"These are children who have travelled thousands of miles after facing persecution or war"
You may have seen in the media today around migrants being housed in a hotel in the borough by the Home Office. I was shocked and sickened to hear allegations of two serious sexual assaults against children in recent weeks at the hotel.
I have written to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman to urge the Government to make immediate improvements to the safety measures at the site to prevent further harm.
These are children who have travelled thousands of miles after facing persecution or war elsewhere, and are now placed in unsafe conditions by the Home Office. Waltham Forest has a proud history of welcoming people from across the world and the community response to these and other asylum seekers is exemplary.
I have visited the hotel being used to find out for myself about the conditions these people are facing. After seeing families crammed in small hotel rooms with no cooking or communal facilities and little clothing or food for months on end, you can’t help to feel that the system is not supporting them humanely.
Waltham Forest Council, alongside our health, education and voluntary sector partners, is helping with access to school and health services, appropriate clothing, sufficient food and emotional support. Our Early Help team is on site every day to work with families who have young children to help them as much as we can.
For those wanting to help, Lloyd Park Children’s Charity has started an online fundraiser to help provide critical support for newly arrived people seeking asylum in our borough.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Climate change is happening here and now - we need to take bold action to achieve our ambition of reducing our net-carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
Our new Climate Action Plan explains how to take local action to achieve lower carbon emissions and better lives for our residents.
The plan contains 20 actions in four areas: energy efficient buildings; a place for people not cars; consuming less and recycling more; and a greener, more resilient borough.
We are already helping 2,000 households improve their energy efficiency by installing quick, easy measures including LED lightbulbs, draughtproofing, and radiator panels. Here is a short video that explains how you can install these improvements at home and start saving money today, and at the same time reduce harmful emissions caused by domestic energy use.
Following the launch of our Winter Safety Net to help residents through the cost of living emergency, we’re highlighting different areas of support available in the borough. One of our priorities is to help residents reduce their energy bills. We are highlighting ways in which homes can be kept warmer, and less energy used and wasted, especially in light of the current climate emergency.
Read information below on our website, including useful tips from local charity partners The HEET Project.
We’re looking for community groups to apply for the next round of the community ward funding - applications are now open until Friday 18 November 2022.
We want applications that support residents around the cost of living, and which demonstrate value for money and contribute inclusively to residents. Sound like something you could deliver?
In recent years air quality has improved in Waltham Forest, but we know much more still needs to be done to create a clean and healthy borough for everyone who lives, works, and visits Waltham Forest. People like the pupils at Greenleaf School who we spoke to recently about air quality for this Facebook video.
This is your last chance to have your say on our work on air quality and help us create our Air Quality Action Plan for 2023-2027, due to be published in spring 2023. Closing date is Monday 7 November 2022.
Islamophobia is a form of intolerance which is too often ignored, yet it affects a large and valued part of our community here in Waltham Forest. That’s why #TacklingDenial is the theme of November’s Islamophobia Awareness Month and why we are urging residents to sign up for our #NoSpaceforHate Bystander Awareness Training.
The free, three part course is about helping people spot hate, diffuse situations and safely support victims. The training sessions will run online from 6pm-8.30pm on the following dates:
- Monday 21 November
- Monday 28 November
- Tuesday 29 November
You will need to attend all three sessions to complete the course.
If you know anyone aged between 11 and 25 who lives, works, or studies in Waltham Forest, we want to hear their views.
Give them a nudge to get involved in our Big Youth Conversation and share their thoughts, ideas and opinions on the things that matter most to them.
And as an extra bonus all young people who complete our survey are in with a chance of winning a £100 voucher...
Last Sunday, 30 October, saw Leyton's Score Centre host the first Football for All Cup.
LGBTQ+ supporter teams from across London competed in the tournament, with Millwall Romans crowned champions. Players then moved to nearby Leyton Orient for a presentation in the West Stand in front of Cllr Naheed Asghar, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and tournament organiser Cllr Emma Best, Leader of the Conservative Group on Waltham Forest Council.
The tournament promotes LGBTQ+ inclusivity in football ahead of the men’s World Cup in Qatar and was organised in conjunction with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
Congratulations to everyone involved – we can't wait for next year!
