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No time like the present🎄
Christmas kicks off across Waltham Forest this week. I love this time of year – there is always so much going on across the borough, and this festive season we have more happening than ever before.
Tonight, Thursday 23 November, sees the Christmas lights being turned on in Leytonstone, followed by lots more events in and around the town centre during the next few weeks – see a full line-up here. Then on Saturday 25 November we’ll be unveiling the tree and lights at Fellowship Square, complete with film screenings, fountain displays, and fantastic food from local traders. There are also events in North Chingford, Chingford Mount and Highams Park coming up in the next few weeks – see more details below.
Christmas can be hard for many people. Please don’t struggle alone because we have lots support in place to help. If you're on your own and would like company in a warm and friendly setting, head to one of our community living rooms, which you can find throughout the borough, from North Chingford to South Leytonstone. Discover your nearest one here. And if you're struggling with money this winter, please look at our cost of living help and information on our website.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Chingford
Highams Park
Leyton
Leytonstone
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Winter in the Stone: multiple events on multiple dates around Leytonstone Town Centre from today, Thursday 23 November, including markets, craft workshops, food and drink, and live music. Follow @leytonstoneloveslocal on Instagram for updates
Walthamstow
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Christmas lights switch-on and other activities, Fellowship Square: Saturday 25 November, Town Hall, Forest Road
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Ravenswood Christmas Market, Saturday 25 November, from 10am to late, featuring food, drink, entertainment and Santa's grotto, Ravenswood Industrial Estate
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Winter Late at WMG: Thursday 30 November. Late night shopping at the William Morris Gallery, Forest Road
Tell us about your Christmas events!
If you're planning a free community event for the festive season, email Residents' News. We'll try to mention as many as we can in the next few weeks, either here in the newsletter, or on our social channels. Follow us to keep up with what's happening in the borough:
Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok
This Saturday 25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It marks the start of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Waltham Forest. We are committed to making Waltham Forest a place where women and girls feel safe to live without fear or harassment. We have an enormous number of people and voluntary organisations here in the borough who work tirelessly to bring about an end to violence against women, inside and outside the home, and they are being celebrated at an event in Leyton on Wednesday 6 December.
You can download our ground-breaking Safe Streets app to help us fight back against violence and harassment. And if you're a man and would like to find out how you can support women and become an ally against mysogyny, sign up for our free Stand By Her training next Monday, 27 November.
You may have heard that councils around the country are suffering from financial problems due to a range of issues. Watch the Leader of Waltham Forest Council, Grace Williams, explain what's going on, and what the council is doing about it.
Free period products are now available in libraries across Waltham Forest.
Through our partnership with Hey Girls, we’re providing sustainable period products at all of our libraries – so please do take what you need, when you need them. Providing these products helps to create period equality for everyone in Waltham Forest.
Revel Puck is bringing its big top and a brand new show to Fellowship Square this December following its hugely successful run in Leyton Jubilee Park earlier in the year.
The Ruckus: Everyone's Invited, is inspired by folklore and the myths and mysteries of London, and is going to a fantastic family friendly event for all to enjoy.
Performances are from Thursday 14 December to Monday 1 January, and Waltham Forest residents can get tickets to the preview performances on 14 and 15 December for £5! Use code FELLOWPUCK at the checkout.
Or get 15 per cent off midweek evening performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays using code WEEKNIGHT.
If you receive Universal Credit or other benefits, you could be eligible for a discounted broadband deal from your internet provider. These deals are often called “social tariffs”. Find a list of available social tariffs on our dedicated Let’s Get Digital webpage, as well as tips on finding free WiFi and reducing mobile data usage to help you save money.
Ice to see you, to see you, ice: gritters and community Snow Angels at work last winter
With parts of the country expecting snow this week, we want to ensure residents are fully prepared if temperatures dip in Waltham Forest.
Out and about
The Council’s Winter Service Plan outlines our priorities for keeping the borough moving, including the gritting and clearing of priority roads and footpaths. You can play your part by registering as one of our Snow Angels, locating your nearest grit bin or by emailing our brand new Snow Desk Team at snowdesk@walthamforest.gov.uk.
At home
Installing insulation or energy saving devices can help lower your bills and make your home warmer this winter. Take two minutes to fill in our new lower bills calculator to see what help you're eligible for.
🔥Are you eligible for an interest-free loan to improve the energy efficiency of your home?
Homeowners with Energy Performance Certificate D or below in Waltham Forest can now apply for a new, 0% interest loan of up to £20,000 to help make their home more energy efficient. The Energy Upgrade Loan is being offered to local people by the Council, in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust. It could be really useful for anyone thinking of renovating their home, those who want to make big savings on their bills and carbon footprint, as well as landlords who need to make their properties compliant with regulations.
