Tuesday 12 October 2021
 On Thursday there will be an open day at our new Community Hub in Harold Hill.
Throughout the awful cornonavirus pandemic Havering Council has tried to do as much as it can to support local residents cope with all the problems that the pandemic caused.
I am proud of the way the Council and voluntary organisations stepped up when there was a real need for help - whether that was a friendly voice on the phone, financial advice or assistance, or support for our wonderful NHS.
The development of Comunity Hubs is one way we can now deliver localised services, in partnership with the voluntary community sector, making it easier for Havering residents to get support when it's needed. The first one was established in Harold Hill, and a second is now running in Rainham. Read more about the Harold Hill open day below.
This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week, and our Corporate and Community Resilience Team, will also be attending the Harold Hill Community Hub open day.
Hate crimes are crimes committed against someone because of their race, religion, belief, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and can include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault, bullying, or damage to property. Do come along and see our team on Thursday - particularly if you have any concerns over hate crime in your area.
Sticking with the north of the borough, I recently received an email from a Noak Hill resident and I am happy to share her message about not feeding the wild deer that are now regular visitors to many roads in the area including Priory Road, Priory Grove, and Priory Path.
Feeding the deer in those roads encourages the deer to keep returning rather than stay in the many woodland areas nearby. Also, some human food like bread or snacks can make the deer ill, so please don't put that out for them.
Too many visits by the animals means they become a pest for many local residents as the deer foul the pavements, eat plants in gardens and ruin young trees. It is better for everyone, and safer, if the deer are not encouraged to spend much of their time in suburban streets.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering’s flagship community hub at Harold Hill will be celebrating helping over 1,000 people at its open day this Thursday, 14 October.
The doors will be open from 1 - 4pm for residents to come and meet the team.
Pop along and you can enjoy a range of activities including applying for local jobs, talking to experts about a career in construction or social care, or getting your weekly essentials from the Community Food Shop.
The community hub is part of the new way the Council are delivering localised services, in partnership with the voluntary community sector, making it easier for Havering residents to get support when it's needed.
The Hub is temporarily based in the old Housing Office at Chippenham Road, until the Harold Hill Library location is ready.
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A consultation on the future of a local bus route ends this week.
Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on two different futures for the route 497 bus service and they want to hear your views.
Route 497 currently runs between Harold Wood Station to Harold Hill, Gooshays Drive via Gallows Corner Tesco.
TfL is considering two proposals including an extension of the route to Dagnam Park Square or withdrawing the route.
You have until this Sunday, 17 October, to have your say.
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Havering Council will commemorate the impact of COVID-19 on our communities through the planting of over 1,000 trees at selected sites.
The series of local individual tree plantings in borough wards and at significant sites such as hospitals is in development, with an extensive Memorial Woodland of native trees set within Hornchurch Country Park.
Local communities and businesses are welcome to contribute to the memorial through the installation of dedicated memorial benches (like the one pictured) at the Hornchurch Country Park site.
To express an interest and to receive more information regarding memorial benches please email our Memorial Woodland team.
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 October is Black History Month and there will be a Community Cultural Celebration at Langtons Gardens organised by the Havering BME Forum.
The fun for all the family event will be on Saturday 23 October between 12 noon and 5pm in the Western Garden or Fielders Field.
You will be able to enjoy live music, dance, food, craft, plus children’s entertainment. Tickets will be sold on the day and are just £1 for adults. Children go free.
Tube lines
Transport for London has teamed up with Black Cultural Archives to launch the first ever Black History Tube map, celebrating the rich and varied contribution Black people have made to London and the UK from pre-Tudor times to the present day.
The reimagined map, which you can view online replaces station names across the iconic Tube map with notable Black people from history, with the associated Tube lines renamed to link them together by common themes.
For example Elm Park station on the District line was given the name Joe Clough. Joe was born in the Caribbean and on arrival to the UK made his first home in London and later moved to Bedford.
