Don't lose your right to vote
It will soon be time for you to have your say on how our city is governed. The London Mayoral election is coming up on Thursday 2 May, and this year, there's a big difference if you cast your vote at a polling station.
The government changed the law in 2022, making it compulsory to show recognised photo ID to vote in person at all elections. With a General Election likely this year, the new rules will apply to that too.
At last year's local elections in other parts of the country, people wanting to vote without official ID were turned away and not allowed to vote. Please don't lose your right to have your say on how London is run. Officially recognised photo ID includes a driving licence, passport, Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster card, a biometric immigration document and more. You can find a full list here. It must be an original document - photocopies or scans won't be accepted.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID, don't worry. You can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate here. Or you can register for a postal vote, which is also helpful if you have mobility issues or travel a lot. If you can't remember if you're registered to vote or not, visit our website to check and register if you need to. Itās quick and easy ā youāll be done in ten minutes.Ā
I'm delighted that the William Morris Gallery is hosting a community Iftar event with local charity, PL84U AL-SUFFA, next week. Please do join if you can ā and my warmest wishes to those who are fasting during Ramadan.Ā
Ramadan Mubarak.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Click the postcode nearest you to find events coming up around the borough.
 Do you have a two-year-old child? The new Free Childcare Entitlement for working families with two-year-olds starts in April. To claim it, you will need to apply for an eligibility code by Sunday 31 March. If you apply and get your eligibility code after the deadline, you will have to wait until September 2024 to start claiming your free hours.
If you have a two-year-old child and receive certain government benefits, you will also be eligible for free childcare, but from a different scheme.
We know sometimes changes are confusing, but we want to make sure you have all the information you need. Call the Waltham Forest childcare team on 0208 496 3566, email childcare@walthamforest.gov.uk for advice and guidance, check out our website, or ask us a question using the link below.Ā
 Weāre buzzing at the news that weāve been awarded Ā£50,000 through the Mayor of Londonās Rewild London Fund to encourage and protect bees in the borough. The funding will help us create āstepping stoneā patches of bee-friendly habitat, providing a network of flowers and homes for pollinators from Queens Road Cemetery to Coppermill Lane and the Lea Valley, where the Brown-banded carder bee is present.
It will also support the continuation of management at Queens Road, that will respect the cemetery and its users and benefit wildlife. There will be opportunities for residents to learn more about local wildlife, including education sessions with local schools, community planting days and bee walks.
The project will help to reduce surface water flood risk and improve green spaces for residents to enjoy.
 Join local cross-community interfaith initiative PL84U AL-SUFFA, at William Morris Gallery for a community Iftar event.
You are warmly invited to gather together at this time during Ramadan to break your fast and pray. All members of the community are welcome. Refreshments will be provided.Ā
Where: William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road, Walthamstow E17 4PP
When: Tuesday 19 March, 5pm to 9pm
The event is hosted in partnership with Waltham Forest Council.
 Cllr Gardiner chats to residents at Leyton Family Hub
Our brilliant Family Hubs offer support for families on a wide range of topics and offer plenty of activities for young people and their parents and carers.
On Thursday 14 March, Cllr Kizzy Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, visited our Leyton Family Hub. She was joined by Andrea Leadsom MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, to learn about our support for families, including our Best Start in Life and Space4All projects.
Waltham Forest is one of the 75 local authorities in England taking part in the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
 On Saturday 4 May from noon until 2am, Leytonstoneās independent music festival Shake the High Road returns.
Taking place across various venues in the area, you can buy early bird tickets now. Artists so far announced, with more to come, include Nathan Fake (Live), Deptford Northern Soul Club, Daudi Matsuki, Donna Thompson, Wrongtom meets The Ragga Twins, Vanity Fairy Alena Arpels, Minor Conflict and the Walthamstow Rock 'n' Roll Book Club, with special guest. Shake the High Road is supported by Waltham Forest Council and local Leytonstone business, Trading Places.
 This Easter we will be running a range of free family activities across the borough from 10am to 12.30pm daily from Tuesday 2 April to Friday 12 April 2024.
Children and their families can access a wide range of free sessions, giving them the opportunity to try new activities, learn skills, have fun and make friends.
Family sessions are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. No booking required.
