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Thursday 2 February

Crime: make sure you report it

Please remember that if you don’t report crime and anti-social behaviour, then nothing will be done. Residents need to report all crime and ASB in their neighbourhoods directly to the police, no matter how frequently it takes place.

Even if officers cannot attend immediately, your reports will be used to identify hotspot areas so police can target future patrols.

The more reports there are, the more likely the police will patrol your area.

Please call 101 or visit the Met Police website to report a crime. The same control room operators deal with both.

If you witness a crime or someone is in danger, please call 999 immediately.

Cost of living support in Hainault

Do you have questions about getting benefits payments, falling behind on your rent, finding a job that fits your needs, or other pressures related to the cost of living?

Drop into Hainault Library every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm to get support from Redbridge Council. There’s no need to make an appointment. 

Booked appointments are also available from 2pm to 5pm if you need to talk through a question or issue in more detail, or if you need to bring further information as a follow-up to a drop-in session.

Strong turnout for Redbridge in Conversation event

Last week, hundreds of local people joined our Redbridge in Conversation event at St John's Church in Newbury Park to hear from Council Leader Cllr Jas Athwal and find out more about our plans to create a Seven Kings Community Hub.

We're holding public meetings like this regularly all across our borough to hear about what matters most to you, so please do join us at the next meeting if you can.

National Apprenticeship Week is almost here!

National Apprenticeship Week is just around the corner, and this year’s theme is Skills for Life. From 6 February to 12 February, we have a range of virtual events for you to find out more about apprenticeships, including:

• Apprenticeships in construction with industry experts at Equans
• Apprenticeships in Higher Education - UEL
• Metropolitan Police Apprenticeship Information Session
• Myth Busting Apprenticeships 
• Personal Statements for Apprenticeship applications

Step into a story at Redbridge Libraries for National Storytelling Week

It’s National Storytelling Week, and what better way to get involved than heading to your nearest library to explore the array of books bursting with tales just waiting to be shared.

Local library users will be left spoilt for choice with access to more than half a million items from across the borough’s 12 libraries offering books, including audio and digital, as well as online newspapers and magazines, DVDs and film streaming.

Redbridge is also a founding member of the Libraries Consortium, spanning 23 councils across London, Luton, Essex and Surrey, enabling Redbridge residents to take advantage of a further eight million books and other items and access to services and facilities from over 380 libraries across London and the south-east.

Redbridge school student publishes storybooks to inspire environmental awareness

Redbridge school student Henry Newman has just published his second book - Lark the Shark and Wonda the Whale - in a series of stories inspiring people to take care of the planet. 

Find out more about Redbridge's budding young author.

Are you caring for a child who is not yours?

Private fostering is when someone who is not a close relative cares for another person’s child under age 16 (18 if disabled) for 28 days or more. 

A close relative is considered an aunt, uncle, grandparent, step-parent or sibling. Friends of the family and other family members, such as cousins or great aunts, are not classed as close relatives for Private Fostering. Neither are families hosting overseas students who are being educated in the UK. 

You need to notify us legally of any private fostering arrangements in Redbridge to ensure the child is safe.

Please get in touch with Redbridge Children’s Services on 020 8708 3885 or by email.

Manage Your Money Workshops

The first of our series of free two-hour workshops kicked off at Redbridge Central Library. 

Kalwinder Sehmbi attended the first session and found it to be of great benefit. Speaking after the event, Kalwinder said: "Thank you so much for adding me to this session for today. I found the session very invaluable and enjoyable. I feel very mindful of spending and learning more about budgeting."

"The tutor was lovely, and since attending the Money Managing session, my way of thinking has changed for the better towards spending."

If you wish to attend one of our free workshops, please email. 

The remaining workshops take place next week. Please see below.

Tuesday 7 February 2023 - 10am-12pm

Friday 10 February 2023 - 10am-12pm

There’s still time to help us shape our next housing strategy

Redbridge Council is currently undertaking a listening exercise to help shape our next housing strategy. The housing strategy will set out our housing proprieties over the next five years and provides residents with an opportunity to have their say on key areas, which include:

• Our approach to the development of new homes
• The improvement of existing homes
• The support for those in acute housing need, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

Get your Covid booster and flu vaccine

National HIV Testing Week

National HIV Testing Week is a campaign to promote regular testing among the most-affected population groups in England. 

Regular testing helps to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late.

This year, the campaign returns with a new strapline, ‘I Test.’, across all National HIV Testing Week materials, replacing ‘Give HIV The Finger’, which has been in place for the previous five years. 

In 2021, the total testing coverage within Redbridge was 55.8%, whilst the last diagnosis rate was 48.6%. 

We would like to get the rate down so that nobody is diagnosed late. 

Testing is simple, free and confidential.