I?d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our city a Happy Christmas. However you choose to celebrate this holiday, I hope you have time to be with your loved ones.

It certainly feels very different to this time last year, when we were still bound by Covid restrictions and for the second year had to limit the number of people we could meet up with in person. We were advising people to meet outdoors, wear face coverings, take tests and get vaccinated. I know for many, this was a difficult time. At Christmas we naturally want to be with others and share festive cheer ? so the isolating effects of Covid were hard on all of us.

So, it has been lovely to see people joining together and celebrating in our neighbourhoods, in our Winter Wonderland in the city centre and at our heritage sites Wollaton Hall and Newstead Abbey, which always look beautiful at this time of year. I?ve managed to attend carol concerts and help at community events in my ward.

I know that many people will continue to work over the holidays to keep essential services running ? especially in our council, the NHS and the emergency services. I?d like to thank them for their hard work and dedication to serve Nottingham people and keep us safe.

On behalf of everyone at Nottingham City Council, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and together in 2023 we will strive to make it a better year for all.

Over the festive period, it?s important to take care of yourself and each other. If you can, try and check in on those who might be vulnerable or alone this Christmas.

Ask if they are well or need any help, and if they have enough food and medicine, especially if they struggle to get out of the house ? sometimes a few minutes? company is all they need. During the cold?weather, it?s also really important that you take care of yourself.

To help keep costs down and stay warm, you should try and have plenty of warm drinks, make sure the rooms that you use regularly are heated to at least 18?C. Also try to wear extra layers of clothing, whether you are inside or outside and keep moving and stay as active as possible. This can help prevent colds, flu & more serious health problems. For more information on how to keep warm visit: NHS/keep-warm

A reminder that many of our services will continue to operate over the festive period but there will be some that close or will have restricted opening times.

All of our leisure centres will close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the substitute bank holiday as well as New Year?s Day and the substitute bank holiday ? full details on opening times here.

Libraries in Bulwell, Clifton, Hyson Green and Wollaton will be open on selected days over the Christmas period. All our other libraries will be closed from Christmas Eve to Monday 2 January 2023. Click here for more information

Nottingham City Parks will be open over Christmas and New Year.? However on-site car parking may be restricted at some sites on Christmas Day. Weekends and bank holiday opening times will be 9am-4.30pm. More details here.

Our bin services will be running as normal apart from some substitute days ? see details here.

Christmas can be a magical time and a chance to get together with family and friends ? but it can also be a time for people?s problems to loom larger than ever. There is a huge amount of help and advice available at the Ask Lion website on a range of issues, such as:

• Money worries - taking control of your household spending with a budget plan, using free budgeting tools at asklion.co.uk/budgeting. Tips for reducing and prioritising your bills at asklion.co.uk/bills. Saving whenever possible ? perhaps with the Notts and Lincs Credit Union nottsandlincscu.co.uk
• People may feel lonely especially at this time of year ? click here for help and advice. Please look out for neighbours who may be on their own this Christmas
• Checking the benefits you?re entitled to, using the Benefits Calculator tool at asklion.co.uk/benefits. Benefits for children including free childcare, Healthy Start Vouchers and free school meals can be found at asklion.co.uk/benefits.
• Finding places which offer cheap food, including community supermarkets, social eating projects and food banks at asklion.co.uk/food
• The council, along with community and voluntary organisations, are opening up buildings as warm spaces for residents to access during the winter months. Some of these spaces are at the heart of our community and some will be offering refreshments, activities and advice. These warm spaces are a great way to meet other people and stay warm. To find your nearest warm space please visit www.asklion.co.uk/warmspaces
• If you are seriously struggling and need further support you can find a wide range of online resources and guidance visit www.asklion.co.uk/mentalhealth

And finally, a quick reminder that there are Christmas holiday activity sessions available for children who receive free school meals, which we know is a big support for struggling families at the moment.

The council has teamed up again with the Nottingham Forest Community Trust to offer the free clubs at various venues across the city, as well as making supermarket vouchers available which have been handed out by schools to eligible children before the end of term.

More details about the fun sessions and how to book is here?