In 1910 Joe became London Transport’s first black motorbus driver. He drove the number 11 which ran between Liverpool Street and Wormwood Scrubs prison. During the first World War he drove an ambulance and in later years worked for the National Omnibus Company in Bedford.
The map aims to highlight how Black people have played an intrinsic role in all parts of British life for thousands of years.
Feeling hungry?
Known as Puff-Puff by Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans, Boflot to Ghanaians, and Mikate to the Congolese, this deep-fried dough is a common snack eaten in many African countries.
Each country has its variation in preparation and Idowu, a local resident originally from Nigeria, has shared her recipe with us.
Enjoy this snack hot or cold, and alone or with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar.
Havering Council's Autumn Blitz of deep-cleaning activities across the whole borough, as part of its COVID recovery plans continues.
The campaign focuses on sprucing up Havering's streets. This includes street cleaning, weeding, grass cutting, litter picking, enforcement of environmental issues, and graffiti removal.
In recent days Roneo Corner has seen litter picking and trees and bushes trimmed back from the road to improve sightlines for motorists (pictured).
If you see fly-tips or other rubbish issues please report them using our website or the Love Havering app.
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 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough on its website.
It includes data on infection rates and testing, as well as the vaccine roll-out. It also compares the programme in Havering with other parts of London and the rest of the country.
The graph above is taken from the report. It shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week since 6 March last year.
There were 539 cases reported in the last week, 24 fewer than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 8 October of 208 new cases per 100,000 population. This is once again slightly lower than the equivalent figure for the whole of London (213/100,000) but below the England average of 366/100,000.
The total number of those who have died in Havering with COVID-19 now stands at 946 after four more deaths were recorded in the week ending 1 October.
Vaccines
Nearly 80 per cent of all adults aged 18 or over in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
Over 75 per cent of the adult population in Havering have had their second dose of the vaccine which is higher than in East London (60 per cent) and London as a whole (62 per cent), and the same as the national average for England.
Hospitals
As of 8 October there were 36 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals, 12 less than the previous week.
The trust that runs those hospitals, BHRUT, also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
The Government also provides daily COVID-19 data broken down by town or even postcode level.
COVID-19 infection rates are still high in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.
By taking a rapid test twice a week, you will help protect yourself and your colleagues as you’ll be coming into contact with more people throughout your day.
If you’re feeling unwell, make sure that you stay home and take a PCR test if you suspect you have COVID-19.
You can order a lateral flow 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 the following weeks.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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If you had your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago, you'll be contacted about your booster jab if you are:
- Living in a residential care home for older adults
- Aged 50 or over
- A frontline health and social care worker ·
- Aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put you at higher risk of severe COVID-19
- An adult household contact of an immunosuppressed person or people.
If you completed your two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination before 17 April you can walk in without a prior appointment to Hornchurch Library at various times this week when booster jabs are being given. See the graphic below for more details.
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For nearly three decades the United Nations has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits - called COPs - which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has become a global priority.
This year will be the 26th annual summit – giving it the name COP26. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow starting on 31 October.
Havering Council is committed to tackling climate change and plans to be Net Carbon Neutral no later than 2040.
To meet this target it is currently reviewing everything it does and will publish a climate action plan in November on how it will achieve that target and also meet the Government’s commitment to the UK being net carbon neutral by 2050. The plan will also set out what it is already doing.
To gain opinions from as many young people as possible, Havering Council is running a survey that will be open until the end of COP26 summit on 12 November.
If you're under 30 please take part in the survey, or encourage anyone you know who is, and lives in Havering, to share their thoughts.
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Havering Council's joint venture partner on its regeneration schemes for 12 Council estates in the borough is Wates Residential.
Thanks to this partnership, Havering residents have access to Wates Community Learning, a digital platform providing access to over 50 nationally accredited courses.
