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Friday, 22 March 2024

Tributes paid to former Council Leader Steve Curran

The Leader of the Council has paid tribute to his predecessor, Honorary Alderman Steve Curran, MBE who passed away on Monday, 18 March following a long illness.

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, who took over as Leader from Mr Curran in 2022, praised his “outstanding leadership, dedication, integrity and compassion in service to the public”.   

Mr Curran was first elected to the Council in 2010 and served until his retirement in 2022 due to health reasons.

Standing for election, registering to vote and photo ID

This week, the Council is mailing poll cards to all residents who are registered to vote in the upcoming Mayor of London and London Assembly elections, which take place on Thursday, 2 May.

The Council also published the formal Notice of Election on Tuesday, 19 March, opening nominations for those who want to stand as a candidate to be the South West Constituency member.

Poll cards hold useful information, such as which polling station voters needs to attend. If you don’t receive a poll card, you can check if you're registered to vote by emailing Hounslow Council’s Electoral Services team at elections@hounslow.gov.uk or calling 020 8583 2828.

Apply for 15 hours of childcare support for two-year-olds from April

Eligible working parents with two-year-old children can apply for up to 15 hours of childcare per week, starting from April 2024. To access childcare from this date, parents should apply by Sunday, 31 March.

Parents can check their eligibility and apply for their hours via the Childcare Choices website.

Parents or carers in Hounslow can contact Hounslow’s Family Information Services to find out more about childcare options in the borough via fis@hounslow.gov.uk, or by calling 020 8583 3470.

Find your voice at Bell Square

YUAF Amplify 2024 is coming to Hounslow. Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF), in partnership with the Council, is inviting young people from ages 11-19 to come to a free workshop to learn about songwriting, music production, and podcasting. The sessions will be hosted from the YUAF’s Outreach media bus on the following dates:

• Saturday, 23 March (1-4pm)
• Friday, 29 March (12-3pm)
• Saturday, 30 March (1-4pm)

Understanding the symptoms of ovarian cancer can save lives

This month is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It's a chance to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and help women to get a diagnosis before it's too late. 

In the UK, over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Two-thirds of these women are diagnosed too late, when the cancer is harder to treat. Tragically, this leads to 11 women in the UK dying of the illness every day. 

Target Ovarian Cancer is determined to change this, especially when survival rates in other countries are so much higher. Please head to their website to find out more about recognising the symptoms, accessing support, and what you can do to spread the word. 

The Great Chiswick Clean

Who is ready for a little spring clean? As part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean national campaign, the Council is hosting litter pick events in partnership with Groundwork.

On Sunday, 24 March, why not join other green-fingered residents for an hour of litter picking around the Chiswick area? Meet at 2:30pm at Christ Church, Turnham Green.

The event will aim to cover as much of Chiswick as possible. Tea, cake and an opportunity to chat with the local community will follow.

For any further details or to ask a question, contact hounslowenvironmentalchampions@groundwork.org.uk.

SEND Partnership Summit explores ways to improve lives through collaboration

Last Friday’s SEND Partnership Summit at Cranford Community College saw children, parents and professionals gather to discuss a more collaborative approach to improving the lives of young people in Hounslow.

This improvement journey seeks to work better for every child, young person, and family in the borough, and will inform strategy through co-production based on professional expertise and lived experience.

The morning featured workshops and a lively question and answer session that saw young people from Marjory Kinnon School in Bedfont quiz SEND Education professionals and Council leaders. Subjects raised included sixth form provision, the EHCP process, access to therapies, and employment pathways.

Online Q&A session on holiday activities and support to feed your child over Easter

On Tuesday, 26 March, Hounslow’s Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) will host a free, online drop-in Q&A session from 12pm - 3pm for parents and carers of children. They can get information about how to use the service, ask questions about eligibility, and find out what is on offer over the Easter holiday for children aged between 5 and 16.

Seminar spotlights circle of support following a suicide attempt

Health services in Hounslow have joined forces with a national mental health charity to present a special online seminar aimed at those who care for others. 

North West London Integrated Care System and Rethink present: Starting the conversation: The circle of support after a suicide attempt, on Monday, 25 March, from noon till 1pm.

This thought-provoking webinar sheds light on the gap in support for caregivers of those who have attempted suicide. 

During the event, an expert panel will explore the unique challenges faced by these caregivers, and the impact on their mental health and wellbeing and will discuss strategies to bridge this crucial gap. 

Don't miss the opportunity to gain valuable insights and contribute to the conversation on enhancing support for those who care for their loved ones in times of crisis.