Autumn 2011
Welcome to the autumn issue of the Arrow, the City Council’s magazine for residents.
Leader’ss Column Leader’ With energy bills increasing by as much as 25% over the last year, more and more people will be struggling to meet the cost of heating and powering their homes this coming winter.
news
City Council st with £1.5millio
That’s why in this Autumn edition of the Arrow we’ve used the opportunity to highlight the various steps you an take to cut down on the amount of gas and electricity your use in your home, saving you money and helping to save the planet at the same time. With this Arrow pack, you’ll also find a copy of the Council’s new Services Directory which includes useful information and contact details for the wide range of services we provide from bins to business advice and schools to street lights. You’ll also find the latest edition of our What’s On Guide with listings of all the great things there are to see and do in the city this Autumn and Winter. Councillor Jon Collins Nottingham City Council Leader
Councillor Jon Collins is the Leader of Nottingham City Council. He can be contacted by writing to Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG; by telephone on 876 4256 or email jon.collins@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
The Chief Executive of Nottingham City Council is Jane Todd. She can be contacted by writing to Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG; by telephone on 876 3302 or email chief.executive@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
The City Council has stepped in to build on the success of the Future Jobs Fund, which was ended by the Government, with a new £1.5 million scheme of its own. The Nottingham Jobs Fund will carry on where the Government scheme left off, providing job placements for the 18 to 24 age group currently experiencing rising unemployment.
Nottingham Arrow Communications and Marketing Nottingham City Council Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG Arrow enquiries: 876 3313 General Council enquiries: 876 5555 email: communications@nottinghamcity.gov.uk visit: www.mynottingham.gov.uk/arrow
Nottingham arrow | Autumn 2011 | 3
www.mynottingham.gov.uk/news
teps in n Jobs Fund Nottingham City’s Future Jobs Fund had succeeded in getting 1,000 people into paid work for a year, with over 30% taken on full-time by their employers at the end of the placement. The new Nottingham Jobs Fund will create 80 vacancies a year over three years within the private sector for unemployed Nottingham City residents. The City Council will contribute up to 50% of the cost of the placement with the employing organisation funding the remaining 50%. David Bishop, the City Council’s Corporate Director of Development, said: “We’ve made creating new jobs for local people a top priority for the Council over the next four years. The new fund will help 18-24 year-olds make a big step up the job ladder by increasing their skills, qualifications and employability.”
Arrow online Autumn 2011
If you’d rather read the Arrow online, visit www. A mynottingham.gov.uk/ m arrowonline a and complete t short form. the W then send you an email with a We’ll web link to the next issue when it’s w published and/or arrange for you p to t stop receiving it by post.
Exam results success – best year ever! Nottingham’s young people have done the City proud – achieving the best ever exam results. A-Level pass rates at City secondary schools have improved to over 98% while more than three quarters of Nottingham pupils gained five or more top GCSE grades - the highest number ever recorded. Key Stage 2 SAT test results for 11 years olds show that Nottingham has achieved the third best improvement in the country for English andsecond best in Mathematics. Ian Curryer, Corporate Director for Children and Families, said: “We‘re thrilled with these results. They demonstrate Nottingham’s strong track record of improvement. Since 1998 we’ve increased by two thirds the number of pupils gaining five or more top GCSE grades.
Nottingham’s Key Stage 2 results show very encouraging improvements and the consistently high pass rate for A-Levels show that our youngsters are in a good position to go on to build good careers. “Indeed the number of 16-18 year olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) has reduced by almost 14% from June 2010 to June 2011. It now stands at the lowest levels ever recorded in Nottingham – and the city has the lowest NEET level for 16-18 year olds out of any of the major (core) cities.
Clean and Green Nottingham
Helping you reduce and carbon footprint Now that the nights are drawing in and the days are getting colder, big hikes in energy prices, of up to 25% in the last year alone, will really begin to bite. While higher fuel bills will hit us all hard in the pocket, for the estimated five million households in the UK living in fuel poverty – when more than 10 per-cent of their annual income is spent on energy – it will be particularly difficult. Nottingham City Council is determined to help local people out of fuel poverty, tackle rising fuel prices and play its part in preventing climate change. Working with the Nottingham Energy Partnership, the Council has created the Energy Strategy 2010-2011 which covers everything from helping householders cut their fuel consumption through insulation and energy efficiency programmes to making sure that new buildings and developments in the city are increasingly carbon-neutral.
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Energy production in the city – which is already higher than in any other city in the UK – is also being given a huge boost to help insulate the city from rising energy prices. Far-reaching plans include extending the city’s District Heating Network – which currently heats 4,600 homes in St Ann’s as well as buildings like Victoria Centre and introducing new ways of generating energy from waste - including food waste and wood biomass; using water from the canal and River Trent to generate energy plus the use of wind power.
