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4 June 2021

Now is the time to Step Up For Hounslow!

Update from Hounslow’s Director of Public Health, Kelly O’Neill: We have three weeks left of surge testing and vaccination in the borough, which means more resources to get tested and vaccinated to help control the spread of the new Delta variant. We are each responsible for ourselves and those we care for - now is the time for us all to contribute and Step Up For Hounslow! Our borough rate of infection is 53 per 100,000 people. This means that 145 people in Hounslow tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 7 days. The rate of infection in Hounslow has consistently been higher than the London average and the new Delta Variant is a concern. It appears to pass more easily between people. The number of cases of this variant accounts for over half the total number of Covid-19 cases and this is increasing. I want as many people as possible to get a PCR test now, and continue to get tested regularly, even if you’ve been vaccinated. This will allow us to identify asymptomatic positive cases and, if they are the Delta variant, understand where cases are and take action. In areas with higher infection numbers my public health teams are talking to people, knocking on doors and giving out PCR tests. Please open the door, talk to them and do a test. I am sorry to say there have been incidents where our engagement teams have had abuse shouted at them. This is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. They are trying to keep people safe, please show them respect. If you are a parent of school age children, get a PCR test before school term restarts. Let’s all contribute to keeping our children in schools. Headteachers and school staff have been exceptional honorary public health teams, now parents, please help too by getting a PCR test even if you’re not symptomatic. Being vaccinated is the single most important intervention to help us get back to normal and reduces the risk of serious illness from Covid-19. If you have a parent or grandparent who has not been vaccinated please ask them why. I cannot stress enough the protection afforded by full vaccination to reduce hospitalisation and death. I repeat the offer I make every time I send a message – if you have questions please ask, contact publichealth@hounslow.gov.uk. I am happy to speak to anyone who has a question, or you can speak to your GP. Please, just ask.

Carers' Week 2021

Are you helping a relative or friend with medication, food, money, care or their mental health?  

Being a carer isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support. 

You may not consider yourself as a ‘carer’ but understanding your caring responsibilities and the impact it has on your life is important so that you can get the right help and support.

It could be round-the-clock care or a few hours a week, perhaps you live together or are miles apart. 

From helping someone get dressed or get out of bed, to managing their medication and dealing with professionals – each caring role is unique. It could also be help with cooking, housework and money, or being a listening ear and keeping someone entertained. 

Across the UK today 6.5 million people are unpaid carers, supporting someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill.  

That’s 1 in 8 adults who care, unpaid, for family and friends. In Hounslow there are over 22,000 carers.  

In celebration of Carers Week next week, we have arranged a programme of free online and face-to-face activities, ranging from workshops on food and mental health, speaking to professionals with confidence and ‘ask your local hospital’ Q&A, to ‘Creative Arts’ and ‘Wellbeing and Relaxation’ open days for unpaid carers.  

Visit: Carers Week 2021 (7 to 13 June) – CarePlace  to see the full programme of events.  

UEFA EURO 2020 trophy arrives at Brentford Community Stadium as one week countdown to tournament begins

The UEFA EURO 2020 trophy visited the Brentford Community Stadium today as part of the London stop of the tour across the tournament’s 11 host cities.

Its arrival in London comes after stops at Budapest, Copenhagen, Munich and others, and marks one week to go until the competition kicks off in Rome, as excitement builds for football fans in London and across the world.

As well as receiving the Men’s Trophy, the Hounslow event showcased the Women’s Trophy in anticipation of the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022. Brentford Community Stadium will host four EURO 2022 fixtures, including the first quarter-final of the women’s tournament.

The trophies were welcomed to the stadium by the Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Steve Curran and Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Leisure Services. They were joined by girls from the local Wildcats, an FA-sponsored football club at Nishkam School, and partners Middlesex FA, Lampton Leisure, Sport Impact and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust.

Hounslow LGBTQ+ Form Shaping Workshop

We are delighted to be working with the Metro Charity for Pride Month 2021 to facilitate discussion around what the Hounslow LGBTQ+ community would want from an LGBTQ+ Forum.

