It's great news that so many people are taking up the offer of the vaccine, it's the best way to protect yourself from Covid-19. After a slight lull in available appointments last week, the NHS locally says it is now in a position to double the number of weekly vaccinations across Nottinghamshire to 80,000, which is hugely encouraging.

One of the latest cohorts to be added to the list of those eligible for vaccinations are those aged 55 or over. If you are in this category, you can now book your appointment online here https://swiftqueue.co.uk/nottinghamc19vpatient.php or by calling 0115 883 4640. Please get vaccinated as soon as it is offered to you.

Dolly Parton?s Imagination Library is a book gifting programme devoted to inspiring children with a love of reading. Each month, enrolled children from birth to age five receive a free book. Launched in Nottingham in 2012, donations have steadily increased which has enabled more local children to benefit. The scheme has now sent out its 300,000th book in Nottingham which is an incredible milestone.

I am so pleased to see the success the of this scheme. Children will discover that reading is its own reward but on top of this, studies show that reading from a young age helps children attain better exam results, which means they have better job prospects when they leave school. However, the charity can only continue with its great work donating books with sponsorship ? for just ?2 you can sponsor a child to receive 60 books - a book a month for five years.

Find out more including how to donate www.dollybooksnottingham.org

Business & IP Centre Nottingham is launching a new programme to help local businesses to navigate their next steps as we look towards life after lockdown.? Working with local business mentors Smorgasbord we will be offering 1:1 appointments giving people 45 minutes with an expert business mentor who can help them think through ways to adapt businesses to thrive in the post-COVID world.

In addition there will be regular webinars on a range of topics:

• From Start Up to Scale Up Funding Options?? 25^th March, 17^th June
• Getting your Business Online?? 8^th April, 1^st July
• A2B Accelerator ? 22^nd April, 15^th July
• Plan Your Post-Lockdown Recovery ? 6^th May, 29^th July
• Digital Marketing & Social Media - 20^th May, 12^th August
• From Business Idea to Business Model ? 3^rd June

The Reset. Restart programme is aimed at small businesses in Nottingham and across the East Midlands which have been trading for under three years, but all business owners are welcome to the webinars.

Find out more and book your free place for a 1:1 and the webinars here.

Today the council has accepted an arrangement with Government allowing it to borrow ?20m this year, which will help to secure stable finances over the coming years, as part of an overall package of ?35m offered to the council.

Earlier this week we took a number of difficult decisions after an exceptional year to ensure that there is an agreed budget for the year ahead. However, we recognise that to maintain longer term financial stability, more work?is needed?to modernise our services, embrace new ways of working and strengthen our financial position. The arrangement we have agreed will allow us to spread some of our costs over a longer period to help stabilise our finances and enable us to deal with future challenges effectively. Click here for more

I?d like to wish all our wonderful Nottingham mums a very Happy Mother?s Day this Sunday. I would also like to pass on my condolences to anyone who has lost their mum in this most difficult of years.

Lockdown rules at this stage of the Government roadmap allow people to meet up outdoors with one other person from a different household ? you may be considering this will be your mum this weekend. If so, please don?t breach rules by travelling too far and stick to the usual hands, face, space rules.

If you are looking for gift inspiration our Plant Shop at Woodthorpe Park has some really beautiful basket arrangements of good quality plants which are all grown in our very own nursery.

As children complete their first week back at Nottingham schools, a huge thanks to all the amazing teachers and support staff who?ve helped children and young people to return safely to schools this week.