 Lockdowns have highlighted digital exclusion across the UK as well as in our own borough, with too many pupils not having access to a laptop to make a success of learning from home.
That’s why we have stepped in to buy hundreds of extra laptops and we have begun distributing these to pupils in the borough.
Our work to tackle digital exclusion was reported on by ITV News London this week.
Local organisations, like Hounslow Promise and Richmond Rugby club, have also been moving heaven and earth to supply extra laptops.
Can you donate a laptop?
Fabulous volunteers will be collecting donated laptops this Saturday between 10 am and 12 noon outside Christ Church, Turnham Green in Chiswick.
The devices will be refurbished by Richmond Rugby Club and sent to pupils in Hounslow.
As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, we’re hosting two special virtual events with residents.
COVID-19 impact and recovery for LGBTQ+ communities
This session will explore the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ communities in Hounslow, reflecting on how the Council and our partners ensure a recovery from the pandemic that addresses the needs of LGBTQ+ residents.
The event takes place on Thursday 11 February, 6pm - 8pm online. To sign up to the event please click here.
Queer stories from Hounslow
The Council and Gunnersbury Park Museum are hosting a special event to mark LGBTQ+ History Month, celebrating the lives of local Hounslow LGBTQ+ icons, including Queen singer Freddie Mercury and television presenter Clare Balding.
The event takes place on Thursday 25 February, 6pm – 7.15pm via Zoom.
Hosting the evening will be curator Amy Dobson and queer historian Dan Vo, joined by the Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow Cllr Tony Louki and Cllrs Katherine Dunne and Richard Eason as well as friends from local cultural organisations.
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 National Apprenticeship Week 2021 takes place from 8-14 February 2021. This year, the theme is ‘Build the Future’, which aims to encourage everyone to consider how apprenticeships help individuals to build the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career.
During National Apprenticeship Week 2021, Work Hounslow will be delivering a series of free webinars looking at how apprenticeships can offer a positive benefit to local businesses and help Hounslow residents kickstart their careers.
 Join us on Tuesday 9 February at 7pm for the next Hounslow Council, Cabinet Meeting. Members of Hounslow Council's Cabinet will be making key decisions and debating on future developments in the borough.
You can watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.
Space Waye will be closed to public and trade visitors on Thursday 11 February.
The site will reopen for residents wanting to dispose of green waste, household waste and recycling on Friday 12 February.
The site will remain closed to trade customers and residents disposing of chargeable waste between 11 and 19 February.
The closure is for essential maintenance work and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Residents or trade customer are advised to visit alternative sites during the closures.
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 As part of Hounslow Adult and Community Education, the Learn Hounslow team have introduced their first ever Talk Café.
The Talk Café was designed in response to the pandemic. It is an online forum for participants to meet regularly as a group to express their thoughts and feelings during Lockdown.
The aim behind Talk Café is to build new connections, make friendships and reduce the feeling of loneliness.
If you would like to enrol onto the Talk Café course, contact the Hounslow Adult and Community Education team today.
Email courses@hounslow.gov.uk or phone 0208 583 6000.
 Funding from Sport England is helping to deliver a new fitness programme with practical tips to support mental wellbeing. In partnership with London Sport, IAPT, local community groups and Brentford Community Sports Trust, free instructor led physical activity sessions are available for a range of abilities.
Learn about mindfulness, stress management, challenging unhelpful habits, and how to boost your mood.
All sessions will be delivered online at this time, with support from IAPT services (West London NHS).
 If you are aged 70 or over, or you are clinically vulnerable, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS website, even if you haven’t yet received a letter.
Appointments are available in Ealing and Wembley.
You must book your appointment before you go to a vaccination centre. We are aware of other scam messages circulating - please ignore them - the NHS will never ask you for money or your bank details for your vaccination – it is free.
It is important to alert to vaccine fraud.
The NHS will never ask for payment or your bank details. The NHS will also never arrive unannounced at your door or ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of your personal documents. Report fraud or identity theft directly to Action Fraud.
More than a thousand people have taken part in our short COVID-19 survey to tell us how the pandemic has affected them and their families. If you have not yet had a chance to complete the survey, there’s still time.
We are especially keen to make sure the responses are representative of all our communities, so we would like to hear more from our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents. It will only take a couple of minutes for you to complete the survey. Your feedback will help us to improve the support we are providing to Hounslow residents.
Please share the survey with your family and friends and encourage them to take part before 7 February 2021.
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If you are at high risk of COVID-19, you are eligible to receive free vitamin D supplements from the NHS.
The NHS advises that it's important to take vitamin D as many of us have been indoors more than usual this year.
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 Our new mobile testing units have been out and about this week to help reach as many people as possible who don’t have COVID-19 symptoms and who want a rapid test.
Today (Friday 5 Feb), one of the mobile testing units has been back at the Chiswick Sainsbury’s car park.
You can find out more about our mobile testing unit locations on our Twitter page.
Rapid testing is available for anyone over the age of 18.
We also have test sites located at:
- Hounslow House – 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
- Heston Library – New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW
- Isleworth Library – Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU
- Staines Rugby Club - The Reeves, Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 7NB
Simply drop-in between 8am-4pm, every day, or book online www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or call 0207 084 9697.
 It is vital to get tested if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms. 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.
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