshers at our two Sheffield universities and asks what are all those new students going to be studying?

Things to do in October

Sheffield Photomarathon

Photo by Patrick on Unsplash

Photomarathon is back, on Saturday 28th October. Like all great ideas, it's simple and fun! Individuals and teams register in advance, then take 6 photos in 6 hours on topics announced on the day – anywhere in the city. At least one image per entrant (or team) will go on display after the event, in an exhibition showing one day in the life of a city from hundreds of different perspectives.

Off the Shelf Festival of Words

13th - 29th October brings the Off the Shelf Festival to Sheffield, with an absolute feast of events around the printed word, being a mix of free and ticketed events. An online event with a definite local flavour is this Showstopper featuring South Yorkshire's very own Rahul Mandal.

It's a Sheffield Thing

A totally biased spotlight on small businesses in the Sheffield area

Genuine Italian capuccino right here in Sheffield! Two brothers from Naples have opened 'Caffè Tucci' in Surrey Street, where the coffee is rightly getting a reputation as the best in the city. (They have recently opened a second outlet on Ecclesall Road). English football fans of a nervous disposition may want to avoid looking at the wall art: a certain Diego Maradona has the status of a hero in Naples, where he played for the local team. To say he features heavily in the café decor is a bit of an understatement.

Things in the Library - March

Library Move & other changes

The Illingworth Library will be temporarily moving to Broomhill Community Library from Monday 20 March because of the Helipad build. We will still have some study space, and on Tuesday 1-5 and Thursday 8.45-5 the building will only be open to Sheffield Children's staff, so those are good times to come for quiet study. We will have a presence in the dining room on the main site and a drop box for returning books. We will be operating a click and collect service so you will still be able to borrow anything you need, from the main site. We will still be able to do literature searches, training (where you are, on Teams, or at Broomhill), document supply and most things we currently do. We will be back in the Stephenson Wing in early 2024.

And on that note, it is change all round as I (Jess) will be leaving at the end of March for a new job, and this is my last blog. It has been a pleasure to get to know you during my time here, and I'm sure the blog will be back quickly under new management.

 Mental Health

The Centre for Mental Health reports on new figures showing that there is an urgent need to invest in preventing mental ill health and further improve treatment, especially for children and young people too often forced to wait and travel long distances for care. 

This gap between demand and provision has grown as poverty, which drives mental illness, has increased and as public health and other council services, which prevent ill health, have had their budgets cut by about a quarter. These cuts have fallen most heavily in areas of high deprivation, meaning that people are getting poorer, more ill and with less preventative services to support them. Combined with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is causing and worsening population mental health and driving demand for mental health services that is not being met.

NICE has recommended four digital technologies that can help children and young people with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood, once they achieve regulatory approval. The guided self-help digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) technologies can be used as an initial treatment option for those aged 5 to 18 while evidence is being generated. This topic is the first to be published as final early value assessment (EVA) guidance, new NICE guidance that provides conditional recommendations on promising health technologies that have the potential to address national unmet need.

 Introducing Solid Foods

The Department of Health & Social Care have introduced a new campaign on weaning babies onto solid foods. A new survey has found that half of parents are confused about the timing of weaning and how much food their babies should be given. An online weaning hub has been developed to support parents, including NHS-endorsed advice, videos and tips, plus simple healthy recipes.

Gene Therapy

A new gene therapy has been used on the NHS for the first time. The therapy treats metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which is a fatal genetic disorder. The therapy, Libmeldy, has been used in a toddler, Teddi, who was diagnosed with MLD after her older sister recieved the same diagnosis. The life-saving gene therapy works by removing the child’s stem cells and replacing the faulty gene that causes MLD before re-injecting the treated cells into the patient. As it can only be used before the disease progresses, sadly it couldn't be used on Teddi's sister Nala.

Child Development

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities have released the data from the child development outcomes 2 to 2 and a half, 2021-22. The data show annual experimental statistics on child development at 2 to 2 and a half years. Information is presented at local authority of residence, regional and England level.

Things to do in Sheffield in March

Sheffield Beer Week

From 6-12 March Sheffield Beer Week is here, featuring unique beer tastings, walks, tap takeovers, meet-the-brewer sessions, brewery tours, online talks, exhibitions, food matching menus, and more. Sheffield is a fantastic city for beer lovers, full of great pubs and breweries - find out what's happening here.

