Get a copy

Hull City Council has launched a new service to make it easier for people to obtain copies of birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates.
Instead of having to visit Hull Register Office in person or apply by letter, a simple phone call will enable copies to be obtained from records held in Hull.
Residents can phone 300300 to make an application, and can pay by credit or debit card.
A call handler will advise when the copy will be sent in the post or be ready for collection from the Register Office in George Street.
The copies can be used for passport and driving licence applications or for researching family history.

Bike boost

A project to reduce nuisance mini-moto riding in Hull has received a £5,000 grant.
The Northern Pocket Bike Club, which has a bike track at St Andrew's Quay Retail Park, welcomes enthusiasts aged five to 55 to ride mini-motos in a safe, legal and controlled environment whilst keeping the machines away from public areas.
The grant was awarded by the HBOS Foundation Community Action Programme, which supports schemes that improve the quality of life in local communities.
"I'd like to thank HBOS for their support," said club spokesman Billy Moulds.
"It will help us carry out essential track maintenance to develop the club." The club is also supported by Hull City Council and other local partners.
For more information visit www.northernpocketbikeclub.co.uk

Making it happen

Could people in Hull and East Riding who are deaf and hard of hearing alert the emergency services by text message? That was one of the suggestions raised at a recent event to promote better communication for disabled people.
The 'Communication – Make it Happen' conference, organised by the Choices and Rights Disability Coalition (CRDC) at the KC Stadium, attracted 170 delegates from the local area and beyond.
After hearing how a 999 text message service for hearing impaired people is available in West Yorkshire, it was decided to explore the possibility of introducing a similar service here.
CRDC is a Hull-based organisation supported by Hull City Council.
For more information visit www.choicesandrights.org.uk or phone 878778.

Mental health appeal

If you would like to find out more about services for people with mental health, learning disabilities or addictions, why not become a member of Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust?
Best-selling local author Valerie Wood (pictured above) recently became the 5,000th member of the trust, which is appealing for new members.
Valerie, whose husband has dementia, said: "It's time the suffering of people with this wicked disease, and the anguish of those who love and care for them, is recognised and brought into the open."
Being a member enables you to receive a newsletter, attend events and have your say on the way services are provided.
To find out more, email members@humber.nhs.uk, call freephone 0800 915 5064 or visit www.humber.nhs.uk

Budding business brains

Pupils from Victoria Dock Primary are making £5 blossom

Primary school children are learning how to succeed in business by taking part in 'Make £5 Blossom'.
Launched at the Guildhall last month, the scheme brings together Hull City Council, St Stephen's shopping centre, retailers including Orange, Peacocks and Debenhams, and nine schools to develop pupils' enterprise skills.
Children will be given £5 and encouraged to find ways of making a profit under the guidance of a school enterprise champion drawn from one of the participating retailers.
"This breakthrough scheme will inspire children and improve the enterprise skills of the next generation," said David Laycock, centre manager of St Stephen's.
Schools initially taking part are St Nicholas, Holy Name, Thorpepark, Longhill, Stockwell, Rokeby, Alderman Cogan, St Charles, and Victoria Dock.

The place to be

Hull is the place to go shopping or for a day out – not York, Leeds or Meadowhall.
That's the message in 30,000 fold-out leaflets which have been given out across Hull and the East Riding.
They were funded by Hull's Bondholder Scheme, a network of businesses working together to promote the city, and distributed by Force-7 (pictured above), a company of young entrepreneurs aged between 14 and 24.
The new, state-of-the-art Hull Truck Theatre at St Stephen's, and the £10 million Premier Inn hotel on the east bank of the River Hull are just two of the new attractions opening soon.
For more information about the regeneration of the city visit www.hull.co.uk

High hopes for fundraisers

Shoppers at St Stephen's will see a sight to behold on Saturday March 28 when a group of 13 people, including Hull City Councillors, abseil down the side of the Express by Holiday Inn hotel.
The brave volunteers are hoping the public will give generously in their bid to raise at least £3,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care and Hull Rape Crisis, the chosen charities of Lord Mayor of Hull, Cllr Elaine Garland.
Meanwhile, the British Army will be on hand to help the volunteers.
The army will also be setting up a recruitment stand at the event where would-be recruits can find out more about joining up.
The charity abseil will take place between noon and 2pm.
Donations can be made on the day or online at www.justgiving.com/lordmayorsabseil

Hull in pictures

More than 40 pencil sketches of Hull's most fascinating buildings have been published in a new book.
The book is called 'A New Look at Kingston upon Hull,' by Trevor Galvin, a former draughtsman and engineer on Hull Docks, who is now retired.
It also contains text telling brief stories behind buildings.
Some of the sketches include historic council buildings such as The Guildhall, Hull City Hall, The Maritime Museum and Ferens Art Gallery.
The book, priced at £7.50, is available from Browns and Waterstones or from Highgate Publications by phoning 866826 or emailing lbarry@lbarry.karoo.co.uk