A message from Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Last weekend saw a fantastic start to our summer of free activities in Waltham Forest with a series of events throughout the borough to celebrate the Queen's platinum jubilee.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make them such a success, and to the thousands of you who turned up to enjoy them. From Ridgeway Park in Chingford to St John's Churchyard in Leytonstone, residents enjoyed local food, entertainment and hospitality and even the weather played ball – most of the time!
You can read about more free events in Waltham Forest below, including our very first Windrush Day Festival, celebrating the ongoing contribution to our borough made by the Windrush generation and their descendants.
I'm also delighted to say that Waltham Forest Pride is back following a break due to the pandemic. There are events happening all month around the borough.
We know times are hard for many people in Waltham Forest, and we will be highlighting free events throughout the summer in Residents News each week. You can also find support and information on our website if you're experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost of living crisis.
Grace
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Scenes from across the borough during Jubilee events
Friday 10 to Thursday 16 June 2022:
Discover more Free Summer Starts Here events on our website
Waltham Forest Pride returns on Saturday 30 July, promising to be the greatest LGBTQI+ celebration the borough has ever seen.
Beginning at noon and running until 8pm in Fellowship Square, there will be community and food stalls, a picnic, speakers, top cabaret performers and lots more.
There are plenty of events for you to enjoy during Pride month. Look at the Waltham Forest Pride Committee's Pride map for full details.
Book your tickets to Waltham Forest Pride in Fellowship Square.
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) give the council and Police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. They cover things such as problematic street drinking, aggressive begging and the use of threatening and insulting language and behaviour.
Existing orders have been used to tackle street based anti-social behaviour in the borough, where a breach of the PSPO can result in an instant Fixed Penalty Notice of £100, or a fine of up to £1,000 if the person is prosecuted.
The current PSPOs covering Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Leyton (2020), and Highams Park and Chingford (2019) are being considered by the council for a further three-year extension until 2025 – and we want to know your thoughts.
Residents from all over Waltham Forest are encouraged to submit their views on PSPOs and the efforts being made to tackle Anti-Social behaviour boroughwide.
Have your say
This year’s Waltham Forest Tree Giveaway is offering every resident in the borough the chance to plant their very own tree as Waltham Forest Council responds to the climate and ecological emergency.
‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’ is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. This will see Waltham Forest be part of a wider network of trees avenues, copses and entire woodlands being created throughout the country to honour the Queen’s service and legacy.
This year, the following trees are available: Bird Cherry, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Rowan, Holly, Hazel, Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Thousands of these trees are expected to be planted across Waltham Forest by local people in private and communal gardens and green spaces, with permission, giving all residents the chance to plant a young tree.
Register to plant a tree
Windrush Day 2022 celebrations will see a full programme of events and activities take place across the borough in honour of the Windrush generation and the contributions of the Afro-Caribbean community in Waltham Forest. Events begin with a Windrush Day flag raising ceremony at Fellowship Square on Wednesday 22 June. Involving close collaboration with community groups, museums, libraries and local schools, the very first Waltham Forest Windrush Festival will take place across multiple location in the borough on Saturday 25 June.
Windrush Day Flag-Raising Ceremony
Waltham Forest Windrush Festival
Sheila with her father, Francisco
Carers Week, which runs until Sunday 12 June, is an opportunity to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
There are an estimated 21,500 carers in Waltham Forest and we work with our partners Carers First to make sure they can access help, support, and advice.
To mark this year’s Carers Week, we held a public event on Thursday 9 June at Fellowship Square alongside a variety of events throughout the week for carers.
Read local carer Sheila’s storyabout caring for her father Francisco on the Carers First website.
To all carers out there – thank you for the incredible work you do.
If you're heading to Leytonstone town centre, look out for the Drink My Sweat outdoor photo exhibition, which runs from Leytonstone Overground Station to Matalan in the High Road.
The exhibition documents the people and processes that go into coffee production in three regions across the world and features striking images from photographer Jake Green.
This project is also acting as a pilot to hopefully secure more funding to host future outdoor exhibitions in Leytonstone to allow people to access local art, photography and stories in an accessible way.
More information and exhibition map.
Clean Air Day is being marked in Waltham Forest and across the UK on Thursday 16 June. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to our health, no matter who you are or where you live. Air pollution can harm every organ in your body, shorten our lives, and contribute towards chronic illness.
The Council will be running a number of activities to mark Clean Air Day and highlight its work to reduce air pollution in Waltham Forest, including five air-quality engagements sessions in schools across the borough, Dr Bike sessions at Blackhorse Lane and Whipps Cross, and new projects to improve air quality in our borough to be announced on our channels on the day.
Find out more about Clean Air Day
The Community in Fellowship Square Fund was launched last year, giving all of Waltham Forest’s diverse communities the chance to host cultural events and activities in the square. Following the success of the initial round, the first of many events to take place as part of the second round of funding will include:
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Filipino Cultural Day in Fellowship Square, Sunday 12 June, 2pm to 6pm
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Once Again with Feeling, Saturday 2 July, 10am to 6pm
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Tai Chi Fan-tastic in Fellowship Square, Saturday 17, 24, 31 July, 9:30am to 10:30am, 10:45am to 11.45am
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Afro-Caribbean Elders Association Summer Picnic, Thursday 21 July, Time TBC
All events are free and open to everyone in Waltham Forest.
Community in Fellowship Square
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Vaccine bus to join Filipino cultural celebrations
The Covid-19 vaccine bus will be joining the Filipino Independence Day celebrations, this Sunday 12 June at Fellowship square (2-6pm). If you haven’t had your Covid jab yet, hop aboard, get vaccinated, and safely enjoy the festivities.
Covid is still around and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your family. Vaccinations are available to adults aged 18+.
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Government's £150 Council Tax rebate update
The Council has paid the Government Council Tax energy rebate for eligible properties in bands A-D to most people who were paying by Direct Debit. We are currently writing to people where there has been a problem with making a payment to resolve it.
Work has started on paying people who do not pay by direct debit. We are writing to people in respect of band A and band B properties and will then move on to bands C and D.
If you do not pay Council Tax by Direct Debit, you don't need to do anything. The Council will contact you when we are ready to make your payment.
If you do not want the money paid into your bank account, or if you take no action, we will credit your Council Tax account with £150. This will take slightly longer – the Government has given the final completion date of 22 November 2022 for the Council Tax rebate.
Get more information on the Council website
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Struggling with debt? Get free and confidential advice
We understand that the weight of debt can seem even heavier in the middle of the rising cost of living crisis. It’s okay and important to reach out for help if you need it.
Come along to Leyton Library for free and confidential debt and benefits advice from 10am – 1pm on:
- 15 June
- 13 July
- 17 August
You don’t need to make an appointment, just register at the reception from 9am.
Find more information on cost of living support.
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Free adult beginners hockey training
Learn hockey or refresh your skills in a fun, inclusive environment.at Waltham Forest Hockey Club, Walthamstow Academy, E17 5DP.
No prior experience necessary. All genders welcome. FREE to all and sticks provided. Sessons take place Thursdays on 30 June and 7, 14 and 21 July, from 8-9.15pm. Email: join@WalthamForestHC.co.uk.
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