|
29 May 2020
Message from Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council
The Prime Minister last night announced further easing of the lockdown from Monday. We’re still awaiting the specific guidance from the Government, and will share that with you when we have it so there’s clarity about what’s changed.
However, until then, it’s important to remember that as far as this weekend is concerned, nothing has changed. We should all stay home as much as possible and limit contact with other people.
If you go out – which I’m sure you’ll want to given the fantastic weather – you’ve got to keep 2 metres away from people not in from your household, you’re only allowed to meet with one other person outside and, as always, remember to wash your hands when you get in! Also, please be considerate of others and follow the guidance in parks.
It is great that things are gradually returning to normal, especially for lots of local businesses who are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. However, we’ve got to keep doing our bit and being responsible. This is still about protecting vulnerable people and saving lives; we don’t want to trigger another spike in infections.
Also from Monday, lots of schools are welcoming back more children. Again, really positive news for many parents and children. Teachers have been working hard to get their plans in place and contact parents. The majority of schools which aren’t opening next week will be opening the following Monday.
Finally, sadly, last night, the wonderful café Benugo on Gunnerbury Park burned down. Thankfully no one was hurt. This is such a loss to the people who used it and all the those who have worked so hard to regenerate the park and house over recent years. Thankfully, due to the sterling efforts of London Fire Brigade, the two historic carriages nearby were protected.
Have a great weekend, and stay safe.
|
Follow the rules and save lives
Staying home and maintaining social distancing is tough, especially during the warmer weather. However, to help save lives and protect vulnerable people, we must all stay at home as much as possible.
Whilst you can meet a friend in our parks, play tennis or use selected sports pitches, remember to keep a distance of two metres away from people not in your household.
The Council is playing its part in keeping parks and green spaces open, and you can do your bit by following these rules:
- Remain at least two metres away from people not in your household
- Only exercise with people from your household or with one other person
- Keep dogs on a lead at all times
- Follow hygiene advice when you are outside, don’t touch your face, and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors
- Playgrounds and public toilets are closed to reduce the spread, don’t try to use them
To find parks near where you live, use our parks finder
Your efforts will help save lives.
- 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.
Be considerate to others and, when staying home, think of your neighbours - keep the noise down and no bonfires.
New NHS Test and Trace now live
|
The Government has launched the new NHS Test and Trace service across England.
The new guidance now outlines that anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted within 24 hours by the NHS Test and Trace service via text, an email alert or a call and will be asked to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes. They will be given instructions on how to share details of people they’ve been in close, recent contact with and places they have visited and will be asked to provide this information online via a secure website or over the phone with an NHS contact tracer.
Anyone identified to have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus will be alerted by the NHS Test and Trace service via text or email. They will then need to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website. If this isn’t possible, a trained call handler will contact the identified person about what they need to do.
Read more about the new launch of this service and why it’s important on the Government website.
New guidance is available for employers and businesses on how they can play their part in the NHS test and trace programme to slow the spread of the virus, protect the health and care system and save lives. This guidance should be used in conjunction with Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19).
|
|
Mobile test centre available in Isleworth this Sunday and Monday
The mobile coronavirus test centres form an essential part of the national testing programme and will be available again this Sunday and Monday.
When: Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June 10.30am-3.30pm
Where: Grasshoppers’ Rugby Club, Syon Lane, Osterley, Isleworth, TW7 5PN.
There is a mixture of walk-in and drive-through appointments at this test centre. You can book your appointment from 8pm tomorrow via the NHS website.
You must register via the gov.uk portal before attending a mobile testing unit and bring your 16-digit code or appointment confirmation with you on your mobile phone. Tests should be taken within five days of developing symptoms as this is when the test is most accurate.
Anyone over the age of five who is symptomatic is now able to receive a test at one of the testing centres.
Coronavirus symptoms are:
-
a high temperature
-
a new, continuous cough
-
a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste
This test can tell you if you have coronavirus at the time the swab sample is taken. The test to tell if you’ve ever had coronavirus (‘antibody test’) is not available yet.
Booking appointments and requesting a walk –in appointment:
If you would like a walk-in appointment at the mobile testing centre, please put “unknown” in the box requiring your vehicle registration number. This should allow you to continue the booking process.
If you have any problems refer to the helpline detailed below, or you can use the 16-digit authorisation code that is sent to you via SMS and go to the testing centre anytime on foot or in a car between 10.30am and 3.30pm where local authority staff will help you.
Alternative testing provision
Please note that if an appointment is not available at the Grasshoppers’ site then the same testing criteria apply for bookings at the Twickenham testing site, and they operate seven days a week. They do however only offer drive-in appointments.
There are also home testing kits available, bookable via the same NHS website.
If anyone has any problems booking via the portal, please contact the National Coronavirus Testing Helpline on 0300 303 2713.
|
Self-administered coronavirus home test
A NHS doctor shows you how to self-administer a swab test for coronavirus. It’s a simple nasal and throat swab (this is different to the nasopharyngeal swab test). This is for the self-test kits in the UK – exact models may vary.
