Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!
As we head towards Christmas and New Year, let's take a chance to reflect on 2023 – a year that saw world and national events test us, but one that has shown we are stronger than ever as a community.
There were many special occasions that brought us together to celebrate. The Pride of Waltham Forest Awards and Waltham Forest Pride itself, Black History Month, Windrush 75, the Chingford Mount Festival and the Tour de Waltham Forest were just a few of the events around the borough we enjoyed this year. Fellowship Square also hosted celebrations and screenings for the Coronation of King Charles III and the final of the Women's World Cup. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers and organisations that made them happen.
Christmas is a time for celebration for many of us, but not for everyone. The Town Hall will be illuminated green this evening, Thursday 21 December, to mark the Samaritans' Light Up for the Longest Night campaign. The Samaritans offer hugely important support throughout the festive period and if you or someone you know is struggling, you can call them on freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make Waltham Forest such an amazing borough to live, work in and visit this year. My thoughts are particularly with those of you who will be working over the holidays, helping to keep services running and offering support to those who need it.
Please scroll down to find our Christmas and New Year opening hours. You can also find more information about the much-needed upgrade to Leyton Underground station. £13.7million in Levelling Up funding will be combined with up to £9million in contributions secured by the council from local housing development. With funding now green lit by central government, the work is set to begin next year.
However you will be spending the festive period, I hope you have a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Here's to a happy and peaceful 2024.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Click the postcode nearest you to find events coming up around the borough.
Visualsation of the new Leyton Underground station
There's great news coming down the tracks for Leyton as the Government has approved Transport for London’s (TfL) business case for redeveloping the Tube station. This means £13.7million in Levelling Up funding will be combined with up to £9million raised by the council through new housing developments in the borough, resulting in a major upgrade to the current site.
The plans include an additional ticket hall, two new staircases and two lifts, making Leyton station step-free. Works are expected to begin in summer 2024, with the new station facilities opening in 2026. The station will continue to operate as usual through the construction period.
We are excited to release our new fostering campaign video, featuring some of our amazing foster carers and the voices of young people from the borough.
Christmas is almost here and there are still over 200 children in Waltham Forest who need loving homes. Our #BeTheOne campaign aims to make sure we can make this happen. Learn more about how you can change a child’s life on our fostering website.
When you’re out with your mates over the festive season, sometimes it’s hard not to go overboard with drinking. Here are some practical tips and tools to help you cut back and stay safe while enjoying a drink or two.
- Download the DrinkCoach app to keep track of your drinks.
- Have a plan and stick to it: tell your mates how many you're having.
- Switch to lower-alcohol alternatives, and have some water in between drinks.
- Avoid rounds that can make it harder to stick to your limit.
- Have some food with your drink.
We're pleased to announce that Stow Film Lounge is returning to Fellowship Square in January 2024.
Launched 12 years ago by long-time Waltham Forest residents Nick Bertram and Marcus Shepherd, Stow Film Lounge has shown over 550 films on the big screen, keeping cinema alive in the borough.
They'll kick start the year on Friday 12 January with new British comedy, Sweet Sue, which was partially filmed in the borough. Doors open at 7pm and tickets start from £8. Book yours here. Further screenings include Bambi, The Phliadelphia Story and How to Train Your Dragon.
We're updating our Local Heritage List, which celebrates characterful and historic buildings and structures in the borough.
The list is a way to learn more about our shared heritage and spaces that makes Waltham Forest a special place to live, work and visit. Tell us which buildings in your area have historical, cultural, and architectural interest that represent our diverse borough.
Send in your nominations by Sunday 28 January 2024 using the link below. New additions for the Local Heritage List will be announced next summer at a special launch event.
