Rise and Thrive creates safe space in central Feltham
 Leader of the Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat was joined by the charity’s founder and CEO Darren Beecroft and Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment
Following discussions with the Council, award winning local charity Rise and Thrive has a new lease of nine months at Belvedere House in Feltham.
This is an opportunity to further develop the activities of an organisation with a reputation for positive, youth orientated community work in the area. It offers activities for young people aged 11-15 on two early evenings per week.
Activities at Belvedere House will be targeted at local young people known to Rise and Thrive and will be co-produced with their parents. Local police will also be central to the activity as part of the overall outreach associated with the project.
Rise and Thrive has been active in the west of the borough since 2021, including the Hanworth Centre on Hounslow Road.
Celebrate International Women’s Day with us
 Join an event at Hounslow House from 10am-2pm on Thursday, 5 March for a celebration of how our diverse communities are coming together to provide support and opportunities for women and girls. Expect insightful discussions about how we can work together to promote gender equality.
The day’s packed programme includes opportunities to network with a wide range of community organisations, song and dance showcases, and speakers who’ll be exploring how volunteering can transform lives and create new horizons for women.
Help stop the spread of measles
 London has seen an outbreak of measles. The first symptoms of measles include: high temperature, rash, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, coughing and red, watery eyes.
If you or your child has a rash and you suspect it's measles, contact your GP and stay away from work, school or nursery for at least four days from when the rash first appears.
The best way to prevent the spreading of measles is to take the MMR vaccine.
If you're unsure about your child’s vaccination status:
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If they are under five: check their red book.
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If you can’t find the red book or your child is aged five to 18: contact your GP to check whether they’ve had both MMR doses.
If your child is missing either dose of MMR, you can book a catch‑up appointment with your GP.
It’s also never too late for adults. If you missed the vaccination as a child, please contact your GP to arrange your MMR catch‑up.
Changes to Space Waye booking system
 From Monday, 9 March, Hounslow Council will begin a six-month trial at Space Waye to give residents greater flexibility when planning visits to the borough’s main reuse and recycling centre.
During the trial, bookings will not be required from Monday to Thursday (except Bank Holiday Mondays).
Bookings will still be required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Please remember to bring proof of address and photo ID.
Help save one of the UK’s rarest native plants
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This unlikely herb made headlines this week for good cause, as tower mustard is thought to survive at just 30 sites across England and currently at only two in London.
The Council is looking for volunteer citizen scientists across Hounslow. They will learn at home how to grow and care for tower mustard from seed, beginning in March. Then, in the autumn, they will join coordinated planting days at carefully selected sites on Hounslow Heath.
Anyone interested in protecting and restoring one of the capital’s rarest plant species can contact the Council’s parks team at countryside@hounslow.gov.uk
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Hounslow Mockingbird Constellation celebrates first anniversary
 Arun and Shirisha (right) with their daughter Varaali and fellow carer Sukh (left) were among the Mockingbird satellite carers to visit Good Time Golfin at Hounslow Heath this week to celebrate the first anniversary of Hounslow’s Mockingbird Fostering Family Model.
The model is a constellation of eight foster families across Hounslow working together to provide stable, nurturing homes for children and young people in care, acting as an extended family. This is based on the belief that “it takes a village to raise a child". The model creates an extended support network around foster carers and the children they care for. It’s a successful, widespread concept in the UK where groups of foster families can enjoy coffee mornings, social events and sleepovers.
Spring into action: sign up for garden waste collections
 With spring just around the corner, Hounslow residents can now renew or sign up for garden waste collections for 2026/27.
The Council’s paid-for garden waste collection service is designed to support residents with front and back gardens or frequent leaf fall. It helps to keep gardens tidy and well-maintained throughout the year with regular, hassle-free waste collections.
The service offers convenient fortnightly pick-ups, with up to 25 collections per year (with a two-week break over Christmas), allowing residents to focus on nurturing their gardens.
Residents already subscribed will receive reminder letters or emails with instructions on how to renew.
 A range of free events for nature lovers are available at Boston Manor Park over the next few months. They are a great way to get outside, enjoy the health benefits of being in nature and help children connect with wildlife.
Upcoming events include: A wilder woodlands walk, meeting harvest mice in their new home and helping the hedgehogs.
There are also adventure clubs for toddlers and more events for children all through the spring.
You can read more about the programme in Boston Manor Park's newsletter.
Employment opportunities for young people with SEND
 Meet Harry, a graduate from DFN Project SEARCH’s Class of 2025 who is now working on reception at Hounslow Council. Every year, DFN Project SEARCH offers lifechanging opportunities to young people with learning disabilities and/or autism so they can transition from education into paid employment.
Students, parents, and carers are invited to join the Counciland key partners West Thames College and Kaleidoscope at Sheraton Skyline Hotel, Heathrow (UB3 5BP) at at 5.30pm on Tuesday, 24 February to find out more. Please e-mail lyes.sadeg@west-thames.ac.uk to confirm attendance. The internship is for one academic year. Interns are supported by mentors and managers in the host business, a tutor from West Thames College and a job coach from Kaleidoscope.
Community Infrastructure Levy
 The Council recently announced a £4.7 million investment in a wide range of health, transport, parks, leisure and community projects across the borough.
Funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which is paid by developers when new buildings are constructed, this investment will deliver a major boost to projects including:
- The redevelopment of Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre (pictured)
- Priority cycle lanes for safer, more sustainable travel
- Key infrastructure upgrades for West Middlesex Hospital
- Reinstating play at Swyncombe Avenue Sports Field, earmarked to be the future home of women’s and girls’ cricket in Middlesex
Useful Links
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