Issue #102, Tuesday 30 April 2024
In this week's Your News, there will be parking changes on Thursday 2 May at the Town Hall, remember to carry your ID with you to vote, secure your spot for the Race Conscious Leadership session on Thursday, sign up for lots of sessions during Mental Health Awareness Week and much more.
Our Borough Missions focus on the issues that matter most to our residents and set out how we will respond to these. One of our Missions is to focus on creating safe and green neighborhoods where everyone can thrive. We want to achieve this by maintaining clean streets, green spaces, and high-streets, as well as empowering residents to actively shape their communities.
Huge thanks to our brilliant Neighbourhoods Team for responding so quickly to a resident’s report about an issue in Upper Walthamstow. The team sorted out this corner, removing an old skip, cutting overgrowth back and clearing the paved area. All of this brilliant work, helps towards us creating safe, green neighbourhoods.
- If your team are doing great work in the borough and want to shout about it – do email the campaigns team today
- And if you live in the borough and know of an issue, don’t forget you can report online.
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As we prepare for the upcoming elections, staff parking on Thursday 2 May will be reduced. If you're working from the Town Hall on that day, we encourage you to use alternative transportation.
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You will need to bring photo identification with you to vote at the next Mayoral and London Assembly elections taking place on Thursday 2 May.
Check if you have one of the following types of photo ID to vote:
Passport, driving licence (including a provisional licence), blue badge, certain concessionary travel cards, identity card with a PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme), biometric immigration document, defence identity card, certain national identity cards, voter authority certificate.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day and you can read more information about how to vote on polling day here.
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Staff can view this month’s latest Land Registry land ownership data using the corporate wide StatMap Earthlight mapping product.
Please contact Lee West for further information.
It's the final call to fill in our annual staff travel survey! Help us gather essential travel information, including emissions data, to inform our decisions about staff commuting and contribute to our sustainability efforts.
In 2023, we gained valuable insights into commuting patterns, preferences, and environmental impact. Now, let’s revisit the survey this year. It only takes two minutes to complete! Understanding how people get to work is crucial. Your input is invaluable! Survey closes this week.
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We’re excited to announce our upcoming food waste service at the Town Hall, launching on Tuesday 7 May! By collecting food waste, we’ll reduce our environmental impact and lead by example.
Look for the distinctive silver bins placed near the mixed recycling and general waste bins in the Town Hall kitchens. Our dedicated cleaning team will maintain these bins daily for a hygienic office space. Dispose of all food scraps, including fruit peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and leftovers.
Share this news with colleagues and encourage participation. Let’s make a positive impact together.
For questions or feedback, reach out to our climate team, and join the Climate Network page on Viva Engage.
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As part of our ongoing efforts to foster inclusive leadership and behaviours in the workplace, we would like to invite colleagues to a session on Race Conscious Leadership this Thursday (2 May) between 1pm to 2pm. This will be a hybrid event where participants can join online or attend in person in the Council Chamber, Town Hall. Hosted by Pauline Campbell, Chair of The Race Equality Network, and Romain Muhammed, Founder and CEO of Diversify.
The session will cover:
- Understanding the impact of race and ethnicity in the workplace
- Developing cultural intelligence for effective leadership
- Navigating challenges and biases in leadership decision making
We look forward to seeing you there.
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Dementia Action Week is an awareness raising campaign where individuals and organisations across the borough are encouraged to 'act on dementia'. This year’s event will take place from 13 to 19 May. Details of the events can be found here.
In preparation for the week, staff are being invited to attend an online Dementia Friends session on Wednesday 8 May between 1pm to 1.45 pm. This is an Alzheimer’s Society approved session that provides a brief introduction to dementia, describing some of the main symptoms, and encouraging participants to commit to their own dementia-friendly action.
- For more information on sessions supporting allyship and inclusive behaviours in the workplace please visit the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion events page.
- If you are a member of staff with caring responsibilities and interested in learning more about the Waltham Forest Carers Network, please visit our Employee Networks SharePoint.