As part of the City Council’s Energy4Change programme we have also been working with the Nottingham Green Partnership to tackle climate change. The partnership has put together a draft Climate Change Strategy, which has recently been out for consultation, and includes things like encouraging people to grow their own food; educating local people to prepare for extreme weather like flooding and heat waves; climate change education in schools and supporting Nottingham businesses to tackle climate change.
For more on the City Council’s energy plans visit: www.mynottingham.gov.uk/energy
your energy bills Investing in training for the future
Mapping city energy use To understand more about how energy is being consumed in the city, the City Council is developing a system called the Nottingham Energy Calculator.
Shrinking the Council’s carbon footprint Nottingham City Council will be reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2016. The initiative, developed by Esri UK and funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, will provide accurate information about energy use in the city and help shape future decisions for achieving the city’s environmental plans. Working closely with the Government and Nottingham Energy Partnership, the pilot will promote a city-wide, integrated approach to reducing carbon emissions. There are also plans to use the technology to provide an online service where residents can see which technologies could be available, suitable and affordable for use in their own homes.
This will be achieved through measures that include making its own buildings more energy efficient, putting solar panels on more of its housing stock and replacing 29,000 old streetlights with new energy efficient lights. Greener public transport is also on the agenda – including two new tram lines – as well as creating new careers in green technology and attracting green industries into the city. Nottingham is already one of the most energy self-sufficient cities in the UK, generating 3% of our own heat and power from renewables and waste.
Ten trainee electricians from Nottingham have recently been given free training in fitting and maintaining solar panels. The training was part of a renewable energy project between the Council and E.ON which will see free solar panels installed on around 600 Council homes in Aspley. Training the electricians will ensure that there is now a local workforce ready to deliver the roll-out of free solar panels to thousands of homes across Nottingham over the coming years. The homes taking part could see their household energy bills fall by as much as £120 a year.
Burford Primary lights the way Not all the city’s energy saving initiatives are complicated. Simple solutions can make a huge impact as teachers and pupils at Burford Primary School found when old fluorescent tube lights were replaced by new LED lights at the school. Apart from enjoying brighter lighting, the school will also see an annual saving equivalent to the fuel consumed by seven average houses and, as the new lights have a lifetime of 20 years, the school is expected to save a whopping £76,278 on its electricity bills over 20 years.
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Clean and Green Nottingham
Saving energy, saving cash October 24 to 28 is Energy Saving Week and this year’s theme is ‘Take back control of your bills’.
Here are some top tips to help you do just that – while lowering your own carbon footprint:
save... save... ... up to £50 a year by turning your thermostat down just 1oC
save...
... up to £160 a year by switching energy suppliers. Nottingham Energy Partnership’s impartial Tariff Switch Tool is quick and easy to use. Visit: www.nottenergy.com
... up to £6 a year by not overfilling your kettle
save... save... ... up to £25 a year by using draft excluders
save... ... up to £40 by not leaving appliances on standby
... up to £45 a year by swapping all the bulbs in your house to energy saving light bulbs
Need more help?
save... save...
... up to £200 a year by replacing your old boiler with an ‘A-rated’ system.
If you receive certain benefits and your boiler does not work properly you may be eligible for a Warm Front Grant worth up to £3500. If you have a ‘G’ rated boiler then the Boiler Smart scheme may save you up to £400 off a new ‘A’ rated model.
Contact the Energy Advice Team – details below.
save... ... up to £35 a year by putting a 75mm (3 inch) insulating jacket on your hot water tank
... up to £10 a year by insulating your hot water pipes
save...
... up to £145 a year on your heating bills by insulating your loft. The Nottingham Warm Zone scheme offers free loft and cavity wall insulation to anyone over 65 years or on certain benefits (subject to survey). It also offers loft and cavity wall insulation to everyone else for just £49 (subject to survey)
Call 0844 499 1920 or visit www.nottinghamwarmzone. com
The City Council’s Advice Service could help you save cash.
For advice on fuel bills and debt; switching supplier; insulation, heating and more contact the City Council’s Energy Team on 0115 876 3537 or email: energyteam.housing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
If you are worried about being in fuel debt call the Advice Nottingham Fuel Debt team on 0115 908 1532
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For more energy saving tips and more about Energy Saving Week visit: www.energysavingtrust.com
Tackling a sticky problem The Council held an awareness campaign last month – funded by the Chewing Gum Action Group – to reduce the amount of chewing gum litter in the city. Highly visible advertising was put up around the city letting people know that dropping gum is not only anti-social but can also result in an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice.
high powered deep-cleansing machine, funded by the Nottingham Retail Business Improvement District, during the campaign to provide the extra muscle needed.
