Winning Smokefree posters unveiled

The winning designs have been chosen in Nottingham City Council’s poster competition to promote its Smokefree Summer.

Six winners have been selected from four city schools and their designs have been turned into large, eye-catching posters to advertise family events over the coming days and weeks where smokers will be asked not to light up.

These include the The Deliveroo Beach in Old Market Square, and family area within the BMI Park Hospital Nottingham Riverside Festival on Victoria Embankment, where thousands of people will see them. The signs were also put up at Splendour last weekend.

Read more about the posters here…

Sheriff's bid to get primary schools running

Thousands of primary pupils in Nottingham are being urged to run 100 miles over the next school year in a bid to get fit and healthy – and complete the Sheriff’s Challenge.

Children aged five to 11 will be encouraged to run a one-mile course around their school playgrounds at least twice a week to hit the 100-mile target – that’s the equivalent of running four full marathons each over the 2016/17 academic year!

Schools are being asked to sign up to the Sheriff’s Challenge, which is being organised by Nottingham City Council as part of the Opportunity Notts initiative to encourage more young people to get active and broaden their horizons.

Read more about the Sheriff’s Challenge here…

Make sure babies are sleeping safely this summer

Public health experts are urging parents, carers and grandparents to remember the importance of safer sleeping for babies during the summer holidays.

Risks increase significantly at this time of year as families spend longer periods of time away from home and sleeping routines change.

Officials at Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City councils have teamed up to remind parents to be extra vigilant and make appropriate arrangements for overnight stays, either with family or while away on holiday.

Babies, both newborns and older infants, need lots of sleep during their first few months and it’s important to ensure that they’re sleeping safely at all times. This includes overnight and shorter, daytime naps.

Read more about safer sleeping here…

Awards seek to recognise those who help others

Nominations are being sought to recognise the efforts of people in Nottingham who strive to improve the health and wellbeing of others.

The Michael Varnam Awards 2016 will particularly champion those who work tirelessly in the city’s more disadvantaged communities.

They take their name from former Sneinton GP Dr Michael Varnam who dedicated 35 years to helping people in Nottingham, particularly residents and families in deprived areas. He died in 2006, aged 61.

The awards are organised jointly by Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Health and Wellbeing Board, NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), One Nottingham and the Youth Parliament.

Find out how you can nominate someone here…

Plenty of fun activities for families all summer long!

The long summer break is here and Nottingham City Council has lots of exciting events planned to keep children and teenagers active.

The aim is to give families good value and rewarding activities every week of the school holidays.

Some are part of an extra programme put on especially for the summer period, but many of the activities are actually run all year round by Nottingham City Council’s Play and Youth teams.

There’ll be something for all the family including mini Olympics, circus games and opportunities to visit the city’s parks, many of which have been awarded Green Flags for their facilities.

There are also lots of family fun days and for those eager to learn new skills, there are educational activities at children’s centres.

Find out what’s on in your area here…

Age Friendly Nottingham launches ‘Take A Seat’ in Leen Valley

A scheme that aims to get more seats for older people in local communities has launched in Leen Valley.

The Age Friendly Nottingham ‘Take A Seat’ initiative wants more shops and businesses to have a seat available in case an older person needs to catch their breath and rest.

More than 120 businesses and community venues across the city are already showing their support for the drive, and it’s now in Leen Valley as businesses on Aspley Lane sign up.

‘Take A Seat’ is about raising awareness of how older people sometimes struggle to get out and about because there isn’t enough seating available for them to rest.

Learn more about the Take A Seat campaign here…

Coping with the heat

Last week, Nottingham was briefly basking in the heat and sunshine of a Mediterranean summer.

Thousands flocked to the city’s parks and open spaces to make the most of the fine weather, while others looked on enviously out of their office windows.

While it has certainly cooled down in the days since then, it is timely to remind people to keep an eye out for others during periods of very warm weather. Heatwaves can affect everyone but those particularly vulnerable are the elderly, babies and young children, and those with certain medical conditions.

There are plenty of things you can do to keep cool when the mercury rises, which include:

· Keeping windows and curtains closed when it’s hotter outside

· Avoid the heat, stay out of the sun and remain inside between 11am and 3pm

· Drink cold drinks regularly – avoid alcohol, caffeine (tea, coffee and cola) or those high in sugar

· Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat and sunglasses if you go outside

More tips on how to keep cool are here…