 On Sunday I visited the Victoria Centre in Petitts Lane, Romford.
I was there to thank volunteers who have given their time to support the vaccine effort at this centre and others across the borough.
The volunteers have performed a multitude of roles, such as signposting residents to the right area on arrival at the centre and marshalling the car parks.
They have done their bit for Havering magnificently.
My thanks to everyone who has volunteered their time and made such a huge difference to the borough.
If you're aged 16 or over don't forget that you don't have to book an appointment to get a COVID-19 first, second, or booster dose. A walk-in clinic is operating again tomorrow (Wednesday) at Hornchurch Library. See below for more details.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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The Leader of Havering Council and the borough's Deputy Mayor visited Queen's Hospital yesterday (Monday).
They joined representatives of the hospital to pay tribute to the efforts of NHS and social care staff in keeping Havering safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They planted a tree outside the hospital in Romford (pictured).
The planting was the first of the borough’s COVID-19 commemorations.
The project will see trees planted at vaccination centres, testing sites, and parks. An extensive new woodland of over 4,000 trees will be created at Hornchurch Country Park.
The trees will serve as a memorial to those who have lost their lives, family or loved ones. They will also honour the significant efforts by key workers and residents during the pandemic.
Reminder
Landscaping works for the new woodland at Hornchurch Country Park will begin tomorrow (Wednesday 26 January).
This work will close the southern entrance to the park and its parking area, off South End Road, for seven weeks.
Access to the park and car parking will continue to be available at the north entrance.
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Havering residents remembered the millions of people killed in genocides across the world at a memorial service held in Coronation Gardens, Romford.
The service on Sunday was led by Reverend Lee Sunderland, the Rabbi of Romford and District Synagogue.
Havering Council Leader, Cllr Damian White, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Christine Vickery (pictured), laid candles on behalf of the Council.
The official Holocaust Memorial Day is tomorrow (Wednesday 27 January).
It's a day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust by the Nazis, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
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Havering Council has been awarded £150,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
It was one of only eight councils to receive this money. Havering Council will now be part of a project team exploring ways to enhance existing software used by its planning department.
The funding boost will help make planning records easily accessible. It will also increase efficiency by simplifying the process for residents and businesses who want to receive advice before they submit a planning application.
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The table below shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week from 13 March 2020 to 21 January 2022.
 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.
There were 2,211 cases reported last week. This corresponds to an incidence rate on 21 January of 848 new cases per 100,000 population. This is slightly higher than the equivalent figure for the whole of London (842/100,000) but lower than the figure for the whole of England (1,116/100,000).
The NHS is now encouraging people aged 16 and 17 to book a booster vaccination appointment or by finding their nearest walk-in site.
There must be an interval of 12 weeks between receiving a second jab and a booster dose.
Having a booster jab strengthens your immunity which means you are better protected from the Omicron variant.
The booster will help to reduce the risk of you needing admission to hospital due to COVID-19 infection this winter. Boosting your immunity should help to extend your protection and may give broader protection against new variants.
The NHS also said that if you have tested positive for COVID-19 you must wait 12 weeks before having your booster dose. However, those aged 16 and 17 and considered at high risk from the coronavirus may have a jab four weeks after the date of a positive COVID-19 test.
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This week is your last chance to nominate a local business to have a chance of winning a Havering Small Business Award.
The first annual Havering Small Business Awards is a community-led event. It gives residents the opportunity to show some love for the small and independent businesses across the borough that serve their communities.
The awards, which are run by Havering Council, are split into 10 categories representing the range of small businesses in Havering. So far more than a thousand nominations have been received.
Nominations will close this Sunday, 30 January. There will then be a public vote in February.
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You can have your say on proposals by the NHS for a new integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub in Havering (pictured in a computer generated image).
This new community base aims to provide integrated primary, community, mental health and local authority care services in a single location on the old St George’s Hospital site in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch.
