I?m pleased that young people leaving the care of Nottingham City Council are to benefit from free travel on local public transport.

This pilot scheme will give care leavers Robin Hood cards, allowing them greater freedom for leisure, socialising and to explore education and employment. This project demonstrates our commitment to treating care experience as a protected characteristic, and builds on our corporate parental responsibility to these young people ? not just when they are in our care but moving forward in the next stage of their lives.

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The East Midlands? biggest free family festival will be back at Nottingham?s Victoria Embankment this weekend from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 August.

As well as a mile-long funfair, river activities, firework displays, street food and market stalls, a varied music line-up will take place across three stages.

The Monument Stage programmes world music performances that are not usually seen in Nottingham, including exciting and innovative global beats. The Big Top Stage is host to local DJs on Friday supported by saxophonist El Sax, folk music on Saturday (widely acclaimed to be the best free folk stage line-up in the UK), followed by choral and jazz music on Sunday. Local artists will take to the Bandstand Stage across the weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday, in the Little Big Top area, younger festival goers will be able to brush up their circus skills with Wolly the Clown.

Find out more and see the full stage line-ups here: https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/whats-on/nottingham-riverside-festival-2023-p489471

Holiday Activity Providers will be providing free activity and enrichment sessions along with lunches and snacks. Please use your Holiday Activity E-Voucher to book onto provision in your area.

Please note:

• Places are limited and must be booked in advance
• All activity clubs will be listed on the Holiday Activities platform accessible through your E-Voucher
• Not Eligible for Free School Meals? ? We have a small number of targeted spaces available, if you think you may qualify for these please email: [email protected]

This summer enjoy a rendition of Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories ?The Jungle Book? presented by the Jellyfish Theatre. This family show is filled with puppetry, music and laughter, and is an exciting experience for all. Find a free showing near you:

• Mon 7 Aug 2023: Bulwell Hall Park, Nottingham NG6 8BE; 12pm
• Mon 7 Aug 2023: Bridlington Street Playground, Bridlington St, Nottingham NG7 5BG; 4pm
• Tues 8 Aug 2023: Marmion Park,? Bracton Drive, Nottingham NG3 2LN; 12pm
• Tues 8 Aug 2023: Evolve, Strelley Social Club, NG8 6JZ; 6pm
• Weds 9 Aug 2023: Vernon Park, Vernon Rd, Old Basford Nottingham NG6 0AF; 12pm
• Weds 9 Aug 2023: Queens Walk Recreation Ground, Nottingham NG2 2DF; 4pm
• Thurs 10 Aug 2023: Clifton Flower Park, 15 Swansdowne Drive, Clifton Nottingham NG11 8HU; 12pm
• Thurs 10 Aug 2023: Forest Recreation Ground, Gregory Blvd, Forest Field Nottingham NG7 6HB; 4pm
• Fri 11 Aug 2023: Woodthorpe Park, Woodthorpe Dr, Woodthorpe Nottingham NG5 4HA; 12pm
• Fri 11 Aug 2023: Colwick Woods, Nottingham NG2 4BH; 4pm.

This week sees the start of Love Parks week which runs until Sunday 6 August.

The annual campaign celebrates parks, green spaces and all our wonderful volunteers and workers who look after them all year round.?

These vibrant, living spaces bring communities together and provide us all with the opportunity to connect with nature in the heart of our cities, towns and neighbourhoods.?

So join us this Love Parks week as we celebrate the spaces we love and ensure they remain cherished, accessible places for all to enjoy.

Follow us on Facebook @NottinghamParks to find out what?s happening in your local park over the summer.

A reminder that work gets underway this evening to resurface key city routes. Starting on London Road and moving onto Trent Street and Station Street in later phases, this work is taking place overnight between 8pm and 5am during the quieter summer period and avoiding Friday to Monday, so that disruption is kept to a minimum.

It?s being funded by Transforming Cities as part of the City Centre Cycle Routes project, following earlier works to add cycle lanes to these areas.

More here