Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Friday, 30 June 2023

Silent vigil to mark first anniversary of Zara Aleena murder

Hundreds of people descended upon Valentines Park last weekend to take part in a silent vigil to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Zara Aleena.

Zara, 35, a trainee solicitor with the Crown Prosecution Service was sexually assaulted and murdered while walking home in Ilford, London. A  man pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced last December to life imprisonment with a minimum 38-year term.

Organised by Million Women Rise, and Zara Aleena’s family, the silent vigil started at Valentines Park and made its way to Gants Hill, the journey Zara should have completed the evening she died.

Key speakers at the vigil included Zara's aunt, Farah Naz, and Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North. The Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council, Kam Rai, also attended the vigil.

Cllr Rai said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Zara Aleena at this incredibly difficult time.

"Zara's murder sent shock waves through our communities, and our neighbours are reeling from the aftermath of this tragedy, which robbed a young woman of the fantastic future ahead of her.

"It was incredibly moving to join hundreds of others at such a poignant and emotional event. We will make sure Zara is never forgotten."

Discover Redbridge: New website launched this week

Whether you are looking for a bite to eat, a park to visit, or an activity for your family through the summer holidays, Discover Redbridge is our new one-stop shop for all things Redbridge.  

Launched earlier this week, Discover Redbridge is our brand new web space, featuring information on all the exciting things to do in our borough. The new site provides a directory of local events and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.  

Redbridge is home to some of the best parks and open spaces in the capital, and our new web space will provide everything you need to know to plan the perfect day out, whether you’re looking for relaxing walks, children’s playgrounds, or simply want to enjoy the wildlife.  

For those looking for other things to do, Discover Redbridge will help you find sport facilities, outdoor activities, history and heritage and even dog friendly places to visit all on our doorstep, so you’ll have all your need to enjoy the summer.  

Redbridge summer holiday fun

Redbridge’s Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme will run for four weeks this summer and provides free places for eligible children to enjoy enriching activities and healthy food. 

There will be a range of activities to get involved in, including football and basketball, arts and crafts and drama. There is also an opportunity to learn about food and nutrition and make new friends. Children will also receive a hot healthy meal each day.

The programme will be available Monday to Thursday with part and full-day sessions from Monday, 24 July to Thursday, 17 August, at several schools and youth centres across the borough.  

HAF is available for children in Reception up to Year 11 and receiving benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM). We offer a limited number of additional places to children and young people who do not meet the above criteria but are vulnerable. Referrals are considered from education, health and social care professionals.

Park tennis courts in Redbridge reopen after £600,000 renovation

Park tennis courts in Redbridge have officially reopened after a £609,674 renovation, managed by the LTA and funded by Redbridge Council, LTA Tennis Foundation and Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure.

Tennis courts in Valentines Park and Goodmayes Park, which are among those to have benefited from this investment, recently hosted a ceremony attended by Deputy Leader Cllr Kam Rai, Redbridge Mayor Cllr Jyotsna Islam and Cllr Namreen Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, along with representatives from the LTA.

Redbridge welcomes new Cabinet Members

We're delighted to welcome three new members as part of a reshuffle of the Council's Cabinet, appointed by the council leadership.

The newly appointed Cabinet Members are Cllr Lloyd Duddridge, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education; Cllr Namreen Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities; and Cllr Sahdia Warraich, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Growth.

Cllr Sheila Bain has stepped down as Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Growth, and Cllr John Howard has stepped down as Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities. Cllr Bain and Cllr Howard will continue to serve their constituents as ward councillors.

Help catch the offenders dumping rubbish on our streets

A man who dumped four large appliances on the borough’s streets is the latest grime crime offender to appear on Redbridge Wall of Shame. Camera footage of the man in a hi-vis jacket shows him wheeling the bulky items along the street only to dump them on Chadwell Heath Lane.

