It seems energy bills will rise another 64% on average from October as Ofgem again increases its price cap. I know that this worsening of the Cost of Living Crisis will affect Nottingham people badly, and Nottingham City Council will continue to work to signpost our citizens to help and support.

If you are in energy bill arrears, speak to your energy company ASAP - they have schemes that can help you.

Consider a fixed energy tariff ? Martin Lewis has some useful advice to help you decide whether it would be better for you Money Saving Expert | Energy deals

Which? are giving advice on how to make our homes more energy efficient, visit ?How to make your home more energy efficient - Which? To find out more. A more energy efficient home means lower bills.

Through the Greener HousiNG scheme, the Council is installing insulation in qualifying homes for free from Autumn 2022. If you have a household income of less than ?30,000 per year and your home is difficult to keep warm, you could be eligible. Find out more and apply here.

Get help with debt and money worries as soon as you can. More and more people are doing this in our city as the cost of living crisis is spreading to more households and getting worse for many. You can find sources of support here and if you could a good turn for other Nottingham people, please pass this on to friends and family, and on social media.

I am delighted to see that our partnership housing scheme that works to reduce hospital admissions has helped residents avoid 27,000 extra bed days in hospital or in social care. ?

Nottingham?s Housing to Health (H2H) project speeds up the re-housing process so that patients can be discharged more quickly, to homes where they can live independently. To date 544 individuals have been rehoused into suitable social housing.

Research estimates that the NHS spends around ?820m a year treating older patients who no longer need to be in hospital. This scheme helps to:

? Reduce the number and length of hospital admissions

? Free up high demand hospital beds

? Preventing hospital admissions / re-admissions

? Less homelessness,

? Reduced burden on Adult Social Care

? Save the NHS money

The project is run between Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham City Council, local NHS hospitals and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning group.

Good housing has such an important impact on people?s health and wellbeing, so it?s great that we can carry out this vital work and by working together in partnership, we can not only improve people?s lives but help to reduce stress on the NHS.

You can read more here

A big, bold banner has gone up on the Broad Marsh site ahead of a new pedestrian route being opened up across the demolished section of the former shopping centre later this year. The route will provide uninterrupted open air access between the Southside of the city into the city centre for the first time since the centre was built in the early 1970s.?The ?green heart? on the banner signifies the new green space at the centre of the vision set out for the site. ???

Adapting to life with a new baby is hard for everyone, including Dads. Small Steps Big Changes have brought together lots of advice to help guide new fathers including; preparing for labour, feeding, bonding, play, employment rights and benefits and wellbeing.

This guide will help Dads prepare for when their baby is born. Find out more here An information pack for new fathers | SSBC (smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk)

Find out about other family activities in Nottingham on the Ask Lion website here