A new energy efficiency scheme, Connected for Warmth, is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation to households to help you heat your home for less. If you are Council Tax Band is A-D, then you could be eligible. Free Air Source Heat Pumps?are also available to households that don?t have a central heating system, if your circumstances make you eligible.

Having these measures installed can help you reduce your energy bills, make your home more comfortable and support the city?s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2028.

Connected for Warmth is an awarding-winning programme, managed by AgilityEco in partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions and funded by National Grid.

These offers are free for?both property owners and landlords. Funding is available on a first come first served basis.

Find out more and apply now

If you want to make a difference to children in Nottingham why not consider fostering? We need more carers to provide children with a safe, secure and loving home. A home where they can thrive, grow and reach their potential.

The council?s fostering team invite anyone interested in fostering to come along to an information morning on Saturday 18 February at Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham. The event starts at 10.30am.

It?s a great opportunity to talk to our fostering team and find out what is involved in becoming a foster carer. There will be some of our amazing foster carers there to chat to, as well.

You can find out about fostering here https://bit.ly/FosteringEventFeb

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, I?m aware that people not only face higher food prices, energy bills and mortgage rates, but they may also be worrying more about money.?

Have a look at what you can afford and?make a plan. According to FareShare Midlands, each UK household on average throws away ?496 worth of food every year. To help cut down on food waste and help you save money, consider planning your meals before you shop so that you only buy what you need, and try cooking in bulk to help make the food you have last longer.??

You?re not alone if you?re feeling worried about money. For further guidance join us at the next Cost of Living Support event taking place at The Chase Neighbourhood Centre, St. Ann?s, Tuesday 21^st February 1-4pm.?

?Ask Lion has a range of online support and guidance, including places which offer cheaper food, like community supermarkets and social eating projects. Visit?www.asklion.co.uk/food.??

It?s good to know that the London-based media are waking up to the fact there are some amazing places outside the capital, with recent coverage giving Nottingham the slightly back-handed compliment of being the UK?s most underrated city.

It?s almost as though they didn?t expect to find rich history, a fantastic cultural scene and nightlife, a growing number of independent shops, loads of great restaurants, bars and pubs, or wonderful green spaces here. Of course, it?s nothing that people from Nottingham didn?t know already.

They didn?t even get into our vibrant sporting life, with two of the oldest professional football clubs now in the Premier League and top of the National League, international cricket at Trent Bridge and elite-level ice hockey.

Hopefully this publicity will attract more people to Nottingham to see what we?ve got to offer.

Starting with Bendigo, we also have a great boxing heritage, and Nottingham?s Leigh Wood will fight Mauricio Lara at Motorpoint Arena on Saturday night, home of Panthers, whose fans gave him a massive welcome when he walked onto the ice before we went up against our local rivals Sheffield Steelers. A Forest and Panthers fan, he?ll have the city behind him.?