Havering Council’s Trading Standards team has helped to take dangerous counterfeit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes off the borough’s streets.

After gathering evidence over weeks of investigation as part of Operation CeCe, the team along with officers from Havering police raided a Romford business last week in a joint operation.

They seized around 400 vapes, over 20,000 cigarettes and a significant amount of hand rolling tobacco, with a street value of £18,000.

Council officers were accompanied by the police officers, plus Council-funded sniffer dogs who are specially trained to detect the tobacco.

Our teams are continuing to investigate and further enquiries are ongoing in relation to the counterfeit products that were seized.

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To celebrate the opening of Rainham Leisure Centre, Everyone Active is hosting an open weekend this weekend (Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July), offering the local community two days of action packed and fun filled activity, all for free.

Running from 10am to 4pm on both days, an array of free activities will be on offer including: group exercise and gym sessions, cricket (on new recreation ground), use of the new children’s outside play area, along with face painters and balloon modellers.

Booking for activities is required, for more information visit the website.

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Havering Council has introduced a new enforcement team to crack down on litter louts.

The uniformed officers can hand out FPNs to those found littering, fly-tipping, not clearing up dog mess and being in breach of our PSPOs (Public Space Protection Orders).

In addition, they will also be responsible for locking and unlocking park gates.

The officers are provided by NES (National Enforcement Solutions) to work on behalf of the Council and to work alongside our existing enforcement team.

In their first week on patrol, they have already issued over 300 on-the-spot fines for dropped litter and other environmental crime.

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Volunteers are needed to help prevent local young people from offending or re-offending.

Volunteers can help in different ways, such as supporting young people who are giving back to the community through activities such as gardening, working in community centres and charities, painting and more.

They can support young people in developing their life skills, as well as one-to-one support.

The service also supports victims of crime, so volunteers can help in this area too.

Training sessions will be held on Wednesday 12, Wednesday 19 and Wednesday 26 July, in Romford Town Centre, from 6:30 to 8:30pm, with a further session in September.

To sign up, contact Mark Gadsden on 01708 431073.

The Havering Means Business Expo 2023 is set to be bigger and better this year, offering a range of exciting opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, network with other professionals, and learn valuable insights and strategies to help their businesses thrive. 

With 35 exhibition stands available, businesses have the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their products and services to a large and engaged audience. Exhibitors can connect with potential customers, generate leads and raise brand awareness. 

Furthermore, businesses can take advantage of advertising opportunities in the Expo brochure, ensuring maximum visibility and exposure before, during and after the event. 

Get in touch to discuss your space today via email, or online. 

Havering residents have a chance to put their questions to the next meeting of the local health and care partnership.

The Havering Place based Partnership is made up of health and care partners, including GPs, community providers, acute providers, the council and members of the community and voluntary sector.

The aim is to improve services for local people.

Ahead of the meeting on Wednesday 12 July, residents can submit their questions and thoughts about how to improve the health outcomes for local people.

Questions can be submitted via email or online. You can also request a link to join the meeting virtually. 

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A reminder that private e-scooters can only be legally used on private land and not on our public roads, cycle lanes or pavements in the borough.

This is also includes not using them in our parks and open spaces.

It is only legal on a public road or cycle lane, if the scooter is part of a rental scheme, provided you have the correct licence and follow road traffic regulations and you would need to show evidence of such a scheme. There is currently no rental schemes running in Havering.

Those breaching the law could find themselves with a fine of around £300 and points on their licence.

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Havering’s Early Help team is looking for volunteers to support young people and families by becoming a family coach, a mentor or by helping in a children’s centre.

Volunteers for the children’s centre activity group will help the team to plan play activities to encourage learning and to develop social and physical skills, supervise activities and signpost parents and carers to other local services.

Young people’s mentors offer vital one-to-one advice and guidance to a young person to help them reach their potential and make positive changes in their lives.

Family coaches will provide support to families already receiving help to become more independent in the future and they could be dealing with issues such as budgeting, parenting, ill health, emotional support or moving on from domestic abuse.

