 At 11am this morning I was proud to observe a minute's silence for all the heroic men and women in the health and care sectors who have given their lives as part of the huge national effort to beat COVID-19.
At a local level we are doing all we can to help people in Havering cope with the coronavirus crisis and I am delighted that today we can announce a partnership with Havering MIND to provide much-needed support to our residents who have lost someone due to COVID-19.
Havering MIND is also extending this service to support those people that continue to look after others – frontline staff like care workers – should they need that help, too.
I urge anyone that has lost a loved one or, for example, is working in a care home and struggling to cope emotionally following a bereavement, to access the support available.
I’m humbled every day to hear, first-hand, the efforts our community are making to help one another, and there is another great example reported in this bulletin with the work that Tunrayo from Collier Row is doing to support our NHS heroes.
Please stay safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering Council has teamed up with local mental health charity Havering Mind to launch a new free telephone support line to provide trauma and bereavement counselling to those affected by the Coronavirus crisis.
The new service will support any resident or Havering carer that has been affected by a COVID-19 bereavement and wishes to talk to someone.
This is just one part of the Council’s £4.5 million support package, announced earlier this month, to help tackle some of the significant challenges our residents and community face at this time.
Counselling is available to any Havering resident or Havering carer over 18 years of age, who has been affected by a bereavement or trauma relating to COVID-19.
To access this free service which is available seven days a week from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm at weekends, email help@haveringmind.org.uk or telephone 01708 457040.
|
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic you should still go to hospital in a serious or life-threatening emergency, or if you feel very unwell.
You should also continue to attend appointments for ongoing treatment, unless you have been told not to.
Otherwise, you should only visit your GP, hospital or other NHS care provider in person if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. This helps to keep you safe, keep others safe and protect the NHS.
For urgent medical advice, the NHS 111 online website will tell you when and where to get help, and can arrange for you to be contacted by a nurse if needed.
Only call 111 if you are unable to get help online. In an emergency, dial 999.
|
 Havering Council is running a free-to-call helpline for residents with urgent emergency food or medicine needs because of coronavirus.
The helpline - 0800 368 5201 - is for you are already vulnerable and have no means of getting more food or medicine.
You can call between 8.30am and 6pm on weekdays and 11am and 4pm at the weekend. Alternatively, email: covid19support@havering.gov.uk.
There is a crowdfunding campaign running to support our Havering community organisations, so they can continue to help our vulnerable residents during the coronavirus crisis.
If you would like to donate, please click the donate button below.
Small charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises or unregistered charity groups can apply for a Havering Heroes grant by email.
|
Although the London Marathon was postponed, one young Havering runner was determined to put in an impressive performance regardless.
Freddie Rowe was set to become one of Havering’s entrants in the London Mini Marathon, an event for youth runners which takes place annually alongside the main event.
Undaunted, Freddie put on his Havering Hurricanes shirt, complete with running number, and set out to run his own 3k mini marathon around the borough. He was cheered every step of the way by friends and family. Well done Freddie from Havering Council’s Sports Development team.
While the sports team has been unable to run its usual range of classes and activities, team members have contributed by making calls to vulnerable people to ensure they have everything they need and to point them in the direction of the assistance that Havering Council is offering.
They have also been working on ensuring that residents have a wealth of online content to help with their physical and mental wellbeing during the lockdown with a website that features enjoyable challenges including press ups, sit ups, toilet roll keepy-uppy and 5k runs for the NHS.
|
 Are you a care worker or care manager looking for work?
London Councils, including Havering, have launched a recruitment drive to fill posts such as carers and other health care professionals to support the fight against coronavirus.
We’re looking for skilled and unskilled workers, as training will be provided for some posts.
Register now and help save lives in the coronavirus crisis.
Tunrayo Deacon is from Collier Row.
She is a mum of two young children and works as an Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant at St Peter's Primary school in Romford.
The school is open for the children of key workers.
She volunteered with a Facebook group called For the Love of Scrubs that has now become a collective of independent crafters across the UK making hospital scrubs to help with the COVID-19 crisis.
"I began sewing when my mum taught me to make clothes for my dolls at age 7," said Tunrayo.
|
"During the pandemic I started making masks for family and friends when I couldn't find where to buy any.
"Then I signed up to help make scrubs for Queen's and King George's Hospitals. I normally would sew the scrubs at night after the kids are in bed.
"I have just finished my first batch of five which will be collected this week and am hoping to start another batch after."
Many thanks for all your hard work, Tunrayo.
|
A former student has collaborated with Havering Colleges' Head of Engineering to create a special door puller for NHS staff to use in hospitals in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Elliot Dervish, an ex-Engineering apprentice, originally came up with the idea to protect his mum Janine, who works at Basildon Hospital. He designed a little tool that would enable her and her colleagues to press lift buttons, and pull open doors without having to risk contamination and printed some on his 3D printer for his mum to take in for her colleagues.
Sunny Bamra, Havering Colleges’ Deputy Curriculum Director for Automotive and Engineering, has been busy helping to print and produce the door pullers on a 3D printer at his home.
|
 Judith Evans from Hornchurch got in touch to tell us about a lovely supportive display for all the magnificent people working in the NHS, care homes and key service sectors.
She photographed a display of colourful hand-drawn placards attached to the bridge over the river Ingrebourne in Berkeley Drive, Hornchurch.
It's made up of children's placards spelling out Thank you all our heroes & heroines.
New signage has gone up at the entrances to Havering parks asking visitors to follow some simple guidelines.
These include:
• to keep moving and not block paths
• to not congregate in groups
• to keep a 2 metre distance at all times from anyone not living with you in your household
• to not use any play areas, tennis courts, outdoor exercise areas or benches
• to not use parks for picnics or sunbathing.
|
|