Get ready for Guy Fawkes night at Fellowship Square with a free illuminated fountain show, plus street food market featuring local food and drink sellers.
If you fancy something a little different, there's also a silent disco. That will cost £8 to hire the headphones, bookable in advance here. Entry to the street food market and the Fellowship Square fountain show is free.
Join us in Fellowship Square for the East Asian Dance Festival, hosted by Mile Rainbow C.I.C.
The project aims to help Waltham Forest residents improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing through East Asian dances and culture.
The first session is on Wednesday 9 November and the theme is Korean dance. This will be followed by Chinese ethnic minority dance on Wednesday 16 November and Japanese dance on Wednesday 23 November.
Cllr Bellamy, Mayor of Waltham Forest, addresses staff and volunteers at the launch of the Togetherness Café
Local community organisation, Blossom, recently welcomed the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Karen Bellamy, to the launch of the Togetherness Café at Leytonstone Library. The event was attended by more than 100 local community organisations from the Waltham Forest Social Prescribing Service to businesses.
The Togetherness café runs every Wednesday from 12pm-2pm and provides a safe space for residents to drop-in for a chat, get involved in activities or find out about local support services. Find out about the Togetherness Café.
There's a full day of community cricket events for young people organised by Capital Kids Cricket at Leyton Cricket Hub this Saturday, 5 November.
During the day, there are two Leyton Wicketz sessions, one for under 9s from 12 to 1.30pm, followed by a session for older kids, up to 13 years old, from 1.30 to 3pm.
In the evening, there is a refugee and community cricket session, between 7pm and 9pm.
Email shakeel.ahmed@ckc.london for more information.
We recently mentioned that local walking group the Loopy Walkers were completing a 200km challenge to raise money for Branches, Waltham Forest Churches' Night Shelter, currently celebrating 25 years of providing housing and related support services to single homeless adults in the borough.
We're pleased to say they have now completed their challenge and have raised over £5,000.Well done to them - and there's still time to donate, if you are able to support this worthy cause.
Celebrate Guy Fawkes night by making a firework glitter display at our free craft session at North Chingford Library, Station Road E4 on Saturday 5 November from 10.30-11.30am. Suitable for children and adults. Reserve a place.
Come along to a free Story ‘n’ Rhyme session, taking place across all our libraries. The sessions are aimed at babies and toddlers up to four years old, where we read some great stories and sing together some of our favourite nursery songs. You’ll find this week's sessions under Libraries in the drop down 'filter' menu on the events section of our website.
Top 5 adult fiction paperbacks borrowed from Waltham Forest Libraries
Week commencing Monday 31 October 2022
- Snow Bride by Killy Court
- The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
- The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
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Protect your child against polio
A new polio booster vaccine is available for children aged one to nine to protect them against the potential spread of polio. The booster vaccine is available in addition to the regular polio vaccination schedule unless your child has had a polio vaccine within the last year. Your GP practice will contact eligible families. Please ensure your child is registered with a GP.
Find your local polio vaccination clinic.
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Boost your immunity
Protect yourself this winter with the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccines. Protection provided by Covid-19 vaccines decreases over time and flu viruses can change every year. Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself, friends and family from these dangerous viruses. You can get both vaccines at local pharmacies in Waltham Forest. Visit our vaccine clinic page to find out opening days and times.
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Want a career in the creative sector?
The Creative Industries Hub and Waltham Forests Future Formed have a great opportunity for anyone over 18 who want a career in the creative sector. If you have always wanted to work in TV and Film Production, our Set Ready programme is for you. There are only 20 spaces, with training taking place on 22 and 23 November 2022. Applications close at 5pm on Monday 7 November. Register your interest and more info.
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Looking for a career in a 5-star luxury environment?
Our employment opportunities team is running a two-week Customer Service course at Waltham Forest College from 28 November 2022. You will receive a Customer Service qualification with a conditional job offer prior to the course starting.
They have vacancies in front of house, food and beverage, housekeeping, guest services and back of house. Spaces are limited so register now by emailing Harpal.Rull@walthamforest.gov.uk.
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.
And you can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website or LinkedIn.
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