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Monday 8 June 2020
 This week is Carers Week.
It is a time to reflect on how important the caring role is in our society. Carers make a huge contribution supporting those they care for, as well as balancing their own wellbeing, made even more difficult during COVID-19 times.
Caring can be an extremely rewarding experience but can also be very complicated, whether it is grappling with understanding the benefits system, how to pay for care, getting a carer’s assessment which looks at what support might be needed, or how to find out about valuable emotional support.
Many unpaid carers do not realise they are a carer - the reality is that there is a 50:50 chance that any one of us will become one at some point during our lifetime.
Fortnuately in Havering we are blessed with an extensive voluntary sector and we also have the Havering Carers Hub supported by the Council and based in the High Street in Romford. You can read more about this year's Carers Week and its theme later in this email update.
Today, the first phase of the discretionary ‘top-up’ business grants begins. These funds are provided by the Government for local authorities to support businesses that fall outside existing assistance already provided to help them cope with the coronavirus pandemic. I encourage eligible businesses to apply for their grants.
Lastly in another sign that we are edging back towards something more akin to normality, this Wednesday we hold our first Full Council meeting since the nationwide lockdown began in March. It's our Council's Annual Meeting and you can read more about that below.
If you want to contact me directly, email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay of a day or two in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Please stay safe.
Cllr Damian White,
Leader, Havering Council
This Wednesday evening (10 June) at 7.30pm Havering Council's Annual Meeting will be held in a "semi-virtual" format using video conference calling technology.
Only a few Members of the Council will be in the Chamber at the Town Hall with the others joining the meeting online.
This meeting will include the election of the new Mayor for 2020/21 and announcement of Deputy Mayor.
It will also cover the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Council's Committees, and Member Champions, with votes held for each contested position.
The Leader of the Council will also deliver a statement looking back at highlights of the last year, the Council’s response to the coronavirus crisis and plans for the year ahead.
Members of the public may access minutes, decision notices and other relevant documents through the Council’s website and can also view the proceedings live through our webcast.
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The number of mourners allowed at funerals at South Essex Crematorium has now increased.
From today (8 June), up to 25 mourners will be allowed in the South Chapel, up to 15 in the East Chapel,15 at Upminster Cemetery and 25 at the graveside at any of the borough’s cemeteries.
The cemeteries at Rainham, Romford and Hornchurch are open, but the chapels in the Rainham and Romford cemeteries remain closed for renovation and due to social distancing measures.
Government guidelines though remain unchanged; only members of the deceased’s household, close family members, or (if there are no family members) close friends are permitted to attend funerals.
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 This week, 8 - 14 June, is Carers Week.
The theme this year is "making caring visible".
During these particularly difficult times carers who are looking after the very vulnerable in our society every day, are living with increased worries, anxiety and exhaustion with heightened fears and concerns.
If you are a Carer or you know someone that is and needs support, this is time to share your thoughts and concerns with the Havering Carers’ Hub.
You can contact it on 01708 961111 or email: info@haveringcarershub.org.uk.
From next Monday,15 June, it is mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport.
That face covering must cover your nose and mouth for the entirety of any journey on public transport. This will help keep others safe from the virus.
Transport for London is asking all Londoners to play their part - by working from home if you can, and travelling by foot or bike in order to keep the public transport network safe for those who really need to use it.
Remember, face coverings aren’t a substitute for keeping two metres apart from others and washing your hands regularly.
You can make a face covering using materials from home.
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 All 4-11 year olds in Havering are invited to take part in Silly Squad, this year's Summer Reading Challenge, brought to you by Havering Library Service and the Reading Agency.
Due to COVID-19, this summer the challenge will be delivered in digital format.
Silly Squad is all about fun, happiness and laughter. Children set their own reading goal and can read anything that makes them happy from comics to poetry to non-fiction.
Throughout the summer, they can post book reviews, unlock incentives and take part in activities on the Silly Squad website, downloading a certificate on completion. Medals will not be available this year due to the online nature of the challenge.
Children can sign up now with parental permission.
The challenge runs until September.
For news of national and local online activities, competitions, and author events over the coming weeks, visit Havering Libraries Facebook page.
Don't forget that from today (8 June), anyone arriving in England must self-isolate for 14 days, with some limited exceptions for people delivering essential services such as those bringing in food, medicines and personal protective equipment.
So if you are expecting friends, relatives or visitors from abroad, including Britons, those people will be required to fill in a Contact Locator Form including details as to where they will isolate and how they can be contacted.
The UK Border Force will hold enforcement powers and can impose £100 fixed penalty notices to those who do not comply with the new requirement to complete a form.
A breach of self-isolation could result in a £1,000 fixed penalty notice, or potential prosecution.
The Government has said this policy will be reviewed again on 29 June 2020.
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The Friends of Dagnam Park in Harold Hill are asking visitors to the area to keep dogs under control so they don’t chase the deer, particularly as a number of the deer are currently heavily pregnant.
Until they are strong enough to keep up with their mothers, deer fawns are left alone while their mothers go off to feed.
Mother deer will stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators to their young. Does return at dawn and dusk to feed or move their young. So please don't disturb fawns that may be born in some unusual places, like gardens.
Only call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for assistance if you think the fawn is in a dangerous position.
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The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) helpline is able to provide information, advice and support to residents of Havering registered as either blind, or partially sighted, including advice on issues relating to COVID-19.
The helpline number is: 0303 123 9999.
It is open 8am - 8pm weekdays, and 9am - 5pm on Saturdays.
Residents can also email helpline@rnib.org.uk or ask the RNIB a question using their contact form.
The RNIB also operate a recorded information service created for people wanting to know more about sight loss. You can call 0203 432 1488 at any time of the day without having to wait on the line for an adviser.
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If you are a clinical waste customer that uses a sharps bin for used needles, please do not put your box out for collection until it is full.
Due to demand for these boxes from the NHS, stock is running very low.
Havering Council's waste collection service would appreciate your cooperation and patience whilst we do our best to source more stock.
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The "virtual" London Youth Games are underway from today.
Young people across Havering can take part in the challenges that are set each week.
Three weekly challenges will be released every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9am on the London Youth Games website and social media channels.
Participants will then have until noon on Friday to complete the challenges and submit their scores. All the challenges will relate to a London Youth Games sport and have been set by young Londoners with a connection to the Games.
There are prizes every week with points towards Havering’s score and the overall trophy.
This is open to all young people – you don’t have to be a member of Team Havering already to get behind the competition.
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It’s important to look out for our neighbours during lockdown, and to keep an eye out for the signs of domestic abuse.
If you’re concerned about a neighbour, friend or family member, you can report it anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111, or always dial 999 if it is an emergency situation.
You can also learn the signs to look out for, and report it anonymously on the CrimeStoppers website.
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Yesterday (Sunday 7 June) marked the end of Volunteer Week 2020.
We couldn't possibly list all of the acts of kindness or describe how proud we are of all our Havering voluntary organisations. But we hope the graphic below provides just a flavour of the work undertaken by volunteers in our borough.
Volunteers continue to support our most vulnerable through this coronavirus pandemic and they are all #HaveringHeroes.
Public Health England (PHE) has translated the message that COVID-19 testing and treatment is free of charge, into 60 languages.
PHE has worked with Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross to provide detailed information and advice in languages including Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Urdu and French.
For information in other languages visit the PHE Migrant Health Guide.
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To stay safe please continue to follow these hygiene precautions when you are outside:
- Wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors
- Keep at least two metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times
- Take hand sanitiser with you when you set off in case there are no handwashing facilities.
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