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 It’s come around fast – Claire Symonds, the recent acting Chief Executive at Barking and Dagenham Council, is joining the council next week on Monday 23 May.
With over 30 years’ experience in Local Government, Claire brings with her a wealth of expertise that will take us forward to a sustainable future.
She is strongly committed to staff engagement and wellbeing and in 2021, under her leadership, Barking and Dagenham was awarded the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation, making it one of the best places to work in the UK.
As a Redbridge resident who grew up and went to school here, Claire also brings a valuable personal connection and local knowledge which will help us develop a closer link between the services we provide and the people who live and work in Redbridge.
Claire has sent us a short message that she would like to share with staff ahead of starting next week. She said: “I am delighted to be joining the One Brilliant Team at Redbridge and working with you all to build on your strengths and successes. With award-winning parks, a strong arts and cultural heritage and diverse and vibrant communities, I’m proud to be given the opportunity to serve the borough that I call home.”
Our current interim Chief Executive, Lesley, who joined us in April last year is sadly leaving us at the end of May. Lesley said: “I know you will join me welcoming Claire to the council. We have been making arrangements to get her up to speed and I know she is looking forward to meeting as many staff and members as she can in her first weeks and learning more about the work you all do. It has been a real pleasure for me to work with you all – you are an amazing team. I will now return to being a local resident and will watch out for all the brilliant work you will continue to do. I wish you all the very best for the future.”
If you missed the article that was published when Claire was appointed as our new Chief Executive, you can read it on our website.
You can also read more about Barking and Dagenham’s Investors in People Gold award on their website.
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Have you got your sessions in the diary? Let’s Make Tech Inclusive week kicks off next Monday 23 May and runs until Friday 27 May with events, talks and digital skills training sessions that are open to everyone.
The week aims to help everyone recognise the need for digital technology, build skills, get inspired and meet others in the digital field.
We have a great line up of speakers from Tech UK, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI), University of the West of England Bristol, and Digital Greenwich. They will be discussing important issues such as women in tech, social media, bridging the skills gap to artificial intelligence, data and cyber, crypto and crime technology.
Find out about our new partnership with Huawei that will give you access to free accredited training, hear about our digital vision in Redbridge, attend an automation workshop or come along to the many digital skills training sessions on offer.
Don’t miss out. Take a look at all of the events and add them to your calendar.
Find out more by visiting the Digital Voice website.
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Before Foster Care Fortnight ends this Sunday, watch this video where our foster carers explain what the national campaign theme #fosteringcommunities means to them, from providing a supportive network to enhancing families.
Savita Mandil is a foster carer for a young person who came to England as an Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Child in 2020.
Savita explained: “The first month he was in my care, he was extremely anxious and worried about what may happen to him. [He] could only speak a few words in English and found it hard to trust. To see the transformation after such a short time is just incredible. We have a fantastic relationship where he really does feel a part of our family, but he has developed immensely as a person. He is flourishing! He speaks fluent English [and] has made some lovely friends."
She continued: “Giving him the chance to be back in a home environment and giving him that stability has made such a difference in his life. I would advise anybody considering fostering just to do it!”
Like Savita and all the Redbridge foster carers, you can transform a child’s life. If you or someone you know is interested in fostering, join our virtual coffee morning from 10am to 11am on Friday 27 May. You’ll be able to find out more information and have your questions answered by a social worker and foster carer.
Join through Eventbrite or the Redbridge Council website.
Anyone considering fostering for Redbridge who can’t attend the coffee morning is welcome to get in touch with the team by calling 020 8708 6068 or by sending an email.
To find out more about the campaign, visit The Fostering Network charity.
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Did you know a vegetarian diet is the quickest way of fighting global warming?
Climate conscious carnivore, Nikhil Sadheura, has been swapping meat for veg after research highlighted the vast impact a meat free diet could have. Find out more in his blog this National Vegetarian Week.
To find out more about how you can make a difference to the climate crisis, visit The National Vegetarian Week website.
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RideLondon, the annual cycling extravaganza, comes to Redbridge on Sunday 29 May.
RideLondon is one of Europe’s most successful fundraising cycling events, with riders raising almost £80 million for charity since the first race in 2013.
Members of the public and charities will take part in the RideLondon 100, 60, and 30-mile amateur races through parts of central London, Woodford, and Essex.
Are you planning to take part in the race? If so, please get in touch with us and share your story by emailing the internal comms team.
For information on how RideLondon will impact local roads, please visit the RideLondon website.
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In 2019, the Staff Electric Car Club Scheme and the Electric Pool Bike Scheme were introduced to support colleagues and to reduce commuter travel by car to and within Redbridge, as well as reducing pollution, congestion, and financial costs arising from workplace travel.
The scheme will unfortunately end on Tuesday 31 May meaning the electric cars and the electric assist bikes will no longer be available.
Wherever possible, everyone should use the most cost-effective and sustainable means of travel, and try to walk, cycle, or use public transport for work purposes.