The portal offers learners the opportunity to learn a new skill, develop themselves personally or professionally, with courses ranging from mental health, wellbeing and social care to business and digital skills.
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As part of Havering Council's joint venture with Wates Residential on the 12 Estates regeneration project, a number of construction job opportunities for Havering residents are currently available.
They include full time bricklayer and hod carrier roles. There are also apprenticeships available for bricklayers.
If you’re interested in any of the roles, and for further information, email Gherorghe Poenaru.
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 Thames Chase Trust is an environmental charity managing and promoting the Thames Chase Community Forest. This weekend (16 and 17 October) they welcome the local community to their longstanding Apple Weekend.
A series of talks, tastings, craft stalls and family activities, the weekend's events are designed to celebrate regional diversity and the Trust's historic farm buildings.
On Saturday there will be a selection of locally grown English apples available for tasting and purchasing. Local businesses will be in attendance with juice stalls and wood crafts. Families will be able to enjoy an autumnal trail through the forest as well as a fun scarecrow making activity.
On Sunday, the Thames Chase Community Tree Nursery Manager will be giving talks on apple growing and a variety of craft stalls will be in attendance.
Entry to the celebration is free with some chargeable activities. For more information visit their website.
WW1, The Story of Grey Towers: Injury, Recovery and Community is the title of a talk given by local historian Brian Evans at the Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, on Saturday 23 October.
Brian will bring to life the stories of local people who supported Grey Towers, the hospital in Hornchurch for soldiers from New Zealand.
The talk begins at 1.30pm and runs until 3pm. Refreshments are included in the £5 charge. More information on the Museum's website.
Havering Singers' first post-COVID live performance is a selection of Choral Favourites including Mozart's Ave Verum, Handel's Zadok the Priest and Brahms'
How Lovely are thy Dwellings.
This concert, at St Peter's Church, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, RM3 0QA, on Saturday 6 November, is free of charge but ticketed to allow for safe COVID-19 measures. You can get tickets from their website or by calling 01708 341265.
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The Coopers Coborn School in St Mary's Lane, Upminster, is holding a fireworks display on Saturday 13 November.
Gates open at 5.30pm with the display due to start at 6.30pm.
Limited free parking is available on site. There will be a barbecue and bar, plus live music throughout the evening. The evening is a fundraising event on behalf of the Parents and Friends Association of The Coopers' Company & Coborn School, a registered charity.
Advance tickets are available online, or from the school office, at £5 for adults, £3 for children (under 16's), or £14 for a family ticket (2 adults and children) with under 3's free.
Havering Concert Orchestra are holding a Belated Happy Birthday Beethoven concert on Saturday 20 November at 7.30pm. The venue will be Frances Bardsley Academy, Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR.
Tickets are £10 in advance. You can get more information on their website.
A free outdoor Christmas Fair will be held at Langtons Gardens in Hornchurch, on Sunday 21 November. If you are interested in having a free stall at the event use the online registration form.
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South Essex Crematorium's inter-faith memorial service will be held on Sunday 31 October at 3pm in St. Edward the Confessor Church, Romford Market Place (pictured).
It's an opportunity to join in a shared act of remembrance. Anyone who has lost a loved one during the last eighteen, difficult months is welcome.
The service will be led by Fr. David Simpson and attended by the Mayor of Havering.
On arrival you will be offered a candle and during the service you will be invited to take part in the Act of Remembrance by bringing your candle to the front of the church where you can light it and place it with others.
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Outstanding and inspirational students from New City College were recognised at a Student Achievement Awards ceremony last week.
Former Havering College student Charles Babalola, now an actor on stage and screen known for his roles in Netflix show Black Mirror, box-office hit The Legend of Tarzan and recent release Gretel and Hansel, was the special guest at the presentation which was held at a London hotel and streamed live through the college's website.
Among the winners was Apple-Jane Hayward from Havering Sixth Form named as the Sport Student of the Year. She's pictured receiving her award from Charles Babalola.
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