NOTTINGHAM MENCAP 813 CLUB

Come and join Nottingham Mencap’s 813 club. Make new friends and have fun whilst participating in the Gateway 8-13 award. The club is for children and young people aged between 8 and 13 years, and aims to bring young people together in an inclusive way. The award enables members to take part in a range of activities. The activities are set out in four “zones”: Active zone, Adventure zone, Soundz arty zone and People and the Planets zone. Within each zone there are several sections to choose from. For each completed section participants receive a certificate and their choice of a badge, pen or key ring. To complete the full Gateway 8-13 award, participants have to complete a minimum of 3 sections from each zone. The club meets at Harpenden House on Edwards lane (close to the City hospital), on Friday evenings between 6-8pm. For more information ring Nottingham Mencap on 0115 9209524.

WATCH WHERE YOU PARK

Following the de-criminalisation of parking, councils have now taken over responsibility for issuing and administering parking penalties. Traffic wardens started work locally under the new arrangements from 12th May. You have been warned!

A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT

“People shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. Before I got my benefits sorted out I felt like I didn't want to carry on, but now that I don't have to worry about my finances I feel I can cope better with my illness." This comment was made by a 57 year old woman from Rushcliffe. She has a terminal illness, and contacted the County Council’s welfare rights service for help. She successfully claimed Disability Living Allowance, Income Support, help with her rent and Council Tax, as well winning an appeal about the amount of her Community Care Grant. She was eventually awarded a grant of over £1,000 for household items and equipment to help her cope with her illness. Find out what benefits you're entitled to. Only 40- 50% of older people in Nottinghamshire are claiming the money that is rightfully theirs, and around £2 billion of Council Tax benefit went unclaimed last year in the UK. Public sector organisations have joined forces to encourage older people in Nottinghamshire to claim all the benefits they are entitled to. They are running a campaign, called ‘It’s a hand up – not a hand out’. The aim is to increase the number of people over 60 who claim Council Tax benefit, Attendance Allowance and other benefits. Older people are the group that claim the least money they are entitled to because many of them feel too proud to claim what they see as a hand-out and they often don’t know what benefits are available. Anyone living in the Nottinghamshire or Nottingham City area who thinks they may be entitled to benefits should phone 08449 808080 to find out more. Calls cost 3p per minute from a BT landline, but we will take your details and give you a call back within five working days. The campaign is being run by the Pension Service and all Nottinghamshire councils.

MOBILE YOUTH PROJECT IN EVERY DISTRICT

Following consultation with young people and as part of the ongoing development of provision for young people in Nottinghamshire, the Youth Service has secured funding for seven new mobile youth projects which will be deployed in each of the seven districts of the County. The funding for these vehicles has been through the Government's Youth Capital Fund, and young people have been involved in designing the layout and image of the vehicles. Each vehicle has cost approximately £83,500. The mobile youth projects will also offer young people an opportunity to have their say on what activities and projects they want to get involved in, within their area. Activities and facilities on the vehicles include: PC access, music, television, sports and refreshments. Also through the mobile centres the users will be able to get involved in issue-based projects, learn new skills and take part in a variety of activities. The Gedling area vehicle will offer an opportunity to meet young people who may not normally enjoy contact with the youth service. It will be deployed in areas around the Borough as advised.