Living in Havering 178 September 2017

LIVING

in Havering SEPTEMBER 2017

Issue 178• www.havering.gov.uk

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02 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls

Tradition – Innovation – Community – Achievement

Year7 7Open OpenEvening Evening Year Year 7

Open Evening

Tuesday 19th September Tuesday 19th September 5.45 - 9.00pm 5.45 - 9.00pm

Tuesday 19th September Year 7 –Open Evening Year 7 Open Evening 5.45 Headteacher speak at TheThe Headteacher willwill speak at 9.00pm Tuesday 19th September Headteacher will speak at 5.45 - 9.00pm 5.45 - 9.00pm6.00pm 6.00pm 7.00pm andand 7.00pm 6.00pm and 7.00pm

Tuesday 19th September

The Headteacher will speak at The Headteacher will speak at 6.00pm and 7.00pm 6.00pm and 7.00pm Year 6 to 7 Transition Programme including Induction Days & Workshop Programme

Year 7 Open Evening Tuesday 19th September 5.45 - 9.00pm

Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for more information or for a prospectus call 01708 447368 Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for more Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for Brentwood more Road, Romfordinformation RM1 2RR more Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for or for a Prospectus call 01708 447368 Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for more information or for a Prospectus call 01708 447368 Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR information or a forProspectus a Prospectus 01708 447368 information or for callcall 01708 447368

The HeadteacherBrentwood will speak at Road, Romford RM1 Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR2RR 6.00pm and 7.00pm Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR

Visit www.fbaok.co.uk for more mation or for a Prospectus call 01708 447368 Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 03

Contents

5

issue 178

24

20 A record number of Green Flags for our parks

All you need to know about applying for school places

Volunteer Janet Morris (middle), pictured with staff from South Hornchurch Library, is helping children learn to read

4 10 12 16 17

News The latest news in Havering

A fantastic show A review of the 2017 Havering Show

Tenancy fraud Why we are tackling it

Stoptober Why you should quit this October

Clean air The science behind our Miles the Mole campaign

22 23 28 30 34 005185

Historic roses World–renowned collection of roses in Havering

At your leisure Exciting leisure centre developments

Historical Havering Town Hall celebrates a birthday

Business focus Havering is best for tech start-ups

Listings Your guide to what's on in the borough

04 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

There are a lot of things we do very well in Havering and one of things I am most proud of is the quality and quantity of the open green spaces our residents and visitors to our borough can enjoy. It was therefore particularly welcoming news that our borough has been awarded a record number of Green Flags for its parks. You can read all about our success on the page opposite.

We have always had a fine tradition in the borough, by residents giving up their own time to volunteer to help others and make Havering a better place for everyone. Our main feature in this issue celebrates the work of just a few of our volunteers and you can read about them on pages 20 and 21.

One of our newly recognised Green Flag parks is Harrow Lodge Park, that was also the venue over the recent Bank Holiday weekend for our 39th and most successful Havering Show to date. Huge crowds estimated at around 55,000 people visited, the free event, thanks to generous sponsorship from many local businesses. The glorious weather certainly played a part in the huge success of this year’s show and has set the hurdle very high for our 40th show to emulate. You can relive some of the scenes from the show with our photo montage on page 10.

With the new school term under way it's already time for many parents to begin thinking about applying for school places. You can read on this page about some of our plans to cater for increased numbers of pupils and on page 24 you can find lots of information about applying for places.

Lastly it’s happy birthday to our Town Hall, eighty years young this month. Read the story of its construction on page 28. .

Councillor Roger Ramsey Leader of the Council www.havering.gov.uk/Leader

News

The new Mawney Foundation School building is nearing completion

Preparing

for pupils

As the borough’s population has grown so has the demand for school places and the Council has been expanding capacity at current schools and helping to establish new schools.

Following an announcement in April by the Department for Education that it had approved 131 new free schools across the country, Havering Council decided at its July Cabinet meeting to establish a new school in the borough for children with special needs.

Havering is now seeking applicants to establish and run a new special free school for 60 children with communication, social, and mental health needs from age three to 16 years.

Information for potential applicants can be found on the Council’s website: www.havering.gov.uk and the deadline for applications is 24 November 2017.

For further information, email Trevor.Cook@havering.gov.uk.

• Mawney Foundation School on Mawney Road, Romford, is being rebuilt and is expected to open its new building, ahead of schedule, in mid-November this year. Once the new building is in use the old school buildings will be demolished and new play and sports areas created. The school’s intake has expanded to become a three form entry school.

• In July a ground-breaking ceremony was held at a site in Union Road, Romford, that will become the permanent home of the new Concordia Academy primary school. The school is currently temporarily based at Langtons Junior Academy in Hornchurch. Run

by REAch2 Academy Trust, the school plans to offer 90 reception places when it opens on the new site and provide places for a total of 630 pupils.

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 05

Flagging up great parks Cllr Melvin Wallace joined by members of Havering Friends of Parks groups, and council staff at Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Thirteen parks in the borough have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as some of the very best in the world.

Harrow Lodge Park and Haynes Park are the latest to be awarded a Green Flag by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Cllr Melvin Wallace, Cabinet Member for Culture and Community Engagement, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive Green Flag Awards for Harrow Lodge and Haynes Park for the first time as well as retaining the awards for the other parks. It is recognition of all the hard work put in by both the staff and Friends groups to maintain and improve their parks for the benefit of the community.”

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks to such a high standard.”

The international Green Flag award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

The following parks in Havering retained their Green Flag status: Bedfords Park Upminster Park Hylands Park Lodge Farm Park Cottons Park Harold Wood Park St Andrews Park Lawns Park Raphael Park Central Park Rise Park

• • • • • • • • • • •

Catering for visitors Visitors to parks and open spaces in Havering now have more opportunity to enjoy a cuppa or a meal with friends.

A new café has opened in the grounds of Langtons, the grade II listed 18th century The Mayor of Havering, Cllr Linda Van den Hende house and landscaped at the official opening of Lianna’s in Langtons gardens in Hornchurch.

The café, called Lianna's, opened its doors in August. It's run by Jenny Thompson and is an independent vintage tea shop selling homemade cakes, made to order sandwiches, a selection of hot and cold drinks and afternoon cream teas. The tea shop also serves vegan and gluten free items.There’s seating for about 20 people inside and 12 more outside. Opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday - Saturday and 10am - 4pm on Sunday.

In June Ali Erdogan and his wife Anna took over the café overlooking the lake in the Green Flag winning Harrow Lodge Park in Hornchurch. Now named the Lakeview Palace Café and Restaurant, it's open The view from the terrace of the café in Harrow from 7.30am to 6pm Lodge Park every day. The extensive menu includes all day-breakfasts, omelettes, pasta dishes, sandwiches and even full roast dinners on Sundays.

Ali has more than 20 years’ of experience running a café in Stoke Newington, “We were a bit nervous about taking on this business but people in the area have been so kind to us and really welcomed us” said his wife Anna.

06 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

News

Having a ball

Corbets Tey School, the school in Upminster for pupils with complex learning needs, holds an annual Prom for their Year 11 pupils funded by the Parents and Friends Association. This year’s event was held at the Romford Golf Club and was a great success, a highlight this year was the unusual method of transport for one young man.

George, who uses a wheelchair, would have had difficulty travelling in the limousine that transported students from the school to the venue. So the school found a way that would be even better.

George absolutely loves police cars and is fascinated with anything to do with the police. So a member of staff contacted her son, who works for the Brixton Branch of the Met Police, who cleared it so that he could use a police car to take George to his prom. George wasn’t told of the plans until the last minute in case an emergency meant that the car wasn’t available. His face was a picture when he saw the car and was

driven to the Prom.

The school said it was grateful that the Met Police were able to make George’s dream come true and their generosity meant that George didn’t feel left out of the limousine experience enjoyed by other pupils.

• Corbets Tey School Governing Body would welcome interest from local people who would like to make a difference by becoming a school governor.

Please contact Julie Lamb on 01708 225888.

On the buses Staff from Stagecoach Rainham receive their awards Congratulations to the staff at Stagecoach London's Rainham Bus Garage who won the award for Best Vehicle Care in the London Bus Awards 2017.

Rainham Garage was a finalist for Best Vehicle Care in 2014 and 2015, demonstrating a consistent level of high performance. The garage is run by a team of 16 engineers looking after more than 120 vehicles.

Smashing time!

SMASH Camps at Stubbers Adventure Centre in Upminster now offers a range of children’s birthday parties. Your child can choose from banana boating, laser tag, or water sports including raft building, sailing and canoeing or an action party, which includes rock climbing, rifle shooting and more. Each party consists of a 90-minute session with equipment and instructors.

There's an on-site coffee shop, The Source, offering a range of party food for children after their activity.

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www.smashcamps.co.uk

Correction

In an article about the Havering Direct Payments Support Group published on page 18 of the last (July) edition of Living in Havering there was an error in the details of the time of their monthly meetings. The correct time for their meetings on the third Thursday of each month at the Yew Tree Resource Centre in Romford is 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Have your say Adult social care in Havering supports around 7,000 vulnerable residents in any given year, including people over the age of 65 starting to need help, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health issues.

Please have your say on our draft Care & Support Policy, that brings together in one place how we work with residents who need, or may in the future need care and support.

By sharing your opinion in this public consultation you can help shape and influence the policy that aims to support people who need adult social care services, and their carers who require help to promote and maintain their well-being in line with the Council’s duties under the Care Act 2014.

Havering Council is striving to ensure it provides a fair, responsive, and effective service that enables users of social care services to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

The public consultation is open until 8 October 2017.

i

www.havering.gov.uk/ASCpolicy

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 07

Meeting the demand for new homes

Regenerating Rainham

Following a public consultation earlier this year the Council has submitted 10 outline planning applications on sites throughout the A1306 Beam Parkway.

The first of these sites has now been granted permission with further applications due to go before the regulatory services committee later this year. If approved, these sites will help provide around 750 much needed homes in the south of borough.

Developers Countryside and L&Q have also submitted an application for enabling works to occur on the former Ford assembly plant at Beam Park site to prepare the site Artist's impression of one of the proposed for development. Prior to any new building Beam Park developments work the ground must be checked for contamination, drainage issues addressed, and the ground Plans for the transformation of the A1306 itself will create a safer prepared to prevent any future settlement. area for residents and their families with the introduction of a series of new green open spaces, play areas and cycling paths. A These developments will be supported by the building of a brand public consultation on those plans is set to take place later new rail station at Beam Park, a new primary school and a this year. health centre. i www.rainhamandbeampark.co.uk

Looking to the future

Last month Havering Council launched a consultation on the draft Local Plan. This plan sets out proposed improvements, over the next 15 years, within housing, employment, transport, leisure, community services and much more.