Please always follow the written instructions provided with your kit. If you're at home, please register your kit online per the instructions in your kit – otherwise you will not get your results.
The Coronavirus Testing Call Centre can be contacted on 0300 303 2713 between the hours of 7am and 11pm. This service can be accessed by people with hearing or speech difficulties by calling 18001 0300 303 2713.
You can watch the video here.
|
Messages in different languages relating to testing and treatment
Public Health England (PHE) has translated the message that coronavirus testing and treatment is free of charge, into 60 languages.
|
Gunnersbury Park closed after café fire
Sadly, Gunnerbsury Park café was destroyed by fire in the early hours of this morning. No one was injured and firefighters were able to protect the nearby historic carriages. The park is expected to remain closed until at least Sunday while the site is made safe and an investigation carried out.
The café has a historic display area, containing display items like horse-drawn carriages, and firefighters safely removed these from the building.
Cllr Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Leisure Services at Hounslow Council said: “We were shocked and saddened to hear of the fire that took place at the Gunnersbury Park Café. Thankfully no one was hurt but the building, which only opened in 2018, has been destroyed."
Read the full details on our website.
|
Further guidance for business sectors
The Government has issued updated guidance for businesses beginning the process of reopening from the coronavirus lockdown.
There are seven individual guides for businesses, covering basic steps to reopening, with more specific guides focussing on different types of businesses. You can access each of the guides below:
The Government are also hosting a series of free webinars on the above guides. You can also find the previous webinars here.
There is also a downloadable poster that can be displayed on your premises to inform staff and customers you are staying coronavirus secure.
You can find more information about the support available for businesses, self-employed and employees on our website.
|
Patient and Public Representative application open
Do you live or work in Chiswick/London Borough of Hounslow?
Can you turn your patient experience into patient expertise?
Can you be a critical friend of Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)?
NHS Hounslow CCG are looking to recruit a patient representative onto the CCG's Chiswick Health Centre Project Board very soon. The proposed new Chiswick Health Centre is a key delivery project for NHS England and NHS Hounslow CCG as joint commissioners. The new centre will provide a modern, fit for purpose home for services.
The proposal is to build the new health centre that will meet the needs of patients, GP Practices, Providers, and Clinicians.
As a patient representative on this programme group, you will be able to put your patient experience of Chiswick and/or Hounslow health services to good use. It would be expected of you to liaise with Chiswick patient groups and community groups to inform them of progress on the health centre from a patient’s perspective. The CCG will support making connections to patient and community groups wherever necessary. While personal experience is important, the patient and public voice partner will be expected to contribute to confidential discussions about services, plans and strategies more generally.
Applications are open to apply for patient representative role. Please contact Dilo Lalande Engagement and Communications Manager for Hounslow CCG, via email on d.lalande@nhs.net for further details. The deadline to submit your cover letter is 10 June 2020.
|
Supporting you to cycle or walk
Earlier this month Hounslow Council announced the introduction of a raft of measures to help make it easier for residents of the borough to walk or cycle and to socially distance. The Council is now proceeding with phase 2 of the rollout of our Streetspace scheme and the trialling of some new measures.
The Government has called for residents to walk and cycle wherever possible to ease pressures on public transport and continue to support our climate emergency.
We’re thankful for the hundreds of comments we’ve received on our borough wide consultation which we are using to help prioritise some of our work to develop trial changes– please keep them coming!
We will be collecting all the comments made on the proposals during the next few months which we will review carefully before we decide whether to make any of the measures permanent or not.
The COVID-19 Transport Response – Hounslow’s Streetspace consultation is open until the 25 June and can be accessed here.
|
Travel support for school staff
In advance of the borough’s schools opening their doors to younger pupils from Monday 1 June, we are keen to reduce travel by car as far as possible and encouraging school staff to walk and cycle to school as an alternative to public transport, while restrictions remain in place.
We will be offering free 1:1 cycle training for those who wish to switch, as well as promoting the Government’s cycle to work scheme, a subsidised bike loan scheme, enabling participants to make substantial savings on the cost of buying a bike and equipment and spread the cost of the purchase through a salary sacrifice scheme.
Additionally we are introducing a low-cost parking season ticket for school staff who live further away from their place of work and have no choice but to drive while current public transport restrictions are in place. Read more here
|
Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus
The Government has updated the advice for parents and carers of early years children who have not yet started school.
Schools, nurseries and childcare providers are currently closed to most children, but will begin reopening in phases starting 1 June.
No one expects parents to act as teachers or childcare providers. Or to be able to provide all the activities that a nursery might.
While children gain a lot from nursery, there are things that parents can do at home to help their development more which includes:
- everyday conversations
- make-believe play
- games with numbers or letters
- reading together
- involving them in the things you are doing, such as household chores, and talking with them about it.
You can find more ideas and resources on the Government's website.
|
Quit smoking and vaping to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus
Coronavirus is a respiratory viral infection that affects the lungs and airways. There is strong evidence that smoking tobacco is generally associated with an increased risk of developing coronavirus.
