Friday 13 August 2021
 The last 18 months has been a really difficult and disruptive time for school children, but they have worked really hard to juggle the demands of studying at home for long periods with coping with social isolation.
Those who received their GCSE results yesterday, and those who had their A-level results earlier in the week, are therefore to be warmly congratulated for their achievements.
You can read more about this below and see some links to help and advice if your son or daughter didn’t receive the grades they had hoped for.
Please know, whatever their next steps, Havering Council is on their side.
Throughout the pandemic we have tried to support our young people. Whether it is free school meals during holidays, free swimming sessions for young people during every school holiday until summer next year, or children in care in Havering now getting free access to Council-run leisure facilities to help improve their wellbeing and fitness, we have supported our future Havering residents.
Keeping fit has never been so important with COVID-19 infections in Havering remaining high, particularly among young adults.
To help keep this awful virus in check we must keep on doing our bit. Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we can do and, as you will read below,16 and 17-year-olds can now also get a jab to help us all get our lives back on track.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Yesterday most GCSE pupils across Havering received their exam results.
Thousands of pupils were told the grades they would have received based on teacher assessment for the second year in a row after the coronavirus pandemic stopped them from sitting their exams.
Some pupils, including those at The Brittons Academy, Rainham, pictured, were able to receive their results in person.
Pupils who didn’t achieve the grades they wanted, should speak to someone at their school about the next steps.
For help and further information pupils can also visit the gov.uk website or the National Careers Service Facebook page for advice and helpline details.
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People aged 16-17 can now get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves, and those around them.
Young people can book their vaccine now on the national booking system, by calling 119, or simply walking in to any of the vaccination sites (not pharmacies) listed here.
More sites across North East London will start giving jabs to 16-17 year olds soon.
If you are aged 16 or 17 you do not need to come with a parent or guardian, but please bring proof of age.
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If you’re a clinically extremely vulnerable person and unsure of what you can and can’t do now that lockdown has ended, support and advice is available online.
Current advice is to offer COVID-19 booster vaccines to the most vulnerable, starting next month. However, in the meantime, if you’re worried about your health, please contact your GP.
If you’re struggling with social isolation and would like some support, contact Havering Council's COVID-19 hotline on 0800 368 5201 during office hours or at weekends for emergencies. Or visit the Community Hub.
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COVID-19 is still with us, and infection rates, are still high in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.
To help make sure you're not passing on COVID-19 without knowing, regular, twice-weekly rapid testing for people without symptoms is available for everyone in Havering.
You should still use testing even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
You can order a test kit online or pick one up from many places in Havering. Find your nearest testing site and collection point.
If you aren't sure how to do a rapid test at home, visit one of these centres first and be shown by the professionals. You can then take a test kit home with you to use in subsequent weeks.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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From this Monday, 16 August, if you’re fully vaccinated or under 18, you will not need to self-isolate following close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Young people and double vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will continue to be advised to take a PCR test, to detect the virus and variants of concern.
Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
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If you haven't yet entered this year's Havering in Bloom competition, there's still time.
By taking part, you will be helping to make the borough a bright and attractive place to live, work, visit and go to school.
There are six categories for you to choose from ranging from 'Best Front Garden' to 'Tallest Sunflower'. There is also an award for best school display.
The closing date for entries is 10 September. Entries can be submitted by email.
Judging will be completed at the end of September and the winners will be announced shortly afterwards.
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Havering’s housing service is holding a series of community roadshows across the borough throughout August.
Attendees will have the opportunity to speak to staff from across different services, receive advice and support regarding queries they may have, and have the chance to feedback on how Havering Council engages with residents.
There are two upcoming roadshows:
Malan Square, Rainham, 11am - 3pm on Tuesday 17 August
Hitchin Close, Harold Hill, 11am - 3pm on Tuesday 24 August
Roadshows are weather permitting.
If you can't make either of these dates, Havering Council would still like your views on its engagement strategy for tenants and leaseholders living in Council managed homes.
You can give your views online.
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The Mayor of London's Child Obesity Taskforce is asking primary and secondary school children to help develop an advertising campaign to encourage everyone between the ages of 4 and 18 in London to drink only water in school.
The Taskforce is looking for messages that feel inspiring and powerful, but also honest about the benefits.
The deadline for suggestions is 1 October.
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The three winners of our National Poetry Day competition from last October on the theme of ‘Vision’ visited Hornchurch Library this week to be presented with posters of their poems, and book prizes.