The Council would like to hear the views of local residents and businesses.

When finalised, the document will form part of the Development Plan for Havering which will ensure that the needs of the Aerial view of part of the borough borough are sustainably met.

Cllr Damian White, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing said: “This is an essential piece of work for Havering’s future. The Local Plan covers all areas of everyday life and affects us all, so I urge residents, businesses and all key stakeholders to review the draft plan and send in comments.”

Residents also have the chance to indicate during this consultation phase if they wish to take part in an independent examination of the Local Plan. You can read the draft local plan online and if you want to have your say please respond by 5pm on Friday 29 September.

i

www.havering.gov.uk/localplan

08 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Care and care leavers news

is coming To improve the lives of care leavers by supporting young people as they move from living in care to independence Havering Council is launching ‘The Cocoon’. A new and exciting space in Romford town centre, dedicated to children in care and care leavers.

Each year approximately 10,000 young people aged between 16 and 18 years old leave care in England and a high percentage will be unable to independently support themselves. Evidence from 2016 has shown that within Havering 42 per cent of 19-21 year old care leavers were not in education, employment or training, and nearly 25 per cent of all care leavers were at risk of homelessness.

Havering Council wants to stop the cycle and improve the lives of care leavers. The Cocoon is a multi-purpose space being designed in partnership with Havering care leavers and children in care, to support a positive journey to

adulthood. The space will enable young people to develop life skills. Local care leaver, Rebecca Jordon, named ‘The Cocoon’ and designed the brand, which will be used across the shop front, a new website and promotional material.

The new venue will include kitchen facilities to develop basic living and cooking skills, computers and internet access points to support education, employment, and training opportunities, and private consultation rooms to enable young people to attend meetings with professionals in a comfortable environment.

The Cocoon is funded by the Department for Education’s Innovation Fund. Earlier this year, the Council received £2.4 million from the fund to support a range of new innovative services for young people supported by social care. The Cocoon also received help from local businesses, so that young people visiting the centre have access to modern technology in a vibrant space.

The Cocoon will open on Monday 23 October at 38 High Street, Romford, RM1 1HR.

Celebrating achievements

Anita Stewart from Havering Council with her co-hosts, care Leavers Daniel Ajiboye and Olivia Freeman More than 200 guests attended the first Havering Council Children in care and Care leavers awards held recently at City Pavilion in Collier Row. The event celebrated the academic, aspirational and personal achievements of young people who have been, or are in care. The event was supported with the donation of prizes and decorations by Jump Evolution, Kidspace and Floors- 2U.co.uk.

Wendy Jackson, a Havering foster carer, said: “It was a fantastic evening for children in care and care leavers. The awards ceremony, a first of its kind, supports children living in care to feel valued.”

Cllr Robert Benham, Havering Council’s Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, said: “Havering Council is striving to improve outcomes for children in care and care leavers.”

Showing the way for 40 years The Partially Sighted Society in Havering is celebrating 40 years. The group first met at Central Library in Romford in June 1977 and over the years has been based at a number of locations around the borough.

In recent years the group has arranged a number of tactile tours to locations across London including the Palace of Westminster and the Bank of England museum. They also regularly attend audio described performances at the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.

Today they run two groups at Yew Tree Resource Centre; a drop-in every Tuesday afternoon from 12.30 – 3pm where they provide advice and support for those who have a visual impairment, their friends and carers, and a Partially Sighted Club on the third Monday of each month from 8 – 10pm.

The society is also able to advise residents on the latest equipment for independent living which is displayed and demonstrated in their visually impaired demonstration room. No appointment needed.

To contact the group call the chair, John Slattery on 01708 448227 or email pss.havering@ymail.com.

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 09

News

Scho o Year l s 2 to 11

Council tax dodger jailed

A council tax dodger has paid up after being jailed for owing over £9,000 in council tax.

In July, the Council received full payment of £9,372.33 from Mr Atique Choudrey. The manager of a restaurant in Hornchurch was found guilty for non-payment of £8,827.33 council tax over a period of eight years and was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment.

Mr Choudrey’s full payment of £9,372.33 included £8,827.33 of unpaid council tax, £145 for failing to appear at the court hearing in February, and an extra £400 towards this year’s council tax.

Cllr Clarence Barrett, Cabinet Member for Financial Management, Transformation and IT said: “This should be a clear message that we will not tolerate non-payment of council tax in the borough. It’s a very serious offence and we are cracking down on this. If you’re having difficulties paying your council tax, please contact us. We’re here to help and would prefer to know about any changes in your financial situation as early as possible.” i www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax

are Child C s er Vouch d te Accep

m r e T f l a H bebrer to 27t h October Octo Oc t o 23rd

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Breakfast club drop off from 8am Halloween Theme Tent

School success Students in Havering (including those pictured at Coopers Company and Coborn schoool in Upminster) have achieved outstanding A-level results, with exam passes exceeding the national pass rate once again.

Havering students achieved an overall 99 per cent pass rate, which is 1.1 per cent higher than the overall national result.

School year 11 students across Havering were also celebrating after picking up their GCSE results following one of the biggest shake-ups in education with changes to the grading systems for some exams.

Havering’s results in English and maths were also above the national average.

Cllr Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said: “Well done to all GCSE pupils for their dedication and hard work in these exams. This year was a first for pupils sitting the tougher exams under the new grading system, nine to one. 67 per cent of students achieved a 4 or above in English and maths.”

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10 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Havering Show 2017

Sun shines on record-breaking event

Around 55,000 people attended this year’s Havering Show over the bank holiday weekend (Sunday 27 and 28 August) to enjoy entertainment, food, and some of the best weather the Show has seen.

With temperatures reaching 27°C, and now in its 39th year, this year’s Show saw crowds arrive in thousands to enjoy acts including 90s chart topper Kenny Thomas, who headlined the Time 107.5FM stage on Sunday, along with Angie Brown and The Dualers. The winner of The Voice – Kids, local girl Jess Folley and BBC Let it Shine TV star Luke Stanley also took to the stage and wowed audiences.

Paul Young and his band Los Pacaminos filled the Fairkytes Live stage area when they performed and Rainham based RCWA wrestlers entertained crowds all weekend. Families enjoyed a Community Performance Stage, funfair rides, trade and craft stalls, street food, licensed bars and much more.

On Monday evening, Ray Lewis and his band Still Drifting got the audience ‘in the groove’, with their classics, including 'up on the roof' and 'Saturday night at the movies'. Punk and New wave legends legends the Blockheads also took people down memory lane when performing the famous ‘Hit me with your Rhythm Stick’.

Find

images o more n so using #H cial media a and watc veringShow h the hig hli and back stage int ghts erviews i www.ha at vering Havering .gov.uk/ Show

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 11

Helping brothers and sisters stay together Havering Council currently has 259 children living in care and nearly half of these children are made up of siblings. This varies from a brother and sister to over five siblings all living in care at the same time. Sadly, it’s a real struggle for the Council to find foster carers who can support brothers and sisters together.

Sharon, 53 and Steve, 54 are Havering foster carers who have looked after nine children including sibling groups already, since becoming foster carers only 18 months ago. Living in Havering spoke to Sharon.

Could you care?

“My husband and I had discussed fostering for years, we knew other carers and saw directly what a positive impact they had on the lives of the young children living in their home” said Sharon.

“We waited until our children were independent and had their own lives, however, it was a decision that we discussed openly with all family including our grandchildren. We wanted everybody to be involved. My daughter and my daughter-in-law are registered support carers. Both help with child care when we attend training and social care meetings. My grandchildren have been amazing and are a huge help when new children join our home, they help to settle them so quickly.

“I actually think that fostering siblings is easier, the children are a natural support to each other. If one child is nervous, then their sister or brother will help them. Sadly, children who have come to live in our home, may previously not have had many possessions. I always take them out shopping so they can choose their own things. Especially letting them select their own toothpaste, toiletries and favourite foods as brothers don’t usually want what their sisters use!

“I love fostering, I never knew it would personally be so rewarding. Watching a child blossom whilst in your care, is incredible. Children may have their own issues and hurdles, but by fostering you really can help them with so many barriers.

“Since I became a foster carer, I have been overwhelmed with the support I have received from other Havering foster carers. They are always on hand to help.”

To find out how you can support children living in care, come along to one of the information evenings held on the first Thursday of every month at 6pm, at Havering Town Hall, Romford.

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www.havering.gov.uk/fostering

Sharon and Steve

•T he Council is also recruiting enhanced foster carers to support children aged 11 - 17 with complex needs.

If you have experience of work in the education, health, youth offending, justice, fostering or social care sectors and wish to transfer your skill set, apply today and you could receive up to £750 per week.

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12 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

More homes for people who need them

CLOSING THE D OOR

D U A R F Y C N A N E T ON A crackdown on tenancy fraud has seen over 40 homes recovered and saved the Council more than £4 million since autumn 2015.

Havering Council’s tenancy audit teams have visited approximately 24,000 homes, carrying out unscheduled inspections, to find out who exactly is living at a property. This enforcement action together with the recent launch of the Knock Knock awareness campaign is making it even harder for people who cheat the system, meaning more homes for genuine tenants.

Tenancy fraud in numbers

Over to you

If you know about someone committing tenancy fraud and are able to provide information leading to the Council taking back the property, you can receive a reward of £1,000. Any personal details provided will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Help us shut out housing fraudsters for good.

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www.havering.gov.uk/TenancyFraud

005047

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 13

Together in your care

er ing t s Fo er

e av rovid H h p wit l and ences nci xperi en u o e C dr new or chil re f a in c

Take the next step and visit one of our Thursday information evenings

Thursday 5 October and Thursday 2 November 6pm-7.30pm, Havering Town Hall, Romford Call today 01708 434 574 email fostering@havering.gov.uk www.havering.gov.uk/fostering

14 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Helping residents feel safe

Tackling problems

together

The Metropolitan Police’s campaign on scooter and moped safety advises riders to use strong security products. Scooter theft has increased across London and it’s important riders use the correct security to keep their scooters and mopeds safe as theft of these vehicles has been linked to criminals using them to commit other crimes.

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www.met.police.uk/scootersecurity

Attacks using corrosive substances are becoming a growing issue across London. To help prevent this in the borough, the Council is working with retailers and partners to tackle the suspicious sales of corrosive substances. The Council is working with the Metropolitan Police to host borough-wide seminars this month with local bars and night clubs.

