Nominate new charities

Are you part of a charitable organisation or community project in Havering and looking for ways to increase your funding?

Local Green Points – Havering is looking for new charities to get involved in their waste reduction reward scheme and benefit from residents’ donations. More than £3,000 was donated to local charities through the scheme last year.

Applications to get involved will open later this month. To register your interest please email Bethany Fruen so you can be sent more details.

Shop for Saint Francis Hospice

If you do shopping online,  please download Give as you Live , first so that when you shop online with one of hundreds of shops signed up to the scheme (including Tesco, John Lewis, Amazon, M&S), they will donate a percentage of the money you spend back to Saint Francis Hospice.

The amount they donate varies, it tends to be between two and eight per cent, but Saint Francis Hospice  has already raised £3,000 from Give as you Live so it adds up!

Free publicity for your events

You can get free publicity for your community event - just complete the online form on Havering Council’s events web page. There is no charge for this service.

Christmas Crackers

The Guildonian Players perform a short pantomime and cabaret double bill to put you in the Christmas spirit at The Little Theatre, Harold Wood Methodist Church, The Drive, Harold Wood, RM3 0DU. Performances take place on Monday 30 November; Wednesday 2, Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December.

Book your tickets by email.

Havering Museum

Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU.

Christmas Traditions From Around the World and Cake Tasting Thursday 10 December, 11am.

More information available here.

Brookside Theatre shows

Brookside Theatre, 21a Eastern Rd., Romford, RM1 3NH.

Saturday 5 December, An Audience with Richard Digance

Thursday 10 December, A Swinging Christmas Evening with Peter Gill and his band

Friday 11 December, Bon Jovie's Rockin' Christmas Party

Queen's Theatre Shows

Queen's Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT

Saturday 28 November until Saturday 9 January, Aladdin Pantomime

Sunday 6 December. Christmas Memories

Friday 11 December, Christmas at the Queen's

Sunday 13 December, Steeleye Span

Shirley Tours

Shirley organises a variety of outings, events and short breaks - there’s something for everyone and it’s all in a good cause. All profits made are distributed between two local schools, Hall Mead School and James Oglethorpe School, as well as All Saints Church, in Cranham and 1st Cranham Scout Group. More information at Shirley Tours.

Volunteer minibus drivers needed

Tapestry is looking for more volunteer mini bus drivers to help them take older residents in Havering to and from its various clubs in the Borough, as well as on day trips further afield.

Can you help silver surfers?

If you have some time to spare and know your way around a computer you could be the ideal person to help residents of Havering Council’s sheltered housing schemes learn how to browse the web, and use email and Skype to keep in touch with friends and family.

Volunteers are needed to work with small groups of residents across the Borough. If you can help please email Kimberly Miller.

Volunteer befrienders

Do you like talking with other people?  Have you got some time to spare each week? Tapestry Befrienders are people from all walks of life who visit or telephone an older person each week, bringing a smile to their face. For more information please email Tapestry.

Havering Association for People with  Disabilities (H.A.D) is also looking for volunteer befrienders to have a chat or share a pastime with a disabled person so they can spend time independently from their carer. Full training is given. More information available here.

Havering Group Diabetes UK

The Havering Group Diabetes UK meets at North Street Hall, North Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1QX on the third Monday of each month at 8pm, for support, information or advice.  The meeting hosts a speaker on a medical topic, everyone is welcome.

Parkinson’s UK (Havering and District Branch)

Parkinson’s UK (Havering and District Branch) holds regular meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, from 2pm to 4pm, at Langtons House, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1XJ.  For more information email Brenda Crissell.

Men’s walking football

Walking Football is a slower paced version of the beautiful game, aimed at men who are keen to keep an active lifestyle despite their age or ability. £3 per session.  Booking is required. For more information email Stuart Robinson.

• Mondays 12noon, YMCA, Rush Green Road, Romford RM7 0PH
• Thursdays 7pm, Abbs Cross Health and Fitness, Abbs Cross Lane, Hornchurch, RM12 4YB

Health and Wellbeing in Havering

This monthly email update has information from Havering Council, Havering Clinical Commissioning Group and Queen's Hospital.

Sign up to get your copy.

Citizens Advice Havering on the move

Citizens Advice Havering is now operating from 9 Victoria Road, Romford, RM1 2JT.

Opening hours are:

Information, advice and limited interview appointments, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am – 12.30pm.

Information only, Monday to Thursday, 1pm – 4.30pm and Friday, 9am – 4.30pm.

Further details available here.

Whist Club needs new members

If you enjoy playing whist, head to Cranham Community Centre, Marlborough Gardens, Cranham, RM14 1SR, every Wednesday and Friday, 7.30pm until 9.30pm, to join this Whist Club.

