Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week
Tackling illegal tenancy fraud is a priority for Hounslow Council, and a variety of techniques are used by our dedicated housing fraud team to identify cases for investigation.
Tenancy fraud can include:
• Giving false information when applying for a council property;
• The tenant of a council-owned property sub-letting it to someone else, even for a short period;
• Not living in a council property, when it should be your main home.
For more information on how the Council is tackling tenancy fraud, click the button below.
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Hounslow Connect – the new digital information hub for everyone
 Everyone in Hounslow can now use our new online information, advice, and guidance hub, Hounslow Connect.
The digital platform of Community Solutions, Hounslow Connect, is available for all residents to use and will support the work of the Community Solutions team out and about in the borough. To find out where the team will be this week visit our website.
Hounslow Connect brings together information about the boroughs voluntary and community groups, and our health partners into one single easy to use place, making it quick and simple to find what is right for you, when and where you need it.
Visit www.hounslowconnect.com to explore the platform and find the advice, guidance and support you need.
The Council is also inviting all the borough’s charities, voluntary and community groups to register on the website, free of charge. Groups will receive a custom-designed page on the platform which can be edited and changed when needed. To register your charity or group on Hounslow Connect please email hounslowconnect@hounslow.gov.uk.
Hounslow's got some of the best parks in London - it's official
 Our parks service has been named as one of the best-performing and most improved in Parks for London's 5th annual 'Good Parks for London' report.
This comes just weeks after the Borough was awarded 21 Green Flag Awards for 2021 and was recognised at the London in Bloom awards.
Supported by the Mayor of London, the report looks at how London Boroughs are performing against ten Good Parks criteria, including sustainability, supporting nature, community involvement, strategic planning and more.
Parks for London is an independent charity working with landowners and managers to protect and improve London's green infrastructure. This year's Good Parks for London report is here.
Watermans Arts Centre to receive £100,000 from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
More than £100 million has been awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country including Watermans in the latest round of support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
Watermans in Brentford has been awarded a grant of £100,000 by Arts Council England, as announced by the Culture Secretary on 19 November.
Watermans is West London’s arts centre. It exists to inspire communities through creativity and the arts, and presents a year-round programme of performance, exhibitions, cinema, workshops and family events. It also offers an extensive outreach programme across the borough of Hounslow, including the popular outdoor arts events at Bell Square. Both Watermans and Bell Square are spaces for the community to come together and their inclusive and friendly welcome is highly valued by the local community.
Your £20 ShopLocal voucher is valid as payment for or towards their programme of events. If you’re yet to spend your voucher, don’t forget that the deadline to use it has been extended until 24 December.
Find out more about Watermans and what’s on by pressing the button below.
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Looking for somewhere to hang out?
If you're looking to keep fit, meet new people, challenge yourself then we may just have the thing for you. Why not visit the recently opened climbing centre "HANG"
Whatever your level of climbing we're sure to have something to suit your needs in an environment that fuses together world-class climbing, a café and co-work/hang out areas alongside some beautifully curated music playlists.
All ages from 6+ are welcome, we also accept the ShopLocal voucher for our introductory class only.
Customer must book in advance using the code HANGOUT at the checkout, and we’ll redeem your voucher in store! Please note the lessons are suitable for 16+, and all Under 18’s must have a registration form completed by a parent or guardian.
For more info click the button below.
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Celebrating Carers Rights Day - online Information Session
 We are supporting Carers Rights Day! Join us on Thursday 25 November at 1pm.
Find out about what support is available for carers in the borough, hear from service providers and ask any questions you may have.
Services taking part include, the Community Solutions Team, The Mulberry Centre, Sunshine of Hounslow and One You Hounslow.
Our Carers Adviser, Lyn Hammond will be on hand to answer general caring related questions and we will be launching the next edition of the Carers Information Sheet.
You will find the Zoom link on the Carers Events page here.
For carers who would like to ask a question in confidence or about an issue specific to them, the Community Solutions Team will be available in the foyer of Hounslow House between 1pm and 3pm on the same day. No appointment necessary.
Whether online or in-person, we hope you can join us for a useful, informative, and enjoyable Carers Rights Day.
The sessions are run by Hounslow Council and NHS Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group – email carers@hounslow.gov.uk to find out more.
Green upgrades at Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library
 Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library will be closed from 20 November to 29 November.
Lampton Leisure are making important green updates to improve the buildings energy efficiency.
The building works will include: the installation of Photo voltaic panels that turn daylight into energy, traditional light bulbs replaced with LED lighting and traditional gas-fired boilers will be replaced with modern Air Source Heat Pumps – supplying super-efficient, low-cost energy-saving heating and hot water.
You can visit any library in the borough while the site is closed. Find your nearest alternative library here www.hounslow.gov.uk/libraries or explore our online catalogue
Find out more about the upgrade by clicking the button below
Can you help the Metropolitan Police?
 The Metropolitan Police are looking to recruit residents to Police Encounter Panels (PEPs).
PEPs are community-police groups set up so local communities have an opportunity to review important policing incidents and share feedback on how things went.
The aim is for the Met Police to identify where they could do better in their interactions with local people. PEP members will meet with police on a regular basis. These meetings may be held in a police station or using video-conferencing software.
Community members will watch Body Worn Video footage of policing situations. They might also look at other documents such as officer statements or stop and search forms.
PEPs will be particularly focused on those incidents that communities want to review including high profile incidents that may be in the press or on social media. Members will then be asked to share their feedback. These sessions will help the Met Police develop and train their officers. All feedback will be given anonymously.
