Tuesday 30 November 2021
 I would like to thank everyone who is continuing to do their bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Unfortunately, we now have a new variant of COVID-19 called Omicron. The Government have taken action bringing back compulsory face coverings for public transport and shops, while we wait to see how this will affect us all.
Havering's Director of Public Health is also very concerned about rates of infection among children and young people in our borough. While children usually get a very mild illness, rising infection rates in children will eventually push up infection rates in older, more vulnerable, age groups.
New rules have been brought back for school children on wearing face coverings as well – see below for more information.
If you have been putting off having your first, second, or booster COVID vaccination please don't wait any longer. Vaccination reduces the chance of catching COVID-19, and, just as importantly, significantly reduces the risk of serious illness.
And please keep testing. Get a PCR test if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, and use a fast, lateral flow test when you have spent time in high-risk settings such as large indoor gatherings, or before you visit any vulnerable people.
Read more on vaccinations, testing, and the latest figures for Havering in our COVID-19 update section below.
Please also stay on your guard against scammers. Whenever there is a change in COVID-19 rules or vaccination policy, criminals seek to exploit people online.
Currently doing the rounds is a text message that pretends to be from the NHS and invites you to click on a link to register for a COVID pass. Needless to say, this link asks you to pay money. There is no charge for the NHS COVID Pass. You can report a scam message to Action Fraud.
Lastly, next Tuesday (7 December) at 5pm, I will be holding another of our popular online live question and answer sessions for businesses in Havering.
The session will take a look at the year ahead, the latest COVID-19 measures, and the support currently on offer to Havering businesses. You will have the chance to ask questions live. You can also submit questions in advance by email. Please put "Business Q&A' as the subject heading.
To attend the session register in advance.
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Once again Havering Council is helping low-income families with school holiday meal support over the Christmas break.
Applications for the Christmas School Holiday Meal Scheme are open until 5pm this Friday (3 December).
Through the Government’s Household Support Fund the Council has allocated funding to continue the School Holiday Meal Scheme for the Christmas holidays, which will allow eligible families to apply to receive £30 per child to cover the two-week Christmas school break.
The scheme means that eligible low-income families can buy food over the holidays to replace the meals a child would have received during a school day.
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A free mini Christmas funfair will run in Romford Market again this festive season.
From Wednesday 15 December until Christmas Eve the funfair will be open each day from 10am to 4pm (3pm on final day).
There will be a number of rides for the family to enjoy, including a Ferris wheel, fun house, mini bumper cars, chair o' planes, crazy cars, and teacups.
Join the fun by Tollgate House (pictured).
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Advertorial
Are you missing out on free childcare for your 2 year old?
You may be entitled to claim a maximum of 11 hours free childcare per week throughout the year, or a maximum of 15 hours per week during term time.
You may qualify if:
- you have a child aged two years (funding will be available from the term after their second birthday)
- your family is living on a low income or claiming income based benefits
For more information and to apply please visit www.havering.gov.uk/earlyyears
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 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough. 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 1,074 cases reported in the last week,138 more cases than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 26 November of 414 new cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than the equivalent figure for the whole of London (360/100,000) but lower than the whole of England average of 439/100,000.
The total number of those who have died in Havering with COVID-19 now stands at 959 after one more death was recorded in the week ending 12 November.
Vaccines
The latest figures show that nearly 81 per cent of all adults aged 18 or over in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine, with 77 per cent receiving two doses.
Over 53 per cent of people aged 50 or over in Havering have also now received their booster dose. This is above the percentage recorded for the whole of London or the whole of England.
Hospitals
As of 26 November there were 62 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals.
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.
If you feel unwell, stay at home – If you have any COVID symptoms, make sure you isolate and get tested immediately to stop the spread.
And if you’re feeling under the weather, don’t take the risk of meeting others if you can avoid it.
Postpone meeting friends, family and colleagues until you feel better. This can stop the spread of all winter viruses that make us unwell.
Test yourself if you’re attending an event or gathering being held in a crowded, enclosed space with limited ventilation, or if you’ll be coming into contact with any vulnerable people.
Use a lateral flow test at home before you go. You can a lateral flow test kit online, or pick one up from many places in Havering.
Find your nearest testing site and collection point.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms
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One person who knows only too well about the impact COVID-19 can have is 16-year-old Areeb Khan (pictured).
With no underlying health conditions, Areeb was in hospital from August until November and she almost died when she collapsed at home in Chadwell Heath with COVID-19 symptoms.
Read her story.
Everyone aged 16 or over is entitled to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.
People aged 18 or over should have their second dose from eight weeks after their first dose. Most people aged 16 or 17 should have their second dose from 12 weeks after their first dose.
So far this month, 75 per cent of patients with COVID-19 in Intensive Treatment Units in hospitals across north east London were not fully vaccinated.
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From today (Tuesday 30 November) face coverings will be compulsory in shops and other settings such as banks, post offices and hairdressers, as well as on public transport unless individuals are exempt from doing so.
Pupils at secondary schools in England are strongly advised to wear face coverings in communal areas. That guidance also applies to staff and visitors at all schools and childcare settings.
Many schools in Havering are also asking parents and carers to wear masks when entering school premises to drop off or collect children.
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Tomorrow, (Wednesday) is World AIDS Day. It takes place on 1 December each year.
It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
Over 105,000 people are living with HIV in the UK. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS-related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
World AIDS Day is a reminder that HIV has not gone away – each year in the UK over four thousand people are diagnosed with HIV.
Read more about HIV support services in Havering on our website.
Positive East will be offering HIV testing at the Mardyke Community Centre in Rainham tomorrow (Wednesday) between noon and 3pm The service is fast, free and confidential and with a finger-prick of blood you’ll find out your HIV status in the appointment. Appointments for the testing service can also be booked online.
