Tackling air pollution doesn't stop on Clean Air Day
 Thank you to all who took part in yesterday's Clean Air Day and pledged to make a change to tackle air pollution.
It's not too late to make a difference in the fight against air pollution. We must continue to cut down on the pollution and avoid toxic air. Find out more about the simple action you can take all year round.
Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency, marked Clean Air Day by saying: “It’s crucial we tackle air pollution not just to address climate change, but also because of the serious impact on health for children and older residents in Hounslow too.
“I’m proud of the actions we’ve already taken to reduce air pollution. Our School Streets scheme is cutting the number of vehicles on the roads outside 26 of the borough’s schools, and this builds on many years work expanding our cycling and walking infrastructure to make this a viable alternative for many more residents.
“The good news is that pollution in the borough has fallen. We know that rates of nitrogen dioxide fell during lockdown in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, and rates are still lower than 2019 even as many restrictions have been lifted.
“We need to lock-in the reductions we’ve seen and reduce them further. We have ambitious plans to continue to promote green travel in the borough, including the use of electric vehicles (EVs). We’re expanding the network of charge points for EVs, as well as continuing to expand infrastructure for cycling and walking.
“I urge all residents to consider the actions you can take to cut air pollution. Whether that’s driving a little less, cycling a bit more, and avoiding using wood burning stoves and open fires to heat your home. We can all do our bit.”
Residents who are concerned about air pollution can sign up to receive AirTEXT alerts. The service sends out text messages to warn residents when pollutions levels are high. This information is particularly helpful for those managing health conditions where high pollution levels pose an immediate risk. The service is free and you can sign up at www.airtext.info
EU Settlement Scheme - Time running out to secure UK stay
 If you're an EU, EEA or Swiss national you must apply online to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021.
Act now to maintain your right to live, work and study in the UK.
If you need help with your application, please contact the Hounslow EU settlement service, on 0808 278 7830 or email referrals@hounslowcabs.org.uk.
New Council Homes in Feltham
 The Council are pleased to announce the start of the construction of 102 new council homes at Frank Towell Court in Feltham, in partnership with Wilmott Dixon.
These new homes, provided at council rent will consist of a mixture of apartments, maisonettes and houses available to those on the council’s housing register.
This development will include cycle storage for residents, new footpaths, and landscaping such as play areas and amenity space.
In line with the council’s climate emergency that was declared in 2019, the design of this development is rooted in sustainability through a range of eco-friendly initiatives, including photovoltaic panels to the roof of each block to generate renewable energy.
Hounslow Council Approves New Road Triangle Development in Feltham
Hounslow Council has approved plans by Lampton Development and Investment and EcoWorld London to deliver 176 new homes in New Road Triangle, Feltham.
Half of the new homes being built will be Council owned social rented homes. Construction will begin in early 2022, with completion expected in 2024.
New Road Triangle will be built on half a hectare of land, owned by Hounslow Council and previously occupied by Network Rail.
The sustainable design includes new landscaping, native planting, green roofs and increases the on-site biodiversity by 50 per cent. Carbon reduction of 70 per cent will also be achieved through air source heat pumps, solar panels and energy efficient building materials.
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Not long left for SMEs to sign up to the Brexit Support Fund
 The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.
You can use the grant for professional advice and training on:
- how to complete customs declarations
- how to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems
- specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is administering the grants for HMRC.
Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date.
Celebrating Men's Health Week
 In recognition of this year’s Men’s Health Week, we’re challenging residents to take part in the CAN DO challenge and explore the five different ways to well-being!
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Connect - connect with other people
- (Be) Active - move your body
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Notice - take notice of the environment around you
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Discover - learn something new
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Offer (or give) - do something for someone else
Through our Thriving Communities Fund, we’re proud as a council to have supported our amazing local organisations, one of which has made it their mission to encourage men to look after themselves and destigmatise the notion of men seeking support.
Men’s Shed, one of the recipients of our Thriving Communities Fund, is a place where men can get together, join in activities and talk about what's on their mind. It is a fully equipped workshop where skilled and unskilled men can share time with each other, swap yarns and work together on community projects. Men’s Shed is an ideal location to take up the CAN DO challenge and build a supportive community amongst our male residents.
Join the West London NHS Trust Annual General Meeting
 West London NHS will be hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) via Zoom on Tuesday 13 July from 6.30pm to 8pm. Join the meeting here.
This is your opportunity to hear:
- About the Trust’s progress and performance across the year and plans for the future
- An overview of the Trust’s financial performance
- The experiences of people who use our services.
- Questions to the AGM panel and other senior Trust staff.