There has also been an increase in the number of weapons sweeps and stop and searches in the borough to help tackle knife crime. Further work has been taking place with trading standards and police working together to combat underage sales of knives and corrosive substances. In July, Year 6 children took part in a preventative programme, the annual Junior Citizens programme where 1,800 pupils from Havering learnt about the dangers of carrying knives, sharp objects and the laws around them.

Safety advice for a great Halloween Halloween is creeping up and it’s important residents remain safe. Here are a few tips.

• You have a right to say ‘no’ to Trick or Treating. If you don’t want to be disturbed, you can display a “No Trick or Treating” sign by your front door.

• If someone calls at your door, be cautious.

• Report suspicious or criminal activity to the Police on 101 but always dial 999 in an emergency.

• The vast majority of young people in Havering are responsible citizens – there may be groups of children out in your street, especially at Halloween, but only bad behaviour should be reported to the police.

If you are a young person • Trick or treating is better with a group of friends. You can go out in smaller groups, but don't go out alone.

• Never go into a stranger’s house even if you are invited – stay with your friends on the doorstep.

Halloween can be a fun time for all, especially children who may enjoy dressing up but some costumes are flammable so do take all precautions.

Halloween costume safety: • Avoid capes, trains, and dangling sleeves – these can make the risk of catching fire greater, and they’re a trip hazard, too.

• Materials like cotton and rayon generally burn most easily, while synthetic fibres like nylon can be considered a lower risk. However, these fibres can also melt and potentially stick to skin, so are still risky even if they don’t burn as quickly.

• To limit the fire risk, use battery-operated tea lights and candles so that kids aren't exposed to naked flames. These are widely available and can be used to light pumpkins and put in regular tea light holders

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 15

Firework safety

#FeelSafeFriday

Despite safety warnings every year, there are still injuries during firework celebrations.

To avoid this, it is advised that only adults handle setting up firework displays, the lighting of fireworks and safe disposal.

It is important to keep naked flames, including cigarettes away from fireworks.

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#FeelSafeFriday is a social media campaign that informs residents, visitors and local bars and clubs about safety during nights out. Follow @LBofHavering on Twitter for weekly safety advice

www.rospa.com/home-safety/ advice/fireworks-safety

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www.havering.gov.uk/FeelSafeFriday

Before

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After

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16 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Keeping Havering healthy Quit smoking this

Stoptober

Stopping smoking is the best thing a smoker can do to improve their health. Havering Council supports the annual Stoptober initiative. If you are able to stop for 28 days, like the thousands of people who stopped last Stoptober, you are five times more likely to stay smoke free permanently. We are encouraging as many people as possible in Havering to join the challenge. It’s much more difficult to quit alone, but with the right support, anyone can do it.

Why give up?

Smoking remains the single largest cause of preventable deaths and one of the largest causes of health inequalities in England.

14.9% of the Havering population are smokers

How does smoking impact lives?

Where to find help to stop smoking

Smoking isn’t just anti-social and expensive, it causes cancer, respiratory disease, heart attacks strokes, and affects your skin.

It can also cause bones to become brittle and lungs can be badly affected, causing fatal diseases such as pneumonia and emphysema.

Stopping smoking is good for your physical and mental health, and there is more help and support available now than ever before.

For information and local support: • Call the Freephone helpline number, 0300 123 1044.

Lines are open 9am-8pm, Monday to Friday and 11am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday.

• Visit the NHS Smokefree website www.nhs.uk/smokefree • If you’re pregnant, please speak to your midwife or contact the Stop Smoking Service for Pregnant Women on 020 8724 8018.

• Talk to your pharmacist or GP for advice on which Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products you can buy over the counter.

Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales are a constant problem but Havering Council are working to reduce sales to under 18s and sales of counterfeit and illicit tobacco. If you have information about anyone you suspect is selling illicit or counterfeit tobacco, please report it to trading.standards@havering.gov.uk or the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506.

Havering has a team of Community Health Champions to assist with information about smoking cessation and all aspects of healthy lifestyle choices. To contact a Champion, or to receive free training to become a Health Champion yourself call 01708 797705 or email: myhealthmatters@tapestry-uk.org. Alternatively visit them at any of the upcoming health promotion events found on their website.

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www.havering.gov.uk/stopsmoking

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 17

Avoid bad air days with Miles the Mole We all know air pollution is a hot topic. It affects everyone but is particularly dangerous for young children and older people with pre-existing health problems. In London, poor air quality is linked to almost ten thousand premature deaths a year, and although air pollution in Havering is low compared to most other London boroughs, we can all help to clean the air.

This month, Havering’s clean air champion Miles the Mole helps us see through the fumes, looking at two of the most common pollutants - particulate matter and Nitrogen Dioxide.

Miles says…

Particulate Matter (PM10) consists of tiny solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air and invisible to the naked eye.

Particulate matter is emitted from vehicle exhausts either during the combustion process or when tyres and brakes wear down, and from road dust.

Through the pores in their leaves plants absorb pollutants and use enzymes to convert them into less harmful compounds.

Plants such as ivy, birch trees, and spider plants are among many that can help improve indoor as well as outdoor air quality. Instead of paving your garden try planting.

Indoor air quality is just as important as outdoor air quality. Indoor air pollution is a mixture of: • Pollutants generated inside a building from building materials or activities such as cooking, heating and the use of cleaning products.

• Pollutants generated outside a building that migrate in doors.

• Natural radon gas that enters building from the ground.

To improve air quality within your home, you can place an air filtering plant, open windows away from main roads, reduce the amounts of synthetic products or candles used within the home and keep humidity to a minimum. i www.havering.gov.uk/airquality

Nitrogen Dioxide is a chemical compound produced by the combustion process. Initially Nitric Oxide (NOx) forms and then combines with oxygen in the atmosphere, producing NO2.

NO2 forms part of the emissions from motor vehicles, power plants and off-road machinery.

18 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Managing the demand for housing

Preventing homelessness in Havering Havering’s taken significant steps to manage demand for the Council’s housing services, following a 20 per cent increase in homelessness over the last year.

Currently around 9,000 people a year come to the Council requiring help to find accommodation – much of this is caused by private landlords as people struggle to meet the rising price of rents.

In April 2018 the Homeless Reduction Act comes into force, a new law which will increase the duty on the Council to help homeless people. This Act places more emphasis on prevention of homelessness and we see this as an opportunity to change the way we deliver homelessness services.

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What’s the Council doing?

• We’ve started to improve the information and advice we give out. This includes new decision trees on our website. Residents can answer simple questions with YES and NO answers that make it quicker to get to the relevant advice. It also makes it much easier to get help on mobile devices.

• We’re reorganising our service to be more proactive so we can intervene early and stop people becoming homeless in the first place.

• We want to team up with local charities and work together to help people at risk of homelessness.

• We’re looking to improve our relationships with private landlords to increase the number of affordable homes.

If you’re struggling financially and are at risk of losing your home – contact us as soon as possible. Don’t wait until there’s a crisis – it’s easier to prevent homelessness than react to it.

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www.havering.gov.uk/homelessadvice

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 19

London Youth Games

Storming performance from Havering Havering Hurricanes had their best performance for seven years in this year’s London Youth Games.

The 2017 Games concluded with the traditional finals weekend at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in July. The Games ended on a high for Havering’ s team with gold medal success in the pool for our divers and silver medals for the archery and netball teams. More than 300 young people from 32 different schools and countless local sports clubs represented our borough.

Havering is the mo successful bosr t ough in London Youth Games history with outright titles

16

“In its 40th anniversary year, the London Youth Games is Europe’s largest annual youth sporting event,” said Michelle Gustavsen, from Havering Council’s Sports Development team. “Havering Hurricanes, sponsored by Everyone Active, compete against every other London borough in 32 different sports. This year, we entered 43 of the 52 events, of which five were para events, and achieved our best finish since 2010.”

Havering Hurricanes 2017 Overall Results

Swimming

With four individual bronze and two silver medals, the boys and girls teams both finished fifth overall, up four places from last year’s results.

Havering finished sixth overall.

The competition was won by Bromley. Havering’s team achieved one team gold, two silver and three bronze medals, plus 16 top five places and 29 top ten places.

Girls Football

Netball

Our free-scoring girls team contested a thrilling final against Redbridge to earn the silver medal.

MINI GAMES The girls topped their group with four wins and a draw and remained unbeaten until finally losing 1-0 to Bromley in the semi-final.

The London Youth Games competition also incorporates the Mini Games for primary school pupils in years 5 and 6.

Fifteen pupils from six primary schools represented the Hurricanes in this year’s competition. Our mini swimmers finished in sixth place this year with Lewis Dixon winning a gold medal in the 50 metres freestyle. Havering also had one paragames swimmer, Rheanna Oberius, who did Havering proud by winning a silver medal in the backstroke.

20 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Making our borough cleaner, greener and Library volunteer Janet Morris (left) with Kathy Scourfield who co-ordinates the work of library volunteers across the borough

Volunteers make Thanks to the outstanding efforts of many local residents, our parks are cleaner, our open spaces tidier, people know more about our local history and children’s reading is improving.

as a buddy for children learning to read throughout the Janet Morris: a year. volunteer at South Hornchurch Library “It’s nice to see children get better at reading. I had a little Janet from Rainham is a reading buddy helping children learn to read. She’s been a volunteer since March.

Polish boy in my class recently and I was able to help him read in English” said Janet.

“I’m not sporty but quite academic so as I was nearing retirement, I looked on the Council’s website to see what volunteering options were available and that’s where I saw the chance to help people learn to read” said Janet.

Jan Looker, the Manager of South Hornchurch library, was quick to praise Janet’s contribution to the team who work at the library: “Janet’s been invaluable to us. She’s lovely, willing and able. We have about ten volunteers helping me and my two staff colleagues. The staff and volunteers are equally important in allowing us to offer our services.”

Following her acceptance and training, Janet now comes into the library every Thursday afternoon assisting with the summer reading programme for young children and acting

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The Harrow Lodge Conservation Group

Members of the Harrow Lodge Conservation group hard at work removing rubbish from the water in the lake

Formed in 2002 this group of volunteers is led by Alison Lyons who is the Chairperson. She lives alongside the Hornchurch park in Warren Drive.

She explains why she and her husband Mick set up the group that run clean-up work parties in the park twice a month:“We felt that the park, and especially the lake was neglected with all sorts of rubbish dumped in it.

