We can all play our part in protecting our young people
I am devastated to have to write to you about the senseless murder of a young person in Waltham Forest.
By now, many of you will have heard about the death of 16-year-old Renell Charles, who was stabbed in Markhouse Road, Walthamstow last Friday.
No family should have to deal with the loss of somebody so young. Those that knew Renell have told me he was extremely intelligent, caring and well liked by his peers and my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved him.
My thanks go to the wonderful staff at Kelmscott School, who are helping students during this awful time, and the council’s priority now is to support the school and those connected with Renell as they begin to come to terms with this tragedy. The council commissions Kooth to offer mental health and wellbeing support to young people, and in addition to its usual services, Kooth is currently offering direct in-person counselling to pupils at Kelmscott. I also want to thank our brilliant community youth group partners, who have been helping young people and listening to their concerns. You can read more about them below.
Police have arrested and charged someone, but violent crime can never be stopped merely by responding to tragedies when they happen.
Together with Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, I have been in regular contact with Borough Commander Simon Crick, to find out what the police are doing to reassure residents, especially our young people. You can read his statement below.
Last night I attended a community meeting of around 150 concerned residents at Stafford Hall in Walthamstow with Simon, where we talked about how we collectively go about tackling violence in the borough. You can read a statement from Simon below.
Many at the public meeting and elsewhere have asked what is being done to support our young people, to keep them safe and give them somewhere to go.
We have already identified that early intervention is key to addressing the root causes of violence, and we have a number of initiatives in place through our Violence Reduction Partnership and other projects.
I share your concerns and give my commitment to learn from what has happened and strengthen our partnerships, to work together to tackle violence. The solution is complex and will involve every one of us, not just the police. We can all play our part to rid violence from our streets. That can include reporting any concerns you have about a young person you know who has been harmed, exploited or exposed to violence, or volunteering as a community mentor.
If you're worried about a young person in your life, please don't remain silent. There is help available.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Project Zero is one of the brilliant community youth organisations we work with to provide safe spaces across the borough
When it comes to preventing violence, evidence tells us that the first 1,001 days of a child’s life are critical to their future physical health, emotional capability and resilience. Which is why we independently fund family centres, providing parents and carers with the integrated, wraparound support they need to give children the best possible start in life. This family support is crucial to preventing a range of harms, including violence, in our communities, and we are looking to invest more in the future.
We also fund a range of projects to support young people and families. These include:
- on-street engagement with young people through Streetbase and Spark2Life, who also deliver a programme recruiting and training local residents as community mentors, to support young people who may be vulnerable to gang involvement and exploitation
- our Space4All programme gives our young people safe places to spend time in, something we know is a priority from them. We currently have sessions running in 11 spaces across the borough, with new locations due to open soon in Higham Hill, Wood Street, Walthamstow Community Hub and at Walthamstow Stadium in South Chingford. The programme is a partnership between the council and local community youth organisations, including Project Zero, Break Tha Cycle, Lymore Gardens, Pin Point, Creative Engagement Services/Young Urban Arts Foundation, Worth Unlimited, WF Community Hub and Treasure Me Kids
- working with schools to deliver personal safety and life skills sessions, as well as providing specialist support for young people at risk of exclusion and exploitation
Drop-in session in Leyton
Tomorrow, Friday 12 May, we are opening the Leyton Family Hub at 215 Queens Road, E17 8PJ, from 3pm to 7pm for a special drop-in session, where we will have dedicated youth workers and support for young people, as well as members of our Youth Engagement team, who will be able to speak with young people in a safe and confidential space.
The needless and senseless loss of life of one of our young people on Friday has sent shockwaves through our community, our schools and my police officer colleagues.
My deepest condolences and thoughts remain with Renell’s family at this incredibly difficult time. As a father of two young boys myself I can only imagine the grief and anguish that they must be feeling.
I am grateful to all of my police and local authority colleagues for the incredible hard work that has taken place over the last few days to offer re-assurance and support to the many people that have been affected in so many ways by the tragedy that unfolded on Friday.
I would like to recognise the huge effort put in by the Murder Investigation Teams over the bank holiday weekend, working tirelessly to secure a charge and remand to court for the person believed responsible for Renell’s murder.
Last night, along with Grace Williams, and other senior colleagues, I attended a community meeting to discuss Renell’s death. The turnout, by community members was indicative of the strength of the local community sentiment about this horrific incident. The desire for the community to be involved in reducing violence in our communities in partnership with the police, local authority and third sector organisations was clear.
As the Borough Commander for Waltham Forest I am totally committed to doing all I can to help achieve this and I urge everyone to stand together in the face of violence and to remain united as a community.
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Foster carers Julien and Pauline
We are celebrating Foster Care Fortnight between 15 and 28 May, and would like to say a huge thank you to our amazing foster carers, who are the borough’s unsung heroes.