Our new partnership with Peabody and the charity Furnishing Futures will see us working together to create professionally designed, fully furnished homes for domestic abuse survivors to move into and rebuild their lives.Â
The Furnishing Futures team has a background in both support work and interior design, and works with residents while being mindful of their past traumas. They use furniture donated by contacts in the interior design industry and supporters of the charity. In doing so, they saved 36,000kg of unwanted furniture from landfill last year alone.Â
We are committed to working to prevent domestic abuse and reduce the harm it causes to individuals, families, and communities.Â
Image: © Tatsuya Shirai
2023 has been a year of celebration at William Morris Gallery. Hugely popular exhibitions and events have led to a record number of visitors and strong engagement with local communities. In fact, July's Dialled In: The Park broke the record for the largest number of attendees in one day. We’re happy to report a marked increase in first time visitors in 2023 and more people from different backgrounds attending from around the borough.Â
This year saw the start of the Community Residency scheme, with four local groups now accessing meeting spaces and resources.
The Gallery team would like to say a huge thank you to Waltham Forest residents for their continued support. A busy programme of events for Radical Landscapes continues in 2024 and includes an In Conversation event with Turner Prize Winner Veronica Ryan on Thursday 18 January. Why not come along and see what's on offer for yourself? We want everyone to feel part of the what's happening, particularly if you’ve never visited before.
Image: @alexandriasphotography
Celebrate your ceremony in the heart of our community at the iconic Waltham Forest Town Hall. Be it the Strawberry Suite, the Marigold Room, or the Fellowship Civic Chamber, we have spaces to suit all party sizes.Â
You can book a tour of the award-winning building to come and have a look around. Visit the website today to get started. Our dedicated Waltham Forest Ceremonies team can’t wait to help plan your special day.Â
Contacting the council
During the Christmas and New Year period, all services except emergency services will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Monday 25 and Tuesday 26Â December, and New Year's Day, Monday 1Â January.Â
Family Hubs
- Chingford, Walthamstow and Leytonstone Family Hubs close after Friday 22 December and reopen on Tuesday 2 January
- Leyton Family Hub will be open Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December
- The Family Hubs phoneline will be open 9am to 7pm from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December (normally open until 9pm). Call 020 8496 4965
Community Living Rooms
Some of our Community Living Rooms will be closed between Christmas and New Year, but the following will be open to offer you a warm space and hot meal. Please click on the link to find opening hours: Skills Within at the Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH, and Blackhorse Road Baptist Church, 65 Blackhorse Rd, London E17 7AS.Â
Libraries
Our libraries will be operating different hours from Saturday 23 December and return to normal opening hours on Wednesday 3 January. Opening times are displayed at the entrance of each library, or check with staff. Please note all our libraries will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Walthamstow Wetlands
The Wetlands will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It will open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve between 9.30am and 3pm, and on New Year's Day from 9.30am to 4pm.
Waste collections: Christmas dates
From Christmas Day into the new year, your bin collection day will change. Click on the button below to find out more. Normal collection dates will return on the week commencing Monday 13 January.
Property licensing consultation launched
We currently operate two property licensing schemes. The selective licensing scheme is due to end in April 2025, and the additional HMO licensing scheme is due to end in March 2025. The schemes have helped improve housing conditions in the private rental sector, and we believe that licensing is an effective way to continue to do this.
We have launched a consultation to get the views of private tenants, residents and landlords as we decide whether to apply to central government to extend the large-scale selective licensing schemes. We aim to reach as many people as possible through this statutory consultation. Please take a minute to share your views. It is open for 12 weeks between Friday 15 December 2023 and Sunday 10 March 2024. The consultation response should only take 15 minutes. You can find further information about the consultation and take part on our website.
Come to Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service's Open Day
Are you considering a career change, looking to upskill, or eager to learn something new? Our full-time, part-time, and industry short courses await you at the Adult Learning Service Open Day. In most cases, you can kickstart your educational journey with us for free. Join us on the day to enrol in your preferred course, undergo assessments, and ensure the chosen path aligns perfectly with your aspirations. No need to book in advance.
Date:Â Friday, 5 January 2023;Â time:Â 10am to 2pm;Â location:Â Queens Road Learning Centre, 97 Queens Road, E17 8QR
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.Â
You can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website, and check out our LinkedIn.
|
