The summer break is here and Nottingham City Council has organised events to give children and teenagers exciting activities and rewarding experiences every week of the school summer holidays. Some are part of an enhanced programme for the summer period but many of the activities are actually run all year round by Nottingham City Council’s youth and play service.

There’ll be something for all the family including world record attempt superhero and princess picnics and plenty of family fun days, along with opportunities to learn new skills and activities at Children’s Centres.

There are also plenty of other events happening across the city that all age groups can get involved with. Here are just a few of them:

  • Bells Lane Youth Group (11-19 Years) Bells Lane Community Centre Partnership with The Unity Project “Love My Future”  – Paper fortune tellers Healthy snacks, Pool, Table Tennis. Friday 21 August 7.00pm – 9.00pm
  • Great British Tennis Weekend and Open Days are a chance for people to try all forms of tennis for FREE! The next events coming up at Nottingham Tennis Centre are:

– Saturday 1 August, 3-6pm

– Saturday 22 August, 3-6pm

You can find out more at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/OpenDays

  • Nottingham Park Lives offer a range of sports, games and family activities, whatever your age, sex or ability, everyone can come and have a go. There are plenty of activities for families too and everything is FREE! Search online for activities near you and register at parklives.com
  • Football Session – Nottingham Forest Football Community Coaches

@ Bulwell Riverside Centre – Wednesday 5 August 6:15pm – 7:30pm 12-18years (FREE)

Cllr David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Early Help and Early Intervention, said: “Nottingham City Council is committed to making sure that the children of Nottingham have positive activities to take part in during school holidays.

“Despite significant government cuts to council budgets, many play, youth and children’s centre programmes continue to run across the city. The council is also pleased to work with the voluntary sector in providing a rich variety of activities for young people.

“There is so much happening in the city this summer and we have a real focus on getting families involved. So many of these events are free and I would encourage people to head to their local Children’s Centre, Library, Leisure Centre or park for a great summer full of fun.”

With 8 Adventure and Play Centres and 18 Children’s Centres across the city offering a range of free and low-cost services and activities for families and their children, there should be something for everyone.

Services at Children’s Centres can vary according to the needs of the local community, but all centres provide links to childcare, family support and a range of parent and toddler activities. All of the centres have family support teams who work with children and young people from birth to 19 and their families, offer play and youth activities, and support in areas including disability, mental health, emotional wellbeing and school attendance.

Full details about the whole range of summer activities on offer can be found at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/summer

Further activities include:

Shake it up and get active with Change4Life and Disney this Summer –

Parents looking for ways to keep their children entertained and physically active throughout the summer holiday are being urged to sign up to this year’s Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Up campaign. For more information please visit: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/nottinghamschools/index.aspx?articleid=30032

Check out some of the event run by the council’s children’s centre, youth and play staff

Mapperley

  • Princess And Super heroes Mini Disco – Stone Bridge Farm on Monday 3August from 11am -12pm and 1.30pm – 2.30pm.
  • Party In the Park Fun – open to all the Family at Coppice Park on Friday 7 August from 12pm -5pm
  • Superhero Picnic –Wollaton Park Children Centre on Wednesday 19 August from 11am – 3pm

Aspley, and Broxtowe

  • Happy little fingers (Craft session) – Aspley Children Centre, Under 5’s session every Monday from 11am – 1pm.
  • Phoenix Play Session –Phoenix Adventure Playground for 5-11 Years, every Friday from 3.30pm -5.30pm.
  • Tea in the Park Event – Broxtowe Country Park on Saturday 8 August from 12pm -3.00pm. Face Painting, Circus Skills, Egg and spoon Races and Mask Making.

Sherwood and Edwards Lane

  • Summer Fun Play inthe Park -Woodthorpe Park for 0 – 5 years, every Thursday from 10am – 11.30am.
  • Celebration of playevent – Forest Fields Play Centre on Wednesday 5 August from 2pm – 5pm. Mini Olympics and water play for 5 – 13years
  • Summer Fun Play and Learning -Edwards Lane Community Centre for 0 – 5 years, every Monday from 10am – 11.30am.