 Shopmobility has hired mobility scooters and wheelchairs locally since 1999. It also arranges social events and activities for older and disabled people. It is seeking a Chair and a Secretary to replace two long-standing trustees, who will retire this year.Ā
Shopmobilityās volunteers help older and disabled people to get out and about, reducing social isolation and helping them stay independent. It arranges door-to-door transport from London Dial-a-Ride, which many users need to get out of their homes.
Shopmobility is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 10am to 4pm, on the ground floor, 17 & Central shopping centre, Walthamstow town centre.
The new trustees will lead the Management Committee, holding four meetings a year, supervise a co-ordinator and make occasional visits during opening time.
If you are interested, request a job description by calling 020 8520 3366, or email shopmobilitywf@gmail.com.
 Spring is nearly here, so it's a good time to head to the forest at North Chingford for a new art exhibition by artist Rachel Hogg.
If the weather's good, why not combine it with a walk to nearby Connaught Water?
Creation Sings is on until Sunday 7 April at Epping Forest Visitor Centre, Rangerās Road, E4 7QH.
 Waltham Forest Twinning Association is holding monthly Creative Writing and Book Club workshops at William Morris Gallery in 2024. The next takes place on Saturday 16 March, with storyteller and author Jane Ulysses Grell.
Creative writing will be followed by a book club āwith a differenceā where you can discuss and share your favourite books and experiences. For all ages.
- Creative Writing Workshop, from noon to 2.30pm
- Book club, from 3pm to 4pmĀ
 Over the Easter break, our contractor, Morgan Sindall Property Services, will be hosting Easter-themed events across the borough for council tenants and leaseholders. There will be plenty of arts, crafts and family fun to enjoy. No booking required.
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Wednesday 3 April: Easter Crafts at Priory Court Community Centre, 11 Priory Court, Walthamstow, 1pm to 4pm
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Friday 5 April: Easter Movie afternoon at the X7eaven Academy Nexus Centre, 3 Snowberry Close, Leytonstone, 1pm to 4pm
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Wednesday 10 April: Easter Egg Hunt at St Johns Church, Outwood Common Road, Billericay, 1pm until 4pm.
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Friday 12 April: Easter Egg Decorating at Aldriche Way Community Room, 128-132 Aldriche Way, Chingford, 1pm to 4pm
 Discounted ticket offer for local residents!
Great Britainās men and women are back in action at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Leyton, taking on the worldās best as a final warm-up in the UK before the Paris 2024 Olympics. Cheer on the GB Hockey teams across eight days between Saturday 1 and Wednesday 12 June. Each matchday includes a GB double-header (men and women) and lots of entertainment on and off the pitch.
We have a special ticket offer just for Residents' News readers. Use the code GBHOCKEY2024 at the checkout to save 10 per cent on blue and white tickets compared to general sale prices - from just Ā£2.50 for U18s and Ā£7.50 for adults for selected midweek sessions. Find more information about GB Hockey.
 A mini Marlowe Road estate: the work is expected to be completed in 2026
The regeneration of Walthamstow's Marlowe Road estate reached a new milestone this week. Wednesday, 13 March saw the ātopping outā ceremony of the first building in the final phase of the development.
This traditionally marks the moment a building reaches it highest point.Ā Known as Feature17, when finished it will provide 258 new homes, with 65 for social rent and 47 shared ownership. Residents have already moved into completed homes on the estate.
As well as providing much-needed new housing, Marlowe Road development has brought employment, apprenticeships and provided training opportunities and work experience placements for local residents. The scheme isĀ expected to complete in autumn 2026.
 Artist's impression of what Leyton Mills could look like
We want your views on plans for Leyton Mills
Tell us your views on the Leyton Mills Supplementary Planning Document, which will help to guide growth in the area over the next 10 years, to create an accessible and sustainable neighbourhood.Ā The consultation runs until Sunday 14 April 2024.
Is fostering for you? Find out next week
Did you know as a foster carer with Waltham Forest you could receive pay of up to Ā£519 per week per child? Come along to our fostering information event next week to find out more about becoming a foster carer.Ā
Ask questions in an informal environment to our team and a foster carer, taking place online next Thursday 21 March 11am to 12pm.
Tell us about your local pharmacy
We want to hear how youāre using your local pharmacy. As part of a regular check-up on pharmacy provision in Waltham Forest, a partner organisation called Healthy Dialogues is running a 10-minute survey.Ā
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.Ā
You can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on ourĀ website, and check out ourĀ LinkedIn.
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