There are three events taking place online on Thursday 27 January, Tuesday 1 February and Tuesday 8 February. To take part in any of these events, send an email and you will be sent joining details.
If you are unable to make any of those events you can complete an online survey instead.
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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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If you’re struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. Feelings of anxiety and depression can affect us all.
The NHS can help you get your feet back on the ground. Support can be offered in a number of ways including self help work books with therapist support, over the phone, one to one or in a group. You can refer yourself or your GP can refer you.
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For vulnerable people access to good food is vital and is needed for good mental and physical health and wellbeing.
During the pandemic, in response to urgent need, Tapestry established a food delivery service providing hot, healthy, freshly produced meals to vulnerable people of all ages locked down with no access to food.
Tapestry had been providing food services for over 50 years, establishing the first Meals and Wheels Service, in Havering, in the 1970s as Age Concern Havering.
Since the start of the pandemic over 28,000 meals have been delivered to vulnerable people in Havering and between 450-500 meals continue to be delivered each week. But the service is now at risk unless more customers continue to make use of it.
The service was supported initially through donations from the National Lottery and Barclays Bank. However, since April it has been funded by Tapestry and the payments for meals from clients.
It's future is in jeopardy as Tapestry cannot continue to operate it at a loss. Tapestry doesn't need money, just more users to make it financially sustainable. Around 250 meals a week more would make the service sustainable.
Help keep the service going by spreading the word.
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 The Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hosting a breakfast networking meeting for members tomorrow, Wednesday 26 January. It starts at 8am and will be held at Bunno,14 South Street, Romford, RM1 1RA.
Breakfast will be provided and it is free attendance for members, £5 for guests. At this meeting Julie Frost from Romford BID and Executive Committee member of the Chamber will update members with news for 2022. You can reserve a place via Eventbrite.
Elm Park Community Association are holding a table top sale this Saturday (29 January). The sale will run from 10am to 1pm at Elm Park Assembly Hall, Eyhurst Avenue, next to Elm Park Library.
Refreshments will be available and a raffle will be held to help raise more funds for the hall.
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will open its Spring 2022 season with a revival from Director Douglas Rintoul of Arthur Miller’s moving and powerful landmark drama All My Sons.
It will play from 10 February to 5 March.
To book tickets visit the Theatre's website.
Havering Singers will be holding their 75th Anniversary Concert on 2 April at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, RM3 0QA.
They will be performing Handel's Messiah accompanied by a baroque orchestra with soloists Cheryl Enever (soprano), Freya Jacklin (alto), Richard Dowling (tenor) and Greg Link (bass) .
Tickets cost £25 for adults and £6 for children. More information on the Havering Singers website.
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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 Secret Sensory Garden for the Blind in Harrow Lodge Park in Hornchurch is back open to the public.
It has been closed for the last two months as it was used to stage Havering Mind's Christmas Land event.
Supporters of the garden from the Garden's Friends of group and Havering Vounteer centre are now getting the garden ready to welcome visitors again.
However, volunteers are needed to keep the garden tidy and safe for people to use - especially those with sensory impairments.
If interested, please contact the Havering Volunteer Centre or call 01708 922214.
The Friends of Group are also keen to increase their membership. If you would like to join and help keep this garden lovely please also contact the Havering Volunteer Centre.
If you would like to make a donation towards the upkeep of the garden you can do that online. Just add the reference SBG.
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The Land of the Fanns covers a diverse area stretching from east London to southwest Essex.
The five-year Land of the Fanns Landscape Partnership Scheme has sought to restore, discover and celebrate this area.
As the five years of the programme draw to a close, the Scheme has published a book: Fens, Forests and Fields.
Made up of three parts: the recent past; the present; and hopes for the area’s future, the book includes a selection of personal stories from the people who live and work in the Land of the Fanns.
The book is available for a donation that can be made online, or at Thames Chase Forest Centre. The suggested donation for the book is £10. All donations received will go towards the legacy programme of the Land of the Fanns and will ensure that work can be continued in the area for the foreseeable future.
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