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24 April 2020
Video message from Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council
Ramadan Mubarak, community work, support to businesses, behave responsibly in parks, staying healthy, thank you to key workers and more. Watch the video
Stay home, stay safe
 This weekend, 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.
Help us keep Hounslow's parks safe
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.
Update on towpaths during lockdown
Guidance is now in place alongside towpaths near the River Thames in order to help people maintain safe distance measures. Signage has been introduced following reports of safe distancing rules being ignored and users taking unnecessary risks on narrow stretches of the towpath. We are asking all residents and visitors to keep one another safe by obeying the rules on towpaths.
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Community support network
We are constantly updating the information on our website about the coronavirus, pulling together relevant information and support available for everyone in the borough.
We have reorganised the content making it easier for you to find the information you need; whether you are a family, vulnerable person or business person. You may be worried about finances, struggling with anxiety or afraid for yourself or another falling victim to domestic abuse. We know that it is a difficult time for everyone and want to be able to direct you to the widespread community support that has come together in response to the pandemic. Please visit our webpages for further information.
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 Do you know a vulnerable resident who needs help?
If you know of a vulnerable Hounslow resident who can’t leave the house due to the coronavirus pandemic, and who may not have friends, family or neighbours who can help with the delivery of essential supplies, please tell us straight away so we can help them.
You're not alone: domestic abuse support is still available
For anyone who feels they are at risk of abuse, it is important to remember that there is help and support available to you, including police response, online support, helplines and refuges and other services.
These are very challenging times for us all, and while the Government’s advice is to stay home, for some people, home is not a safe place. The Government guidelines are very clear, if you are facing abuse you are allowed to leave your home and seek support. Please remember you are not alone and support services are still available during this pandemic.
If you are in immediate risk of danger call 999. If it is not safe to speak then you should use the silent solutions service by dialling 999 and press 55 and the police will know this is related to a domestic incident and will be able to help you.
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 anyone experiencing domestic abuse during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Download our safety card and for more support and advice please visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/dvinfo
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Watch your speed
TfL and the emergency services are reminding drivers to abide by speed limits in London to ease strain on the NHS and help fight the spread of coronavirus.
- Breaking the speed limit is extraordinarily dangerous at any time, especially during this time of national emergency, and puts extra strain on the NHS and other emergency services
- No one should be travelling on the roads unless they are a critical worker or making an absolutely essential journey.
• To everyone else, TfL’s message is: Stay Home. Don’t Travel. Save Lives
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#Care4YourCrews
 On 23 April 2020 London Councils celebrated the amazing people who work in waste and are keeping services running despite the challenging circumstances! From bin collection crews to street cleaners to office staff & everyone else behind the scenes. Social media posts were shared by various Councils with a wonderful collage created that included Recycle 360 crew from Hounslow, see if you can recognise them!
Over £14m distributed to small businesses in coronavirus grants
Hounslow Council has so far paid £14,295,000 in coronavirus grants to businesses across the borough to support them during the coronavirus crisis.
A list of all businesses considered eligible for coronavirus grants within the borough was supplied to Hounslow Council by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Council made contact with each individual business in writing. The Council made contact with each individual business in writing and has been working hard to process requests for payments as quickly as possible.
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Webinar: Develop your digital business strategy and grow online
 Smarter Society is delivering a FREE webinar to teach microbusinesses in Hounslow how to develop a digital business strategy and grow online.
A digital presence is now expected of all businesses and can present the largest opportunity for growth. The training will help Micro Businesses to develop their digital business strategy including virtual delivery (Zoom, Facebook Live), website development, e-commerce and social media.
Date: Tuesday 28 April, 10am – 1.30pm
Booking is essential - click link below to book your place via Eventbrite.
From Spring Grove Primary to across the world!
One of Spring Grove Primary School's Teaching Assistants has produced a version of the popular boardgame, Monopoly, linked to fitness for children. The game, called Grovopoly, is shared via Google Clasroom and available via Youtube. So far, Grovopoly has been shared with schools in India, Canada, and the USA
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Advice in accessible formats and different languages
It is important that everyone knows what to do in order to protect themselves and others during the coronavirus outbreak. On the Hounslow Council website you can find links to documents and resources in different languages and formats, including accessible guides for people who are registered as deafblind or visually impaired.
The following information is available in the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Traditional Chinese (Cantonese), French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu, Welsh.
- Our staying at home guide is available in easy-read format.
- Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults.
- Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
- Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as being extremely vulnerable.
Access the information from this link
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Take part in coronavirus research
University College London is running a major national study into the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK. The results are analysed weekly and fed directly to government, Public Health England, NHS England and other national bodies as well as being made publicly available as reports. The data is being used to understand the effects of the virus and social distancing measures on mental health and loneliness in the UK and to inform government advice and decisions relating to the pandemic.
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Running out of ideas of what to make to eat?
Many of us are having to cook more often. The One You Hounslow team have come up with some great advice to help you and your family to eat well and stay healthy at home. Along with delicious recipes, the webpage offers guidance around meal planning, food waste, and eating on a budget.
Check out the smoothie recipe that uses lots of fruits and avocado while incorporating healthy fats and fibre. For more ideas visit: www.oneyouhounslow.org/
What recipes have you tried? Send your suggestions for #HounslowStaysWellAtHome activities to public.health@hounslow.gov.uk and we might feature you here next week!
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Entertainment and culture to enjoy at home
Watermans
Watermans are continuing to showcase some great films from their archives. If you are looking to have a film night this weekend, then you can sign up to their newsletter which delivers a weekly roundup of all the films that you can watch on TV or via online streaming platforms. It is like having your own virtual film club!
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Visit the world's leading museums and galleries
Art lovers don't need to lament the lack of access to view the world's masterpieces during the lockdown. Did you know that many of the world's most famous galleries and museums' collections are still very much on view, albeit virtually? You can peruse many of the most prized collections via 360 view virtual viewing pages, including The National Gallery (pictured), Musee d'Orsay in Paris, the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Technology has really enabled us to travel the world from the comfort of our armchairs.
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The National Theatre - at home
Make a date with Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's whirlwind comedy of mistaken identity featuring Tamsin Greig, available now to watch on YouTube.
For this and other free screenings coming up, please visit: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
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Online resources for health, education and wellbeing
Move Crew, UK active Kids A programme developed with expertise of teachers and physical activity specialists, elite athletes, kids and coaches. Each mission will help kids unlock their 60 minutes of daily activity. Dance missions, Super sessions, and the Loot scoot are just some of this week’s Move Crew missions.
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.
Hungry little Minds are offering simple, fun activities and creative ideas to help you keep little ones entertained during the lockdown. Find out more about the great ideas to keep you busy this weekend with the little ones!
London Youth have created a weekly activity calendar featuring five daily week-day sessions and three weekend sessions and a resource pack for you to build your own weekly activity schedule – be that as a young person, a youth worker or a youth organisation.
The 2.6 Challenge London Marathon Events has teamed up with other UK event organisers to create The 2.6 Challenge. We’re asking you to dream up an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate, the ideas and options are endless. 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.
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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