It's great to be able to bring world-famous art to Waltham Forest
You may notice some exciting activity taking place in Fellowship Square this week.
As part of the ongoing transformation of the area around the Town Hall, an amazing piece of world famous public art is being positioned for everyone in the borough to enjoy for free.
The Arch by Henry Moore will make Waltham Forest its home for the next four years and it was exciting to see the bubble wrap coming off it in preparation for its official launch as part of the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden and Sensory Garden in June.
The Arch is on loan from the Henry Moore Foundation, made possible by funding secured from our Town Hall development partner, Countryside, via the Civic Fund. This funding includes paying for 24-hour security to protect it while it's here.
I believe great art should be free to enjoy by everyone and I hope you will make the journey to Fellowship Square to see it.
We have been working hard to make the Town Hall a space for the whole community. With the weather improving, the fountain displays have restarted and we have an exciting programme of activities lined up for the summer.
We will be keeping you updated on the progress of the gardens and sculpture as we get closer to June's official opening, and watch out for information in future Residents' News emails about our summer events programme across the borough.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
 The Arch being positioned in place behind the Town Hall
Click the postcode nearest you to find events coming up around the borough.
 Just some of the rubbish we've had to remove in Lea Bridge
Every year, we have to spend £7million of council taxpayers’ money clearing up fly-tips and litter. This money could be used to benefit the community but instead, it's spent removing the mess left by people who don't treat our borough with respect.
Recently, our amazing Neighbourhoods team have been coming into work at 3am and late into the night in an effort to find gangs of persistent fly-tippers in the Lea Bridge area. Happily, a sharp-eyed council officer spotted a van in Leyton that we knew was involved, and it was swiftly seized and removed from the road. The owners now have the choice to pick up the vehicle and face the music for the fly-tipping charges, or let the vehicle be crushed so it can no longer be used to dump rubbish. Read more about the operation here.
In February, the fines for fly-tipping and littering increased. The money this raises will be used to continue the fight against fly-tipping and littering across our borough.
 The Waltham Forest campus classrooms are being made ready for the first post-grad students starting in May
Do you know someone who’s thinking of going to university? Are you thinking of going yourself?
University of Portsmouth London is holding the very first open day at its brand new campus in Waltham Forest on Saturday 27 April.
The event runs from 10am to 12.15pm at Juniper House, Hoe Street, E17 9PH, right opposite Walthamstow Central station.
 Calling all quiz fans who want to flex their knowledge and at the same time raise money for a good cause.
The Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Roy Berg, invites you to the Mayor’s Charity Quiz
on Friday 17 May between 7pm and 10pm in the Town Hall foyer.
Single tickets cost £11 each, and you can either build your own team or make new friends as we allocate you to one. Alternatively, you can book as a team of 8 for £80. All proceeds will be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Fund in aid of his chosen charities.
Ticket price includes a hot drink at the interval. Please also feel free to bring your own snacks and refreshments.
Will you be taking part? The correct answer is ‘Yes’, so sign up here.
 This is the time where we hold up our hands and say a big sorry to local brewers, Pillars. We accidentally attributed its rooftop bar at CRATE St James to another local brewery in a recent Residents’ News.
Its Untraditional Pub, near St James Street Overground station, serves the full range of Pillars’ award-winning lagers seven days a week, along with a selection of craft beer, gin, wine and cider. It’s hosting a Beer Fest on Saturday 25 May from midday, featuring ten esteemed craft breweries – and best of all, entry is free. Cheers!
As well as the bar at CRATE St James, Pillars runs a tap room within its brewery at Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Walthamstow, which is open for guests Friday to Sunday every week.
 With measles still on the rise in London it’s important to make sure your children and your family are protected. The MMR vaccine gives lifelong immunity to three very serious illnesses: measles, mumps and rubella – it’s like a real-life superpower.
We’ve just launched our new campaign, featuring some lovely local children who showed us their best superhero poses to help us spread the message. Catch them on our channels and soon in many Waltham Forest locations.
Make sure your child is up to date with their immunisations. Speak to your GP today and organise a free MMR vaccination.
 Disco Diva, Vanity Fairy, is one of the artists appearing at this year's Shake the High Road
The final headliner at Leytonstone independent music festival, Shake The High Road, has been confirmed.
