A message from Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Yesterday, I was delighted to welcome the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to Waltham Forest for the launch of his Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Strategy. The campaign aims to improve safety for women and girls across London, as well as services for survivors. It’s a subject close to my heart, as it is for many women in the borough.
The Mayor joined me and Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, cabinet member for Community Safety, in Walthamstow High Street to find out more about the council’s Waltham Forest Safe Streets app and our Bystander Intervention training, key elements of our work to tackle VAWG and mysogyny in all their forms.
Our Waltham Forest Safe Streets app is an easy way for residents to report incidents of street harassment. It helps pinpoint areas in the borough where women and girls are being harassed by men so that the council can work with partners such as the police, to make our streets safer.
This week we also marked the fifth anniversary of the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower. As we remember the 72 people who lost their lives, the council continues to work to ensure that our residents are safe in their homes and that the horror of that night is never repeated.
Grace
The free Waltham Forest Safe Streets app is available to download now from the App Store and Google Play.
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Friday 17-Thursday 23 June 2022
Discover more Free Summer Starts Here events on our website
On Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 June, the Town Hall at Fellowship Square was illuminated green and a flag raised to mark the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, in which 72 people lost their lives. Cllr Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, paid tribute: “The Grenfell Tower disaster shocked the whole country – I cannot imagine the fear and horror of those who were there on that awful night. Like all councils following the incident, we have carefully looked at our housing blocks to make sure that they are as safe as we can make them. We have invested over £40m in improving the safety of our buildings. This work includes retrofitting sprinklers, introducing Waking Watches in some high-rise buildings, and empowering residents to be building safety champions for their blocks. We are determined to do all we can to keep our residents safe.”
Find out more about the Council’s building safety improvements.
Air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK each year, and is recognised by the UK Government as the largest environmental health risk we face.
To mark Clean Air Day today, Waltham Forest Council has been highlighting some of its work to reduce air pollution in our borough:
- we have announced our latest green screen at Greenleaf School in Walthamstow, to grow ivy plants on the fences to act as a pollution filter between the school and road
- the great news that the council has been awarded a £1million grant from central government to increase the number of residential electric vehicle charging points by 500
- plans for new parklets to reuse street and parking spaces outside Stone Mini Market, High Road Leytonstone, Froth and Rind on Orford Road, Walthamstow, and Cove 17 on Wood Street
The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, meets Cllr Williams and Cllr Limbajee in Walthamstow
Businesses and residents attending the council's latest Bystander Intervention training found some special guests joining the session - Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, along with the Leader of Waltham Forest Council, Cllr Grace Williams, and cabinet member for Community Safety, Cllr Khevyn Limbajee.
The Stand By Her training, run by Communities Inc, is aimed at men, empowering them to become allies to women and challenge harmful behaviour they see around them.
Attendee Nick said, “I found the Stand By Her training really valuable. So many of my female friends have said they have experienced street harassment – the scale of the abuse is genuinely shocking. It’s solely on men to be better, to call out bad behaviour when we see or hear it, and act as a genuine allies when we see someone being harassed. I would recommend it to all men.”
Find more information about what the council is doing to help eliminate violence against women and girls.
The consultation regarding Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) covering Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Leyton (2020), Highams Park and Chingford (2019) closes on Wednesday 22 June.
PSPOs give the council and police officers additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. This includes problematic street drinking, aggressive begging and the use of threatening and insulting language and behaviour.
The Orders have so far been instrumental in tackling street based anti-social behaviour, 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 prosecuted.
The two PSPOs covering the whole borough are being considered by the council for a further 3 year extension until 2025.
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.
There is only one day to go until the Tour de Waltham Forest returns.
With seven rides ranging from 7km to 20km on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June, there is something for experienced cyclists and casual riders alike. There's more information on the event on our website.
All routes take in some of the most picturesque green spaces in the borough. The majority are on segregated cycle tracks or off road. There are small parts of each route which are on quiet residential roads and these will remain open to other traffic throughout the event.
Some rides are fully booked so don’t miss out.
This year we are marking Autistic Pride Day and Learning Disability Week in Fellowship Square. These events will be a fun-packed way to celebrate our autistic residents and our residents with learning disabilities, as well as their friends and families.
Join us in the Town Hall Foyer on Friday 17 June, 3-5.30pm and in Fellowship Square on Monday 20 June, 1-6pm for food, information from some of our key services and partners, live music and lots of fun activities, including Lego-building stations and toy library.
With high temperatures forecast for Friday, we want to ensure everyone can enjoy the event safely. The activities for Autistic Pride Day will be held indoors, but for those who want to enjoy the sunshine, the fountains will be on throughout the day. A quiet space has been arranged in the Assembly Hall if the crowds get too overwhelming, and drinking water will also be available so don't forget to bring a water bottle.
Learn more about these events and other activities over Learning Disabilities week.
Join us at the North Chingford Heritage Trail launch event on Saturday 25 June, 1-5pm at North Chingford Station Community hub.
Step back in time and learn about North Chingford as you explore the top 20 heritage landmarks on our guided trail, all brought to life through a limited addition booklet and hand illustrated maps available on the day. There will also be an activity pack for children – not to be missed out on!