Clifton

  • Friday Fun Finders – Treasure hunting and collecting fun facts, open to all. Free bus ticket for Clifton families. This is happening at different locations every Friday from 2pm – 4pm.
  • Travelling Teddy goes Global– Bring your teddy and picnic. Open to all, free bus ticket each week from your local Children’s centre. This is happening at different locations every Monday from 11am – 2pm.
  • Picnic in the Park– Farnborough playing fields on Tuesday 11 August from 11am – 3pm.

Bestwood,Basford, Top Valley and Bestwood Park

  • Community fun day -Heathfield Community Centre on Tuesday 28 July from 3pm – 6pm. Bouncy castle, football activities, belly dancers, henna and face painting.
  • Ridge Adventure Playground – Thursday 6 august from 2pm – 4pm. Heroes project Arts/ crafts, active play and outdoor activities for age 5-13.
  • Right Track Session – William Olds Youth Club. Pool, football, Basketball, Xbox healthy cooking arts & crafts for ages 11 – 19. Taking place from Wednesday 5 August to Friday 7 August from 7pm – 9pm.

The Meadows

  • Friday Fun Finders – Treasure hunting and collecting fun facts open to all. This is taking place evey Friday at different locations from 2pm – 4pm.
  • Travelling Teddy goes Global Outing– Bring your teddy and picnic. Kangaroo tickets for parents/carers with children under 5 are available from Meadows reception. This event is open to all and takes place at a different location every Monday from 11am – 3pm.

Bulwell and Bulwell Forest

  • Happy Feet Physical Activities – Bulwell Children’s Centre on Tuesday 4 August from 10am – 11.15am. Open for all 2-8 year olds.
  • Under 11’s Stay & Play – Bulwell Forest Children’s Centre on Wednesday 12 August from 1.15pm – 3.15pm.

Radford

  • Messy Play– Radford Children’s Centre, every Tuesday from 1.15pm – 2.45pm. A messy play session for 0-5 years with a variety of creative, messy play activities and sensory exploration.
  • Trip to Colwick Park –Wednesday 26 August, all day. Celebration Day for 5 – 19 years. Adventure team building, raft building, mountain biking, BBQ/ For more information, please contact Ansar or Leon on 0115 8761099

Dunkirk, Lenton and Lenton Abbey

  • Family Fun Session -Spider Park opposite Dunkirk Children’s Centre on Thursday 30 July from 10.30am – 12pm. Lots of fun and exciting activities for 0 – 5 years.
  • Superhero and Princess Picnic in the Park – Wollaton Park on Wednesday 5 August from 11am – 3pm. Dress up as your favourite character. Fun for all the family.
  • Little Learners –Dunkirk Children’s Centre, every Wednesday from 1.30pm – 3pm. 18 months – 3 years Lots of early learning fun and exploration ready for nursery.

Sneinton

  • Sneinton Library activities – Every Wednesday from 2pm – 4pm stomp into their dinosaur activities and have fun creating flying crafts.
  • Cook & Move –Sneinton Children’s Centre, every Wednesday from1:30pm – 3pm. Please book a place on 0115 8761700.
  • Play Session Super Hero Costumes– Oliver Hind Youth Club on Tuesday 28 July from 2pm -4pm.

Hyson Green

  • Summer Fun Play in the Park – The Forest on Tuesday 28 July from 1pm – 3pm for 0 – 5 years.
  • Forest Fields Play Centre – Friday 31 July from 2pm – 5pm. Make pressed flower frames, orange pine cone hangers, bug hunt, garden project, recycle games.
  • Forest Fields Play Centre– Wednesday 19 August from 2pm- 5pm. Try something new, den building, face painting and Art attack.

Rainbow Stripes music sessions will be held for 4 weeks from 27th July to 21st August, here are the dates and venue details:

  • Tuesday’s from 10am-12pm, Iona Outdoor session
  • Thursday’s from 10am-11am, Sherwood Community Centre
  • Friday’s from 9.30am-10.30am, Eden Play Centre
  • Friday’s from 2-4pm, Iona Outdoor session

Anyone who cares for or is expecting a child can register to use the centres. For more information head to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/childrenscentres