Please join and share the details of our fully interactive workshop held on Zoom on Tuesday 15th June 6:30pm - 7:30pm, exploring the needs and aspirations of LGBTQ+ residents of the London Borough of Hounslow.

COP26 Business Roadshow

In the run up to COP26, West London Business has joined the UK government and UN Race to Zero campaign to encourage as many local businesses as possible to set Science Based Targets for when (and then how) you will achieve net zero carbon emissions.

Our COP26 Roadshow will virtually tour seven of our West London boroughs to scale up local business activity on climate change ahead of COP26. We hope, working with borough colleagues, to inspire businesses to take action using the support provided by West London Business and Race to Zero campaign partners. The objectives of the roadshow are to raise awareness of the 2030 net zero agenda, and to provide tools, local support and information to West London businesses so they can achieve this target.

Join us online on Tuesday 8 June at 3:30 to discover how YOUR business can go green and how going GREEN can save YOU money. 

Volunteers' Week 2021: start your volunteering journey!

During this week, Hounslow Council, in partnership with the Ealing and Hounslow Volunteer Centre had a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution our volunteers make across the borough every day.

As Volunteers' Week draws to a close, we have asked our amazing volunteers to share their volunteering experiences with us and we had some great feedback!

Kishan Kansara, an Environmental Champion, said: 

"I’m so glad to be a champion and enjoy being at the forefront of pushing Hounslow’s climate change initiative."

Debbie Noad, a Community Champion, said:

"I've really enjoyed being a Community Champion, it's an easy way for people to give something back. It is also a great opportunity to meet other volunteers."

There are many benefits of volunteering – such as the experience that it gives you, the skills that you can pick up, along with the new contacts that you make and the new people that you meet.

Start your volunteering journey today!

Last chance to celebrate National Bike Week

 We want everyone to see the health and environmental benefits of cycling - whether it’s for fun, as a means of getting to work or school, a trip to the local shops or just to visit friends - cycling is for everyone, every day.

As National Bike Week draws to a close, there are plenty of free fun-filled cycling events taking place around the borough this Saturday 5th June. 

These are all the event being held tomorrow:

• 10 am - 12 pm - Osterley Park Dr Bike.
• 10:30 am - 3:30 pm - All Ability Cycling Session.
• 10 am - 12pm - Adult Group Cycle Session at Lampton Park.
• 2 pm - 4 pm - Adult Group Cycle Session at Hanworth Park.

View the Bike Week programme here or book an event here.

Still time to join Keep Britain Tidy's million-mile mission

Over the last year outdoor spaces have mattered to us more than ever, so this spring Hounslow is proudly taking part once again in the Keep Britain Tidy, Great British Spring Clean.

We are asking residents to do their bit and become a Litter Hero, by pledging to clear up litter during the campaign which runs from 28 May to 13 June. 

Help take care of the environment while boosting your own physical and mental wellbeing and help Keep Britain Tidy reach their goal of a million miles of litter picking. 

If you are taking part in a litter pick, please continue to stay safe and follow the latest COVID-19 guidance. Don't forget Hands, Face, Space! 

Don't forget to record your pick via the Keep Britain Tidy website.

If you are passionate about the environment and helping to keep Hounslow clean and green, why not sign up to become one of our Environmental Champions. Join a network of motivated volunteers and find out how you can work together with support of the Council. 

If you have any questions about how to get involved in Hounslow please email Cleaner.Greener@hounslow.gov.uk.

After completing your litter pick please help us dispose of the waste correctly by leaving your rubbish bags next to a nearby bin. Then use the Fix My Street app to report the waste for collection and clearly indicate on the online form it was part of the Keep Britain Tidy Spring Clean. 

Get a PCR test at a mobile or local test site near you!

It's important that you get a PCR test as soon as you can to identify any new variants of concern and keep the infection rate under control, even if you've already had a vaccine.