Training courses are being held on the following dates:

• Children’s centres volunteers – Friday 7 and Friday 14 July
• Young people’s mentors – Saturday 8 and Saturday 15 July
• Family coaches - Wednesday 12 and Wednesday 19 July

All sessions will be held at one of Havering Children’s Centres between 10am and 2pm.

To register your attendance on one of our training programmes please email the team now.

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Congratulations to talented Hornchurch student Sabina Chaloupkova-Kuku, who has achieved every dancer’s dream by gaining a place at the world-renowned Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

Sabina, 17, who studies A Levels in Dance, Photography and Geography at New City College’s Havering Sixth Form campus, said she was ‘absolutely ecstatic’ to have received the offer from the prestigious dance school – which only accepts 40 students a year from the tens of thousands of applications from dancers across the globe.

Sabina will be studying the BA Hons and Foundation Year in Ballet and Contemporary Dance at Rambert’s Twickenham base.

Rambert has produced some of the world’s most renowned dancers and choreographers, including Sir Frederick Ashton CBE, founding choreographer of the Royal Ballet.

Sabina has also been awarded the college’s A Level Media and Performing Arts Student of the Year Award for 2023.

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Havering Miniature Railway is hosting a Family Fun Day at Lodge Farm Park, Romford, on Sunday 16 July, 11am - 3:30pm.

There will be live music, a refreshment stand, inflatables and fairground rides, as well as train rides on the miniature railway. Tickets for trains and rides can be bought on the day. All are welcome to come and picnic in our little corner of the park and enjoy the live music.

Join Havering Singers for their 'Songs from the 70s' Summer Concert at St Peter's church, Harold Wood on Saturday 15 July, 7:30pm - 9:30pm. 

The show will feature popular songs from the 70s arranged by musical director, Jonathan Rathbone, including Bridge Over Troubled Water, You're the One that I want, a compilation of the Carpenters and many more.

Tickets cost £12 for adults and are available from the website, ticket hotline (07342 883211) or on the door on the night. Children go free. 

Book your place at Havering Museum's latest talk, Ancient Egyptian Jewellery: Techniques and Treasure, on Saturday 15 July, 1:30pm - 3pm.

Jewellery was worn as a sign of rank, role, military or civil award, it was thought to ward off evil events or promote positive ones; it was also very beautiful. In this talk Janet Brewer explains the techniques used to craft jewellery and where the raw materials came from. Tickets cost £5.00 and include light refreshments. Please book in advance online.

Do you care for someone with dementia? Alzheimer's Society is holding a series of Carers Information and Support Programme meetings to help carers to better support relatives with dementia. 

The sessions provide a listening ear, as well as equip carers with the tools to look after loved ones and ensure they are getting the right emotional and financial support. 

The sessions take place at The Green Room, Upminster Methodist Church, RM14 1AE. The next session is next Wednesday 5 July, 11am to 1pm, with further sessions the following three Wednesdays at the same time. Please book in advance by emailing or calling Nyree or Anisa on 07759 119516 or 07720 144231. You must book your place in advance. 

Hornchurch Library hosts a monthly Reading Friends Poetry Group for those who love to read and listen to poetry. Members can come along to listen and read out their own or already published works, and some members write and share group poetry projects. 

The next session is Wednesday 5 July, 3:30pm to 5pm at Hornchurch Library. 

Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch is showing Twinkle's Dream from babyballet Romford, Chelmsford, Brentwood and Billericay on Sunday 9 July, 10:30am - 4pm.

Join Twinkle Bear in her dream along with her friends Teddy, Chuck the cowboy, Flutterstar the Fairy and Grandad Jack as they journey through lands made of food, under the sea, join the circus, visit princesses, see the Hollywood lights and get frozen in an Ice Adventure.

The main stars of the show are over 150 of babyballet's pupils aged from 3 - 6 years old. Tickets cost £18. Book online. 

Hornchurch Library is hosting another Meet the Author event on Thursday 6 July, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the NHS and meet Andrew Seaton, author of Our NHS: A History of Britain's Best-Loved Institution. 