Music for the Arts Tower

On Friday 17 March at 8:00 pm you can pop over the road to the Arts Tower and it's iconic paternoster lift to experience a concert that's a little but different. Featuring musicians in lifts, architecturally inspired sound loops and off-the-wall experimental music, Platform 4 and Lorenzo Prati will perform 'Music for the Arts Tower'.

Recipe of the Month

A celeriac appeared in my veg box this month and I didn't know what to do it with. Soup! I thought. I found this really simple recipe, which is given some extra loveliness with the pesto. It was delicious with some fresh bread and it didn't last very long! 

Things in the Library - January

  Internet Safety & Mental Health

In partnership with Samaritans,  HEE's eLearning for Healthcare have developed a new elearning resource aimed at assisting people who provide support around suicide and self-harm to have vital conversations about online safety. The internet plays a big part in many people’s lives and can often be an important source of support and information. However, some online activity can be harmful and act to exacerbate thoughts and behaviours around suicide or self-harm. It is important that the role of the internet is not overlooked when supporting a person experiencing feelings around these issues.

Group A Strep

Analysis by UKHSA suggests a nasal spray vaccine that offers protection to children against flu may also help reduce the rate of group A strep infections. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation and Countermeasures at UKHSA, said:

"Our findings suggest that the nasal spray vaccine programme, which offers very good protection against flu, may also help contribute to reductions in the rates of GAS infections among children. Children who catch influenza are at greater risk from subsequent infections, including group A strep, so these findings provide yet more reasons for parents of eligible children to bring them forward for the flu vaccine."

Newborn Genomes Programme

100,000 newborns will have their complete DNA sequenced, screening for arounf 200 treatable disorders through the Newborn Genome Programme, the BBC reports. It is thought that this will save many families years of tests and uncertainty searching for a diagnosis for their child. The programme is a collaboration between the NHS and Genomics England.

Cost of Living Crisis

The President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Camilla Kingdon, has given an interview to the BMJ in which she discusses how social deprivation in the UK is increasingly affecting children’s health, citing housing and nutrition, specifically the UK's high asthma rates and high use of food banks as problems that are increasingly discussed with families. She calls for policy changes and interventions to improve child health, including expanding free school meals.

Health Literacy

Health literacy is about a person's ability to understand and use information to make decisions about their health. You can use this map to see health literacy data across the country. 

Things to do in Sheffield in January

It's a quiet month, but if you fancy leaving the house, here's a couple of places to go:

Sheffield Heritage Fair

On 28th-29th Janurary, Millennium Gallery will be celebrating the history of Sheffield by showcasing the work of heritage groups, as well as opportunity to chat with over 40 local groups. This is a free event. 

Showroom Cinema

January is the perfect cinema month. If you like foreign and independent films, the Showroom is your place. Sheffield's biggest independent cinema has a great January programme, highlights include Holy Spider, Alcarràs and Lingua Franca.

Recipe of the Month

I am absolutely not here to tell you to eat healthily in January, but this is one of my favourite lunches at

the moment and it's does contain cucumber. It's the opposite of a winter indulgence but it's so good it transcends seasons - takeout-style sesame noodles with cucumber. It takes five minutes to make, it's packs in some powerful flavours, and it's also very good looking. 

Things in the Library - November

 Toddler development checks

The National Institute for Health & Care Research have found that about 1 in 4 children are missing their 2-2.5 year development checks. Children from deprived backgrounds, and those in local authority care, were less likely than other children to have these checks recorded. The Healthy Child Programme in England states that all children aged 2-2½ should have a health check by the health visiting team. Not all children receive these checks, and, before this study, it was not known whether certain groups are more likely to miss out.

Protecting children online

Ofcom has published a report looking at the measures taken by video sharing platforms to protect children and ensure that they do not view adult material including pornography. The report found that most UK sites do not have robust verification methods in place, and many sites merely require the user to check a box stating that they are 18 or over.

NSPCC Learning has created an e-learning course to help designated child protection leads understand the risks around children sharing nude images and how to respond appropriately. The course includes training on recognising when sharing imagery is harmful sexual behaviour, and steps to safeguard all young people involved.  

  

Workforce Census 2022

The Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health has published an overview of paediatric and child health workforce, focusing on consultants and SAS doctors working in the UK. It includes recommendations and key findings graphics. 

Childhood obesity

From the Nuffield Trust:Despite numerous initiatives, there have been no improvements in the levels of childhood excess weight and obesity in England over recent years. Much of the research used to inform policy on childhood obesity has been based on ways of changing the behaviour of individuals rather than influences outside their control, like the characteristics of a local area. Understanding these external factors is particularly important for children, who cannot choose the environment they grow up in.

