Friday 8 December 2023
 There's still time to have your say on Havering Council's 2024 budget consultation.
We're having to make some incredibly tough decisions this year, and we need as much feedback as possible from residents on the savings proposals we've put forward to help reduce our budget gap.
If you haven't had the chance yet, please take 10 minutes today to read through the proposals and share your thoughts.
If you'd like to know more about the proposals, or have further questions, you can send us an email, or book a spot at one of the two upcoming public consultation meetings. Find out more about these further in this newsletter.
SHOUT about the money
It's important we hear from everyone in the borough, including the children and young people growing up in Havering who will be affected by these proposals.
The survey is being delivered with our established engagement partner Mind Of My Own and it is called SHOUT about the money. It includes the same set of savings proposals that are outlined in our main consultation and we have worked with a group of young people to ensure that this weighty topic is covered in a way that we hope will be accessible and meaningful to children.
This survey is for children and young people aged under 18, and up to age 25 with special educational needs.
 The next Budget Consultation Public Meetings are taking place on Tuesday 12 December and Thursday 14 December.
If you missed out on the first two sessions but still want to learn more, or ask your questions directly, book your place now.
Havering Council is bringing back the Warm Spaces network to help residents fight the cold this winter.
Warm Spaces are designated venues based across the borough, offering a heated, safe, and friendly environment, for those struggling to keep their homes warm.
The network includes libraries, leisure centres, and community hubs with some venues providing not only warmth but also hot drinks, activities, and free Wi-Fi.
A full list of Warm Spaces can be found on the Council’s Havering Helps page.
Residents should be aware that opening times of venues may vary, so we encourage people to check with each venue before visiting.
In addition to these warm spaces, residents can also visit local libraries, Sapphire Ice and Leisure (Romford), and Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre (Hornchurch) during opening hours, providing a cosy environment.
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Havering Council’s community and enforcement officers, joined by Romford BID, were out in Romford town centre last week to help raise awareness to those visiting the borough’s clubs, bars and other venues.
There was advice given on keeping safe and encouraging everyone to have a voice when it comes to challenging behaviour around violence against women and girls and all genders.
The Council's community safety teams also joined local police and other community partners at Havering College (Sixth Form) and Barking & Dagenham College recently as part of this year’s White Ribbon and 16 Days of Action campaigns.
Students were given advice on how to report anything they have concerns about safely and confidentially. There were also discussions on how calling out disrespectful behaviour that may make others uncomfortable can make a difference. This year’s theme of the campaigns is #ChangeTheStory.
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 Havering Council’s gritters have already rolled out across the borough this winter, as temperatures dropped below zero.
The fleet treated main routes around the borough with salt in order to keep everyone moving and help make conditions safe.
The Council’s winter roads maintenance service also have vehicles ready for snow or ice should it arrive and a snow plough ready to clear roads, while the street cleaning team will do their best to keep pavements and bridges as clear as possible in severe cold weather.
The Council's winter preparations include:
- four gritting lorries on stand-by
- 2,000 tonnes of salt in our depot – enough to grit up to over 380 miles of roads and sufficient for almost three weeks of continuous snowfall
- a team of winter heroes on-call 24/7 including weekends.
When Havering is hit with severe cold weather, as many primary roads as possible will be salted, with priority given to bus routes and roads linking motorways and hospitals.
Winter has arrived in Havering, along with cold weather and icy conditions on the roads. It's important we take steps to stay warm and safe when out and about this winter, especially when it comes to cycling.
Havering Cyclists has put together 11 top tips for those braving the cold to keep them safe in the saddle.
These tips include advice on appropriate footwear and gloves, ensuring your bike is properly serviced and equipped for the adverse weather, and general advice on keeping safe on the roads in low visibility and poor conditions.
Read the full list on the Havering Cyclists website.
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The Council is committed to working with residents to help them recycle more and reduce waste, as part of the Council's waste and recycling partnership with Urbaser Ltd.
As well as additional plastics and glass now picked up in main recycling collections, coffee pods and batteries have also been added to waste collections.
If a household produces more than four black bags of general waste each week, there may be a card (pictured below) left by the crews to encourage residents to reduce black sack waste, with a link to handy tips on how to do this.
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 Visit the website for more information on what you can put in your black bags, help with reducing your waste, and how you can now recycle more than before.
This includes how to reduce food waste, as well as tips and advice on alternatives, such as using reusable nappies and considering home composting.
Breyer Group has been working in partnership with Romford JobCentre Plus, Havering Council, and training provider Involved Social Impact Projects (I-SIP), on a project to recruit new talent to the property sector.
The government-backed Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) is a pilot project aimed at encouraging new people to begin careers they may not have previously considered.