To find out more or to join Hounslow’s local PEP group please email WAMailbox-.PESPs@met.police.uk
Calling all jobseekers - join Hounslow Council's Digital and IT Team
 Would you like to play a vital role in helping Hounslow to become a more digitally inclusive and connected borough? We're inviting all local residents to join our Digital and IT Recruitment Open Evening.
This is a great chance to hear all about the exciting vacancies on offer in the Council's Digital and IT team, and what makes working for Hounslow so special.
The open evening takes place on:
Date: Monday 22 November
Time: Pop in any time between 5pm - 7pm
Location: Hounslow House (reception area), 7 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3 3EB
At the session, you will have a chance to find out about all the vacancies available, meet some of our current employees, and hear about what it's like to work for Hounslow Council. You can also ask us any questions about the roles or application process.
No appointment is necessary, but we do ask all guests to please wear a face covering (unless exempt) whilst inside Hounslow House.
We look forward to seeing you there.
In the meantime, check out the current list of Digital and IT roles here.
Call for Referral Order Panel members
 Hounslow Youth Offending Service is appealing for volunteers to help represent the local community at Referral Order Panel meetings. If you are over 18, live in Hounslow borough and want to make a positive difference to children & young people who have offended, becoming a Referral Order Panel member could be for you.
A Referral Order is a formal Court sentence, most 10- to 17-year-olds who plead guilty for the first time in Court receive this outcome. The child or young person and their parent or guardian then have to meet with the Referral Order Panel and staff from the Youth Offending Service to develop a contract of interventions aimed at supporting them. Contracts can also include activities for the young person to make amends for the offence and undertake reparation to the victim or community.
Being a community panel member is a challenging yet rewarding role, especially for those with an interest in young people and/or crime. Full training is provided - all you need is a positive outlook on life and an understanding of young people’s potential. After training, volunteers need to be available for panel meetings usually twice a month at times to suit them - either evenings or daytimes. Expenses are provided to help cover the costs of childcare and travel.
If you are interested in applying, the full job description and application form can be found online at: click here.
Are you a local Graduate? Have you considered joining us at Hounslow Council?
 Would you like to play a vital role in helping Hounslow to become an outstanding Council serving an outstanding borough?
We’re inviting all Hounslow based graduates to join the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) at Hounslow Council. The programme is a two-year graduate management development programme, run by the Local Government Association (LGA). It provides a fantastic opportunity for recent graduates to fast-track their career in local government and learn more about the vital work of public servants.
During your two-year placement you will gain experience in a number of different services across the Council, such as Community Solutions, Children’s and Adult Services, Environmental Services and much more. You will also gain a postgraduate ILM (Diploma in Leadership and Management) qualification Level 7 through your studies, supported by regular training.
We offer a competitive package, with a starting annual salary of £26,052 a dynamic, engaging and hands on workplace and lots of great development and social opportunities.
Are you Winter ready?
 With the winter months just around the corner, thinking ahead and preparing yourself for what the weather may bring can make a real difference to you and your family and those who might be more vulnerable.
According to a recent survey conducted nearly 40% said they have been unexpectedly caught out by severe winter weather, 36% of those people said it was due to being unprepared.
There are some simple steps you can take to stay safe during the winter months – from preparing your home or business, stocking up where necessary on supplies and making sure your vehicle is safe to use whilst travelling.
To find out how best to protect yourself this winter visit our pages here.
Last chance to be part of the Women's Euro 2022
 Applications are still open for volunteers aged 18-25yrs. Four games of the tournament will be taking place at Brentford Community Stadium, including a quarter-final, meaning you can help create the ultimate football experience in your local area and represent your Borough on the world-stage. Applications close on 30 November 2021 .To find out more about follow the link to complete the online application form and “Sign up here” to begin your application.
Green Skills for the future
As part of Hounslow’s vision to develop a green skills academy to deliver training and upskilling for residents, the Green Skills Academy will launch in January.
Starting with Domestic Energy Assessor Training, candidates will complete a five days course after which you will be qualified to carry out EPC ratings on properties.
Opening up career development opportunities such as heat pump installations, retrofit work and more, the Domestic Energy Assessors training course doesn’t require any background knowledge within the energy sector.
To register your interest in the above course please click the button below.
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Free Rapid Test available
 If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, get your FREE rapid test by
REMEMBER: If you do tests at home, you’ll need to report your results online here: Report your test result online or by calling 119.
You can also walk-in to one of our testing sites at:
- Heston Library (New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW) between 8.00am-4.00pm Mon-Sun.
- Bedfont Library (Staines Road, Bedfont TW14 8DB) between 8.00am-4.00pm Mon-Fri.
Or, if you prefer, you can visit one of our Mobile Testing Units this weekend.
REMEMBER: If you HAVE got COVID-19 symptoms, make sure you get a PCR test – even if your rapid test shows a negative result. To book a PCR test and for more information on testing, visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Vaccinations – available this weekend
 For all types of vaccinations (first dose, second dose, third dose for immunosuppressed, booster), there are several types of locations where you can get your vaccination appointment in Hounslow.
- At a drop-in vaccination clinic
- At a pharmacy
- At a GP-led clinic by invitation
- At school (for healthy 12-15 year olds) or via National Booking System
All of the above are safe choices and at every location staff will be properly trained to give you your dose of the vaccine. If you are not sure what type of vaccine you require, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Or book an appointment via www.nhs.uk or call 119.
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