Food for thought - we need your help
 Hounslow Community FoodBox is looking volunteer drivers using their own cars to deliver food parcels across the London Borough of Hounslow, which are picked up from the Rose Community Centre, Hawthorn Road, Brentford TW8 8NT normally between 10:30am and 1pm. A delivery schedule of 4 or 5 food parcels typically takes 2 hours.
As a driver you will need to be able to confirm that:
- you have a full driving licence, no bans or convictions;
- your car is registered, insured and taxed; has a current MOT certificate (if your vehicle needs one); is roadworthy
- your car insurance covers you while volunteering (insurers who have signed up to the ABI’s volunteer driving – motor insurance commitment do not charge an extra premium but you many need to notify them – check here)
- you are willing to undergo a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
FoodBox will pay mileage claims at 45p per mile to cover the cost of fuel
Please contact Philip Jones at treasurer@hounslowfoodbox.org or 07743 547262
New Community Grant launching for Hounslow’s Summer of Culture 2022
 In June 2022, Hounslow will host a Summer of Culture over three months, incorporating the Women’s Euros matches at Brentford Community Stadium in July.
We want all our residents and communities to have access to and to participate in a spectacular summer programme of events from theatre and storytelling to sports and films, recognising the richness of culture our communities bring right across the borough.
A new Summer of Culture Community Grant will launch in January 2022 to support residents and community or voluntary groups, to organise and run their own events. Applications are encouraged from anyone with exciting ideas to showcase and celebrate their culture or community: this could be in the form of sport, play, cooking, dancing, expressions of language, and more!
The Community Grant will have two funding streams available: A Small Grant ranging from £100 - £2,000, and a Larger Grant ranging from £2,000 - £5,000. Applications can be made online or you can collect a form from your local library. As well as support from Hounslow’s Culture team, there will also be two online workshops coordinated by Ealing and Hounslow Community and Voluntary Services on 17 January and 7 February 2022 (see below for details).
For more information on the Community Grant, please do attend one of the sessions below, or email SummerofCulture@hounslow.gov.uk
Book now for a space at our community grant briefing sessions:
Book here for 17 January
Book here for 7 February
Play for today at Hanworth Park
 Slide Away: Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services, Cllr Samia Chaudhary welcomes the new play equipment at Hanworth Park.
When it comes to making improvements at one of Hounslow’s biggest parks, it’s all about the swings and roundabouts.
As part of an ongoing programme to breathe new life into historic Hanworth Park, Hounslow Council has revealed some exciting new additions to the green space.
The play area at Hanworth has been given a makeover, with the old equipment either being replaced or brought up to date through repair work.
Improvements include new swings, climbing ropes and nets, a new multi-play area, safety surfaces and a zip wire.
The new play area is the latest in a line of improvements at the park, which have included new benches and signs, repairs to a popular Park Run circuit, the installation of CCTV cameras and improvements to the entrance.
In 2020, the Council’s parks team was successful in gaining more than £180,000 in funding for the improvement works from the borough’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The parks team later worked with the community to actively support a successful £96,000 Thriving Communities fund bid.
The team then contacted thousands of community members and park users to ask them for their views on the plans for the park.
The improvements carried out so far have been given the seal of approval by park users and will form part of a larger ‘masterplan’ for Hanworth, which will be launched in the New Year.
To find out more about parks and open spaces in Hounslow click the button below.
Domestic abuse and sexual violence support during the festive period
 Spending precious time with our families is a key part of festive holidays for many. But for some, it can be a difficult, isolating, and frightening time, especially when the person you fear is a partner, ex-partner or family member. Keeping residents safe is our priority and we want to assure residents that support and advice will remain available throughout the holidays.
- If you are in immediate danger dial 999. If it is not safe for you to speak when on the phone with the Police you can dial 55.
You will then be put through to your local police force, the police call handler will attempt to communicate with you by asking simple yes or no questions. If you are not able to speak, listen carefully to the questions and instructions from the call handler so they can assess your call and arrange help if needed.
If you are not in immediate danger and would like to report to the Police you can call 101 or go online - www.met.police.uk
- The Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 will continue to operate a 24-hr service, 7 days a week, providing users with support and information. Alternatively, visit nationaldahelpline.org.ukto use their webform to request a safe time to be called back or access the live chat service, Mon-Fri, 3pm-10pm.
- If you’re feeling unsafe, threatened, or afraid of your partner or family member creating a safety plan that you and your children know can help. You can find an online safety plan at hounslow.gov.uk/dvinfo which also has information about covering your tracks online.
