Keeping safe this Christmas is key

It's really important to make the right decision for your family this Christmas. Just because the government has allowed households to meet up, doesn't mean we should. 

There are significant risks involved with meeting indoors with people we don't live with, even if they are our family. 

If you need to create a Christmas bubble  between 23-27 December then remember:

• a bubble can be formed of up to three households maximum, but remember smaller is safer
• you do not have to meet your bubble for the full five days - the shorter the time the better 
• wash your hands and clean touch points regularly, such as door handles and surfaces
• keep socially distanced from anybody you do not live with as much as possible
• make sure you let as much fresh air in as you can during a visit and after visitors have left, without getting cold, by opening windows and door
• if you can instead, meet up outdoors with friends and family around Christmas 
• most importantly, keep socially distanced from anybody you do not live from now until Christmas. If possible, avoid meeting anyone at all socially until you meet your Christmas bubble

Stopping the spread Covid-19 is needed even over Christmas. 

Be careful this Christmas 

Food Banks continuing to support residents in need

Our five primary food bank partners have continued to be busy supporting residents in need in recent weeks.

One such food bank is PL84U Al-Suffa, run by Saira Mir (pictured), who’ve been supporting 100 ‘walk-ins’ per week and are providing more bespoke support to over 65+ residents referred to them from the Council, Migrant Action, the Job Centre and Waltham Forest’s Early Intervention team which supports young parents.

Due to growing demand, they recently expanded their service to include a baby bank. Thank you for everything!

Want to give to a local food bank, or access support?

Help our foodbanks 

Enforcement officers target hospitality venues flouting rules

Over the last weekend, the Council’s enforcement team and the Police carried out visits in Chingford to make sure businesses are keeping their staff and customers safe. 

This included Bar One Twenty where officers observed little evidence of food being consumed and lack of social distancing between customers. In Ibleo Trattoria, the venue continued to operate after 11pm. Both businesses were issued with a fixed penalty notice as a consequence. 

In Essex House different household groups were mixing indoors and heavily intoxicated customers observed leaving the premises. Enforcement action is being considered.

The businesses were reminded of the laws regulating public health during the pandemic and advised that further formal enforcement action would be taken where appropriate.

Tier 3 rules 

Tenancy and police enforcement against dangerous illegal parties

Waltham Forest is now in Tier 3 due to rapidly rising rates of Covid infection.

This means that:

• Residents mustn’t meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody they do not live with, or who isn’t in their support bubble: this includes private gardens or most outdoor venues.
• Residents mustn’t socialise in a group of more than six in a limited number of outdoor public spaces including parks, beaches, publicly-accessible countryside, public gardens, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or sports facilities – this is called the ‘rule of six’.

If residents breach these public health regulations - for example, by holding illegal gatherings indoors – they may be subject to tenancy-related action by the Council’s Housing team.

They may also be subject to enforcement action from the Police, who are empowered to fine anyone attending an illegal gathering £200.

Officers may also fine the event organiser up to £10,000.

Tier 3 rules 

Council Services

Our teams are working hard to deliver services to our residents whilst we're in Tier 3 and over the Christmas period. 

For the latest information on the Council's service delivery, please visit our website. 

Council services 

Getting tested this weekend in Waltham Forest

This weekend, we're ramping up testing for our residents. This means whether you have symptoms or not, you'll be able to get tested. 

If you have symptoms: 

Please either get tested by attending one of these sites: 

• Stanley Road car park, Leyton E10 7EQ - open every day 7am - 9pm 
• Linford Road car park, Walthamstow E17 3LS open every day 7am - 9pm
• The Score Card car park, Leyton, E10 5JY open three days a week, 9am – 3pm  

Or you can arrange a test by calling 119 or visiting the government website. They will tell you where to get a test. When you do go for your test, please do not travel on public transport or by taxi. Remember to wear a face covering. 

If you do not have symptoms: 

You can attend your local test site and can just turn up. 

• Richmond Road car park, Chingford, E4 7BN - open Friday from 9am - 3pm.
• Church Lane car park, Leytonstone, E11 1HG - open Friday from 9am - 3pm.

When attending your test, please wear your mask and keep away from people you do not live with. 

We plan to open more testing centres this weekend but are waiting for final confirmation from government. We'll be posting on our social channels over the weekend with more information. 

Arrange a test 

Christmas Present Drive launches thanks to your support

Thanks to over 250 donations, our Crowdfunder has raised nearly £50,000! So that we can deliver the presents to 1,600 young people in need - including looked after children and young carers - before Christmas day, the Council has already ordered gifts and thanks to a team of volunteers the picking and packing process is well underway.

These gifts have been purchased locally, ensuring your donations are also being used to support local businesses.

Further donations made to the fund will be awarded to local charities who are supporting residents who face homelessness, isolation, food poverty and vulnerable families through a grant bidding process that will close on 31 December 2020. Visit our website to apply for a grant or find out how to donate below. 

Donate to Christmas Drive 

‘Check-in’ volunteers have made over 5000 calls since November

Volunteers like Jude (pictured) have made over 5300 calls to vulnerable residents since 5 November, with over 500 residents in need referred to shopping, befriending and social care support.

Thanks so much to everybody involved and everyone else in Waltham Forest who uses their time to help others.

When we caught up with Jude, he remarked that a lot of vulnerable and elderly people live alone. With a lot of misinformation going around, he enjoys helping to guide them towards the support they need, whether that’s accessing council services or support in the community.

If you need support, then we are here to help. 

Get support 

Do you run a business? We're here to help you.

Part of our commitment to the borough is to make sure our local economy has the support that they need. Along with our Choose Local. Support Everyone campaign, we have business grants that are available to local businesses. 

We have extended the deadline for applications for the Additional Restrictions Discretionary Grant to Wednesday 23 December 2020. These grants support certain businesses who are not eligible for Local Restrictions Support Grants. 

Local Restrictions Support Grants of up to £3,000 are also available to certain business rate liable businesses that were required to close during the period of national restrictions (5 November to 2 December). These Grants are also available for businesses that did not have to close but were severely affected by the local tier 2 restrictions (17 Oct to 4 Nov); and businesses, such as nightclubs and discos, that were required to close from 23 March and have been told to remain closed.

Get business support 

Christmas waste collections

Over the Christmas period, our Waste Team will be continuing to work hard to make sure collections are completed however due the bank holidays, we are required to move the following Christmas collection days: 

Normal collection (Friday 25 December) will be collected on Sunday 27 December.  

Normal collection (Friday 1 January) will be collected on Saturday 2 January. 

Our team will also be offering real Christmas tree collections in the New Year. It's really important to dispose of your real Christmas Tree in the right way so it can be recycled. 

Christmas Collections 

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