As gum is the most difficult litter to clean up it requires specialist cleansing equipment and the Council launched a new
Hotspots for gum litter were monitored before, during and after the campaign to see what improvements have been made.
Visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/chewinggum for more info. You can report a litter problem by phone on 0115 915 20 20 or online at www.mynottingham.gov.uk
Polishing up our act Litter and dog fouling not only make the city look a mess but also cost Nottingham City Council thousands of pounds every year to clean up – money that could be spent on other services – which is why the Council is cracking down on those who commit these offences. According to latest figures, the Council’s zero tolerance approach is paying off. Between April 1 and July 31 this year, 1,929 fines were issued for these types of offences compared with 2,573 over the same four months of 2010 – a fall of 25 per cent! The city is also cleaner thanks to the hard work of over 4,000 volunteers who joined in this year’s Big Summer Clean.
Events across the city resulted in 160 tonnes of rubbish being removed – over and above normal street cleansing. During the campaign, Nottingham City Homes cleared 73 alleyways and 23 garage sites while the Council’s neighbourhood environmental teams took ‘The Poover’, a bike specially adapted to clean up dog dirt, into 17 city schools to educate pupils about the menace of dog mess.
Nottingham cleans up at awards The City Council has won the Best Street The awards recognise the improvements brought in by creating City Cleaning award from the Association of Services, a new division focusing on local priorities. New neighbourhoodbased teams have helped make local areas as clean as the city centre. Public Service Excellence (APSE).
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Clean and Green Nottingham
Last chance to dispose of garden waste The free garden waste collection service will be suspended at the end of October and resumed again in April 2012. Most residents have little or no garden waste during the winter and so it is not environmentally friendly or cost effective to maintain a winter collection. The ideal option is to compost garden waste at home and city residents can now get discounted composters with free delivery.
For more information call 0800 731 2572 or visit www.greatgreensystems.com Alternatively you can take garden waste to our Household Waste and Recycling Centre on Redfield Road, Lenton and place it in the green waste skips.
Got the bottle? Do you use bottled gas for camping or at home? If so make sure to get the empty bottles recycled or re-used and, please, never include gas bottles in your rubbish or recycling bins. There are two ways to recycle gas bottles: check the company details on the side of the gas bottle and ring them for advice or, if you can’t find a supplier that will take your gas bottle back, bring it to Redfield Road Household Waste & Recycling Centre and we will make sure it’s recycled or reused.
For more on recycling call 0115 915 2000, email waste.management@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/recycling 8
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Thermal imaging for energy efficiency Local Nottingham Green Builder Atlanticorp has just taken delivery of a new thermal imaging camera. MD, Alisdair Butler commented, “We have made a substantial investment in this and many other technologies to enhance efficiency and performance of Atlanticorp in many ways. We are amongst the most technologically advanced builders in our area. The new state of the art thermal imaging will allow us to survey not only new building work but also any other property. We can give an analysis of where your home or workplace is losing heat – you can actually see for yourself and then we can remedy the issues helping lower carbon footprints, reducing your energy bills long term and keeping you warmer in winter.”
Please call 0800 651 0051 for more information on how to keep green and spend less with your property Atlanticorp are pleased to offer the chance to check the energy efficiency of your home…
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First prize – A £50 meal voucher to spend at your favourite restaurant and a free thermal survey worth £85 4 runners up prizes of a free thermal survey with full report worth £85
To enter the draw go to www.atlanticorp.co.uk
on... Goose Fair FREE Entry
Ghost evenings, tours and trails
5 - 9 October | Forest Recreation Ground
28 and 31 October | Newstead Abbey
One of Europe’s largest travelling fairs makes its annual stop in Nottingham. It offers over 500 attractions, thrilling white knuckle rides, children and family rides, plus fairground treats, market stalls and an unbeatable atmosphere. www.mynottingham.gov.uk/goosefair
Hear spooky tales, follow the nerve-jangling trail around the gardens and wood and enjoy delicious refreshments in the café. For full details and prices visit www. mynottingham.gov.uk/newsteadabbey or to book call 01623 455913.
Bonfire Night Robin Hood Pageant
5 November, 5.30pm onwards Forest Recreation Ground
29 – 30 October, 10.30am – 5pm Nottingham Castle
A great evening out for all the family with fair ground rides, a children’s firework display and a grand firework finale at 9pm.
Step back in time, join in the festivities, relive the life and times of Robin Hood and enjoy this great family fun day out. The grounds of Nottingham Castle will be transformed into a medieval village encampment complete with re-enactments taking you back in time to the 12th Century.