NHS calls for more blood donors
 More people than ever can give blood in the UK as selection rules changed on Monday 14 June to mark World Blood Donor Day.
The NHS is also calling for more black donors because of a rise in demand for some rare blood types that are more common in people of black heritage.
Tomorrow (19 June) marks World Sickle Cell Day and United By Blood are hosting special blood donation drives across the country in Memory of 21-year-old Evan Nathan Smith, who tragically died in hospital after suffering a Sickle Cell crisis in 2019.
At Evan’s inquest Coroner Dr Andrew Walker said his life may have been saved if a blood transfusion had been given when he requested help.
As black donors are ten times more likely to have a blood type needed to treat the 14,000 people in the UK with sickle cell, United by Blood and the NHS are appealing for more people from Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds to register and become regular blood donors in Evan's memory.
To book an appointment, please call the dedicated booking line on 0300 303 2737 or email customer.services@nhsbt.nhs.uk with your name and telephone number and one of the team will call you back.
BBC News spotlights hidden Hounslow carers
 Unpaid carer Sefali from Hounslow shared her story with BBC London on Friday (11 June) to highlight the mental and physical strain of caring and the importance of getting a break.
In the interview, she talks about how she was at mental breaking point until she contacted the Council for support.
Sefali talks positively about the support she receives from Hounslow Council and encourages other carers, who may not consider themselves a carer, to get help.
Cllr Candice Atterton, Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health was also interviewed about the support available to unpaid carers.
Getting help and support for Domestic Violence
On the pitch or at home, violence and abuse is not acceptable.
Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse, and it can harm their physical and emotional well-being. Domestic abuse can be committed by a partner, ex-partner, or family member, and can include:
- Threatening behaviour
- Stalking
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Economic abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Emotional harm
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
If you’re afraid of a partner, ex-partner or family member, you can contact the Hounslow Domestic & Sexual Violence Outreach Service on 07810 031 780 or the 24hr National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247
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Free Digital Marketing Training
 Free digital marketing training is being made available to the sport and physical activity sector as we look to encourage more people to play sport and be active.
Our Digital Marketing Hub will be delivered by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) using learning content provided by a consortium of partners. It's the result of a collaboration between us and CIMSPA and has been developed using £450,000 of National Lottery funding.
The idea for the hub came as a response to findings highlighting a significant digital skills gap within the sector and it'll include online courses, webinars and resources with the aim of helping people and organisations delivering sport and physical activity to improve their skills.
Don't forget you can still sign up for our 2021/22 Garden Waste service
 Planning a spot of gardening this weekend? Make sure you are signed up to Hounslow Council’s garden waste collection service.
The service provides residents with fortnightly collections from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, with a break of two weeks over the Christmas period. The service is a convenient, low-cost way for residents with gardens to dispose of cuttings throughout the year.
The annual cost of the service is £55 or £27.50 for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. New subscribers will be provided with a 240-litre brown wheeled bin or two heavy duty 90 litre sacks.
Get a PCR test at a mobile or local test site near you!
 The sooner you get PCR tested and vaccinated, the less likely you will be to miss the opportunity to benefit from the increased resource in the borough. There are now even more locations where you can get a PCR test – including at supermarkets this weekend. For locations and opening hours visit our website.
Get vaccinated this weekend!
 This weekend you can get your vaccination in Hounslow with no appointment required at the following walk-in clinic locations:
Saturday 19 June
Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre- 658 Chiswick High Road, Brentford TW8 0HJ - Open 8.00am to 8.00pm.
Sunday 20 June
Feltham Assembly Hall, Feltham (TW14 9DN) - Open 8.30am to 7.30pm.
As always, you can also book an appointment via nhs.uk to guarantee a slot or call 911. Visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/surge for more information.
18 or older? If you're eligible, find out how to get your vaccine
 If you are aged 18 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 18 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...
Celebrating PRIDE month
 June is Pride month! It is a month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning+) communities all around the world.
Hounslow Council is proud to celebrate the contributions the LGBTQ+ community has made and continue to make to society which will influence future generations to inspire a more inclusive and equal society.
The Council is committed to ensuring residents of all communities know we are here to support them, and we are here to make sure every person feels safe, free from discrimination, and proud to be who they are.
The Council is hosting and support a number of events this month and tomorrow, 19 June, Hounslow Council is pleased to be working with Inspire and West Thames College on Wellbeing Support for Young LGBTQ+ Community in Hounslow.
The programme offers a safe, confidential space in nature for you to share your feelings with like-minded young people who are struggling.
The four week programme will take place at Hanworth Park House, Feltham from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Register for the programme here.
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