Footage of the environmental crime was part of CCTV clips released in the latest edition of Redbridge Wall of Shame, showing people fly-tipping in the borough. Other offenders included a woman leaving behind bedding on the street. We’re calling on the community to help identify the culprits caught on camera ditching their rubbish in Redbridge. 

If you can help identify any of the culprits caught on camera, please get in touch on: Cleansing.Services@redbridge.gov.uk

Redbridge Schools Streets expansion creates safer and healthier school journeys

More than 9,000 local school children will enjoy healthier and safer school journeys as our successful School Streets Programme is rolled out at a further four schools from September.

Gearies Primary School, Redbridge Primary School, St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Seven Kings School Secondary Campus are the newest additions to the programme, increasing the total number of schools in the scheme to 15.

Under the initiative, which comes into effect from Monday, 4 September 2023, motor vehicles will be unable to enter school street zones surrounding the schools, for around an hour, at the start and end of the school day during term time.

Vehicle restrictions help eliminate dangerous traffic hotspots near the schools, making children less vulnerable to road accidents by creating a safer journey to and from school.

Cost of living support arriving in Gants Hill

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

Drop into Redbridge Institute of Adult Education any Tuesday from 10am-12pm to get support from Redbridge Council. There’s no need to make an appointment.

If you need to discuss an issue in more detail or bring further information as a follow-up to a drop-in, booked appointments are also available from 2-5pm. 

The support drop-ins are moving to Gants Hill after its popularity and success in Hainault Library. Have a look at the whole range of support available online. 

Redbridge Holiday Mega Mix & Fairlop Open Day

We're running various fun activities for children aged 5-16 this summer as part of Redbridge Holiday Mega Mix!

Young people will have many opportunities to come and enjoy arts & crafts, dance, digital workshops, sports, theatre and more at our local facilities across Redbridge. Children can also swim and watch a film for just £1!

Please note sessions are only open to local people and are limited, so make sure to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Visit the Vision website to check out all the exciting activities offer.

Fairlop Open Day

Come and experience a fun and active day out with your family at Fairlop Open Day on Saturday, 15 July! Take part in a range of outdoor activities surrounded by the stunning scenery of Fairlop Waters.

Family activities include:

• Aqua Action (a giant inflatable water park with an obstacle course)
• Fairlop Sky Run (a high ropes obstacle course moving across platforms, bridges and swings mid-air) 
• Boat and bike rides will also be available on the day too

For adults, we have our summer Level 1 RYA Sailing Courses. You will learn everything you need to know to set sail for just £195 for a two day course!

We recommend that you pre-book these activities to avoid disappointment.

Let's party: the summer is here

Our Early Years Play and Development Centre (EYPaD) in Ilford is hosting its summer party on Wednesday, 5 July.

The summer party is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time child/children in a safe and fun environment.

EYPad's Summer Party ticket includes food, drink and fun activities for children aged five years old and under.

Redbridge Adult Institute of Adult Education Arts Fayre

Redbridge Adult Institute of Adult Education is holding its Arts Fayre on Saturday, 8 July 2023, and it is an excellent opportunity to check out what is taking place at Redbridge Institute’s creative and visual arts courses and what is coming up in 2023/24.

• Watch demonstrations by our talented tutors/artists
• Take part in taster sessions
• Visit our Learners Art Exhibition 
• Check out our exhibition market and purchase some of our learners’ work
• Free refreshments available

Support for rough sleepers

We recently held our second Rough Sleepers Healthcare event of the year at The Welcome Centre in Ilford.

The event was a great success and of real benefit to our service users who attended. We had a range of service providers present, including Haircuts4Homeless, Healthwatch Redbridge, Community Dental and more.

We are pleased to announce that we will hold the next event on Wednesday, 13 September.

Help beat plastic pollution by taking the Plastic Free July challenge

Help beat plastic pollution by choosing to refuse single use plastic. Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and communities worldwide.

We have some great tips and advice on our website on how to cut back on single use plastic: 

Be part of the movement to end plastic pollution by signing up for the Plastic Free July challenge.