Anish Kapoor: Flashback From The Arts Council Collection
19 November - 11 March | Nottingham Castle Don’t miss this major exhibition of work by one of the leading artists working in Britain today. Internationally - renowned Anish Kapoor uses dramatic colour, organic shapes and abstract forms, often with optical effects, to create sensual and beguiling sculptures.
At the Pageant enjoy live jousting, combat displays, archery, medieval crafts, falconry, wood carving, fletching and much more! Ticket Prices: Adults £8, Children & Concessions £6, Family £20 (2 adults and up to 3 children), under 4s go free www.mynottingham.gov.uk/ robinhoodpageant
Normal museum admission charges apply. www.mynottingham.gov.uk/nottinghamcastle
To book tickets call the Royal Centre box office on 0115 989 5555. On the day you’ll be able to jump the queues with Fasttrack entry.
@nottm_events
Anish Kapoor: Flashback
/whatsonnottingham
Plus don’t forget...
For full details of all the great things there are to see and do in your city from now until the end of January, check out the What’s On guide which came with this Arrow.
Robin Hood Beer Festival 13 – 15 October, Nottingham Castle
GameCity 2011 25 – 29 October, Nottingham City Centre
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Help shape your city It’s time to apply online for your child’s school place Parents and carers have until 31 October 2011 to apply for their child’s secondary school place (for September 2012 admissions). To apply simply go online and follow the step by step instructions. Applying online is quick, easy and completely secure. You can make changes to your online application right up to midnight on 31st October 2011. We also email you to say that we’ve received your application. You’ll also get an email with the decision of your application on the offer day which is quicker than waiting for the letter to arrive in the post.
The City Council is now developing its local plan to shape developments in the City over the next 10 years, ensuring the development necessary to meet the needs of Nottingham’s citizens is provided whilst protecting assets that are important to the city. The plan will set out where new development for employment, housing, retail and other uses should be located and also look at other factors which will help the Council to determine planning applications.
You can have your say on the range of issues that the plan covers and help shape the future of the city. Visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/localplan for more details or to give your views or alternatively contact the Planning Policy Team on 0115 876 3969.
If your child is registered at a City infant or primary school, or with us and lives in Nottingham, you’ll receive a letter with your child’s details including a unique security identity number. Use this unique number to register and apply online for a city school place at:
www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/e-admissions If you do not have access to an e-mail account you can set one up easily by visiting www.go-on.co.uk If you don’t have internet access at home, visit your nearest library or children’s centre where you can access a computer to complete your application online. It’s important that you apply for a secondary school place before or no later than 31 October 2011. Late applications will reduce your chances of getting a place at your preferred school, particularly if it is popular. For an infant or junior school place, you can apply between 25 November and 15 January 2012.
For more information the Going to School in Nottingham 2012/13 booklet is available at www.mynottingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Alternatively, phone 0115 841 5568.
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Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness? Get one-to-one support from a Marie Curie Helper If you or someone you care for has terminal cancer or another life-limiting illness, our trained volunteers can provide a listening ear, practical information or a short break for you from your caring role. Our Marie Curie Helper service in Nottingham is completely free of charge and is tailored according to your needs. Phone: 0845 304 8730 Email: nottshelper@mariecurie.org.uk Watch our short films to find out how we can help at www.mariecurie.org.uk/helper Charity reg no. 207994 (England & Wales), SC038731 (Scotland) P607
your city
2011
your services
have your say
SURVEY
YOUR CITY YOUR SERVICES Nottingham City Council is working towards setting its 2012/13 budget. Last year we saw a real-term reduction in the Council’s budget of around £60million. If our predictions are right we face another £22million reduction in our budget next year. Last year, we asked for your views on which council services are important to you and where you thought savings could be made.
This information helped us make decisions to try to protect things like support for elderly and vulnerable people and tackling crime and antisocial behaviour. This year, we are again giving you the opportunity to have your say in this new “Your City Your Services” survey. Your responses will help us again as we try to meet the huge challenges we face due to the spending reductions which could have major implications for the services we provide for Nottingham citizens.
We’d like your views Let us know your views by completing this survey or alternatively filling it in online at www.mynottingham.gov.uk/yourcityyourservices
Complete this survey and you could win a Family Panto Treat - 2 Adult and 2 Child tickets for the Spectacular Theatre Royal 3D Pantomime SLEEPING BEAUTY starring Joe Pasquale for any performance between Tuesday 10 January 2012 and Saturday 15 January 2012
As a Council, we are trying to do our best to prioritise: • supporting the most vulnerable where possible • supporting local jobs and industry • keeping Nottingham as a great place to live and work But we are continuing to implement some tough decisions we have made over the past year to balance our budget including: • raising charges for parking to bring in more income
the survey
•
raising charges for some adult care as more people need the service • reducing the money spent on highways maintenance • cutting back on opening hours for some of our leisure and cultural facilities. We’re continuing to work to root out any waste and inefficiency but will have to find more ways of reducing or removing some services, find new ways of delivering them and think about introducing or increasing charges.
