FIFTEEN kind-hearted volunteers are offering free hugs in the city centre today – their annual day of kindness.
InKindNotts has organised the Nottingham Day of Kindness three days before the UN International Day of Friendship on Tuesday.
The volunteers have set up a stall in St Peter's Square, where a "kindness conga" will set off at 1pm, with hugs and cakes available all day.
Participants are encouraged to do something good for others and give certificates to people who have been kind.
Jeff Buck, of InKindNotts, said: "What is amazing is people's willingness to get involved. Kindness has that ripple effect that just keeps spreading. Last year, three girls came and had a free cake. They returned with three bags of sweets for us to hand out that they'd bought themselves."
Mr Buck said that an act of kindness did not have to be a huge gesture but something as simple as a smile or holding a door open.
"The day will hopefully cheer up a lot of people but the overriding message is for people to be kind as often as they can."
The group was formed two years ago from people who were working in the voluntary sector and community development.
Joining them in celebrating the day is Notts Nosh, which produces a guide to locally-produced food.
Its is running a local foods market at Sneinton and will be handing out free cakes and hugs, while local food historian Ruth Dames will be telling stories at 10.30am and 1.15pm.
Notts Nosh project co-ordinator Shona Munro said: "Food is a very inclusive thing that everybody can enjoy.
"Free hugs are a nice thing to do, they are a good way to loosen people up."
The market will also host a food swap at 1pm that will allow people to trade home-made or home-grown food and drink.
Dr Glenn Williams, a specialist in the psychology of well-being at Nottingham Trent University, said that when people hugged, a hormone called oxytosin was released, which could reduce stress and anxiety.
"It's probably as good an anti-depressant as you can get," he said. "As long as both people involved are happy about it, it works as a bonding agent. Doing a charitable act can also release the hormone.
"I think that Nottingham Kindness Day is a great idea because it encourages us to be compassionate."