We’re pleased to have proposed a Council Tax freeze for you for the forthcoming year for the Rushcliffe element of the bill, mindful of the ongoing cost-of-living challenges. If approved it means again you will receive the lowest Council Tax in Nottinghamshire for our services and in the lowest 25% of Councils nationally.

We continue to be debt free and the only Council in Nottinghamshire that is not incurring the costs of expensive borrowing with careful financial management one of the cornerstones of how we can deliver great services to you.

It means for example more investment in local infrastructure such as a new community centre in Sharphill near Edwalton and building on our carbon reduction plans to be neutral by 2030 with further investments in solar energy at Rushcliffe Arena.

You may have read about Local Government Reorganisation in recent months and thank you if you have had your say in consultations since last summer. We are working with fellow Nottinghamshire councils on the next steps ahead of the government making a decision this summer.

Our bid for any restructuring with Nottinghamshire County Council outlines an option where the Borough would not be joined with the City Council area in the creation of two new Unitary councils in 2028.

Instead, we proposed it will partner with Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield, Mansfield and Bassetlaw councils and the City, Gedling and Broxtowe in another. You can find out more on the Local Government Reorganisation page

Our proposal focussed on maintaining and improving the quality of services for you and improve the financial sustainability of Councils. Whatever the shape of local government in the future, I continue to be supremely proud to lead RBC.

As we finally approach lighter mornings and evenings, there’s again much to look forward to with our free events in 2026 – see more on page 8. It builds on another wonderful Lunar New Year event in February.

Thank you for continuing to support our events to help make Rushcliffe what it is with wonderful communities as a great place with great lifestyle and great sport.

Cllr Neil Clarke MBE
Leader of The Council

Government decision expected this summer on Local Government Reorganisation

We are expecting to hear from central government in the summer on their decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) that could see all local councils in Nottinghamshire abolished in favour of two new unitary councils.

In February the government launched a statutory consultation as part of a national process rolling out here and in other parts of the UK that will change the structure and responsibilities of local councils.

It encouraged residents, organisations and partners including police, NHS and education providers to have their say on the ongoing proposals and responses will inform the ministerial decision on the preferred option.

In November 2025, the councils submitted three different proposals to Government setting out alternative models for how services and decision-making could be organised in the future. These three options propose creating two new unitary councils responsible for all local services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, but each option proposes different geographical boundaries. Councils ran an engagement in the summer of 2025 to help shape the proposals submitted.

We developed a proposal with Nottinghamshire County Council referred to as 1b or Greater Nottinghamshire. Nottingham City Council developed a proposal known as Bii and Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council, Bassetlaw District Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council submitted a joint proposal, known as 1e.

Broxtowe Borough Council decided not to support any of the options and called for a pause on LGR so it could be considered more fully. Ashfield District Council has also stated that they remain neutral and have not shown any preference for any of the alternative models.

Government will assess the evidence gathered, alongside the submitted proposals, against its established criteria before the Secretary of State makes a final decision. Any agreed changes would then move into a detailed implementation phase to ensure continuity of services throughout. More information about the consultation and how to take part can be found on the LGR Notts website.

Council Tax set to be frozen to remain the lowest in Notts and one of the lowest in the country

Our Council Tax is set to be frozen for 2026/27 so what you pay for our services remains the lowest in Nottinghamshire for our element of the bill and one of the lowest in the country.

We remain one of the few Councils nationally to be debt free so money goes rightfully towards your services and not debt repayment.

Despite a poor financial settlement from central government, we continue to significantly invest in services and assets with over £24m planned over the next five years.

This will include investment in developing and enhancing equipment and facilities in leisure centres, sports facilities and local parks and open spaces. There will also be match funding for 3G pitches and changing room enhancements for local sports clubs across the Borough.

The authority’s Cabinet discussed the plans at its meeting in February where it set out the figures. Our Leader Councillor Neil Clarke said: “Good financial management means we can propose a freeze on Council Tax this year.

“In spite of the poor financial settlement, sensible management of the Council’s finances over many years enables us to make this choice to benefit our residents.

“The proposed budget also sees a continued focus on carbon reduction and ever greener measures for our projects and assets.”