There are currently 341 children in care in Waltham Forest and we urgently need more foster carers to provide safe and loving homes for children who cannot live with their birth families. Local foster carers are essential in keeping vulnerable young people connected with everything they are familiar with. If you have a loving heart and enough space to foster, please get in touch.
We're pleased to tell you that Leyton Library is set to reopen next Monday, 15 May. This follows a major refurbishment after it was severely damaged by flooding in December 2022, as well as a secondary flood in March this year. The library will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10am and 6pm, and closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
Visitors will find a fresh new floor layout and appearance. From the summer, face-to-face housing services will be available on the first floor. There will be a series of local events to celebrate the reopening - watch this space and our social media channels for more details as they become available.
Do you like fixing stuff for fun? Bring your broken electrical items to Fixing Club with Forest Fixers, spend the evening fixing with others, and share your own skills.
The next Fixing Club will be held on Thursday 18 May from 6.30pm to 9pm and is free. You can catch the Forest Fixers every third Thursday of the month at 228 Chingford Mount. Just turn up or contact ForestFixers@outlook.com for further details.
Curator-led Tour of Ashish: Fall in Love and Be More Tender
18 May 2023, 2pm
See the gallery's current major exhibition with a curator as your guide. A great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the work and ideas behind Ashish’s creations. More on this event.
Summer Term Teachers' Evening
17 May 2023, 4.30pm to 6.30pm
Teachers can enjoy a private tour of the Gallery's latest exhibition Ashish: Fall in Love and Be More Tender, followed by a talk and take away workshop activity covering sustainable fashion, local developments for climate adaptation and a preview of the autumn term schools' workshops programme. Teachers' evening info.
Family Day: Elevate the Everyday
3 June 2023, 1pm to 4pm
Free drop-in event inspired by Ashish Gupta's use of recycled vintage fabrics. Bring old clothing to life with colourful badges and patches. For families with children of all ages. More info.
Andrew Wagland shows off some of the historic coronation trims
While the eyes of many were on the coronation of King Charles III last weekend, one of the borough's businesses was looking back at the last time a monarch was crowned.
Blackhorse Lane's Wagland Textiles supplied approximately 80 per cent of all trims and fabrics to Queen Elizabeth II's gown at her 1953 coronation.
The company was founded in 1919 and moved to Blackhorse Lane in 2000. It is now part of Blackhorse Collective, Waltham Forest's first Creative Enterprise Zone.
Andrew Wagland, the Managing Director of Wagland Textiles, was kind enough to show us some of the materials they still have stored. Take a look at our fabric digging video in their warehouse on Instagram.
Cllr Louise Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Adult Servicesl, serves guests at the Coronation Cockey-themed party
Last week, we celebrated the Coronation with an old-fashioned Cockney party at the Dementia Hub in Leyton. Guests listened to old Cockney songs, play Coronation bingo and enjoy tea and scones together. Read the full story.
Next week is Dementia Action Week, from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 May. We have a packed programme of activity throughout the week.
Did you know Bucks Fizz star and Eurovision winner Cheryl Baker's sister used to run a clothes shop in Walthamstow High Street?
If, like us, you're obsessed with a certain song contest happening in Liverpool this weekend, why not take yourself along to the Red Lion in Leytonstone on Saturday for a special watch-together-singalong Eurovision event to tackle social isolation, presented by local community group, WILMA.
From 4.30pm to 1am there’ll be food, mocktails and family-friendly fun activities. And you’ll get a chance to show off your karaoke skills, and join up with refugees in our community from Ukraine and other places.
Entry is free but please book first to guarantee your place.
The importance of mental health and wellbeing will be championed at Fellowship Square next week across two events:
- Tuesday 16 May, 6.30pm to 7.45pm: Yoga and Sound Meditation (£3), led by the local yogis at East of Eden - a 75-minute session of yoga including gong sound bath
- Thursday 18 May, 11am to 5pm: Wellbeing Fair (free) - a celebration of our community’s wellbeing, with food and drink, taster sessions and wellbeing business stalls.
The events are part of Mental Health Awareness Week: check our website for more information about how we can support your mental health. Booking essential.
Free family trip to Bletchley Park
Discover the fascinating history of Bletchley Park, the once top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers. Part of Waltham Forest Adult Learning Services Multiply project, you and your family can explore stories through films, interactive displays, museum collections and recreated WW2 rooms for free!
The trip takes place on Wednesday 31 May 2023 and includes return coach travel from central Walthamstow, entry to Bletchley Park, a packed lunch and lots of family activities and games. Children must be age seven and over, and adults can accompany up to two children.
No Tube from Leyton and Leytonstone stations this weekend
On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May there will be no Central Line service between Liverpool Street and Woodford/Newbury Park, including the Night Tube on Saturday night. The Night Tube will also not run on Friday night between Marble Arch and Loughton/Hainault. Rail replacement services will be running.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Waltham Forest Jobs 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. And check out our LinkedIn.
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