Congratulations to:
Mustafa Ahmed, the secondary school age winner,
Robert Gillman, the adult winner,
and Diksha Nagarajan, the primary school age winner (pictured).
Their poems will shortly be displayed in all of the borough's libraries.
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 There's free wildlife and habitat training with the Essex Wildlife Trust, this Tuesday, 17 August, between 10am and 3pm.
Meet by the greenhouse at Langtons in Hornchurch for a chance to learn how to identify different species, complete simple environmental surveys and records, and create habitats for wildlife in your own gardens.
You can also get involved in the wildlife surveys and activities taking place at Langtons Gardens and Fielders Field.
Outdoor activities are subject to the weather. Please follow rules of social distancing, and do not attend if you or a member of your household are unwell.
You can also join a tour of the bath house and orangery at Langtons Gardens on either Monday 16 August at noon, or on Monday 6 September at 3pm.
Tours are free and no booking required but numbers are limited to 30. Meet at the bath house.
Havering Arts Festival Online will be promoting and celebrating arts and cultural activity across the borough throughout the summer.
Local artists, performers and arts organisations are invited to contribute content and opportunities for people of all ages.
To share your event as part of 2021’s Festival, please email arts@havering.gov.uk
Next Wednesday, 18 August, at 11am, Havering Libraries are hosting a webinar where you can learn about some of the amazing wildlife in Kenya and Tanzania.
It's an opportunity to recognise the consequences that occur when natural ecosystem connections are altered or damaged by humans.
Understand how solutions are being used to manage human-wildlife conflict so that humans and nature can thrive together in East Africa.
You can join the event on Zoom. Email to book a free place.
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 Reconnections is a service that connects people with new friends, activities, or experiences. It's run by the charity Independent Age.
It supports residents aged over 65 in rediscovering their love of life in a fun and personal way.
As many people are adjusting to the ‘new normal’ of life with COVID-19 it aims to give a helping hand through this transition which, for some, may be tough.
Some people who use the Reconnctions service may need confidence to get out after a period of isolation, some may have lost motivation and need a little encouragement, others may not want to go somewhere on their own so company is provided.
If someone you know would benefit from time away from the armchair, please contact this service on 0207 050 6565 or take a look at their website.
Heath Park Road is closed between its junctions with Princes Road and James Close, and Manor Road is closed at its junction with Heath Park Road to allow for sewer repairs. This work may last until the end of August.
Upper Brentwood Road in Gidea Park will be closed for utility roadworks this Sunday (15 August) from 8am to 4pm between its junctions of Main Road and Beaumont Close. A diversion will be signed.
Essex and Suffolk Water is currently working in Berwick Pond Road, Rainham to replace a leaking fire hydrant. The work should be complete by Tuesday 17 August. The same company will also be working in London Road, Romford on Monday (16 August) to replace a water box. Temporary traffic signals will be in operation during the day.
From 16 to 20 August Cadent will be working to install new gas supplies to homes at 72 North Street in Hornchurch. The work will involve the use of temporary traffic lights beween 8am and 5pm on those days.
Temporary traffic signals will be used by a contractor working for Openreach on Tuesday 17 August in Arterial Avenue at its junction with The Glen in Rainham.
Glamis Drive in Hornchurch will be closed between its junctions with Glebe Way and Westland Avenue from 19 to 23 August as the road is resurfaced.
Wilfred Close in Rainham will be closed at its junction with Ellis Avenue between 8am and 5pm from 24 to 27 August for carriageway resurfacing work. Ellis Avenue will also be closed at its junction with Wennington Road, and Findon Gardens and Pallister Drive closed at their junctions with Ellis Avenue during these works.
On Monday 23 August between 10am and 3pm a wooden telegraph pole will be replaced in Moray Close, Rise Park.
Lastly, on Tuesday 31 August, Bowden Drive and Inskip Drive in Hornchurch will be closed to through traffic between 8am and 5pm as carriageway resurfacing takes place.
On the tracks
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Tomorrow (Saturday 14 August) track maintenance work between Barking and London Fenchurch Street means that c2c services on the Rainham line will be diverted to start and terminate at London Liverpool Street station.
c2c tickets will be accepted on Jubilee Line or Docklands Light Railway services between West Ham and Stratford.
Due to Network Rail engineering work in connection with the Barking Riverside Project, services will not be running on the Rainham line this Sunday,15 August.
Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
Also on Sunday, journeys on the Ockendon line will start and end at Liverpool Street station.
Whitechapel station on the District line will be closed all weekend (14 and 15 August).
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