Breyer has now invited 10 local Havering residents for paid work placements across the business, from Bid, IT and Quantity Surveying teams through to trade roles within Renew and Repair.
Successful candidates were initially identified through a Romford Department for Work and Pensions job fair, which was followed by a series of recruitment, training and ‘speed interview sessions’ hosted by Breyer.
The process ensures that the right person is placed in the right role, based on the individual’s skills and interests. The intention is for these individuals to progress into permanent roles and apprenticeships, with the addition of individual personal and professional development (PPD) support to enhance future career plans.
Any individuals involved in this pilot who haven’t yet found employment will continue to be mentored as part of the programme until a suitable role is found.
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Last week, Havering London (the group consisting of Havering Changing, FUSE, Communicating Havering, Creative Health Havering and Havering Council) submitted Havering’s bid to be named London Borough of Culture 2025.
The Havering London bid has been shaped by thousands of local organisations, artists and residents.
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 Havering’s Holiday Activities and Food programme is gearing up for Christmas.
The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Education, is aimed at lower income families to ensure they are able to access out-of-school activities, nutritious food and overcome social isolation during the Christmas break.
Children can enjoy a range of activities such as cooking, sports, arts and crafts and activity camps from Wednesday 20 December until Wednesday 3 January 2024.
To find out if you're eligible, or to apply, visit the website now.
If you're a Havering resident that needs help with managing your weight and living a healthier lifestyle, and you have a BMI between 25 and 44.9, you may be eligible for our free 12-week Live Healthier Havering adult weight management programme, run by Everyone Active.
The next programmes, which are due to start in January 2024, combine nutrition education and physical activity, with up to a year of follow up sessions, and can support you to achieve a lifechanging five per cent weight loss.
To find out more information and to refer yourself today, visit the website.
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Everyone Active is also running a specialist Learning Disability Live Healthier Havering adult weight management programme at Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre (Hornchurch) for adults (aged 18yrs+) with mild to moderate learning disabilities.
To be eligible, participants need to live in Havering and be overweight/obese with a BMI between 25 and 44.9. Carers or a family member are encouraged to attend the programme alongside the individual to support them to make changes to their lifestyle.
The inclusive and accessible programme due to start at the beginning of January 2024 is delivered by a weight management and exercise specialist instructor along with a Learning Disability support assistant. It is designed to be appropriate and engaging for people with mild to moderate learning disabilities.
On completion of the programme follow up support will be available to continue positive lifestyle changes.
To find out more information and to refer yourself today, visit the website.
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Free NHS winter vaccinations are available for those who may be at greater risk or be in household contact with those who could be severely impacted by COVID-19 and flu.
Check if you are eligible for a free winter vaccination and visit the following upcoming walk-in centres across Havering.
- Tuesday 12 December (12noon to 4pm) - Harold Hill Library, 19a Farnham Road, RM3 8HR
- Thursday 14 December (10:30am to 2:30pm) - Rainham Royals, Viking Way, RM13 9YG
- Friday 15 December (10am to 3pm) - Romford Baptist Church (Youth Room), Main Road, RM1 3BL
- Saturday 16 December (10am to 2pm) - Hornchurch Library, 44 North Street, RM11 1TB
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Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from Lime Academy Forest Approach School in Havering attended an Insight Day with Barclays Plc in Canary Wharf in November.
A raft of volunteers from across the organisation gave students an insight into the huge variety of different roles at Barclays including marketing, IT, facilities, and security. Through interactive workshops, hosted by members of the Barclays team, the students explored their strengths and how these can relate to careers.
Despite being in a new environment unlike anything they had experienced previously, the students showed great maturity and confidence; their readiness to seize the opportunity impressed the professionals as well as their schoolteachers.
All of the students said they learnt something new from the event and it made them think about different types of jobs.
Insight Days give students an immersive experience into the culture and different roles available in a business or sector that they may not have otherwise considered.
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 Sending wishes of light, laughter, and love to all those celebrating Hanukkah.
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
The Arts Society Havering is hosting A Tudor Christmas, a lecture from the British Museum's Siobhan Clarke.
We might assume that our
modern Christmas owes much to the Victorians. In fact, many of our favourite Christmas traditions date back much further, to Tudor times.
Carol-singing, present-giving, mulled wine and mince pies were all just as popular in Tudor times, and even Father Christmas and roast turkey dinners have their origins in this period.
The lecture takes place on Tuesday 12 December, 10:30am, at New Windmill Hall, Upminster, RM14 2QH. Tickets cost £8 for non-members, and are free for members. Book your place and find more information on the website.
Essex Wildlife Trust is hosting an illustrated talk by Tony Loveless, titled Travelling with a camera, part 2, continuing the journey round the coast of Wales to home via the South West and South Coast.