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance, Transformation and Governance Councillor Davinder Virdi added: “Financial pressure that residents face was also a key factor when proposing this budget.

“However, we are still committed to investing in health and wellbeing infrastructure and our core environmental priorities. We are heading into a period of uncertainty with Local Government Reorganisation but we aim to continue to deliver excellent services and enhancing facilities for residents.”

A Full Council meeting on March 5 after this magazine went to print will discuss the Cabinet’s proposals.

Rushcliffe residents can recycle even more from their doorstep from April 1!

From April 1, you’ll be able to recycle even more from home. Rushcliffe’s blue bins are expanding to take a wider range of materials.

It’s part of the national Simpler Recycling initiative, which aims to make recycling easier and more consistent across Nottinghamshire.

We will begin collecting the following additional items in the dry recycling bin:

Tetra Pak items including cartons and tubs
Plastic fruit trays
Toothpaste tubes
Aluminium foil and food trays – these must be clean and free from food residue
Aluminium tubes – for example, empty tomato purée tubes

All councils in Nottinghamshire will have the new system in place by March 2026.

RBC Leader Cllr Neil Clarke said: “We already have one of the best recycling rates in the county, and these changes will help us go even further.

“Our new kerbside glass service has been a great success with over 450 tonnes collected in just five weeks which is more than 150 tonnes higher than December 2024’s total.

“Please make sure you check the updated list of materials you can now recycle from home. Every small action helps protect our environment.”

RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Cllr Rob Inglis, added: “We welcome these positive changes to our blue bins which mean even more everyday items can now be recycled from home instead of ending up in landfill.

“This extended list of recycling items is being rolled out across the county and it’s all about making recycling easier to understand so everyone knows what goes where.

“Every extra piece we recycle helps cut waste, save resources, and protect the environment for future generations.

Thank you to everyone who continues to recycle so carefully, your efforts are helping to make a difference.”

Colour and fun at Lunar New Year celebrations!

Friends and families enjoyed our Lunar New Year Celebratory event in February, sponsored by Hong Kong Notts community group.

It was the third successful event acknowledging the special time of year and attended by over 5,000 local residents at Rushcliffe Arena, wowed by a special lion dance performance, themed activities, music and dance groups.

Visitors took part in Lunar New Year traditions including red banner painting, calligraphy, flower paper crafting and sweet dumpling making. They also found out more on a history of Kei Po traditional costumes and event goers hung wishes on a Wishing Tree whilst sampling Hong Kong style street food and bubble tea.

Our Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing, ICT & Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “This was another really successful event and a fantastic fun day out with an array of free themed activities and the dancing performers were wonderful.
Thank you to our partners for continuing to support this event.”

Find out more on our forthcoming events!

We have more events coming your way this spring and summer.

We have our annual celebration of Armed Forces Day with Proms in the Park on Saturday June 27 at Bridgford Park in West Bridgford with a day of fantastic free music.

Then our annual Lark in the Park takes place at the same venue on Wednesday August 5 that last year attracted thousands of families and event goers. It will again bring an array of attractions including an inflatable fun zone, soft play, storytelling and sports sessions.

Look out for more updates on these and other events in our next Rushcliffe Reports.

New Sharphill Community Centre just weeks away from opening!

Work is continuing on our new community venue in Sharphill near Edwalton, which will provide an exciting new space for residents, groups and businesses to enjoy.

Sharphill Community Centre will strengthen the vibrant local area by offering a new focal point that complements and supports the new communities being created, designed to bring people together by supporting local activities.

At the heart of the design is a spacious multi-purpose hall for up to 40 people, providing the perfect space for hosting clubs, running classes and holding community gatherings.

The centre will also be home to a meeting room, fully equipped kitchen, publicly accessible toilets for use by allotment and community park visitors and a small storage facility for use by the Friends of Sharphill Woods.

With construction set to be completed soon, the new facility, located off Rose Way, will enhance community facilities available locally, in line with our Leisure Strategy.

With environmental considerations in mind, a PV Solar array will be positioned on its south-facing roof and an air source heat pump will be installed to ensure the structure is as carbon clever as possible.

27 parking spaces, six disabled spaces and five cycle spaces will be created for visitors.