Pop along to Station Road this Saturday, 25 November between 9am and 4pm, for the next North Chingford Village Market. You'll find a variety of stalls with an emphasis on all things foodie, brought to you by Ace Events, in association with Social Street Markets. Stallholders include Jack's Bakery, Flavours Caribbean, Kukuya Kitchen and eco-friendly candles from Wick & Flame.
We haven't seen a significant rise in hate crimes in the borough following recent events in Israel and Gaza and we are working closely with community partners to monitor the local situation and remain vigilant. If you see or experience hate crime or harassment, please call the police on 101 or use the Stop Hate UK online reporting tool. By reporting incidents you can help prevent anyone else being victimised.
Our neighbourhood teams are looking out for graffiti and any other signs of hate crimes, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. You can read more about how we respond to hate crime and how you can get involved in the No Space For Hate campaign on our website.
November is Islamophobia Awareness Month, an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of our Muslim friends, neighbours, and colleagues in Waltham Forest. Our diversity is our strength, and we are at our best when we come together. We will not let world events divide us here at home.
World Nursery Rhyme week took place between Monday 13 and Friday 17 November, and all libraries in Waltham Forest offered free nursery rhyme sessions for under 5s to celebrate.
Did you know that nursery rhymes are excellent teaching tools? They can help develop language and literacy skills, numeracy skills, social, physical, emotional skills... the list goes on. We visited the We are Friends storytelling session at Wood Street Library. We are Friends storytelling sessions are for all generations, where families with under-5s can connect with people over 65. We are Friends sessions are a collaboration with The Together Project, Waltham Forest Libraries and LBWF Early Years Service.
Members of the African National Congress on a visit to England in June 1914, with Sol Plaatjie on the far right
If you're interested in local history, photography and art, join these fun, interactive workshops led by photographer Trisha McCauley, made possible by our Make It Happen grants scheme. You'll learn the basics of portrait photography, or drawing, at the same time as learning about South African writer and political campaigner Solomon Plaatje, who lived in Leyton between 1914 and 1915.
Workshops take place from 3.15pm to 5pm on Thursday 30 November and Thursday 7 December at Good Shepherd Studios in Leytonstone.
We've got lots of events for young and old at our libraries this festive season.
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Rhyme Time: kids' story and rhyme sessions, complete with a special visit from Santa. From Friday 8 December
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Craft making: adult creative sessions. From Monday 4 December
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Card making: family-friendly session making Christmas bauble pop up cards. From Friday 15 December
Next Friday, 1 December, is World AIDS Day, an annual reminder of lives lost and the need to end HIV infection and stigma. In Waltham Forest, we're marking the day with two opportunities to get HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) tests, discreet support around sexual health questions, and pick up some freebies.
- Tuesday 28 November, 10am to 4pm: outside Walthamstow Library
- Thursday 30 November, 10am to 4pm: Leyton Cricket Ground
Positive East, our commissioned service for HIV support, is helping run the events.
Careers guidance sessions
Do you have a child aged 16 or 17 currently not in education or training? They can come along to career guidance sessions at Leyton Library every Thursday, from 10.30 am to 4pm.
Appointments are available through the 16 to 17 Participation Service by emailing participationservice@walthamforest.gov.uk or calling 0208 4961920 between 10.30am and 3pm, Tuesday to Friday.
Last chance to have your say on local policing
There’s just one week left before our survey on local policing closes. What do the police do well, and what could they do better?
Your answers will play an important part in the evidence given to the country’s first Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Neighbourhood Policing, which we are holding next year. Make sure your opinion is heard.
Post-16 options brochure launches for students
We are delighted to launch Your Future, Your Choice Post-16 e-brochure 2023/24. We are working with our schools, colleges, and employers to provide you with opportunities to help shape your future.
Whether you are in year 9 thinking about your GCSEs, year 11 and thinking about your next step after GCSEs, or on a course and looking at what options are open to you next, we hope that this brochure gives you the information you need to start thinking about your choices. You can get support from your school and college careers team or visit the council website for further information.
Local graduates: learn new skills and earn £30k a year!
The NGDP is a two-year scheme for graduates looking to pursue a career in local government, with a starting salary of £30,000. Each year the selected graduates will work across different council departments, where you can broaden your skillset and work towards a level 7 postgraduate certificate in Leadership and Management. We’re especially passionate about recruiting locally and supporting those with a connection to the borough so find out more below!
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.
You can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website, and check out our LinkedIn.
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