There will be entertainment from 2pm and guided tours throughout the afternoon. The trail will continue to be free to enjoy throughout the summer, with maps available at the hub.
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 to mark the contributions of the Afro-Caribbean community. Events begin with a Windrush Day flag raising ceremony at Fellowship Square on Wednesday 22 June, followed by the first-ever Waltham Forest Windrush Festival on Saturday 25 June taking place at multiple locations across the borough.
Faith Agba-Butler (Former Mayor’s Youth Team), Betty Smith, John James (Chief Executive of the Sickle Cell Society), Claudine Matthews (consultant dietitian), Charles Smith, Rico Richards (Former Mayor’s Youth Team) pictured at a prize-giving ceremony with former Mayor Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste
It’s World Sickle Cell Day on Sunday 19 June 2022 - this year’s theme is Shine the Light on Sickle Cell. The initiative was started during the former Mayor of Waltham Forest Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste’s ‘Sickle Cell Disease and Nutrition Schools Education Campaign 2021/22’. Find out more about how local secondary schools and partners came together to help raise more awareness about Sickle Cell in Waltham Forest.
We want local people to take part in an in-person workshop to share thoughts and experiences on what’s important in your local area.
Everybody who participates in the two-hour in-person workshops with will receive a £25 voucher for taking part, and be reimbursed for travel expenses. Depending on where you live, you'll be invited to one of the following workshops:
- Wed 22 June, 2-4pm at Hale End Library
- Thu 23 June, 2-4pm at Lea Bridge Library
Email research@youngfoundation.org or call 07311799703 (10am-4pm, weekdays) to apply for the sessions.
The Eco Show Home, a fully retrofitted Victorian four-bedroom house on Greenleaf Road in Walthamstow transformed into an exciting and innovative showcase of energy efficient technology, has welcomed 2,200 visitors since it opened in September 2020.
The Eco Show Home will close to visitors at the end of June; there are a few spaces remaining on the final free tours.
Join in a unique, free yoga class and gong meditation from East of Eden in Fellowship Square on Tuesday 21 June.
Yoga will be taught by James Cassidy and run from 7.30-8.30pm and is open to everyone – no experience necessary. A gong sound meditation with Sami Fitz will follow from 8.45pm to 9.30pm as the sun sets.
If you’ve not tried a gong bath, it's a type of inactive meditation, where you get super comfortable, lie back and let the healing vibrations of sound wash over you. Bring your own mat and blanket, and set yourself down as the sun disappears.
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Employment rights and advice
Work Rights Centre hosts multilingual employment rights and employability advice sessions twice per month at Leytonstone Library, E11 1HG. The confidential workshop covers topics including employment rights, CV building and job searches, welfare and benefits and the EU Settlement Scheme. The next session takes place Wednesday 22 June between 10:30am and 4:30pm. No booking required.
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Worried about money? Find free and confidential advice
We know that the pressures of debt can feel even more consuming at this time while trying to juggle the rising costs of your other expenses. 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 Wednesday 13 July and Wednesday 17 August. You don’t need to make an appointment, just visit the reception from 9am.
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Support and advice for private tenants
The Private Sector Housing and Licensing Team host weekly drop-in sessions every Friday morning between 9am and 12.30pm at Wood Street Library, 1 Troubridge Square, Wood St, London E17 3HB. It’s a chance for private rental tenants to stop by and speak with a member of the team face-to-face about the issues they are experiencing associated with a private rented property including someone’s rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of landlords. No booking needed – just pop in.
Free security training course
We're offering residents the opportunity to complete a one-week Security Industry Authority (SIA) training course. This usually costs £500, but we're offering it to you free of charge.
Waltham Forest Council Security Jobs Academy is working alongside Expedient Security,
AP Security and Regency Security, who will interview candidates and, if successful, offer a position prior to training.
In order to qualify for the Free SIA License and Training, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a Waltham Forest resident
- be aged 19+
- have the right to work in the UK and have been here five years or more
- not be in full time education
Register today.
A foot in the door to the craft beer industry
It’s your last chance to apply for the five-week Craft Brewery & Taproom Jobs Pathway - part of our creative and hospitality jobs academy. This intensive training course, co-created by Exale Brewing, Waltham Forest College and the council, will provide a foot in the door to Waltham Forest’s booming craft brewery industry. Partners include Signature Brew, Wild Card Brewery, Hackney Brewery, Neckstamper Brewing, East London Brewery Company, Truman’s, Pillar’s Brewery and Brewdog. Application deadline: Monday 20 June 2022, 12 noon.
Find more info and apply on our Craft Brewery and Taproom page.
Free three-Day Music Masterclass
Last chance to book for Unexplored Universe, a free three-day music masterclass led by internationally renowned singer and composer Randolph Matthews. Aimed at musicians of Waltham Forest aged 16-30, the council’s course will help people turn their thoughts into music and, ultimately, a live performance on the final day.
Find more information on our website.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Adult Learning website. Explore available job opportunities and apply for roles that suit you.
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