Our Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing, ICT & Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “The new state of the art facility will provide residents and businesses with a modern and accessible location to hold events, meetings and celebrations within the heart of this new community.

“This is another positive step as we look to further provide the best possible facilities for our residents as part of our ongoing Leisure Strategy and we have carefully listened to the views of the local community by including a storage facility for the Friends of Sharphill Woods, supporting their valuable ongoing work.”

To enquire about booking space at the new community hall or any of our venues visit Rushcliffe Venues.

Hello again from the Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing team

“Having reviewed crime data, and local concerns, we’ve published our latest local priorities of shop theft, theft of bikes and ASB in town centre locations.

Whilst shop theft is lower than average at the moment, we’re keen to reduce the demand further, and maintain lower numbers overall. We’re working with hot spots around the theft of bikes, which is already having an impact, and we have a problem management plan in place to try to support premises targeted for bike thefts to design out crime. Whilst ASB reporting is also down 20% year on year, we have pockets of ASB in the town centres within Rushcliffe, so we’ll be working with young people and partners to educate, and divert those involved away from disruptive activities.

Over the last quarter, we’ve seen reductions in burglaries which is testament to some great work from our CID colleagues. This is a key priority for me, and my team will always seek to locate and detain any suspects for burglaries, as well as working with higher risk locations to target, harden, and prevent crime occurring in the first place.

There has also been a significant change in the style and levels of policing for some football matches with European fans attending the City Ground for Europa League fixtures. This has required some limited road closures pre-match, as well as post-match, and I thank the local residents for their patience and understanding around these games.

We’ve seen a large decrease in reports around car cruising following the installation of the ‘red route’ around Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station, as this was something of a persistent problem, however now this automated enforcement is in place, we’ve seen a significant drop in reports.

Please keep your eye on Notts Alerts, and our Facebook pages for local engagement events and regular updates as to what the team have been up to in your area. Where there is suspicious activity, please report it to us. My team will do their best to respond, as every call can give us an increased intelligence picture to support on-going investigations, and may assist in preventing
crimes before they happen.

Thank you.”

Inspector Timothy Cuthbert
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Rushcliffe

West Park partnership to inspire future generations of cricketers in Notts

West Park in West Bridgford is set to be a new home for sparking the growth of future generations of cricketers in our partnership with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (NCCC).

The club approached the council last year to explore greater use of the venue on Loughborough Road and has now received a long-term 25-year lease to host women’s cricket matches and a wider range of cricket opportunities to the community at all levels.

This will be whilst still retaining West Bridgford Legion Cricket Club as an important community partner at the site. It currently offers modern community facilities including the recently refurbished Sir Julien Cahn Pavilion, a ten-wicket grass pitch with single artificial wicket and launched last year, a five-lane fully enclosed non-turf practice area.

The new West Park Cricket Hub will see the facilities leased to NCCC. Growing the women’s game is cricket’s biggest growth opportunity, as has been shown through the increasing numbers of women and girls playing recreationally and the emerging profile of the elite women’s game.

Leader of the Council Cllr Neil Clarke said: “Rushcliffe is the home of great sport in Nottinghamshire and we’re pleased this partnership with NCCC highlights a strategic growth opportunity that aligns perfectly with our Leisure and Playing Pitch strategies and draft adopted Sport and Tourism Charter.

“It also aligns with building on the strong and positive relationship through continued collaboration with major sporting partners and strengthening our collective reputation as a prime destination for sport nationally.

“Growing the women’s game is a significant focus for the partners here and we want to do all we can to increase the opportunity for the numbers of women, girls and all cricketers to play recreationally.”

The site’s West Park Pavilion will continue to be used by a range of community groups including Positive Futures, Forget Me Notts and other groups.

Youngsters continue to benefit from over £1m investment at parks and open spaces

Youngsters are further benefitting from investments in our play area refurbishments with over £1m of investments across our parks and open spaces in the last two years. They include a new pitch at Greythorn Park in West Bridgford where footballers are enjoying a brand new safe, durable, and all-weather surface.

The new facility replaces the previous astro turf pitch which had been in place since the 2000s and now encourages year-round physical activity, helping to improve fitness and wellbeing for children and young people.