Join Nelmes WI

Nelmes (Hornchurch) Womens’ Institute meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 2pm to 4pm at Nelmes United Reformed Church. New members welcome and further details from Ruth McDougall.  

Folk Dance fun

The Romford and Brentwood Folk Dance Group meets every Wednesday 8pm until 10pm at Chadwick Hall St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Main Road, Gidea Park, RM2 5EL.

Come on your own or with friends and learn English Folk Dancing.  Historical and modern dances taught.

Nordic Walking

This fun exercise takes place at Thames Chase Community Forest each Saturday, 10.15am to 11am, starting on 5 December.

Find out about Havering Nordic Walking.

Give and Take Days

Give and Take Days are on the last Wednesday of every month at Romford Central Library, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Caligraphy and crafts

Meet on Tuesday mornings at Fairkytes Arts Centre, 51 Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX.  For the over 60s.  For more details call 01708 222365.

..... and two

Drop in on any Friday between 10am and 12noon for friendly conversation over a cuppa at Elm Park Community Association Assembly Halls, Eyhurst Avenue, Elm Park, RM12 5UA. 

Social Hub

The Silver Linx Social Hub meets every Monday between 10am and 2pm at Salvation Army, High Street, Romford, RM1 1JJ.

Di's Diamonds

Di's Diamonds is a free-to-join social club for people aged 50 and over.  Run by Diana Speller and Kath Yates the club puts out diverse monthly programmes of events. More information available by email.

Techy Teas

If you are aged over 50 you can get free advice to help you make better use of your mobile phone, laptop or tablet device.

Just bring along your own mobile device to NatWest Bank (Romford Town Branch) 10 South Street, Romford, RM1 1RD between 10am until 12noon on the third Thursday of the month and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, while improving your IT skills.

Ten Pin Bowling

The 50+ Ten Pin Bowling Group meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 11am at Namco Funscape Bowling at The Brewery, Waterloo Road, Romford, RM1 1AU for unlimited bowling and a hot drink for £5 per head. For more details email Ruth Symons.

Events at Havering Museum

Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU. For more details email Havering Museum.

Friday Afternoon Reminiscence

Every Friday at 1.30pm until 3.30pm, £3.00 per person. Friday’s are fascinating when local people gather to share their memories and pictures with others in the Museum. Come along and join in or just sit and listen.

Sunday stroll at Rainham Marshes

Join one of our experts to discover the wonderful wildlife on the reserve. This is the perfect opportunity to improve your identification skills, meet like-minded people and walk off that Sunday lunch. Takes place every Sunday 1pm to 3.30pm. No need to book.

Meet at RSPB Rainham Marshes, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, RM19 1SZ.  Admission £5 (£4 RSPB members). For more information email Rainham Marshes.

Sunday night live….

Free Live Entertainment with a Twist of Faith.  Great Artists and a fun evening.

Sunday Night Live Upminster, Costa Coffee, 34 Station Road, Upminster, RM14 2TR, second Sunday of every month 5.30pm to 7.15pm. Host: Kevin Nichols 07876 682402.

Sunday Night Live Romford, Costa Coffee, The Brewery, Romford, RM1 1AU, second Sunday of every month at 5.30pm.  Host: Justin Lewis 07877 843060.

A stitch in time

The In Stitches sewing group meets every Thursday from 10am until 12noon at Harold Hill Library, Hilldene Avenue, Harold Hill, RM3 8DJ and at Hornchurch Library, 44 North Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1TB every Tuesday from 2.30pm.

Growing friends over 50’s club

Growing Friends, an over 50's club, is held on the first Wednesday of each month in the garden at Bedford’s Park Walled Garden, Broxhill Road, Vyner Street, Havering-atte-Bower,  RM14 1QH. More information is available by emailing Kirsty.

Beginners Ballroom and Latin Dancing

The class is for adults of all ages, to learn a new skill, get active, have fun and make new friends.

Every Friday, 7.30 - 8.30pm, Diana Clifford, Anthony Clifford Studios, 66 Albert Road, Romford, RM1 2PP. The class is pay as you go £8.50 per person. More information available here.

Havering Over-50s Forum

Havering Over-50s Forum is a non-political organisation that offers a platform where the over 50s can find information and raise issues which are of concern to them.

The Forum is open to Havering residents.  The first monthly meeting is free, then £5 annually. Meetings are usually on the second Tuesday of each month from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Council Chamber, Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Roford, RM1 3BD.  For more information email or call 07504 654686.

Funding available to help young people volunteer

The Alec Dickson Trust provides grants of up to £500 to help young people up to the age of 30, or small groups of young people, who run a volunteering or community service project in their local area. The Trustees particularly like to fund projects that involve lots of volunteers, and/or encourage these young people to stay engaged as volunteers in the long term. Trustees will meet twice a year to consider applications. More information available here.