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Safety and dignity for all
At a meeting of Full Council yesterday, Thursday 16 July, Waltham Forest Council passed a motion committing to protecting the rights of transgender, non-binary and intersex residents in our borough.
We believe that misinterpretation of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) current guidance on the use of single sex services and spaces – published earlier this year following a supreme court ruling on the definition of sex – presents a significant risk of exclusion for transgender people. The government’s own equality impact assessment admits as much.
Not only that, misinterpretation of the guidance also threatens the privacy and human dignity of women, ethnic minorities, and disabled people through intrusive questioning about “biological sex” or “sex at birth”.
Gender reassignment remains a protected characteristic under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). We believe that every resident of this borough deserves to access council services safely, with dignity, and free from discrimination or harassment.
As well as ensuring that the council’s mandatory training, human resources, and procurement policies reflect PSED best practice, we are committed to ensuring the provision and expansion of non-gendered safe and private spaces in all council-owned facilities, new and old.
As it stands, we believe the EHRC guidance leaves transgender people at risk of intolerance and discrimination. As a Borough of Sanctuary, we are proud to stand by Waltham Forest’s long record of inclusion, diversity and equality.
Paul and Em
Cllr Paul Perkins, Leader of Waltham Forest Council and Cllr Em Dean, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources
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What's happening where you are |
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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.
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 We are celebrating Love Parks Week (Monday 27 to Friday 31 July) in Waltham Forest with exciting, family-friendly activities and conservation volunteering opportunities in some of our most beautiful green spaces.
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Pick up a Summer Trail at WMG |
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 Looking for a FREE family activity this summer? From Saturday 18 July, pick up a William Morris Gallery Summer Park Trail from Deeney's Café and explore Lloyd Park. The trail invites young explorers to look closely, spot hidden details and discover shapes and patterns. Perfect for curious minds of all ages, it's a chance for families to slow down, explore and see nature through William Morris's eyes. Pick up from Deeney's Café at William Morris Gallery from Saturday 18 July.
Where? William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP.
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 Looking for an exciting way to spend time outdoors with the family? Join us at Langthorne for a hands-on conservation adventure!
Get stuck into activities as you work together to build a bug hotel for the park, helping create a safe haven for local wildlife. Along the way, you’ll learn all about the fascinating animals that call the park home, perfect for curious minds of all ages. Families from the Cann Hall and Cathall areas are especially encouraged to join!
Thanks to National Lottery funding, the £3 per-child sessions take place on:
- Wednesday 5 August from 10am to 11.30am
- Friday 21 August from 10am to 11.30am
- Friday 21 August from 1pm to 2.30pm
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Keeping you safe over the summer |
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 We all want to feel safe while we’re out and about this summer, which is why the Council’s Community Safety Team has a programme of partnership patrols and engagement opportunities every week. There’s also plenty of free activities specifically for young people including Social Football Club in a different part of the borough every weekday. Find out more at the link below!
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 Join HAVEN Coffee this Saturday 18 July from 10am to 4pm to celebrate their official opening in Wood Street Library with a fun-filled day for all the family. Throughout the day there’ll be plenty to enjoy, including crafts, story time, and coffee tasting!
Founded in 2019, HAVEN Coffee is a social enterprise serving ethically sourced, fair-trade, organic speciality coffee with a social mission of empowering refugees through training, employment opportunities, creative projects, and community initiatives.
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 Do you live near Walthamstow's Bisterne Park area?
We’re exploring ways to make the Bisterne Park area a better place to walk, wheel, cycle, play and spend time. We want to hear from you about how the area works today and how it can be improved in the future.
Following concerns from residents about the impact of traffic in the area, we want to work with the community to understand issues in more detail and identify solutions that reflect local needs. See the link below for more information and to complete our survey.
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Key amnesty: return your keys – no questions asked |
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 Ending today, our Housing Compact partners are running a Key Amnesty, giving anyone who is illegally subletting or no longer living in their social housing home the chance to return their keys with no further action taken against them. With record numbers of families living in temporary accommodation, it is vital that social homes are occupied by those who need them most. The amnesty offers a limited-time opportunity to put things right before enforcement action is taken.
After the amnesty ends, tenancy fraud investigations could result in the loss of a property, a fine of up to £50,000, or imprisonment.
For more information or to return your keys, please contact your housing officer or landlord.
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Fire safety
The Council would like to thank emergency services for their bravery in responding to the serious Wood Street / Shernhall Street area fire on Sunday 12 July.
London Fire Brigade have confirmed that the cause of the fire was a large branch that fell onto overhead power lines, which caused sparks that ignited the surrounding undergrowth.
The wildfire risk in London remains at Red, the highest level, due to the extended period hot, dry weather and light wind in recent weeks.
Visit the link below for tips on how to avoid the risk of wildfire while enjoying Waltham Forest's parks and green spaces.
Looking for views of smokers and ex-smokers
We're looking for views of local people about the best ways to support people to stop smoking. Specifically, we want to hear from:
- People who smoked or vaped in the past and then quit, OR
- People who are still currently smoking/vaping.
The short questionnaire will take no more than five minutes to complete. The deadline is 24 July 2026. Any valid survey participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 high street gift card.
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Opportunities for residents |
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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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