Benefits changes

More Hull people and families may be entitled to Housing and Council Tax Benefit, thanks to changes in government legislation.
New rules mean that income from the receipt of Child Benefit can be disregarded when calculating eligibility for Housing and Council Tax Benefit, and capital of less than £10,000 can be disregarded when it is a pensioner making a claim.
As a result, many Hull families on low incomes and pensioners who have previously not qualified for support may now be eligible from 1 November.
Hull City Council benefits officers are now recalculating the claims of those already in receipt of Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
Anyone who would like to know more should phone 300300 or visit a customer service centre to enquire about eligibility.

It's cool to be clever

More than 200 gifted and talented pupils from across the city gathered at a north Hull school recently for a special day to encourage them to achieve their full potential at school.
The 'It's Alright to be Bright!' day at Hall Road Primary, organised by the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC), celebrated the abilities of Hull's outstanding pupils by laying on educational games and presenting awards to build their confidence.
"Every child has something they are good at but there are a number who often feel isolated and different because of their giftedness," said Denise Yates, the chief executive of NAGC.
"For a variety of reasons many don't achieve their full potential, but the aim of the day was to ensure all children feel valued and to raise their aspirations."

We will remember them

Servicemen and women who gave their lives in two world wars and other conflicts will be remembered in Hull this month.
The Lord Mayor of Hull and Admiral of the Humber, Cllr Karen Woods, will lay a wreath and stand alongside fellow councillors and members of the Royal British Legion and other organisations at a remembrance service and parade at the Cenotaph on Sunday 8 November starting at 11am.
The public are welcome to attend.
Following the service the Lord Mayor will take the salute at the march past from veterans' associations led by the bands of Humberside Police and 150 Transport Regiment.
And on Wednesday 11 November the Lord Mayor will join veterans, standard bearers, a bugler, shoppers and members of staff in the central atrium at Princes Quay shopping centre to mark a two-minute silence at 11am.

Grand days out

Hull People's Panel members visited the Guildhall for tea with the Lord Mayor and were treated to a 'regeneration' coach tour of Hull's multi-million pound development sites recently.
Panel membership gives people an opportunity to make their voices heard on local issues and influence Hull City Council services.
"I really enjoyed meeting the panel members and thanking them for their continuing involvement with the council," said Lord Mayor of Hull Cllr Karen Woods.
The panel has around 5,000 members who completed four surveys a year (either by post, phone, fax or online).
Members also attend special consultation events to give their views.
For more information and to join the panel visit www.hullcc.gov.uk

Wonderful gesture

Hull City stars Dean Marney and Richard Garcia presented ten free match tickets to carers from Hull's Carers' Health and Wellbeing Group recent.
The tickets were in recognition of the work carers do in the community, sometimes under difficult circumstances.
"There are 23,000 carers in Hull and many are so busy looking after the people they care for that they have little time or money to support our local teams – so this is a wonderful gesture," said Greg Harmen, of the Carers' Centre Hull.

Calling all dog owners

Dog owners are invited to have their pets chipped for free on 10 November, between 11am and 1pm, at St Hilda's Church, Elmbridge Parade, Greatfield.
Another free session takes place at Thorpes Community Centre, Homethorpe, Orchard Park, on 26 November between 10.30am and 1pm.
A total of 132 stray dogs in Hull were returned directly to their owners between January and September this year as a result of being chipped.
For information about future chipping events call 300300.

New school in north Hull

A new academy for north Hull has been given outline planning consent by Hull City Council's Planning Committee.
The Northern Academy will cater for up to 1,300 pupils and is expected to open on part of Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields, off Beverley High Road, in 2012.
It will replace Sir Henry Cooper School on Orchard Park.
Sponsored by Wyke and Wilberforce colleges, and the University of Hull, the academy will focus on teaching international trade and relations, science and maths.
New parks and open spaces are being developed to offset any loss to the public of the playing field.
The plans will be submitted for full planning consent following a 12-month period of design review and development.

Fun for free

Libraries across Hull are now offering Toddler Time sessions for families with children under five to enjoy free fun activities including games, crafts, stories and singing.
Simply pop along to your local library to find out dates and times and join in the fun.
Meanwhile, the amount of free early education children aged three and four who live in North Carr (or who attend a children's centre anywhere in Hull) can receive has been increased from 12.5 to 15 hours per week.
Early education is available through nursery schools and day nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups, children's centres and some childminders.

Farewell to councillor

Tributes have been paid to a respected and popular former Hull City Councillor and trade unionist who passed away recently.
Les Upfold was elected as a Labour councillor for the Stoneferry ward in 1995 and represented the area until his retirement in 2002.
During his time with the council he was deputy chair of the Economic Committee and a member of the Education Committee.
In his work with the Transport and General Workers Union he also served the city by resolving potential problems between managers and workers at BP Chemicals and other Hull factories before they escalated into industrial disputes.
"Les was a very hard working councillor and he will be warmly remembered for his sense of humour, which really helped him have an influence and get things done," said Cllr Stephen Brady.