It also supports inclusive play to attract a wide range of abilities and age groups, fostering community engagement and promoting healthier lifestyles, aided by the adjacent refurbishment of the larger Greythorn Park play area last year.

By enhancing access to quality facilities, we seek to create spaces where young people can develop skills, build confidence and enjoy the positive social connections that come from team sports.

Pupils at the neighbouring Greythorn Primary School are among those benefitting from the new surface with dozens of children enjoying games before and after school hours.

Headteacher Tae Carpenter said: “We always want to provide children as many sport, health and wellbeing opportunities as possible and a facility next to their school can only increase healthy habits to enjoy sport, exercise and team games.”

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Wellbeing and ICT, Cllr Jonathan Wheeler added: "This is another great local facility that gives children access to a safe all-weather pitch all year round.

“In line with our Play Strategy, we will continue to assess where we can invest in sites we own and help other local councils and partners to make improvements wherever they can.”

Partnership extended to further tackle fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling

There’s set to be more focus on tackling the nuisance of fly-tipping, waste offences, littering and dog fouling in Rushcliffe, thanks to the continuation of a partnership.

We have again teamed up with Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement (WISE) for a further two years to build on their existing tools, expertise and knowledge to find and where necessary prosecute those who flout the rules.

Enforcement Officers from WISE have had the powers to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone found contravening the rules, which includes businesses or members of the public since 2021, building on the Council’s previous enforcement action.

The partnership sees WISE investigating around 50 fly-tip reports a month that has led to 450 fixed penalty notices issued in that time and over £50,000 collected from offenders.

For littering these figures are even larger with nearly 4,500 notices issued. This funds ongoing investigation work and the service will now continue to operate across the Borough, clamping down on dumped domestic and commercial waste seven days a week.

They will be targeting those who don’t dispose of their waste in a responsible way, decline to hand it over to non-registered waste carriers or create eyesores through dropping litter or failing to pick up after their dog’s waste.

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “Fly-tipping, littering and dog mess is a real frustration for residents nationally and we want to play our part with WISE to deter and reduce it as much as possible in Rushcliffe.

“The partnership has to date been very effective, making good inroads into actions, fines and prosecutions and deters fly-tippers and those who litter or allow their dog to foul public places.

“We know it is a minority of people who act in this manner and we will do all we can to stop them.

“Remember you can report fly-tipping on our website at rushcliffe.gov.uk or calling 101 if something looks suspicious. If you think it's wrong, it probably is.”

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Venues

Book or versatile venues today!

Discover a fantastic range of versatile venues across the Borough, ready to hire for every occasion.

Whatever you’re planning, we’ve got the perfect space.

Affordable event and function venues – ideal for celebrations of every kind
Meetings and conferences – from breakfast briefings to networking sessions
Club and exercise venues – practical rooms for classes such as yoga, karate, badminton and more
Children’s parties and daytime activities – everything you need for a magical day.

Rushcliffe Borough Council venues for hire:

Sir Julien Cahn Pavilion

West Park, Loughborough Road,
West Bridgford NG2 7JE

Free on-site parking

A modern, spacious pavilion accommodating up to 190 guests. Ideal for community activities, meetings and private social gatherings. Due to its close proximity to West Bridgford Registry Office, St Giles Church and West Bridgford Methodist Church the Pavilion also makes an ideal wedding reception venue.

Gamston Community Hall

Ambleside, Gamston, NG2 6PS
(adjacent to Morisons Gamston)

Free on-site parking

A flexible, multi-purpose venue hosting up to 150 people (120 seated). Popular for indoor sports, fitness classes, playgroups, children’s parties, community events and educational sessions.

Facilities include a large two‑court badminton hall and a smaller hall with kitchen access.

Gresham Sports Park

Gresham Park Road (off Wilford Lane),
West Bridgford NG2 7YF

Free on-site parking

Recently refurbished and home to two state-of-the-art 3G floodlit football pitches, six full-size grass pitches and one mini pitch. The pavilion includes an attractive social room suitable for meetings, training sessions and children’s parties, accommodating up to 50 people.