They will also be offering resources and advice at an information stall in The Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford on Wednesday 1 December from 1pm until 4pm.
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Advertorial
Are you a parent of a child aged three or four?
If so, your child is due to start at an infant or primary school in September 2022 and you should apply now for your child’s place.
If you live in Havering, you can apply online.
If you live outside of the borough you should apply to the local authority you pay your Council Tax to.
If your child attends a school nursery then please remember that you must still apply online for a place in the Reception year.
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The Havering Volunteer Centre (HVC) can help you get Christmas all wrapped up.
It is holding gift wrapping fundraisers in two of Romford's shopping centres.
These are HVC's first fundraising events since March 2020. Since then the HVC has been supporting Havering residents throughout the coronavirus pandemic with vaccination centre volunteers, emergency food and prescription deliveries, befriending, distribution of PPE, dog walking and much more.
Now to help raise funds to support its work the HVC has a range of reindeer gift wrappers ready to help you take the stress and strain out of your Christmas gift preparation.
Pop along with your gifts to HVC's wrapping station next to ‘Cards Galore’ in the Mercury Mall between 1 and 10 December, or by the pay machines in the Liberty Shopping Centre car park from 10 to 22 December.
Prices start from £1.50.
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 Baby Bounce sessions are held each Friday morning at South Hornchurch Library. These free to attend sessions run from 10.30am to 11am and are ideal for children up to two years old.
Singing nursery rhymes has been proven to help children develop their language and pre-literacy skills. They can also be of value for families who have English as a second language.
Join the sessions at South Hornchurch Library, Rainham Road, RM13 7RH. Book your space by sending an email or calling 01708 434921.
The Collier Row Candyland Christmas event in Collier Row High Street takes place on Friday 3 December between 4 and 8pm. It's free to attend. You can enjoy Santa's Grotto, fairground rides, music, face painting, reindeer and arts and crafts, and meet Olaf and friends.
The Harold Hill Christmas lights switch on event is on Saturday 4 December. Running from 12 noon to 6pm on Saturday 4 December it takes place in the Harold Hill Shopping Centre, Hilldene Avenue. There will be a free Father Christmas grotto and face paints, Christmas market, food, music, entertainment, and dancing.
Upminster Methodist Church are holding their 11th Christmas Tree Festival from Saturday 4 December until Sunday 12 December with 32 trees will on display in the church. All money raised will be going to Saint Francis Hospice.
Romford Evangelical Free Church are having various events and celebrations over the next few weeks including a family carol service at 4pm on Sunday 19 December. For more information on any of them, visit the church's website.
Local mental health charity Havering Mind are once again presenting Havering Christmas Land.
Located in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, next door to the new Harrow Lodge Leisure centre, it features the historic Harrow Lodge House building lit up with lights.
You can also enjoy a Christmas lights walk way in the ‘secret garden’ with thousands of lights, decorations and Christmas scenes, Santa’s grotto, and food and refreshments including mulled wine and German beer served nightly.
To book, visit their website.
Havering U3A meets at 2.30pm on the second Wednesday of the month at St.Michael’s Church Hall, Main Road, Gidea Park. On Wednesday 8 December, hear from Daniela Bartlett with her talk "Tis the Season to Be Jolly". For more information see their website.
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Elf The musical will be performed at the Brookside Theatre, Eastern Road, Romford from 10 until 23 December.
Tickets are available online or via the box office on 01708 755775.
The Havering Rotary Club will be out collecting for local charities with their Father Christmas Sleigh from 12 to 24 December. Check the Club's Facebook page for the route details.
This is the 46th year the sleigh has visited the streets of Upminster and Cranham. If you wish, you can donate online.
The Arts Society, Havering's next monthly lecture is on Tuesday 14 December. The title is Christmas at Covent Garden: 300 years of Christmas Shows at One of London’s Great Theatres. More details can be found on the Society's website.
The Havering Singers Christmas Concert is on Saturday 18 December. The show begins at 7.30pm at Holy Cross Church, 260 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch RM11 1PX with the admission cost being £12 for adults or £5 for children.
It's a concert of traditional carols with a few musical surprises. See their website for more details. To book tickets send them an email or call 01708 341265.
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Lastly, a Crafts Market devoted to local arts, crafts and Christmas stall holders is open now in the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford.
This indoor market (pictured) can be found in the former Ernest Jones shop.
Stalls vary day by day, and it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am until 5.30pm until Thursday 23 December.
For more information send an email to Havering Council's arts team.
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The NHS is asking for comments on the proposal by the North East London Clinical Commissioning Group to redevelop the old St George’s hospital site in Hornchurch.
It plans to build what it calls an Integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub. An artist's sketch of the proposed development is pictured. You can share your thoughts until 13 February.
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Students and staff at New City College Havering Sixth Form recently rallied around to collect and hand over sackfuls of donations for a local charity that helps homeless people.
Students on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Enrichment programme, along with Manager Kyle Balcombe, (pictured) helped load crates and bags of items that had been donated into the van of the Friends of Essex & London Homeless charity.
Items such as warm clothing, coats, new socks, water bottles and toiletries were collected, as well as equipment including sleeping bags, tents and roll mats, which were donated by the students.
Commended
Meanwhile New City College has received a high-profile national Commendation for its innovative COVID-response programme, designed to get people trained, qualified and back into work.
The Beacon Commendation recognises the College's success in supporting people whose jobs and livelihoods were impacted by lockdowns, to get retrained and back into work.
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It’s illegal to use a handheld mobile when driving – including using your phone to follow a map, read a text or check social media.
This applies even if you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.
You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked, or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop.
If you’re caught using a handheld phone while driving, you’ll get six penalty points on your licence and a fine of £200.
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