Hounslow Matters Newsletter: 12 March 2021

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Friday 12 March 2021 


NEW! Three ways to book your vaccination

3 ways to book your vaccination

If you were eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine this winter or are the main carer for an older or vulnerable person it is important that you now get your COVID-19 vaccination. There are three ways you can now book your first COVID-19 vaccination:

  1. Follow one of the links below to book in at the vaccination centre closest to you
  2. Wait for your GP surgery to contact you with an appointment
  3. Wait to be notified by the NHS National Booking System

If you are:

  • A carer of older adults or vulnerable people - in receipt of carer’s allowance or unpaid
  • A voluntary sector worker – e.g. working in front line health and social care activities such as foodbanks, homeless etc (volunteers and paid staff)

Appointments are available near you at: 

You must book your appointment before you go to a vaccination centre. We are aware of scam messages circulating – please ignore them. The NHS will never ask you for money or your bank details for your vaccination – it is free.

Find out more


If you're 55 or older or clinically vulnerable, book your vaccine - even if you don't have an invite

Over 55 vaccines

If you are aged 55 or over, are clinically vulnerable, a frontline worker or get Carer's Allowance, 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. 

You can book an appointment now if:

  • You are aged 55 or over
  • You are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
  • You are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
  • You have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
  • You are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

You can book appointments at a larger vaccination centres or a pharmacy that provides COVID-19 vaccinations.

Book here


Green light for New Carbon Zero Housing Scheme

Carbon zero housing scheme

A new housing scheme that gives a modern and exciting blueprint for the future of Council house building has been approved.  

With a 100 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions - beyond the relevant building regulations targets - Orchard Road demonstrates the Council responding to the climate emergency challenge.

The four three-bedroom homes, and one four-bedroom house, will have triple glazed windows, a waste-water heat recovery system, an air source heat pump to provide hot water and heating, and solar panels on the roof to generate electricity.  

The plan is for five family Council rented homes that will contribute to the 5,000 affordable housing pledge and the commitment to build 1,000 Council homes across the borough by 2022. 

More information


Back to school bus service

DfT Back to school

On Monday, many children across the borough returned to school for the Spring Term. Transport for London is currently running a bus services in a similar way to how they did during the autumn term. This means:  

  • Routes with extra buses being provided: 33, 116, 117, 203, 272, H25, H28, H20, H22.
  • Plus school routes: 635, 681.
  • Routes with school priority buses running between 0730 and 0900 (*denotes until 0930): 33, 81, 111,120, 190, 195, 222, 235, 237, 267, 285, 337, 490, E2, E8, H22, H37, H98, H91.
  • Routes with school priority buses running between 1430 and 1630: 33, 81, 111, 120, 190, 235, 237, 267, 281, 490, H22, H37, H98.

These arrangements will be in place untilat leastthe end of the current term. TfL will confirm arrangements for after Easter in due course.   

Find out more


Final chance to have your say and help shape the future of town centres in Hounslow

Have your say on the future of the town centres

Following on from the first phase of our engagement, where we spoke to a wide range of residents, stakeholders and local businesses to gather their ideas for the future of our four high streets; Brentford, Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow, we are excited to share the second phase with our communities.

Following the ideas we received, workshops with teams across the Council and advice from our specialist consultants, the draft vision for each town centre has been designed around a number of themes, under which are proposed actions or projects.

Your feedback on these themes and the associated ideas will help shape the final vision documents.

Residents can also submit their feedback online. This engagement ends on Monday 15 March.

More information


Register to vote now

Register to vote

Things that you can do with a spare 5 minutes

  • Make a cup of tea
  • Cook a pancake 
  • Register to vote

Local elections will take place on Thursday 6 May. Visit gov.uk/register-to-vote today and register to vote before 19 April. It only takes 5 minutes!

Register now


Try Before You Bike Scheme

Try before you bike

Have you thought about taking up cycling, but want to give it try before you commit to buying a bike? Have you considered cycling to change-up your daily exercise routine?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for bikes. Across London, many people are now using bikes as a new way of travel – meaning they can avoid public transport while keeping fit. 

