In this newsletter:
Local Restrictions
 It is expected that the Government will review local restrictions next week and determine what Tier Broxtowe and Nottinghamshire will be in for the next few weeks.
Please keep an eye on official Government channels, as well as our social media and website for updates.
Until then, Tier 3 restrictions remain in place. Check you know what you can and cannot do under these restrictions on the Government website.
Vaccinations
 On Tuesday 8 December, Nottinghamshire’s two hospital hubs at Queen’s Medical Centre and Kings Mill Hospital went live and started administering the Pfizer vaccine.
It has been confirmed that the first priority members of the public who will receive the vaccine are care home staff and the over 80s, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.
When it is the right time, people will receive an invitation to come forward.
The most important things that you can do are:
- Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, they will contact you.
- When you are contacted, please attend your booked appointments.
- It is vital that you continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.
Make Sure All You Spread This Christmas Is Good Will
 It is important to do all you can to reduce the risk of you and other people getting ill with coronavirus and spreading it to others.
You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms and outbreaks will happen if we don’t take the right precautions.
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SPACE - observe social distancing of 2metres (or 1metre with additional precautions where 2m is not possible)
Self-isolate and get a free test if you have any of these symptoms:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
- Do not go out if you have symptoms, except to get a test. You must not visit anywhere else until you have received results to show you are negative.
Everyone Loves Bubbles At Christmas, But Make Sure You Don’t Overdo It
  The Government is changing some social contact restrictions for a short period of time for Christmas, meaning you can form a ‘bubble’ with no more than two other households.
Although there will be some temporary changes, local restrictions will remain in place as normal.
A walk-through testing site for COVID-19 is now operating in Beeston
 Albion Street car park in Beeston has been selected for a Local Testing Site (LTS) by local public health leaders because it is well known, easy to find, and is a fairly large, level space.
The LTS will be open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and is available for people with COVID-19 symptoms who have booked an appointment by calling 119 or visiting gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test (Opens in a New Window).
The site is run by the Department for Health and Social Care but tests at the site will be self-administered by those who request them. Parents will carry out tests on their children if they cannot manage to do their own.
Broxtowe's Got That Festive Feeling
 Whilst some of our usual Christmas activities have had to be cancelled or adapted this year to help protect people from COVID-19, it doesn’t mean that Christmas is cancelled in Broxtowe!
Instead, the Council and the local community are working to bring some festive cheer to Broxtowe and bring people together, safely.
Some of the things you can get involved with include:
Christmas Lights
Our Christmas Light’s switch on events weren’t able to go ahead as normal but the lights are still shining bright in our town centres. We’d love to see your pictures of your local town centre lights or your very own at home, light switch on events.
Mayor’s Christmas Appeal
Christmas is a time of giving and so the Mayor, Councillor Janet Patrick, is asking local people to show what a caring community we are in Broxtowe and make sure that no one will go hungry this Christmas. She’s looking for donations for Christmas hampers, as well as financial donations and for businesses to come forward to be part of a voucher scheme. Find out more on the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal page (Opens in a New Window).
Shop local
It has been a tough year for us all and businesses have been hit hard by lockdowns too. If you can support your local high street this December, it will mean a lot to those who have worked so hard to bring their dream of running a business in our Borough, to life. Our businesses are often run by friends, couples and families and your purchase could make all the difference this festive season. Strict COVID-safe measures are in place and COVID Information Officers and Marshals are in our town centres to support businesses and shoppers with advice. From 13th December, we will be releasing 12 things that make our Town Centres special, in the style of the 12 Days of Christmas song. To share in this celebration of Broxtowe businesses large and small, visit our social media channels each day from the 13th and share your comments and photos.
Christmas concerts
You can enjoy two Christmas concerts this December, all from the comfort of your home. On Saturday 19th December at 5.00pm, local artists including Richard Jenkins, Warren Island, Jack Alexander, Wilf Baker and Ellie Keegan will be sharing a collection of original songs and Christmas covers to make the perfect soundtrack to wrapping some presents. On Sunday 20th December at 3.30pm, you can watch the Mayor’s Christmas service, which includes a British Sign Language performance of Silent Night, as well as well-known carols and Christmas readings. Tune in from the Broxtowe Borough Council Facebook page.
