New images show how a £20m grant will be spent this autumn on improvements to Bulwell town centre, with initial construction work set to start on Monday 20 October. Updated proposals were shared in May following months of planning to capture as many suggestions as possible from a major consultation exercise carried out in 2022. More than 500 residents, businesses and community groups took part and five key themes emerged in their feedback: increasing people’s pride in Bulwell, more high-quality green space, making it easier to get around the town centre, more cultural activities for families, and enhancing the night-time economy. All these comments were taken into consideration as the project team put together a plan to deliver a range of improvements to make the town centre more attractive. This will include the Bulwell Bogs area, which will be fully refreshed with a new planting and landscape design, including a high-quality play offer to cater for all ages. It will see renewal and expansion of the splash park and introduction of a refreshments kiosk with toilet and changing facilities to make the park a great place to visit – particularly in summer months. Lighting and CCTV will also be upgraded.

At Market Place existing market equipment will be replaced with new stalls, along with better access to electrical power on site, supporting both new and existing vendors, while the bus station toilets will be rebuilt and modernised. Wider public realm refurbishment is also planned. Paving will be renewed across the pedestrianised areas of the town centre along with new seating and landscaping. Connections will be improved between the Market Place and the Bogs area to bring these separate parts of the town centre together. These projects have been developed using allocated funding from a Government grant. Some budget remains and the council will work with the local community over the coming months to establish where to invest this.

Councillor Neghat Khan, leader of Nottingham City Council and executive member for strategic regeneration, transport and communications, said: “We hope that the detailed images being released today will further excite the people of Bulwell about the fantastic raft of improvements coming their way over the next few months. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to take part in our consultation process. This was deliberately designed to be detailed and wide-ranging because we knew how important it was that the final projects going forward were what local people and businesses had asked for. “We’re particularly excited by the revamping of the Bogs area. These are a legacy of current and former ward councillors in the town and we know just how well-loved and used they are by families in Bulwell. “I think people are going to be thrilled when they see the new splash park take shape, along with a host of play equipment and places for children to have fun and express themselves. “We wanted to make sure that market traders benefited from the grant money we’d secured. They’ve been engaged throughout this process and the new market will be a fantastic place to work and shop. “There will also be significant work done to the wider public areas of Bulwell, including the market square and public toilets. “We look forward to work starting soon. We deliberately scheduled the works for this time of the year so that the splash park could remain open during the summer for families to enjoy. The market will also operate throughout.”

A Midlands entrepreneur who set up his company to help get children outside to experience nature has been recognised as one of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders. Peter Ellse, co-founder and CEO of Cosy Direct, was named in the 2025 line-up of the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders. He was also awarded the People Award for his commitment to going the extra mile for his employees and customers. Peter’s inclusion celebrates his drive to establish Cosy, based in Fauld, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, as a world pioneer in the design and supply of sustainable nursery and educational equipment. To date, that drive has seen the company, which Peter set up nearly 15 years ago with his wife, Amanda, grow its annual turnover to nearly £30m, sell more than 6,000 different products to nurseries and schools in 50 countries worldwide and employ 130 people. Ten per cent of its profits are donated to good causes in the UK and around the world through the Cosy Foundation, and Cosy also owns a farm and campsite which it lends to the charity Derby Kids Camp every year. Peter said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be named alongside some of the country’s most inspiring business leaders and getting the People Award means the world to us. “But like every one of the other winners, I know that our successes and awards can’t happen without the support of an exceptional team both at our HQ and, increasingly across the world. “I’m hugely fortunate to work with colleagues who share the vision and go above and beyond every day. And I’m incredibly grateful to Amanda, who has been by my side every step of the way.”

A Nottingham charity at the forefront of supporting children and young people affected by sexual or domestic abuse is calling for more trauma informed approaches across the sector. Imara has supported thousands of children in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire over the last 15 years, achieving positive outcomes for its holistic approach that places the child’s voice at the centre. Now it is hosting its first ever conference, ‘Bridging The Gap’, on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at Nottingham Contemporary, bringing together survivors, families and professionals, and inviting local organisations to sponsor the event as a way to fulfill their CSR goals. In return, sponsors would be thanked during the event and receive credits on their website and social media platforms. If financial sponsorship is not possible, Imara also welcomes donations for their goody bags such as fidget toys and keyrings. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or donor should email fundraiser@imara.org.uk. Child sexual abuse is a growing problem nationally with the vast majority of cases never being reported to the police, according to the most recent report from the Centre of Expertise on child sexual abuse. In Nottinghamshire, 9,580 children are estimated to be sexually abused each year with just 1,812 child sexual offences recorded by the police. Now the charity is giving a platform to survivors at the conference to have their voices heard, impact on the shape of future services and inspire change. There will be panels and interactive workshops on how the criminal justice process, holistic therapy and the language of trauma impacts survivors of child sexual abuse and domestic abuse. Imara CEO Cath Wakeman said: “It is hard enough to have to recognise that children are abused, however it is made worse when we know that they are still falling through gaps in support either because they haven’t been helped to find a way to talk about the abuse, or because those services don’t exist. “However, it is only when we notice that we can start to do something about it. Join us in ongoing conversations about how we can best bridge the gaps that exist and make a real difference for all children affected by abuse.”