We started pulling things out and asking the Council to remove the waste. Now things are much better and we work closely and well with the council and Dan the park ranger.” The good work of the

www.havering.gov.uk/libraryvolunteers

Conservation Group has now helped Harrow Lodge Park with a prestigious Green Flag award (see News story on page 5).

Regular volunteer Jean Lambert said: “I help because I love the birds in the park and I like to keep the lake clean and beautiful for them.”

The group has a lock-up storage unit alongside the Warren Road car park in which they store all the equipment they need for their working parties that take place on the first and third Sundays of each month starting at 9am – unless it’s pouring with rain.

New members are always welcome. There are no membership fees and no meetings to attend, but you do need to be prepared for some manual labour so should wear old clothes but otherwise all the necessary gear including nets, wheelbarrows, rakes are provided. Just turn up at the Warren Road entrance car park on a relevant Sunday morning.

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 21

smarter

the difference Havering wouldn’t be the place it is without a huge commitment of time and energy by thousands of willing volunteers. In this issue of Living in Havering we celebrate the work of just a few of them.

Ian Selby: a volunteer with the Friends of Cottons Park in Romford

Ian Selby next to one of the recently installed reminiscences of Cottons Park signs

The Knightsbridge Gardens resident attended a meeting in November 2002 when around 50 local people gathered to discuss vandalism problems in the park. Ian said that meeting inspired him to volunteer to be the secretary of the newly formed Friends of Cottons Park. Later he would chair the group for 10 years and remains a committee member today.

One of the first things the group organised was a fun day to raise the profile of the group and gather suggestions as to how money from Havering Council and the Veolia North Thames Trust could be used to enhance the park. Early priorities were to install new park railings, lay new paths, playground areas and a general spruce up. The old tennis courts were also replaced by a skate park area and Ian is particularly proud of the role the Friends group played in getting local youngsters to work with the skate park equipment providers, Evolution, to come up with something they really wanted and would use.

In 2009 the park won its first Green Flag and Ian recalls that when that happened some members of the group thought they would disband but instead the group took on a new lease of life and in addition to continuing to run the annual fund day in July also agreed to add a second annual Halloween event.

Additionally they now organise a Christmas carols and tree lighting event and continue with annual litter-picking working parties. The group was also instrumental in establishing a memorial to six people killed by a bomb that hit their air raid shelter in the park in October 1940 and to the installation of signage sharing reminiscences of park users.

In the next issue of Living in Havering read about one of the borough’s oldest and most active volunteers, and the work of the Friends of Ingrebourne Valley and Hornchurch Country Park.

If you’d like to volunteer in our borough please contact the Havering Volunteer Centre on 01708 922218.

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www.haveringvc.org.uk

22 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Beautiful Havering

Laura Hill is interviewed for Gardeners’ World by Nick Bailey.

Picture courtesy of Kathryn Braithwaite.

Rosy outlook for flower collection A hospice in Havering-atte-Bower has featured in a recent edition of a BBC TV programme thanks to its worldrenowned collection of roses.

Saint Francis Hospice had a visit from a film crew from Gardeners World who decided to feature the story of plants from the famous Pemberton roses collection being shared with local residents.

The roses collection is named after the Pemberton family who lived at The Hall in Broxhill Road where the hospice is now situated. Joseph Pemberton was born in Havering-atte-Bower in 1852. He loved roses and begun showing the blooms as a tribute to his father who died in 1874.

He had over 4,000 varieties in his private collection and is famous for originating a group of roses called Hybrid Musks. Together with his gardener, Jack Bentall, he created 69 varieties. Joseph went on to be President of the National Rose Society.

The collection of Pemberton roses was started more than 10 years ago by the hospice’s gardener, Dave Collins. Dave did an incredible job building the collection as the majority of the roses were no longer commercially available. He had to contact many private collectors around the world who provided propagation material for many of the roses.

Heritage funding enabled the hospice to continue the search for the missing roses. There were some sad near misses with the rose called Galatea being destroyed by a chemical

accident, and one named Sun-Ray being put on a skip!

There were also successes with Pearl and Bernice coming from a collection in France. The hospice now has 49 of the 69 known varieties of Pemberton roses. This makes it the largest collection in the world, and the collection has Plant Heritage status.

The funding also enabled the hospice to propagate the roses to build its stock. The Pemberton roses are famous for being hardy and the hospice recently had a surplus of rose plants. Laura Hill, Trusts & Grants Manager at Saint Francis Hospice said: “As our aim was to bring these roses back home to the place where they were bred we decided to share our surplus roses with the villagers of Havering-atteBower. The roses now have lovely homes and are planted in village gardens, Bedfords Walled Garden, Bedfords Park Visitor Centre, Bower House Community Garden, Havering Park, the village green, and in hedgerows around the village. This has been a fabulous project for engaging with the local community and encouraging many new rose enthusiasts. We’re delighted that Gardeners World chose to film our Pemberton rose project."

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www.pembertonroses.org.uk

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 23

Helping residents stay fit and healthy

Leisure centres

shaping up

An artist’s impression of how the new Hornchurch Leisure Centre could look.

Havering Council is committed to an ambitious programme of improvements to the health and leisure facilities available to residents across the borough. The eye-catching sapphire coloured Romford Leisure Centre is nearing completion. The structure of the ice-rink is now in place and both the 25 metre, eight-lane, main pool and the 15 metre x 8 metre teaching pool are being tiled.

Architects are now working on the planning application for a new Hornchurch Leisure Centre which is likely to be submitted in October.

using the leisure facilities.

The Council is determined to minimise the impact on existing users of the Hornchurch Sports The centre, to be built close to the Centre and Harrow Lodge Park existing sports centre, will include during the work on the new centre spectacular swimming facilities such and to leave improved vistas of as a 25 metre eight-lane pool, a the beautiful parkland when the 20 metre x 10 metre teaching pool work is completed. However some The ice rink in the new Romford Leisure with an adjustable floor, and diving disruption is unavoidable during Centre nears completion facilities. The moveable floor will the construction phase and this will allow the pool to be used as a diving pool which will include a include finding a temporary home for the archery club that 5 metre platform, two 3 metre boards and two 1 metre boards. currently uses the area where the new centre will be built.

The new building will also include a garden café which will overlook the park, allowing residents to relax outdoors after

Subject to a successful planning application, the existing Hornchurch Sports Centre will remain open while the new centre is built. Look out for public engagement events that will be held at Hornchurch Sports Centre in the near future.

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www.havering.gov.uk/leisurecentres

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The modern centre will also have four new indoor badminton courts, a large health and fitness suite with over 100 pieces of exercise equipment, three studios that can be used for dance classes and group exercises, and a fully equipped crèche.

24 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

A great start in life for every child

School admissions - Don’t delay, apply today for Reception and Year 7 places

• If your child is aged four or above from 1 September 2018, you will need to apply for their Reception school place now.

• If your child has just entered Year 6, you will need to apply for their secondary school (Year 7) place now for them to start in 2018.

Selecting your child’s’ school place, may feel like a daunting process. But don’t worry, Havering Council has developed a simple guide to help parents understand this milestone in their child’s life.

Where to start When deciding on either a primary school or secondary school make sure you have read the individual school’s admissions criteria carefully. The criteria will guide you on the possibility of being offered a place at your desired school.

This will help to shape the order of preferred schools listed on your online application form.

Before completing your online application form, it’s recommended that parents visit all their preferred schools.

This is an invaluable opportunity to get a feel for a school, meet current pupils, review the schools ethos, speak with class teachers, and meet the head teacher.

Secondary school open days/evenings can be found at

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www.havering.gov.uk/admissions

For infant/primary schools, parents are advised to contact the individual schools direct.

Completing the online form Parents or carers should list as many preferences as possible when completing the online form. Listing more than one preference on the application means parents are more likely to be offered one of those preferences. You should not include any school where your child doesn’t meet the schools criteria.

Don't miss the deadline!

• Year 7, closing date - 31 October 2017.

• Reception, closing date - 15 January 2018.

It’s important for all applications to be received before the deadline, this ensures your child’s application will be considered as an on time application. Any applications received after the deadline, will not be processed until all the on time applications have been allocated. If the deadline is missed, parents will risk losing their child’s school place at their preferred school.

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 25

The vast majority of parents in Havering receive their preferred school place for their children.

Primary

2016 2017

Per cent of parents offered 1st preference

88

87

Per cent of parents offered 1st to 3rd preference

96

95

Per cent of parents offered 1st to 6th preference

98

97

Secondary

2016 2017

Per cent of parents offered 1st preference

81

79

Per cent of parents offered 1st to 3rd preference

94

94

Per cent of parents offered 1st to 6th preference

97

97

Cllr Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said: “The Council is very proud of the performance and reputation of schools in Havering. We want to ensure all parents complete their online application on time, as some schools within the borough receive in excess of six times more applications than places available. If any parent has concerns or questions, please contact the Havering Admissions Team.”

If your child is not old enough to start school there are many options.

If you are looking to return to work or your child would benefit from extra activities, or you just need a little respite, early years education can help.

Children benefit from engaging with other kids as early as possible. It helps them to develop friendships, social skills, reading, writing and listening.

Havering has a huge range of pre-schools, day nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs and afterschool clubs. Free funding options are also available for children from two years of age. Full details at

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www.havering.gov.uk/earlyyears

Helpful websites www.havering.gov.uk/admissions - details all Havering infant, junior, primary and secondary schools, information about them and admissions criteria can be found on the website. www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk – lists information regarding individual school performance statistics.

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Dates for the 2018 diary Secondary school applications responses will be emailed to parents on the evening of 1 March 2018 and Reception application responses will be emailed to parents on the evening of 15 April 2018.

Help to make sure your child is ready for Reception • Ensure your child is confident to ask to go to the toilet, and that they can use it themselves, making sure they also know how to wash their hands afterwards. This life skill will ensure no delays with them starting Reception.

• Make meal times at home fun and engaging, this may help fussy eaters and promote sitting at a table while eating a meal.

• We often feel like there isn't enough time in the day, especially with a toddler. Help them develop their independence and let them dress themselves. Ensuring they can do-up their own shoes, zip up their coats and fasten buttons.

• Help them socialise by organising play dates, or participate in activities at your local children’s centre.

Parents should be aware that children cannot start school with a dummy or whilst in nappies.

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26 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Waste Minimisation

Feed the 1,000 Did you know…

1,000 meals could be made with the amount of leftovers and uneaten food the average family throws away each year?

Havering Council is getting ready to feed one thousand people for free, to highlight the true cost of food waste.