Christmas Activity Pack
We know how quickly the kids can get bored during the holidays so we’ve put together this family activity pack with crafts, baking, learning about Christmas around the world and other activities that you can do together at home. We’d love to see your creations and pictures – send them to press@broxtowe.gov.uk or tag us on social media using #ChristmasinBroxtowe Download the Christmas Activity pack (Opens in a New Window)
Residents are also reminded that opening hours and bin collections will change over the festive period. Full details of Christmas opening hours and bin collections can be found on our Bank Holiday Opening Hours page (Opens in a New Window).
For more information, visit www.broxtowe.gov.uk/christmas (Opens in a New Window)
We've also shared our tips to help residents have an eco-friendly Christmas.
Tips range from choosing the right wrapping paper to reducing food waste. It is hoped that by offering ideas, residents will be inspired to make decisions to help the environment now and in the future.
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A Broxtowe towns-themed song inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas has been written, to celebrate local businesses.
The song, verse by verse, each day, will be shared from Sunday 13th December on the Council’s social media channels. Residents in the Borough will also be asked to share what they love most about local shops.
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Other News
Christmas Fayres Cancelled
The planned Christmas Fayres in Beeston and Stapleford have been cancelled.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Milan Radulovic said: “A great deal of thought and consideration was given to how we could run these events safely to help support local businesses and traders.
It has been a difficult decision to cancel but given the crowds at events elsewhere in the County over the weekend, going ahead would be too great a risk to the health of local people.
Please continue to support local businesses by shopping safely in our town centres and supporting them online where you can.”
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Mayor of Broxtowe Helps to Plant Trees
On Wednesday 2nd December, the Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Janet Patrick, joined the Parks and Green Spaces team to plant trees at Bramcote Hills Park.
The trees chosen were Betula utilis jacquemontii, a variety of Silver Birch with very vivid white stems that are striking and stand out from a distance. The trees will be under planted with Bluebells to create a blue and white effect linking to the NHS colours.
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Funding For Community Groups To Tackle Loneliness
The Government has announced that book clubs, walking groups and other community projects will be able to apply for a £4 million fund designed to help reduce loneliness in the coming months.
The Local Connections Fund is designed to help local organisations bring people and communities together as the country recovers from the coronavirus outbreak.
Support Available
Support to get essential supplies
If you are vulnerable and need help to get food, medicine or community support, please get in touch with the Nottinghamshire Community Support Hub www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/coronaviruscommunityhub or call 0300 500 80 80
Financial support
In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate, you may be supported by a payment of £500, payable from Broxtowe Borough Council. Find out more about this scheme and other financial support at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/testandtracepayment or call 0115 917 7777
Mental health
The impact of the pandemic on you and your loved ones and not being able to enjoy all of the activities you would normally be involved in can all have an impact on your health. It is important to remember to look after yourself. Useful resources to support you, your family and friends can be found at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/wellbeing or call the Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline between 9.00am and 1.00pm, seven days a week on 0300 555 0730.
Accessing NHS services
If you have symptoms or a health concern you are worried about, please contact your GP practice. GP practices are still open and here for you. When you call your practice, you may be offered a consultation online or over the phone. If they feel they need to see you in person, they will invite you in for a face to face appointment. Read more for guidance at https://nottsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/gp-appointment-guidance/
Staying up to date
The easiest way to stay up to date is by checking our dedicated Coronavirus webpages.
They contain useful information on:
We also share daily updates on our social media accounts and will be sending you this email bulletin every Friday.
Share this
Please share the information in this email bulletin with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to help us pass on these important messages, particularly if they're not online.
Please also encourage anyone who isn't already subscribed to this Email Me Service to sign up at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/emailme so they can receive these updates.
 Find the latest guidance from the Government website.
Resident ideas taken forward
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