A Million & Me

Centre for Mental Health have released a report into A Million & Me, which  was developed by BBC Children in Need to explore how ordinary, trusted relationships can help children who are beginning to struggle with their mental wellbeing. Funded projects include including text and phone support for children, the production of digital resources and training for trusted adults, and activities aimed at boosting children’s wellbeing.

Things happening in Sheffield in November

Wreath making at Kelham Island Museum

Get festive and learn how to make a fresh Christmas door wreath  using locally sourced foliage, beautiful dried fruits, ribbons and sparkly bits and bobs. Enjoy hot drinks and mince pies while you craft the evening away, and come away with a beautiful hand-crafted wreath to decorate your door for the season. All abilities are welcome from complete beginners to experts and all materials will be provided. Thu, November 10, 2022, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Tickets here.

The Art of Play at the National Videogame Museum

Did you know that Sheffield is home to the National Videogame Museum?  Based in Castle House in the city centre, it is currently exhibiting The Art of Play, which showcases the artistry behind videogames

Recipe of the Month

These pear, apple and cider muffins are exactly the kind of treat to see us into November.

Things in the Library - October

Why work with Librarians and Knowledge Specialists?

Because we can help you! Watch this video to find out more.

Unseen Men

NSPCC Learning has released a new blog as part of a series looking at the importance of language in safeguarding, focusing on the use of the terms like “hidden men” and “invisible fathers”. The blog discusses how fathers and male caregivers are often overlooked by services, and how using alternative phrases such as “unseen men” can prompt professionals to think about how they could identify the men in a child’s life and consider any support or protection needs.

Smoking and Vaping in Children

NHS Digital have released figures showing that less children smoke and take drugs than they used to. Among 11-15 year olds, there has been a 3% decrease in smoking and a 5% decrease in drug taking. However it also showed a 3% increase in children of the same age-group vaping.

Anaemia in the Perioperative Pathway

The Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) have a new Guideline for the Management of Anaemia in the Perioperative Pathway. It is for all ages, but also includes specific recommendations for those working with children, with Sheffield Children's own Dr Nadia Ladak leading on the paediatric side.

Mental Health

The Centre for Mental Health reports on two psychologists from Project Future embedding in a youth group, and how they supported young men with their mental wellbeing and provided training, advice and support to the youth workers there. 

 Placing mental health workers in a youth club enables them to reach young people who would not normally trust mental health services. By using game-based activities to engage and educate young men about their wellbeing, it creates an openness about mental health that traditional approaches cannot achieve. And by bringing the complementary skills of psychologists and youth workers together, it takes the stigma away from mental health.

 Primary School Weight Measurement

The Office for Health Improvement & Disparities reports on the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data, the first national analysis of the same children from reception to year 6. The majority of children were a healthy weight in reception (84.7%), and of these 78.8% remained a healthy weight in year 6. Children in the most deprived areas and of a minority ethnic background were less likely to remain a healthy weight by year 6. 

Things to do in Sheffield in October

Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Odyssey

On 7th and 8th October at the Lyceum Theatre you can go to see Rush, and hear the story of Reggae music and the Windrush Generation. Narrated by comedian John Simmit and featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band.

Makers Market 

Millennium Gallery are hosting high-quality stalls from local makers selling illustration, ceramics, jewellery design, woodworking, textiles, and glassware. This will be held on 8th October from 11 til 4.

Recipe of the Month

This Mexican-inspired pumpkin (or squash) soup from Riverford is really warming and tasty with a lovely crunch from some broken tortilla chips. It has lots of ingredients but it's easy to make and reaps the reward in flavour. Jarlsberg cheese ✓ sweet chilli sauce ✓ kidney beans ✓ Delicious!

Things in the Library 13th May

Things about mental health...

This week is World Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme is loneliness. The connection goes both ways - poor mental health leads to loneliness and loneliness leads to poor mental health. It can mean the world to check in on a friend or colleague if you suspect they may be feeling lonely. Mental Health UK have created a Connect for Mental Health Board to encourage building meaningful connections with friends, acquaintances, family or colleagues for this week and beyond.

The Health Foundation have published a blog discussing contextual factors in young people's mental health. How increasing cost of living, missing school due to Covid 19, and having unemployed parents can have great impact on the mental health of children and young people, who may feel like they don't want to add a further burden to their families by being open about their struggles. 

    "Focusing on the NHS side of young people’s mental health tells only part of the story. Mental health     problems do not come into existence only at the point of referral to NHS services. The young people     behind these statistics are part of wider society, workers or in education, and part of families, often        families under strain."