Hayden Thorpe, the singer from Wild Beasts, will be performing at St John’s Church. He joins an amazing line-up which includes Deptford Northern Soul Club, disco diva Vanity Fairy, electronic luminary Nathan Fake, roots and reggae producer Wrongtom with breakbeat/jungle MCs the Ragga Twins, and many more.
The festival takes place across five unique venues around Leytonstone, independent music on Saturday 4 May, from 12.30pm until late.
 Waltham Forest has Family Hubs in four locations, covering Chingford, Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone. We launched them so that all families have equal access to practical support from pregnancy to birth, and for infant and toddler advice, wherever you live in the borough. Find a Family Hub near you.
Family Hubs are for all ages, including young people aged 11 to 25, through our our free Space4All clubs.
They also provide information and advice to adults. This includes support to quit smoking, fill in tricky forms and help to apply online for adult education, jobs, and housing, giving every family and every child an opportunity to thrive. They are an essential part of our Mission Waltham Forest, working towards a more equal borough for all. Read more on our website.
 The brightly coloured Big Do bus
Ever wondered what it’s like to eat on top of a customised coach? Fancy supporting a local business? Want to sample the vibrant flavours and warm hospitality of Ghana right here in Waltham Forest? Then head over to Church Lane car park by Leytonstone Station on Wednesday 24 April from 11am to 2pm for the launch of Big Do Food Coach.
Enjoy delicious West African cuisine, music, drinks and talks from guest speakers. Entry is free.
 Our community pop-up space at 228 Chingford Mount will be transformed into a photography studio from Wednesday 17 to Tuesday 30 April.
Join Rosie from Petite Feet Photography for hands-on mobile photography workshops from 11am to midday and 1pm to 2pm weekdays. Sessions cost £37 and slots are limited, so book ahead.
Rosie will also be offering mini photography sessions. See costs and details via the link below.
228 Chingford Mount provides free pop-up space for local businesses and enterprises to showcase their work and build relationships with the local community. Find it at 228 Chingford Mount Road, E4 8JL.
 LVE Charitable Foundation is hosting an afternoon tea with entertainment to bring together elders and young people at the Leyton Great Hall on Wednesday 8 May from midday to 3pm.
The event is free but you must confirm your attendance by Wednesday 1 May. Email loretta@lvefoundation.org.uk or call 0208 558 1445.
Find The Leyton Great Hall at Adelaide Road E10 5NN, next to Leyton Library.
 The Waltham Forest Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association (WFTA ) is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The WFTA is welcoming the whole Waltham Forest community to celebrate at William Morris Gallery as they reach this great milestone on Saturday 27 April from 6pm to 9pm.
The evening includes entertainment from the Harry Hughes Junior Steelband, DONA Quadrile Dancers, live poetry and Caribbean fusion cuisine. Tickets cost £10.
Find William Morris Gallery, in Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP.
 This Tuesday, 16 April, was Primary School Offer day. In Waltham Forest, 93 per cent of children have been offered a place at their first preference school – the London average is 88 per cent – and 99 per cent at one of their preferred schools.
Remember, you need to accept the offer for it to be valid, whether you applied online or by post.
 We want to find out more about you, our readers!
We want to make sure our emails are as helpful as possible, and that we’re talking to as many people as we can in Waltham Forest.
Please fill in our quick survey and in return, three lucky people will get a £30 Choose Local voucher. The information you submit will be totally anonymised and not linked to your subscriber account. We will ask for your email address to inform you if you have won the prize draw. (Please note, winners will be randomly selected from people who complete the survey and leave an email address.)
Represent survivors of violence against women and girls
The VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) team is looking for women who are committed to ending VAWG to join our advisory panel.
The role of the VAWG Advisory Panel is to represent the voice of survivors of VAWG in Waltham Forest, helping to shape policy, respond to consultations, and provide specialist feedback. This position is open to any women aged 16+ who have been impacted by VAWG who live, work, or study in Waltham Forest. To apply, email vawg@walthamforest.gov.uk with your connection to Waltham Forest and why you would like to be involved. Application deadline is 11.59pm Sunday 21 April.
Don't lose your right to vote next month!
You’ll need to apply by 5pm on 24 April 2024 to get a Voter Authority Certificate for the elections taking place on Thursday 2 May to elect the Mayor of London and members of the Greater London Authority.
To vote in person at a polling station, you will need an accepted form of photo ID. If you haven't got one or you're not sure if the photo ID you have counts, check here. If you don't, apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate ASAP, to get in before the 24 April deadline.
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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