Rushcliffe Arena meeting rooms

Rugby Road, West Bridgford NG2 7YG

Free on-site parking

Superb conference, meeting and training facilities for groups from small teams to over 100 attendees.

All rooms include:

Wifi access, telecoms systems and full furnishings
Projectors and screens that are able to connect to your laptop
A choice of room layouts set up by our friendly facilities team
Whiteboards and flip charts on request

Rushcliffe County Park meeting rooms

Mere Way, Ruddington NG11 6JS

A fabulous conference and meeting space at Rushcliffe Country Park, overlooking the park's picturesque lake. An ideal venue for local business away days, education providers and environmental groups or talks and community activity groups.

The room includes guest Wi-Fi, a digital display screen, a Polycom device for video conferencing and a flexible layout for up to 30 people.

Popular café Coffee and Cake by the Lake is just next door, with catering options available.

Sharphill Community Hall

Located off Rose Way, Sharphill near Edwalton

Free on-site parking and cycle spaces

This new community venue opening this spring will provide an exciting new space for residents, groups and businesses to enjoy.

At the heart of the design is a spacious multi-purpose hall for up to 40 people, providing the perfect space for hosting clubs, running classes and holding community gatherings.

The hall will also be home to a meeting room, fully equipped kitchen, publicly accessible toilets for use by allotment and community park visitors and a small storage facility for use by the Friends of Sharphill Woods.

The modern venue has been built to be environmentally friendly with PV solar panels and an air source heat pump to ensure the structure is as carbon clever as possible. To find out more about our fantastic facilities and to hire a venue, visit Rushcliffe Venues.

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E-Billing

Sign up to -billing for your Council Tax today!

We we aim to be even more Carbon Clever and produce less paper as a Council, switch over today to an e-bill for your Council Tax today!

Register at rushcliffe.gov.uk/ebilling and in minutes you can have your annual council tax account, billing, balance and other correspondence at your fingertips.

Switching to e-billing will save you time! It means you can access information regarding your account by logging into your online account any time and we will email you when a bill is ready for you to view, replacing any paper copies.

It’s the simple and quickest way to check your balance, when your next instalment is due or set up a direct debit, 24 hours a day, seven days a week instead of only having our normal office hours to contact us on your query.

It also further eliminates the risks to privacy and identity fraud that can arise if paper correspondence is lost or stolen.

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Finance, Transformation and Governance Cllr Davinder Virdi said:
“I would encourage all residents to switch to e-billing and give yourself the more convenient way to check your Council Tax account.

“Our Environment priorities too means e-billing is vital to ensure we do all we can to reduce paper usage printing and postage."

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Environment

Over 40,000 trees and shrubs being planted to create Rushcliffe Woods and Wolds Wood

Our councillors, staff and partners from Greenwood Community Forest
celebrate the beginning of the planting at Wolds Wood

We have acquired two sites of land in the Borough to now plant over 40,000 trees and shrubs to offset carbon from our operations and keep us on target to be carbon neutral by 2030.

We acquired 54 acres or 30 football sized pitches of land at Upper Broughton to create Rushcliffe Woods and over 30 acres close to the A46 near Kinoluton to create Wolds Wood.

One of the only local authorities nationally currently investing in a project of this nature, it will transform the former low grade agricultural land in both locations, offsetting over 400 tonnes of carbon a year, exceeding our residual carbon allowing us to account for changes in future operations such as food waste collections.

Partners have met at both sites to plant some of the first trees that will start the creation of the vast site that will also include meadows and wetlands with the thousands of native broadland and fruit trees funded by grant applications.

The project will offset a significant part of the Council’s remaining carbon output or approximately 33 houses worth of carbon annually and plant trees supplied by partners Greenwood Community Forest, also in partnership with Defra and the Forestry Commission. The Upper Broughton site will also give the village its first publicly accessible larger green space and assists with the Forestry Commission’s target to increase tree cover by two per cent in England to 16.5% by 2050.

Leader of RBC Cllr Neil Clarke said: “This is a significant project in the journey of the longer-term sustainability of the Council’s carbon offsetting of its operations and make us on track to be carbon neutral by 2030. “Since 2020 our Carbon Clever project has made considerable inroads into lowering carbon output such as with over £5m investment of measures at leisure centres in Cotgrave and Keyworth this year and now over 70% of our vehicle fleet running on electric or vegetable oil.

