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17 April 2020
A message from Cllr Steve Curran
As you will all be aware, the Government has announced a further three weeks extension to the lockdown. This is of course very disappointing for us all, but it is in the best interest of the most vulnerable in our communities. Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.
I do hope that you, your family, friends and colleagues are well, and that if you need support you can find information on a letter being delivered to every household in the Borough. You can also read it here.
The Council, the NHS, Emergency services, community groups and businesses are all working together for the benefit of Hounslow and by working together, we will ensure that we return to normality as soon as possible.
Have a good weekend and please stay safe.
Best wishes,
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Update on our community hub
Our Council staff are continuing to work hard to keep delivering services and protect our most vulnerable and isolated residents. Our Community Hub, set up to ensure our most vulnerable residents get the food, supplies and support they need, has now managed 4,000 emails and calls and delivered more than 1,300 food packages. It’s also increasing the range of food, household goods and support it can offer, and we’re finding more and more jobs for the 400+ residents who have volunteered to join the effort. Read more HERE or watch Cllr Curran’s latest update from the scene HERE.
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 As the lockdown has been extended for at least a further three weeks, please remember that the biggest thing you can do to stop the spread of coronavirus is to stay at home.
You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household - and stay local
- Any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- Travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home
These reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
If visiting a park for your once daily exercise, remember:
Please be considerate, think of others, and follow these rules so everyone can benefit safely from our parks:
- Stay local. Don’t drive out – many car parks will be closed
- Stay at least 2m apart from people not in your household
- Keep dogs on a lead at all times
- Playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms are all closed – don’t try to use them
- Don’t meet up with friends – you could catch it off each other then spread it to vulnerable members of your family
- Don’t gather in groups – you will be dispersed
- Keep moving – don’t sunbathe, have a picnic, barbecue or play sports. The reason for this is we need a steady flow of people in and out. The more people who take up space for longer, the harder it is to keep 2m apart, and the fewer people can use the park. It’s about being fair and considerate of others.
- If the park’s very busy, give it a miss.
To find parks near where you live, use our parks finder
If you see people ignoring these rules you can inform our Enforcement Team here or call 020 8583 4141. Please also tell us of any gatherings you are aware of in public places or anyone you consider to be behaving irresponsibly.
New top tips for looking after mental wellbeing
Public Health England’s Every Mind Matters service has launched a new suite of tips and advice, focussed on looking after people’s mental wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak.
The range of new Every Mind Matters resources, designed specifically to help manage our mental health during coronavirus, includes a tailored COVID-19 Mind Plan, content for individuals and their loved ones on managing their mental wellbeing during the outbreak, and support for specific mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, low mood and trouble sleeping. More than 1.9 million Mind Plans have already been created since the launch in October 2019.
For more information, search ‘Every Mind Matters’ or visit www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ to create your personalised Mind Plan
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Primary reception 2020 national offer day
Reception Primary school places have been offered to every Hounslow child whose parent or carer applied on time.
Parents/carers will receive letters through the post today. The letters will include advice to parents as to what they can do and the process that must be followed in the event that they were not successful with one of their preferences.
Figures show that 98 per cent of children in the borough starting reception class in September 2020 have been offered a place at one of their six preferred schools, with 84 per cent getting their first choice.
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Homelessness and housing
While many aspects of our lives have been disrupted with the current lockdown, the fundamental need for housing has increased with individuals and families turning to the Council for help to secure accommodation during this very worrying time. Since Hounslow House closed, the Homeless Team has dealt with over 1,300 calls from residents. This is roughly double the demand that the team would normally deal with. The team has also been working hard preventing residents from becoming homeless, providing them with welfare advice and support
Working jointly with St. Mungo’s and outreach teams,the Council has provided accommodation to over 45 people who have slept rough or been at risk of rough sleeping over the last three weeks and continues to focus its efforts on providing support and accommodation to this vulnerable group.
In addition, welfare officers have been providing dedicated support to families experiencing breakdowns and support to those being released from prison. The service has secured over 250 units of emergency accommodation to help meet the high demand during this period.Despite this challenging time, the affordable housing team continues its focus on delivering on our 5,000 housing pledge and has secured 13 more units at Frampton Road; making our pledge total 1,388 to date. This vital work continues under strict adherence to the latest guidance to employers on reducing the spread of coronavirus, including, where possible, maintaining a 2 metre distance from others and washing hands regularly.
Watch Cllr Lily Bath, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Inclusion, talk about the Council’s work on homelessness.
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 Cllr Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Inclusion
Domestic violence - you are not alone
Tackling domestic abuse is an issue we take very seriously in Hounslow. We are aware that people may be particularly at risk during coronavirus lockdown, when victims of domestic abuse will be at home more with an abusive partner or family member.
Our specialist domestic and sexual violence service for Hounslow is still open (they can be contacted on 07810 031780 (open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and we have developed new ways of working to support people experiencing domestic abuse during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The government has confirmed that anyone who is at risk, or experiencing domestic abuse, is still able to leave their home and seek support. Refuges remain open, people experiencing domestic abuse can still call support services and the police for assistance.