Please complete the questions below.
1. Please rate the following services on how important they are to you on a scale of 1 (NOT IMPORTANT) to 5 (VERY IMPORTANT) 1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Child Protection
Refuse collection
Community Protection Officers/Wardens
Schools
Events
Services to elderly and vulnerable people
Highway maintenance
Street cleaning
Housing
Street lighting
Job creation
Support to Voluntary Sector
Leisure centres
Sure Start/Nursery Education
Libraries
Museums
Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour
Parks and open spaces
Training
Planning
Youth Services
Public transport
Welfare Advice/Citizen’s Advice
Recycling
2. Please indicate any other Council service you consider to be important.
3. Do you have any suggestions where spending cuts could be made?
4. For each of the following, please indicate your level of concern about how the current economic situation is affecting you. Very concerned
Concerned
Not concerned
Cuts to public services Speed of proposed cuts Impact on my family Debt problems Bus fares rising Losing my job Rent levels increasing Crime levels rising Impact on vulnerable and elderly Other (please specify)
5. If the reductions in funding to be announced this year appear to disadvantage cities like Nottingham compared to other areas of the country, would you be in favour of Nottingham City Council lobbying for a fairer settlement? Yes No Don’t know
6. Are you?
Male
Female
7. Which age group do you belong to?
Under 16 16-24 35-44 45-59 60-64
10. What is your postcode? (e.g. NG2 3NG) Don’t forget to give us your details if you want to be entered into the FREE prize draw to be in with a chance of winning panto tickets. Please complete the following:
11. Name 12. Contact telephone number
25-34 65+
13. Contact email address
8. Do you have a long standing illness, disability or 9.
infirmity? Yes No To which of these ethnic groups do you consider you belong? Tick one box only
White Black Asian Mixed Chinese Other (please specify below)
The winner will be drawn on Friday 9 December 2011 and will be notified by telephone or email. 14. Disclaimer: If you do not want Nottingham City Council to use your contact details to contact you in the future about services we provide please tick this box
I do not want Nottingham City Council to use my contact details.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Meetings
What we deliver
There will be a series of meetings across the City with more information and the chance to have your say.
Nearly half of the City Council’s budget is spent on children, families and adult services.
Dates and venues will be publicised at libraries, leisure centres and other community venues as well as the Council website.
Other services we provide include: • Street cleaning and bin collection • Museums and leisure centres • Public transport • Community Protection
Returning your completed survey Once you have completed the survey, simply fold the pages back together then fold in half so the address below is uppermost, fasten with adhesive tape and post. It’s freepost so you don’t need a stamp. All surveys returned by 25 November 2011 will be entered into a FREE prize draw to win a Family Panto Treat - 2 Adult and 2 Child tickets for the Spectacular Theatre Royal 3D Pantomime SLEEPING BEAUTY starring Joe Pasquale for any performance between Tuesday 10 January 2012 and Saturday 15 January 2012. *Terms and conditions apply
FOLD ALONG THIS LINE
Freepost RRHA-LESR-EYJC Nottingham City Council Communications and Marketing “Your City Your Services” Loxley House Station Street Nottingham NG2 3NG
Retirement apartments for rent in the Nottingham area One bedroom apartments are now available at: Runnymede Court | Nottingham Hanover Court | Bilborough Lilian Hind Court | Bulwell For more information please contact our Enquiries team:
Call 0800 280 2575 Visit www.hanover.org.uk
Local Democracy Week 10 - 16 October 2011 It’s all about you… Every year the Government launches a special campaign to get people more involved in issues and decisions that affect them. This year that campaign takes place between 10th and 16th October – we call this Local Democracy Week. To find about the activities being organised in the City to mark Local Democracy Week visit:
www.mynottingham.gov.uk/localdemocracyweek Your ideas and opinions matter to us. We want to make sure that you are able to play a part in deciding how things are run locally – no matter how big or small a part you want to play.
Shaping the future of care homes...
