Black History Month
This October, we’re proud to be celebrating the important contributions of our Black community in Waltham Forest.
The borough has been officially twinned with the Caribbean nations of Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica since April 1999. The twinning proposal was suggested by Mr Franklyn Georges, the first Afro-Caribbean person to be Mayor of Waltham Forest.
Another notable local with Black heritage was Reverend Dr Io Smith MBE (1939-2008). Rev. Smith was born in Jamaica before migrating to the UK and helping establish the New Testament Assembly in Leyton, acting as both pastor and the church's General Secretary for 25 years. She become famous nationwide as a campaigner for social and racial justice as well as for her work on youth outreach, and was awarded an MBE by her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
Rev. Smith's extraordinary life is just one example of our 25,000-strong Afro-Caribbean community's valuable contribution to Waltham Forest's rich cultural fabric. Black History Month gives us the chance to celebrate this legacy.
Rolling into our third week we can look forward to a Dominoes Night at Gleaner's Cafe on Friday 18 October, a Black History Month Pop-Up Market at Lea Bridge Library on Saturday 19 October, and an Afrobbean Kitchen's Autumn Jam for children on Sunday 20 October at Crate St James St.
Next week, on Tuesday 22 October, the Afro-Caribbean Elders Association (ACEA) is hosting a Celebrating Black History inter-generational event at the William Morris Community Centre. The gallery will also be exhibiting its Reclaiming Narratives artwork and poetry display in partnership with the Waltham Forest Twinning Association (WFTA) and local schools until Sunday 20 October, before it tours local libraries during November. This intergenerational project is funded by the LBWF Fellowship Fund and is part of the WFTA’s residency at William Morris Gallery.
Residents of all backgrounds deserve to live a life free of discrimination, abuse, or hatred. As we mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, we recognise that challenging the underlying attitudes and structures that motivate hate crime in our society is the key to making it a thing of the past. Waltham Forest has a long history of standing against the forces of hatred and division and I am proud of our inclusive and diverse community.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Please note, if your postcode is IG8, your nearest events will appear under E4. If you live in E7 or E15, check out E11. You can also find online events on our website.
 Our food waste collections are taking place for kerbside properties in the north of the borough, meaning the service is now up and running across the whole of Waltham Forest. Thanks to everyone who has got onboard so far – in fact, we’ve already collected a whopping 170 tonnes of food waste since collection began in the south of the borough. What a great way to celebrate Recycling Week!
*Don't worry if you see the operatives emptying your caddy into a wheelie bin, as they will still tip the contents into the food waste truck at the end of the road.
 Did you know that you’ll now receive a bowel cancer screening kit when you turn 50? The eligibility age has recently lowered, which means more people will receive the at-home test kit every two years until you turn 74.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer but is easily caught using the simple at-home screening kit. It only takes a few minutes to do, then you pop it straight in the letterbox and get your results within a couple of weeks.
Don’t believe us? We recently spoke to residents about their experience using the kit and why they would encourage you to do yours.
 This week is Get Online Week and there is support available for you to learn how to use the internet and build confidence online.
We run free drop-in sessions for all residents to receive one-to-one support from our friendly Digital Champions at the following locations:
- Leytonstone Library, every Tuesday, 5pm to 7pm
- Wood Street Library, every Wednesday, 5pm to 7pm
- Chingford Library, every Thursday, 3pm to 5pm
- Walthamstow Library, every Friday, 2pm to 4pm
Find more support with getting online and using your device across the borough with our directory, or through your local library.
 Are you a Waltham Forest Council tenant, leaseholder or shared owner living in a council managed property? Then we’d like to hear from you.
Here’s your opportunity to give your feedback, share your views and help shape some Housing policies we are currently working on, they are:
- Damp and mould
- Anti-social behaviour
- Vulnerability
Our resident consultation for these policies will be open for a month, closing on Monday 11 November. So be quick and let us know your thoughts. Over the next few weeks more policies will be added to the Let’s Talk website, so keep your eyes peeled.
 Did you know there are a host of regular events in the borough designed to hone your creative skills and support reuse and repair of everyday items?
Our partners Artillery Arts run regular activities, from sewing machine and electronic repair to boardgames nights. Make sure you get involved!
 The seasons are changing, and wetter days and darker nights can make us want to curl up and stay at home.
Keeping active and finding new ways of moving can help take the sting out of autumn and winter, and luckily, there are tons of ways to move in Waltham Forest. Find yourself a new autumn activity and get inspired with the video series we’ve put together speaking to residents about their favourite ways to move, then take a look our website!
 QuitRight is a specialist organisation funded by the Council to help protect Waltham Forest residents from the harms of tobacco smoking. As well as 1-1 treatment programmes, they’re currently running a Swap to Stop programme providing free vape kits for current smokers, including 12 weeks of behavioural support. E-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, and switching to e-cigarettes greatly increase the chances of quitting smoking.
 We have plenty of free half-term activities for young people, provided by the Space4All programme.
For example, Creative Youth Hub, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12pm to 3pm at Sidmouth Centre, Leyton, offers creative podcast sessions, music production and DJ'ing, board games, food, snacks, and arts and crafts for ages 11 to 19.
 Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to promote dance which is one of the best exercises for the brain. So why not join one of Mile Rainbow's free East Asian Sports Clubs at Walthamstow Library each Saturday between 26 October to 7 December.
Additionally, their free East Asian Cultural Salons on Saturdays continue at Walthamstow Library until 2 November as well as their East Asian Dance clubs on Tuesdays at Walthamstow Stadium until 12 November.
Let lettings into your life
Lettings Waltham Forest is our award winning in-house lettings agency which prioritises key workers as tenants, with market rents paid. We're offering landlords who choose to list their property with us 0% management fees. To claim this offer, quote 'LWFZERO' when you request your free valuation.
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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