Smoking causes damage to the lungs and airways and harms the immune system, reducing your ability to fight infection. Smoking also involves repetitive hand-to-face movements, which increase the risk of viruses entering the body.
Read the updated guidance on the Government’s website about the risks for smokers and vapers here.
OneYou Hounslow provides some useful guidance, information and advice on helping you to quit smoking. Find out more on the OneYou Hounslow website.
Smokefree also offers a free personal quit plan to help you through the process of quitting smoking with the right support.
|
Gambling awareness
Despite the cancellation of sports events, people spending more time at home has resulted in an increase in risks for accessing online gambling such as online slots, casino games and virtual sports.
Help for problem gambling is available on the NHS website
The following organisations have a range of resources, support materials, forums, telephone helplines and online groups available to support you through this difficult time:
-
GamCare is still offering online and telephone support, plus an online video treatment. You can contact the National Gambling Helpline which is operated by GamCare on 0808 8020 133 or visit their website which offers a Live Chat support service
-
Gambling Therapy has a downloadable app to support gamblers
-
Gamblers Anonymous is offering skype meetings in place of face to face meetings.
Step Change is a debt charity who offer specific financial advice for gamblers.
|
Want to get moving more?
New to running? Then the One You Couch to 5k app could be for you!
Designed for beginners, the fun and motivating app gradually builds you up to running 5K in just nine weeks.
Download the FREE One You Couch to 5k app today! You can share your journey by using the #Couchto5k
|
Entertainment and culture to enjoy at home
Get creative and improve your maths skills at the same time by making a beautiful Rangoli with Maths on Toast.
A Rangoli is a colourful design made on the floor using coloured rice powder. In maths, Rangoli patterns are a creative way to discover symmetry, reflection and tessellation.
Learn more about Rangoli, download a template to make your own and submit them to the Maths On Toast online exhibition on the Maths On Toast website.
Bedford Park Festival goes online
The Bedford Park Festival is going online this year with The Chiswick Calendar as one of several digital platforms hosting events.
The virtual festival will feature performances by a host of local stars. Phyllis Logan, Kevin McNally, Lucy Briers and Jeremy Vine are recording a new radio play for The Chiswick Calendar, and Eddy Marsan is giving a dramatic reading in conjunction with the Italian station LondonONERadio.
There will also be a virtual Green Days Fete with a virtual craft fair and a lecture on the music of Bach. You can read more about the festival on the Chiswick Calendar website
|
Watch some great theatre
The National Theatre is broadcasting some of its most popular productions for free during the lockdown. Each show will be available on demand for seven days. Tune in here.
Watermans Online
Watermans has launched it's brand new digital offer: Watermans Online is an Online Gallery, showing the work of leading New Media artists from around the world, and a treasure trove of articles by Watermans' team of artistic programmers. Find out more on their website.
The new free Cinema Club is in full swing now, with its third session on Monday 1 June. Take a look at their website to find more about it!
|
Online resources for health, education and wellbeing
New for adults, young people, children and families;
Mindful Walking MIND is encouraging mindful walking during National Walking Month.
Travel to Tokyo Team GB and Paralympics GB’s official, free programme for children aged 5-11 and their families.
Outdoor classroom Day is offering lots of lovely ideas and inspiration for playful nature and encouraging children to get outdoors.
Spotify is introducing Daily Wellness, a personalised mix of grounding motivational podcasts and feel-good music that can help you find positivity, mindfulness, or peace throughout your day.
#Daily Mile At Home is here to help children stay active with their parents/carers, 15 minutes of jogging or running, front door to front door, with some extra challenges along the way to keep everyone motivated.
Ordinance Survey Family Maps to Colour In are great for some stress-busting, free PDF to download to print at home.
Parasport has created accessible home workouts that are ideal for wheelchair users who are just getting started, or haven't been active for a while.
Couch to 5k is a nine-week running programme designed for complete beginners by the NHS.
Better on demand provides access to workouts for free on the Better UK app, available from the Apple or Google Play stores. Enter BETTERFREE as the Club Access Code, club ref: Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub.
Joe Wicks also known as the Body Coach or, the nation’s PE teacher, is now offering virtual classes for seniors on his YouTube channel.
Make Movement your Mission designed by Later Life Training, includes a series of short online regular movement sessions done either in a chair or standing holding onto a support.
Mind’s guide for young people is available with information for young people who are worried about coronavirus and want to know how to cope with changes to their lives.
Sport Impact works with schools across Hounslow to give pupils the best opportunities in PE, Sport and Health, as well as encouraging Leadership and Volunteering. The team has created some Stay at Home Challenges to support learning whilst in the home.
OurParks coaches Ange and Premika are encouraging exercise at home and workout sessions via their facebook or YouTube channel. Why not try Saturday 10am Live HIIT Workout.
Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has some great free fitness sessions for Hounslow residents including Pilates, Yoga and chair based exercise for over 60s, all part of their #BeeeatHome campaign.
Visit oneyouhounslow.org for more support and information.
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.
You can also follow us on social media using the links below.
|
