We know that this year will be tougher than most, particularly for those on lower incomes, and have worked hard to get the energy rebate payments underway. Starting with those who pay their Council Tax by direct debit on the first of the month, to date we have made around 25,000 payments.

If you pay by direct debit and you haven?t had your payment yet, it will arrive in your bank in due course.

If you pay Council Tax but not via a direct debit we will be writing to you soon with information about how to apply.? Please wait to receive the letter from us and continue to check the website for updates. We know it?s a difficult time and the ?150 is so needed, so our teams are working as fast as possible. Find out more here

If you are worried about money ? and lots of people in our city are right now ? it always helps to get advice as early as possible. You can access free advice at?Citizens Advice?and?Money Saving Expert or make an appointment with our Welfare Rights Service.

Knowing where to start when choosing childcare, including help with childcare costs, can certainly be a daunting task. The good news is, there is help available to guide you through the maze of finding the right support for you and your child. The council?s Families Information Service provide free information and advice to parents and carers in Nottingham.

You can find information on the AskLion website at Childcare, call 0800 458 4114 (Freephone, available Monday to Friday) or email: [email protected]?

The Families Information Service can help you with:

• Information about free childcare places for two, three and four year olds
• Choosing the right type of childcare for you and your child
• Details of prices, opening hours etc. for all registered childcare provision
• Advice on financial support to help with childcare costs including Tax Free Childcare
• Childcare advice for children with disabilities and special educational needs

On this Dementia Action Week I?d like to highlight the range of resources our libraries offer to support people with dementia and their carers. Resources include

• Memory Packs which are themed kits including books, images and audio resources to promote reminiscence. They can be requested for collection from any library by individuals or health professionals.
• Reading Well for Dementia which is a collection of books curated by the Reading Agency
• A range of local history resources including our image archive Picture Nottingham and a library of online jigsaws to stimulate the brain and remember times past.

Find out more about all of the above on our website: https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/dementia-action-week/

There is still time to join in Denim for Dementia Day, on Friday 20 May, to help raise funds for our local Alzheimer?s Society.

Our libraries are also supporting county neighbours Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries with a charity knitting challenge called Twiddlers. Twiddlers are knitted handwarmers with different textures and additions such as buttons, designed for people with dementia to use as a soother or for sensory stimulation. ?Find out more about how to get involved on our website: https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/twiddlers/

Wollaton Hall is hosting a new Prehistoric Secret Science Show on Tuesday 24^th May 2022 (4.30pm?8.45pm). Led by the Learning & Education team of Nottingham City Museums, the evening event will showcase a range of speakers from the University of Nottingham, the University of Birmingham, Rutland Water Nature Reserve, as well as Nottingham City Museum?s Curator of Natural Sciences, Dr Adam Smith, and many others?.

It is ideal for anyone interested in prehistoric life, Natural Science and dinosaurs, and is especially designed for any children at secondary school, college, university or adults. It looks set to be an interesting evening that covers a wide range of topics, plus everyone gets the opportunity to meet Titus in the exclusive setting too!

Discover more and book tickets: wollatonhall.org.uk/symposium-prehistoric-secret-science-show/

What a fantastic result last night for Steve Cooper, his staff and players, the supporters but also for the city of Nottingham.?A first Wembley final for Forest in 30 years, and their inaugural visit to the new stadium, is something worthy of celebration and we wish them all the best.

And good luck too to County ahead of their National League quarter-final play-off game at home to Grimsby Town on Monday. Along with the Nottingham Panthers and Nottinghamshire Cricket Club, we?re lucky to have these big sporting clubs in our city ? as well as the smaller clubs and the network of amateur and grassroots sport that brings us together and gets us out and active.