The feed The 1,000 event, which takes place on Friday 13 October and Saturday 14 October, at The Brewery, Romford, is being run by the Council, with funding from Sainsbury’s as part of its Waste Less Save More campaign.

During the two days, 1,000 free portions of food will be given away to residents and visitors. To get involved and eat for free all you need to do is make a pledge at the stall,

promising to make one small change to help reduce your food waste at home. How about freezing your bread or using a pasta/spaghetti measurer to work out the correct portion?

Our Community Chefs will be at the event cooking up pasta dishes that can be made from leftovers and commonly wasted foods or typical fridge items. The Council's Waste Minimisation Team Officers will also be on hand to offer advice and information about how you can save up to £60 a month by wasting less food.

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 27

Top tips from Community Chef Mark Borrell Mark Borrell became a Community Chef after working in top London hotels and restaurants.

Q. W hat are your top tips to waste less and save more in

Mark then went into catering management, training chefs in hotels and restaurants. He found a demand locally for healthy eating cookery workshops, and now plays a key role in delivering Havering’s Love food hate waste cookery workshops.

These involve education on food related topics, healthy eating, cooking on a budget, and using left overs in realistic and practical ways.

Planning - Limit your meals and create a shopping list, this will help reduce the amount you purchase. Use seasonal foods, this will help to reduce your shopping bill, as these foods tend to be cheaper.

Q. What’s your favourite leftovers recipe?

A. I have a couple of favourite leftover recipes. Chow mein

because it is quick and easy, cheap and healthy. You can use almost any vegetables and meat that you have in the fridge for example - peppers and cooked chicken.

Soups, in particular minestrone, because once again, it is quick and easy, cheap and healthy, and you can use loads of vegetables from the fridge that sometimes get thrown away.

the kitchen?

A. My top tips are-

Cooking - Measure or weigh ingredients, especially when using pasta, rice, and grains like quinoa and couscous, this will stop over portioning that can lead to food waste or even over eating. Consider batch cooking, so cook double the amount that you need and freeze half the amount for another time. This will reduce food costs as buying larger amounts tend to be cheaper.

Eating - Do not overload the plates when serving meals. People often feel they have to finish the food they have on their plate, and this can result in weight gain. If you cook too much, it can be cooled, refrigerated, and used another time. (Use food up within 48 hours).

Families - If you have children, grandchildren get them involved in planning, buying and cooking food.

They are more likely to eat their meals and try different foods if they are involved in the planning and cooking.

Are you up for the challenge?

Havering residents are being encouraged to think about what they are throwing away, in a bid to save money and help tackle food waste in the borough, with the new Food Waste Challenge.

Havering Council and London Green Points – Havering have introduced the Food Waste Challenge to provide some practical tips and tricks on reducing food waste. Get involved in the challenge and you will be able to earn Green Points to spend in the online shop, transfer to high street vouchers, or donate to charity.

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www.havering.gov.uk/reducewaste

Cllr Osman Dervish, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

“It’s in everyone’s interest to reduce the borough’s waste tonnage, and through initiatives like the Food Waste Challenge, we’re giving residents the opportunity to learn more about how to cut food waste.

“Thinking about what we buy, and how we use and dispose of leftovers can help us to reduce the amount of rubbish we’re throwing away, saving both residents and the Council money.”

Points make prizes

Local Green Points – Havering is a free residents reward scheme where

you can earn points based on the area that you live in and the amount of rubbish and recycling that you produce as a community. When rubbish is going down and recycling going up, everyone in your community earns Green Points! You can also earn bonus Green Points for attending a waste prevention workshop such as our popular Love Food Hate Waste workshops or composting workshops. These points can be turned into prizes.

To become a member of the Local Green Points – Havering scheme go to www.localgreenpoints.com/havering and activate your account. You will also receive a membership card that gives you a discount at many local shops around the borough.

28 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Historical Havering Town Hall Celebrates its th 80 Birthday

The Town Hall just prior to its official opening in 1937

granted, a new home was needed for the soon-to-beTurn back the clocks to 1929 and there was no town local government authority. A competition was opened, hall in Romford. What is now the London Borough in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British of Havering was divided between Hornchurch Urban Architects, to find the best design for a new town hall District Council, based at Langtons in Hornchurch, Upminster parish council, and Romford Urban District and municipal offices. A tender to build the new Town Hall for £30,230 was successful and on 28 November Council (RUDC).

1936 John Parker, the MP for Romford, laid the In 1930 the first steps were being taken towards RUDC foundation stone that can be gaining borough status. At a seen in the Town Hall foyer.

RUDC meeting held above On Charter Day in September the Romford Arcade in South 1937, a ceremony was held at Street it was decided that the the new town hall where the district had what was required Lord Mayor of London, Sir to be successful in obtaining George Broadbridge, formally borough status: well-maintained opened the building in Main highways, public health, Road. Gifts were given to the housing and emergency services new borough including a mace together with a distinct civic with Borough of Romford life, appropriate rateable values below the crest and the and a significant population.

Mayoral chains of office that Fast forward to 1937 and the are still in use today.

Borough Charter was granted The home of Romford Borough

by King George VI after Council later became the petitioning to the Privy Council The original drawing plans for the Town Hall administrative hub for the and laying out why Romford in Romford London Borough of Havering deserved to gain Borough status. and although the building has undergone many changes The lobbying focused on Romford’s large residential population with business links to London and a traditional internally the external façade still retains to this day the market in the town centre. The Privy Council were content classic, imposing but elegant look first designed in the early 1930s. that Romford had the necessities to gain the status.

When it was confirmed that the Charter would be

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www.haveringmuseum.org.uk www.havering.gov.uk/libraries

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 29

More News

Don’t miss out on your chance to vote

Each year Havering Council’s Election Services team must review and update the Electoral Register.

To do this, household enquiry forms were sent to every residential property in the borough in July, with reminders sent to non-responding properties in August.

They were addressed to “The Occupier”, as they relate to the household and not a specific individual.

Residents are required by law to check the information on the form, update it if necessary, and respond either online, by phone, text or by returning the form.

During September and October, electoral canvassing staff will be making visits to the addresses who have not responded.

The staff, who will be using computer tablets to collect the information, will be carrying picture identification.

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www.havering.gov.uk/elections

Take a leaf out of our book and help clean up the borough Havering Council will soon be deploying three machines that specialise in the clearing of leaves from the borough's footways and roads.

The leafing machines, known as Little Gems, will take to the borough's streets in mid-October for a period of eight weeks. The three machines will be in addition to the six mechanical sweepers deployed by the Council.

Any leaves that you clear from the highway or your own front garden which fall from the borough's highway trees can be collected by the Council. To request this service, residents must contact the Council and then place the leaves into a black bag at the boundary of their property.

The council will aim to collect the bag(s) within three working days following the request. Leaves will not be collected as part of the normal weekly domestic waste collection service. i www.havering.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Planning ahead

Here are some dates for your diary – or smartphone calendar: Thursday 16 November – Romford Xmas Lights Switch-on Thursday 23 November – Upminster Xmas Event Friday 1 December – Collier Row Xmas Event

More details on all these events It may be early Autumn but dates have and many others in the next edition already been set for a number of the pre- of Living in Havering that will be Christmas festivities across the borough. published on 6 November.

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30 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Business News

Havering is the Best Borough for Tech Start-Ups

Following Havering being recognised in 2015 as the start-up capital of Britain, it’s now been highlighted by recruitment firm Talentful as the best borough for tech companies to start.

The borough received the accolade due to the high survival rate for start-ups with over nine in ten new tech companies making it past the one year mark.

Havering Council will be continuing to offer support to start-ups through its dedicated support programme and investment in affordable workspace.

The StartUp support programme was launched in July 2016 and is managed

by Enterprise Nation. It’s been active in supporting hundreds of ambitious start-ups through delivering workshops, one-to-one consultations, tender-ready training, a programme of webinars, and access to national campaigns such as facebook's She Means Business. The programme continues until March 2018 with two main objectives: encouraging people with an idea to start a business, and supporting early stage businesses to grow.

Cllr Roger Ramsey, Havering Council Leader, said: “We’re pleased Havering continues to be recognised as the place for companies

to start, especially those from the digital technology sector which has grown to be a major contributor to the UK economy.

“Alongside the Mayor of London and key partners, we have invested in a dedicated support programme and affordable workspace for those seeking to start their business in Havering. “ Emma Jones, (pictured above) Founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “In the past year of working in Havering, we've seen at first hand the depth of entrepreneurial talent in the Borough and the ambitious nature of the area's founders. Our job, via the StartUp Support programme, is to ensure opportunities are realised and ideas come to life.”

One of the tech businesses that has benefitted from Havering’s support programme and workspaces is Respondit, who specialise in designing, building and marketing top-end responsive websites. David Hodder, Managing Director of Respondit said: “As a young digital tech company having the right support, in the right place is crucial for our success. The support we have received from Havering Council has been first rate, and the Retailery has been a huge success allowing us to

expand our team and operations, in a cost effective manner.”

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www.enterprisenation.com/havering

There’s plenty of help and workspaces across Havering to support start-up businesses. Here are just a few places you can go: CEME Launchpad Centre, Rainham CEME Launchpad Centre is a collaborative hub of forward-thinking technology, manufacturing and engineering early stage businesses to help them survive and thrive. i www.ceme.co.uk/launchpad-services Co-Working@ Rainham Library A co-working hub set within Rainham Library for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small businesses to thrive and be part of a community that networks, innovates, collaborates and supports. i businessdevelopment@havering.gov.uk The Retailery, Romford The Retailery is a playground for makers, thinkers and doers, bringing a selection of the finest independent start-up businesses, and food outlets to the heart of Romford. i www.retailery.co.uk

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BID’s charity challenge Businesses in the London Riverside BID area stepped up to sponsor the BID's mobile security guard Kane White as he rode a unicycle along the Thames pathway from Rainham to the RSPB site in Purfleet on 25 July to raise money for the BID's nominated charity Rainham Royals Youth Club.

This is the fourth year running Kane has taken on this challenge. This year he was joined by 16 children and staff from Rainham Royals Youth Club and members of the BID team (pictured above) and the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Linda Van den Hende, was on hand to meet Kane and start the event.

Showcase your business Havering Chamber of Commerce, in association with The Queen’s Theatre, will be hosting a business showcase and networking exhibition on Monday 9 October 2017 from 6.30 – 9.30pm.

Havering businesses, small and large, will be attending, providing a perfect opportunity to network and showcase the services your business provides.

