 Wednesday 27 January 2021
COVID-19 infection rates in Redbridge remain high. We're asking everyone to please do their bit and follow the rules currently in place.
You must only leave your home for the following reasons:
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To shop for necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
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To go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
- To attend education or childcare - for those eligible
Almost 250 people recently joined a live online public meeting to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Redbridge and more than 900 people have viewed it online.
Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, and our Director of Public Health, Gladys Xavier, were joined on the panel by Dr. Anil Mehta, Chair of Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group and Dr. Magda Smith, Chief Medical Officer, at Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Our support staff were also on hand to answer more than 120 questions, during and after the meeting.
Redbridge Council invited communities across the borough to join in remembering victims of persecution at a virtual annual Holocaust Memorial Day service earlier today.
The speakers at the virtual event were:
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Cllr Zulfiqar Hussain - Mayor of Redbridge
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Cllr Jas Athwal - Leader of Redbridge Council
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Wes Streeting – MP for Ilford North
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Sam Tarry – MP for Ilford South
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Iain Duncan Smith – MP for Chingford
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Local faith leaders
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Young people from schools
We have launched a special crowdfunding campaign to ensure that all children and young people in the borough have access to a laptop to support remote learning during the current lockdown.
The Making IT Happen campaign aims to lend a laptop to every Redbridge child who does not have access to a suitable online learning device.
More than £1,600 has already been raised. With every £200 raised, we will provide a child with a device.
More than 100 Redbridge residents took part in online workshops to co-design community hubs in Gants Hill and Seven Kings – a council initiative to bring services closer to the community and meet local needs.
Five hubs are planned, as well as a new civic centre in Ilford. They will bring together council services such as libraries with GP surgeries, or children's centres and provide a place where residents can come together to run their own activities.
Households across Redbridge will soon be asked to participate in the nationwide Census survey of housing and the population.
Information from the Census will help decide how services are planned and funded in your local area, such as doctors' surgeries, housing or new bus routes.
Households will receive a letter with a unique access code in the post so that questionnaires can be completed online. Paper questionnaires will be available on request.
We are continuing to offer rapid COVID-19 testing to residents. These rapid tests are strictly for those who don't have any COVID-19 symptoms and can’t work from home. If this applies to you, please try to get tested twice a week, if possible.
We have three testing sites:
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Redbridge Central Library, Ilford IG1 1BP
- Wanstead Youth Centre, 144 Elmcroft Ave, E11 2DB
- Hainault Library, 100 Manford Way, Ilford, Chigwell IG7 4DD
The Government has updated its advice for people struggling with utility bills or repayments on credit cards, loans, or mortgages. The guidance sets out what you can do and where to get help.
The deadline for applying for a mortgage payment holiday has also been extended to Wednesday, 31 March 2021.
Find out more
We’ve stepped into 2021 with a new fleet of electric vehicles and are encouraging residents and businesses also to consider greener transport. The new fleet of 12 electric vehicles will be charged by the newly created rapid electric vehicle charging bays at the council's Ley Street Depot.
We're also installing an ultra-fast charging hub at the depot specifically for local businesses.
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