Historian Andrew gives his views on how the NHS came to be and how it has endured over the years, as well as signing copies of his book. 

The event is free to attend, but advanced booking is essential. Call 01708 434903, or visit any Havering Library to book you place. 

The popular Repair Café returns on Saturday 8 July from 11am – 2pm at Hornchurch Library, North Street, RM11 1TB.

The event is free and open to Havering residents who would like to repair their bicycles, textiles, electric and electronic items for free.

Residents can bring one item for repair and is based on a first come first served basis. There will be free tea and coffee whilst you wait, as well as free advice on wasting less and energy saving tips.

For more information, visit the website.

Havering Fabian Society's next meeting is to be on Thursday 6 July 7:30pm in Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane Hornchurch. Prominent retired Unite trade unionist Carolyn Simpson is to give a talk, The Struggle for Female Equality, followed by audience questions from the floor. Simpson is Honorary Treasurer of the National Assembly of Women. This is an open Meeting with free admission.

On the Beach is a new interactive sensory experience for people living with dementia and their carers. The show explores a day in the life of a working beach – its myths, magic, perils and ever-changing beauty. Playing at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 July. Pay what you can (carers free), recommended £15 per person. Book online.

Moor Lane will be closed for carriageway resurfacing works at various locations between 8am and 5pm, Monday 3 July to Friday 7 July, and Monday 10 July. Follow on-site diversions. The exact locations and dates are:

• Closed between its junctions with Queens Gardens and Acacia Gardens on Monday 3 July and Tuesday 4 July. Fairholme Gardens will also be closed at its junction with Moor Lane during this time. 
• Closed between its junctions with Acacia Gardens and Limerick Gardens on Wednesday 5 July and Thursday 6 July. Acacia Gardens and Limerick Gardens will also be closed at their junctions with Moor Lane.
• Closed between its junctions with Limerick Gardens and Front Lane on Friday 7 July and Monday 10 July. Limerick Gardens, Kings Gardens, Heron Way (North) and Chipperfield Close will also be closed at their junctions with Moor Lane. 

Manser Road will be closed for cabling works at its junction with New Road between 8am on Monday 3 July and 6pm on Tuesday 11 July. 

Station Road will be closed nightly for safety improvement works between its junctions with St Marys Lane and Hall Lane. Closures begin at 7:30pm until 6am the following day, starting Monday 3 July until Thursday 6 July. 

Hall Lane will be closed nightly for safety improvement works between its junctions with Station Road and Avon Road. Closures begin at 7:30pm until 6am the following day, starting Monday 3 July until Thursday 6 July. 

Pea Lane will be partially closed for carriageway maintenance from Ockendon Road, 8am to 5pm on Monday 3 July. 

Aveley Road / Park Farm Road will be closed for carriageway maintenance between Parklands Car Park and Gerpins Lane, from 8am on Tuesday 4 July to 5pm on Wednesday 5 July. 

Harwood Hall Lane will be closed for carriageway maintenance between its junctions with Corbets Tey Road and Aveley Road / Park Farm Road, 8am on Tuesday 4 July to 5pm on Wednesday 5 July. 

Pinewood Avenue will be closed for sewer cover replacement works at its junction with Hawthorn Avenue, on Wednesday 5 July, 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Clockhouse Lane will be closed for carriageway maintenance at its junction with Firbank Road / St Johns Road, 9am to 5pm on Thursday 6 July.

McIntosh Road will be closed for carriageway maintenance between its junctions with Dorset Avenue and Seymer Road, 8am to 5pm on Thursday 6 July. 

Marshalls Drive will be closed for carriageway maintenance between its junctions with McIntosh Road and Mashiters Walk, 8am to 5pm on Thursday 6 July.  

Beulah Road will be closed for telecoms works from outside number 1 to the junction of Cedar Avenue on Thursday 6 July, 8am until 6pm.

Kings Gardens will be closed for carriageway maintenance at its junction with Front Lane, 9:30am to 5pm on Thursday 6 July. 

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