It?s been a busy week for the Big Reading Challenge. Councillors and officers have read to over a thousand children across the city ? in schools, nurseries and playgroups as well as exhibitions, ballrooms and buses!

Reading with children is so important. Not only does it help with getting them ready for school, improving literacy and numeracy; it also improves their general communication skills and benefits their wellbeing.

Given the impacts of the pandemic on our city?s children, it?s more vital than ever that we do what we can to give Nottingham children the best start in life.

Please help us hit our target of raising more than ?5,000 for the Imagination Library. Please donate at: www.gofundme.com/f/big-reading-challenge-2021

Thank you for your support.

With the cost of living set to rise significantly over the coming months due to increases in food and energy prices, the withdrawal of the Universal Credit uplift and the rise in National Insurance levels next year, it is likely to be a financially challenging time for some households.

There?s a variety of advice agencies in Nottingham from the statutory, voluntary and faith sectors with lots of experience of supporting people going through financial hardship. I would urge anyone who is in financial difficulty or starting to feel the strain to seek help from a regulated advice organisation as soon as possible.

Last year, the council and partners identified more than ?19m of unclaimed benefits and tax credits for people who weren?t aware they were entitled to financial support. People can also access support with household budgeting, debt, eviction proceedings and more.?

For links and contacts to wider support services across Nottingham, visit https://www.asklion.co.uk/kb5/nottingham/directory/advice.page?id=RPMRNRqTO6o

This weekend, Active Nottingham are offering amazing savings on their rolling monthly Health and Fitness membership at our City Council leisure centres. Join from 26-29 November 2021 for just ?5 and pay nothing more until January 2022.

With your rolling monthly Health and Fitness membership, you will have access to the many fantastic leisure centres across Nottingham including top-of-the-line Technogym equipment, swimming pools, exercise classes, and health suites which feature saunas and steam rooms ? and even a Himalayan Salt Room and Monsoon showers at our Clifton centre.

For more details and to join, head over to: https://bit.ly/ActiveNottinghamBlackFriday21

It's a busy time with lots of Christmas events in the city starting this weekend. Tonight is the press launch for the long-awaited return of Christmas at Wollaton where breath-taking?displays of light and sound are guaranteed to get everyone into the festive spirit. A Very Sneinton Christmas opens today in Sneinton Market Avenues with local products to buy at market stalls, food, and music until tomorrow evening. If you decide to get your Christmas tree then it?s worth a trip to Woodthorpe Park Plant Shop where there are lots to choose from as well as the chance to visit their craft market, see wreath making demonstrations and lots more. The first viewings of A Storybook Christmas at Newstead Abbey will be on Saturday and Sunday, where there is also a craft fair in the cloisters and the Christmas Market continues in Old Market Square and in the very popular igloo village at Trinity Square.

Keep up to date with all of Nottingham?s Christmas events at www.whatsonnottingham.com

This year seems quite a contrast to the doom and gloom that we faced last Christmas, when we couldn?t enjoy going out and about to bars, shops and restaurants in the city and meeting others freely. Many of us can now look forward to enjoying a shopping trip, a night out or visiting many of the Christmas attractions Nottingham has to offer, but we must try to do this safely.

It is really important to remember to take a free, rapid, lateral flow test to check you don?t have Covid-19 (even if you don?t have symptoms) before you enter a high risk situation. High risk situations are instances such as crowded, enclosed space or where there is limited fresh air. It is also important to take a test before visiting people who are at higher risk of serious illness if they catch Covid-19.

As cases of Covid-19 are rising in Nottingham, we really must try to do our bit to take care of each other. There is even a mobile testing unit in the city centre this weekend, so it?s never been easier to take a test ? visit Get a COVID-19 Test - Nottingham City Council for more information.

Please remember, if you have symptoms of Covid-19, take a PCR test as soon as possible. Do not use a rapid lateral flow test. Visit Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to find out more.