Acer Court Residential & Dementia Care Home | Nuthall | Nottingham Acer Court Care Home in Nuthall, Nottingham opened in September 2011 and offers residential and dementia care for the elderly. The home has been developed by award winning care provider Avery Healthcare, the company behind Nottingham’s hugely popular Hall Park Care Home in Bulwell. Acer Court brings to Nottingham a care home of outstanding quality, with daily activities, hotel standard interiors and restaurant dining, as well as the best in clinical care. Acer Court offers: #,#0-31*7 .0-.-02'-,#" #"0--+1 5'2& #,Q13'2# 5 *)Q', 1&-5#01A 2-'*#2 9 $* 2 1!0##, F 0#+'#0 0--+1 4 '* *# $-0 2&-1# 5 ,2',% #620 ',"#.#,"#,!# F #12 30 ,2 12 ," 0" $--" .0#. 0#" " '*7 F ' 0 ,2 *-3,%#1A !-+$-02 *# /3'#2 0--+1 9 !-++3, * "',',% 0# 1 F -2#* 12 ," 0" -$ 13..-02 1#04'!#1 ',!*3"',% " '*7 .0-%0 ++# -$ 2&#0 .#32'! !2'4'2'#1 F &#0 .7 0--+ ," & '0 1 *-, F ,!*-1#" % 0"#, 5'2& 0 '1#" #"1@
For further details or to arrange a visit please call today 0845 643 3279 Manager Paul Hutton-Cornish | www.acercourtcarehome.co.uk | email: enquiries.acercourt@averyhealthcare.co.uk
Volunteer! Make a d 2011 is European Year of Volunteering so why The art of volunteering Are you interested in promoting Nottingham’s heritage, improving the visitor experience of our museums and working with our impressive range of museum collections? Then why not join our friendly teams working at Nottingham’s museums, including Nottingham Castle, Brewhouse Yard, Green’s Windmill, Wollaton Hall and Newstead Abbey? You could work with the public - on things like family fun activities or at one of our many events - or behind the scenes with our fascinating collections.
For more information call Jenna Stevens on 0115 876 2205 or email: jenna.s tevens@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Every day, hundreds of Nottingham people volunteer their services to help others. But there are probably many more who have thought about volunteering but don’t know where to start. Apart from helping others, volunteering can help you meet new people, develop the skills you may need to get a new job and make you feel great about yourself. To help those of you with some spare time to ‘do your bit’, here are some examples of how you can volunteer and where to go to get more information.
Want to be the Governor? School governors are volunteers who help schools decide their policies, help recruit staff, manage the budget and oversee school development. Volunteering as a governor is challenging and rewarding and you would be part of a team
offering opinions and solutions to interesting challenges and topics. For more volunteering opportunities visit: mynottingham.gov.uk/volunteering Anyone aged 18 or over and living in the UK can be a governor. You don’t need specific qualifications and, as you will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the school, you need only commit six to eight hours a month. 16
For more information call 0115 87 64589 or visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/schoolgovernors
ifference not get involved? Volunteering – we do it too! Council staff are doing their bit by giving their own time to help City schoolchildren with their reading.
Work on the run Parkrun is a timed, 5km run, jog or walk for all abilities that takes place at 9am every Saturday at Colwick Park. We need more volunteers to help set things up on the day, to register runners and to time the run.
To find out more visit: www.parkrun.org.uk/colwick
Fifty six colleagues have signed up to the Reading Volunteers pilot scheme as part of the Year of Reading 2011 initiative.They have been trained up for the task and now help out at 18 schools. Jacqui Walker, a Policy Officer, volunteered to become a reading champion at Rufford Junior School and finds it very rewarding.
Jacqui - who also runs a Brownie Unit - loves working with children and finds it very worthwhile, especially when she finds children who were disinterested beginning to get pleasure out of reading. Jacqui said: “The opportunity to volunteer like this has been an amazing experience - and it brightens up my week!”
There are countless ways that you could really make a difference through volunteering – everything from working with victims of crime or visiting an isolated older person in their home to coaching sports or lending a hand with admin.
Right up your street Do you want to help keep your neighbourhood clean? Then we have an opportunity that’s right up your street. My Street is an environmental watch scheme where volunteers help the City Council deal quickly with envirocrime by reporting things like litter, fly tips and graffiti. And, as volunteers have expert knowledge on their own neighbourhoods, they also work with local City Services teams to shape cleansing activities in their areas. We’re developing My Street so volunteers have the opportunity to have their say on street management issues and become “expert citizens”.
Join up now and make your neighbourhood sparkle. Email: mystreet@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call 915 2220.
A great place to start your search for volunteering opportunities is through the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service, which has been helping to improve the quality of people’s lives in the city through volunteering for 136 years.
