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3 December 2021

Covid update from Kelly O'Neill - Director of Public Health at Hounslow Council 

The news of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron will have understandably caused concern for people locally and beyond. The Government has announced the following changes to the national Covid response which you can find here. National Requirements Face coverings are now mandatory on all public transport, in all shops and there is changed guidance for the use of masks in educational settings. All contacts of suspected Omicron cases contacted by Test and Trace must self-isolate regardless of their age and whether or not they are fully vaccinated. Reducing transmission risk Getting your Covid-19 vaccination is the most important protective measure you can take. Regular twice weekly rapid tests will help you find out if you have Covid-19 even if you have no symptoms and help reduce the spread to vulnerable people. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 you need to get a PCR test and isolate for 10 days if you test positive. Regular hand washing, social distancing, and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated will help reduce the spread of infection. We encourage everyone to get their vaccination over the upcoming days to protect the NHS, yourself and your loved ones this winter. Thanks for helping keep Hounslow safe.

Mayor of London joins Hounslow Council Leader to launch rough sleeping campaign

Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Steve Curran, joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, in Hounslow this week as the Mayor launched his annual Winter Rough Sleeping fundraising campaign. 

To find out more about the campaign and how you can make a donation, visit our page here

Important changes to Hounslow's ward boundaries 

Elections for the London Borough of Hounslow are set to change next year with an increase in the number of wards.

The next local election in Hounslow will be held on Thursday, 5 May 2022 and will see the introduction of new ward boundaries which may impact where residents vote and for which ward.

As part of these changes, implemented by the Local Government Boundary Commission of England (LGBCE), the number of wards will increase from 20 to 22, and the total number of councillors who represent Hounslow will increase from 60 to 62.

These changes may also mean that from May 2022 some ward names will be changed and some residents’ addresses may fall within a different ward. 

For more information on these changes and local elections, visit our page here 

Join us to celebrate Small Business Saturday

We can’t wait to celebrate Small Business Saturday this coming weekend. The annual celebration takes place on the busiest shopping day of the year. Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to celebrate and support the borough's fantastic local businesses.

This year, on Saturday, 4 December, Hounslow residents are encouraged to join the celebration by spending their £20 ShopLocal voucher. So far we've spent over £640,000, helping the borough recover from the pandemic.

The ShopLocal Voucher has been extended until 24 December 2021, ideal for getting those last minute presents. Where have you used yours? Let us know via our social media channels.

For more information on the ShopLocal voucher visit our page here.

Don't miss our biggest flower market this Saturday 

Why not join us this coming Saturday in Chiswick for a special Christmas edition of the Flower Market. Full of Christmas fun, the event will be our biggest ever market running from 9.30am until 3.30pm. There will be more festivities during the evening, from 5-8pm, with special guests Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Mayor of Hounslow on hand to turn on the Christmas tree lights. There will be plenty of mince pies to go around, not forgetting mulled wine, along with music from the ArtsEd Choir and Belmont Primary School. See you there.

Add more joy to your holiday season with a fantastic exclusive offer from Lampton Leisure

12 Days of Fitmas for £12! New customers can get 12 consecutive days' multi-site access with our 12 Days of Fitmas trial offer throughout December across Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Isleworth Leisure Centre, Heston Pools & Fitness, Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and New Chiswick Pool.

Get unlimited access to group exercise classes, swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, Les Mills online classes and health suites where available! Not forgetting the healthy Snack Box cafes* to keep you fuelled up.

If you are already a member of one of the leisure centres, they’re offering you one free pass for 12 days for one guest. Work out together, swim together, drink gingerbread lattes together, be together this festive season and enjoy the 12 day free guest pass.

Both offers can only be purchased at one of the five leisure centre’s receptions, so pop in today to get started. T&Cs apply.

*Available in Heston, Hanworth, Brentford and Isleworth.

Hounslow communities to benefit from £1million investment from Arts Council England 

Arts Council England will invest £1million in Hounslow Creative People and Places (CPP) projects over the next three years - made possible thanks to National Lottery players. This funding will be used  to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across Hounslow where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.

Watermans Arts Centre  leads the Creative People & Places consortium in Hounslow and over the last seven years its projects have brought together community, grassroots, and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating arts and cultural activities that the local communities want and need.