To make cycling more accessible to you and give opportunity to try before you commit to purchasing a bike, the Council is working in partnership with Peddle My Wheel to deliver a 'Try Before You Bike Scheme'. The scheme means that all residents can try a brand new or nearly new bike for a small monthly fee, after which you can decide to purchase or return the bike.

Sign up here


Supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Young London Good thinking

Good Thinking is a new enhanced online platform for young people and those who are having problems with sleep, stress, anxiety, or depression. The support is free and available 24/7, seven days.

London’s unique digital wellbeing service is supported by London’s NHS, London boroughs, Public Health England, and the Mayor of London. So far over 100,000 Londoners have used Good Thinking to find innovative and personalised ways to improve their wellbeing and tackle sleep, anxiety, stress, and low mood.

The digital platform hosts over 120 online resources including wellbeing information sources; guides to improving mental health; courses on and offline; mobile apps and other therapy approaches suitable for London’s modern, highly mobile population.

Find out more


Still time to access the Virtual Careers Fair

Virtual careers fair

Last week (3 March), over 3000 year 9 students and parents took part in Hounslow's first-ever virtual careers fair. 

Students were granted the opportunity to meet and hear from businesses such as HSBC, Amazon, New Look and Heathrow Airport, alongside Hounslow Alumni to support them in selecting GCSE options.  

If you missed out or want to revisit you can still browse the careers fair. All resources and webinars are still available for free on the website and students will be able login and access it for the next 90 days.

Love Your Career want participants feedback from the event. Completing your evaluation before Friday 19 March and you can be entered into a competition to win for one of five £10 Amazon vouchers. Evaluation forms can be access on the platform. 

Visit the site


Don’t delay – start looking for your child’s free childcare and early education place today

Free childcare

If you have a child aged 2, 3 and 4 you may be entitled to free childcare and early education. Don't let your child miss out - start looking at your options now.

Find out more


Census 2021 has landed

Census 2021

This year the Census takes place 21 March 2021. The field officers will time their visit to engage with residents with a view to get a completed questionnaire returned for the household before 4 May.

Find out more


Staying safe on the school run

School run

On the school run? Keep COVID-safe and:

  1. Stick to your allocated pick-up and drop-off slot if you have one.
  2. Observe social distancing. Do not congregate in one place.
  3. Remember: Hands, Face, Space to keep yourself, your family and those around you safe.

We must observe the rules, and not congregate around drop-off and pick-up areas near schools, colleges and other facilities in order to progress with the Government's plans to lift national lockdown restrictions.

Find out more


Do you know if you qualify as a carer?

Do you qualify as a carer

If you help a relative or friend without payment because of a condition, illness, disability, serious injury, mental health issue, addiction or issues related to aging - you're recognised as a carer.

You may be looking after your neighbour, your parent, a sibling, or a friend and not see yourself as a carer but you are eligible for certain benefits if this is you. 

You could be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine sooner than you might be otherwise. 

To do so, you must register as a carer at your GP. Contact your practice to register now.

Difficulties registering or any questions about the vaccine? Email socialcare.vaccination@hounslow.gov.uk

Find out more


Get tested!

Mass testing

If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, getting tested regularly will help to protect yourself and your family as we all follow the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. We are offering free rapid tests and have appointments available!

Simply drop-in at:

  • Heston Library – New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW – Open 6.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, or 8.00am-4.00pm Sat/Sun
  • Hounslow House – 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
  • Isleworth Library – Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
  • Staines Rugby Club, Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 7NB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun

You can also book online here www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or call to make an appointment: 0207 084 9697

Rapid testing is available for those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms book a test online via the NHS website or call 119

Book a rapid test

Latest information

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 regularly with the latest local information for residents and businesses. 

Advice in accessible formats and different languages

You can also follow us on social media using the links below. 

The latest information on coronavirus in general is available on the Government’s website. 

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