This is the last week of our 28-Day Carbon Neutral Challenge. Starting on the 1^st August and finishing this Friday, the council and partners across the city have come up with a different challenge every day to inspire Nottingham to become carbon neutral. We launched the campaign to raise awareness of climate issues and to show that small actions and changes in behaviour can have a positive impact especially when they are replicated across the city. Many local organisations and people have freely given their time, creativity and energy in setting up the challenges and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.

Challenges have included; a nature scavenger hunt run by Nottinghamshire Healthcare, a cycle challenge from Ridewise and Sustrans, ways to reduce bread waste from the award winning University of Nottingham team Re-Desserts, nature art with Nottingham Contemporary, writing poetry with Nottingham City of Literature and creating green chants for Nottingham Forest FC. There really has been something for everyone.

The end of the 28-day campaign will be marked on Friday night by lighting up the Council House green and the Little John bell ringing 28 times at 20:28. After Friday the 28 carbon neutral challenges will stay on our website and make great resources for anyone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint and all the activities are suitable for families and schools. We are also going to be launching a new activity on the 28^th of each month so watch this space - Twitter @CN2028, Facebook @CarbonNeutral28 or sign up to our newsletter

We were proud to make our pledge last year to become the UK?s first city to be carbon-neutral by 2028. We?re in a global climate emergency and we have to be bold ? but we can?t do this alone. We need everyone in Nottingham to get on board so we can all do this together. Find out more about the city?s effort to be carbon neutral by 2028

With only a week to go until the new school year starts, many parents will be thinking about how their children will be travelling to and from school. The September return to school this year will feel very different for families; many children have not been to their schools since March and some families may be rethinking their travel plans in light of coronavirus concerns.

We need to make sure everyone can travel safely to school, and that transport isn?t a barrier for children getting back to their education. There are many ways students can travel to school:

• We would encourage anyone who lives within two miles of their school to consider walking, cycling or scooting, if they can, helping to reduce pressure on public transport and on the roads
• For those who live a bit further away and need to use a bus or tram - all our travel operators have been working hard to keep people safe when travelling
• If you do need to drive, consider parking a short distance away from school and walking the rest of the way if possible ? park and stride ? to reduce congestion and improve safety outside schools.

From an environmental perspective, I would encourage families to choose travel modes that have the least impact on the environment where possible. The council has long been committed to making walking and cycling easier in the city, through cycle lanes, pedestrianised streets, and cycle hire. More recently we have received funding from the Government to reallocate roadspace to encourage people to walk and cycle. Find out more about more about travelling to school safely.

Many children in Nottingham will be looking forward to returning to school in September; seeing friends and getting on with their education. However, for some children, returning to school is an anxious time, even without the extra concerns that coronavirus brings. Many children have felt very anxious about living through this global health pandemic and returning to school may be something that is worrying them.

Local health providers have launched the ?You?ve Been Missed? campaign to help alleviate anxieties children and parents have about going back to school. Nottingham?s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) have set up a YouTube channel posting weekly podcasts, which explain reasons why children might be feeling the way they do and how to overcome it. They are also running events across the city enabling children to socialise with others in preparation for going back to school. If you or your child is worrying about the return to school, you can find out more about mental health support available by visiting You?ve been missed or calling 0115 876 4700 for help and advice.

For further advice and support to help with mental health through Covid visit ?COVID-19 Mental Health Support