The event includes: • Complimentary drink reception and buffet • Opening by the Mayor of Havering • Guest speakers • Networking area with a free prize draw for pre-registered attendees with prizes including two weeks of free advertising on Time 107.5 FM and free membership for a year of Havering Chamber of Commerce.

This will be a free event, open to members and non-members but as numbers will be limited all members and guests must rsvp or register on Eventbrite, or contact Barry Hicks to register on 01708 560066 or by email at enquiries@hcci.org.uk

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32 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Business News

CELEBRATE

AND BE INSPIRED The Havering Business awards are back!

On Friday 8 February the CEME Conference Centre in Rainham will again play host to a glittering evening of entertainment, food, drink and awards.

Showcase your business, celebrate your achievements, or promote your new venture by entering the awards. It’s a simple process and categories cover all types of business.

Key dates:

18 September 2017 13 November 2017 w/c 27 November 2017 w/c 4 December 2017 8 February 2018

Entries Open/Launch Entries Close Judging and shortlisting Finalists announced Awards Ceremony

Enter now

entries close 13 November How to enter Submit a statement of a maximum of 1,000 words explaining why you should win the award. Cover the following: • Background on your business and a brief history.

• How you meet the criteria for this reward and the reason why your entry should win.

• What makes your business stand out from your competitors.

• Key achievements in relation to the category you are entering.

• An indication of how the business has benefited.

• An outline of your development plans for the next 12 months.

To enter, visit our website: www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 33

AWARD CATEGORIES Havering 2017

Apprentice of the Year

Business Awards

Open to apprentices who have shown outstanding progress and commitment to their own personal development, and their progression on a recognised learning scheme. The judges will be looking for evidence of where an apprentice has made a significant contribution towards their workplace.

Havering 2017

Best Customer Service

Business Awards

Open to all businesses who can successfully demonstrate quality customer service. You will be an industry leader in excellent standards of service and constantly strive to exceed customer expectations.

New Business of the Year

Havering 2017 Business Awards

This award aims to acknowledge a new business that has achieved significant success within its first two years of trading.

Growing Business of the Year

Havering 2017 Business Awards

For businesses that can show a growth in turnover and profit, and/or employees and products or services, over the last 12 months.

Havering 2017

Small to Medium Business of the Year

Business Awards

This award is for small to medium sized businesses who are making an impact within their field.

The award recognises those who have maintained consistent growth and financial performance, continually innovating to support future growth.

Large Business of the Year

Havering 2017 Business Awards

For large sized businesses who are making an impact within their field and whose growth, ambition and quality of management has enabled it to deliver a compelling business strategy.

Business Person of the Year

Havering 2017

This award acknowledges a Managing Director, Owner or Manager who has achieved significant success in their business during the past 12 months, showing strong leadership and business acumen.

Business Awards

Havering Business of the Year

Havering 2017

This category will be awarded by the judging panel and is only open to the winners of each of the other categories. Each winner will be automatically considered. You cannot nominate yourself.

The judges will be looking for the business that best represents Havering in terms of its success, its commitment to the local area, its contribution to the local economy and its role as an ambassador representing the area on a wider level.

Business Awards

For the full entry criteria for each award category visit the awards website: www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk. There will be more information on all the award sponsors in the November issue of Living in Havering, published on 6 November 2017.

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34 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering

Arts & Culture Art HAVERING ARTS COUNCIL

Havering Arts Council represents arts groups in Havering and has a full programme of events www.haveringartscouncil.org.uk

HORNCHURCH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Mondays, 7.45 – 10pm www.hornchurchphoto.co.uk

PHOENIX ART GROUP

Tuesdays, 2 – 4pm e beenaphoenix@gmail.com

UPMINSTER CAMERA CLUB

Tuesdays, 7.45 – 10pm www.upminstercameraclub.org.uk

CRANHAM ART SOCIETY

Wednesdays, 10am – 12pm t 229715 e maureen.hunter44@yahoo.com

whole of David Bowie’s career, from Starman to Blackstar.

Fleetingwood Mac Friday 13 October, 8pm More than just a tribute,this powerful young rock band reenergise Fleetwood Mac’s music for a new generation.

Gordon Giltrap Friday 27 October, 8pm A chance to see one of the most influential British acoustic guitarists of his generation.

Hansel and Gretel - Story Play Saturday 21 October, 10am Circuloso Ridiculoso – The Big Balloon Spectacular Saturday 21 October, 11.30am Claudina Edwards sings Nina Simone Sunday 22 October, 7.30pm Street Dance Masterclass Tuesday 24 October, 10am & 2pm Cajun Roots Music with the Creole Brothers Tuesday 24 October, 8pm ‘Spooky’ Play in a Day Wednesday 25 October, 10am The Andrew Linham Jazz Orchestra Wednesday 25 October, 8pm Comedy Club Thursday 26 October, 8.30pm

www.queens-theatre.co.uk

HAVERING MUSEUM

Photography exhibition Until Saturday 14 October Havering Museum Photography Group 5th annual exhibition Painting exhibition Wednesday 18 October – Saturday 18 November Home of Truth: Paintings by Jurgita Kapsiene

Music FAIRKYTES LIVE

fairkytes@havering.gov.uk for tickets to any event go to www.seetickets.com Aladdinsane: Bowie tribute Friday 29 September, 8pm The UK's top Bowie tribute bandperforms music spanning the

Fagin's Twist Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 Sep D’Ukes Evening Concert Sunday 24 Sep, 7.30pm The Dawn Chorus Friday 29 Sep, 2.30pm Learn to Lindy Hop! Workshop Sunday 1 Oct, 4 – 5pm and 5.30 – 7pm The Ladykillers Tuesday 3 – Saturday 21 October Down Memory Lane – Dementia Friendly Wednesday 4 October, 2.30pm Explosive Crafts – Crafty Kids!

Saturday 7 October, 10am

Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 12.30pm t 756005

THAMES CHASE EVENTS

www.thameschase.org.uk Guitar workshop Forest Centre, Pike Lane, Upminster.

Sunday 24 September, 11am-4pm.

Suitable for all ages and abilities.

Cost £18 (£10 for under 16s) Booking essential.

Guided walk to Dagnam Park (The Manor) Friday 29 September, 10am. Learn about its history. Meet in the car park to Central Park, off Petersfield Avenue. Cost £3.

Tree Nursery Sunday Group First Sunday of each month from 10am. Join volunteers helping to manage the newly renovated community tree nursery and the Forest Centre grounds. Free.

Museums & Theatre QUEEN’S THEATRE Exhibitions HORNCHURCH An Afternoon with Glenn Chandler, author of the Taggart TV series Saturday, 23 September at 1pm Tickets £5 e info@haveringmuseum.org.uk

COLLIER ROW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION

H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man Friday 27 October – Saturday 18 November Down Memory Lane – Dementia Friendly Wednesday 1 Nov, 2.30pm Barmy Bookmarks – Crafty Kids!

Saturday 4 November, 10am Tales from the Shed – On Tour Saturday 4 November, 11.30am & 1.30pm

Historic Buildings & Gardens VOLUNTEERING AT BEDFORDS PARK WALLED GARDEN Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am – 3pm www.bedfordswalledgarden.org

Apple Weekend Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October, 10am-4pm. See the Forest Centre full of English apples that are for tasting and for sale. There will also be country crafts and activities for the children. Free entry.

SQUIRRELS HEATH GARDENING CLUB

Last Monday of each month 8 – 10pm e essexgardens@hotmail.com

RAINHAM HALL

Exhibition inspired by childhood WWII experiences and the use of Rainham Hall as a wartime nursery. Held in the Hayloft above the cafe the exhibition is free to enter and runs until Friday 1 October. t 447784 If you would like your event featured for free in future Listings or on Havering’s website, please complete the online form at www.havering.gov.uk/eventsform All numbers are 01708 unless stated.

What's on COMMUNITY BRITISH CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY, HAVERING BRANCH Third Saturday of the month 7 – 10pm t 447778 COLLIER ROW BRIDGE CLUB Thursdays, 7 – 10.30pm www.bridgewebs.com/collierrow COLLIER ROW TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD First and third Tuesday of the month, 1.30 – 4pm e mclary2012@btinternet.com CRAFTY ARTS KNIT AND NATTER GROUP Tuesdays, 10am – 12noon e sales@craftyarts.co.uk CRANHAM ENGAYNE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE Second Monday of each month, t 228119 DIABETES UK – HAVERING GROUP Third Monday of each month (except August and January) at North Street Halls, Hornchurch, RM11 1QX , 8 – 10pm www.havering.diabetesukgroup.org EAST OF LONDON FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY First Saturday of the month 11am – 4pm e neal25@hotmail.com FOUR SEASONS KNITTING & CRAFT CLUB Mondays, 7pm – 10pm www.rgcasc.org FAIRKYTES ACCORDION CLUB First Wednesday of month, 7.30pm e fac.enquiries@outlook.com FUNKY VOICES Every Monday 8 – 10pm www.funkyvoices.co.uk GEOLOGY TALK "Essex through the deep" by Ian Mercer Monday 13 November, 8 – 9.45pm Hornchurch Library. Cost: £2.50 t 440297 e veronica.em@icloud.com GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG CLUB OF ESSEX Wednesdays, 7.30 – 9.30pm e shiela_ranking@btinternet.com

GUIDED WALK AT RAINHAM MARSHES New Tank Hill Road, Pufleet, RM19 1SZ Saturday 30 September, 9.30 am The walk is led by Roy Woodward of Buteo Wildlife for the East London Birders Forum. Booking essential. t 899840 e rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk HAVEN LADIES CLUB Alternate Tuesdays, 8 – 10pm www.rgcasc.org HAVERING ACTIVE TEA DANCE Thursdays, 1.30 – 3.30pm e dancingrita@hotmail.co.uk HAVERING ANTIQUE COLLECTORS CLUB Third Friday of the month from 7.30 – 9.30pm t 07947 367258 HAVERING BOARD GAMERS First, third and fifth Thursday of the month 7.30 – 10pm e fransnook@yahoo.co.uk HAVERING CONCERT ORCHESTRA (HCO) Wednesdays, during term-time 7.30 – 9.30pm www.hcoweb.co.uk HAVERING EAST ROTARY CLUB Tuesdays, 7.30 – 10pm www.haveringeastrotary.org HAVERING MUSIC MAKERS Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 – 10pm e join@haveringmusicmakers.co.uk HAVERING WRITERS CIRCLE First Monday of month, 7.30 – 10pm t 375549 HORNCHURCH AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Last Friday of the month except July August and December, 7.15pm e hdhs.barn@btinternet.com HORNCHURCH HARMONIES WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Meets on the third Wednesday of each month (except August) from

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 35

7.30 – 9.45pm at Havering Indoor Bowls Club in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch.