You can pop in to their Voluntary Action Centre at 7 Mansfield Road in the city centre – you don’t need an appointment – or visit the NCVS website at: www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk 17
Nottingham’s a Purple Patch for a great night out... Nottingham has gained further praise for being one of the best places in the country to go for a great night out. The city successfully retained its Purple Flag Status for demonstrating variety, safety and cleanliness after dark. It means that the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) deems Nottingham’s night time offering, and efforts to continually improve cleanliness and safety, to be amongst the best in the country. Nottingham first gained Purple Flag Status last year and, following a recent assessment, the city will now hold the title for a further 12 months. The success is down to a joint effort between We Are Nottingham Leisure, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire
Police, Nottingham Businesses Against Crime and the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership Team, as well as other city centre partners. A special Purple Flag Week held last month to celebrate the city being one of only 16 locations in the UK to have the accolade, and the only one in the East Midlands. The week saw key city centre buildings, including the Council House and Cornerhouse, illuminated in purple, Purple Flags flying in Market Square and from the Castle, and special offers in bars and restaurants across the city.
For more information on Nottingham’s Purple Flag Status and Purple Flag Week, visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/purpleflag. Further details on the Purple Flag accreditation scheme can be found at www.purpleflag.org.uk.
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Tell Us Once... and we’ll tell the rest When a mum has just given birth or someone has died, families have so much to think about. A new service due to start in the autumn will inform government departments and local authority services who need to know, making life easier for new parents or bereaved families. Tell Us Once, a partnership between Nottingham City Council and Notts County Council, means that when someone registers a birth or death with Nottingham City’s Registration Service, we can, if you wish, let more than 20 other organisations know. These include Blue Badges, Child Benefit, Council Tax and Housing Benefit, Passport Services, DVLA, and state pensions. It removes the burden from families of having to report the same information to different government and council services. Tell us Once means exactly that. Nottingham City Council will do the rest of your behalf.
For further information please visit mynottingham.gov.uk/ tellusonce or contact Lynne North on 0115 87 64921 or at lynne. north@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
Join the Search for Nottingham’s Best Bar None Best Bar None is a national scheme that recognises and rewards pubs, bars and clubs that provide a safe, responsible setting for their customers.
Over 50 premises in Nottingham have been assessed by experts to check they meet the strict national standards, and now we are asking you to vote for those that you feel provide the best customer experience. You can vote online at www.nottinghambbn.co.uk.
WE NEED YOUR VOTE!
We are in the runn ing for a Diageo “Best Custome r – but we need Experience” Award. your vote to win it! Vote now at:
www.nottingha mbbn.co.uk
V T E ONO NOLWINE !
Best Bar None is a national awards recognises respon sibly managed scheme that licensed venues .
The awards will be announced at a private glitzy city centre ceremony on Tuesday 15th November, and we’re giving one lucky reader the exclusive chance to win four tickets to the awards ceremony, with complimentary canapés, drinks and entertainment. A chauffeur driven car will also ensure you arrive in style!
For your chance to win, send your entry marked “Arrow Giveaway”, with your name and telephone number to info@wearenottingham.co.uk, or We Are Nottingham Leisure, Days Hotel, Wollaton Street, Nottingham, NG1 5FW, by Friday 28th October. Terms & conditions All ceremony attendees must be 18 years old or over. Chauffeur driven car pick up is from one location within the NG postcode area. Further terms and conditions apply, please email info@wearenottingham.co.uk for details.
Win!
Music / Art / Screen / Stage / Literature / Listings / Directory / Forum / Tickets
WWW.LEFTLION.CO.UK
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Could you care for At any one time there are 500 Nottingham children who need a home (because they can’t live with their own families) and there are 300 disabled children whose families need extra support to help care for them. To help these children we’re recruiting to fill a variety of caring roles.
Adopters Adopters are needed to provide permanent family homes for children, especially older children and groups of brothers and sisters. Christopher and Graham, Adopters from Sherwood, said: “Two years ago we adopted Chelsea (aged 7) and Elliott (aged 5). They had suffered severe neglect but we’ve bonded together as a family really well. Elliott has begun to disclose some of his traumatic early memories but he’s benefiting from play therapy. Sometimes it can be challenging but we have loads of fun too, we go to the park, the cinema, get ice creams, everything that other families do. We wouldn’t swap for anything Chelsea and Elliott mean the world to us.”
Foster Carer Foster Carers provide a secure family home for children needing short or long term care. Carers receive between £40-£165 per week depending on each child in their care
“Each day the young people I work with make me smile. Helping them to take part in community activities and to gain life skills gives me a sense of achievement. It touches me to think I’m helping to make a difference to this young persons life.” Sam, Link Worker from Attenborough 20
Sandra and Ian, Foster Carers from Clifton, said: “Our children have grown up and left home but we missed the buzz of having young people in the house. At the moment we’re looking after Reece (aged 15) and Sarah (aged 13). Reece has been in trouble with school - but that’s understandable he just needs care, stability and guidance. At times we’ve asked ourselves if we’re doing the right thing - but we’ve already raised our own teenagers so we know how that feels! Our own children support us and think we’re doing something really worthwhile. And looking after Reece and Sarah keeps us young – there are lots of times when we have a laugh together.”
