 National lockdown restrictions are in place until 2 December. It is important you familiarise yourself with the new rules and what they mean for you.
Don't forget, it is still important to wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering and keep a safe distance from others.
There is a range of support available to residents including;
- Self-isolation payment
- Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for food and essential supplies
- Grant support for businesses impacted by the restrictions.
 Hounslow Council's new local COVID-19 Contact Tracing system backs up NHS Test and Trace and helps get coronavirus under control.
Council staff call you if you have tested positive for COVID-19 to help notify any one you may have been in contact with and to check if you need any assistance or support such as with food shopping, collecting medication or debt advice.
It’s vital people get tested if they think they have symptoms.
But remember, you must self-isolate until you get a negative result.
A range of Covid-19 tests are available - you can;
- Order a home test kit
- Go to a local walk-through test centre in Feltham and Heston, or
- Visit a Mobile Testing Site
You can't access a test without booking in advance online or by calling 119.
You should only book a test if you have symptoms or have been asked to book by the Council or a hospital.
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 Local businesses and residents in Hounslow are being invited to help spread the joy this winter by making a pledge to support their community. This could be anything from donating much-needed funds to a local charity, volunteering, supporting a neighbour with their shopping, or donating to a local food bank.
 ‘Aviation Communities 2020: From the Ground Up’ has been organised by Hounslow Council, alongside the West London Alliance.
The virtual event, on Tuesday 24 November 2-4pm, will highlight the plight of communities around airports who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and face major social and economic challenges.
The summit is the first concerted effort to bring together leaders from aviation communities across the UK to discuss the challenges and the need targeted support and intervention.
Hounslow Council has approved the Local Plan Review at Borough Council.
The plans provide for 11,000 new homes in the West of the Borough and 13,000 new jobs. There will also be 7,500 new homes and 14,000 new jobs created in the Great West Corridor.
The plan will also focus on creating green corridors and nature trails as part of the Council’s commitment to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity.
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week pledged to double the number of journeys made by bike as part of a Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
The statement includes proposals to designate more ‘low-traffic neighbourhoods’, where roads are closed to through traffic, and road closures near schools, to promote cycling among pupils and boost air quality.
The Streetspace programme in Hounslow has introduced 108 trial traffic measures across the borough, with 35 of those as School Streets in areas around schools.
These trials have increased walking and cycling, cleaner air and nicer neighbourhoods, fewer accidents and safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists and our children.
The Council wants residents' feedback on each trial and measure introduced through an independent review process.
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Hounslow Council is pleased to see new initiatives to tackle racism in the Met Police proposed by the London Mayor and Met Police to combat racism and improve community trust in the police.
The plans set a target of 40 per cent of new police officers recruits to be from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
The Council has committed to commissioning an equality audit to learn from the experiences of our diverse workforce, identify problems faced by our black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues and put the right actions in place to address these issues.
The Council will also improve diversity record-keeping to make sure equal opportunities are available to all and continue to improve training of managers and Councillors to make sure that we foster a diverse workforce, particularly with regards to recruitment.
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Hounslow is a green borough. With over 200 parks, many green spaces and waterways and over 100,000 trees, our green infrastructure has endless potential to provide a wide range of valuable health, social and environmental benefits to people in the borough.
Our new strategy will determine how best to increase and improve our green infrastructure and we want to hear your views to inform it. The survey closes on 30 November.
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Our Hounslow Matters magazine is delivered to all residents four times a year. We want to make sure that it provides you with information you care about.
We want to get your views on its design, content, length - everything. The survey closes on 31 December.
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This Road Safety Week (16 to 22 November), we are supporting the London Road Safety Council campaign to highlight winter road safety messages to drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
They have created six short films put road-users’ knowledge and awareness to the test, and highlight important steps that everyone can take to stay safe on our streets this winter. Put yourself to the test and watch them here.
Additionally, Hounslow Council is hosting a poster competition for children across the borough with exciting prizes for both primary and secondary-aged students, including sports vouchers, reflective backpacks, helmets and other goodies!
Students are asked to design a road safety A4 poster, using these messages for inspiration: 'Be Bright, Be Seen' or 'No Need to Speed'. Deadline for entries is Friday 4 December.
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 Join ‘Hounslow Schools Have Talent’ and help spread festive cheer across the borough.
It’s a great opportunity to raise school profiles and much-needed money. The videos will be shared on the Council’s social media accounts in the run-up to Christmas.
Although our libraries are currently closed due to lockdown restrictions, Hounslow Libraries’ online services are open 24/7.
BorrowBox is a free app that allow users to easily access digital services from their local libraries in Hounslow.
As long as local residents have internet access and a Hounslow Library card, they will be able to delve into thousands of FREE e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines. These can be downloaded onto any tablet or android phone.
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The Mayor, Councillor Tony Louki, is hosting a special Christmas raffle this November to raise funds for the Mayor’s charities, Our Barn and Hounslow Seniors Trust.
Fullers Brewery has kindly donated the Ultimate Fuller's Beer Advent Calendar for the raffle.
This 24-bottle advent calendar would make a fantastic gift or treat for any beer lover out there. It retails at £70 and is currently sold out on online!
If you fancy winning this fantastic prize, purchase a raffle ticket via the link below. Tickets are just £5.00 each and must be purchased by 10 p.m. on Thursday 26 November.
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Participation People are hosting a SEND Youth Voice forum taster session on Monday 30 November, 5-6pm via Zoom.
We want to bring together some willing young people who access SEND services and create a working group - a SEND Youth Voice forum, who will work with decision makers to improve SEND services in Hounslow.
The first step will be a Taster Session so that young people can find out more about it and decide if they would like to become part of the forum. We can guarantee lots of fun, skills development and an AQA accreditation as part of the journey. To find out more visit the Participation People website.
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 Join us on our exciting digital journey here at Hounslow Council and take part in the final week of the Digital Festival Hounslow. Here's what's on offer in week four.
Monday 23 November - 11am - 12 noon - Maximising the role of the Voluntary Sector
The past eight months have highlighted for all of us how important digital is to our ability to support residents, but also the real barrier it can be to engagement.
We're keen to support Hounslow’s VCSE organisations in how you can use digital and data in your work. This one hour workshop as part of the Council’s Digital Festival aims to start this conversation, understanding what you need and how we can work together to achieve this.
Monday 23 November - 2 - 3pm - Managing Your Home In The Digital Age (with Chimni)
A session helping you understand the information available online to help you manage your home, and a review of the new tools and services being launched by utilities, insurance companies, agents and local authorities that you may like to explore.
Tuesday 24 November - 10 - 10.30am - Alexa & Amazon Web Services (with Amazon)
Wednesday 25 November - 10 - 11am - Employment and CV Writing (with LinkedIn and Microsoft)
If you're looking for:
- writing or updating your CV
- hints and tips for virtual interviews
- how to set up a great LinkedIn profile when looking for work
Thursday 26 November - 11am - 12 noon - Health and Wellbeing (with Google)
Finding it difficult to Work From Home (WFH)? Need some ideas about how to WFH more effectively for your wellbeing? This session has a great range of ideas and information.
Friday 27 November - 3 - 3.30pm - Hounslow Digital Festival 2020 - closing event
Its time to say farewell to this years Digital Festival, reflections and highlights with Chief Executive, Niall Bolger and Mark Lumley, Director of Digital and IT.
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