The talk takes place 2pm to 3:30pm on Monday 11 December at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX. There is a donation of £5, which also covers tea, coffee, mulled wine, biscuits, mince pies and a raffle. Contact Lynda on 07957 264240, 01708 473927, or via email for more information.
Mile Rainbow CIC is hosting Healthier and Happier Beam Park, a 20 week exciting programme of events celebrating Christmas and continuing into 2024. The programme will feature a whole host of activities including Korean, Japanese and Chinese dance, East Asian calligraphy, gentle martial arts and movement classes.
Events begin on Monday 11 December. Visit the website for more details.
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Oxygen Activeplay is opening a brand new activity and Freejumping Trampoline park on Spilsbury Road, Harold Hill, Romford, and they're giving away four family passes to Living in Havering readers!
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is visit the competition page and leave your details (T&Cs apply). The competition closes on Thursday 14 December.
Havering U3A is hosting The Baby Boomer Nostalgia Show by Alan Haines. A highly comic look at growing up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and a laugh at modern times too. Complete with audience participation, magic and some sounds you will remember.
The event takes place at Romford Baptist Church, Main Road, RM1 3BL on Wednesday 13 December, 2pm. Visit the website for more details.
The next Havering Green Forum will now take place on Thursday 14 December, 7:30pm at the Town Hall, Romford. The event will be chaired by Councillor Keith Darvill, Cabinet Member for Climate. Discussions are likely to include Biodiversity. All are welcome.
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Hornchurch and Upminster Sea Cadets are hosting a Christmas Extravaganza this weekend at The Paddock, Wood Lane, Hornchurch, RM12 5NH.
The table top sale event will include refreshments, a raffle, games and a chance to meet Santa. The event begins at 10am tomorrow, Saturday 9 December.
Elm Park Community Association is holding a Festive Fair at the Elm Park Assembly Hall, Eyhurst Avenue, Elm Park, RM12 4RA tomorrow (Saturday 9 December).
Come along for an afternoon of festive fun, homemade crafts, food and drink, music, and a raffle. Visit Santa's Grotto for just £3 per child. Entry to the fair is free.
Join the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Stephanie Nunn, at St Nicholas Church, Elm Park, on Sunday 10 December from 6.30pm, for Nine Lessons and Carols, an evening of Christmas carol singing and light refreshments. Entry is free, but donations are welcome to the Mayor’s charity First Step on the evening.
St Edward the Confessor Church, Romford is hosting its Christingle, an all age Eucharist event as part of its Advent celebrations. The event takes place on Sunday 10 December at 10am.
For the full list of festive events taking place across Havering this weekend, check out the Havering Council website.
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Upcoming road closures
King Edward Avenue in Rainham will be closed daily outside number 63 for electrical work, 8am to 5pm from Monday 11 December until Friday 15 December.
Tylers Crescent in Hornchurch will be closed daily outside multiple addresses between the junctions to Springate Close and Griggs Gardens, for carriageway works. Closures take place from 8am to 6pm, Monday 11 December until Friday 15 December.
Hall Lane in Upminster will be closed overnight from its junction with Spenser Crescent to Ashburnham Gardens for the installation of speed humps. The work will take place from 7:30pm on Tuesday 12 December, until 6am on Wednesday 13 December.
Ongoing closures
Crowlands Avenue in Romford remains closed daily at its junction with London Road for gas mains work, 8am to 5pm until Friday 15 December.
London Road (western and eastern side banjos) in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with Jutsums Lane to its junction with Southern Way for gas mains work, 7am to 6pm until Saturday 16 December.
Craigdale Road in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Brentwood Road for gas mains work, 8am to 5pm until Sunday 17 December.
London Road (cycle lane) in Romford remains closed daily on both sides from its junctions with Lonsdale Avenue to its junction with Coombewood Drive, for gas mains work. The closures will take place 7am to 6pm until Friday 16 February.
Public transport
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Following the announcement from the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), strike action took place this week on all c2c lines, and action short of a full strike is planned until tomorrow, Saturday 9 December.
As a result, there will be a severely reduced service on all c2c lines during this period.
The c2c Ockendon line will not run between Limehouse and Upminster from Sunday 10 December. A rail replacement service will run between Upminster and Grays only.
Engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking/Upminster is affecting evening services on the all c2c lines from Monday 11 December until Thursday 14 December.
Check the website for full details on all c2c service changes.
Greater Anglia services from Liverpool Street towards Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and branches will not run between Chelmsford and Witham on Saturday 9 December and Sunday 10 December. A rail replacement service will be in place.
Check the website for full details on Greater Anglia service changes.
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