Floristry course

Join a free Floristry course in January 2016 at Mardyke Community Centre, South Street, Rainham, Essex RM13 (date and time to be confirmed). Limited spaces so first come, first served. Book place by email.

IT courses

Join a free five-week IT course in January 2016 at Mardyke Community Centre, South Street, Rainham, Essex RM13 (date and time to be confirmed).

Circle Housing Old Ford in partnership with Havering Adult College is offering free IT courses to Havering residents.

You will learn basic computer skills such as using a keyboard, saving documents, setting up email, internet safety, attaching documents, shopping and banking online and then moving on to basic Excel and Word.

Limited spaces so first come first served. Book place by email.

First Aid courses

St John Ambulance is running the following free courses at Pyrgo Priory Primary School, Harold Hill. Places are limited to 12 people on each course:

Basic Life Support for all ages, 9am – 1pm on Saturday 19 March

Further First Aid, 2pm – 5pm on Saturday 19 March

Paediatric Life Support, 9am – 1pm on Sunday 21 February and Saturday 30 April

Paediatric First Aid, 2pm – 5pm on Sunday 21 February and Saturday 30 April.

Book your place with Doug Croxall.

Free fuel poverty training

Citizens Advice Havering has received funding to deliver Fuel Poverty training to staff and volunteers who may be working with people facing fuel poverty.  

The training is adaptable to your time requirements, it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, and can be a special training session or fit into a staff meeting.

Get more information by email.

Get Up and Running

Is your New Year’s resolution to get active, but you don’t know where to start?  If so, we can help.  Aimed at beginners or those looking to get back into jogging and running, Up and Running offers you free support and advice to get you on your way.  All you need is a pair of trainers. Register to receive information about free running groups and learn to run sessions, the free couch to 5K running app and more.

Community Directory

Has your organisation, group or club signed up to the new Havering Community Directory? 

This is a great opportunity to freely promote your organisation's services or activities using this online facility, which is coming soon in 2016.  Giving the residents of Havering all the local information they need at their fingertips. Email for more details.

Competition for winning leftovers

Here’s your chance to win either a Kenwood 3-in-1 Blender, Mill & Smoothie Maker or a Cookworks handheld blender, to help you create all those yummy Love Food Hate Waste soups and smoothies with your ripe or excess fruit and vegetables.

All you have to do is post a picture of a dish that you create with your lovely festive leftovers, along with the recipe, on to Havering Love Food Hate Waste Facebook page, so they can be shared. The winning dish will be judged on creativity, variety of leftover items, and ease of cooking.

There will be one winning prize of the Kenwood 3-in-1 Blender, Mill & Smoothie Maker, and two runner up prizes of the Cookworks handheld blenders.

Photos and recipes to be posted on to the site by 5pm on Friday 29 January 2016. The Havering Recycling Team will judge the competition, and the winner and runners up will be notified by Friday 5 February 2016. Details of the winners will be posted on the Facebook page on Monday 8 February.

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, although 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.

Reminiscence at Havering Museum

Friday 8 January, 1.30pm – 3.30pm,  70 Years of Great Music, at Havering Museum,19-21 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU. Admission £3 and includes entry to the Museum and refreshments. Bring your photographs and memories to share or just come to listen to others.

Speaking up for wild plants

Tuesday 12 January, 7.45pm - 9.45pm, New Windmill Hall, St Mary's Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH. A talk by Mary Smith, telling Upminster and District Horticultural Society how our wild plants are faring and the strategies that are helping to save them.

Admission: Free to members, £2 for non-members

Young at Heart

Wednesday 13 January, 11am - noon at Harold Wood Library, Arundel Road, Harold Wood, RM3 0RX. Admission £1.

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.

Library Volunteers wanted

We are looking for volunteers to help us in all of our libraries, interested? Get more details here and sign up here.

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 has moved

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.

Harold Wood Bridge Club

Meet weekly, at the old school building in Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, on Wednesday and Friday 12.30pm to 4 pm and Thursday Evening 6.45pm to 10pm. Fees £1 per session for members and £2 for visitors. Email Ron Lockhart for details.

Eyes Down for Bingo

Every Wednesday 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Markdyke Community Centre, South Street, Rainham, RM13 8PJ.  £1 per game.  More details by email.

Perky Pensioners in Upminster

Tapestry Perky Pensioners Club meets fortnightly 10am-12noon at Upminster Baptist Church, Springfield Gardens, Upminster, RM14 3EH

No need to book - just come along and you will be made to feel welcome. The next meeting  is on Thursday 7 January.

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.

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.

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.