“We hope planting these thousands of trees and shrubs can be another way to highlight to organisations and businesses how to explore ways to offset their carbon operations and assist all the Borough to be carbon neutral by 2050.

“It’s also a key way to promote nature recovery and tree canopy coverage to also help us as a Borough meet our climate and ecological objectives.”

The sites are also identified within the new Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy as an area that could become of particular importance for nature recovery.

Greenwood Community Forest’s Woodland Creation Officer Rachael Rickell said: “Since 2020 Greenwood Community Forest have supported landowners by offering grants to plant trees funded by the Defra Trees for Climate programme.

“We are very pleased to support Rushcliffe Borough Council in their aspirations to create these new woodlands in their quest to become carbon neutral. We have to date supported over 190 schemes and planted over three quarters of a million trees, creating 578 hectares of new woodland.”

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Taxi Policy

Taxi policy updated to retain drivers and enhance passenger safety

We have approved changes to our taxi and driver policy in recent months that is helping to encourage and retain local drivers and enhance passenger safety.

We updated our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with a particular focus on Hackney carriages to improve coverage in rural areas where public transport options remain limited.

It highlights our aim for more local drivers, safer vehicles and stronger safeguarding measures to protect all who use local taxi services.

We are also preparing for forthcoming government reviews into taxi and driver licensing, including proposals for mandatory CCTV in all taxis and private hire vehicles.

Ahead of these national reviews, we will review and consider the introduction of CCTV in Rushcliffe taxis and fleet vehicles.

These measures also highlight our commitment to safeguarding initiatives, aligning with the international White Ribbon campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “We’re really pleased that Councillors supported these changes to our policy, so that we can move forwards progress these safety factors sooner rather than later.

“It will all help to increase the number of Rushcliffe registered taxi drivers and ensure residents have access to safe, reliable, and well‑regulated taxi services.

“We’re keen to have additional safeguarding measures in place as soon as possible to further protect both drivers and passengers, especially women and girls using taxis.”

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Garden Waste

Garden Waste Collection for less than £1 a week!

We'll collect your garden waste saving you time, money and hassle.

Visit the garden waste page for information and to register.

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Healthcare

Explore local support at the Dementia and Carers Roadshow

Thursday April 23 10am to 1pm, Rushcliffe Arena

Back by popular demand, Rushcliffe Dementia Action Network will proudly host the return of the Dementia and Carers Roadshow.

On Thursday April 23 this free event will welcome all carers and people living with dementia and their families and friends.

On offer will be a wealth of local resources and support aimed at improving the quality of life for both carers and those affected by dementia. During the event, there will be the opportunity to take part in Dementia Friends (Alzheimer’s Society) and other informative sessions.

Stall holders include local community groups such as Memory Cafes, singing, exercise, legal and benefits advisors, Your CVS, Carer support, Adult Social Care, health and wellbeing information, local Police, and many more.

Please join us at Rushcliffe Arena from 10am to 1pm. Whether you can stay for the entire event or just drop by for a short while, you're welcome. Free parking and refreshments are provided.

Rushcliffe Dementia Action Network have recently become a registered charity (1210657). This will enable them to become more sustainable and continue working collaboratively to support people living with dementia in Rushcliffe.

For more information about this local charity visit rdan.org.uk

Rethinking Health in Rushcliffe: Extending Care into the Community

Health is shaped by far more than appointments and prescriptions alone. Across Rushcliffe, more residents are discovering an approach to wellbeing that builds on traditional healthcare, extending support into everyday life through connection, prevention and practical skills.

The Rushcliffe Social Prescribing Community Hub works alongside GP practices and local health services to offer a welcoming, community-based space where people can explore what helps them stay well. Its weekly Monday drop-in from 10am to 12pm in term time only at the West Bridgford Young People’s Centre provides an informal opportunity to find out what’s happening, have a conversation, and discover support that complements clinical care. No referral is needed and there is no pressure to commit — people are welcome to simply drop in and see what’s available.

