Residents' News 24 February

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Residents' News

Since we began our jobs programme we have helped over 500 residents get into new jobs by bringing them together with businesses of all sizes. This has not only helped jobseekers but also the businesses who have struggled to recruit or find the right skilled staff.

But we don’t want to stop there, and one exciting piece of news for Waltham Forest is our continuing work with the University of Portsmouth to bring a campus to the borough.

Waltham Forest was chosen as the best location by the university due to our people, culture and lifestyle making it the ideal place to attract both students and staff alike. The University of Portsmouth could start to welcome the first students as soon as next year, creating degree and apprenticeship opportunities for our borough’s young people to give them the skills they need to get rewarding careers.

The potential benefits for our borough are vast and go way beyond those wishing to go to university; the campus building project would create new jobs for local people and provide a big boost for local businesses. That’s why we’re backing the plan to bring the University of Portsmouth to Waltham Forest - l hope to update you with more exciting news in the coming weeks.

Last Friday saw some of the fiercest winds we have experienced in years as Storm Eunice struck London and many parts of the UK. I hope that you and your families stayed safe and while it was an extremely challenging time for Council Officers, our partners and the emergency services, it also showed the very best of Waltham Forest community once again as so many of you supported family, friends, or neighbours during the storm.

Grace

Micro Jobs Fair at Wood Street Library

This Saturday on 26 February, from 10am to 2pm, a jobs fair featuring employers from hospitality, healthcare and construction sectors will take place at Wood Street Library, Walthamstow.

Meet employers such as Urbaser, Evolve Hospitality Recruitment, Aston Group, Barts Health NHS Trust and McDonald’s.

Chat directly to the employers about their live vacancies and come to a programme of talks by industry experts; please book to secure attendance.

Book Now

Covid update

On Tuesday, the government announced all remaining Covid regulations will end today and free mass testing will stop on 1 April.

Although legal requirements have been removed, public health guidance for people with COVID has stayed the same. Getting a test if you have symptoms and self-isolating if you get a positive test result remain the most effective way to stop the spread of the virus.

Adults and children who test positive should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Children who are positive will not be able to attend school if the guidance says they should be isolating.

Key changes:

End of legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive. However, the guidance continues to strongly recommend that you self-isolate for up to 10 days if you test positive
End of legal requirement for unvaccinated contacts to self-isolate for 10 days and the recommendation for vaccinated contacts to do daily LFD tests for 7 days
End of routine contact tracing. However, it’s still important for you to let any contacts know if you test positive so they can follow the guidance
End of self-isolation support payments

Living with Covid-19 plan

Test sites timings

The LFTD test sites timings for those without Covid symptoms are changing on 1 March 2022.

The new opening hours at Chingford Assembly Hall, Jubilee Centre, Leyton Cricket Ground, and One Hoe Street will be:

Monday – Friday: 10am – 4pm (One Hoe St: on Fridays, 10am – 1pm)
Saturday: 10am – 2pm
Sunday: Closed

If you have Covid symptoms, no matter how mild, you need to take a PCR test instead; find out about test sites.

Order LFD tests online

Register to vote

The Council elections will take place on 5 May, there is still time to register to vote if you haven’t already.

The Council elections give everyone the chance to vote for the Council for the next four years. Whoever you choose to vote for, it’s important that you register to vote by the 14 April deadline so you can have your say in our borough’s future.

Register to vote

Climate change: what should we proritise?

Thanks to the residents who have told us their climate choices so far – it’s great to get your direct feedback about this issue. If you haven’t yet, head over to our Climate Choices website where you can tell us what choices you are making and what you’d like us to prioritise.

Maybe it’s creating a place to repair or borrow items, or lobbying central government for grants to make homes warmer and more energy efficient. Whatever your priority is for tackling climate change – we want to know.

Tell us your choices

LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week Virtual Coffee Morning

The Council proudly believes that any loving person can make a wonderful foster parent to a child in need.

From Monday 7 - Sunday 13 March, we are celebrating national LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2022, encouraging more LGBT+ people to consider adoption and fostering.

Join us on Wednesday 9 March to find out more about becoming a Waltham Forest Foster Carer.

Register

Electric vehicles

As part of the Council's response to the climate emergency and residents’ requests for more electric vehicle charging points across the borough, we are installing a further 206 electric vehicle charging points across the borough by April 2022.

The plans for extra charging points will consist of 122 residential 5.5kW sockets, and 84 fast 22kW charging sockets, totalling to a minimum of 412 electric vehicle charging points, another step on the Council’s journey to becoming a greener borough by building a network of infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Sustainable transport

Blue plaque for Lincoln 'Links' Rahamut

Last week the blue plaque for 'local legend', 'The King of Sequins' Lincoln 'Links' Rahamut who lived in Walthamstow for 50 years was unveiled.

His family and friends were out in full force along with mayor Elizabeth Baptiste, Cllr Paul Douglas, Cllr Louise Mitchell, and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy.

Find out more

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