- The Hounslow Domestic and Sexual Violence Outreach Service will be closed from the 25th December until the 3rd January 2022. The service will open from 9am on the 4th January 2022 and can be contacted on 07810 031780 or email on safety@hounslow.gov.uk
- Women & Girls Network: Advice line and London Survivors Gateway will close from 12.30pm on the 24th December 2021. Normal services will resume from 10am on the 4th January 2022. Call 0808 801 0660 for the Advice Line, and 0808 801 0860 for the London Survivors Gateway.
From Chestnut Avenue to Osterley Avenue, ‘Pothole Pledge’ targets smashed
 An ambitious promise to residents to fix Hounslow’s roads has reached the end of its journey today with the resurfacing of Osterley Avenue, the 81st street to be mended under the ‘Pothole Pledge’ programme since Hounslow Council announced it in 2018.
Starting with Brentford’s Chestnut Avenue in 2018, more than £4 million has been invested in improving the borough’s roads, with residents invited to report the streets they felt needed attention. The Pothole Pledge was commissioned on top of the borough’s established road maintenance programme, that already ranked Hounslow’s roads as being the top borough in London in terms of the level of maintenance.
In the latest annual State of the City all 32 London boroughs were assessed to reveal the best and worst in a number of categories. Hounslow received a perfect score for its road maintenance asset management for the second year running and was also found to have the lowest backlog of potholes to fix for the third year in a row.
The borough’s highways have been managed under contract by Hounslow Highways since January 2013. Many are roads suffering delamination – which is when the asphalt layer has detached from the concrete base creating an uneven surface. The process to fix the delamination problems is more intensive as it can require large areas of broken asphalt to be removed.
As well as road and pavement maintenance Hounslow Highways also delivers street cleaning, the removal of fly-tipping and graffiti, and managing trees and grounds maintenance.
Final days to spend your £20 ShopLocal Voucher
 Tomorrow is the final day to spend your £20 Shop Local voucher and the last chance to help give a festive boost to local businesses.
Remember if you are out shopping, help keep everyone safe and stop the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face covering and washing your hands regularly.
Since the launch of residents across the borough have spent over £910,000, helping the borough and businesses begin to recover from the pandemic.
We want to say a huge thank you to every participating business and to every resident who has spent their voucher. We hope residents will continue to Shop Local in the new year and support our wonderful independent businesses.
Businesses can now sign up to our Innovate & Grow programme, the next round of our business support initiatives. Register your interest by clicking on the button below.
Women’s EUROs 2022 Group Booking - Register Now!
The final UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 group ticketing window is opening in January. It’s time to rally your group, club or school! If you would like exclusive access for your group, register your interest now. |
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Christmas tree collections dates
 Real Christmas trees will be collected between Monday, 10 January and Friday 21 January 2022. Collections will be on the scheduled Garden Waste collection week for your road – this will be on the alternate week but same day as your usual rubbish collection. More information and dates: www.hounslow.gov.uk/christmascollections
Putting your tree outside on the pavement on the wrong day might cause an obstruction to pedestrians so we are asking residents to please place their trees (with no lights or decorations) at the boundary of their property, not on the pavement, by 7am for collection. This service only applies to properties using black wheeled bins.
Those living in flats will need to contact their managing agent or resident association to arrange a single bulk collection of trees at their development or block of flats. Requests should be emailed to recycling@hounslow.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can drop your real Christmas tree off for free between 24 December 2021 and 28 January 2022 at:
- Hanworth Air Park - Hounslow Road car park TW13 6AA
- Hounslow Heath – Staines Road car park TW4 5AR
- Redlees Park - Worton Road car park TW7 6DW
- Bedfont Lakes - Clockhouse Lane car park TW14 8QA
- Gunnersbury Park - carpark via Popes Lane W5 4NH
- Space Waye - North Feltham Trading Estate, Pier Road, Feltham TW14 0TH
Virtual Christmas Club – Disability Sports Coach
Tell us your views
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 16 January
For more information and to complete the survey, visit your page here.
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Discover your Potential with GLL Sport Foundation
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The GLL Sport Foundation (Greenwich Leisure Limited) is now accepting applications to support athletes across the UK.
Find out more and apply online at www.gllsportfoundation.org.
Applications are open to Young People in Hounslow who qualify until end of February 2022. Benefits include support for young people with athletic talent to achieve their full sporting potential covering training and competition costs.
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Christmas recycling and rubbish collections 2021
 Over the Christmas and new year period, both the Garden Waste and Bulky Waste Collection service will be suspended for two weeks to assist with the additional workload. The last day of these services will be 24 December 2021 and will resume normal service on 10 January.
For more information and to download our Christmas collection leaflet, visit our pages here
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 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.
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