The Board welcomed new Board members  Helen Voce, from the Nottingham Women’s Centre, as the new General VCS representative and Nigel Wright, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of NTU.  Cecile Wright was welcomed back after her re- appointment as the BME VCS representative.
 
A new faith advocate has not yet been recruited, and so Sajid Mohammed willingly continues in the role. He does ask that if anyone is interested in this role please get in touch with One Nottingham by emailing general@onenottingham.org.uk.
 
Youth Engagement Campaign - Two presentations at the Board will contribute hugely to One Nottingham’s cross cutting aims of promoting Aspirations and Fairness over the next few years. Firstly, Alice Veltdman from Boots shared Boots’ thinking around a youth engagement campaign in 2019, which One Nottingham will wholeheartedly support. This will be well worth keeping a look out for in the new year.

Read On Nottingham - The second was a progress update from Emily Landsborough on the Nottingham Literacy Hub – “Read On Nottingham”.  The Literacy Hub is an initiative backed by ON with some financial and board member support, and staff time.    
The focus of Read On Nottingham is on early years, transition between primary and secondary, literacy for employment and skills, and boosting reading enjoyment. Read On Nottingham are aiming to promote reading through sporting and cultural centres in the city such as the Nottingham Playhouse, Notts County FC, Notts Cricket and the Ice Arena. For more information visit Read On Nottingham.
 
The Nottingham Playhouse production of Skellig and the Shakespeare workshops will provide a great opportunity to bring performance, reading and writing together in an exciting and engaging way. Visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/family/skellig/
 
The Board are keen to see how the offer could be widened, so as to ensure that children get access to experiences from different genres and cultures. Not only is it important that everybody sees role models in literature but also, so young people can see different cultures and ways of life in their reading.
 
As city leaders, the One Nottingham Board have led the development of many initiatives to promote aspirations and ambitions in Nottingham, while seeking to open them up to people of all backgrounds. It was agreed that ON will revisit its role and further develop its overarching narrative. Candida Brudenell reported that the City Council’s “Ambitious Campaign” early next year is based on literacy. ON will take part in that campaign.
 
Linny Beaumont reported back to the Board from the Voluntary Sector Strategy Group, which is continuing to meet bimonthly. The group has recently looked at social equality and inclusion. The group is concerned about social prescribing, and other health initiatives, seeking to maximise the VCS voice. Jane Todd in her capacity as the Acting CEO of the NCVS has engaged with the group on the developing volunteering strategy and they will continue to keep the board informed of progress. Look out for regular updates through VCS networks and newsletters.
 
Unitarisation and Local Government Reorganisation has been in the press lately and in this context, the Board heard that Nottinghamshire County Council is developing a case for a unitary council. Nottingham City Council believes that citizens in and around Nottingham would be disadvantaged by the County’s proposals and are planning to respond. Dr Hugh Porter volunteered that there is a potential for a huge impact on health should the boundaries change. The Board will watch progress with interest.
 
A New City Centre Strategy – The City Council is about to launch a consultation on the future of Nottingham City Centre and requested ON involvement. Nigel Cooke is working with the Council on this. Esther Akpovi, Audra Wynter and Stephanie Sirr all volunteered to be involved and Cecile Wright offered to help with the Metro Strategy.
 
David Tilly attended the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant at Southwell Minster. The Covenant renews the city‘s commitment to support the armed forces community in practical ways and is relevant to all sectors.  An action plan will be produced in the New Year. The Board noted the centenary of the ending of the First World War and they recognised the part played by people from across the Commonwealth, India, Pakistan and the Caribbean.

Youth council representative, Esther Akpovi, finished the meeting with an appeal for a venue for the Studentpreneur conference which she is organising, which will focus on alternative, successful youth mentors.

Sajid Mohammed provided an update to the ON Board, on Hate Crime and Hate Crime Awareness Week, with official stats released the previous week from the Home Office. There is a marked surge of 40% in religious hate crime, 52% of which was targeted towards Muslims. Two thirds of hate crime is race related. Nottingham is a national lead on hate crime and hate crime awareness and we handle the issues raised positively and collaboratively. The ON Board recognised the work that Helen Voce and the Women’s Centre have done on misogynistic hate crime. Supt. Andrea Baxter (Notts Police) regretted that the comments reported in the media, by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, were misrepresented. She gave assurances that complaints are always investigated, and police are encouraged to always record multiple reports.
 
Helen Voce flagged up the launch of a sexual harassment at work campaign “Times Up Nottinghamshire” and 16 days of activism starting on the 25^th November.

The awards, now in their seventh year, and organised by One Nottingham, were held at the Council House following the historic 724^th Goose Fair opening and dinner.
They celebrate those who have helped to make Nottingham the great city that it is, and each winner has made a lasting contribution. The awards are a way of recognising that achievement and an opportunity to say thank you.
 
The categories and winners for 2018 were:

Voluntary and Community Sector: Melanie Duffill-Jeffs
Public Sector: Alistair Conquer
Private Sector: James Mellors
Sponsors Award (chosen by Let’s Move Nottingham): the Kanneh-Mason family
 
Guests were entertained by Nottingham musician and Young Creative Awards previous winner and now Board Member, Rob Green. Meanwhile, money was raised for The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Women’s History Group. More information on the awards winners and photographs of the event are available on our website:
Nottingham Awards Winners 2018

Nottingham City Council and partners Self Help UK, Nottingham Playhouse and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust demonstrated their commitment to end negative attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems with the launch of Nottingham Time to Change Hub at Nottingham Playhouse.

Too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless. But with the right support from those around them, people can recover and have equal opportunities in all areas of life. Encouraging people to open up to mental health – to talk and to listen – is the first step.
Self Help UK are the coordinators of the hub and since March this year have recruited over 70 local champions with lived experience to lead activity in the city. 
The Hub’s vision is a city where people talk openly about mental health in the same way as they would physical health, without fear or discrimination.  Activity will be led through workplace and social contact events supported by Nottingham Time to Change Champions.
Local employers have a key role to play in improving the mental health of our local population and are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment by signing the Time to Change Employer Pledge.

For more information on the Nottingham Time to Change Hub email ttc@selfhelp.org.uk

Nottingham City Councils latest Policy Digests for August, September and October are now available, together with Policy Alerts on the Budget and the Social Housing Green paper.    Find the latest Policy News by clicking Policy Digest and Alerts

News from the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner: the latest addition of The Beat is available here.
The Beat Newsletter October 2018