Social prescribing focuses on prevention, restoration and connection, supporting people to build confidence and resilience before health challenges escalate. Through a varied programme of activities — including meditation, breathwork, Qi Gong, creative sessions, health education, peer support and gentle movement — residents can explore practical ways to manage stress, support mental and physical wellbeing, and reconnect with what helps them feel well in everyday life.

One local attendee, a woman in her 40s working as an NHS manager while balancing family and caring responsibilities, initially assumed the Hub “wouldn’t be for her”. Instead, she found a space that helped her rediscover practices she had once valued but lost touch with.

The Hub also welcomes people who are interested in getting involved, whether by sharing skills, supporting others, or helping connect friends or family members who may find it harder to attend due to work or caring commitments. In addition to the main Hub drop-in, pop-up drop-ins are held at GP medical centres across Rushcliffe, strengthening links between community and primary care.

This approach isn’t about replacing healthcare. It’s about extending it – supporting people to live well, together.

For information and updates, visit facebook.com/RushcliffeSP explore rushcliffehealth.org/sp-hub or email
nnicb-nn.rushcliffesocialprescribing@nhs.net

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Community

Fifteen projects supported by our Community Wellbeing Fund

We have awarded 15 projects a total of over £35,000 in the latest round of our Community Wellbeing Fund, seeing hundreds of people benefit with extra support for their group or organisation.

We launched the grant scheme last year offering between £500 and £5,000 to support community wellbeing projects that are helping to tackle the cost of living, loneliness and isolation across the Borough.

Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) it has given town and parish councils, local groups, and community organisations a financial boost to help them deliver impactful projects focused on volunteering, social action and community
engagement.

Projects able to benefit were volunteering initiatives, practical activity outdoors or indoors, sport, green space enhancements, arts, heritage, cultural, community and befriending activities, preparing and sharing food, and support that reduces people's cost of living, including through energy-saving measures.It included helping inclusive family cooking sessions and peer support activities for families of young people with special educational needs.

The free sessions organised by SEND Parents and Carers Together (PaCT) give children and young people with SEND the chance to enjoy cooking and creative activities in a relaxed and sensory-friendly setting.

Our Deputy Leader Cllr Abby Brennan visited one of the cooking sessions at Cotgrave Methodist Church, where families made fresh fruit crumbles with Fun Little Foodies.

She said: "I really enjoyed visiting this 'cook, explore and create' session and meeting the families who were making delicious fruit crumbles with seasonal produce.

"These free activities offer families of children and young people with SEND a fun, safe and supportive environment and we're pleased we could support the delivery of these sessions through our Community Wellbeing Fund."

Update on Integrated Neighbourhood Working in Cotgrave

Launched in November 2023, the aim of Cotgrave Integrated Neighbourhood Working was to bring people together to better support the health and wellbeing of residents and make improvements to, and create opportunities in, the community.

The work involves local people, community and voluntary sector groups, and organisations like the NHS and local council working together for a happier, healthier Cotgrave. Since November 2023, the Cotgrave Local Design Team has grown to over 100 people who are living and working in Cotgrave to create strong, supportive working relationships. Young people’s groups and long-term conditions groups have also been established, and the current priorities are:

Better joint working between organisations and the local community
Supporting the reduction in childhood obesity
Reducing antisocial behaviour among children and young people
Community communication
Improving cardiovascular health

Lot of groups and activities have been supported by partners involved across Cotgrave including additional health checks, young people’s nutrition and cooking sessions, school holiday activities, school support with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and much more.

A key achievement has been the establishment of a long-term health condition group. The group was started to offer Cotgrave residents a monthly safe space and an opportunity to share experiences and offer peer support to each other through shared learning to help people better self-manage their condition. Each session consists of a cuppa and catch up, a hot topic and is finished with some chairbased exercises that members can do at home to aid and strengthen their mobility and improve balance.

People from all over Rushcliffe can now attend this session, which is held on the second Thursday of each month at Cotgrave Methodist Church from 2pm to 3.30pm. Due to the success of the group, there will also be a trial of evening sessions arranged to support working aged people across Rushcliffe, who are not able to make the daytime group. For more information, please contact: nnicb-nn.cotgrave-inw@nhs.net

Also established by Your CVS are the Heart of Cotgrave Groups which take place at Cotgrave Futures on Candleby Lane. Every Monday 11am to 1pm there is an Ageing Well group and every Wednesday there is a Stay and Play group from 9.15am to 11.15am. There’s always a friendly welcome, support, activities and exercise.