Hounslow Community Choir, Hounslow Community Brass Band, Bell Square outdoor events and the annual winter lights are some of the many varied and colourful events and projects CPP Hounslow has instigated to bring local communities together through creativity.

To find out more about CPP Hounslow, click the button below.

Christmas fun right here on your doorstep

There's plenty to do and see this Christmas in Hounslow. There's everything from a spectacular Christmas market in Chiswick House & Gardens and festive Crafternoons for the family at Gunnersbury Park Museum, to Christmas dinners at local pubs and Christmas classics in The Chiswick Cinema.

Whatever tickles your fancy this festive season, you’re sure to find something right here in Hounslow 

To find out what's going on in Hounslow this Christmas, click the button below.

Listening to the voice of business

The Hounslow Business Impact Survey is now live and will help the Council understand the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on businesses in the borough. This year participation also brings the chance to win a £100 gift card. The survey aims to help develop a better understanding of the current climate in which the borough’s businesses are operating. It will gather businesses views, investment experiences, confidence and intentions looking forward.  All completed surveys received will be entered into our free prize draw to win a £100 gift card. The deadline to complete the survey is 10 December 2021. For more information and to complete the survey, visit your page here.

Bringing festive joy to the High Street

Festive community events across Hounslow’s town centres have received Welcome Back funding in a bid to bring life, community and fun back to public spaces across the borough, encouraging footfall, showcasing local businesses, and celebrating our unique neighbourhoods.

The funding has supported events organised by local community groups from the borough’s four main town centres.

To find out more info about Welcome Back Fund events taking place or information for organisations interested in running events in town centres, please visit our pages here

Work Hounslow Apprentice Workshop 

Work Hounslow will be running a series of bi-weekly Apprenticeship workshop sessions for residents. Upcoming dates and times  15 December 2021, 1-2pm, Kingsley Academy.  The workshops will look into:  What is involved in an apprenticeship? Who is eligible?  What types of apprenticeship opportunities are available? What's next & how can Work Hounslow  provide support? For more information on Work Hounslow click the button below

Help Hounslow's very own Toy Story 

That's A Wrap is a Hounslow based initiative, bringing residents together in support of local causes through community collections.

We’re appealing for new toys for local children (0 to 16 year olds) who would otherwise be excluded from festivities this winter. We’re working with local charities to identify those in need.

Monday - Friday: 8.30am to 6pm
Saturday: 8.30am to 5pm
Sunday:  10am to 4pm

Directions Bus route: E8, 117, 235, 237, H37
Train: Piccadilly Line, Hounslow East Station

Dame Paula Rego exhibition extended until February 

An exhibition by renowned artist Dame Paula Rego at Hogarth’s House in Chiswick has been extended until 27 February 2022.

The free entry exhibition boasting 38 works includes original printing plates made by the artist and ‘The Wine Series’ - its never-before-seen prints which are to be given to Hogarth’s House. 

The exhibition includes a range of works from throughout Rego's career and explores her admiration for Hogarth’s work and its influence on her own. 

The pieces in this exhibition have been generously loaned by The Cristea Roberts Gallery. This year saw the completion of the Mulberry Garden project at Hogarth’s House, which is managed by Hounslow Council. This has seen the garden redesigned and the opening of a new learning space, the Weston Studio. 

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 borough's 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.

Tackling floods – views needed  

Residents are being asked to give their views on two public consultations being run by the Environment Agency (EA) regarding how to tackle flooding in the borough.

The EA is asking for people to have their say on its draft Flood Risk Management Plan, a strategic plan outlining measures designed to help the areas in Hounslow most at risk of flooding. This consultation is running until 21 January 2022 and can be found here.

Secondly, the EA is also running a River Basin Management Plan for the Thames River Basin District, which includes Hounslow. This will support the government’s wider 25-year plan to tackle flooding and coastal erosion in England. This consultation is running until 22 April 2022 and can be found here 

Free Rapid Test available

If you don’t have Covid-19 symptoms, get your FREE rapid test by

• Collecting rapid test kits to do at home: find a pharmacy where you can collect rapid tests
• Ordering rapid test kits to be delivered to your home: Order rapid lateral flow home test kits on GOV.UK

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 8am-4pm Mon-Sun.
• Bedfont Library (Staines Road, Bedfont TW14 8DB) between 8am-4pm 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 the 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.