If you have any questions, please contact the Workplace Travel team.
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The Policy, Equalities, and Communities Team are hiring! We are looking for a dynamic and motivated person to join the team as a Policy Project Lead for a six-month secondment. This role will be essential in supporting the roll out of the new Corporate Plan, building our external Equalities, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy, and working with the wider Strategy Directorate to support the organisation in achieving its goals.
If you would like to know more, please visit the intranet or contact Edith Galliers. Please get in touch by Tuesday 31 May.
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Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Ilford High Street
There are only two weeks to go before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin. Where will you be on Saturday 4 June? Our Ilford High Road entertainment extravaganza will be one of the most exciting and fun places to celebrate. Organised by the Ilford Business Improvement District, a huge street party for all ages will start at 1pm and finish at 5pm with a spectacular firework display.
Things will certainly heat up when 40 contestants take to the stage in a Britain’s Got Talent style competition. Expect to see a dazzling array of talent from people of all ages, including musicians, magicians, comedians, dancers and maybe the odd dog. If you or someone you know would like to showcase their talent at this event, sign-up for an audition by Monday 23 May. There is also the chance to be coached by a professional and perform at gigs if you enter the The Redbridge Talent Academy Day competition.
Visit our Jubilee webpage for regular updates and to find out events that are taking place across the borough.
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 Read our commemorative Jubilee magazine
We have created a special magazine to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Redbridge. Find out what celebrations our borough has in store and plan a visit to the Redbridge Museum to see their new Royal display. Travel through our timeline to see how Redbridge has celebrated Her Majesty’s previous Jubilees and visits.
Read the magazine now on our website.
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 Be part of our Jubilee song
If you could say anything to the Queen, what would you say? We’re working with partners to produce a Jubilee song and we want to hear your experiences with Her Majesty, and how you’ve celebrated previous Jubilees in Redbridge.
To include your ideas, please visit our Jubilee website.
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If you live in Redbridge, don’t forget to check dates for your bin collection over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend as there will be a change to your usual collection day. Stay up-to-date on our website.
If you have items you want to dispose of at the Chigwell Road Reuse and Recycling Centre don’t forget to check opening hours over the Jubilee weekend.
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Bike Week falls between Monday 6 to Friday 12 June, and we want to motivate more colleagues to get on their bike. Apart from the health and financial benefits, we will be awarding one lucky cyclist with a bag of cycling goodies worth over £50. All you have to do is cycle to work during National Bike Week to be in with a chance of winning. More information coming next week!
Find out more about Bike Week by visiting the Cycling UK website.
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Last Thursday, the Faith Network held its first in-person Eid Potluck celebration event since the pandemic. Colleagues contributed delicious food for staff to share. Staff also heard from colleagues Mohammed Azam and Shiyara Pambinezhath on their unique Eid experiences and saw footage from Eid celebrations in the parks, bringing colleagues closer to what the festival means for Muslim colleagues. Insightful reflections from Nicky Fiedler and Lesley Seary reinforced the importance of championing festival celebrations in our diverse borough.
A huge thank you to our members who helped run this event and to all staff who brought food or contributed towards the event.
Watch our video taken during the event on Yammer.
Pssst…if you’re missing a container, head down to the first-floor kitchen cupboards to collect.
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 Is physical health more important than mental health?
Why are we more likely to make time to go the gym and take care of our physical health over setting time aside for our mental wellbeing?
Listen to The Green Room podcast by Deloitte UK (a global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, tax, and related service) on why people think differently about physical and mental health, and how they’re interlinked.
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 Refocus your mindset in 20 minutes
If you’re in need of some quick motivation, tune in for 20-minutes to the award-winning podcast The Mindset Mentor to hear from international speaker and coach, Rob Dial.
The episodes cover a range of topics including ‘Your Comfort Zone is Killing Your Dreams’ and ‘How to Ask for Help’.
They are also available on Google Podcasts and Pocket Casts.
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Before Mental Health Awareness Month ends, join the free webinars and learn techniques to manage areas that affect your mental well-being.
The webinars, bought to you by Pearn Kandola, a business-psychology consultancy, will be held from 9.15am to 10am from Wednesday 25 May to Friday 27 May.
To register, please visit their website.
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We have updated Staff eNews to include a permanent footer for easy access to the intranet homepage, events calendar, Chief Executive blogs and staff blogs. Simply select an icon in the grey footer below and you’ll go straight to the intranet channel. |
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Our employee assistance programme is available 24hrs a day and seven days a week.
If you're struggling at the moment due to things like your workload or uncertainty about the future, our employee assistance programme can offer you support, counselling, and guidance through this emotionally difficult time.
Don’t wait for a crisis to happen before you access this support. Staff who have used the programme have given positive feedback with comments such as, “It really helped me”, “I wish I called them earlier” and “I feel so much better now”.
This service is open to staff and their families by self referring. Call 0800 328 1437 or go to the employee assistance website (password Redbridge).
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