If you are a parent and your child is returning to school this week our ask of you is to HELP REDUCE DISRUPTION TO EDUCATION. Keep schools COVID-safe when pupils return to the classroom on Monday by getting a PCR test this weekend.  

Please get a PCR test as soon as possible on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June at the following locations:  

Mobile PCR Testing Units:     

• Beaversfield Park, Hounslow (TW4 7JF) - Open 9:00am-3:00pm  
• Tesco Hayes, Bulls Bridge (UB2 5LN) – Open 10:00am-6:00pm
• Bell Road, Hounslow (TW3 3NX) – Open 9:00am-3:00pm*  *You can drive to this site and remain in your car as you receive a test. (PLEASE NOTE: Bell Road is not operating on Saturday 5 June)

Local PCR Testing Sites:     

• Brabazon Road Sports Court, Hounslow (TW5 9LR) – Open 8:00am-8:00pm   
• Padstow Walk car park, Feltham (TW14 9XU) – Open 8.00am-8.00pm    
• Stamford Brook car park, Chiswick (W4 1NH) – Open 8.00am-8.00pm You need to book an appointment for Stamford here.

When booking, select “do not have symptoms” and then “I was asked to take a test by the Local Authority.” Please also walk to this site if you can, as there is no parking on site and parking is very limited nearby.  

• Hounslow House– 7 Bath Road, Hounslow (TW3 3EB) – Open 8.00am-4.00pm 
• Heston Library– New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW – Open 6.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, or 8.00am-4.00pm Sat/Sun 
• Isleworth Library– Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU – Open 8.00am-4.00pm 
• Bedfont Library– Staines Road, Feltham TW14 8DB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm

Or book an appointment at a regional PCR test site by clicking here.  

• Twickenham Stadium (TW2 7BA) entrance at the rear via Whitton Dene – Open 8.00am-8.00pm* 
• Heathrow Airport Car Park E2, Eastern Perimeter Road (TW6 2SQ) – Open 8.00am- 5.00pm* 

*When booking, select “do not have symptoms” and then “I was asked to take a test by the Local Authority”. Drive through site only. 

This weekend (5-6 June) you can...

Get vaccinated!

Getting the vaccine is one of the best ways we can stop the spread of the virus and curb the impact of any new variants of concern.

Below you can find a list of all our upcoming pop-up vaccination clinics over the next few days, more details of which are here.

You do not need an appointment to attend a pop-up clinic.

Get a vaccine TOMORROW if you're eligible (check here) at the below:

OR, to secure your slot, you can book an appointment via www.nhs.uk or call 119:    

• Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre– 658 Chiswick High Road, Brentford TW8 0HJ - Open 8.00am-8.00pm.     
• One of Hounslow’s five community pharmacy sites hounslow.gov.uk/vaccine

UPDATE on Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre: book ahead this weekend

Incorrect WhatsApp and social media posts have been circulating stating Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre is encouraging walk-in vaccinations from Fri 4 - Sun 6 June.

It is not. The site is prioritising appointments until Mon 7 Jun. Please book.

30 or older? If you're eligible, find out how to get your vaccine

If you are aged 30 or over, are clinically vulnerable, a frontline worker or a carer, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS website even if you haven’t yet received a letter. Appointments are available at sites across the borough and also Ealing, Wembley and Hammersmith.

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 30 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 have a learning disability
• 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.

Please make sure you plan your journey responsibly to allow for as much social distancing as possible.

And finally...

11,000 ‘step up’ by getting vaccinated at Twickenham

The massive vaccination event on Bank Holiday Monday, organised by local NHS in partnership with Hounslow Council and supported by England RFU, resulted in 11,000 people getting their first COVID-19 vaccination in just one day.

‘Let’s Tackle Covid’ gave eligible residents the opportunity to have their first dose of the vaccination without delay and was held in response to an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in the area.

For the latest information, including a list of the sites where you can get PCR tested and vaccinated, please visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/surge