Home from Home Carer Home from Home Foster Carers open up their homes to provide regular short breaks of 3-5 nights each month for children with disabilities. Carers receive £57 for each 24 hour period of care they provide Tina, Home from Home Carer from Nottingham City, said: “I provide respite care at weekends for disabled children. It gives them a chance to do different activities and also gives their families a break. I currently look after 3 boys (one at a time). I’ve found the role tremendously rewarding and the boys love coming to stay at my house. I’ve had a lot of support from Nottingham City Council and a local support group which holds free events each month for disabled children. When I first started out I never expected to make so many friends. This really is a great scheme to work for and I’d love it if more people got involved and became carers.”
a child? *
Did you know?
* *
If you’ve got experience of working with children and young people we’d really like to hear from you. As well as the stated payment, some of the roles will also receive allowances to cover the costs of caring for children. Carers must be able to give each child their own bedroom.
Contract Carer
Link Worker
Contract Carers are self-employed carers who work full-time to open up their homes to disabled children for up to 240 overnight breaks each year. Carers receive £312 per week plus £37 for each overnight break they provide
Link Workers work with disabled children after school or at weekends to help them get out and about enjoying activities in the community.
Elaine, Contract Carer from Wilford, said: “The role can be challenging but also really enjoyable. Giving the parents a well deserved break and getting to know the children has been a wonderful experience for me. It is a delight to see the children’s smiling faces when I go to pick them up and take them out. I help the children get involved in different activities and challenges like shopping, swimming and bowling. It’s an extremely rewarding and satisfying experience - which has been backed up by excellent on-going support from the team at the Council.”
Sam, Link Worker from Attenborough said: “It’s hard to find words for how I feel about link working. Each day the young people I work with make me smile. Helping them to take part in community activities and to gain life skills gives me a sense of achievement. It touches me to think I’m helping to make a difference to this young persons life. Link working to me is more then just a job.”
Find out more… As part of National Adoption Week, Nottingham City Council will be holding an information event in the Old Market Square on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th November. If you’re interested in any of the above caring roles then simply come along to find out more. Alternatively call us on 0800 458 4114 or look online at www.mynottingham.gov.uk/foster 21
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New Day Care Centre gets the thumbs up A new Day Care Centre for older people with dementia has been getting positive feedback since it opened in the summer. Albany House in St Ann’s is a state-of-the-art fully accessible day centre which boasts many modern facilities including a sensory room, assisted bath and shower rooms, and a conservatory. Citizens using the centre welcomed the move from Nuffield House which had become old and outdated. One citizen now accessing Albany House said that, while it took them a little time to get used to the new centre, they soon felt settled and are now enjoying the new modern facilities that it has to offer. The space that the centre provides, as well as the activities, décor, and the garden, which has raised flower beds, is more accessible and well used. Day centre visitors are able to enjoy other onsite facilities including; a hairdressers, cafeteria offering freshly cooked meals, and landscaped gardens. Manager Rob Cross, said: “It’s a fantastic building with excellent facilities. I feel privileged to be managing Albany House Day Services.” Albany House serves people from the north and east of the city. If you – or someone you know – is interested in visiting the centre, it’s best to get in touch with your social worker or Broker who will be able to find out availability and advise you on how to use your social care personal budget for the visits.
For more information contact 0115 915 2471 www.mynottingham.gov.uk/adultsupportandhealth
Register to vote and avoid bad credit rating
Once you register, your details go on the voters’ list which companies use when you apply for things such as mobile phones, loans, bank accounts and mortgages so it’s important to register as soon as your form arrives.
Every year residents must register to vote to make sure the electoral roll is kept up to date.
If yyou u ha have NO C CHA HAN NGES s siimp mplly register by: freeph freep hone 0808 284 1483 onli lin ne www.elecreg.co.uk/nottingham text 07786 209 383 te (to do the above, you’ll need the security code which is printed on your form)
If your DE DETAIILS HAVE E CHA CHAN NGE GED D return n yyour form by pos post
Helpline:: 0115 876 4111 Helpline elections@nottinghamcity.gov.uk www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/elections
win!
A teen dream bedroom makeover! Entries close 31st October 2011
Calling all teenagers! Would you like to win a bedroom makeover? All you have to do is design your perfect IKEA bedroom to enter...
Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2011
See www.ikea.co.uk/nottingham for details on how to enter and full terms and conditions!