We already provide excellent public facilities at the museum where we increased our daily opening times, providing greater opportunities for you to visit, both in term times and in school holidays. We are refurbishing the shop with better quality books and crafts, we also have plans to introduce a café.  Our regular ghost walks provide an opportunity to visit sites of the city which may be new to you.  There are increasing numbers of exciting exhibitions - plesae see the local press for details, telephone the Museum on 01733 343329 or see the website www.peterboroughheritage.org.uk.

 

The Key Theatre was recently refurbished, with an air-conditioned bar and auditorium, and a licensed riverside restaurant providing a wide selection of meals and snacks.  An on-line bookings facility means you can access information and events.  A new studio is being developed, for completion later this year, providing a variety of events for community groups.  Theatre staff are working closely with schools and Peterborough Regional College, enabling young people to take an active part in productions e.g. the recent successful Wizard of Oz.  Theatre schools are available in school holidays which provide further opportunities for young people to enjoy the benefits of gaining confidence by taking part in the musical theatre.  Loyalty discounts are available through the @ctive card and Key Theatre Club for your enjoyment.  For more information please telephone 01733 552439 (bookings), 01733 552437 (administration) or visit the website www.peterboroughkeytheatre.co.uk

 

Our library services were recently awarded the Charter Mark for customer service, so providing increased benefits for you, our customers.   Initiatives include 'BookStart', a government-backed scheme with gift books for babies and toddlers, a 'First Steps' programme and 'Reach Out and Read' in some local libraries attracting new users, especially children and their families.  By working with partners, including Cambridge University Press and the 'New Link' centre, we are helping residents with citizenship tests, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).  Regular consultation with adults and children means we find out the services you need from your libraries and, by listening to your comments and concerns, we increased usage and membership, and achieved an increase of 90% in customer satisfaction from users aged 16 years and over.

 

Attendances are increasing, which means we are increasing value for money.  We recently held successful 'Try before they buy' incentive weekends with free entrance, and plan a family fun weekend next June at Central Park.  At Bushfield and Werrington sports centres we arrange weekly sessions for children with special needs, and physical and mental disability.  Bretton has recently set up a Community Sports Association to steer local sporting activity, and there are plans to introduce this concept to other parts of the city, including two more areas in 2007, Central Ward, and Dogsthorpe/Welland. 

 

For your benefit there are now refurbished changing and toilet facilities at  Bushfield, whilst at four secondary schools increased sports facilities are now completed; Stanground college has  upgraded its swimming pool, Jack Hunt has a new dedicated gymnastics centre, Orton Longueville received an all-weather surface, and at Arthur Mellows a specialist children's fitness gymnasium has been set up.

 

Young people offer their services as volunteers or casual workers, to help provide more sport and physical activity for children and young people, and we are working with sports clubs for more volunteers.  If you have friends and family who would like to help, please contact Nicola McCready by telephone 01733 747474, or email nicola.mccready@peterborough.gov.uk