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Lace up your boots and show off your skills in the unofficial Waltham Forest Staff 5-a-side Football League! Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the game, all skill levels are welcome!
- Where: Goals Chingford, 3 Morrison Ave, London E4 8SN
- When: Every Thursday evening from 6pm, beginning 30 May
- Who: any Waltham Forest staff member – set up a team of up to 8 people
- Duration: up to 14 weeks of thrilling matches
- Cost: £5 (approximately) per person per game / £35.90 per team per week
You can reserve your team space below. If you don't have a team but would like to play, please fill in an application and we can create a team for you! Registration closes on Tuesday 7 May at 5pm.
If you have any further questions, please email Wellbeing.
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"The Good Intentions” walking group, are lacing up their shoes on on Saturday 18 May. Jenni McCarthy, Kimberly Ramsay and Mimi Bunduc take on an extraordinary mission: The MoonWalk 2024. It’s not the moonwalk you’re thinking of (sorry, MJ fans!). This is a half marathon – a 15.1-mile journey – dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and support.
Thank you for your generosity, support, and for being a part of this important cause. Together, we can make strides towards a future where breast cancer is no longer a threat.
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Stow Film Lounge are taking us out onto the Fellowship Square grounds for a special outdoor screening of Mike Leigh’s much-loved comedy classic NUTS IN MAY on Saturday 4 May. The leads Roger Sloman and Alison Steadman will be reunited once again to take part in a special post-film Q&A – and possibly a few songs!
This early Mike Leigh masterpiece features the fantastic characters and memorable moments that he’s renowned for, and in the spirit and indomitable style of Keith and Candice Marie the audience is encouraged to wear jumpers, legwarmers, flat caps and bobble hats.
In partnership with Pillars brewery there will be on-site refreshments, music and pre-film entertainment. So bring your picnic blankets, cushions or camping chairs to enjoy the great British outdoors with this rarely screened gem on an inflatable super screen.
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Lee’s Spiritual Healing are delighted to be offering Waltham Forest staff a 20% discount on products, Reiki Healing and online counselling sessions.
Spiritual Healing is based at 38 High Street E17 (along the market) and is run by father and daughter, Peter and Leanne. Leanne is a Reiki Master and Peter is an accredited Integrative Counsellor. They offer a selection of items including crystals, candles, jewellery, books, incense etc. Included in their space they have an art gallery (Art to Heart) for local artists and creatives to display and sell their work.
Go to the Spiritual Healing website or pop into the shop for more information.
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Your wellbeing
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place from 13 to 19 May, on the theme of “Movement: Moving more for our mental health”.
Movement is important for our mental health. But so many of us struggle to move enough. We know there are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health Awareness Week we want to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines. Going for a walk in your neighbourhood, putting on your favourite music and dancing around the living room, chair exercises when you’re watching television – it all counts!
Wellbeing events taking place:
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Free Art Courses – Inspired by Nature Join our free five week art courses at the inspiring Walthamstow Wetlands.
- Watercolours – Inspired by Nature (AC0377C2) Thursday 6 June to 4 July, 10am to midday
To book, please call: 0208 496 2974
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May Wellbeing Training:
Multiple dates and times:
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Jobs
To access internal roles, log into Oracle Cloud click on the ‘me’ tab and then click on ‘current jobs’.
Current opportunities include:
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Public Health Strategic Communications Officer
Salary: PO4 £46,041 to £49,083
Closing date: Thursday 9 May
AD – Strategic Asset Management & Compliance
Salary: AD £89,630 to £101,315
Closing date: Friday 10 May
Business Intelligence Developer
Salary: PO6 £51,093 to £54,129
Closing date: Sunday 20 May
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Got an item for staff news?
The next issue of Your News will be on Wednesday 8 May 2024.
If you would like to share news in the next edition, please send us around 100 words (and an image) to yournews@walthamforest.gov.uk by 12noon on Tuesday 7 May 2024.
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