For many, heading into winter can be a worrying and challenging time financially, especially with the rise in fuel costs, job losses due to Covid and the rising cost of living. These last 18 months have especially left people with money problems and struggling to support themselves and their families.

Furthermore, despite repeated lobbying from myself, other council colleagues and many others, this week the Government has gone ahead with taking ?20 a week from Universal Credit recipients. Taking up to ?1,000 per year from families, many of whom are in work, will affect around 38,000 children locally and leave family finances even more stretched.

It is wrong that at a time when many people will be seeing the cost of their household bills rise that so many will have their incomes reduced by the Government. My message to people who are struggling is that there is help available and please do seek this out as soon as possible. This includes:

• Benefits advice: Welfare Rights can help you with benefit checks, making new claims, benefit sanctions, overpayments, disability benefits, challenging benefit decisions and appeals. Visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/welfarerights to get their help.
• Food Banks: A list of free and cheap food venues, including Food Banks, is available online at asklion www.asklion.co.uk/food
• Support for job seekers: A range of support is available from Employment and Skills Advisers across the city. Check out www.asklion.co.uk/moneyandwork to find face to face support near you.

For more financial help and support services see www.asklion.co.uk/money.

Two by-elections prompted by the departure of Labour councillors in the Sherwood and St Ann?s wards were held yesterday. I?m pleased to welcome Nayab Patel and Corall Jenkins to the council representing those wards for Labour after emphatic wins in each seat. I know they will do everything they can to stand up for local people and improve the lives of residents in those areas. More info here

Hate Crime Awareness Week begins tomorrow, 9 October, launching a week of activities in Nottingham that will discuss and raise awareness of hate, prejudice, and the ways in which we can report or tackle these issues. The week is being launched with an online session on Monday focused on understanding hate and how to report it. This will be followed by a week of discussions on a range of issues from disability to racism culminating in a ?Walk the Talk? event on Friday 14^th October through the city centre on the theme of ?Silence is not an option?. For details of these events and how to register, visit www.nottinghamtogether.com/hcaw2021/

In Nottingham we are proud that people of different backgrounds get on so well together. Despite this, we must never become complacent ? prejudice and hate are still an ugly part of our society. It is my hope that through events like these we can help change minds, break down barriers and foster understanding between people and communities, all the while giving people the tools to challenge and report hate and prejudice wherever they encounter it.

Today the council formally entered into a friendship agreement with a municipality in Attiki, Greece, called Vyronas, which means Byron in Greek. Like Nottingham Vyronas has a strong connection to Lord Byron and our friendship agreement will focus primarily on him as an important personality for both cities.

The council owns and operates Newstead Abbey, Byron?s ancestral home; this is a popular heritage venue and it?s hoped that the friendship agreement signed today can help further promote the Abbey and build on its Bryon connection.

I was really pleased to attend the signing event this morning and get the opportunity to thank all involved. At the same time over 2,000 miles away in Vyronas a second event was held to mark the start of this new friendship. Find out more: Nottingham's connection to Byron forges Greek friendship

This Sunday is World Homeless Day and we are supporting local homeless charity Framework as they launch their winter fundraising campaign. It?s been a challenging 18 months for us all, but especially for those people who are experiencing homelessness. The council does a huge amount of work to prevent homelessness and provide support when it arises, and Framework are a fantastic partner who among other things run street outreach services for rough sleepers.

Framework?s Big Sleep Out is taking place at Nottingham Racecourse from 5pm on Saturday 27 November to raise vital funds to help build a better future for rough sleepers. If you?d like to get involved visit www.frameworksbigsleepout.com

A year ago, Nottingham had the highest rate of Covid in the country. I?m pleased to say that we are in a much better position ? with our number of cases well below the national average. I believe that is thanks to the hard work of everyone in Nottingham to reduce the spread of the virus. We have to keep going: we have to do all we can to protect ourselves and others. We should:

• Continue to apply ?Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air? to our everyday lives. You can get tips here.
• Get vaccinated ? whether that?s your first dose, second dose or third booster dose. Click here for where to get your jab.
• Test regularly for Covid-19 ? even if you are double-jabbed and don?t have symptoms. Find out about lateral flow tests and PCR tests here.

Thank you for everything you are doing to stay safe.