 Stay home, stay safe
A reminder that national restrictions are now in place to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Schools, colleges and children's centres remain open as do our parks and open spaces.
Shops and market stalls selling food can operate with some businesses offering takeaway and 'click-and-collect' services.
If you do have to leave home, remember to wash your hands regularly, cover your face and make space for others.
In line with the latest government advice, certain services and facilities will be closed to the public until further notice.
Arts and entertainment venues, market stalls selling non-essential goods, sports facilities and leisure centres are closed.
Idea Stores and libraries have closed for now, but three locations will reopen next week to offer a limited service and online services continue. Bin collections are continuing and our reuse and recycling centre remains open.
Finally, please remember that the NHS is still open – please attend your existing medical appointments and contact your GP or NHS 111 as normal if you need support.
 Vote for Vicky Park in the People’s Choice Awards
Once again, Keep Britain Tidy, organisers of the Green Flag Awards to the UK’s very best parks and green spaces, is asking the public to vote for their favourites in the People’s Choice Awards.
This year an army of experts awarded Green Flag Awards across the country. You can find your nearest award winning space on the winners map and click the vote button.
Voting closes on Wednesday 25 November, with the top 10 winning sites announced on Thursday 3 December. Last year saw tens of thousands of people voting for their favourite park and our much loved Victoria Park was a winner for the sixth year running.
 Online festival of Bangla drama
Our annual drama festival, A Season of Bangla Drama, returns this month for its eighteenth year. Audiences across the borough and beyond can relax and enjoy the online festival of British Bengali theatre which runs from Thursday 12 to Saturday 21 November.
The theme is ‘coming of age’ and this year the action will all be digital, with a series of pre-recorded plays and readings accompanied by live, interactive question and answer sessions.
The festival showcases local writing and talent, as well as putting the spotlight on a range of issues relevant to the British-Bengali experience.
 Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day
Residents are being encouraged to take part in Remembrance activities this year, in a way that helps protect the health and wellbeing of the veteran community and the public.
Due to Covid-19, Remembrance Sunday events in Tower Hamlets will be closed or by invitation only.
The Royal British Legion is also encouraging people to unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifices of the Armed Forces community from around Britain and the Commonwealth.
Suggestions to get involved in Remembrance include closing your laptop, muting your phone and pausing for a two-minute silence on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November, in the home or on the doorstep.
 Back to business with creative connections
Calling all creative businesses to join the latest in our series of free workshops to support businesses facing challenges due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19.
The first one-hour creative connections online networking event takes place at 11am on Thursday 12 November. Hosted in partnership with Echo, it will bring together creative businesses across the borough to connect, be inspired and grow their networks.
 Brick Lane public realm consultation
We’d like to hear from residents, businesses and visitors about proposals to make Brick Lane a more attractive and enjoyable place to live, work and visit.
Ideas include improved signage, more greenery and enhanced lighting, renaming Osborn Street as Lower Brick Lane and refurbishing the Banglatown Arch.
 Help QMUL meet the needs of local communities
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is developing a Civic University Agreement to outline its commitment to the local area. To ensure the university is meeting the needs of east London, it wants to hear the views of residents, businesses and organisations to help discover the pressures communities are facing, gather insights into how to address those challenges and find opportunities for working together.
Find out more and share your thoughts in a focus group or survey.
 Tower Hamlets health partnership scoops top award
Last week, the Tower Hamlets health partnership ‘Tower Hamlets Together’ won the Public Health award at the prestigious LGC awards for our Take a Breather asthma project.
The programme of work aims to boost outcomes for children and young people with a wheeze and asthma. The pilot in Tower Hamlets saw some fantastic results, including a 22 per cent reduction in unplanned hospital admissions due to asthma, an increase in asthma care plans from 40 per cent to 75 per cent and improved control of asthma in 92 per cent of high-risk children.
The project involved nearly 300 partners from across the borough and has since been adopted nationally.
 Remember the basics to tackle Covid-19
In addition to the new national lockdown measures now in place, everyone must continue to take every step to keep themselves and others safe:
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Wash your hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not available, then use hand sanitiser.
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Wear a face covering on public transport, in shops and other enclosed areas, or anywhere it is difficult to socially distance.
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Keep a safe distance from other people outside your household (two metres where possible).
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Book a free test if you’re experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 and stay at home until you get your result.
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Stay at home if you test positive for 10 days from when symptoms started. This includes while symptomatic and waiting to arrange a test.
- Self-isolate if you’re identified as a close or recent contact of someone who has tested positive through NHS Test and Trace.
Have your say on our budget
This year, we’re spending £1.2 billion gross expenditure (£354.5 million net expenditure budget) on public services to support people and improve lives.
We’ve worked hard to save £200m since 2010 and extra pressures including dealing with Covid-19, means that we need save a further £30m by 2024.
This is your chance to help us shape the future for all.
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Share your ideas on streets in Whitechapel
We're talking to residents, businesses and visitors to Whitechapel about how we can make the area easier and safer to walk, cycle and access public transport.
Make suggestions on our interactive map >
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