High Covid alert, health and social care jobs, and new knife bins

Islington Council sent this bulletin at 20-10-2020 09:00 AM BST

View this email in your browser.
Latest news banner
We must keep on protecting each other. Hands, face, space. Stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

London is in High Covid alert level

London is now in a High Covid alert level. Act now to protect yourself, your friends and your family by:

  • No household mixing indoors – do not meet with people from outside your household (or support bubble) indoors at any time, whether at home or in a public place, including in restaurants, pubs and places of worship.  
  • Sticking with six outdoors – do not meet in groups of more than six people at any time outdoors, and try to limit the number of people you see socially over a short period. 
  • Reducing travel - where possible. 
  • Washing your hands - regularly and for at least 20 seconds.   
  • Wearing a face-covering - in public places, including in shops, on public transport and at the school gates.  
  • Creating space – stay 2 metres apart from people outside your household.

More information about the new restrictions is available at gov.uk
Care worker helping elderly person

Find a job in health and social care

A free virtual jobs fair for anyone who would like to find out more about careers in health and social care will be held tomorrow, Wednesday (21 October) 2pm to 7pm, via Microsoft Teams. More than a dozen employers will be at the virtual careers fair. 

There are so many different career paths in this sector, from registered nurse to care worker, activities co-ordinators to catering, and much more in between.

Register now

You can also read an interview with Kelly, a local Islington resident, who always wanted a career in health and social care, but didn't have experience - that is until she saw a job advertised for a care assistant and thought “yes, I can do that!”. Kelly is now a  Field Care Supervisor working in the borough.
Isolate to save lives

Apply for a Test and Trace support payment 

We are now taking applications for the NHS Test and Trace support payment scheme.

If you test positive for Covid-19, or are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, you must now self-isolate. If you’re not able to work from home and are on a low income or certain benefits, you may be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 through the scheme. You must have an NHS Test and Trace number to apply.

Apply now

If you are struggling to complete the form or can’t get online, We are Islington can help. They can also signpost to other practical help if you are self-isolating. Contact them on: 

Tel:  020 7527 8222  

Email:  weareislington@islington.gov.uk 
Caledonian Clock Tower

Islington's parks and green spaces win Green Flag Awards

The awards, an international quality standard for parks and green spaces, were given to Highbury Fields, Gillespie Park, Caledonian Park, Fortune Street Park, Wray Crescent Open Space and Landseer Gardens. 

This year, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown highlighted the importance of green spaces as resources for local people to exercise, relax and boost mental health, particularly for those that do not have an outdoor space of their own at home. 

The rise in demand for green spaces has seen volunteers, community groups, and council staff work extra hard to keep them looking clean, tidy and beautiful for everyone, and the Green Flag Awards are recognition of their efforts. 

Read more
New knife bin in Islington

New knife bins are a safe place to surrender knives

Islington Council is partnering with leading weapons surrender charity Word 4 Weapons to install six new knife bins around the borough.

The bins provide a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives, reducing the risk of them being used as a weapon or to cause harm.

Read more
Islington in Bloom best windowbox winner

Islington in Bloom winners announced

Some of the borough’s most creative, colourful horticultural creations have been recognised in the Islington in Bloom 2020 awards. In order to adapt to the pandemic and the need for social distancing, 2020’s competition was held online, with entrants submitting images of their efforts.

Gardening is known to have a positive impact on mental health, which is particularly important at the moment. ​Furthermore, gardening helps to boost ecological diversity in the borough, as the council continues to work to increase the amount of green space in Islington. 

Read more
High Alert