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Leader's Question Time, Low Plastic Zone launched, and School Streets consultation

Islington Council sent this bulletin at 10-02-2020 07:15 AM GMT

Ask away at Leader's Question Time tomorrow

Islington residents are invited to put their questions to council leader Cllr Richard Watts and hear more about the council’s investment in a fairer Islington at a public event tomorrow, Tuesday 11 February.

This is a chance for residents to ask questions about the council’s spending priorities for 2020-21, including investing an extra £600,000 on measures to tackle violence against women and girls, and £60m to help deliver Islington’s target of 550 new council homes by 2022. Residents can also ask questions about any local issues that matter to them.

The Leader’s Question Time ‘budget special’ will be held at the Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old St, EC1V 9NH, from 6.30-8pm.

Islington gets UK's first Low Plastic Zone

The UK's first ‘Low Plastic Zone’ has launched in Islington. North London Waste Authority (NLWA) in partnership with Islington Council and six other north London boroughs launched the Low Plastic Zone, as over three quarters of businesses in the Cowcross Street area of Farringdon have successfully, and permanently, reduced the single-use plastic they give to their customers. You can read the Charter of Commitment that businesses sign here – we encourage more businesses in the area signing up, and look forward to welcoming more on board.

The Low Plastic Zone initiative encourages and supports local businesses of all sizes to reduce the amount of single-use plastic handed to customers who, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by NLWA, simply don’t want it any more. In fact, 95% of respondents want local businesses to reduce their use of single-use plastic, and 83% have taken steps to reduce their own use.

The Low Plastic Zone is part of Islington Council’s commitment to taking bold action to create a healthier, greener Islington and to encourage businesses, residents and visitors to reduce their impact on the environment. You can find more information on how the council is tackling single use plastics here.

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Islington children gain an insight into World of Work

The council has launched a pioneering programme giving schoolchildren a window into the world of work and employment. The 'World of Work' programme includes career insights, work tasters, mentoring, employability workshops, careers events and workplace visits.

These experiences and opportunities help put Islington’s young people at the front of the queue when looking for their first job, and also bridge the ‘skills gap’ that many businesses identify in school leavers.

Panellists at the World Of Work launch event included (above pic, from left) Jo Dibb, Rachel Engel, Cllr Asima Shaikh, Usama Mohamed, Jenny Lewis, Matthew Blood and Rachel Youngman.

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Have your say on our School Streets consultations

We want to more than double the number of schools in Islington benefitting from our pioneering School Streets scheme – which restricts traffic outside schools at pick-up and drop-off time, reducing pollution and increasing safety for everyone.

We are currently consulting on proposed School Streets on Georges Road Eden Grove and Geary Street; Laycock Street; St John's Grove and Pemberton Gardens; and Treaty Street.

Our commitment to School Streets is part of our dedication to creating a fairer Islington for all, and reaching our ambitious target of a net zero carbon borough by 2030.

Have your say now

Islington welcomes new youth leaders

Islington’s young people went to the polls last week, with a record number casting their vote at Lift and Platform Youth Hubs.

Two young people from Samuel Rhodes School have been elected for the first time. Catherine and Husen, both students at the Islington special school, will stand on the Youth Council for two years and ensure that the voices of students with learning difficulties are represented.

A record 39 candidates stood for election, and we were encouraged to see lots of young people putting themselves forward to represent their peers on issues that matter to them.

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Stand Together: Islington remembers on Holocaust Memorial Day

On 27 January, Islington schoolchildren and residents heard the powerful stories of Holocaust survivor Hana Kleiner and Bosnian genocide survivor Mevlida Lazibi during the council’s Holocaust Memorial Day event.

Community and faith group representatives, council staff, and the general public joined 100 schoolchildren from six schools in attending the event at Islington Assembly Hall. Attendees also heard a musical performance from the World Harmony Orchestra. The orchestra is made up of immigrants and refugees who perform for peace and humanitarian causes and raise funds and awareness for charities.

You can show your support by signing our Hate Crime Pledge, and stand together with all victims of hate crime and prejudice.

Above picture, from left: Islington Council's Executive Member for Community Development Cllr Una O'Halloran, Holocaust survivor Hana Kleiner and husband Cedric Isaac, Mayor of Islington Cllr Rakhia Ismail, Bosnian Genocide survivor Mevlida Lazibi.

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