If you or anyone you know is in danger, please call 999.
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Support to help you reduce your energy bills
Part of the community charity, Groundwork London, Green Doctors are a team of expert energy advisers who provide a one-hour phone consultation with residents on their energy use. This is to help residents stay warm and comfortable in their homes affordably. With more people at home due to coronavirus and many people losing their jobs, energy bills might be harder to manage.The Green Doctors can help residents deal with that.
The service is available for FREE for all households that meet the following criteria: Householder aged over 65, on a low income or have a long term health condition or disability.
Appointments can be arranged with sign language interpretation (via video call) and language interpretation as well for non-English speakers.
To book a free telephone consultation with one of our Green Doctors, either phone our freephone number 0300 365 3005 or fill in their form online: https://groundwork.secure.force.com/enquiry/. For any other information please contact us on: GreenDoctorsLDN@groundwork.org.uk
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Focus on fly tipping
Residents are reminded that flytipping is an offence and to dispose of waste responsibly to help reduce pressure on essential services. This follows a recent increase in flytipping of rubbish on the borough’s streets during the lockdown period.
To report a fly tip in your area, please go to www.hounslow.gov.uk/report
Cllr Guy Lambert, Cabinet Member for Highways, Recycling and Trading Companies said:
“The vast majority of our residents do the right thing, but in the past 48 hours there has been a reported increase in flytipping across the borough. Dumping waste is a criminal offence, could result in a fine, causes a mess on our streets and puts added strain on our essential service providers and key workers - the men and women who work hard to keep our streets clean.” Read more
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Support for micro businesses in unprecedented times
Whether you are just starting out or have been established for a while, there is no doubt that the current lockdown is very difficult for businesses everywhere.
Hounslow Council and its three business delivery partners have come together to organise a live webinar open to all micro businesses across the borough of Hounslow. We have a panel of experts ready to offer advice and signpost you to support available to help your business. Join us for our online webinar:
Wednesday 22 April - 10 to 11am
Booking is essential - click link below to book your place via Eventbrite
For more details, contact Sally Smith on sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk
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The 2.6 Challenge
London Marathon Events has teamed up with other UK event organisers to create The 2.6 Challenge, beginning on Sunday 26 April – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one-day annual fundraising event
It’s asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate to your chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities. You can do anything you like as long as it follows the Government’s guidance on exercise and social distancing. Choose your 2.6 challenge – if you need help there are lots of ideas on the website and head to twopointsixchallenge.co.uk to donate to your chosen charity or to set up a fundraising page. #TwoPointSixChallenge.
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Staying active at home
Many of our routines have been disrupted and we are having to find new ways to stay active at home. The Move More page on the One You Hounslow website provides support and activities for all age groups and abilities.
What are you doing to stay active?
Tag @OneYouHounslow and @LBofHounslow in you your #HounslowStaysWellAtHome!
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Entertainment and culture to enjoy at home
Watermans
Watermans continue to dig through their archives to bring you some films you might have missed first time around, or realise you simply must see again. Their newsletter delivers a roundup of the week's film choices, signposting to screenings either on TV or via online streaming platforms. Highlights include the new film Military Wives which you can catch on Curzon at Home, alongside what looks to be a very entertaining Q&A with Sharon Horgan and Kristen Scott Thomas. There's even a Curzon discount code that you can use. To access these and other events, please subscribe to their newsletter:
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Feltham Arts
Our cultural delivery partners, Feltham Arts are exploring ways to continue bringing together art programming in the digital sphere.
We will be sharing podcasts, music, artworks designed by fellow artists, creative workshop ideas and more over the coming weeks through our Twitter @Feltham_Arts and our website www.felthamarts.org, ‘What’s On ‘ page.
Check out the FA Summer Exhibition, showcasing local artists work on the ’What’s On’ Exhibition page.
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Online resources for health, education and wellbeing
NHS fitness studio offers a range of online exercise videos from 10 -45 minutes.
Free online fitness, yoga and Pilates classes for Hounslow residents, led by instructors at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust now includes new chair based exercise for over 60s.
#10today offers short routines for healthy activity. If you like listening to the radio why not try listening online, tune in to join many others taking part.
and for children and families:
Hounslow Children's Centres are still offering support. There's a whole host of ideas for great activities you can do with you child.
Beat the bug is packed with hints, tips and ideas to help individuals and families of all ages stay physically fit, strengthen their immunity and improve mental and emotional wellbeing.
imoves for 4-11yrs are helping keep primary aged children as active as possible by offering free access.
Superhero Fitness for 3-7yr olds is 15 mins of fun movement every day at 3.30pm and available anytime via videos on the OurParks Facebook page.
imoves for 4-11yrs are helping keep primary aged children as active as possible by offering free access.
Latest information and advice
If you think you know someone who’d like to receive this e-newsletter, forward it on and they can subscribe here.
The Council has a coronavirus advice webpage which is updated daily with the latest local information for residents and businesses.
You can also follow us on social media using the links below.
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