 Although circumstances out of our control have made our original VE Day celebration plans impossible, it is still important to remember and acknowledge this vital milestone in our history.
By taking part either through decorating your house with bunting, taking part in one of the virtual wartime sing-alongs we have organised, or coming together safely as a family in your living rooms or gardens, I hope you can get involved and mark this special date.
One of the things I have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been most heartening has been the way people have helped each other overcome the problems caused by the need to socially distance.
Whether it is by volunteering, using technology to do school work online, linking-up pre-school classmates, or putting up signs, the people of Havering have stepped up to the challenge as you will read in today's bulletin.
If you want to contact me directly, please email me.
Please stay safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 This Friday 8 May, is a public holiday to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Havering Council is organising a series of online events to mark this historic occasion.
This includes a wartime sing-along and tribute to Dame Vera Lynn. Rainham Village Primary School Choir mistress Patricia Sanders takes us back in time paying homage to England's favourite Dame - Vera Lynn.
We also encourage you to decorate your home with bunting and have a picnic in your garden or living room. See our video for help to make your own celebratory bunting.
At 3pm on the day there will be a ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2’. From the safety of your own home stand up and raise a glass of refreshment of your choice as you join in the toast – “To those who gave so much, we thank you.”
This will be a unique opportunity to pay tribute to the many millions at home and abroad that gave so much to ensure we all enjoy and share the freedom we have today.
Visit our website for more details of the activities planned for VE Day.
University College London is running a study into the psychological and social effects of COVID-19 in the UK.
The results are being used to understand the effects of the virus and social distancing measures on mental health and loneliness in the UK and to inform government advice and decisions.
They’re looking for adults in the UK who are happy to take part and spread the word about the study.
Participation involves answering a 10-minute online survey now and then answering a shorter follow-up survey once a week whilst social isolation measures are in place.
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The Government has announced that it is providing £1.6m in funding to the NSPCC, charity fighting to end child abuse, so that it can expand and promote its helpline, and raise public awareness.
The support comes as the charity publishes the latest data which shows that the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated existing risks for children and created new ones.
Some common signs that there may be something concerning happening in a child’s life include:
• aggressive or repeated shouting
• hearing hitting or things being broken
• children crying for long periods of time
• very young children left alone or are outdoors by themselves
• children looking dirty or not changing their clothes
• children being withdrawn or anxious.
The NSPCC helpline can be reached by email – help@nspcc.org.uk - or through its online reporting form.
The helpline can also be called Monday to Friday 8am - 10pm or 9am - 6pm at the weekends on 0808 8005000.
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Garden waste collections restarted across Havering last week.
This week we will be making collections from those homes who are in the "week 2" collections group.
Garden waste collections are running as normal although staff shortages may cause some delays.
Should your collection be missed, please check for updates in the first instance.
If no service disruption is noted, please report your missed collection to us.
If you have renewed your garden waste collections subscription but not yet got your 2020/21 sticker - we will still collect your bin.
If you are already a subscriber but have not yet renewed, we will pick up your garden waste in your green bin displaying last year’s sticker until June.
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The Met Police has launched a new social media campaign to thank all Londoners who have followed the government guidelines by staying at home.
They are urging the public to keep going and following these rules to beat COVID-19.
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 Yesterday, Sunday 3 May, 37 children and their families from Rainbow Room at Creative Kids Nursery, Emerson Park, took part in a big lockdown party.
The excited three and four year olds sang nursery rhymes, enjoyed magic tricks, a naughty puppet called George made an appearance and they sang and danced to 'Reach for the Stars' by S Club 7 and 'Baby Shark'.
They are all missing one another during lockdown, so it was particularly lovely to see all the children having such a good time together and it will be a great memory to look back on.
The party also raised funds for Havering Volunteers Centre, to cover the cost of a week's shopping for a vulnerable family of four in Havering.
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Fairkytes Live is running a 'battle of the bands at home’, encouraging families and households to form bands and create music videos. They can play real instruments or make their own.
Perhaps you’ve already got a household filled with musicians and instruments, or maybe you need to create your own from household items like pots and pans, old boxes or even a comb and paper.
The closing date is Friday 22 May.
For information and entry criteria email arts@havering.gov.uk
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 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 if 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.
Test centres for COVID-19 are now available for all those who meet the eligibility criteria as outlined on the Government website.
This includes symptomatic people who are key workers, cannot do their work from home - such as shop workers and delivery drivers - those aged over 65, and members of their households.
Arranging a test must be done by appointment via the self-referral portal. The Government has created a guide to using this system.
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 Well done to Anna Burrows from the County Park estate in Hornchurch for organising this lovely sign to say thank you to all the NHS and key workers working so hard to keep critical services functioning.
Mandeep Mahadeo wrote to us to say that following the publicity for a sign created by children on the Dury Falls estate that featured in Living in Havering last week, kids from the County Park estate put away their school work for a while and designed these posters. Each letter features a keyworker.
Havering Arts Development team has produced another crafts video designed to help you pass the time in lockdown.
In this latest video Arts tutor Poppy shows children how to make and decorate a lovely pop-up greetings card.
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