How green is your business?

Hyson Green-based charity the Partnership Council, supported by the City Council, has launched an innovative new scheme to help local businesses of all shapes and sizes go greener. The scheme, called greensteps, is being launched citywide to encourage as many businesses as possible to reduce the amount of waste and litter they produce, recycle more and keep their local area clean and tidy - in return for fast access to Nottingham City Council's cleansing services and exclusive incentives such as free graffiti clean ups. Local businesses can sign up to join greensteps by contacting Jabran Ahmad at the Partnership Council on 0115 970 8200 or by emailing jabran@partnershipcouncil.co.uk.

Adult care services take a leap forward

Nottingham City Council has been judged to be good in delivering adult care services, with a promising capacity for further improvement. The Council has retained its 2* rating. In the table of performance indicators, or targets, the city council has jumped 85 places to a fifth place for providing adult care in the city. The performance table is one part of the overall judgement and shows that the City Council has greatly improved during 2006 to 2007. The figures are in a report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Government's regulator and inspector of social care services.

Leen Valley - new Community Centre

The Leen Valley Community Association, the City Council, WREN and Corals Bookmakers have worked together to build a new centre

for the Leen Valley Estate. The work, due to be completed next March, will provide a centre with a hall, coffee bar, kitchen and office facilities. It will be fully accessible and built to an environmentally friendly design.The Centre will be looking to recruit new volunteers in the area. If you are interested and want to find out more contact Michelle Graley 915 0363.

Playing games and instruments in Sneinton

Sneinton Play Centre has recently received funding from Comic Relief to extend their healthy eating and sports activities, which are run as both after-school and holiday activities. They're also working on getting funding to complete a mural developed by the young people themselves which will decorate the outside space at Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre. Meanwhile the Music in Sneinton group, based at the centre, has received £5,000 from the local network fund, as well as funding from the Area 6 committee. They run music sessions for children, young people and adults, to learn music and art skills.

Czech Christmas party

Father Christmas visited a newly-formed group of Czech migrants, bringing gifts provided by Surestart and Children's Services. He attended a Christmas party
the group organised with support from community development workers, as one of their first group activities. There were also craft and other activities for families to take part in together, to aid cultural awareness.