New members welcome. Visitors fee £3.50 includes tea & cake. t 111111 e hornchurchharmonies@outlook. com HORNCHURCH WARGAMES CLUB Mondays, 7 – 11pm e collin.fairman@ntlworld.com HUMANISTS OF HAVERING Second Saturday of the month 2 – 4pm www.meetup.com/Essex-Humanists MAKE AND TAKE CARD-MAKING CLUB Wednesdays, 12.30 – 3.30pm e maureen.hunter44@yahoo.com NELMES (HORNCHURCH) WOMEN'S INSTITUTE Second Wednesday of month 1.45 – 4pm e ruth.wellwisher@gmail.com NORTH OCKENDON HANDBELL RINGERS Tuesdays, 7.30 – 9.30pm t 459339 PARKINSON’S UK HAVERING & DISTRICT BRANCH SUPPORT MEETINGS First and third Tuesday of each month, 2- 4pm Langtons Registry Office, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1XJ t 345424 t Brenda.crissell@gmail.com www.parkinsons.org.uk/havering PASSIONE ITALIANA – ITALIAN AND ENGLISH BILINGUAL PRESENTATIONS Second Monday of the month 6.30 – 7.30pm e lapassioneitaliana@gmail.com PSYCHIC CAFÉ Last Friday of the month, 7 – 9.30pm e info@hands-4-healing.co.uk RAINHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Tuesdays, 10am – 12noon Saturdays, 9am – 12noon Sundays, 10am – 12.30pm www.rainhamhorticulturalsociety.org.uk

REIKI SHARE Second Wednesday of the month 7 – 10pm e info@hands-4-healing.co.uk ROMFORD AND BRENTWOOD FOLK DANCE GROUP Wednesdays, 8 – 10pm www.randb-folkdancing.btck.co.uk ROMFORD DRUM AND TRUMPET CORPS Thursdays, 7.30 – 9.30pm www.rdtc.org ROMFORD EMBROIDERERS GUILD Second Saturday of the month, 2 – 4pm www.romfordembroiderers.org.uk ROMFORD SCRABBLE CLUB Wednesdays, 7.15 – 10.30pm e sandrad.richards@gmail.com RSPB COACH TRIPS Coach Trip to Rye Harbour, East Sussex Saturday 30 September, 7am – 7pm Coach Trip to RSPB Titchwell Marsh, North Norfolk Saturday 28 October, 7am – 7pm Various local pick-up points Cost: £18 per person Pre-booking required t 07446 083120 e alanshearman@hotmail.co.uk www.rspb.org.uk/groups/havering/ events RSPB HAVERING INDOOR MEETING A talk on “British wildlife, near and far” by Liz Cutting.

Friday 13 October 7.30 – 9.45pm Hornchurch Library,.

Cost: £3 per person t 07446 083120 e alanshearman@hotmail.co.uk RSPB RAINHAM MARSHES Variety of events on the website www.rspb.org.uk/rainham RUSH GREEN FLORAL ART CLUB Third Monday of the month, 8 – 10pm www.rgcasc.org SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Mondays, 1.30 – 3.30pm Fridays, 10 – 11.45am t 07976 438950

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SILVER LYNX CRAFT AND SOCIAL CLUB Mondays, 10am – 2pm e martie0707@sky.com ST JOHN AMBULANCE HAROLD HILL AND HAROLD WOOD UNIT Wednesdays, 7 – 9pm e doug.croxall@sja.org THAMES CHASE EVENTS Community Market Third Sunday of each month 10am – 2pm Musical Cream Tea Third Friday of each month until 15 December, 2.30 – 4.30pm Traditional cream tea accompanied by live music. £9 per person.

Booking essential.

Thames Chase Forest Centre Broadfields, Pike Lane Upminster RM14 3NS t 642970 e enquiries@thameschase.org.uk www.thameschase.org.uk TRAIN AID – LEVEL 2 EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK COURSE First Saturday of month 9am – 3.30pm www.train-aid.co.uk/courses/ emergency-first-aid-at-work UPMINSTER AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY New Windmill Hall Upminster. www.upminsterhorticulturalsociety.co.uk UPMINSTER U3A University of the Third Age Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month, 1pm New Windmill Hall, St Mary's Lane, Upminster.

Doors open 12.30pm. www.u3asites.org.uk/upminster

LIBRARIES ADULT CRAFT WORKSHOP Upminster Library – Craft workshop on the third Tuesday of the month 1.30-3pm. (Booking required – chargeable event).

Havering Libraries hold many events, please check the website for latest details or contact your local library. Booking is usually advisable.

COLLIER ROW 45 Collier Row Road Romford RM5 3NR CollierRow.Library@havering.gov.uk

AFTERNOON TEA GROUP Harold Hill Library – Wednesday 2-3pm Small charge for refreshments.

ELM PARK St Nicholas Avenue Elm Park RM12 4PT ElmPark.Library@havering.gov.uk

FAMILY HISTORY Help with researching your family history Hornchurch Library – Tuesday 3-5pm Upminster Library – Thursday 2-4pm

HAROLD HILL 19A Farnham Road, Harold Hill RM3 8ED HaroldHill.Library@havering.gov.uk

HAVERING BRANCH ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST 1st floor meeting room , Hornchurch Library.

Second Monday of each month 8 – 9.45pm t 440297 IN STITCHES GROUPS Join a friendly knitting and sewing group (small charge for refreshments) Collier Row Library – Friday 10.30am-12noon / Friday 1.30-3pm Elm Park Library – Thursday 2-4pm (term time only) Gidea Park Library – Thursday 2-3.30pm Harold Hill Library – Monday 1-3pm / Thursday 10am-12noon Harold Wood Library – Friday 10am-12noon Hornchurch Library – Tuesday 2.30-4pm

UPMINSTER WINE AND SOCIAL CLUB Third Thursday of month, 8pm t 2242145 WHIST CLUB Wednesdays and Fridays 7.30 – 9.30pm e lindaevans147@yahoo.co.uk WILDLIFE TALK “The importance of wildlife in our gardens” by Robert Adam Monday 9 October, 8 – 9.45pm Hornchurch Library.

Cost: £2.50 t 440297 e veronica.em@icloud.com

Libraries

Rainham Library – Tuesday 2-4pm Romford Library – Wednesday 10am-12noon South Hornchurch Library – Wednesday 1.30-3.30pm Upminster Library – Wednesday 10am

GIDEA PARK Balgores Lane, Gidea Park RM2 6BS GideaPark.Library@havering.gov.uk

HAROLD WOOD Arundel Road, Harold Wood RM3 0RX HaroldWood.Library@havering.gov.uk HORNCHURCH 44 North Street, Hornchurch RM11 1TB Hornchurch.Library@havering.gov.uk RAINHAM 6 Celtic Farm Road Rainham RM13 9GP Rainham.Library@havering.gov.uk ROMFORD St Edwards Way, Romford RM1 3AR Central.Library@havering.gov.uk SOUTH HORNCHURCH Rainham Road, Rainham RM13 7RD SouthHornchuch.Library@havering.gov.uk UPMINSTER 26 Corbets Tey Road, Upminster RM14 2BB Upminster.Library@havering.gov.uk JOB CLUB Hornchurch Library – Thursday 10am – 1pm LISTENING GROUP Adults listening to books on CDs (small charge for refreshments) Rainham Library – First Tuesday of the month 10am QUICK READS READING GROUPS Adults reading shorter books “Quick Reads” (small charge for refreshments).

Harold Hill Library – First Friday of the month 11-12noon South Hornchurch Library – Second Thursday of the month 2pm READING GROUP FOR ADULTS Small charge for refreshments.

Collier Row Library – First Wednesday of the month 11am / Thursday 7-7.30pm Elm Park Library – First Thursday of the month 6.30pm / First Friday of the month 10.30am (term time only) Gidea Park Library – Second Thursday of the month 6.45-7.45pm (every other month)

Harold Wood Library – Thursday 6.30pm (approx. every 4 weeks) Hornchurch Library – First Mon of the month 2.15pm / First Thurs 7.30pm / First Fri 2.15pm Rainham Library – Last Monday of the month 6.30pm Romford Library – First Thursday of the month 2-3pm Upminster Library – Last Monday of the month 2-3pm / First Thursday 6-7pm TECHY BUDDIES Sessions with our volunteer Techy Buddies to help you with your ICT problems.

Collier Row Library – Saturday 1.30 – 3.30pm Gidea Park Library – Saturday 10-11am (booking required) / Wednesday – 5 week beginners course 10-11am (booking required) Harold Hill Library – Tuesday 11-12noon / Thursday 11-12noon / Alternate Saturdays 1.30-3.30pm (booking required) Harold Wood Library – Wednesday 10.30am – 12.30pm / Thursday 2.30-4.30pm (booking required)

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Hornchurch Library – First Tuesday of the month 2-4pm Rainham Library – Last Wednesday of the month 10.30am-12.30pm Romford Library – Wednesday 10am-12noon

are organised by Havering-atteBower Cricket Club, Broxhill Road, Romford, RM4 1QH call for details t 07718 944051 www.havering-atte-bower-cc.co. uk/colts

Cabinet and Council meetings Cabinet and Full Council meetings are open to the public and are held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB. All meetings are on Wednesdays and start at 7.30pm.

South Hornchurch Library – Alternate Saturdays 1.30-3.30pm

They can also be watched online at www.havering.gov.uk/webcast

Upminster Library – Thursday 10.30am-12.30pm (booking required) / other appointments by arrangement

Dates may change, please check www.havering.gov.uk/ calendarmeetings for latest information.