To find out more and get involved with this brilliant work, please contact: nnicb-nn.cotgrave-inw@nhs.net

Support our campaigns to end violence against women and girls

Violence against women and girls is a serious issue that has no place in our communities. Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected and supported.

We are working with partners to improve safety, raise awareness and assist with support across the Borough.

A key part of this work is the Safe Space scheme, where local shops, cafes and businesses offer a safe space for anyone who feels threatened or in need of support. These locations can be easily identified by a Safe Space poster displayed in their window.

Many licenced premises across Rushcliffe operate the Ask for Angela scheme too, giving those visiting the nighttime economy a discreet way to seek help if they feel unsafe on a night out. Posters are usually displayed behind the bar and in toilets.

We are a proud accredited member of the White Ribbon scheme that pledges our support to end violence against women and girls. You can scan the QR label below to join us.

We ensure our HR policies align with the White Ribbon values and are shared across the organisation, including in staff and Councillor training.

Our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “We’re proud to support the White Ribbon campaign. Our accreditation was a cross-party motion and demonstrates our commitment to ending violence against women within our workplace and wider community.

“It focuses on learning how to identify and root out harmful attitudes and behaviours that contribute to gender-based violence.” Safety across Rushcliffe is further strengthened by the recent installation of several CCTV cameras in West Bridgford and Bingham Town Centres helping to deter crime, support police investigations and provide reassurance to residents and visitors.

If you are a local business and are interested in becoming a safe space, please contact our Community Safety Project Officer Judith Brown.
jbrown@rushcliffe.gov.uk

Renters’ rights have changed – know when you can request further support

Rent a house? Renters’ rights are changing from May in line with the Renters Rights Act 2025, introducing significant reforms to the private rented sector including new enforcement duties, particularly on illegal eviction and harassment.

Key changes introduced by the Act are:

Landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid statutory reason, increasing security for tenants and reducing the risk of homelessness
All tenancies will become periodic, with new notice requirements for both tenants and landlords
Rent increases are limited to once per year and must be reasonable; tenants can challenge excessive increases
Private rented homes must meet new minimum standards, with strict timelines for addressing hazards such as damp and mould
Landlords cannot refuse tenants based on benefits status or family circumstances
Tenants can request to keep pets, and landlords must consider requests reasonably
All landlords must register on a central government database and a new Ombudsman is to be created which will help resolve disputes
Councils have new powers and responsibilities for enforcement, advice, and support, including for supported and temporary accommodation, civil penalties and rent repayment orders

Some measures have now come into effect with others phased in during the rest of 2026 and beyond.

For Strategic Housing we will continue to provide advice and support to prevent homelessness, including early intervention and tenant advocacy.

Tenants should then benefit from greater security, protection from unfair eviction and rent increases, and improved property standards and families and those on benefits will have stronger protections against discrimination.

We are continuing to monitor government guidance on funding and implementation timelines of the new legislation. If you have any questions please email
strategichousing@rushcliffe.gov.uk

Home Alarms Service celebrates a decade of excellent customer satisfaction!

Our Home Alarms Service has achieved an average customer satisfaction score of 100% across the last ten years, a remarkable, long‑term endorsement from residents who rely on us for peace of mind. This decade‑long result reflects consistently excellent support whenever help is needed and underlines the trust our users place in the service year after year.

The service provides security, reassurance and independence for hundreds of people across Rushcliffe and neighbouring areas. With a discreet pendant and state of the art digital unit, users can quickly raise an alarm at any time to request assistance in an emergency.

The service is available to residents living in Rushcliffe and many other areas of Nottinghamshire, with free demonstrations available.

With competitive pricing, it offers affordable reassurance for you or a loved one, costing less than a coffee and cake every week, providing exceptional value for round‑the‑clock peace of mind. Home Alarms Service celebrates a decade of

Special limited‑time offer:
Enjoy FREE installation for all new Home Alarm customers between 1 April and 30 June 2026

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Rushcliffe Reports