Things about DynaMed...

Last week library staff had a training session on how to use DynaMed, which is a point of care tool that we have recently subscribed to. We were really impressed with how simple it is to use, and the depth of information provided. You can subscribe to alerts in your speciality, use the calculators, and search for drug interactions. Each topic has a succinct overview plus detailed information on diagnosis, management, complications, prevention and guidelines. You can easily log in with Open Athens. Let us know if you'd like to be shown how to use DynaMed!

Things to read...

You still have time to read this month's reading group book, The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. It's an absolute classic about an African American girl growing up in the South in the early 1900s, and there is certainly lots to discuss. It's still available to borrow from the library, as is the rest of our leisure reading collection.

Things about paediatric sepsis...

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are running a one-day course on how to manage paediatric sepsis. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the early signs of sepsis 
• Appraise parents’ assessment of their children
• Explain which is the most appropriate antibiotic to choose 
• Discuss current issues in fluid resuscitation 
• Estimate which inotrope to use, when and how much
• Compare differences in children with complex health conditions
• Differentiate between orders of immunodeficiency 
• Analyse appropriate management strategies in these cases. 
• Practise and assess your knowledge and skills through sepsis simulation scenarios.

Things about strength training...

The New Scientist has reported that only one in twenty adults in England are exercising their muscles enough. Strength exercises such as lifting weights and body weight exercises are really important for improving strength in muscles, which can help mobility as you age. The UK’s weekly health guidelines, which recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity a week – including two bouts of strength training.

Things about child safety...

NSPCC Learning has published a report as part of the Together for Childhood project which aims to make local communities safer for children by helping local partners and families come together to prevent child abuse. The report discusses the evaluation approaches used to look at the effectiveness of Together for Childhood. For the Transformative Evaluation, 37 stories from community members and partners about the biggest changes they have experienced during their involvement with Together for Childhood, were collected. A selection of these stories have been shared in the report which reveals changes such as improved knowledge and awareness around preventing abuse. The report finds that the variety of changes cited in the stories demonstrates the added value of joining up different services, professionals and communities.

Things to make...

This week I'll be making one of my favourite spring recipes, baked ricotta with asparagus and jersey royals (though I have to admit I cut back on the salt in this recipe!). Love a jersey royal!

Things in the library 22nd April

Things about new staff...

As I'm sure most of you are aware, Gill Kaye retired last year, leaving a very large blog shaped hole. My name is Jessica, and I'm the new(ish) Assistant Librarian, and that makes me the new blogger too. I used to do a very similar job at Barnsley Hospital, and I have travelled many library sectors in the past, working in academic, public, museum and science research libraries. It's nice to meet you!

Things about digital literacy...

The London School of Economics has written an article on how digital literacy interventions can safeguard young people from the impact of online harm. It found that children and young people with poorer mental health and wellbeing can be more susceptible to victimisation online and discusses building digital resilience in children and young people. Recommendations include: finding ways to protect children from online harm whilst not restricting the positives of internet use; and carrying out further research into the link between digital literacy and wellbeing.

Things about mental health and wellbeing...

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has opened a consultation on mental health and wellbeing in England. This is being conducted to facilitate the development of a ten-year plan on mental health. Views will be gathered on areas such as improving wellbeing in children and young people. The Department is looking to gain various views from those who work with people who may be affected by mental ill-health such as children and young people. The deadline to complete the survey is 05 July 2022. 

The Mental Elf writes about social media and the promotion of disordered eating, focusing on a study from Monash University looking at the language used, the hashtags coined and the way in which users interact on Twitter in order to propel this Pro-ED movement forwards.

Things about children in care...

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has published a report summary sharing conclusions drawn from a recent study. As part of the study, 24 care-experienced children between the ages of 10 and 17 in England and Wales were interviewed to find out more about their journeys through the care system. Findings include: young people felt that they were placed on ‘opposing teams’ to their parents during the court process; support networks were broken down rather than sustained; children experienced feelings of loneliness and stigma; and supported placements were too focused on surveillance rather than development. Recommendations include: encouraging children to be informed and involved in decisions about their care, and helping children to maintain relationships and support networks.

Things about drawing...

Sheffield Museums are offering a mindful drawing class at Millennium Gallery. Embrace mindful drawing and enjoy an evening developing your sketching skills, working from different still life objects each week. Don’t worry if you’ve not picked up a pencil since school – it’s a relaxed and friendly group where all are welcome, from the more experienced artists to the absolute beginners. You can join any class through until June, on a Wednesday evening. 