You can also meet the Leader of the Council, Cllr Roger Ramsey, and his Cabinet colleagues at Meet the Leader and Cabinet events held around the borough. It’s an opportunity to discuss any issues of concern in an informal manner. There’s no need to book, just turn up at any of the following events:

VICTIM SUPPORT DROP-IN SESSION Gidea Park Library – Friday 10-12noon YOUNG AT HEART GROUPS Join a social group – tea/coffee, chat and guest speakers (small charge for refreshments) Collier Row Library – Thursday 2-4pm Elm Park Library – Last Wednesday of the month 2.30-3.30pm (term time only) Harold Hill Library – Last Tuesday of the month 11am-12noon Harold Wood Library – Second Wednesday of the month 11am12noon Rainham Library – First Tuesday of the month 2-4pm

CHILDREN 6TH SQUIRRELS HEATH SCOUT GROUP Wednesdays, 5-6.30pm e sixthbeaversgroup@yahoo.com BUMPS AND BABIES GROUP (organised by Havering NCT and sponsored by Soft Play Essex) at Mothercare Romford, Rom Valley Way,Romford, RM7 0AF Thursdays from 1.30-3pm A weekly social gathering for expectant mums, and mums with young babies. Free. t 07910 217605 e parentsupport.havering@nct. org.uk www.facebook.com/haveringnct BASKING BABIES ROMFORD Tuesdays, 9.45-11.15am t 07701 367883 CRICKET COACHING SESSIONS Colt Coaching Sessions (aged 5+)

Friday 13 October 1 – 2pm in the Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford (behind Starbucks) Friday 19 November 1 – 2pm at Elm Park Library ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST To book your place on any of the events at the Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre in Hornchurch Country Park call 01708 520364.

Little Badgers Parent and Toddler Group – Every Tuesday and Friday 10.30am12 noon Indoor and outdoor fun for toddlers and pre-schoolers with parents and carers. £6 donation in advance per child per session.

Free Buggy Walks –Every Tuesday 1.30pm-2.15pm Bring your little one in their pram or buggy for a brisk 45 minute led walk around Hornchurch Country Park. No need to book. Meet outside Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre.

JUNIOR TABLE TENNIS COACHING Tuesdays 7 - 9pm The Havering Table Tennis Club run junior sessions (9+) at the Coopers' Company & Coborn School, St. Marys Lane, Upminster.

Qualified coaches and CRB checks conducted STUBBERS ADVENTURE CENTRE October half term adventure activities for children in school years 2-11 including laser tag, quad biking and much more. 23 – 27 October.

Trail of Terror Night Walk Battle your way to safety with laser tag guns. For ages 9 – 13.

3 different start times on Tuesday 31 October. t 224753 www.smashcamps.co.uk

Friday 5 January 1 – 2pm at Harold Hill Library WIGGLE AND GIGGLE For children aged 2 – 4 years Wednesdays, 11.30am-12noon at Hornchurch Library

OVER-50s HAVERING OVER 50S FORUM Second Tuesday of the month 10.30am-12.30pm www.Havo50Forum.org RGCA CHAIR ZUMBA Thursdays, 2-2.45pm www.rgcasc.org TAPESTRY – WALKING FOOTBALL Mondays, 12 noon-1pm Thursdays, 7-8pm www.tapestry-uk.org TEA DANCE Every Thursday at the New Windmill Hall, Upminster, 1.30-3.30pm £3 or £5 with a lesson from 1pm t 433768 UPMINSTER AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB Variety of events on the website www.upminsterprobus.com TWEEDWAY (50+) SPORTS CLUB Darts, short mat bowls, snooker, pool, table tennis, scrabble and more.

Alternate Tuesdays, 8-10pm at Havering Road Methodist Church Hall, Rise Park, Romford, RM1 4YD t 01708 728448 e pete.mcevoy@ymail.com

WELLBEING EPILEPSY ACTION ROMFORD COFFEE AND CHAT GROUP Third Wednesday of the month 12noon-2pm t 07704 979 654 HAVERING ASIAN SOCIAL AND WELFARE ASSOCIATION (HASWA) Yoga class Mondays, 10-11.30am Wednesdays, 10-11.30am Lunch Club Wednesdays, 12noon-2pm Punjabi Class Thursdays, 11.15am-12.15pm Coffee Stop Thursdays, 2-4pm Punjabi Class Thursdays, 6-7.30pm www.haswa.org.uk HAVERING NUMISMATIC SOCIETY First Tuesday of month 7.309.30pm e pambob2@ntlworld.com HUBB (HELPING USERS BOUNCE BACK) SUPPORT GROUP First Thursday of the month, 5 -7pm e ecofriendlyangel62@gmail.com PARKINSON’S UK HAVERING AND DISTRICT BRANCH SUPPORT MEETINGS First and third Tuesday of the month 2-4pm Langtons Registry Office Hornchurch, RM11 1XL e brenda.crissell@gmail.com www.parkinsons.org.uk/havering

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POSITIVE LIVING GROUP Alternate Mondays, 7.45-10pm www.positivelivinggroups.org.uk RAGS ROMFORD AUTISTIC GROUP SUPPORT Supporting families living with Autism in Havering www.rags-havering.org.uk RCCG LIFE CHANGERS ASSEMBLY Every Sunday, 10-11am e rccglca@gmail.com

SPORTS & FITNESS ATTE BOWER SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Bower Hall, Wellingtonia Avenue, Havering-atte-Bower, RM4 1QP Mondays 7.15 -10pm and Thursdays at 9.15am - 12noon Beginners welcome - 3 free sessions to start. t 706833 www.attebowerbowls.weebly.com ARDLEIGH HOUSE SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Tuesdays, 12.30-2.30pm Thursdays and Fridays, 10am12noon t 440660 HATHA/DRU YOGA CLASSES Tesco Community Room Roneo Corner, Hornchurch Sundays, 10-11.30am e mary@bodyandsoulyoga.org www.bodyandsoulyoga.org DUKES MODERN SEQUENCE DANCE CLUB Wednesdays, 1-3pm www.sequencedancing.co.uk/ourclubs FIVE STAR BASKETBALL ACADEMY Tuesdays, 5-6.30pm e elvan.dixon@havering.gov.uk FUSION STREET DANCE TEAM Tuesdays, 5-8pm www.funandfunkydance.com HARE PARK BADMINTON CLUB Thursdays, 7.30-9.30pm e anitaaudritt@btinternet.com HARROW LODGE PARKRUN Meet at Warren Drive car park Seniors: Saturdays, 9-10am Juniors: Free 2km run aged 4-14 years, Sundays, 9am RAPHAEL PARKRUN Every Saturday 9am e raphaeloffice@parkrun.com www.parkrun.org.uk/raphael

HAVERING SAILING CLUB Saturdays, March-November 12noon-6pm www.haveringsailingclub.org.uk HEARTFELT YOGA Tuesdays, 8-9.30pm www.heartfeltyoga.co.uk HYLANDS TENNIS CLUB HYLANDS MINI TENNIS ACADEMY Tots at 6pm and Red balls at 7pm classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Orange ball at 6pm and Green Ball at 7pm on Mondays.

TABLE TENNIS COACHING Tuesdays 7 - 9pm The Havering Table Tennis Club run junior sessions (9 years +) at the Coopers' Company & Coborn School, St. Marys Lane, Upminster Qualified coaches and CRB checks conducted t 01708 340761 TABLE TENNIS COACHING Saturdays 9am - 12 noon Junior table tennis coaching from the age of 8 years .

Maylands Junior Table Tennis Club,Bretons Outdoor Community Centre, The Barn. Rainham Rd, Rainham RM13 7LN. t 0208 503 8757 or 07932 233824 e clivevandome@btinternet.com TENNIS 4 ALL Every Saturday during term time for anyone aged 13 to 25, 11am – 12 noon Cost: £29 but one term FREE to first time applicants.

Hylands tennis club, c/o The Albany School, Broadstone Road, Hornchurch RM12 4AJ t 07956 406874

e hylandsclub@gmail.com www.hylandstennis.co.uk TENNIS 4 GIRLS Social fun activity for girls ages 11 - 18, Fridays during term time 5.30 - 6.30pm.

Hylands Tennis Club, c/o The Albany School, Broadstone Road, Hornchurch RM12 4AJ Cost: £29 but one term FREE to first time applicants

t 07956 406874 e hylandsclub@gmail.com www.hylandstennis.co.uk JISSOKAN MARTIAL ARTS Wednesdays, 7.30-9pm e garrylever81@aol.com JU JITSU Variety of classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays www.ryujujitsu.com LYDIA LACEY YOGA Wednesdays, 7.30-8.30pm www.facebook.com/lydiasyoga FUN AND FUNKY DANCE Variety of dance classes available www.funandfunkydance.com NORTH ROMFORD SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-12noon Mondays, Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays, 1.30-4.45pm www.nrca.co.uk OCCASIONAL DANCE Variety of classes on website www.occasionaldance.co.uk PHASE (Prostate Health, Advice, Support and Education) Meets last Friday of each month (except August and December) at

7pm at the Harold Wood Neighbourhood Centre in Grubbins Lane t 02037 457318 ROMFORD AUTISTIC GROUP MULTI-SPORT SESSIONS Fridays, 5.15-6.45pm www.rags-havering.org.uk RUSH GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION INDOOR BOWLS CLUB Alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.30 – 10pm www.rgcasc.org SYM SAILING CLUB Sundays, 1 March to 30 November 9am-4pm www.sym.org.uk TWEED MODERN SEQUENCE DANCE CLUB Thursdays, 7.30pm-10pm e shaun22@btinternet.com US GIRLS ACTIVITIES Sports and physical activities for women www.havering.gov.uk/usgirls YOGA FOR ALL Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays www.janettibbleyoga.com YOGA, PILATES AND BARRE PILATES Classes on Monday to Saturday www.inspiredhealthandfitness.co.uk

This community magazine should reach every home in Havering. Additional copies are available at libraries and leisure centres. The cost of producing and distributing Living in Havering is supported by advertising.

Details of advertising rates are available at www.havering.gov.uk/living or by calling Peter Stremes on 01708 433247.

Advertisements are accepted subject to available space and Havering Council’s approval of copy. Terms and conditions available on request.

Products and services mentioned in advertisements or editorial do not carry the endorsement of Havering Council.

Living in Havering is written, designed and published by Communications, Havering Council, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford RM1 3BD. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without the prior written permission of Havering Council.

If you would like to receive this publication in another language or format please contact us. An audio version is available thanks to Havering Talking Newspaper.

More information www.havering.gov.uk/living

www.havering.gov.uk/living | SEPTEMBER2017 | 39

01708 343066

www.drapersbrookside.com infantadmin@drapersbrookside.com

NURSERY PLACES AVAILABLE

01708 342165

www.draperspyrgo.com office@pyrgo.havering.sch.uk

Two of our Harold Hill based primary schools currently have nursery spaces available for this coming year.

The nurseries are run by experienced, qualified teachers who, along with our friendly staff, provide your children with a safe, secure and nurturing environment where they can develop their skills as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Dagnam Park Drive Harold Hill, Romford RM3 9DJ

Their learning will give them a secure base on which to start their school career, helping with their transition to full time school.

Settle Road Harold Hill, Romford RM3 9RT

40 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | LIVING in Havering