Things lost...

We have some black glasses that were left in the library. If they are yours and you want them back, please come and get them!

Things to make...

I'm going to be keeping up the tradition of sharing a recipe at the end of the blog as I love cooking and sharing food. This tomato and coconut cassoulet by Anna Jones is one of my favourite really easy, flavoursome and satisfying meals to make. 

Things in the library 6 August...

 Forty things... 

Someone asked me recently “was I counting the days until my retirement” …well I wasn’t …but I did & found I had 40 of my working days left. So I thought I would spend my last 40 days telling everyone something  different about the library on each of those days via our Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtags  #40things #GillRetiring . When I made a list I found so many things I wanted to tell people about that I might have to postpone my leaving day 😄. So do follow us to find out what 40 things I have chosen.

Things for new starters... 

If you have new rotating doctors in your area or as colleagues please make sure that they know about the library and all our services. Everyone in the trust gets our Monday morning bulletin so do encourage them to glance through this and also to join the library to make the best use of our services whilst they are with us. Whether it is for training, literature searches, current awareness services or leisure reading or a place to work, they will be very welcome. They can find full details of everything to offer on our website.

Things green... 

Sheffield has been blessed with many green open spaces within the city boundaries - many thanks to be benefactor J G Graves. This greenground map produced by Outdoor City and University of Sheffield shows 365 of them.

Things about mindfulness... 

An interesting article spotted this week looks at Yoga and Mindfulness Interventions for Preschool-Aged Children in Educational Settings: A Systematic Review which can be downloaded from this link. They conclude that this systematic review provides some evidence that yoga and mindfulness are promising practices for addressing social emotional development among preschool-aged children.

Things about social and ethnic groups... 

A  population-based retrospective cohort study has published the results of  research looking at the social and ethnic group differences in children’s use of healthcare services in England, from 2007 to 2017. They conclude:

Between 2007 and 2017, children living in more deprived areas of England made greater use of emergency services and received less scheduled care than children from affluent neighbourhoods. Children from Asian and black ethnic groups continued to consult GPs more frequently than children from white ethnic groups, though black children had significantly lower outpatient attendance rates than white children across the study period. Our findings suggest substantial levels of unmet need among children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Further work is needed to determine if healthcare utilisation among children from Asian and black ethnic groups is proportionate to need.

The full text of the article and supplementary material  in Archives of Disease in Childhood can be accessed by this link. 

Things about opening hours... 

We are now open one evening a week (Tuesdays) until 7pm if you need to use the library and/or the computers.

Things about Children and young people’s mental health... 

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have published initial findings from the early evaluation of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Trailblazer programme, a programme funding the creation of mental health support teams working in schools and further education colleges in England. An evaluation of the first wave of mental health support teams and education mental health practitioners, working with more than a thousand schools and colleges, include: schools and colleges welcomed the funding of additional capacity to provide in-house mental health support and participants raised concerns about gaps in support, especially for children and young people whose needs were not ‘mild to moderate’ (the group that the teams are designed to support) but also not serious enough to meet the referral criteria for specialist services. The final report from the early evaluation will be published in summer 2022.

Things to read... 

The next virtual Reading Group meeting will be on Sept 1st at 18:30 to 19:30 - all are welcome, please contact the library for the joining link. The book we will be looking at is 'West' by Carys Davies.

When widowed mule breeder Cy Bellman reads in the newspaper that colossal ancient bones have been discovered in a Kentucky swamp, he sets out from his small Pennsylvania farm to see for himself if the rumours are true: that the giant monsters are still alive and roam the uncharted wilderness beyond the Mississippi River. Promising to return within two years, he leaves behind his daughter, Bess, to the tender mercies of his taciturn sister, Julie. With only a barnyard full of miserable animals and her dead mother’s gold ring to call her own, Bess fills lonely days tracing her father’s route on maps at the subscription library in town and shrinking from the ominous attentions paid to her and her aunt by their neighbour and sometimes yard hand, Elmer Jackson. Bellman, meanwhile, ventures farther and farther from home, across the harsh and alien landscapes of the West in reckless pursuit of the unknown.

Things to make... 

Greengages (Reine Claude in France) are, I think, my favourite plum (sorry Victorias ...you are a close second) and spotted in the shops yesterday. They can vary in quality but good ones are fabulous. If you want to cook with them this Nigel Slater frangipane tart is good (you can always cheat with a ready-made pastry case if pastry isn't your thing.